University A.

Mira of Bejaia
Faculty of Exact Sciences.
Department of Computer Science.
Level: second year
Module: Technical English

Chapter one: Introduction to computer

01/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 use1.

02/Functionalities of a computer2
Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross terms:

03/Computer Components
Any kind of computers consists of HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.

a/ 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.

Input Devices
Input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment to provide data
and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other
information appliance. Such as : mouse, keyboard.

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Example of Input
Devices:- 2. Mouse (pointing 3. Microphone
1. Keyboard device)

4. Touch screen 5. Scanner 6. Webcam

7. Touchpads 8. MIDI keyboard 9.

10. Graphics Tablets 11. Cameras 12. Pen Input

13. Video Capture 14. Microphone 15. Trackballs

Hardware

16. Barcode reader 17. Digital camera 18. Joystick

19. Gamepad 20. Electronic Whiteboard

Output devices:
An output device is a piece of computer hardware used to extract information (data) from
the computer.

Example on Output Devices:

2. LCD Projection Panels
1. Monitor

3. Printers (all types) 4. Computer Output Microfilm

(COM)

5.Speaker(s)
6. Projector

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1-Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A CPU is brain of a computer. It is responsible for all functions and processes.
Regarding computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer
system.

The CPU is comprised of three main parts :

* Arithmetic Logic Unit (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.
1. Read the code for the next instruction to be executed.
2. Increment the program counter so it points to the next instruction.
3. Read whatever data the instruction requires from cells in memory.
4. Provide the necessary data to an ALU or register.
5. If the instruction requires an ALU or specialized hardware to complete, instruct
the hardware to perform the requested operation.
* Registers :Stores the data that is to be executed next, "very fast storage area".

2-Main Memory:-
1. RAM: Random Access Memory (RAM) is a memory scheme within the computer
system responsible for storing data on a temporary basis, so that it can be promptly
accessed by the processor as and when needed. It is volatile in nature, which means
that data will be erased once supply to the storage device is turned off. RAM stores
data randomly and the processor accesses these data randomly from the RAM
storage.
2. ROM (Read Only Memory): 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.

b/Software:
Software is a generic term for organized collections of computer data and instructions,
often broken into two major categories: system software that provides the basic non-
task-specific functions of the computer, and application software which is used by
users to accomplish specific tasks.

04/Computers classification***
Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows, though there is
Considerable overlap:
• Personal computer: A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In
addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering
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 data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data.
• 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.
• minicomputer : A multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds
of users simultaneously.
• mainframe : A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many
hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
• supercomputer : An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of
millions of instructions per second.

Laptop and Smartphone Computers

LAPTOP: A laptop is a battery or AC-powered personal computer that can be easily
carried and used in a variety of locations. Many laptops are designed to
have all of the functionality of a desktop computer, whichmeans they can
generally run the same software and open the same types of files. However,
some laptops, such as netbooks, sacrifice some functionality in order to be
even more portable.
Netbook: A netbook is a type of laptop that is designed to be even more portable.
Netbooks are often cheaper than laptops or desktops. They are generally less
powerful than other types of computers, but they provide enough power for
email and internet access, which is where the name "netbook" comes from.
Mobile Device: A mobile device is basically any handheld computer. It is designed to
be extremely portable, often fitting in the palm of your hand or in your pocket.
Some mobile devices are more powerful, and they allow you to do many of

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 the same things you can do with a desktop or laptop computer. These include
tablet computers, e-readers, and smartphones.

Tablet Computers: Like laptops, tablet computers are designed to be portable.

However, they provide a very different computing experience. The most
obvious difference is that tablet computers don't have keyboards or touchpads.
Instead, the entire screen is touch-sensitive, allowing you to type on a virtual
keyboard and use your finger as a mouse pointer. Tablet computers are mostly
designed for consuming media, and they are optimized for tasks like web
browsing, watching videos, reading e-books, and playing games. For many
people, a "regular" computer like a desktop or laptop is still needed in order
to use some programs. However, the convenience of a tablet computer means
that it may be ideal as a second computer.

Smartphones: A smartphone is a powerful mobile phone that is designed to run a

variety of applications in addition to phone service. They are basically small
tablet computers, and they can be used for web browsing, watching videos,
reading e-books, playing games and more.

05/Data, Information and Knowledge

Data: Facts and figures which relay something specific, but which are not organized
in any way and which provide no further information regarding patterns, context, etc.
So data means "unstructured facts and figures that have the least impact on the typical
manager."

Information: For data to become information, it must be contextualized, categorized,

calculated and condensed. Information thus paints a bigger picture; it is data with
relevance and purpose. It may convey a trend in the environment, or perhaps indicate
a pattern of sales for a given period of time. Essentially information is found "in
answers to questions that begin with such words as who, what, where, when, and how
many".

Knowledge: Knowledge is closely linked to doing and implies know-how and

understanding. The knowledge possessed by each individual is a product of his
experience, and encompasses the norms by which he evaluates new inputs from his
surroundings.

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The content of the human mind can be classified into four categories:
1. Data: symbols
2. Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to "who", "what",
"where", and "when" questions
3. Knowledge: application of data and information; answers "how" questions
4. Wisdom: evaluated understanding.
We need to understand that processing data produced Information and process
Information produces Knowledge and so on
06/Characteristics of Computer
Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability and versatility are some of the key
characteristics of a computer. A brief overview of these characteristics are
• Speed: The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions of instructions
per second. Some calculations that would have taken hours and days to
complete otherwise, can be completed in a few seconds using the computer.
weather forecasting that requires analysis of a large amount of data related to
temperature, pressure and humidity of various places, etc.
• Accuracy: Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For example, the computer
can accurately give the result of division of any two numbers up to 10 decimal
places.
• Diligence: When used for a longer period of time, the computer does not get tired or
fatigued. It can perform long and complex calculations with the same speed and
accuracy from the start till the end.
• Storage Capability: Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the
computer and also retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of data can
be stored, temporarily, in the primary memory. Secondary storage devices like
floppy disk and compact disk can store a large amount of data permanently.
• Versatility: Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform different types of tasks
with the same ease. At one moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter
document and in the next moment you may play music or print a document.
Computers have several limitations too. Computer can only perform tasks that
it has been programmed to do.

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Computer cannot do any work without instructions from the user. It executes instructions
as specified by the user and does not take its own decisions.