TLE – ICT (Computer Systems Servicing)

What is Computer?

 The term computer is derived from the word compute. The word compute means to

calculate.

 A computer is an electronic machine that accepts data, stores and processes data into
information. The computer is able to work because there are instructions in its memory
directing it.

Types of Computer According to Size & Processing Powers

1. Supercomputers
 Fastest Computers. Generally operate at 4 to 10 times faster than the mainframe.
 Designed to work on a single problem at a time.
 Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems
including quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling ,
physical simulations, aircraft and spacecraft designing, encrypting & decoding sensitive
intelligence information

2. Mainframe computers
 Powerful computers used mainly by large organizations for critical applications,
typically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics,
enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.
 Most of the mainframe computers have the capacities to host multiple operating
systems and can handle hundreds of users (can serve up to 50,000 users
simultaneously)

3. Minicomputers
 Minicomputers are mid-range computers whose size, speed and capabilities lie
somewhere, between those of a mainframe and a microcomputer.
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all the cash registers in a supermarket may be connected to a minicomputer. The minicomputer
stores information on all sales rung up by the cash registers and it keeps track of
thesupermarket’s inventory of thousands of different products .

4. Microcomputers
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They
are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers. Many microcomputers
(when equipped with a keyboard and screen for input and output) are also personal
computers (in the generic sense).

Classification within this category includes:

 Desktop  Handheld
 Workstations  Video game consoles
 Laptop  Embedded computers

 Desktop computers

Are the most common type of personal computer and are designed to fit conveniently on
the surface of a desk or workspace. Desktop computers have separate display screens.

A workstation is simply a desktop computer that has a more powerful processor, additional
memory and enhanced capabilities for performing a special group of task, such as 3D
Graphics or game development.
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 LAPTOP COMPUTERE:\MY FILES\LESSONS\Subjects\CS100-Fundamentals of Computer

Science\support3\Laptop Computer.pptx
 Also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. 
 A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer,
including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device (touchpad or trackpad) and
speakers into a single unit.
 Powered via an AC adapter, and can be used away from an outlet using
a rechargeable battery.
Classification:
 Desktop replacements
 Subnotebook
 Netbook
 Rugged
 Tablet PC
FORMS:
Slate
Convertible
Hybrid
 Handheld Computer
mobile device (also known as a handheld device, handheld computer or simply handheld) is a
small, hand-held computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a
miniature keyboard.

Typical handhelds:
• Information appliance
• Smart phone/Mobile Phone
• Personal digital assistant (PDA)
• Personal Communicator
• Handheld game console

 Video Game Console is an interactive entertainment computer or modified computer

system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display to display a
video game .
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 EMBEDDED COMPUTERS

 A specialized computer system that is part of larger system or

machine.

 Are the “brains” behind many everyday mechanisms, such as

wireless devices, cars, climate control systems, traffic signals, and
washing machines, ticket machines at the subway, cameras,
airplanes, cars, sewing machines, clocks and etc.

 The software written for many embedded systems is

called firmware. Firmware is software that is
embedded in hardware devices, e.g. in one or more
ROM or Flash memory IC chips.
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The Components of a Computer System

A complete computer system includes four distinct parts:

• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• Users
•
Hardware

• A computer's hardware consists of electronic devices; the parts you can see and touch.

• The term "device" refers to any piece of hardware used by the computer, such as a
keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.

a. Input Devices

– It is used to enter data into a computer system

– It is used to issue instructions (commands) to a computer
Examples:

 Keysand Buttons(keyboards , keypads, buttons)

 Pointing Devices (light pen, mouse, touch screen, trackball, pen and tablet (as used in PDAs),
joystick, thumb wheel (used in new cell phones)tadpole (combination mouse and joystick)
 audio - voice/speech (microphone)
 visual - digital input devices (scanners, digital cameras and charged-coupled devices (CCDs)

b. Output Devices - convert information coming from a computer system into some form
perceptible by humans.
Examples:

visual
– character-based displays
• liquid-crystal displays [LCDs],flat-panel displays [FPDs]
• used in stationary devices, in telephones, calculators, etc.
– graphics displays
• CRTs, LCDs, and other FPDs, 3D
• HRES graphic displays used in stationary output devices, cockpits, or helmet-
mounted displays
– printing devices
• color vs. black and white; dot matrix, laser, inkjet
• fax
• plotters (colored pens)
– microfiche or microfilm
• require special equipment to read
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auditory (non-speech, speech)

– tone generators
• beeps, alerting tones
– alarms
• warning signals
– digitized speech
• digitally recorded human speech
– text-to-speech synthesis
• speech generated by concatenating basic speech sounds according to rules
tactile
• tactile output for visually-impaired and blind users (e.g., Braille)

c. Storage Devices
– Storage devices hold data not currently being used by the CPU. Data is commonly
stored on a magnetic or optical disk. Each type uses a special medium for storing
data on its surface.
– A disk drive is a device that reads data from and writes data to a disk. Most new
computers feature a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, and an optical disk drive.
– The most common optical storage devices are CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives.

Examples:


Floppy disk (holds 1.44 mb)

USB Memory Stick - is capable of holding anything from 1GB to 36GB. They enter
the computer through USB ports where data can be quickly and easily added
and removed. Potentially the most popular form of removable hardware
because of its portability
 Zip Disk - Portable hardrives hold far more information than a USB stick or floppy
disk but sacrifices a proportion of its portability
 Compact Disk - Standard disks can hold 80 minutes of audio or 700MB of data
 Hard Disks- are used primary as on-board storage for computers
d. Communication Devices
– Communications devices (such as modems and network interface cards) perform
both input and output, allowing computers to share information

Software

– Software – also called programs – consists of organized sets of instructions for

controlling the computer.
– Some programs exist for the computer's use, to help it manage its own tasks and
devices.
– Other programs exist for the user, and enable the computer to perform tasks for
you, such as creating documents.
TLE – ICT (Computer Systems Servicing)

a. System Software
– Software exists primarily for the computer itself, to help the computer perform
specific functions.
– One major type of system software is the operating system (OS). All computers
require an operating system.
– The OS tells the computer how to interact with the user and its own devices.
– Common operating systems include Windows, the Macintosh OS, OS/2, and UNIX .
b. Application software
– Tells the computer how to accomplish tasks the user requires, such as creating a
document or editing a graphic image.
– Some important kinds of application software are:
Word processing programs Spreadsheet software
Database management Presentation programs
Graphics programs Networking software
Web design tools and browsers Internet applications
Communications programs Utilities
Entertainment and education Multimedia authoring

Data

– Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can manipulate and process into information
that is useful to people.

Example:

User

• People are the computer's operators, or users.

• Some types of computers can operate without much intervention from people, but personal
computers are designed specifically for use by people.