What is Computer?

A computer is a programmable electronic device that accepts raw data as input and
processes it with a set of instructions (a program) to produce the result as output. It
renders output just after performing mathematical and logical operations and can save the
output for future use. It can process numerical as well as non-numerical calculations. The
term "computer" is derived from the Latin word "computare" which means to calculate.

basic parts are as follows :

 Processor: It executes instructions from software and hardware.
 Memory: It is the primary memory for data transfer between the CPU and storage.
 Motherboard: It is the part that connects all other parts or components of a
computer.
 Storage Device: It permanently stores the data, e.g., hard drive.
 Input Device: It allows you to communicate with the computer or to input data,
e.g., a keyboard.
 Output Device: It enables you to see the output, e.g., monitor.

Types Of Computer
1. Micro Computer
2. Mini Computer
3. Mainframe Computer
4. Super Computer
5. Workstations

1. Micro Computer:
It is a single-user computer which has less speed and storage capacity than the other types.
It uses a microprocessor as a CPU. The first microcomputer was built with 8-bit
microprocessor chips. The common examples of microcomputers include laptops, desktop
computers, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablets, and smartphones. Microcomputers are
generally designed and developed for general usage like browsing, searching for
information, internet, MS Office, social media, etc.

2. Mini Computer:
Mini-computers are also known as "Midrange Computers." They are not designed for a
single. They are multi-user computers designed to support multiple users simultaneously.
So, they are generally used by small businesses and firms. Individual departments of a
company use these computers for specific purposes. For example, the admission
department of a University can use a Mini-computer for monitoring the admission process.

3. Mainframe Computer:
It is also a multi-user computer capable of supporting thousands of users simultaneously.
They are used by large firms and government organizations to run their business operations
as they can store and process large amounts of data. For example, Banks, universities, and
insurance companies use mainframe computers to store the data of their customers,
students, and policyholders, respectively.

4. Super Computer:
Super-computers are the fastest and most expensive computers among all types of
computers. They have huge storage capacities and computing speeds and thus can perform
millions of instructions per second. The super-computers are task-specific and thus used for
specialized applications such as large-scale numerical problems in scientific and engineering
disciplines including applications in electronics, petroleum engineering, weather forecasting,
medicine, space research and more. For example, NASA uses supercomputers for launching
space satellites and monitoring and controlling them for space exploration.

5. Work stations:
It is a single-user computer. Although it is like a personal computer, it has a more powerful
microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor than a microcomputer. In terms of storage
capacity and speed, it comes between a personal computer and minicomputer. Work
stations are generally used for specialized applications such as desktop publishing, software
development, and engineering designs.
Computer Components

There are 5 main computer components that are given below:

 Input Devices
 CPU
 Output Devices
 Primary Memory
 Secondary Memory

The operations of computer components are given below:

1) Inputting: It is the process of entering raw data, instructions and information into the
computer. It is performed with the help of input devices.

2) Storing: The computer has primary memory and secondary storage to store data and
instructions. It stores the data before sending it to CPU for processing and also stores the
processed data before displaying it as output.

3) Processing: It is the process of converting the raw data into useful information. This
process is performed by the CPU of the computer. It takes the raw data from storage,
processes it and then sends back the processed data to storage.

4) Outputting: It is the process of presenting the processed data through output devices
like monitor, printer and speakers.
5) Controlling: This operation is performed by the control unit that is part of CPU. The
control unit ensures that all basic operations are executed in a right manner and sequence.
 Input Devices
Input device enables the user to send data, information, or control signals to a computer.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer receives the input and processes it to
produce the output.

Some of the popular input devices are:

1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Scanner
4. Joystick
5. Light Pen
6. Digitizer
7. Microphone
8. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
9. Optical Character Reader (OCR)

1) Keyboard
The keyboard is a basic input device that is used to enter data into a computer or any other
electronic device by pressing keys. It has different sets of keys for letters, numbers,
characters, and functions. Keyboards are connected to a computer through USB or a
Bluetooth device for wireless communication.

 QWERTY Keyboard:

It is the most commonly used keyboard with computers in modern times. It is named after
the first six letters of the top row of buttons and is even popular in countries that do not use
Latin-based alphabet. It is so popular that some people think that it is the only type of
keyboard to use with computers as an input device.
2) Mouse
The mouse is a hand-held input device which is used to move cursor or pointer across the
screen. It is designed to be used on a flat surface and generally has left and right button
and a scroll wheel between them. Laptop computers come with a touchpad that works as a
mouse. It lets you control the movement of cursor or pointer by moving your finger over the
touchpad. Some mouse comes with integrated features such as extra buttons to perform
different buttons.

The mouse was invented by Douglas C. Engelbart in 1963. Early mouse had a roller ball
integrated as a movement sensor underneath the device. Modern mouse devices come with
optical technology that controls cursor movements by a visible or invisible light beam. A
mouse is connected to a computer through different ports depending on the type of
computer and type of a mouse.

