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Computer Fundamentals - Quick Guide
Computer - Overview
Todays world is an information-rich world and it has become a necessity for everyone to know about computers. A computer is an electronic data processing device, which accepts and stores data input, processes the data input, and generates the output in a required format.
The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you to Computers and its fundamentals.
Functionalities of a Computer
If we look at it in a very broad sense, any digital computer carries out the following five functions −
Step 1 − Takes data as input.
Step 2 − Stores the data/instructions in its memory and uses them as required.
Step 3 − Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
Step 4 − Generates the output.
Step 5 − Controls all the above four steps.
Advantages of Computers
Following are certain advantages of computers.
Home Whiteboard Online Compilers Practice Articles Tools
High Speed
Accuracy
Storage Capability
Diligence
Versatility
Computer is a very fast device. It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data. The computer has units of speed in microsecond, nanosecond, and even the picosecond. It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared to man who will spend many months to perform the same task.
In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate. The calculations are 100% error free. Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that the input is correct.
Memory is a very important characteristic of computers. A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings. It can store large amount of data. It can store any type of data such as images, videos, text, audio, etc.
Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration. It can work continuously without any error and boredom. It can perform repeated tasks with the same speed and accuracy.
A computer is a very versatile machine. A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done.
Dependency
Environment
No Feeling
Computer - Applications
In this chapter, we will discuss the application of computers in various fields.
Business
A computer has high speed of calculation, diligence, accuracy, reliability, or versatility which has made it an integrated part in all business organizations.
A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any task. Each instruction has to be given to the computer. A computer cannot take any decision on its own.
It functions as per the users instruction, thus it is fully dependent on humans.
The operating environment of the computer should be dust free and suitable.
Computers have no feelings or emotions. It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and knowledge unlike humans.
Computer is used in business organizations for −
Banking
Today, banking is almost totally dependent on computers.
Banks provide the following facilities −
Insurance
Payroll calculations Budgeting Sales analysis Financial forecasting Managing employee database Maintenance of stocks, etc.
Online accounting facility, which includes checking current balance, making deposits and overdrafts, checking interest charges, shares, and trustee records. ATM machines which are completely automated are making it even easier for customers to deal with banks.
Marketing
In marketing, uses of the computer are following −
Healthcare
Computers have become an important part in hospitals, labs, and dispensaries. They are being used in hospitals to keep the record of patients and medicines. It is also used in scanning and diagnosing different diseases. ECG, EEG, ultrasounds and CT scans, etc. are also done by computerized machines.
Following are some major fields of health care in which computers are used.
CBE involves control, delivery, and evaluation of learning. Computer education is rapidly increasing the graph of number of computer students. There are a number of methods in which educational institutions can use a computer to educate the students. It is used to prepare a database about performance of a student and analysis is carried out on this basis.
Advertising − With computers, advertising professionals create art and graphics, write and revise copy, and print and disseminate ads with the goal of selling more products. Home Shopping − Home shopping has been made possible through the use of computerized catalogues that provide access to product information and permit direct entry of orders to be filled by the customers.
Engineering Design
Computers are widely used for Engineering purpose.
One of the major areas is CAD (Computer Aided Design) that provides creation and modification of images. Some of the fields are −
Diagnostic System − Computers are used to collect data and identify the cause of illness. Lab-diagnostic System − All tests can be done and the reports are prepared by computer. Patient Monitoring System − These are used to check the patient's signs for abnormality such as in Cardiac Arrest, ECG, etc. Pharma Information System − Computer is used to check drug labels, expiry dates, harmful side effects, etc. Surgery − Nowadays, computers are also used in performing surgery.
Government
Computers play an important role in government services. Some major fields in this category are −
E-mail Chatting Usenet FTP Telnet Video-conferencing
Budgets Sales tax department Income tax department Computation of male/female ratio Computerization of voters lists Computerization of PAN card Weather forecasting
Computer - Generations
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is/was being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system.
There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been discussed in detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the following table, approximate dates against each generation has been mentioned, which are normally accepted.
