COMPU TER

O PERATIO N AN D
PACKAG E S
WHAT IS A COMPUTER

A computer is an electronic device, operating

under the control of instructions stored in its
own memory that can accept data (input),
process the data according to specified rules,
produce information (output), and store the
information for future use.
FUNCTIONALITIES OF A
COMPUTER
• Any digital computer carries out the following
functions:
Takes Data as Input
Store Data on its memory and use them when
required
Process and convert data into information
Generate Output
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
COMPUTER
• Speed-The computer can process data very fast, at the
rate of millions of instructions per second.
• Accuracy: Computer provides a high degree of accuracy.
• Diligence: When used for a longer period of time, the
computer does not get tired or fatigued.
• Storage Capability.
• Ability to Multitask.
TYPES OF A COMPUTERS

• Mainframe Computers: These are the largest and most

powerful of computers. The biggest of these are sometimes
called Supercomputers. Mainframes are usually only
found in large corporate institutions, research
organisations, government ministries and tertiary
academic institutions.
• Workstation : A powerful, single-user computer. A
workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more
powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor.
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
CONT.….
Personal Computer: Personal computers or PCs for short are the
type of computer that most users are familiar with. Because they are
usually found on users desks, they are also sometimes called desktop
computers.
Laptop: Laptops are similar to personal computers except that they
comprise an integrated unit. Instead of a separate monitor, the lid
contains a screen. The keyboard is built into the base.
Persona Digital Assistant: The PDA is the smallest of all
computers. Their main task is to maintain a diary and keep contact
lists.
COMPONENTS OF
COMPUTER
Hardware:
• Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements
that constitutes a computer system.
• Computer hardware refers to the physical parts or
components of a computer such as the monitor, mouse,
keyboard, computer data storage, hard drive disk (HDD),
system unit (graphic cards, sound cards, memory,
motherboard and chips), etc. all of which are physical objects
that can be touched.
….
 WHAT IS AN INPUT?
What is an Input?
• Input is any data and instructions entered into the
memory of a computer.
• Data is a collection of unprocessed text, numbers,
images, audio and video. Once the data is in memory,
the computer interprets and executes instructions to
process the data into information.
 WHAT IS AN INPUT DEVICE?
• An input device is any hardware component that allows users to enter data
and instructions (programs, commands and user responses) into a
computer.
Types of Input Devices
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Scanners
• Tracker balls
• Touch pads
• Joysticks
• Web cams
• Digital cameras and Voice recognition
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• A keyboard is an input devices that contains keys users press to enter data
or instructions into a computer. It has evolved over the years. The keyboard
is built into laptop computers but is a separate item if used with a Desktop
computer. They can be connected vial cables or may be wireless.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Mouse – when using an operating system, such as Microsoft windows, you
use the mouse to select drop down menus, to point and click on items, to
select items and to drag and drop items from one place to another.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Scanner – allows you to scan printed material and convert it into a file
format which may be used within the PC. You can scan pictures and then
manipulate these inside the PC using a graphics application of your choice.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Tracker ball – is like an upside-down mouse. To move the pointer using a
trackball, you rotate the ball with your thumb, fingers or the palm of your
hand. In addition to the ball, a trackball usually has one or more buttons
that work just like a mouse buttons. It requires frequent cleaning because it
picks up oils from fingers and dust from fingers and dust from the
environment.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Touch pads – is a small, flat, rectangular pointing device that is sensitive
to pressure and motion. To move the pointer using a touchpad, slide your
fingertip across the surface of the pad. Some touchpads have one or more
buttons around the edge or the pad that work like mouse buttons.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Joystick – is a vertical lever mounted on a base. You move the lever in
different directions to control the actions of the simulated vehicle player.
The lever usually includes buttons called triggers that you may press to
activate certain events.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Web cams – ever since it was invented, the web has become increasingly
interactive. You can now use a small digital movie camera (a web cam)
mounted on the PC monitor to allow two-way communication involving not
just text communication but sound and video communication as well.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Digital cameras – allow users to take pictures and store the photographed
images digitally, instead of on traditional film. These pictures can easily be
transferred to your computer and then manipulated within any graphics
programs which you have installed on your computer.
 INPUT DEVICES CONT’D…
• Voice input – is the process of entering input by speaking into microphone.
The micro-phone maybe a stand-alone peripheral that sits on top of a desk,
or built in the computer or device, or in headphones or earphones.
 WHAT IS AN OUTPUT?
• Output is data that has been processed into a useful form. Computer
process data (input) into information (output). A computer generates
several types of output, depending on the hardware and software being
used and the requirements of the user.

