EC-110 Computing Fundamentals

Introduction to Computer Systems

FALL - 2016

Department of Electrical Engineering

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Overview
● Parts of Computer System
> Hardware > Software
> Data > User
● Information Processing Cycle
● Essential Computer Hardware
● Processing Devices
● Memory Devices
● RAM
● ROM
● Input and Output Devices
● Storage Devices
● Magnetic Storage
● Optical Storage
Parts of the Computer System
● Computer systems have four parts
● Hardware
● Software
● Data
● User
● Hardware
● Mechanical devices in the computer
● Anything that can be touched
● Interconnected electronic devices used to control
computer‟s operations, input, output
● Referred to as device
Parts of the Computer System
● Software
● Set of instructions which make the computer work
● Tell the computer what to do
● Also called a program
● Thousands of programs exist
● Some to help computer perform its tasks and
manage its resources, others to help users perform
their tasks such as creating documents
Parts of the Computer System
● Data
● Pieces of information that by themselves do not
make much sense
● Computer processes them in various ways,
converting them to useful information
● Computer organize and present data
● Users
● People operating the computer
● Most important part
● Tell the computer what to do
● No system is completely autonomous
Information Processing Cycle
Steps followed to process data
● A computer converts data into information by
performing various operations on data according
to some instructions from a program, displays
results to user and stores them
● This is called Information Processing Cycle
● Following are the step, and each involves one or
more specific components of computer
● Input
● Processing
● Output
● Storage optional
Essential Computer Hardware
● Computers use the same basic hardware
● Hardware categorised into four types
● Processor, Memory, Input/Output, Storage
Processing devices
● Process that converts raw data into useful
information is called ‘Processing’
● To perform this computer needs two components:
● Processor
● Memory
● Processor is Brain of the computer
● PC generally has one or more specialized chips called
‘Microprocessor’
● These are slivers of silicon etched with many
electronic circuits
● Carries out instructions from the program
● To process instructions computer passes electricity
through these circuits
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● Processor is called CPU “Central Processing
Unit”
● Microprocessor is plugged into computer‟s
motherboard
● “Motherboard” is rigid rectangular card
containing circuitry connecting processor to
other hardware
● It can be thought of as a master circuit board
Essential Computer Hardware
● Memory devices
● Stores data or programs permanently or
temporarily
● Two most important types are:
● Random Access Memory (RAM)
● Read Only Memory (ROM)

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Random Access Memory (RAM)
● Volatile
● As the program is launched it is loaded into and
● run from memory
Similarly when data is entered it is entered into
● memory
Therefore it is called read/ write memory
● Made up of chips mounted on a circuit board
● Stores current data and programs
● More RAM results in a faster system
● Measured in Bytes
Read Only Memory (ROM)
● Permanent storage of programs even if computer
is shut down
● Called „Non-Volatile‟ memory
● Holds the computer boot directions
● Whenever computer starts it checks ROM for
directions that help it start up and for info about
hardware devices
Essential Computer Hardware
● Input and output devices
● Allows the user to interact
● Input devices accept data
● Keyboard, mouse
● Output devices deliver data
● Monitor, printer, speaker
● Some devices are input and output
● Touch screens
● Communication devices

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Essential Computer Hardware
● Storage devices
● Hold data and programs permanently
● Different from RAM
● Magnetic storage
● Floppy and hard drive
● Uses a magnet to access data
● Optical storage
● CD and DVD drives
● Uses a laser to access data

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Software Runs The Machine
● Tells the computer what to do
● A set of instructions that drive a computer to
perform tasks is called a „Program‟
● When a computer uses a particular program it is
said to be „running‟ or „executing‟ that program
● Two types
● System software
● Application software

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Software Runs The Machine
● System software
● Any program that controls computer‟s hardware or
used to maintain it and run in an efficient way
● Most important software
● Three basic types
● Operating system
● Network operating system (OS)
● Utility

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● Operating system
● Tells computer how to use its own components
● Windows XP, Macintosh, Linux
● Essential for any computer as it acts as an
interpreter between hardware, application
programs and the user
● Network operating system (OS)
● Allows computers to communicate and share data
across a network
● Windows Server 2003
● Utility
● It is a program that makes computer system
easier to use or perform highly specialized
functions
● AntiVirus
Software Runs The Machine
● Application Software
● Accomplishes a specific task
● Most common type of software
● MS Word, power point, games
● Covers most common uses of computers

