Contents

Computer - Overview.....................................................................4
Functionalities of a Computer....................................................4
Advantages of Computers..........................................................5
High Speed............................................................................5
Accuracy.................................................................................5
Storage Capability..............................................................5
Diligence.................................................................................5
Versatility...............................................................................5
Reliability................................................................................6
Automation............................................................................6
Reduction in Paper Work and Cost...............................6
Disadvantages of Computers....................................................6
No I.Q.....................................................................................6
Dependency..........................................................................6
Environment..........................................................................6
No Feeling..............................................................................6
Computer - Applications.................................................................7
Business.......................................................................................7
Banking........................................................................................7
Insurance.....................................................................................7
 Education......................................................................................8
Marketing.....................................................................................8
Healthcare....................................................................................8
Engineering Design.....................................................................9
Military..........................................................................................9
Communication...........................................................................9
Government...............................................................................10
Computer - Generations..............................................................10
Computer - Types.........................................................................11
PC (Personal Computer)...........................................................11
Workstation................................................................................11
Minicomputer.............................................................................12
Mainframe..................................................................................12
Supercomputer..........................................................................12
Computer - Components.............................................................12
Input Unit...................................................................................13
CPU (Central Processing Unit).................................................13
Output Unit................................................................................13
Computer - CPU(Central Processing Unit).................................13
Memory or Storage Unit...........................................................14
Control Unit................................................................................14
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)......................................................15
 Arithmetic Section.............................................................15
Logic Section.......................................................................15
Computer - Input Devices............................................................15
Keyboard....................................................................................15
Mouse.........................................................................................16
Advantages..........................................................................16
Joystick.......................................................................................17
Light Pen.....................................................................................17
Track Ball....................................................................................17
Scanner......................................................................................17
Digitizer.......................................................................................18
Microphone................................................................................18
Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)..........................................18
Optical Character Reader (OCR).............................................18
Bar Code Readers.....................................................................18
Optical Mark Reader (OMR).....................................................19
Computer - Output Devices.........................................................19
Monitors......................................................................................19
Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor...............................19
Flat-Panel Display Monitor.............................................20
Printers.......................................................................................20
Impact Printers..................................................................20
 Non-impact Printers.........................................................22
Computer - Memory.....................................................................23
Cache Memory..........................................................................24
Advantages..........................................................................24
Disadvantages....................................................................24
Primary Memory (Main Memory)............................................24
Characteristics of Main Memory...................................24
Secondary Memory...................................................................25
Characteristics of Secondary Memory.......................25
Random Access Memory..............................................................25
Static RAM (SRAM)...................................................................26
Characteristic of Static RAM..........................................26
Dynamic RAM (DRAM).............................................................26
Characteristics of Dynamic RAM..................................26
Computer - Read Only Memory..................................................26
MROM (Masked ROM)..............................................................27
PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)..........................27
EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 27
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 27
Advantages of ROM..................................................................28
Computer - Motherboard.............................................................28
Features of Motherboard..........................................................28
 Popular Manufacturers..............................................................28
Description of Motherboard......................................................29
Computer - Memory Units...........................................................29
Computer - Ports...........................................................................30
Characteristics of Ports.............................................................30
Serial Port...................................................................................30
Parallel Port................................................................................31
PS/2 Port....................................................................................31
Universal Serial Bus (or USB) Port..........................................31
VGA Port.....................................................................................31
Power Connector.......................................................................31
Firewire Port...............................................................................31
Modem Port...............................................................................32
Ethernet Port..............................................................................32
Game Port..................................................................................32
Digital Video Interface, DVI port..............................................32
Sockets.......................................................................................32
Computer - Hardware..................................................................32
Relationship between Hardware and Software.....................32
Computer - Software....................................................................33
System Software.......................................................................33
Application Software.................................................................34
Computer - Number System.......................................................34
Decimal Number System.........................................................35
Binary Number System............................................................35
Example................................................................................36
Octal Number System..............................................................36
Example................................................................................36
Hexadecimal Number System.................................................36
Example................................................................................37
Computer - Number Conversion.................................................37
Decimal to Other Base System...............................................37
Example................................................................................38
Other Base System to Decimal System.................................38
Example................................................................................38
Other Base System to Non-Decimal System.........................39
Example................................................................................39
Step 1 - Convert to Decimal.........................................39
Step 2 - Convert Decimal to Binary...........................39
Shortcut Method ─ Binary to Octal..........................................40
Example................................................................................40
Shortcut Method ─ Octal to Binary..........................................40
Example................................................................................40
Shortcut Method ─ Binary to Hexadecimal............................40
 Example................................................................................41
Shortcut Method - Hexadecimal to Binary.............................41
Example................................................................................41
Computer - Data and Information..............................................41
What is Information?................................................................42
Data Processing Cycle...............................................................42
Computer - Networking................................................................42
Characteristics of a Computer Network..................................43
Network Cables.........................................................................43
Distributors.................................................................................43
Router.........................................................................................43
Network Card.............................................................................43
Internal Network Cards...................................................44
External Network Cards..................................................44
Universal Serial Bus (USB).......................................................44
Computer - Operating System....................................................44
Objectives of Operating System..............................................44
Characteristics of Operating System.......................................45
Computer - Internet and Intranet...............................................46
Internet.......................................................................................46
Intranet......................................................................................46
Similarities between Internet and Intranet............................47
 Differences between Internet and Intranet............................47
How to Buy a Computer?.............................................................47
Monitor.......................................................................................47
Operating System.....................................................................48
Optical Drive (CD / DVD / Blu-ray).........................................48
Memory......................................................................................48
Hard Drive..................................................................................49
CPU.............................................................................................49
Computer - Available Courses.....................................................49
Diploma Courses.......................................................................50

Computer - Overview If we look at it in a very broad sense, any digital

computer carries out the following five functions −
Today’s world is an information-rich world and it has
become a necessity for everyone to know about Step 1 − Takes data as input.

computers. A computer is an electronic data Step 2 − Stores the data/instructions in its memory
processing device, which accepts and stores data and uses them as required.
input, processes the data input, and generates the
Step 3 − Processes the data and converts it into
output in a required format.
useful information.
The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you to
Step 4 − Generates the output.
Computers and its fundamentals.
Step 5 − Controls all the above four steps.
Functionalities of a Computer
Advantages of Computers
Following are certain advantages of computers.
High Speed
 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.
Accuracy
 In addition to being very fast, computers are very
accurate.
 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.
Diligence
 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.
Versatility
 A computer is a very versatile machine.

 The calculations are 100% error free.  A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to
be done.
 Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy
provided that the input is correct.  This machine can be used to solve the problems
related to various fields.
Storage Capability
 Memory is a very important characteristic of  At one instance, it may be solving a complex

computers. scientific problem and the very next moment it may

be playing a card game.
Reliability Disadvantages of Computers
 A computer is a reliable machine.
Following are certain disadvantages of computers.
 Modern electronic components have long lives.
No I.Q.
 Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.  A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to

Automation perform any task.

 Computer is an automatic machine.  Each instruction has to be given to the computer.

 Automation is the ability to perform a given task  A computer cannot take any decision on its own.
automatically. Once the computer receives a
Dependency
program i.e., the program is stored in the computer
 It functions as per the user’s instruction, thus it is
memory, then the program and instruction can
fully dependent on humans.
control the program execution without human
interaction. Environment
 The operating environment of the computer should
Reduction in Paper Work and Cost
be dust free and suitable.
 The use of computers for data processing in an
organization leads to reduction in paper work and No Feeling
results in speeding up the process.  Computers have no feelings or emotions.

