What is Computer?

Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user and
processes these data under the control of set of instructions (called program) and gives the
result (output) and saves output for the future use. It can process both numerical and non-
numerical (arithmetic and logical) calculations.

A computer has four functions:

a. accepts data Input
b. processes data Processing
c. produces output Output
d. stores results Storage

Input (Data):

Input is the raw information entered into a computer from the input devices. It is the collection
of letters, numbers, images etc.

Process:

Process is the operation of data as per given instruction. It is totally internal process of the
computer system.

Output:

Output is the processed data given by computer after data processing. Output is also called
as Result. We can save these results in the storage devices for the future use.

ARCHITECTURE OF COMPUTER

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  Input Devices: Those devices which help to enter data into computer system. Eg.
Keyboard, Mouse, Touch screen, Barcode Reader, Scanner, OMR etc.

Keyboard: A computer keyboard is one of the

primary input devices used with a computer. Similar to an
electric typewriter, a keyboard is composed of buttons that
generate letters, numbers, and symbols, as well as
perform other functions.

Optical scanner: An optical scanner is an input device using light

beams to scan and digitally convert images, codes, text or objects and
sends them to computers

Light pen: A light pen is a light-sensitive computer input device that is

used to select text, draw pictures and interact with user interface
elements on a computer screen or monitor. The light pen works well with
CRT monitors because of the way such monitors scan the screen

 Output Devices: Those devices which help to display the processed information in
desired format (Ex: -Monitor, Printer, Plotter, Projector)
Printer
A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer
and transfers the information to paper, usually to standard size sheets of
paper. Printers vary in size, speed, classiness, and cost. In general, more
expensive printers are used for higher-resolution color printing.
Resolution In computers, resolution is the number of pixels (individual
points of color) contained on a display monitor, expressed in terms of the number of
pixels on the horizontal axis and the number on the vertical axis. The sharpness of the
image on a display depends on the resolution and the size of the monitor. The same pixel
resolution will be sharper on a smaller monitor and gradually lose sharpness on larger
monitors because the same number of pixels are being spread out over a larger number
of inches.

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 Plotter A plotter is a computer hardware device much like a printer that is used
for printing vector graphics. Instead of toner, plotters use a pen, pencil, marker,
or another writing tool to draw multiple, continuous lines onto paper rather than a
series of dots like a traditional printer. Plotters can work on very large sheets of
paper while maintaining high resolution.

Projector A digital projector is an electronic device that is capable of

connecting to a computer or other device and projecting the video output
onto a screen or wall. Digital projectors can be either fixed onto the
ceiling, placed on a stand or can even be portable.

 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

The main component to make a computer operate is the computer chip or microprocessor.
This is referred to as the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and is housed in the computer case.
Together, they are also called the CPU. It performs arithmetic and logic operations and
exchanges data with the system's memory or peripherals, and that manages the system's

other components

Processor CPU

 Storage Unit
It facilitates the remembrance power to computer system. It refers to the physical devices
used to store programs (sequences of instructions) or data (e.g. program state information)
on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer.
There are two types of memory unit they are primary memory and secondary memory.

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 Primary memory is computer memory that is accessed directly by the CPU. This
includes several types of memory, such as the processor cache (a high speed buffer use to
store most frequently accessed data) and system ROM. However, in most cases, primary
memory refers to system RAM.
RAM, or random access memory, consists of one or more memory modules that
temporarily store data while a computer is running. RAM is volatile memory, meaning it is
erased when the power is turned off. Therefore, each time you start up your computer,
the operating system must be loaded from secondary memory (such as a hard drive) into the
primary memory, or RAM. Similarly, whenever you launch an application on your computer, it
is loaded into RAM.
The operating system and applications are loaded into primary memory, since RAM
can be accessed much faster than storage devices. In fact, the data can be transferred
between CPU and RAM more than a hundred times faster than between the CPU and the
hard drive. By loading data into RAM, programs can run significantly faster and are much
more responsive than if than constantly accessed data from secondary memory.

RAM (Volatile Memory) ROM (Non Volatile Memory)

Secondary memory refers to storage devices, such as hard drives and solid state
drives. It may also refer to removable storage media, such as USB flash drives, CDs,
and DVDs.

Unlike primary memory, secondary memory is not accessed directly by the CPU.
Instead, data accessed from secondary memory is first loaded into RAM and is then sent to
the processor. The RAM plays an important intermediate role, since it provides much faster
data access speeds than secondary memory. By loading software programs and files into
primary memory, computers can process data much more quickly.

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 Secondary Memory:
A. Hard Disk (Local Disk)
B. Optical Disks: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW
C. Pen Drive
D. Floppy Disks
F. Memory Cards
G. External Hard Disk
H. Blue Ray Disk

Hard disk
The hard disk is a spindle of magnetic disks, called platters, that record and store
information. Because the data is stored magnetically, information recorded to the hard disk
remains unchanged after you turn your computer off. This is an important distinction between
the hard disk and RAM, or memory, which is reset when the computer's power is turned off.
The hard disk is housed inside the hard drive, which reads and writes data to the disk.
The hard drive also transmits data back and forth between the CPU and the disk. When you
save data on your hard disk

Blu-Ray Disk:
Blue-ray (not Blue-ray) also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of
a new optical disc format. The format offers more than five times the storage
capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc
and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. While current optical disc technologies such as
DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write
data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blue-ray.