Following are the main five generations of computers.
S.No Generation & Description
1 First Generation The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.
2 Second Generation The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
3 Third Generation The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.
4 Fourth Generation The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor based.
5 Fifth Generation The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based.
Computer - Types
Computers can be broadly classified by their speed and computing power.
S.No. Type Specifications
1 PC (Personal Computer)
It is a single user computer system having moderately powerful microprocessor
2 Workstation
It is also a single user computer system, similar to personal computer however has a more powerful microprocessor.
3 Mini Computer It is a multi-user computer system, capable of supportinghundreds of users simultaneously.
moderate amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.
Workstations generally come with a large, high-resolution graphics screen, large amount of RAM, inbuilt network support, and a graphical user interface. Most workstations also have mass storage device such as a disk drive, but a special type of workstation, called diskless workstation, comes without a disk drive.
Common operating systems for workstations are UNIX and Windows NT. Like PC, workstations are also single-user computers like PC but are typically linked together to form a local-area network, although they can also be used as stand-alone systems.
Minicomputer
It is a midsize multi-processing system capable of supporting up to 250 users simultaneously.
Mainframe
Mainframe is very large in size and is an expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously. Mainframe executes many programs concurrently and supports many simultaneous execution of programs.
Supercomputer
Supercomputers are one of the fastest computers currently available. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amount of mathematical calculations (number crunching).
For example, weather forecasting, scientific simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design, and analysis of geological data (e.g. in petrochemical prospecting).
Computer - Components
All types of computers follow the same basic logical structure and perform the following five basic operations for converting raw input data into information useful to their users.
S.No. Operation Description
CPU itself has the following three components −
Output Unit
The output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the information from the computer. This unit is a link between the computer and the users. Output devices translate the computer's output into a form understandable by the users.
Computer - CPU(Central Processing Unit)
Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of the following features −
CPU itself has following three components.
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) Memory Unit Control Unit
CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU performs all types of data processing operations. It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions (program). It controls the operation of all parts of the computer.
Memory or Storage Unit Control Unit ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)
Memory or Storage Unit
This unit can store instructions, data, and intermediate results. This unit supplies information to other units of the computer when needed. It is also known as internal storage unit or the main memory or the primary storage or Random Access Memory (RAM).
Its size affects speed, power, and capability. Primary memory and secondary memory are two types of memories in the computer. Functions of the memory unit are −
Control Unit
This unit controls the operations of all parts of the computer but does not carry out any actual data processing operations.
Functions of this unit are −
It stores all the data and the instructions required for processing. It stores intermediate results of processing. It stores the final results of processing before these results are released to an output device. All inputs and outputs are transmitted through the main memory.
Keyboard
Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device which helps to input data to the computer. The layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter, although there are some additional keys provided for performing additional functions.
Keyboards are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102 keys, but now keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are also available for Windows and Internet.
The keys on the keyboard are as follows −
S.No Keys & Description
Typing Keys These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which generally give the same layout as that of typewriters.
Numeric Keypad It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement. Generally, it consists of a set of 17 keys that are laid out in the same configuration used by most adding machines and calculators.
Microphone Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR) Optical Character Reader(OCR) Bar Code Reader Optical Mark Reader(OMR)
Function Keys The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are arranged in a row at the top of the keyboard. Each function key has a unique meaning and is used for some specific purpose.
Control keys These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four directional arrow keys. Control keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc).
Special Purpose Keys Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.
Mouse
Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control device having a small palm size box with a round ball at its base, which senses the movement of the mouse and sends corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.
Generally, it has two buttons called the left and the right button and a wheel is present between the buttons. A mouse can be used to control the position of the cursor on the screen, but it cannot be used to enter text into the computer.
Advantages
Joystick
Joystick is also a pointing device, which is used to move the cursor position on a monitor screen. It is a stick having a spherical ball at its both lower and upper ends. The lower spherical ball moves in a socket. The joystick can be moved in all four directions.
Easy to use Not very expensive Moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys of the keyboard.