 As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and  It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste,
when required, the problem of maintenance of large experience, and knowledge unlike humans.
number of paper files gets reduced.
Computer - Applications
 Though the initial investment for installing a
In this chapter, we will discuss the application of
computer is high, it substantially reduces the cost of
computers in various fields.
each of its transaction.
Business  ATM machines which are completely automated are
making it even easier for customers to deal with
banks.
A computer has high speed of calculation, diligence,
accuracy, reliability, or versatility which has made it Insurance
an integrated part in all business organizations.

Computer is used in business organizations for − Insurance companies are keeping all records up-to-
date with the help of computers. Insurance
 Payroll calculations companies, finance houses, and stock broking firms
 Budgeting are widely using computers for their concerns.
 Sales analysis Insurance companies are maintaining a database of
 Financial forecasting all clients with information showing −
 Managing employee database
 Procedure to continue with policies
 Maintenance of stocks, etc.
 Starting date of the policies
Banking  Next due installment of a policy

 Maturity date
Today, banking is almost totally dependent on  Interests due
computers.
 Survival benefits
Banks provide the following facilities −  Bonus

 Online accounting facility, which includes checking Education

current balance, making deposits and overdrafts,
checking interest charges, shares, and trustee
records.
The computer helps in providing a lot of facilities in  Home Shopping − Home shopping has been made
the education system. possible through the use of computerized
catalogues that provide access to product
 The computer provides a tool in the education
information and permit direct entry of orders to be
system known as CBE (Computer Based Education).
filled by the customers.
 CBE involves control, delivery, and evaluation of
learning. Healthcare
Computers have become an important part in
 Computer education is rapidly increasing the graph
hospitals, labs, and dispensaries. They are being used
of number of computer students.
in hospitals to keep the record of patients and
 There are a number of methods in which educational medicines. It is also used in scanning and diagnosing
institutions can use a computer to educate the different diseases. ECG, EEG, ultrasounds and CT
students. scans, etc. are also done by computerized machines.
 It is used to prepare a database about performance Following are some major fields of health care in
of a student and analysis is carried out on this which computers are used.
basis.

Marketing  Diagnostic System − Computers are used to

In marketing, uses of the computer are following − collect data and identify the cause of illness.

 Lab-diagnostic System − All tests can be done

 Advertising − With computers, advertising and the reports are prepared by computer.

professionals create art and graphics, write and  Patient Monitoring System − These are used to
revise copy, and print and disseminate ads with the check the patient's signs for abnormality such as in
goal of selling more products. Cardiac Arrest, ECG, etc.
  Pharma Information System − Computer is used Military
to check drug labels, expiry dates, harmful side
effects, etc.
Computers are largely used in defence. Modern tanks,
 Surgery − Nowadays, computers are also used in
missiles, weapons, etc. Military also employs
performing surgery.
computerized control systems. Some military areas

Engineering Design where a computer has been used are −

Computers are widely used for Engineering purpose.

 Missile Control
One of the major areas is CAD (Computer Aided  Military Communication
Design) that provides creation and modification of
 Military Operation and Planning
images. Some of the fields are −
 Smart Weapons

Communication
 Structural Engineering − Requires stress and
Communication is a way to convey a message, an
strain analysis for design of ships, buildings,
idea, a picture, or speech that is received and
budgets, airplanes, etc.
understood clearly and correctly by the person for
 Industrial Engineering − Computers deal with whom it is meant. Some main areas in this category
design, implementation, and improvement of are −
integrated systems of people, materials, and
equipment.

 Architectural Engineering − Computers help in  E-mail

planning towns, designing buildings, determining a
 Chatting
range of buildings on a site using both 2D and 3D
 Usenet
drawings.
  FTP There are five computer generations known till date.
 Telnet Each generation has been discussed in detail along
with their time period and characteristics. In the
 Video-conferencing
following table, approximate dates against each
Government generation has been mentioned, which are normally
Computers play an important role in government accepted.
services. Some major fields in this category are − Following are the main five generations of computers.

S.No Generation & Description

 Budgets
First Generation
 Sales tax department 1

 Income tax department The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.

 Computation of male/female ratio

Second Generation
 Computerization of voters lists 2
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.
 Computerization of PAN card
Third Generation
 Weather forecasting
3
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit bas
Computer - Generations
Fourth Generation
Generation in computer terminology is a change in 4
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor
technology a computer is/was being used. Initially,
the generation term was used to distinguish between
Fifth Generation
varying hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation 5
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocesso
includes both hardware and software, which together
make up an entire computer system.
 Computer - Types A PC can be defined as a small, relatively inexpensive
computer designed for an individual user. PCs are
Computers can be broadly classified by their speed
based on the microprocessor technology that enables
and computing power.
manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip.
S.No Type Specifications Businesses use personal computers for word
. processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for
running spreadsheet and database management
PC (Personal applications.
It is a single user computer system having moderatelyAt home, the most popular use for
1
Computer) powerful microprocessor
personal computers is playing games and surfing the
Internet.
It is also a single user computer system, similar to
2 Workstation personal computer however has a more Although
powerfulpersonal computers are designed as single-
microprocessor. user systems, these systems are normally linked
together to form a network. In terms of power, now-
a-days
It is a multi-user computer system, capable of high-end
supportingmodels of the Macintosh and PC offer
3 Mini Computer
hundreds of users simultaneously.
the same computing power and graphics capability as
low-end workstations by Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-
It is a multi-user computer system, capable of supporting
Packard, and Dell.
4 Main Frame hundreds of users simultaneously. Software technology is
different from minicomputer.
Workstation
It is an extremely fast computer, which can execute
5 Supercomputer
hundreds of millions of instructions perWorkstation
second. is a computer used for engineering
applications (CAD/CAM), desktop publishing, software
development, and other such types of applications
PC (Personal Computer) which require a 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 Supercomputer
interface. Most workstations also have mass storage Supercomputers are one of the fastest computers
device such as a disk drive, but a special type of currently available. Supercomputers are very
workstation, called diskless workstation, comes expensive and are employed for specialized
without a disk drive. applications that require immense amount of
mathematical calculations (number crunching).
Common operating systems for workstations are
UNIX and Windows NT. Like PC, workstations are also
single-user computers like PC but are typically linked For example, weather forecasting, scientific
together to form a local-area network, although they simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic
can also be used as stand-alone systems. calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic

Minicomputer design, and analysis of geological data (e.g. in

petrochemical prospecting).
It is a midsize multi-processing system capable of
supporting up to 250 users simultaneously. Computer - Components
All types of computers follow the same basic logical
structure and perform the following five basic
Mainframe operations for converting raw input data into
Mainframe is very large in size and is an expensive information useful to their users.
computer capable of supporting hundreds or even
S.No Operation Description
thousands of users simultaneously. Mainframe .
executes many programs concurrently and supports
many simultaneous execution of programs.
1 Take Input The process of entering data and instructions in
 computer system. stores data, intermediate results, and instructions
(program). It controls the operation of all parts of the

Saving data and instructions so that theycomputer.

are available for
2 Store Data
processing as and when required.
CPU itself has the following three components −

Performing arithmetic, and logical operations

 on data
ALU in
(Arithmetic Logic Unit)
3 Processing Data
order to convert them into useful information.
 Memory Unit

 Control Unit
Output The process of producing useful information or results for
4
Information
Output Unit
the user, such as a printed report or visual display.

