BES 10a - COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND PROGRAMMING LESSON 01

COMPUTER
ORGANIZATION
INTRODUCTION
COMPUTER
A computer can be defined as a fast electronic
calculating machine that accepts the (data)
digitized input information, process it as per the
list of internally stored instructions and produces
the resulting information.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF
COMPUTERS
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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS
• Speed: Computer performs its data processing operation at a
very high speed. The speed of the computer is measured in Hertz
(Hz). A computer with speed rating of Mega Hertz (MHz) can
perform millions of cycle of operation per second.

• Accuracy: Computer gives accurate result as long as the correct

data is keyed into it.

• Versatility: computer can be used to perform various kinds of

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task e.g. graphic design, word processing, web development etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS
• Reliability/Durability: Computers do not get tired like human; they can
work continuously for days and weeks without any error.

• Memory and storage: Computer can store large amount of data and
information. The capacity of the memory/storage device is measured in
bytes. A byte is a group of eight bits. A kilobyte (KB) is 1024 bytes. A
megabyte (MB) is 1,000,024 bytes.

• Programmable: The computer hardware is useless without the program

that controls it. Thus, all tasks and activities performed by a computer
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are made possible by means of a program.

CLASSIFICATION OF
COMPUTERS
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 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

TYPE SIZE AND PURPOSE

CAPACITY

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BY TYPE
ANALOGUE DIGITAL HYBRID
COMPUTERS COMPUTERS COMPUTERS

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ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
These computers represent data/information in a continuous form.
That is there are no breaks during signal transmission. They represent
information by processing measurable physical quantities.

Examples of analog computers:

– Speedometer
– Thermometer
– Conventional watch
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DIGITAL COMPUTERS
These are computers that represent data /information in a binary form.
That is they represent signals in just two states. 0s and 1s are used during
data communication.

Examples of digital computers:

– Desktop computers
– Laptop computers
– Mobile phones
– iPads
– iPhones
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– Scientific calculator
HYBRID COMPUTERS
These computers exhibit features of analogue computers and digital
computers.
The digital component normally serves as the controller and provides logical
operations, while the analogue component normally serves as a solver of
different equations.

Examples of hybrid computers:

– Automated teller machine (ATM)
– Electrocardiogram
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BY SIZE AND CAPACITY
There are five main groups under this category:

1. Supercomputers
2. Mainframe computers
3. Minicomputers
4. Workstations
5. Microcomputers/Personal Computers

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SUPERCOMPUTERS
- Supercomputers are the most powerful
(fastest) computers.
- Very expensive and use for specialized
applications that require immense amount of
mathematical calculations.
- Because of their size and expense,
supercomputers are relatively rare.
- Supercomputers are used by universities,
government agencies, and large businesses.
- Applications – weather forecasting, nuclear
energy research and animated graphics etc.
- Supercomputers
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designed primarily by Seymour Cray.
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
- Mainframe computers can
support hundreds or
thousands of users, handling
massive amounts of input,
output and storage.
- Mainframe computers are
used in large organizations
where many users need
access to shared data and
programs (census data
processing and banking data
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processing).
- Very large and expensive.
MINI COMPUTERS
- Lie between workstations and
mainframes.
- Minicomputers may be used
as network servers and
Internet servers.
- Minicomputers usually have
multiple terminals.
- A minicomputer is a
multiprocessing system
capable of supporting from 4
to about 200 users
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simultaneously.
WORKSTATIONS
- Workstations are powerful single-user
computers.
- Workstations are used for tasks that require a
great deal of number-crunching power, such as
product design and computer animation.
- Workstations are often used as network and
Internet servers.
- In terms of computing power, workstations lie
between personal computers and
minicomputers, although the line is fuzzy on
both ends. High-end personal computers are
equivalent to low-end workstations. And high-
end workstations are equivalent to
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minicomputers.
MICROCOMPUTERS/
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
- Microcomputers are more commonly known as
personal computers. The term "PC" is applied to IBM-
PCs or compatible computers.
- Full-size desktop computers are the most common
type of PC.
- Notebook (laptop) computers are used by people who
need the power of a desktop system, but also
portability.
- Handheld PCs (such as PDAs) lack the power of a
desktop or notebook PC, but offer features for users
who need limited functions and small size.
- A microcomputer contains a CPU on a microchip (the
microprocessor),
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a memory system (typically ROM and
RAM), a bus system and I/O ports, typically housed in a
motherboard.
BY PURPOSE
Computers can also be classified according to the purpose or application. There are two
main groups under this category: Special purpose and General purpose

SPECIAL PURPOSE - A computer is said to be special purpose if it is designed to solve a

specific class of problem for which it was made.
Examples of special purpose computers
- Computers for chemical processes.
- Computers in digital watches

GENERAL PURPOSE - A general purpose computer is not limited to the number of

applications it can be used for.
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FUNCTIONAL UNITS

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FUNCTIONAL UNITS
A computer consists of 5 functionally independent main
parts:
1. Input
2. Memory
INPUT ARITHMETIC
3. Arithmetic & Logic (ALU) AND LOGIC
4. Output
5. Control Units MEMORY
OUTPUT
CONTROL

I/O PROCESSOR
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FUNCTIONAL UNITS
A computer consists of 5 functionally independent main parts:
1. Input - The computer accepts the information in the form of program & data through an
input device.