Common types of the mouse:

i) Trackball Mouse:

It is a stationary input device that has ball mechanism to move the pointer or cursor on the
screen. The ball is half inserted in the device and can be easily rolled with finger, thumb or
the palm to move the pointer on the screen. The device has sensor to detect the rotation of
ball. It remains stationary; you don't need to move it on the operating surface. So, it is an
ideal device if you have limited desk space as you don't need to move it like a mouse.
ii) Mechanical Mouse:

It has a system of a ball and several rollers to track its movement. It is a corded type of
mouse. A mechanical mouse can be used for high performance. The drawback is that they
tend to get dust into the mechanics and thus require regular cleaning.

iii) Optical Mouse:

An optical mouse uses optical electronics to track its movement. It is more reliable than a
mechanical mouse and also requires less maintenance. However, its performance is affected
by the surface on which it is operated. Plain non-glossy mouse mat should be used for best
results. The rough surface may cause problems for the optical recognition system, and the
glossy surface may reflect the light wrongly and thus may cause tracking issues.
iv) Cordless or Wireless Mouse:

As the name suggests, this type of mouse lacks cable and uses wireless technology such as
IrDA (infrared) or radio (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) to control the movement of the cursor. It is
used to improve the experience of using a mouse. It uses batteries for its power supply.

3) Scanner
The scanner uses the pictures and pages of text as input. It scans the picture or a
document. The scanned picture or document then converted into a digital format or file and
is displayed on the screen as an output. It uses optical character recognition techniques to
convert images into digital ones. Some of the common types of scanners are as follows:

Types of Scanner:

i) Flatbed Scanner:

It has a glass pane and a moving optical CIS or CCD array. The light illuminates the pane,
and then the image is placed on the glass pane. The light moves across the glass pane and
scans the document and thus produces its digital copy. You will need a transparency
adapter while scanning transparent slides.
ii) Handheld Scanner:

It is a small manual scanning device which is held by hand and is rolled over a flat image
that is to be scanned. The drawback in using this device is that the hand should be steady
while scanning; otherwise, it may distort the image. One of the commonly used handheld
scanners is the barcode scanner which you would have seen in shopping stores.

iii) Sheetfed Scanner:

In this scanner, the document is inserted into the slot provided in the scanner. The main
components of this scanner include the sheet-feeder, scanning module, and calibration
sheet. The light does not move in this scanner. Instead, the document moves through the
scanner. It is suitable for scanning single page documents, not for thick objects like books,
magazines, etc.
iv) Drum Scanner:

Drum scanner has a photomultiplier tube (PMT) to scan images. It does not have a charge-
coupled device like a flatbed scanner. The photomultiplier tube is extremely sensitive to
light. The image is placed on a glass tube, and the light moves across the image, which
produces a reflection of the image which is captured by the PMT and processed. These
scanners have high resolution and are suitable for detailed scans.

v) Photo Scanner:

It is designed to scan photographs. It has high resolution and color depth, which are
required for scanning photographs. Some photo scanners come with in-built software for
cleaning and restoring old photographs.
4) Joystick

A joystick is also a pointing input device like a mouse. It is made up of a stick with a
spherical base. The base is fitted in a socket that allows free movement of the stick. The
movement of stick controls the cursor or pointer on the screen.

The frist joystick was invented by C. B. Mirick at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. A
joystick can be of different types such as displacement joysticks, finger-operated joysticks,
hand operated, isometric joystick, and more. In joystick, the cursor keeps moving in the
direction of the joystick unless it is upright, whereas, in mouse, the cursor moves only when
the mouse moves.
5) Light Pen

A light pen is a computer input device that looks like a pen. The tip of the light pen contains
a light-sensitive detector that enables the user to point to or select objects on the display
screen. Its light sensitive tip detects the object location and sends the corresponding signals
to the CPU. It is not compatible with LCD screens, so it is not in use today. It also helps you
draw on the screen if needed. The first light pen was invented around 1955 as a part of the
Whirlwind project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
6) Digitizer

Digitizer is a computer input device that has a flat surface and usually comes with a stylus.
It enables the user to draw images and graphics using the stylus as we draw on paper with
a pencil. The images or graphics drawn on the digitizer appear on the computer monitor or
display screen. The software converts the touch inputs into lines and can also convert
handwritten text to typewritten words.