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Computer data
● Stored using the binary number system
● Computerized data is ‘digital’
● Data can be organized into ‘files’
● File is simply a set of data with a name
● File that user can open and use is often called a
‘document’
● Programs can also be organized as files

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Computer Users
● Personal computers are specifically designed to
work with human users
● Some people think of computers as intelligent
devices but in sense no computer is completely
autonomous
● Computer can take on various Roles
● Setup the system
● Install software
● Running programs
● Mange files
● Maintain the system

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Userless Computers
● Require no human interaction once they have
been setup, programmed, installed and started
up
● Examples might be many home appliances,
security systems, communication systems
● Run with no user input
● Automated systems
● Typically controlled by operating systems
Interacting with Your
Computer

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 Overview Of Input Devices
● Used to input data to computer
● If computer is brain, input devices are sensory organs
● Keyboard and Mouse
● Devices for Hand
> Pens > Touch screens
> Game controllers
● Optical Input Devices
> Bar Code Readers > Image Scanners and OCRs
● Audio Visual Input Devices
● Microphones
● Other Audio Inputs (Musical Instruments)
● Video Inputs
● Digital Cameras
The Keyboard
● The most common input device
● Must be proficient with keyboard
● Skill is called keyboarding
● Has 100 plus keys
● Each key sends different signal to CPU

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Standard Keyboard Layout
● Alphanumeric Keys
● Modifier Keys
● Numeric Keypad
● Function Keys
● Direction Keys Special
● Purpose Keys
Standard Keyboard Layout
The Keyboard
● How keyboard works
● Keyboard controller detects a key press
● Places a code into part of its memory called
keyboard buffer
● Controller sends code to the CPU through system
software
● Code represents the key pressed
● Controller notifies the operating system
● Operating system responds
● Controller repeats the letter if held too long
● Setting for it is called „repeat rate‟

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The Mouse
● Allows users to select objects
● Pointer moved by the mouse
● Pointer is an on screen object

● Mechanical mouse
● Has a rubber ball connected to rollers and
sensors
● Sensors send signals to computer
● Rubber ball determines distance, direction and
speed
● The ball often requires cleaning

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The Mouse
● Optical mouse
● Light shown onto mouse pad
● Reflection determines speed and direction
● Requires little maintenance

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The Mouse
● Interacting with a mouse
● Actions involve pointing to an object
● Clicking selects the object
● Clicking and holding drags the object
● Releasing an object is a drop
● Right clicking activates the shortcut menu
● Modern mouse include a scroll wheel

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The Mouse
● Benefits
● Pointer positioning is fast
● Menu interaction is easy
● Users can draw electronically

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Variants of the Mouse
● Trackballs
● Upside down mouse
● Hand rests on the ball
● User moves the ball
● Uses little desk space

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Variants of the Mouse
● Track pads
● Stationary pointing
device
● Small plastic
rectangle
● Finger moves across
the pad
● Popular on laptops

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Variants of the Mouse
● Track point
● Little joystick on the keyboard
● Move pointer by moving the joystick

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 Devices for the Hand
● Pen based input
● Tablet PCs, PDA
● Pen used to write data
● Pen used as a pointer
● As a tapping device
● Handwriting recognition
● On screen keyboard
● Used for short notes
taking, inputting
signatures, delivering
orders

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Devices for the hand
● Touch Screens
● Sensors (either
Capacitive|Resistive)
determine where
finger points
● Sensors create an X,Y
coordinate
● Usually presents a
menu to users
● Found in dirty
environments

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Devices for the hand
● Game Controllers
● Enhances gaming experience
● Provide custom input to the game
● Modern controllers offer feedback
● Joystick
● Game pad

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Optical Input Devices
● Allows the computer to see input
● Bar Code Readers
● Converts bar codes to numbers
● Computer find number in a database
● Works by reflecting light
● Amount of reflected light indicates number

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Optical Input Devices
● Image Scanners
● Converts printed media into electronic
● Reflects light of the image
● Sensors read the intensity
● Filters determine color depths

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Optical input devices
● Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
● Converts scanned text into editable text
● Each letter is scanned
● Letters are compared to known letters
● Best match is entered into document
● Rarely 100% accurate

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Audiovisual Input Devices
● Microphones
● A sound card is a device which translates analogue
audio signals to digital (a process called digitizing)
and vice versa
● Used to record speech
● Speech recognition
● “Understands” human speech
● Allows dictation or control of computer
● Matches spoken sound to known phonemes
● Enters best match into document