The output unit consists of devices with the help of

Control the Directs the manner and sequence in which all of the above
5 which we get the information from the computer. This
workflow operations are performed.
unit is a link between the computer and the users.
Output devices translate the computer's output into a
form understandable by the users.

Input Unit Computer - CPU(Central

This unit contains devices with the help of which we
enter data into the computer. This unit creates a link Processing Unit)
between the user and the computer. The input Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of the
devices translate the information into a form following features −
understandable by the computer.
 CPU is considered as the brain of the computer.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)  CPU performs all types of data processing
CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU operations.
performs all types of data processing operations. It
  It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions  It stores intermediate results of processing.
(program).
 It stores the final results of processing before these
 It controls the operation of all parts of the computer. results are released to an output device.

 All inputs and outputs are transmitted through the

CPU itself has following three components. main memory.

 Memory or Storage Unit Control Unit

 Control Unit This unit controls the operations of all parts of the

 ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit) computer but does not carry out any actual data
processing operations.

Functions of this unit are −

Memory or Storage Unit
 It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data
This unit can store instructions, data, and
and instructions among other units of a computer.
intermediate results. This unit supplies information to
other units of the computer when needed. It is also  It manages and coordinates all the units of the

known as internal storage unit or the main memory computer.

or the primary storage or Random Access Memory  It obtains the instructions from the memory,
(RAM). interprets them, and directs the operation of the

Its size affects speed, power, and capability. Primary computer.

memory and secondary memory are two types of
memories in the computer. Functions of the memory
unit are −
 It stores all the data and the instructions required
for processing.
 It communicates with Input/Output devices for
transfer of data or results from storage.
 It does not process or store data.
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
This unit consists of two subsections namely,  Graphic Tablet

 Arithmetic Section
 Logic Section
Arithmetic Section
Function of arithmetic section is to perform arithmetic
operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division. All complex operations are done by
making repetitive use of the above operations.
Logic Section
Function of logic section is to perform logic operations
such as comparing, selecting, matching, and merging
of data.
 Microphone
 Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)
 Optical Character Reader(OCR)
 Bar Code Reader
 Optical Mark Reader(OMR)
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.

Computer - Input Devices

Keyboards are of two sizes 84 keys or 101/102 keys,
Following are some of the important input devices
but now keyboards with 104 keys or 108 keys are
which are used in a computer −
also available for Windows and Internet.
 Keyboard The keys on the keyboard are as follows −
 Mouse
S.N Keys & Description
 Joy Stick o

 Light pen
1
 Track Ball Typing Keys

 Scanner
 Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a
These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (09) which generally
very famous cursor-control device having a small
give the same layout as that of typewriters.
palm size box with a round ball at its base, which
senses the movement of the mouse and sends
Numeric Keypad
corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse
It is used to enter the numeric data or cursor movement. Generally, it consists
buttons are pressed.
2
of a set of 17 keys that are laid out in the same configuration used by most
Generally, it has two buttons called the left and the
adding machines and calculators.
right button and a wheel is present between the
buttons. A mouse can be used to control the position
Function Keys
of the cursor on the screen, but it cannot be used to
enter
The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which text into in
are arranged the
a computer.
3
row at the top of the keyboard. Each function key has a unique meaning and
is used for some specific purpose.
Advantages
Control keys
 Easy to use
These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four directional
4  Not very expensive
arrow keys. Control keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up,
 Moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys of the
Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc).
keyboard.

Special Purpose Keys Joystick

5 Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such asJoystick is also
Enter, Shift, a pointing device, which is used to
Caps
Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen. move the cursor position on a monitor screen. It is a
stick having a spherical ball at its both lower and

Mouse upper ends. The lower spherical ball moves in a

socket. The joystick can be moved in all four
directions.
The function of the joystick is similar to that of a
mouse. It is mainly used in Computer Aided
Designing (CAD) and playing computer games.
Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is
used to select a displayed menu item or draw pictures
on the monitor screen. It consists of a photocell and
an optical system placed in a small tube.
When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor
screen and the pen button is pressed, its photocell
sensing element detects the screen location and
sends the corresponding signal to the CPU.
Track Ball
Track ball is an input device that is mostly used in
notebook or laptop computer, instead of a mouse.
This is a ball which is half inserted and by moving
fingers on the ball, the pointer can be moved.
Since the whole device is not moved, a track ball
requires less space than a mouse. A track ball comes
in various shapes like a ball, a button, or a square.
Scanner
Scanner is an input device, which works more like a
photocopy machine. It is used when some
information is available on paper and it is to be
transferred to the hard disk of the computer for
further manipulation.
Scanner captures images from the source which are
then converted into a digital form that can be stored
on the disk. These images can be edited before they
are printed.
Digitizer
Digitizer is an input device which converts analog
information into digital form. Digitizer can convert a
signal from the television or camera into a series of
numbers that could be stored in a computer. They
can be used by the computer to create a picture of
whatever the camera had been pointed at.
Digitizer is also known as Tablet or Graphics Tablet as This reading process is called Magnetic Ink Character
it converts graphics and pictorial data into binary Recognition (MICR). The main advantages of MICR is
inputs. A graphic tablet as digitizer is used for fine that it is fast and less error prone.
works of drawing and image manipulation
applications.
Optical Character Reader (OCR)
OCR is an input device used to read a printed text.
Microphone
Microphone is an input device to input sound that is
then stored in a digital form. OCR scans the text optically, character by character,
converts them into a machine readable code, and
stores the text on the system memory.
The microphone is used for various applications such
as adding sound to a multimedia presentation or for
Bar Code Readers
mixing music. Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar
coded data (data in the form of light and dark lines).
Magnetic Ink Card Reader Bar coded data is generally used in labelling goods,
(MICR) numbering the books, etc. It may be a handheld
scanner or may be embedded in a stationary scanner.
MICR input device is generally used in banks as there
are large number of cheques to be processed every
day. The bank's code number and cheque number are
Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it
printed on the cheques with a special type of ink that
into an alphanumeric value, which is then fed to the
contains particles of magnetic material that are
computer that the bar code reader is connected to.
machine readable.
Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to There are two kinds of viewing screen used for
recognize the type of mark made by pen or pencil. It monitors.
is used where one out of a few alternatives is to be
selected and marked.  Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT)

 Flat-Panel Display

Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor

It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of
The CRT display is made up of small picture elements
examinations having multiple choice questions.
called pixels. The smaller the pixels, the better the
Computer - Output Devices image clarity or resolution. It takes more than one
illuminated pixel to form a whole character, such as
Following are some of the important output devices
the letter ‘e’ in the word help.
used in a computer.

 Monitors
A finite number of characters can be displayed on a
 Graphic Plotter
screen at once. The screen can be divided into a
 Printer series of character boxes - fixed location on the

Monitors screen where a standard character can be placed.

