Introduction to Computer

Cos102(3 UNIT)
Lecture 1 – Introduction
By
Malan Auwal Mustafa Muhammad

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 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 use.

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 Functionalities of a computer
Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross terms:
• Takes data as input.
• Stores the data/instructions in its memory and use them
when required.
• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
• Generates the output
• Controls all the above four steps

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 Functionalities of a computer

Processing

Data Information

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 Data and Information
• Data - Facts and figures which relay something specific
• But which are not organized in any way and which provide no
further information regarding patterns
• unstructured facts and figures
 Data and Information
• Information - for data to become information, it must be
contextualized, categorized, calculated and condensed.
(Processing)
• It is data with relevance and purpose
• data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to
"who", "what", "where", and "when" questions
• Processing data produces information
Data, Information and Knowledge

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 Computer Components
• Hardware
• Software
• Human ware / peopleware

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Computer Components

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 Hardware
• Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements that
constitutes a computer system.
• The actual machinery, wires, transistors, and circuits … etc.

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Hardware

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 Software
• The instructions given to the computer to perform certain task
is known as Computer Software.
• A programmer – is the person who writes the codes or
instructions that direct the computer on how to process the
data into information
• Computer Software are of two types
– System software e.g operating system and Utility program
– Application software

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 System software
• Known as Operating System
• is responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the
individual hardware components of a computer system
• Windows is an example of OS.
• Examples of System Software:
– Microsoft Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OSX and DOS
 Application software
• Is used to accomplish specific tasks other than just running the
computer system.
• It may consist of:
– a single program, such as an image viewer;
– a small collection of programs (often called a software package) that
work closely together to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet or
text processing system;
– a larger collection (often called a software suite) of related but
independent programs and packages that have a common user interface
or shared data format, such as Microsoft Office.
 Human ware
• Humanware refers to the user of the computer hardware and
software.
• It is about the individual that uses the computer for productive
or entertainment purposes.
• Humanware can be classified into the following:
– Computer professional/expert
– Computer end users

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 Computer Units
• Input Unit
• Central processing Unit
• Primary memory Unit
• Secondary Storage Unit
• Output Unit

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Computer Units

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 Input Devices
• Input device is any peripheral or piece of
computer hardware equipment to provide data
and control signals to an information processing
system such as a computer.
• Input device Translate data from form that
humans understand to one that the computer can
work with. Most common are keyboard and
mouse

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Input Devices

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 Example of Input Devices
Keyboard Mouse (pointing device) Microphone
Touch screen Scanner Webcam
Touchpads MIDI keyboard
Graphics Tablets Cameras Pen Input
Video Capture Hardware Microphone Trackballs
Barcode reader Digital camera Joystick
Gamepad Electronic Whiteboard

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 Central Processing Unit
• CPU
• known as microprocessor or processor
• It is responsible for all functions and processes

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 CPU Components
• The CPU is comprised of three main parts
– ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
– Control Unit (CU)
– Registers: Stores the data that is to be executed next.

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 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

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 Control Unit (CU)

• Controls and co-ordinates computer components.

• Read the code for the next instruction to be executed.
• Increment the program counter so it points to the next
instruction.
• Read whatever data the instruction requires from cells in
memory.
• Provide the necessary data to an ALU or register.
• If the instruction requires an ALU or specialized hardware to
complete, instruct the hardware to perform the requested 24
 Registers
• Stores the data that is to be executed next, "very fast storage
area".

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 Primary Memory
• RAM
• ROM

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 Primary Memory
• RAM: Random Access Memory: 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.
– RAM is considered "random access" because you can access any memory
cell directly if you know the row and column that intersect at that cell.

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 Primary Memory
• 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.

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 Secondary Memory

• Stores data and programs permanently

• its retained after the power is turned off
• Main Examples
– Hard Disk
– Optical Disk
– Flash memory

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 Hard Disk
• Called Disk drive or HDD
• stores and provides relatively quick access to large amounts of
data.
• Stores data on an electromagnetically charged surface or set of
surfaces.

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 Optical Disk & Flash

• an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disk derive that uses laser light
to store data.
• There are three main types of optical media: CD, DVD, and Blu-
ray disc
– CD “Compact Disk” can store up to 700MB
– DVD “ Digital Video Disk “ can store up to 8.4 GB
– Blu-ray disc. can store up to 50 GB

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 Flash Disk

• A storage module made of flash memory chips.