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 Units of Memory:
The smallest unit is bit, which mean either 0 or 1.
1 bit = 0 or 1
1 Byte = 8 bit
1 Nibble = 4 bit
1 Kilo Byte = 1024 Byte= 210 Byte
1 Mega Byte = 1024 KB= 210 KB
1 Gega Byte = 1024 MB= 210 MB
1 Tera Byte = 1024 GB= 210 GB
1 Peta Byte =1024 TB= 210 TB
1 Exa Byte =1024 PB= 210 PB
1 Zetta Byte = 1024 EB= 210 EB
1 Yotta Byte = 1024 ZB= 210 ZB

 Motherboard

A motherboard (sometimes alternatively known as

the mainboard, main circuit board. Motherboard usually
contains significant sub-systems such as the central processor,
the chipset's input/output and memory controllers, interface
connectors, and other components integrated for general
purpose use and applications. Allows communication between
many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central processing
unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals.

 Device controller is a system that handles the incoming and outgoing signals of the
CPU. A device is connected to the computer via a plug and socket, and the
socket is connected to a device controller. For each device controller they
have their own Device Drives.

 Device Drivers A device driver is a particular form of software application that is designed
to enable interaction with hardware devices. Without the required device driver, the
corresponding hardware device fails to work. A device driver acts as a translator between the
hardware device and the programs or operating systems that use it.
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 SMPS (Switching mode power supply) it converts 100-120 volts AC to low power DC
Voltage which is supplied to all the components of a computer System. Is
placed inside the CPU of our computer and from this all the components
are connected.

 Booting When we start the computer the processor passes the control to the BIOS (basic
input/output system-program) it initiates all the components of the computer and load the
system files of the operating system from the disk into the computer memory (RAM) and
makes applications readily available to the user. Bios also manages data flow between the
computer's operating system and attached devices such as the hard disk, video
adapter, keyboard, mouse and printer.

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 Hardware & Software

Hardware: Hardware (H/W) is the physical elements that make up a computer. This includes
the monitor, hard drive, memory and the CPU. Hardware works with firmware (computer
software that provides the low-level control for the device's specific hardware) and software to
make a computer function.
Software:
Software is a set of instructions or programs instructing a computer to do specific tasks.
Software is a generic term used to describe computer programs.
Differentiate between hardware and software components
 Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each other. Both of them must
work together to make a computer produce a useful output.
 Software cannot be utilized without supporting hardware.
 Hardware without a set of programs to operate upon cannot be utilized and is useless.
 To get a particular job done on the computer, relevant software should be loaded into
the hardware.
 Hardware is a one-time expense.
 Software development is very expensive and is a continuing expense.
 Different software applications can be loaded on hardware to run different jobs.
 Software acts as an interface between the user and the hardware.
 If the hardware is the 'heart' of a computer system, then the software is its 'soul'. Both
are complementary to each other.
Software is of 2-types:
1. System Software (Operating System, Device Drivers)
Operating System is a set of program that manages computer
hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer
programs and enables users to interact with the System.
Ex: Windows, Linux, UNIX, and Mac
Device Drivers Ex: Lan-Drivers, Display Drivers, Printer Drivers….
Utility software is system software performs the task to maintain the computer
system, it increase the reliability of the system.
Types of utilities
 Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses and removes them.
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  Archivers compresses the large size files into the small size.

 Backup software makes copies of all information stored on a disk and restores either
the entire disk or selected files.

2. Application software: A software is designed as a group of coordinated functions, tasks,

or activities that performs a task.
Ex: Word processing, presentation, spread sheet

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 Configuration of a Computer System
Computer Configuration tells about technical details of various components which are
essential while you are installing new software. Software manufacturers will specify
minimum hardware requirements for their product. Based on these requirements, we
can decide whether our software can run the software or not.

We can find the system configuration in the following ways.

1. Using My Computer
a. Select My Computer
b. Right click mouse button
c. Then select properties it displays the “system properties” where we can find
basic system information like operating system name, version manufacture’s
name, motherboard, microprocessor, speed of the processor, RAM etc.
2. Using System tools
Select start menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools ->
System Information.
In the open window, we will find all required information of applications and
components of our Computer.
 The shortcut command to access system information on our Computer is to
type msinfo32 in the Run.
3. Using BIOS
We can find the system information through BIOS
a. Switch on the computer.
b. Immediately, keep on pressing F10 key or DEL key. It displays the BIOS Setup
Utility on the screen where we can find the system information.
4. Using Device Manager:
The Device Manager provides device drivers for the hardware. Whenever hardware is
not working, same will be highlighted in yellow. We can disable or enable the device
from the device Manager.
To access the Device Manager
Goto start menu -> My computer -> Manager -> in the open Window select the
Device Manager.

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