Most screens are capable of displaying 80 characters
Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display
of data horizontally and 25 lines vertically.
Unit (VDU), are the main output device of a
computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called There are some disadvantages of CRT −
pixels that are arranged in a rectangular form. The
 Large in Size
sharpness of the image depends upon the number of
pixels.  High power consumption

Flat-Panel Display Monitor

The flat-panel display refers to a class of video
devices that have reduced volume, weight and power
requirement in comparison to the CRT. You can hang
them on walls or wear them on your wrists. Current
uses of flat-panel displays include calculators, video
games, monitors, laptop computer, and graphics
 Non-Impact Printers
Impact Printers
Impact printers print the characters by striking them
on the ribbon, which is then pressed on the paper.
Characteristics of Impact Printers are the following −

display.
 Very low consumable costs

 Very noisy
The flat-panel display is divided into two categories −  Useful for bulk printing due to low cost

 Emissive Displays − Emissive displays are devices  There is physical contact with the paper to produce
that convert electrical energy into light. For an image
example, plasma panel and LED (Light-Emitting These printers are of two types −
Diodes).
 Character printers
 Non-Emissive Displays − Non-emissive displays
use optical effects to convert sunlight or light from  Line printers

some other source into graphics patterns. For Character Printers

example, LCD (Liquid-Crystal Device).
Character printers are the printers which print one

Printers character at a time.

Printer is an output device, which is used to print These are further divided into two types:
information on paper.
 Dot Matrix Printer(DMP)
There are two types of printers −
 Daisy Wheel

 Impact Printers Dot Matrix Printer

In the market, one of the most popular printers is Dot
Matrix Printer. These printers are popular because of
Advantages
their ease of printing and economical price. Each
character printed is in the form of pattern of dots and  More reliable than DMP
head consists of a Matrix of Pins of size (5*7, 7*9,
 Better quality
9*7 or 9*9) which come out to form a character
 Fonts of character can be easily changed
which is why it is called Dot Matrix Printer.
Disadvantages

Advantages  Slower than DMP

 Noisy
 Inexpensive
 More expensive than DMP
 Widely Used
Line Printers
 Other language characters can be printed
Line printers are the printers which print one line at a
Disadvantages
time.

 Slow Speed

 Poor Quality These are of two types −

Daisy Wheel
 Drum Printer
Head is lying on a wheel and pins corresponding to
 Chain Printer
characters are like petals of Daisy (flower) which is
why it is called Daisy Wheel Printer. These printers Drum Printer

are generally used for word-processing in offices that This printer is like a drum in shape hence it is called
require a few letters to be sent here and there with drum printer. The surface of the drum is divided into
very nice quality. a number of tracks. Total tracks are equal to the size
of the paper, i.e. for a paper width of 132 characters,  Noisy
drum will have 132 tracks. A character set is Non-impact Printers
embossed on the track. Different character sets
Non-impact printers print the characters without
available in the market are 48 character set, 64 and
using the ribbon. These printers print a complete
96 characters set. One rotation of drum prints one
page at a time, thus they are also called as Page
line. Drum printers are fast in speed and can print
Printers.
300 to 2000 lines per minute.
These printers are of two types −
Advantages
 Laser Printers
 Very high speed
 Inkjet Printers
Disadvantages
Characteristics of Non-impact Printers

 Very expensive
 Faster than impact printers
 Characters fonts cannot be changed
 They are not noisy
Chain Printer
 High quality
In this printer, a chain of character sets is used,
 Supports many fonts and different character size
hence it is called Chain Printer. A standard character
Laser Printers
set may have 48, 64, or 96 characters.
These are non-impact page printers. They use laser
Advantages
lights to produce the dots needed to form the
 Character fonts can easily be changed. characters to be printed on a page.

 Different languages can be used with the same

printer.
Advantages
Disadvantages
  Very high speed  High quality printing

 Very high quality output  More reliable

 Good graphics quality Disadvantages

 Supports many fonts and different character size
 Expensive as the cost per page is high
Disadvantages
 Slow as compared to laser printer

 Expensive
Computer - Memory
 Cannot be used to produce multiple copies of a
A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to
document in a single printing
store data and instructions. Computer memory is the
Inkjet Printers storage space in the computer, where data is to be
Inkjet printers are non-impact character printers processed and instructions required for processing are
based on a relatively new technology. They print stored. The memory is divided into large number of
characters by spraying small drops of ink onto paper. small parts called cells. Each location or cell has a
Inkjet printers produce high quality output with unique address, which varies from zero to memory
presentable features. size minus one. For example, if the computer has 64k
words, then this memory unit has 64 * 1024 = 65536
memory locations. The address of these locations
They make less noise because no hammering is done varies from 0 to 65535.
and these have many styles of printing modes
Memory is primarily of three types −
available. Color printing is also possible. Some
models of Inkjet printers can produce multiple copies  Cache Memory
of printing also.
 Primary Memory/Main Memory
Advantages  Secondary Memory
Cache Memory  It is very expensive.

Cache memory is a very high speed semiconductor Primary Memory (Main

memory which can speed up the CPU. It acts as a
Memory)
buffer between the CPU and the main memory. It is
Primary memory holds only those data and
used to hold those parts of data and program which
instructions on which the computer is currently
are most frequently used by the CPU. The parts of
working. It has a limited capacity and data is lost
data and programs are transferred from the disk to
when power is switched off. It is generally made up of
cache memory by the operating system, from where
semiconductor device. These memories are not as
the CPU can access them.
fast as registers. The data and instruction required to
be processed resides in the main memory. It is

Advantages divided into two subcategories RAM and ROM.

The advantages of cache memory are as follows −

Characteristics of Main Memory

 Cache memory is faster than main memory.

 It consumes less access time as compared to main  These are semiconductor memories.
memory.
 It is known as the main memory.
 It stores the program that can be executed within a
 Usually volatile memory.
short period of time.
 Data is lost in case power is switched off.
 It stores data for temporary use.
 It is the working memory of the computer.
Disadvantages
 Faster than secondary memories.
The disadvantages of cache memory are as follows −
 A computer cannot run without the primary memory.
 Cache memory has limited capacity.
Secondary Memory
This type of memory is also known as external
memory or non-volatile. It is slower than the main
memory. These are used for storing data/information
permanently. CPU directly does not access these
memories, instead they are accessed via input-output
routines. The contents of secondary memories are
first transferred to the main memory, and then the
CPU can access it. For example, disk, CD-ROM, DVD,
etc.
Characteristics of Secondary Memory
 These are magnetic and optical memories.
 It is known as the backup memory.
 It is a non-volatile memory.
 Data is permanently stored even if power is switched
off.
 It is used for storage of data in a computer.
 Computer may run without the secondary memory.
 Slower than primary memories.
Random Access Memory
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the
memory of the CPU for storing data, program, and
program result. It is a read/write memory which
stores data until the machine is working. As soon as
the machine is switched off, data is erased.
Access time in RAM is independent of the address,
that is, each storage location inside the memory is as
easy to reach as other locations and takes the same
amount of time. Data in the RAM can be accessed
randomly but it is very expensive.
RAM is volatile, i.e. data stored in it is lost when we
switch off the computer or if there is a power failure.
Hence, a backup Uninterruptible Power System (UPS)
is often used with computers. RAM is small, both in
terms of its physical size and in the amount of data it
can hold.
RAM is of two types −
 Static RAM (SRAM)
 Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
Static RAM (SRAM)
The word static indicates that the memory retains its
contents as long as power is being supplied. However,
internal
data is lost when the power gets down due to volatile
nature. SRAM chips use a matrix of 6-transistors and per second. DRAM is used for most system memory
no capacitors. Transistors do not require power to as it is cheap and small. All DRAMs are made up of
prevent leakage, so SRAM need not be refreshed on a memory cells, which are composed of one capacitor
regular basis. and one transistor.

