COMPUTER

BARCEBAL, ANGELA A. BSN-2N

PARTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM - Output devices deliver data to external world (text,
- Computer systems have for parts: data files, sound, graphics or signals)
1. Hardware ○ Monitor, printer, speaker
2. Software - Some devices are input and output
3. Data ○ Touch screens
4. User
4. STORAGE DEVICES
- HARDWARE - Hold data and programs permanently
○ Mechanical devices in the computer; - Different from RAM
physical components of the machine ▪ HARD DRIVE - very fast means of storing and
○ Anything that can be touched retrieving data as well as having a large storage
▪ Electric circuits, microchips, capacity
processors & motherboard - main ▪ MAGNETIC STORAGE
circuit board that all other internal ○ Floppy/DISKETTE and hard drive
components connect to (placed inside ○ Uses a magnet to access data
computer housing) ▪ OPTICAL STORAGE
▪ PERIPHERAL DEVICES (input and ○ CD and DVD drives
output devices ○ Uses a laser to access data
ESSENTIAL COMPUTER HARDWARE - SOFTWARE
- Computers use the same basic hardware ○ Tell the computer what to do; describe the
- Hardware categorized into four types: function or the contribution of the sets of
commands, procedures in the computer
1. PROCESSING DEVICES system
- Brain of the computer ○ Also called a program
- Carries out instructions from the program ○ Thousands of programs exist
- Manipulate the data ▪ Operating system
- Most computers have multiple processors ▪ Word processor
- Central Processing Unit (CPU) ▪ Database
- Secondary processors (benefits the nursing from doing a manual preparation of
- Processors are made of silicon and copper reports and documents, due to readily available information,
will have more time synthesizing and analyzing information)
2. MEMORY DEVICES
- Store data or programs SOFTWARE RUNS THE MACHINE
- Random Access Memory (RAM) - Two types
○ Volatile ○ System software
○ Stores current data and programs ○ Application software
(temporary)
○ More RAM results in a faster system 1. SYSTEM SOFTWARE " boots up" (starts up and initializes)
○ Changeable and used for primary storage the computer system; controls, input, output and
- Read Only Memory (ROM) storage; and controls the operation of the application
○ Permanent storage of programs; does not software
change; can't be erased or altered - Most important software
○ Holds the computer boot directions - Operating system
○ Windows XP
3. INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES - Network Operating System (OS)
- Allows the user to interact ○ windows server 2002
- Input devices accepts data - Utility
○ Keyboard, mouse ○ Symantec AntiVirus

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 2. APPLICATION SOFTWARE includes the various
programs that users require to perform day-
to -day tasks. They are actually the programs
that support the actual work of the user.
Accomplishes a specific task
- Most common type of software
○ MS Word
- Covers most common uses of computers
3. THIRD TYPE OF SOFTWARE = UTILITY PROGRAMS
- Used to help maintaining the system
- Clean unwanted programs
- Protect the system against the viruses and
- Access the World Wide Web
- Largest type of computer; a world class "number
cruncher".
- It is a computational-oriented specially designed for
scientific applications requiring gigantic amounts of
calculations
- Designed primarily for analysis of scientific and
engineering problems and for tasks requiring millions
or billions of computational operations and calculations
- It is found primarily in areas such as defense and
weaponry, weather forecasting and scientific research
2. Mainframes

- DATA
○ Pieces of information
○ Computer organize and present data
○ Facts with no meaning on its own
○ Stored using the binary number system
○ Data can be organized into files
- It is the fastest, largest, and most expensive type of
- USERS computer used in corporate America for processing,
○ People operating the computer storing and retrieving data
○ Most important part - It is a large multiuser central computer that meets the
○ Tell the computer what to do computing needs of a large organization such as
○ Role depends on ability repetitive calculations of bills and payrolls
▪ Setup the system - A mainframe has an extremely large memory capacity
▪ Install software and fast operating and processing time and it can
▪ Manage files process a large number of function at one time.
▪ Maintain the system
○ "Userless" computers 3. Microcomputers (Personal Computer)
▪ Run with no user input
▪ Automated systems

INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

- Steps followed to process data
1. Input
2. Processing
3. Output
4. Storage

TYPES OF COMPUTERS
1. Supercomputers

- Being used for an increasing number of independent

applications as well as serving as a desktop link to the
programs of the mainframe
- Desktops can serve as a stand-alone workstations and
can be linked to a network system to increase their
capabilities

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 4. Handheld Computers

- These are small, special function computers;

smaller size than the standard desktop
microcomputers, some have claimed to have
almost the same functionality and processing
capabilities as the standard desktop
microcomputer.
- More popular are the palm-sized computers such
as personal digital assistant (PDA) = provides
calendar, contacts, and note-taking functions and
may provide word processing and spread sheet.

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