• A Flash disks have no mechanical platters or access arms, but
the term "disk" is used because the data are accessed as if they
were on a hard drive.
• The disk storage structure is emulated.

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 Output Unit
• An output device is any piece of computer hardware
equipment used to communicate the results of data
processing carried out by an information processing
system (such as a computer)
• converts the electronically generated information into
human-readable form.

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 Output devices Examples

Monitor LCD Projection Panels

Printers (all types) Computer Output Microfilm (COM)
Plotters Speaker(s)
Projector
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 Output devices Examples
A monitor

CRT: Cathode Ray Tube

LCD: Liquid crystal display most familiar
these days

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 Output devices
Examples
Printer: transfers data from a computer onto paper
Printer types:
Laser Printer.
Ink Jet Printer.
Dot Matrix Printer

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Unit of Measurements - Storage
Storage Units

Bit BIT 0 or 1

Byte B 8 bits

Kilobyte KB 1024 bytes

Megabyte MB 1024 kilobytes

Gigabyte GB 1024 megabytes

Terabyte TB 1024 gigabytes

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 Classes of Computer
• Analog Computers -This class of computer are special purpose
machines that surfaced in the late forties (1948).
– They are used in solving scientific and mathematical equations or
problems.
– An example is the thermal analyzer
• Digital Computers- they are machines made up of
combinations of chips, flip-flops, buttons and other
electronic devices to make them function at a very fast
speed.
– A digital computer has its numbers, data letters or
other symbols represented in digital format.
• hybrid computer- are computers that combines the
features of a digital and analog computer
 Computer Classification
• Computers can be classified by size and power to:
– Personal computer (PCs)
– Workstation
– Minicomputer
– Mainframe
– Supercomputer
– Embeded computer add to slide

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 Computer Classification
• Personal computer (PC) a small, single-user computer
based on a microprocessor. In addition to the
microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for
entering 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.

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 Computer Classification
• Minicomputer: multi-user computer capable of supporting
from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.
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.

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 Laptop computer

• Is a portable computer.
• personal computer that can be easily carried and used in a
variety of locations.
• run the same software and applications in PCs

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 Netbook Computer

• A netbook is a type of laptop that is designed to

be even more portable.
• Cheaper and less powerful 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.

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 Mobile Devices
• A mobile device is basically any handheld
computer.
• It is designed to be extremely portable.
• Some mobile devices are more powerful
• Types:
– Tablet Computers
– Smartphones

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 Tablet Computers

• designed to be portable.
• The most obvious difference is that tablet
computers don't have keyboards or touchpads.
• Best used for tasks like web browsing, watching
videos, reading e-books, and playing games.

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 Tablet Computers
• 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
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 Smartphones

• a powerful mobile phone

• designed to run a variety of applications in
addition to phone service.
• Internet access is an important feature of
smartphones. (3G or 4G)(Wi-Fi Service)

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 Characteristics of Computer

1.Speed
2.Accuracy
3.Diligence
4.Storage Capability
5.Versatility

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 Characteristics of Computer

• Speed :The computer can process data very fast,

at the rate of millions of instructions per second
• 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.

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 Characteristics of Computer

• 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.
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 Computer Viruses

• Viruses
• E-mail viruses
• Trojan horses
• Worms

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 Viruses

– A computer virus is an application program designed and

written to destroy other programs.
• A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real
programs
• virus might attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet
program
• and it has the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other
programs)

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 E-mail viruses
• e-mail virus travels as an attachment to e-mail messages
• Replicates itself by automatically mailing itself to dozens of people in the
victim's e-mail address book.

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 Trojan horses

• simply a computer program

• The program claims to do one thing (it may claim to be a game)
but instead does damage when you run it

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 Worms

• A worm is a small piece of software that uses computer

networks and security holes to replicate itself.
• worm scans the network for another machine that has a
specific security hole.

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 Malicious Software
• How do you know if you have a virus?
– Lack of storage capability
– Decrease in the speed of executing programs
– Unexpected error messages
– Halting the system

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 Tips to avoid viruses and lessen their impact?

1. Delete e-mails from unknown or suspicious,

untrustworthy (unreliable) sources, especially
those with files attached to an e-mail.
2. Never open a file attached to an e-mail unless
you know what it is, even if it appears to come
from a friend.
3. Download files from the Internet only from
legitimate and reputable sources.
4. Update your antivirus software at least every
two weeks as over 200 viruses are discovered
each month.
5. Backup your files periodically
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