2. Memory - This unit is used to store programs & data.

There are 2 classes of storage:
A. Primary-storage is a fast-memory that operates at electronic-speed.
Programs must be stored in the memory while they are being executed.
B. Secondary-storage is used when large amounts of data & many programs have
to be stored. Eg: magnetic disks and optical disks(CD-ROMs).

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FUNCTIONAL UNITS
A computer consists of 5 functionally independent main parts:

3. Arithmetic & Logic (ALU) - This unit is used for performing arithmetic & logical
operations.

4. Output - This unit is used to send processed-results to the outside world.

5. Control Units - This unit is used for controlling the activities of the other units (such as
memory, I/O device).
• This unit sends control-signals (read/write) to other units and senses their states.
• Data transfers between processor and memory are also controlled by the control-unit
through timing-signals.
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• Timing-signals are signals that determine when a given action is to take place.
ORGANIZATION &
ARCHITECTURE OF
COMPUTERS
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Organization and Architecture
Computer organization and architecture is the study of
the computer internal working. The Architecture of the
computer likes a catalog of the available tools for the
operating system, while the Organization is the way of
how the system is structured, in order to use all these
tools.
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COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
- refers to the attributes of a system those visible to the
programmer such as:
a. Instruction set
b. Number of bits used to represent data (number,
characters),
c. I/O mechanisms
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Techniques for addressing memory
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION
- refers to the operational units and their
interconnections, such as:
a. Hardware details those are transparent to the
programmer such as control signal
b. Interfaces between the computer and peripherals
c. Memory technology used.
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STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
• A computer is a complex system that contains millions of elementary
electronic components. The hierarchical nature of complex systems is
essential to both their design and their description. A hierarchical system is
a set of interrelated subsystems.

• At a time, the designer needs to deal with a particular level from the
hierarchical structure. The behaviors of each level depends on the
characteristics of the next lower level. At each level, the designer is
concerned with structure and function.
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STRUCTURE
- means the way in which the components are
interrelated.
FUNCTION
- means the operation of each individual components as
a part of the structure.
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FUNCTION
- The basic functions those can be
performed by the computer are:

1. Data processing
2. Data storage
3. Data movement
4. Control

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FUNCTION – DATA PROCESSING

The computer must be able to process

data. The data may take a wide variety
of forms, and the range of processing
requirements is broad. However, there
are only a few fundamental methods or
types of data processing.
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FUNCTION – DATA STORAGE
It is also essential that a computer store data.
Even if the computer is processing data on the fly,
the computer must temporarily store at least those
pieces of data that are being worked on at any
given moment. Thus, there is at least a short-term
data storage function. Equally important, the
computer performs a long-term data storage
function

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FUNCTION – DATA MOVEMENT
The computer must be able to move data between itself
and the outside world. The computer’s operating
environment consists of devices that serve as either
sources or destinations of data.

When data are received from or delivered to a device that

is directly connected to the computer, the process is known
as input output (I/O), and the device is referred to as a
peripheral.

When data are moved over longer distances, to or from a

remote device, the process is known as data communications.
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FUNCTION – CONTROL
Finally, there must be control of these three
functions. Ultimately, this control is exercised
by the individual(s) who provides the
computer with instructions. Within the
computer, a control unit manages the
computer’s resources and orchestrates the
performance of its functional parts in response
to those instructions.
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The number of possible operations that can be performed is few, figure(2) shows four
possible types of operations:

The computer can function It can also function as a data Data processing from/to Data processing from the
as a data movement device storage device, as shown in storage as shown in Figure storage to the external
as shown in Fig. (a) by Fig. (b), with data transferred (c) environment (I/O) as shown
simply transferring data from from the external in Figure (d).
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peripheral or environment to computer
communication line to storage (read) and vice
another. versa (write)
STRUCTURE
Figure 1.3 is the simplest possible
depiction of a computer. The
computer interacts in some fashion
with its external environment. In
general, all of its linkages to the
external environment can be
classified as peripheral devices or
communication lines.

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THE
COMPUTER:
TOP-LEVEL
STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
THE COMPUTER: TOP-LEVEL
STRUCTURE

The internal
structure of the
computer itself,
which is shown in
Figure (4). There
are four main
structural
components

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THE COMPUTER: TOP-LEVEL STRUCTURE
The internal structure of the computer itself, which is shown in Figure (4). There are four
main structural components:

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) - Controls the operation of the computer and
performs its data processing functions; often simply referred to as processor

MAIN MEMORY - Stores data

I/O - Moves data between the computer and its external environment.

SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION - Some mechanism that provides for communication

among CPU, main memory, and I/O
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1. CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

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1. CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
The major structural components in the CPU, as shown in Fig.(5), are as
follows:
• Control unit: Controls the operation of the CPU and hence the
computer.
• Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU): Performs the computer’s data
processing functions.
• Registers: Provides storage internal to the CPU.
• CPU interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for
communication among the control unit, ALU, and registers
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1.1 THE CONTROL UNIT

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ACTIVITY M01

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