There is extra space in the matrix, hence SRAM uses Characteristics of Dynamic RAM
more chips than DRAM for the same amount of
storage space, making the manufacturing costs  Short data lifetime

higher. SRAM is thus used as cache memory and has  Needs to be refreshed continuously
very fast access.  Slower as compared to SRAM

Characteristic of Static RAM  Used as RAM

 Smaller in size
 Long life
 Less expensive
 No need to refresh
 Less power consumption
 Faster

 Used as cache memory Computer - Read Only

 Large size Memory
 Expensive ROM stands for Read Only Memory. The memory
 High power consumption from which we can only read but cannot write on it.
This type of memory is non-volatile. The information
Dynamic RAM (DRAM) is stored permanently in such memories during
DRAM, unlike SRAM, must be manufacture. A ROM stores such instructions that are
continually refreshed in order to maintain the data. required to start a computer. This operation is
This is done by placing the memory on a refresh referred to as bootstrap. ROM chips are not only
circuit that rewrites the data several hundred times
used in the computer but also in other electronic EPROM can be erased by exposing it to ultra-violet
items like washing machine and microwave oven. light for a duration of up to 40 minutes. Usually, an
EPROM eraser achieves this function. During
programming, an electrical charge is trapped in an
Let us now discuss the various types of ROMs and insulated gate region. The charge is retained for more
their characteristics. than 10 years because the charge has no leakage

MROM (Masked ROM) path. For erasing this charge, ultra-violet light is
passed through a quartz crystal window (lid). This
The very first ROMs were hard-wired devices that
exposure to ultra-violet light dissipates the charge.
contained a pre-programmed set of data or
During normal use, the quartz lid is sealed with a
instructions. These kind of ROMs are known as
sticker.
masked ROMs, which are inexpensive.
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable
PROM (Programmable Read
and Programmable Read Only
Only Memory)
PROM is read-only memory that can be modified only
Memory)
once by a user. The user buys a blank PROM and EEPROM is programmed and erased electrically. It

enters the desired contents using a PROM program. can be erased and reprogrammed about ten thousand

Inside the PROM chip, there are small fuses which are times. Both erasing and programming take about 4 to

burnt open during programming. It can be 10 ms (millisecond). In EEPROM, any location can be

programmed only once and is not erasable. selectively erased and programmed. EEPROMs can be
erased one byte at a time, rather than erasing the
EPROM (Erasable and entire chip. Hence, the process of reprogramming is

Programmable Read Only flexible but slow.

Memory) Advantages of ROM

The advantages of ROM are as follows −  Motherboard supports a single type of CPU and few
types of memories.
 Non-volatile in nature
 Video cards, hard disks, sound cards have to be
 Cannot be accidentally changed
compatible with the motherboard to function
 Cheaper than RAMs properly.
 Easy to test
 Motherboards, cases, and power supplies must be
 More reliable than RAMs compatible to work properly together.
 Static and do not require refreshing
Popular Manufacturers
 Contents are always known and can be verified
Following are the popular manufacturers of the
Computer - Motherboard motherboard.
The motherboard serves as a single platform to
 Intel
connect all of the parts of a computer together. It
connects the CPU, memory, hard drives, optical  ASUS

drives, video card, sound card, and other ports and  AOpen
expansion cards directly or via cables. It can be  ABIT
considered as the backbone of a computer.
 Biostar

 Gigabyte

Features of Motherboard  MSI

A motherboard comes with following features − Description of Motherboard

 Motherboard varies greatly in supporting various The motherboard is mounted inside the case and is
types of components. securely attached via small screws through pre-drilled
holes. Motherboard contains ports to connect all of
the internal components. It provides a single socket S.No Unit & Description
for CPU, whereas for memory, normally one or more .

slots are available. Motherboards provide ports to

attach the floppy drive, hard drive, and optical drives Bit (Binary Digit)
via ribbon cables. Motherboard carries fans and a 1
A binary digit is logical 0 and 1 representing a passive or an acti
special port designed for power supply.
component in an electric circuit.
There is a peripheral card slot in front of the
motherboard using which video cards, sound cards,
Nibble
and other expansion cards can be connected to the 2
motherboard. A group of 4 bits is called nibble.

On the left side, motherboards carry a number of

Byte
ports to connect the monitor, printer, mouse,
keyboard, speaker, and network cables. 3 A group of 8 bits is called byte. A byte is the smallest unit
Motherboards also provide USB ports, which allow represent a data item or a character.
compatible devices to be connected in plug-in/plug-
out fashion. For example, pen drive, digital cameras, Word
etc.
A computer word, like a byte, is a group of fixed number of bits

Computer - Memory Units a unit, which varies from computer to computer but is fix
4 computer.
Memory unit is the amount of data that can be stored
in the storage unit. This storage capacity is expressed The length of a computer word is called word-size or word lengt

in terms of Bytes. as small as 8 bits or may be as long as 96 bits. A compute

information in the form of computer words.
The following table explains the main memory
storage units − The following table lists some higher storage units −
S.No. Unit & Description which information flows from a program to the
computer or over the Internet.

1
Kilobyte (KB) Characteristics of Ports
1 KB = 1024 Bytes A port has the following characteristics −

 External devices are connected to a computer using

Megabyte (MB) cables and ports.
2
1 MB = 1024 KB  Ports are slots on the motherboard into which a
cable of external device is plugged in.
GigaByte (GB)
3  Examples of external devices attached via ports are
1 GB = 1024 MB the mouse, keyboard, monitor, microphone,
speakers, etc.
TeraByte (TB)
4
1 TB = 1024 GB
Let us now discuss a few important types of ports −

PetaByte (PB) Serial Port

5
 Used for external modems and older computer
1 PB = 1024 TB
mouse

Computer - Ports  Two versions: 9 pin, 25 pin model

A port is a physical docking point using which an  Data travels at 115 kilobits per second
external device can be connected to the computer. It
can also be programmatic docking point through
Parallel Port
 Used for scanners and printers
  Also called printer port
 25 pin model
 IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port
PS/2 Port
 Used for old computer keyboard and mouse
 Also called mouse port
 Most of the old computers provide two PS/2 port,
each for the mouse and keyboard
 IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port
Universal Serial Bus (or USB)
Port
 It can connect all kinds of external USB devices such
as external hard disk, printer, scanner, mouse,
keyboard, etc.
 It was introduced in 1997.
 Most of the computers provide two USB ports as
minimum.
 Data travels at 12 megabits per seconds.
 USB compliant devices can get power from a USB
port.
VGA Port
 Connects monitor to a computer's video card.
 It has 15 holes.
 Similar to the serial port connector. However, serial
port connector has pins, VGA port has holes.
Power Connector
 Three-pronged plug.
 Connects to the computer's power cable that plugs
into a power bar or wall socket.
Firewire Port
 Transfers large amount of data at very fast speed.
 Connects camcorders and video equipment to the
computer.
 Data travels at 400 to 800 megabits per seconds.
 Invented by Apple.
 It has three variants: 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector,
6-Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire
800 connector.
Modem Port
  Connects a PC's modem to the telephone network. Hardware represents the physical and tangible

Ethernet Port components of a computer, i.e. the components that

can be seen and touched.
 Connects to a network and high speed Internet.
Examples of Hardware are the following −
 Connects the network cable to a computer.
 Input devices − keyboard, mouse, etc.
 This port resides on an Ethernet Card.
 Output devices − printer, monitor, etc.
 Data travels at 10 megabits to 1000 megabits per
 Secondary storage devices − Hard disk, CD,
seconds depending upon the network bandwidth.
DVD, etc.
Game Port  Internal components − CPU, motherboard, RAM,
 Connect a joystick to a PC etc.

