CHAPTER 2A-WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

A COMPUTER is an electronic system designed to MANIPULATE data which means that they
are used for storing, moving, adding, subtracting and evaluating data.

Computers are provided with sequences of instructions called PROGRAMS and these
instructions control the manner in which the computer carries out its operational functions.

Computer is often compared with the HUMAN BRAIN because is can store th data either in raw
form or in the form of processing results, and can deliver the raw or processed date to the
outside world on demand.

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO PURPOSE

1. Digital computers are classifies as:
GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTER:
- has the ability to sore different programs of instruction this to perform variety of
operations

SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTER:

- it is designed to perform one specific task
- lacks versatility and is inflexible and cannot be easily used to perform other
operations
- has been successfully used for collecting highway tolls, air traffic control, satellite
tracking, industrial process control and airline reservations

ANALOG COMPUTERS are computers used for scientific engineering and process-
control purposes and deals with quantities that are continuously variable resulting to
approximate results.

DIGITAL COMPUTERS is the type of computer that specializes in counting and operates
by counting values that are secrete, separate or distinct.

HYBRID COMPUTERS is the type of computer that combines the measuring capabilities
of the analog and the logical and control capabilities of the digital computer.

MICROCOMPUTERS are computers designed for hobbyist but no they are beginning to
compete in the market and are especially attractive to small business operations.

MINICOMPUTERS are also called small mainframe computers which provide faster
operating speed and larger storage capacities than micro computer systems.

MEDIUM SIZE COMPUTERS are computers that provide faster operating speed and
larger storage capacities than small computer systems.

LARGE COMPUTERS are the ultimate in system sophistication, flexibility and speed.
They usually contain full control systems with minimal operator intervention.

SUPER COMPUTERS are computers that are considered the biggest and fastest
machines today that are used when billions or even trillions of calculations are needed.
SUPER COMPUTERS are computers that are essential for application s ranging from
nuclear weapon development to accurate weather forecasting.

MICROCOMPUTERS is the type of computer which is generally a synonym for the

mover common term personal computer of PC which is designed for an individual.

MINI COMPUTERS is the type of computer which lie between workstations and
mainframes which is a multi processing system capable of supporting from 4 to about
200 users simultaneously.

MAINFAME COMPUTERS is the type of computer which is large and expensive and is
capable of supporting hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously. In some
ways, they are more powerful than supercomputers.

SUPERCOMPUTER is the fastest type of computer which are expensive and are
employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical
calculations like weather forecasting, animated graphics, fluid dynamics, nuclear energy
research and petroleum exploration.

PERSONAL COMPUTER are microcomputers that have become widely popular with
people of all life styles because they are powerful, affordable and easy to use.

PORTSBLE COMPUTER is a micro computer that are small enough to move easily from
one place to another and can operate on batteries.

LAP TOP OR NOTEBOOK COMPUTER is a small portable computer small enough that
it can sit on your lap.

SUB-NOTEBOOK COMPUTER is a type of portable computer that is lighter and smaller

than a full-sized notebook but have a smaller keyboard and screen but are otherwise
equivalent to notebook computers.

PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT (PDA) is a handheld device that combines computing,

telephone/fax and networking but have a smaller keyboard and screen but are otherwise
equivalent to notebook computers.

TABLET PC is a design for a bully-equipped personal computer that allows a user to

take notes using natural writing on the stylus digital pen-sensitive touch screen instead
of requiring the use of a keyboard.

DIGITAL INK use in Tablet OC and allows the user to write a note on the screen in
freehand just as the user would write on a piece of paper.

 The idea of table computing is generally credited to ALAN KAY or XEROX who
sketched out the idea in 1971.
 The best known and first widely-cold tablet computer was Apple Computer’s
NEWTON which was not a commercial success.

