Advanced computer

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 Basics of Computer

• Computers are fascinating machines that have revolutionized the

way we live, work, and learn. Understanding their basic
components and how they work is a great first step into the digital
world.

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What is computer ?
• A computer is an electronic device that accepts data from the user,
processes it, produces results, displays them to the users, and
stores the results for future usage.
• Data is a collection of unorganized facts & and figures and does not
provide any further information regarding patterns, context, etc.
Hence data means “unstructured facts and figures”.
• Information is structured data i.e. organized meaningful and
processed data. To process the data and convert it into information,
a computer is used.
Computer Organization
• Imagine a computer as a well-organized office. The main
components are:
• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The brain of the computer,
responsible for processing information and making decisions.
Think of it as the CEO, giving orders and overseeing all operations.
• The central processing unit (CPU)
• The CPU in modern computers is the embodiment of the "mill" in
Babbage's difference engine. The term central processing unit
originated way back in the mists of computer time when a single
massive cabinet contained the circuitry required to interpret
machine level program instructions and perform operations on the
data supplied. The central processing unit also completed all
processing for any attached peripheral devices. Peripherals included
printers, card readers, and early storage devices such as drum and
disk drives. Modern peripheral devices have a significant amount of
processing power themselves and off-load some processing tasks
from the CPU. This frees the CPU up from input/output tasks so that
its power is applied to the primary task at hand.
Memory
• Memory: The computer's short-term storage, holding data and
instructions currently being used by the CPU. Think of it as the desk
where the CEO keeps important documents for immediate use.
• What is RAM on a computer?
• RAM (random access memory) is a computer's short-term memory, where
the data that the processor is currently using is stored. Your computer can
access RAM much faster than data on a hard disk, SSD, or other long-term
storage device, which is why RAM capacity is critical for system performance.
• What does RAM stand for?
• RAM stands for random access memory, and it’s one of the most
fundamental elements of computing. RAM is a temporary memory bank
where your computer stores data it needs to retrieve quickly. RAM keeps
data easily accessible so your processor can quickly find it without having to
go into long-term storage to complete immediate processing tasks.
• Storage: The computer's long-term storage, holding data and instructions not
currently needed by the CPU. Think of it as the filing cabinets where the
Storage
company keeps old records and archives.
• HDD and SSD Explained
• The traditional spinning hard drive is the basic non-volatile storage on a computer.
That is, information on it doesn't "go away" when you turn off the system, unlike
data stored in RAM. A hard drive is essentially a metal platter with a magnetic
coating that stores your data, whether weather reports from the last century, a
high-definition copy of the original Star Wars trilogy, or your digital music collection.
A read/write head on an arm (or a set of them) accesses the data while the platters
are spinning.
• An SSD performs the same basic function as a hard drive, but data is instead stored
on interconnected flash-memory chips that retain the data even when there's no
power flowing through them. These flash chips (often dubbed "NAND") are of a
different type than the kind used in USB thumb drives, and are typically faster and
more reliable. SSDs are consequently more expensive than USB thumb drives of the
same capacities.
• Input Devices: Tools used to provide information to the computer, like
keyboards, mice, and scanners. Imagine them as the employees
bringing in data and instructions for the CEO to process.
• Output Devices: Tools used to display information processed by the
computer, like monitors, printers, and speakers. Think of them as the
employees presenting the results of the CEO's work to the outside
world.
Input and Output Devices:
• We interact with computers through various input and output devices. Some common ones
include:
• Input Devices:
• Keyboard: Used for typing text and commands.
• Mouse: Used for pointing, clicking, and scrolling.
• Touchpad: Similar to a mouse but built into laptops for direct touch control.
• Scanner: Digitizes physical documents and images.
• Microphone: Captures audio for voice commands or recording.
• Webcam: Captures video for video conferencing or streaming.
Output Devices:
• Monitor: Displays visual information like text, images, and videos.
• Printer: Prints physical copies of documents and images.
• Speakers: Produce audio for music, videos, and system sounds.
• Headphones: Provide personal audio output without disturbing others.
• Software is the set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It
is like the recipe that tells the computer how to cook up a particular
task. There are two main types of software:
• System software: This is the software that controls the basic operations
of the computer, such as the operating system (OS). The OS is like the
conductor of an orchestra, making sure that all of the different parts of
the computer are working together.
• Application software: This is the software that you use to perform
specific tasks, such as word processing, web browsing, and gaming.
• In order for a computer to work, the hardware and software must work
together. The hardware provides the physical components that the
software needs to run, and the software tells the hardware what to do.
• Here are some additional things to keep in mind about computers:

• Computers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny smartphones to

massive supercomputers.
• The power of a computer is measured in terms of its speed and
processing power.
• Computers are constantly getting faster and more powerful.
• Computers are used for a wide variety of purposes, from work and
school to entertainment and communication.
Computer Language:
• Computers understand instructions written in specific languages
called programming languages. These languages use a set of
keywords, symbols, and rules to tell the computer what to do.
Some popular programming languages include Python, Java, C++,
and JavaScript. Learning a programming language is like learning a
new language for humans, allowing you to communicate with and
control computers.
Compiler and Assembler:
• These tools help translate programming languages into machine code,
the language computers understand directly.

• Compiler: Translates high-level programming languages like Python or

Java into machine code in one step. Think of it as a skilled translator who
understands both languages and can directly convert them.
• Assembler: Translates lower-level assembly language, which is closer to
machine code, into machine code. Think of it as a technical translator
who understands the specific details of both languages and can produce
precise machine code instructions. Ex. 86,,64,32..microprocess 8056 code
I need a little more information! I'd love to know:
• Input/Output Device Charades:
• Activity:
• Divide participants into two teams.
• One team member silently acts out an input or output device (e.g.,
typing on a keyboard, clicking a mouse, printing a document, listening
to music).
• Their team guesses the device within a limited time.
• Teams take turns acting and guessing.
• The team with the most correct guesses wins.