Unit-I Programming for Problem Solving 2021

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS:
 Computer is an electronic device which is used to store the data, as per given instructions
it gives results quickly and accurately.
Data: Data: is a raw material of information.
Information: Proper collection of the data is called information.
 Any programming language is implemented on a computer. Right from its inception, to
the present day, all computer system (irrespective of their shape & size) perform the
following 5 basic operations. It converts the raw input data into information, which is
useful to the users.

1. Input: It is the process of entering data & instructions to the computer system.
2. Storing: The data & instructions are stored for either initial or additional processing, as &
when required.
3. Processing: It requires performing arithmetic or logical operation on the saved data to
convert it into useful information.
4. Output: It is the process of producing the output data to the end user.
5. Controlling: The above operations have to be directed in a particular sequence to be
completed. Based on these 5 operations, we can sketch the block diagram of a computer.

Fig. Block Diagram of a Computer

By: SKY Computer Science & Engineering Department, I.E.T. Lucknow [U.P.] Page 1
Unit-I Programming for Problem Solving 2021
Input Unit:
We need to first enter the data & instruction in the computer system, before any computation
begins. This task is accomplished by the input devices. (The data accepted is in a human readable
form. The input device converts it into a computer readable form.
Input device: The input device is the means through which data and instructions enter in a
computer.

1.Camera - most cameras like this are used during live conversations. The camera transmits a
picture from one computer to another, or can be used to record a short video.

2. Compact Disc (CD) - CDs store information. The CD can then be put into another computer,
and the information can be opened and added or used on the second computer. Note: A CD-R or
CD-RW can also be used as an OUTPUT device.

3. Keyboard - The keyboard is a way to input letters or numbers into different applications or
programs. A keyboard also has special keys that help operate the computer.

4. Mouse - The mouse is used to open and close files, navigate web sites, and click on a lot of
commands (to tell the computer what to do) when using different applications.

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Unit-I Programming for Problem Solving 2021

5. Microphone - A microphone is used to record sound. The sound is then saved as a sound file on
the computer.

6. Scanner - A scanner is used to copy pictures or other things and save them as files on the
computer.

7. Joystick - A joystick is used to move the cursor from place to place, and to click on various
items in programs. A joystick is used mostly for computer games.

8. Bar Code Scanner - A bar code scanner scans a little label that has a bar code on it. The
information is then saved on the computer. Bar code scanners are used in libraries a lot.

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Unit-I Programming for Problem Solving 2021
Storage Unit:

 The data & instruction that are entered have to be stored in the computer. Similarly, the
end results & the intermediate results also have to be stored somewhere before being
passed to the output unit.
 The storage unit provides solution to all these issues. This storage unit is designed to save
the initial data, the intermediate result & the final result.
 This storage unit has 2 units: Primary storage & Secondary storage.

Primary Storage:

 The primary storage, also called as the main memory, holds the data when the computer
is currently on. As soon as the system is switched off or restarted, the information held in
primary storage disappears (i.e. it is volatile in nature).
 Moreover, the primary storage normally has a limited storage capacity, because it is very
expensive as it is made up of semiconductor devices.

Secondary Storage:

 The secondary storage, also called as the auxiliary storage, handles the storage limitation
& the volatile nature of the primary memory.
 It can retain information even when the system is off.
 It is basically used for holding the program instructions & data on which the computer is
not working on currently, but needs to process them later.

Magnetic Disk:

The Magnetic Disk is Flat, circular platter with metallic coating that is rotated beneath read/write
heads. It is a Random access device; read/write head can be moved to any location on the platter.

Floppy Disk:

 These are small removable disks that are plastic coated with magnetic recording material.
Floppy disks are typically 3.5″ in size (diameter) and can hold 1.44 MB of data.

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Unit-I Programming for Problem Solving 2021
 This portable storage device is a rewritable media and can be reused a number of times.
Floppy disks are commonly used to move files between different computers.
 The main disadvantage of floppy disks is that they can be damaged easily and, therefore,
are not very reliable.

Hard disk:

 A hard disk consists of one or more rigid metal plates coated with a metal oxide material
that allows data to be magnetically recorded on the surface of the platters.
 The hard disk platters spin at a high rate of speed, typically 5400 to 7200 revolutions per
minute (RPM).
 Storage capacities of hard disks for personal computers range from 10 GB to 120 GB
(one billion bytes are called a gigabyte).

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Unit-I Programming for Problem Solving 2021

References

1. Computer Concepts and Programming in C by D.S. Yadav and Rajeev Khanna, New Age
International Publication.
2. Schum‟s Outline of Programming with C by Byron Gottfried, McGraw-Hill
3. The C programming by Kernighan Brain W. and Ritchie Dennis M., Pearson Education.
4. Computer Basics and C Programming by V.Rajaraman , PHI Learning Pvt. Limited, 2015.
5. Computer Concepts and Programming in C, R.S. Salaria, Khanna Publishing House
6. Computer Concepts and Programming in C, E Balaguruswami, McGraw Hill
7. Computer Science- A Structured Programming Approach Using C, by Behrouz A. Forouzan,
Richard F. Gilberg, Thomson, Third Edition , Cengage Learning - 2007.
8. Let Us C By Yashwant P. Kanetkar.
9. Problem Solving and Program Design in C, by Jeri R. Hanly, Elliot B. Koffman, Pearson Addison-
Wesley, 2006.
10. Programming in C by Kochan Stephen G. Pearson Education – 2015.
11. Computer Concepts and Programming by Anami, Angadi and Manvi, PHI Publication.
12. Computer Concepts and Programming in C by Vikas Gupta, Wiley India Publication

By: SKY Computer Science & Engineering Department, I.E.T. Lucknow [U.P.] Page 6