 Now replaced by USB

Digital Video Interface, DVI port Relationship between Hardware

 Connects Flat panel LCD monitor to the computer's
and Software
high-end video graphic cards.
 Hardware and software are mutually dependent on
 Very popular among video card manufacturers. each other. Both of them must work together to

Sockets make a computer produce a useful output.

 Sockets connect the microphone and speakers to the  Software cannot be utilized without supporting

sound card of the computer. hardware.

Computer - 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, System Software
relevant software should be loaded into the
The system software is a collection of programs
hardware.
designed to operate, control, and extend the
 Hardware is a one-time expense. processing capabilities of the computer itself. System
software is generally prepared by the computer
 Software development is very expensive and is a
manufacturers. These software products comprise of
continuing expense.
programs written in low-level languages, which
 Different software applications can be loaded on a interact with the hardware at a very basic level.
hardware to run different jobs. System software serves as the interface between the
 A software acts as an interface between the user hardware and the end users.
and the hardware. Some examples of system software are Operating
 If the hardware is the 'heart' of a computer system, System, Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers, etc.
then the software is its 'soul'. Both are
complementary to each other.
Here is a list of some of the most prominent features
Computer - Software of a system software −

Software is a set of programs, which is designed to

 Close to the system
perform a well-defined function. A program is a
 Fast in speed
sequence of instructions written to solve a particular
problem.  Difficult to design

 Difficult to understand
There are two types of software −
 Less interactive
 System Software  Smaller in size
 Application Software  Difficult to manipulate
  Generally written in low-level language

Application Software Features of application software are as follows −

Application software products are designed to satisfy

 Close to the user
a particular need of a particular environment. All
 Easy to design
software applications prepared in the computer lab
can come under the category of Application software.  More interactive

 Slow in speed
Application software may consist of a single program,
such as Microsoft's notepad for writing and editing a  Generally written in high-level language

simple text. It may also consist of a collection of  Easy to understand

programs, often called a software package, which  Easy to manipulate and use
work together to accomplish a task, such as a
 Bigger in size and requires large storage space
spreadsheet package.

Examples of Application software are the following −

Computer - Number System
When we type some letters or words, the computer
 Payroll Software translates them in numbers as computers can
 Student Record Software understand only numbers. A computer can

 Inventory Management Software

understand the positional number system where
there are only a few symbols called digits and these
 Income Tax Software
symbols represent different values depending on the
 Railways Reservation Software
position they occupy in the number.
 Microsoft Office Suite Software
The value of each digit in a number can be
 Microsoft Word determined using −
 Microsoft Excel
 The digit
 Microsoft PowerPoint
  The position of the digit in the number

 The base of the number system (where the base is

defined as the total number of digits available in the Binary Number System
1
number system)
Base 2. Digits used : 0, 1
Decimal Number System
The number system that we use in our day-to-day life Octal Number System
2
is the decimal number system. Decimal number Base 8. Digits used : 0 to 7
system has base 10 as it uses 10 digits from 0 to 9.
In decimal number system, the successive positions
Hexa Decimal Number System
to the left of the decimal point represent units, tens, 3
hundreds, thousands, and so on. Base 16. Digits used: 0 to 9, Letters used : A- F

Each position represents a specific power of the base

(10). For example, the decimal number 1234 consists
Binary Number System
of the digit 4 in the units position, 3 in the tens Characteristics of the binary number system are as
position, 2 in the hundreds position, and 1 in the follows −
thousands position. Its value can be written as  Uses two digits, 0 and 1
(1 x 1000)+ (2 x 100)+ (3 x 10)+ (4 x l)
(1 x 103)+ (2 x 102)+ (3 x 101)+ (4 x l00)  Also called as base 2 number system
1000 + 200 + 30 + 4
1234
 Each position in a binary number represents
As a computer programmer or an IT professional, you a 0 power of the base (2). Example 2 0

should understand the following number systems

 Last position in a binary number represents
which are frequently used in computers.
a x power of the base (2). Example
S.No. Number System and Description 2x where x represents the last position - 1.
Example  Last position in an octal number represents

Binary Number: 101012 a x power of the base (8). Example

x
8  where x represents the last position - 1
Calculating Decimal Equivalent −
Example
Step Binary Number Decimal Number
Octal Number: 125708

((1 x 24) + (0 x 23) + (1 x 22) + (0 x Calculating

Step 1 101012 2 Decimal Equivalent −

Step Octal Number Decimal Number

Step 2 101012 (16 + 0 + 4 + 0 + 1)10

Step 1 125708 ((1 x 84) + (2 x 83) + (5 x 82) + (7 x 81) + (0

Step 3 101012 2110

Step 2 125708 (4096 + 1024 + 320 + 56 + 0)10

Note − 101012 is normally written as 10101.

Octal Number System Step 3 125708 549610

Characteristics of the octal number system are as

Note − 125708 is normally written as 12570.
follows −

 Uses eight digits, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Hexadecimal Number System

Characteristics of hexadecimal number system are as
 Also called as base 8 number system
follows −
 Each position in an octal number represents
0
 Uses 10 digits and 6 letters, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
a 0 power of the base (8). Example 8
9, A, B, C, D, E, F

 Letters represent the numbers starting from 10. A =

10. B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15
  Also called as base 16 number system
Computer - Number
 Each position in a hexadecimal number represents
a 0 power of the base (16). Example, 160
Conversion
There are many methods or techniques which can be
 Last position in a hexadecimal number represents
used to convert numbers from one base to another.
a x power of the base (16). Example
In this chapter, we'll demonstrate the following −
x
16  where x represents the last position - 1
 Decimal to Other Base System
Example
Hexadecimal Number: 19FDE16  Other Base System to Decimal

 Other Base System to Non-Decimal

Calculating Decimal Equivalent −
 Shortcut method - Binary to Octal
Step Binary Decimal Number
Number  Shortcut method - Octal to Binary

 Shortcut method - Binary to Hexadecimal

Step 1 19FDE16 ((1 x 164) + (9 x 163) + (F x 162) + (D x 16  Shortcut method - Hexadecimal to Binary

Decimal to Other Base System

Step 2 19FDE16 ((1 x 164) + (9 x 163) + (15 x 162) + (13 x 16
Step 1 − Divide the decimal number to be converted
by the value of the new base.
Step 3 19FDE16 (65536+ 36864 + 3840 + 208 + 14)10
Step 2 − Get the remainder from Step 1 as the
rightmost digit (least significant digit) of the new
Step 4 19FDE16 10646210
base number.

Step 3 − Divide the quotient of the previous divide

Note − 19FDE16 is normally written as 19FDE.
by the new base.
Step 4 − Record the remainder from Step 3 as the
next digit (to the left) of the new base number.
Repeat Steps 3 and 4, getting remainders from right
to left, until the quotient becomes zero in Step 3.
The last remainder thus obtained will be the Most
Significant Digit (MSD) of the new base number.
As mentioned in Steps 2 and 4, the remainders have
to be arranged in the reverse order so that the first
remainder becomes the Least Significant Digit (LSD)
and the last remainder becomes the Most Significant
Digit (MSD).
Decimal Number : 2910 = Binary Number : 111012.

