COMPUTER SYSTEMS:

A computer system is an integrated set of hardware and software designed to

process data and produces a meaningful result. Every computer performs the basic
functions of input, processing, storage, output, and transmission of data. Instructions
and data are entered, processed into results that are stored for later use, and output
in a useful format. Computers are connected to a larger network system for
transmission of data and information. Computer hardware is organized according to
these basic functions. The system unit focuses on processing, here as a variety of
peripheral devices facilitate input, output, storage, and communication.

DATA PROCESSING:

Collection, manipulation, and processing collected data for the required use is known
as data processing. It is a technique normally performed by a computer; the process
includes retrieving, transforming, or classification of information.

However, the processing of data largely depends on the following −

● The volume of data that need to be processed

● The complexity of data processing operations
● Capacity and inbuilt technology of respective computer system
● Technical skills
● Time constraints

Single User Programming

It is usually done by a single person for his personal use. This technique is suitable
even for small offices.

Multiple Programming

This technique provides facility to store and execute more than one program in
the Central Processing Unit (CPU) simultaneously. Further, the multiple

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 2

programming technique increases the overall working efficiency of the respective
computer.

Real-time Processing

This technique facilitates the user to have direct contact with the computer
system. This technique eases data processing. This technique is also known as the
direct mode or the interactive mode technique and is developed exclusively to
perform one task. It is a sort of online processing, which always remains under
execution.

On-line Processing

This technique facilitates the entry and execution of data directly; so, it does not
store or accumulate first and then process. The technique is developed in such a
way that reduces the data entry errors, as it validates data at various points and
also ensures that only corrected data is entered. This technique is widely used for
online applications.

Time-sharing Processing

This is another form of online data processing that facilitates several users to
share the resources of an online computer system. This technique is adopted
when results are needed swiftly. Moreover, as the name suggests, this system is
time based.

Following are some of the major advantages of time-sharing processing −

● Several users can be served simultaneously

● All the users have almost equal amount of processing time
● There is possibility of interaction with the running programs

Distributed Processing

This is a specialized data processing technique in which various computers (which

are located remotely) remain interconnected with a single host computer making
a network of computer.

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 3

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 4

Speed

A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared to humans
while performing mathematical calculations. Computers can process millions
(1,000,000) of instructions per second. The time taken by computers for their
operations is microseconds and nanoseconds.

Accuracy

Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy. Errors may occur due to data
inconsistency or inaccuracy.

Diligence

A computer can perform millions of tasks or calculations with the same

consistency and accuracy. It doesn’t feel any fatigue or lack of concentration. Its
memory also makes it superior to that of human beings.

Versatility

Versatility refers to the capability of a computer to perform different kinds of

works with same accuracy and efficiency.

Reliability

A computer is reliable as it gives consistent result for similar set of data i.e., if we
give same set of input any number of times, we will get the same result.

Automation

Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks without
manual intervention.

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 5

Memory

A computer has built-in memory called primary memory where it stores data.
Secondary storage are removable devices such as CDs, pen drives, etc., which are
also used to store data.

COMPUTER EVOLUTION TO PRESENT FORM

Computer devices with artificial potentiality are still in development, but some of
these technologies are commencing to emerge and be used such as voice
recognition. AI is an authenticity, made possible by adopting parallel processing
and superconductors. Inclining to the future, computers will be thoroughly
revolutionized again by quantum computation, molecular and nano technology.
The essence of fifth generation will be utilizing these technologies to ultimately
engender machines which can proceed and acknowledge natural language, and
have efficiency to determine and organise themselves.
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
Computers are devices that accomplish tasks or calculations in accordance to a set
of directions, or programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the
1940s, were voluminous devices that required teams of people to handle. In
comparison to those new machines, today’s computers are astounding. They are
not only thousands of times more expeditious, but also they can fit on your desk,
on your lap, or even in your pocket. Computers are such an integral part of our
everyday life now most people take them for granted.
Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. The whole
picture of the computer goes back to decades. However there are five apparent
generations of computers. Each generation is defined by a paramount
technological development that changes necessarily how computers operate –
leading to more compressed, inexpensive, but more dynamic, efficient and
booming machines.
First Generation – Vacuum Tubes (1940 – 1956)
These ancient computers utilized vacuum tubes as circuitry and magnetic drums
for recollection. As a result they were huge, actually taking up entire rooms and
costing resources to run. These were ineffective materials which produce a huge
amount of heat, sucked enormous electricity and subsequently engendered an
abundance of heat which caused perpetual breakdowns.