• Users view output on a screen, print it, or hear it through speakers,

headphones, or earphones. Monitors, notebook, computers, Tablet PCs,
PDAs, and smartphones have screens that allow users to view documents,
web sites, email messages, and other types of output.
 OUTPUT/DISPLAY DEVICES
• A display device is an output device that visually conveys text, graphics and
video information. Information on a display device, sometimes called soft
copy, exists electronically and appears for a temporary period.
• Display devices consist of a screen and the components that produce the
information on the screen. Desktop computers typically use a monitor as
their display device.
 OUTPUT/DISPLAY DEVICES CONT’D…
• Data Projectors – is a device that takes the text and images displaying on
a computer screen and projects them on a large screen so an audience can
see the image clearly.
 OUTPUT/DISPLAY DEVICES
CONT’D…
• An audio output device is a component of a computer that produces
music, speech or other sounds such as beeps. Three commonly used audio
output devices are speakers, headphones and earphone.
 OUTPUT/DISPLAY DEVICES
CONT’D…
• Speech synthesizer – a recent development is the ability not only to
display text on a monitor but also to read the text to you. Thus, you could
receive a text email from a colleague and the system could read that email
to you. This is of enormous benefit to the visually impaired when using a
computer. On the flip side, it is now possible to use a microphone to talk to
the computer and for the computer to directly convert the spoken word into
text which will be displayed within say your word-processor. Whilst these
systems are far from fool proof they are getting better as more advanced
software is being made available
 OUTPUT/DISPLAY DEVICES
CONT’D…
• Printers – is an output device that produces text and graphics on a
physical medium such as paper or transparency film. Printed information,
called hard copy, exists physically and is more permanent form of output
than that presented on a display device (soft copy).
• A hard copy, also called a printout, is either in portrait or landscape
orientation.
Types of printers
• Laser printers
• Colour laser printers
• Inkjet printers
• Dot Matrix printers
MAIN PARTS OF THE
COMPUTER
• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Central
Processing Unit or CPU can be thought of as the
brain of the computer. The function of the CPU is to
execute the instructions in the programs.
• CPU comprised of three main parts: Arithmetic
Logical Unit (ALU), Control Unit and Registers.
• Speed measurement: The speed of Central
Processing Unit (CPU) is measured by Hertz (Hz).
CPU…

• ALU: Executes all arithmetic and logical operations.

Arithmetic calculations like as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. Logical operation like
compare numbers, letters, or special characters
• Control Unit (CU): controls and co-ordinates
computer components.
• Registers :Stores the data that is to be executed
next, "very fast storage area".
MEMORY

Primary and Secondary Memory.

• Primary memory: RAM and ROM
Random Access Memory (RAM): Volatile (Lose
data when the computer switches off or loose power).
When the Computer switches On, the Operating
System (OS) is temporarily loaded on RAM.
….MEMORY

Read Only Memory : Non-Volatile(ROM is a permanent form of

storage. ROM stays active regardless of whether power supply to it is
turned on or off. ROM devices do not allow data stored on them to be
modified.
• Secondary Memory : Stores data and programs
permanently :its retained after the power is turned off.
 Hard Disk
Optical Disk
STORAGE DEVICES

• A storage device is the computer hardware that records and/or retrieves

items to and from storage media. A storage medium is the physical
material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information.
• Three common types of storage media are hard disks, flash memory, and
optical discs.
• Hard disk- is a storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular
platters that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and
information. Data and instructions are store in tracks and sectors of a
platter.
HARD DISK….
STORAGE DEVICES….