Example Other Base System to Decimal

Decimal Number: 2910 System
Calculating Binary Equivalent − Step 1 − Determine the column (positional) value of
each digit (this depends on the position of the digit
Step Operation Result
and the base of the number system).

Step 2 − Multiply the obtained column values (in

Step 1 29 / 2 14
Step 1) by the digits in the corresponding columns.

Step 2 14 / 2 7 Step 3 − Sum the products calculated in Step 2. The

total is the equivalent value in decimal.

Step 3 7/2 3 Example

Binary Number: 111012
Step 4 3/2 1
Calculating Decimal Equivalent −

Step Binary Number Decimal Number

Step 5 1/2 0

Step 1 111012 ((1 x 24) + (1 x 23) + (1 x 22) + (0 x 21) + (

 Step 2 258 (16 + 5)10

Step 2 111012 (16 + 8 + 4 + 0 + 1)10 Step 3 258 2110

Step 3 111012 2910 Octal Number : 258 = Decimal Number : 2110

Step 2 - Convert Decimal to Binary

Binary Number : 111012 = Decimal Number : 2910 Step Operation Result Rema

Other Base System to Non-

Decimal System Step 1 21 / 2 10

Step 1 − Convert the original number to a decimal

Step 2 10 / 2 5
number (base 10).

Step 2 − Convert the decimal number so obtained to

Step 3 5/2 2
the new base number.

Example Step 4 2/2 1

Octal Number : 258

Calculating Binary Equivalent − Step 5 1/2 0

Step 1 - Convert to Decimal

Decimal Number : 2110 = Binary Number : 101012
Step Octal Number Decimal Number
Octal Number : 258 = Binary Number : 101012

Step 1 258 ((2 x 81) + (5 x 8 Shortcut Method ─ Binary to

Octal
Step 1 − Divide the binary digits into groups of three Step 2 − Combine all the resulting binary groups (of
(starting from the right). 3 digits each) into a single binary number.

Step 2 − Convert each group of three binary digits to Example

one octal digit. Octal Number : 258

Example Calculating Binary Equivalent −

Binary Number : 101012
Step Octal Number Binary Num
Calculating Octal Equivalent −

Step Binary Number Step 1 258 210 510

Step 1 101012 Step 2 258 0102 101

Step 2 101012 Step 3 258 0101012

Step 3 101012 Octal Number : 258 = Binary Number : 101012

Shortcut Method ─ Binary to

Binary Number : 101012 = Octal Number : 258
Hexadecimal
Shortcut Method ─ Octal to Step 1 − Divide the binary digits into groups of four
Binary (starting from the right).

Step 1 − Convert each octal digit to a 3-digit binary Step 2 − Convert each group of four binary digits to
number (the octal digits may be treated as decimal one hexadecimal symbol.
for this conversion).
Example
Binary Number : 101012 Calculating Binary Equivalent −

Calculating hexadecimal Equivalent − Step Hexadecimal Number Binary N

Step Binary Number Hexadecimal Number

Step 1 1516 110 5

Step 1 101012 0001 0101

Step 2 1516 00012 0

Step 2 101012
Step 3 1516 000101

Step 3 101012
Hexadecimal Number : 1516 = Binary Number :
101012
Binary Number : 101012 = Hexadecimal Number :
1516
Computer - Data and
Shortcut Method - Hexadecimal Information
to Binary Data can be defined as a representation of facts,
Step 1 − Convert each hexadecimal digit to a 4-digit concepts, or instructions in a formalized manner,
binary number (the hexadecimal digits may be which should be suitable for communication,
treated as decimal for this conversion). interpretation, or processing by human or electronic
machine.
Step 2 − Combine all the resulting binary groups (of
4 digits each) into a single binary number. Data is represented with the help of characters such
as alphabets (A-Z, a-z), digits (0-9) or special
Example
characters (+,-,/,*,<,>,= etc.)
Hexadecimal Number : 1516
What is Information?
Information is organized or classified data, which when electronic computers are used, the input data
has some meaningful values for the receiver. can be recorded on any one of the several types of
Information is the processed data on which decisions input medium, such as magnetic disks, tapes, and
and actions are based. so on.

For the decision to be meaningful, the processed data
must qualify for the following characteristics −
 Timely − Information should be available when
required.
 Accuracy − Information should be accurate.
 Completeness − Information should be complete.
Data Processing Cycle
 Processing − In this step, the input data is
changed to produce data in a more useful form. For
example, pay-checks can be calculated from the
time cards, or a summary of sales for the month
can be calculated from the sales orders.
 Output − At this stage, the result of the proceeding
processing step is collected. The particular form of
the output data depends on the use of the data. For
example, output data may be pay-checks for
employees.

Data processing is the re-structuring or re-ordering of

data by people or machine to increase their
Computer - Networking
usefulness and add values for a particular purpose. A computer network is a system in which multiple
Data processing consists of the following basic steps - computers are connected to each other to share
input, processing, and output. These three steps information and resources.
constitute the data processing cycle.

Characteristics of a Computer
 Input − In this step, the input data is prepared in
some convenient form for processing. The form will
Network
depend on the processing machine. For example,  Share resources from one computer to another.
  Create files and store them in one computer, access to produce a network, this serial connection will not
those files from the other computer(s) connected work.
over the network.

 Connect a printer, scanner, or a fax machine to one

The solution is to use a central body to which other
computer within the network and let other
computers, printers, scanners, etc. can be connected
computers of the network use the machines
and then this body will manage or distribute network
available over the network.
traffic.
Following is the list of hardware's required to set up a
computer network.
Router
A router is a type of device which acts as the central
 Network Cables point among computers and other devices that are a
 Distributors part of the network. It is equipped with holes called
ports. Computers and other devices are connected to
 Routers
a router using network cables. Now-a-days router
 Internal Network Cards
comes in wireless modes using which computers can
 External Network Cards be connected without any physical cable.

Network Cables
Network cables are used to connect computers. The
most commonly used cable is Category 5 cable RJ-45.
Network Card
Network card is a necessary component of a
computer without which a computer cannot be

Distributors connected over a network. It is also known as the

network adapter or Network Interface Card (NIC).
A computer can be connected to another one via a
Most branded computers have network card pre-
serial port but if we need to connect many computers
installed. Network cards are of two types: Internal
and External Network Cards.

Internal Network Cards

Computer - Operating
Motherboard has a slot for internal network card System
where it is to be inserted. Internal network cards are The Operating System is a program with the following
of two types in which the first type uses Peripheral features −
Component Interconnect (PCI) connection, while the
 An operating system is a program that acts as an
second type uses Industry Standard Architecture
interface between the software and the computer
(ISA). Network cables are required to provide
hardware.
network access.
 It is an integrated set of specialized programs used
to manage overall resources and operations of the
External Network Cards computer.