ENUMERATION:
The first Tablet PC was not a commercial success as compared to today’s Tablet PC
which are deemed t have a better chance of being accepted as a viable computing
option because of the following reasons:
 BATTERY LIFE
 DISPLAY RESOLUTION
 HANDWRITING RECOGNITION SOFTWARE

Computers can enlarge man’s brainpower because of the capabilities and properties
which have led to the human or superhuman images created about it. What are the (5)
CAPABILITIES OF THE COMPUTER?
 ABILITY TO PERFORM CERTAIN LOGIC OPERATIONS
 ABILITY TO PROVIDE NEW TIME DIMENSIONS
 ABILITY TO STORE AND RETRIEVE INFORMATION
 ABILITY TO CONTROL ERROR
 ABILITY TO CHECK ITSELF

Although computers are powerful and even marvelous tools, they have limitations. What
are the FOUR (4) MAJOR LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS?
 DEPENDENCE ON PREPARED INSTRUCTIONS
 INABILITY TO DERIVE MEANINGS FROM OBJECTS
 INABILITY TO GENERATE INFORMATION
 IT CANNOT CORRECT WRONG INFORMATION

Despite widespread use of computers, there are many times when computerized
applications fail to meet its objectives of increased speed, accuracy and meaningful
information. What are the (6) REASONS WHY COMPUTERS SOMETIMES FAIL?
 INPUT ERRORS
 ERRORS IN INSTRUCTING A COMPUTER
 COMMUNICATION GAP
 IMPROPER CONTROLS
 LACK OF STANDARDS
 LACK OF MANUFACTURER’S SUPPORT

3 FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF A COMPUTER

 SYSTEM UNIT
 UNIT DEVICES
 OUTPUT DEVICES
CHAPTER 2B- WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

SYSTEM UNIT is the core or center of a computer that is responsible for processing and storing
data and controls all computer functions.
- is a plastic raw data is processed into information

SYSTEM CASE is a plastic or metal box that houses the components such as the motherhood,
disk drives and power supply unit

DESK TOP CASE is a type of system cane designed to sit horizontally on a sauce so that it is
wider than it is long

TOWER CASE is the type of system case designed to sit vertically on a surface s that it is
higher than it is wide

Desktop cases come into two basis sizes:

 standard
 slim linethe

FULL TOWER CASE is the size of the two case that are usually used for PC servers, which
require the extra internal space for additional hard disk, interface cards and redundant power
supply units.

MIDI TOWER CASE is the size of the tower case that are used for high-end user PCs. These
PCs do require extra devices and interface cards, but not as man as a server.

MINI TOWER CASE is the size of the tower case that used for office or home PCs where the
requirement for additional internal devices and interface cards is limited.

The system has a SYSTEM COVER which is removed by either undoing the screws at the
back, or pressing together clips that release it.

The FONT PANEL is the part of the system case which provides access to the floppy and CD, a
power on/off switch, a reset switch, and LED (Light Emitting Diodes)s to indicate drive
operation.

The REAR PANEL is the part of system case which has slots through which interface and
connectors appear.