• Flash Memory- Flash memory is a type of memory that can be erased

electronically and rewritten.
• E.g. Memory Card and USB.
• Optical Disk- An optical disc is a flat, round, portable metal disc with a
plastic coating.
• E.g. CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disk
• Cloud Storage-is an Internet service that provides hard disk storage to
computer users
UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

• Bit- All computers work on a binary numbering system,

i.e. they process data in one's or zero's. This 1 or 0 level
of storage is called a bit.
• Byte- A byte consists of eight bits.
• Kilobyte-A kilobyte (KB) consists of 1024 bytes.
• Megabyte- A megabyte (MB) consists of 1024 kilobytes.
• Gigabyte- A gigabyte (GB) consists of 1024 megabytes.
DATA, INFORMATION AND
KNOWLEDGE
• Data- Unstructured facts or figures
• Information –Processed data (For data to become
information, it must be contextualized, categorized,
calculated and condensed).
• Knowledge- Knowledge is closely linked to doing
and implies know-how and understanding.
DATA AND INFORMATION
SOFTWARE
 WHAT IS SOFTWARE?
• The software is the collection of instructions which makes the computer
work. For instance, when you type words via keyboard, the software is
responsible for displaying the correct letters, in the correct place on the
screen. The software is held either on your computer’s hard disk, CD-ROM,
DVD or on a diskette (floppy disk) and is loaded (i.e. copied) from the disk
into the computers RAM (Random Access Memory), as and when required.

• Software is divided commonly into two main categories: (1) System

software: controls the basic (and invisible to the user) functions of a
computer and comes usually preinstalled with the machine. (2) Application
software: handles multitudes of common and specialized tasks a user wants
to perform, such as accounting, communicating, data processing, word
processing.
 WHAT IS AN OPERATING
SYSTEM?
• The operating system is a special type of program which loads
automatically when you start your computer. The operating system allows
you to use the advanced features of a modern computer without having to
learn all the details of how the hardware works.

Types of Operating Systems

• Microsoft windows
• IBM produced an operating system called OS/2 but this was largely ignored
and is only used by few companies.
• UNIX and Linux are other examples of operating systems which may be run
on PCs.
• Other types of computers, such as those manufactured by Apple have a
completely different operating system.
FUNCTION OF OPERATING
SYSTEM
• Processor management : It manages the assignment of processor to different
tasks being performed by the computer system.
• Memory management : It manages the allocation of main memory and other
storage areas to the system programmes as well as user programmes and data.
• Input / Output management : It manages the co-ordination and assignment of
different Input and Output devices while one or more programmes are executed.
• File management.
• Interpretation of commands and instructions.
• Facilitates easy communication between the computer system and the
computer operator.
 EXAMPLES OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

• An application program is the type of program which you use once the
operating system has been loaded. Examples include word-processing
programs (for producing letters, memos etc.) spreadsheets (for doing accounts
and working with numbers), databases (for organising large amounts of
information), games programs and graphics programs (for producing pictures,
advertisements, manuals etc.).
• It is important that you recognise examples of application programs covering
the following areas:
– Word processing
– Spreadsheets
– Databases
– Presentations
– E-mailing
– Web browsing
– Photo editing
 SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
CONT’D…
• Word processing application – (such as Microsoft word) allows you to
produce letters memos, etc., easily. You can easily mail merge a list of
names and addresses to produce mass mailers, individually addressed to
customers or subscribers.

• Spreadsheets application – (such as Microsoft Excel) allows you to work

out a company’s income, expenditure and then calculate the balance. It
enables you to make ‘what if’ projections and to forecast how changes in
prices will affect profits.