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 6

These first generation computers relied on ‘machine language’ (which is the most
fundamental programming language that can be understood by computers).
These computers were limited to solving one problem at a time. Input was
predicated on punched cards and paper tape. Output emerged on print-outs. The
two eminent machines of this era were the UNIVAC and ENIAC machines – the
UNIVAC is the first ever commercial computer which was purchased in 1951 by a
business named as the US Census Bureau.
Second Generation – Transistors (1956 – 1963)
The supersession of vacuum tubes by transistors, visualized the onset of the
second generation of computing. Although first invented in 1947, transistors
weren’t used considerably in computers until the cessation of the 1950s. They
were a huge development over the vacuum tube, despite the fact still subjecting
computers to destroying different levels of heat. However they were extremely
superior to the vacuum tubes, making computers smaller, more expeditious,
inexpensive and less burdensome on electricity use. They still count on punched
card for input/printouts.
The language emerged from strange binary language to symbolic (‘assembly’)
languages. These meant programmers could discover instructions in words.
Meanwhile during the same time high caliber programming languages were being
developed (early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN). Transistor-driven machines
were the first computers to store instructions into their recollections,
peregrinating from magnetic drum to magnetic core ‘technology’. The anticipatory
versions of these machines were created for the atomic energy industry.
Third Generation – Integrated Circuits (1964 – 1971)
By this phase, transistors were now being miniaturized and put on silicon chips.
This led to a huge improvement in speed and effectiveness of these machines.
These were the first computers where users interacted utilizing keyboards and
monitors which interfaced with an operating system, a consequential leap up from
the punch cards and printouts. This facilitated these machines to run various
applications at once utilizing a central program which functioned to monitor
memory.
As a result of these advances which again made machines more reasonable and
more tiny, a brand new group of users emerged during the ‘60s.
Fourth Generation – Microprocessors (1972 – 2010)
This innovation can be defined in one word: Intel. The chip-maker accomplished
the Intel 4004 chip in 1971, which located all components of computer such as
S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 7
CPU, recollection, input/output controls onto a single chip. What overcrowded a
room in the 1940s now gets fit in the palm of the hand.The Intel chip contained
thousands of unified circuits. The year 1981 saw the first ever computer (IBM)
categorically designed for home use and 1984 saw the Macintosh introduced by
Apple. Microprocessors even transformed beyond the realm of computers and
into an incrementing number of everyday products.
The incremented power of these small computers denoted they could be linked,
establishing networks. Which eventually led to the expansion, birth and rapid
evolution of the Internet. Other primary advances during this period have been
the Graphical user interface (GUI), the mouse and more of late the startling
advances in laptop capability and hand-held contrivances.
Fifth Generation – Artificial Intelligence (2010 Onwards)
Computer devices with artificial potentiality are still in development, but some of
these technologies are commencing to emerge and be used such as voice
recognition. AI is an authenticity, made possible by adopting parallel processing
and superconductors. Inclining to the future, computers will be thoroughly
revolutionized again by quantum computation, molecular and nano technology.
The essence of fifth generation will be utilizing these technologies to ultimately
engender machines which can proceed and acknowledge natural language, and
have efficiency to determine and organise themselves.

BASIC COMPUTER ORGANIZATION:

Basic Operations of a Computer System

1. Inputting
2. Processing
3. Outputting
4. Storing
5. Controlling

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 8

Input Unit

Inputting is a basic operation of a computer system. This is the act of feeding in

the data and instruction to the computer (by computer here it means the
processing unit).

A computer system consists of different functional units and Input Unit does the
operation of Inputting. By inputting you should understand that it is to send data
and/or instruction to the computer in the required format. Information and
programs are entered into the computer through Input devices such as the
keyboard, disks, or through other computers via network connections or modems
connected to the Internet.

The input device also retrieves information off disks. Because Computers work
with bits, there should be some mechanism to make data understandable by CPU
(the process is called encoding) and also the information produced by CPU must
be converted to the human readable form (called decoding). Input Unit devices
take care of encoding.

The devices that help you to input data and instructions are known as Input
Devices. Keyboard, Mouse, Light Pen, JoyStick, Scanners, Microphone etc are
some examples of input unit devices. The devices that can send data directly to
the CPU or which does not need to encode it before sending to CPU are

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 9

considered Direct Entry Input Devices such as scanners. Devices such as a
keyboard which require encoding data so that it is in the form a CPU can
understand are Indirect Entry Input Devices.

Processing Unit

The task of performing calculations and comparisons are known as processing.

The unit in Computer System that is responsible for processing is ALU (Arithmetic
and Logical Unit). ALU is the place where actual execution of the instructions takes
place during the processing operations. All calculations & comparisons are made
in the ALU. The data and instructions stored in the primary storage are transferred
to it as when required. ALU may produce Intermediate results and store it in the
memory which is also transferred back to the ALU for the final processing. After
completion of processing the final results are send to storage units from ALU.

Output Unit

This unit takes care of receiving processed information from processing unit and
present it to the user in the suitable form.

A computer produces results in binary form and output unit does decoding to
make it usable to the users. The devices that can output information from a
computer are known as output unit devices. Monitors, Speakers, Projectors are
soft output devices whereas printers, plotters produce hard copy output. Soft
copy output is something that is temporary or is available only as long as the
output device is turned on. Contrary to these are hard copy output which is
permanent. The printout in a paper is not lost because the printer is turned off!

Storage Unit

Before actual processing start, data & instructions entered to the computer must
be stored somewhere inside the computer. Similarly, results produced by the
computer are required to be stored before it is passed to the output unit. The
intermediate result produced by the computer must also be stored for further
processing. Thus the importance of storage Unit in a computer system is vital.

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 10

Based on whether the storage device is inside the main machine or not, it can be
internal or external storage. Similarly, looking at whether the storage device works
close with CPU or works as backup media, they can be primary storage or
secondary storage. Primary storage is also called primary memory. Secondary
storage is known by other names such as backup storage or secondary memory.
For the storage purpose, a computer system may have different devices such as
registers, cache, RAM/ROM, flash, magnetic disks, optical disks and so on.

Control Unit

ALU dose does not know what should be done with the data likewise, output unit
dose not know when the result should be displayed. By selecting, interning and
seeing to the execution of the program the CU is able to maintain order and direct
the operations of the entire system. CU doesn't perform any actual processing on
data yet it is known as a central nervous system for the comforts of the computer.
It manages and coordinates the entire system.

BASIC ORGANIZATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

1. central processing unit

2. Arithmetic and logic unit
3. input unit
4. output unit

Explanation:

CPU : CPU is a brain of computer. It controls the computer system. It converts data
to information.

ALU : This is a part of CPU. It consists of two units. one is arithmetic unit and
another one is logic unit. Arithmetic and logical operation are performed in this
part.

Input and Output unit : This unit controls input and output devices. input devices
are keyboard, mouse etc.. and output devices are printer, monitor, plotter,

S B S ARTS, COMMERCE AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN BCA DEPARTMENTPage 11