External network cards are of two types: Wireless and  It is a specialized software that controls and
USB based. Wireless network card needs to be monitors the execution of all other programs that
inserted into the motherboard, however no network reside in the computer, including application
cable is required to connect to the network. programs and other system software.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) Objectives of Operating System

USB card is easy to use and connects via USB port. The objectives of the operating system are −
Computers automatically detect USB card and can
 To make the computer system convenient to use in
install the drivers required to support the USB
an efficient manner.
network card automatically.
  To hide the details of the hardware resources from  Processor Management − Allocates the processor
the users. (CPU) to a process and deallocates the processor
when it is no longer required.
 To provide users a convenient interface to use the
computer system.  Device Management − Keeps track of all the
devices. This is also called I/O controller that
 To act as an intermediary between the hardware
decides which process gets the device, when, and
and its users, making it easier for the users to
for how much time.
access and use other resources.
 File Management − Allocates and de-allocates the
 To manage the resources of a computer system.
resources and decides who gets the resources.
 To keep track of who is using which resource,
 Security − Prevents unauthorized access to
granting resource requests, and mediating
programs and data by means of passwords and
conflicting requests from different programs and
other similar techniques.
users.
 Job Accounting − Keeps track of time and
 To provide efficient and fair sharing of resources
resources used by various jobs and/or users.
among users and programs.
 Control Over System Performance − Records
Characteristics of Operating delays between the request for a service and from
System the system.

Here is a list of some of the most prominent  Interaction with the Operators − Interaction
characteristic features of Operating Systems − may take place via the console of the computer in

 Memory Management − Keeps track of the the form of instructions. The Operating System

primary memory, i.e. what part of it is in use by acknowledges the same, does the corresponding

whom, what part is not in use, etc. and allocates action, and informs the operation by a display

the memory when a process or program requests it. screen.

  Error-detecting Aids − Production of dumps, a DNS server will resolve a
traces, error messages, and other debugging and name https://www.tutorialspoint.com to a particular
error-detecting methods. IP address to uniquely identify the computer on which
this website is hosted.
 Coordination Between Other Software and
Users − Coordination and assignment of compilers,
interpreters, assemblers, and other software to the
Internet is accessible to every user all over the world.
various users of the computer systems.
Intranet
Computer - Internet and Intranet is the system in which multiple PCs are
Intranet connected to each other. PCs in intranet are not

In this chapter, we will see what is Internet and available to the world outside the intranet. Usually

Intranet, as well as discuss the similarities and each organization has its own Intranet network and

differences between the two. members/employees of that organization can access

the computers in their intranet.
Internet
It is a worldwide/global system of interconnected
Each computer in Intranet is also identified by an IP
computer networks. It uses the standard Internet
Address which is unique among the computers in that
Protocol (TCP/IP). Every computer in Internet is
Intranet.
identified by a unique IP address. IP Address is a
unique set of numbers (such as 110.22.33.114) Similarities between Internet
which identifies a computer’s location.
and Intranet
A special computer DNS (Domain Name Server) is
 Intranet uses the internet protocols such as TCP/IP
used to provide a name to the IP Address so that the
and FTP.
user can locate a computer by a name. For example,
  Intranet sites are accessible via the web browser in
a similar way as websites in the internet. However,
only members of Intranet network can access
intranet hosted sites.
 In Intranet, own instant messengers can be used as
similar to yahoo messenger/gtalk over the internet.
Differences between Internet
Popular desktop brands are Dell, Lenovo, HP and
Apple. Always compare the desktops based on their
specifications and base price.
Monitor
 Size − It is the diagonal size of the LCD screen.
Larger the area, bigger the picture screen. A bigger

and Intranet picture is preferable for movie watching and

gaming. It will increase the productivity as well.
 Internet is general to PCs all over the world whereas
Intranet is specific to few PCs.  Resolution − This is the number of pixels on the
screen. For example, 24inch display is 1920x1200
 Internet provides a wider and better access to
(width by length) and 22-inch display is 1680x1050.
websites to a large population, whereas Intranet is
High resolution provides better picture quality and a
restricted.
nice gaming experience.
 Internet is not as safe as Intranet. Intranet can be
 Inputs − Now-a-days monitors can accept inputs
safely privatized as per the need.
from cable as well apart from the computer. They

How to Buy a Computer? can also have USB ports.

In this chapter, we will supply relevant information to  Stand − Some monitors come with adjustable
help you buy a desktop on component by component stands while some may not.
basis. As desktops are highly customizable, so it is
 Recommended − 24 Inch LCD.
better to learn about the main parts and then visit
the manufacturer or the retailer shop or site, instead Operating System
of just looking at some specific model directly.
  Operating System is the main software of the
computer as everything will run on it in one form or
 Optical drive is the drive on a computer, which is
other.
responsible for using CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs.
 There are primarily three choices: Windows, Linux,
 Now-a-days, DVD burners are industry standards.
Apple OS X.
 DVD Burner can burn CD, DVD and play them.
 Linux is free, however people generally do not use
it for home purpose.  DVD Burner is cheaper than Blu-ray drives.

 Apple OS X works only on Apple desktops.  Blu-ray drives can play HD movies but are costlier
component.
 Windows 7 is very popular among desktop users.
 Recommended − DVD Burner.
 Most of the computers come pre-equipped with
Windows 7 Starter edition. Memory
 Windows 8 is recently introduced and is available
in the market.  RAM is considered as Computer Memory as the

 Windows 7 and Windows 8 come in multiple performance of a computer is directly proportional

versions from starter, home basic, home premium, to its memory and processor.

professional, ultimate, and enterprise editions.  Today's software and operating system require high

 As the edition version increases, their features list memory.

and price increases.  Today commonly used RAM is DDR3, which operates

 Recommended − Windows 7 Home Premium. at 1066Mhz.

Optical Drive (CD / DVD / Blu-  As per Windows 7, 1 GB is the minimum RAM
required to function properly.
ray)
  Recommended − 4 GB.
Hard Drive
 Hard disk is used for storage purpose. Higher the
capacity, more data you can save in it.
 Now-a-days computers are equipped with 500GB
hard drive, which can be extended to 2TB.
 Most hard drives in desktop operate at the standard
performance speed of 7200RPM.
 Cache − Higher the L1, L2 cache, better the CPU
performance.
 Recommended − Intel Core i3-3225 3.30 GHz
Processor.
Computer - Available
Courses
Nowadays, various types of courses are provided by
educational institutions. Following are some of the
common as well as important courses.

 Recommended − 500GB. Duration M

Course Name
(years) Qu
CPU
B.C.A Bachelor of Computer 3
Applications
 Frequency (GHz) − This determines the speed of
the processor. More the speed, better the CPU.
P.G.D.C.A Post Graduate Diploma in 1 G
 Cores − Now-a-days CPUs come with more than Computer Applications

one core, which is like having more than one CPU in

the computer. Programs which can take advantage M.C.A Master of Computer Applications 3 G
of multi-core environment will run faster on such
machines. B.Sc.(CS) Bachelor of Science (Computer 3
Science)
 Brand − Intel or AMD. Both are equivalent. Intel is
in lead.
 M.Sc.(CS) Master of Science (Computer 2 year). Online courses on topics such as Computer
Science) Basics, Programming Languages Training, Hardware
Training, and Network Certifications are also gaining
B.Tech.(CSE) Bachelor of Technology 4 in popularity.
(Computer Science and
Engineering)

B.Tech.(IT) Bachelor of Technology 4

(Information Technology)

M.Tech. Master of Technology (Computer 2

(CSE) Science and Engineering)

M.Tech.(IT) Master of Technology 2

(Information Technology)

B.E.(CSE) Bachelor of Engineering 4

(Computer Science and
Engineering)

B.E.(IT) Bachelor of Engineering 4

(Information Technology)

Diploma Courses
Apart from regular degree courses, computer centers
also provide short-term courses (from 3 months to 1