• Database application – (such as Microsoft Access) allows you to compile

information and then to search this information to extract just the
information you require. For instance, if you have a database of all the
equipment housed within an office you can vey simply produce a report
listing the equipment housed within an office you can very simply produce a
 SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
CONT’D…
• Presentation application – (such as Microsoft PowerPoint) allows you to
produce professional looking presentations, which can be printed out directly onto
slides for use with an overhead projector. Alternatively, you can display your
presentations directly on a computer screen or via a computerised projector.

• E-mailing application – there are many email programs available. As the name
suggests you use these to send and receive emails. Microsoft Outlook is supplied
within Microsoft office. Another well known example is the Thunderbird email
program.

• Web browsing applications – applications used to view and interact with the
World Wide Web (WWW).
– Microsoft Internet Explorer
– Netscape Navigator
– Mozilla Firefox
 SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
CONT’D…
• Photo editing applications - these programs allow you to edit digital
photos. You can adjust items such as the picture brightness, contact and
colour balance. You can remove defects such as the red eye effect often
caused when using a flash. You can apply interesting special effects and
filters to visually enhance your photographs. Examples include Photoshop
from Adobe and Paint Shop Pro from Correl.

• Computer games – started off as simple bat and ball games and today
have evolved into an enormous worldwide business. There are many
different types of games ranging from the educational, to the ‘shoot them
up’ variety. The level of graphical detail on the screen gets better each year.
 OPERATING SYSTEM VS
APPLICATION PROGRAMS
• The operating system works closely with the hardware that you have
installed within your computer. It interprets the input entered via the mouse
or keyboard and outputs data to the screen.

• The application programs sit above the operating system, make use of the
functionality built into the operating system. They are specific to a
particular task. For instance Microsoft word is designed as a word
processing program, while Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program.
NETWORKS
 WHAT IS A NETWORK
• A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together via
communications devices and transmission media. Many businesses network
their computers together to facilitate communications, share hardware,
share data and transfer funds.
 TYPES OF NETWORKS

• LAN (Local Area Network) – is a network that connects computers and

devices in a limited geographical area such as a home, school computer
laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings.
• WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) – is a LAN that uses no physical
wires. Computers and devices that access a wireless LAN must have built-in
wireless capability or the appropriate wireless network card, PC Card or
flash card.
 TYPES OF NETWORKS
CONT’D…
• WAN (Wide Area Network) – is a network that covers a large geographic
area (such as a city, country, or the world) using a communications channel
that combines many types of media such as telephone lines, cables and
radio waves.
 TYPES OF NETWORKS CONT’D…
• Client/Server Network – one or more computers act as a server, and the
other computers on the network request services from the server. A server
is sometimes called the host computer, controls access to the hardware,
software and other resources on the network. The clients are other
computers and mobile devices on the network that rely on the server for its
resources.
 THE INTERNET
• The internet is a global collection of networks that connects millions of
businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and individuals. Its
access is provided by ISPs. It runs on www, ftp, html. More than one billion
people around the world use the internet daily for a variety of reasons ,
including the following:
– Communicate with and meet other people
– Access a wealth of information, news and research findings
– Shop for goods and services
– Bank and invest
– Take a class
– Download music
– Share information
– entertainment
 WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW)
• The World Wide Web (WWW) is a collection of text documents and other
resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs. Usually accessed by web
browsers. Its an application running on the internet. The WWW is basically
the text and pictures which you can view using your web browser, such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
 INTRANET & EXTRANET
• An Intranet is a smaller, closed version of the internet, which can only be
accessed by authorised members of an organisation. Intranets are
becoming an increasingly popular way to share information within a
company or other organisation. An intranet uses internet technologies to
allow users to access company documents, search databases, schedule
meetings and of course send emails.

• An Extranet is an Intranet which is partially accessible to authorised

outsiders. An extranet allows outsiders who have been issued with a
password to gain limited access to information held on a company network.
Extranets are being used as a way for business partners to share
information.