The slots in the rear panel has slots through which interface cards or connectors appear which
are either covered by an interface card or a metal strip known as BLANKING PLATE.
 MOTHERBOARD the most important component of the computer because one point or
another every other component connects to it.
 All chips residing in the motherboard are collectively known as the motherboard’s
CHIPSET.
 The MOTHERBOARD BATTERY is used to preserve the computer’s clock’s time, and
your BIOS settings while the computer outage.
 BIOS is the acronym for BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM. In some computer operating
systems , the part of the system that customizes it to a specific computer.
 The (CPU-CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT) is the device that interprets and executes
instructions. It has the ability to fetch, decode, and execute instructions and transfer
information to and from other resources over the computer’s main data-transfer path.
 The CENTRALPROCESSING UNIT (CPU) is the chip that functions as the “brain” of the
computer.
 The SYSTEM CLOCK synchronizes the operation of all parts of the PC, and provides
the basic timing signal for the CPU.
 The MAIN MEMORY is where the programs and data are kept when the processor is
actively using them
 Main memory is intimately connected to the PROCESSOR, so moving instructions from
the program and data is very fast.
 Main memory is sometimes called RAM which stands for RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
which means that the memory cell can be access in any order.
 A computer’s RAM or main memory is build from small circuit boards called MEMORY
MODULES.
 DIMM which means DUAL INLINE MEMORY MODULES have two access pathways and
do not need to be fitted in pairs as they can be written to and read from at the same
time.
 SECONDARY MEMORY programs and data are kept on a long term basis.
 The FLOPPY DISK is a secondary storage devise which is as thin and flimsy as a sheet
of paper but is protected by the sturdy, square that encases it.
 The LARGE OR 8-INCH FLOPPIES were invented by IBM in 1970’s.
 The MINIFLOPPY OR 5¼ FLOPPIES were invented in the late 1970’s by SHUGGART
ASSOCIATES which later became part of Xerox.
 The microfloppy or 3½ FLOPPIES were invented by SONY in 1980’s which became
most popular because they are the smallest, cutest, and sturdiest.
 ZIP is the most popular super-capacity floppy disk, slightly bigger than a 3½ floppy which
holds 100M, which is 70 times as much as a 1.44 floppy.
 The HARD DISK has the storage capacity of 40 gigabytes which is about 300 times the
amount of stores in main memory however it is very slow compared to the main memory.
 Hard disks are better than floppy disks in three ways: HARD DISK ARE SURDIER THAN
FLOPPIES; HARD DISK ARE HARD AND FIRM, THEY DON’T FLOP OR JIGGLE; AND
HARD DISK HOLD MORE INFORMATION THAN FLOPPIES
 The VIDEO GRAPHICS GARD converts digital data into signals that can be sent across
a connector to your monitor, which interprets the signal into an image in the screen.
 A MOTHERBOARD SPEAKER provides simple sound out such as indicating hardware
errors during start up.
 The POWER SUPPLY supplies the fuel (power), for the computer. It supplies power to
the motherboard, the drives, and also, normally contains a fan that helps assist in the
task of cooling the computer.
 An OUTPUT DEVICE is any peripheral device that present, displays, alters, or records
output after it has left a computer’s system unit.
 COMPUTER SPEAKER is an output device that convert output data into sound.
 The MONITOR is the most popular output device which receives signals from a video
card inside of the computer and five the user a graphical or textual display.
 The PRINTER is an output device that create images on paper, plastic, cloth an other
media using technologies like ink transfer, hat transfer, chemical reactions and physical
force.
 LASER PRINTER is the type of printer that uses toner and an internal laser to print and
which usually print is determined by the Dots Per Inch (DPI).
 INKJET OE BUBBLE JET PRINTER is the type of printer that uses ink to print and the
quality of the print is determined by the Dots Per Inch (DPI).
 DOT MATRIX PRINTER is the type of printer that creates characters by striking pins
against an ink ribbon. Each pin makes a dot, and combinations of dots form character
and information.
 An INPUT DEVICES devise is any peripheral appliance that generate input for the
computer and allows to enter information into the computer to be processed.
 The KEYBOARD is a set of typewriter-like keys that enables you to enter data into a
computer.
 The MOUSE is a devise that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display
screen . It is a small object you can roll along with a hard, flat surface.
 A MICROPHONE is a devise that allows computer to receive and record sound. It is
necessary for voice recognition software and any software that needs to record sound.
 A SCANNER is an input device that takes in an optical image and digitizens it into an
electronic image represented a binary data.
 A DIGITAL CAMERA takes pictures without film and stores your snapshots as digital files
n its memory or on a diskette.
 A JOYSTICK device consisting of a hand held stick that pivots about one end and
transmit its angle in two dimensions to a computer.
 PERIPHERAL DEVICES are devices that serve specific purposes, enhance a
computer’s functions, or add a new service or an additional source.
 PROCEDURES is an element of computing process which refers to steps or directions
that the end user needs to follow in order to complete a certain task.
 PEOPLE is an element of computing process which is also called the “end-users” as
most computers need to operate.
 DATA is an element of computing process which is the raw facts that the computer can
change into useful information.
 SOFTWARE is also called “Program”, is the instruction that tell the hardware what to do.