An Overview of the
Computer System
What is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic, programmable
multipurpose/ multiuse machine, used to process data.
• A computer takes the data as an input,
process/convert the data into information (output)
that is useful to people
• A computer has the capability to store the data, as
well it can communicate the data to other users
(machines)
The Parts of a Computer System
• A complete computer system includes following
distinct parts:
Hardware
Software
Additional Parts/Components
Data
User
The Parts of a Computer System - Hardware
• A computer's hardware consists of electronic
devices; the parts you can see and touch.
• The term "device" refers to any piece of hardware
used by the computer, such as a keyboard, monitor,
modem, mouse, etc.
Bringing the Machine to Life –
What is Software?
• Software is a set of electronic instructions that tells
the computer how to do certain tasks. A set of
instructions is often called a program.
• When a computer is using a particular program, it is
said to be running or executing the program.
• The two most common types of programs are system
software and application software.
Software: Bringing the Machine to Life
Types of Software
•System Software
•Application Software
Bringing the Machine to Life –
System Software
• System software exists primarily for the computer
itself, to help the computer perform specific
functions.
• One major type of system software is the operating
system (OS). All computers require an operating
system.
• The OS tells the computer how to interact with the
user and its own devices.
• Common operating systems include Windows, the
Macintosh OS, OS/2, and UNIX .
Bringing the Machine to Life - Applications
• Application software tells the computer how to
accomplish tasks the user requires, such as creating a
document or editing a graphic image.
• Some important kinds of application software are:
Word processing programs Spreadsheet software
Database management Presentation programs
Graphics programs Networking software
Web design tools and browsers Internet applications
Communications programs Utilities
Entertainment and education Multimedia authoring
The Parts of a Computer System - Data
• Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can
manipulate and process into information that is
useful to people.
• Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has
been reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer
stores and reads all data as numbers.
• Although computers use data in digital form, they
convert data into forms that people can
understand, such as text, numerals, sounds, and
images.
Ten different
symbols in
the decimal
system
Numbers above 9
use more than 1 digit
The Parts of a Computer System – Users
• People are the computer's operators, or users.
• Some types of computers can operate without
much intervention from people, but personal
computers are designed specifically for use by
people.
The Parts of a Computer System – Users
• Professional users
• End users
Looking Inside the Machine
• Types of Hardware
• The CPU
• Memory
• How Memory is Measured
• Input and Output Devices
• Storage Devices
Looking Inside the Machine –
Types of Hardware
A computer's hardware devices are categorized as
follows:
• Processing devices
• Memory devices
• Input and output (I/O) devices
• Storage devices
Additional devices
• Communication Devices
01101111
10001111
01101010 10000000
01001010
Looking Inside the Machine - The CPU
The processor is also called the
central processing unit (CPU). It
manages all devices and performs
the actual processing of data.
The procedure that transforms raw data into useful
information is called processing. This function is
divided between the computer's processor and
memory.
Looking Inside the Machine - Memory
• Memory also consists of chips attached to the
motherboard.
• Memory holds data and program instructions as
the CPU works with them. This memory is called
Random Access Memory (RAM).
• The CPU can find any piece of data
in RAM, when it needs it for processing.
• RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data
only when the power is on. When the power
is off, RAM's contents are lost.
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Volatile
• Stores current data and programs
• More RAM results in a faster system
– Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Permanent storage of programs
• Holds the computer boot directions
Looking Inside the Machine
– How Memory is Measured
• The smallest usable unit of measure for memory is
the byte – the amount of memory required to hold
one character, like the letter A or the numeral 2.
• Computers work with larger chunks of data,
measured in multiple bytes, as shown below:
Memory
• How is memory measured?
By number of bytes available for storage
Term Abbrev. Appox. Exact Pages of text
Size Size
Kilobyte KB 1 thousand 1,024 bytes 1/2
bytes
Megabyte MB 1 million 1,048,576 bytes 500
bytes
Gigabyte GB 1 billion 1,073,741,824 bytes 500,000
bytes
Terabyte TB I trillion 1,099,511,627,776 500,000,000
bytes bytes
Looking Inside the Machine –
Input and Output Devices
• Input devices accept data and instructions from the
user or from another computer system. The keyboard
and mouse are examples of input devices.
• Output devices return processed data back to the
user or to another computer system. The printer and
monitor are examples.
• Communications devices (such as modems and
network interface cards) perform both input and
output, allowing computers to share information.
Looking Inside the Machine - Storage Devices
• Storage devices hold data not currently being used
by the CPU. Data is commonly stored on a magnetic
or optical disk. Each type uses a special medium for
storing data on its surface.
• A disk drive is a device that reads data from and
writes data to a disk. Most new computers feature a
floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, and an optical
disk drive.
• The most common optical storage devices are CD-
ROM and DVD-ROM drives.
Information Processing Cycle
• Steps followed to process data
– Input
– Processing
– Output
– Storage
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