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Audiovisual Input Devices
● Musical Instrument Digital Interface
● MIDI
● Connects musical instruments to computer
● Digital recording or playback of music
● Musicians can produce professional results

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Audiovisual Input Devices
● Video Input
● Uses PC video Camera
● Digitizes the image by breaking it into pixels
● Its color and other characteristics are stored as
digital code
● Usually now Webcam is used
● Using Video capture cards other video devices can
also be connected

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Audiovisual Input Devices
● Digital cameras
● Captures images electronically
● No film is needed
● Image is stored as a JPG file
● Memory cards store the images
● Used in a variety of professions

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Overview
● Computer Defined
● Computers for Individual Users
● Computers for Organizations
● Computers in Society
 The Computer Defined
● Electronic device
● Converts data into
information
● Any computer regardless
of its type, is controlled by
instructions, which tell it
what to do.
● Digital Computers
● Analogue Computers
● Can be categorized on
different basis
● Modern computers are digital
● They are so called because they work by the
numbers
● Digital systems represent data as one distinct
value or the other
● Break all types of info into tiny units, works on
them and again combine them to represent info
● Work in a strict manner by processing these units
individually and in organized way
● Older computers were analog
● A range of values made data
● Somewhat more flexible but not necessarily more
precise and reliable
 Computers For Individual Use
● Some computers are meant to be used by one person
at a time
● This category includes:
● Desktop computers
● Workstations
● Notebook computers
● Tablet computers
● Handheld computers
● Smart phones
● PCs are also called microcomputers for their size
● Although used by individuals but can be part of
networks
Computers For Individual Use
● Desktop computers
● The most common type of computer
● Sits on the desk or floor
● Performs a variety of tasks
● Has a system unit
● Might be horizontal or vertical
● Workstations
● Specialized computers
● Optimized for science or graphics
● More powerful than a desktop
Computers For Individual Use
● Notebook computers
● Small portable
computers
● Weighs between 3
and 8 pounds
● About 8 ½ by 11
inches
● Typically as powerful
as a desktop
● Can include a docking
station
Computers For Individual Use
● Tablet computers
● Newest development
in portable computers
● Input is through
a pen called stylus or
digital pen
● Run specialized
versions of office
products
Computers For Individual Use
● Handheld computers
● Very small computers
● Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
● Note taking or contact management
● Data can synchronize with a desktop
● Smart phones
● Hybrid of cell phone and PDA
● Web surfing, e-mail access
Computers For Organizations
● Some computers handle the needs for many
people at the same time
● Such systems normally lie at the heart of
organizations network
● Some are generic and some are special purpose
● People generally access them through terminals
● They include:
● Network Servers
● Mainframe Computers
● Minicomputers
● Supercomputers
Computers For Organizations
● Network servers
● Centralized computer
● All other computers connect
● Provides access to network resources
● Multiple servers are called clusters or server farms
● Often simply a powerful desktop
● Or might be mounted on in large racks or reduced
to small units called Blades
● Different servers may have different purposes
Computers For Organizations
● Mainframes
● Used in large organizations
● Handle thousands
of users
● Users access through a
terminal
● Two types of terminals
● Dumb terminal! only for
input and output data
● Intelligent terminal!
performs some processing but
usually doesn‟t have any
storage
Computers For Organizations
● Minicomputers
● Called midrange computers
● Power between mainframe and desktop
● Handle hundreds of users
● Used in smaller organizations
● Users access through a terminal
Computers For Organizations
● Supercomputers
● The most powerful
computers made
● Handle large and
complex calculations
● Process trillions of
operations per second
● Found in research
organizations
Computers In Society
● More impact than any other invention
● Changed work and leisure activities
● Used by all demographic groups
● Computers are important because:
● Provide information to users
● Information is critical to our society
● Managing information is difficult
Computers In Society
● Computers at home
● Many homes have multiple computers
● Most American homes have Internet
● Computers are used for
● Business
● Entertainment
● Communication
● Education
Computers In Society
● Computers in education
● Computer literacy required at all levels
● Computers in small business
● Makes businesses more profitable
● Allows owners to manage
● Computers in industry
● Computers are used to design products
● Assembly lines are automated
Computers In Society
● Computers in government
● Necessary to track data for population
● Police officers
● Tax calculation and collection
● Governments were the first computer users
Computers In Society
● Computers in health care
● Revolutionized health care
● New treatments possible
● Scheduling of patients has improved
● Delivery of medicine is safer