It can be used to capture handwritten signatures and data or images from taped papers.
Furthermore, it is also used to receive information in the form of drawings and send output
to a CAD (Computer-aided design) application and software like AutoCAD. Thus, it allows
you to convert hand-drawn images into a format suitable for computer processing.
7) Microphone

The microphone is a computer input device that is used to input the sound. It receives the
sound vibrations and converts them into audio signals or sends to a recording medium. The
audio signals are converted into digital data and stored in the computer. The microphone
also enables the user to telecommunicate with others. It is also used to add sound to
presentations and with webcams for video conferencing. A microphone can capture audio
waves in different ways; accordingly the three most common types are described below:

i) Dynamic:

It is the most commonly used microphone with a simple design. It has a magnet which is
wrapped by a metal coil and a thin sheet on the front end of the magnet. The sheet
transfers vibrations from sound waves to the coil and from coil to electric wires which
transmit the sound like an electrical signal.
ii) Condenser:

It is designed for audio recording and has a very sensitive and flat frequency response. It
has a front plate called diaphragm and a back plate parallel to the front plate. When sound
hits the diaphragm, it vibrates the diaphragm and alters the distance between the two
plates. The changes in distance are transmitted as electric signals.

iii) Ribbon:

It is known for its reliability. It has a thin ribbon made of aluminum, duraluminum, or
nanofilm suspended in a magnetic field. The sound waves cause vibrations in the ribbon,
which generate a voltage proportional to the velocity of the vibration. The voltage is
transmitted as an electrical signal. Early ribbon microphones had a transformer to increase
the output voltage, but modern ribbon microphones come with advanced magnets to
produce a strong signal.
8) Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
(MICR)

MICR computer input device is designed to read the text printed with magnetic ink. MICR is
a character recognition technology that makes use of special magnetized ink which is
sensitive to magnetic fields. It is widely used in banks to process the cheques and other
organizations where security is a major concern. It can process three hundred cheques in a
minute with hundred-percent accuracy. The details on the bottom of the cheque (MICR No.)
are written with magnetic ink. A laser printer with MICR toner can be used to print the
magnetic ink.

The device reads the details and sends to a computer for processing. A document printed in
magnetic ink is required to pass through a machine which magnetizes the ink, and the
magnetic information is then translated into characters.

9) Optical Character Reader (OCR)

OCR computer input device is designed to convert the scanned images of handwritten,
typed or printed text into digital text. It is widely used in offices and libraries to convert
documents and books into electronic files.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

Basic Concepts of Computer

Computer is an electronic device which is used to store the data, as per given instructions it gives
results quickly and accurately.

 Data : Data is a raw material of information.

 Information : Proper collection of the data is called information.

Characteristics of Computer

 SPEED : In general, no human being can compete to solving the complex computation, faster than
computer.

 ACCURACY : Since Computer is programmed, so what ever input we give it gives result with
accuratly.

 STORAGE : Computer can store mass storage of data with appropriate formate.

 DILIGENCE : Computer can work for hours without any break and creating error.

 VERSATILITY : We can use computer to perform completely different type of work at the same time.

 POWER OF REMEMBERING : It can remember data for us.

 NO IQ : Computer does not work without instruction.

 NO FEELING : Computer does not have emotions, knowledge, experience, feeling.

 Computer Virus

Computer viruses are unwanted software programs or piece of codes that interfere with the
functioning of computer. They spread through contaminated files, data and insecure
networks. Once it enters your system it can replicate to produce copies of itself. These
copies of virus enable it to spreads from one program to other program of computer and
from one infected computer to other computer.

Types of Computer Virus

 Overwrite Virus
Overwrite virus is the simplest computer virus. It overwrites the code of infected file with its
own malicious code. The content of infected file is replaced partially or completely but the
size of file does not change.

 Macro Virus
Macro virus alters or infects the macros of a document or data file. It is embedded as macro
in a document and adds its codes to the macros of the document. The virus spreads when
infected documents or data files are opened in other computers.

 Boot Virus
Boot virus or boot sector virus alters the boot sector program stored in hard disk or any
other storage device. It replaces the boot sector program with its own malicious version.
Usually it enters into your system through corrupt media files, infected storage devices and
insecure computer networks.

 Resident Virus
Resident virus stays permanently in the primary memory (RAM) of computer. When you
start the computer it becomes active and corrupts the files and programs running on the
computer.
  Multipartite Virus
Multipartite virus spreads and infects in multiple ways. It infects both the files as well as the
boot sector.

 File Infector Virus

It is one of the commonly found computer viruses. It particularly infects the executable
files; the files with .com or .exe extensions. The virus becomes active when the infected file
is executed. The active virus overwrites the file partially or completely. Thus it may destroy
the original file partially or completely.

 Computer Worm
Computer worm is similar to virus but is technically different from virus. It can replicate and
spread like virus but unlike viruses it don't need a host program to spread. Being able to
self replicate it can produce multiple copies of itself. It spreads through networks such as an
email sent to an infected email id can infect your system with computer worm.

 Trojan Horse
Trojan horse is a malware like a virus or worm but it is technically different from both. It
can't replicate like virus and worm. Trojan horse hides itself in a program. Once you install
any such program the Trojan horse enters into your computer. It can provide unauthorized
access to your computer, send your files to other computers and may delete files or can
make other unwanted changes in your computer.