COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES

THE COMPUTER

Realistically, people nowadays become knowledge-hungry of learning how to use

computers. A computer is an electronic devised used to accept commands and request from the
user (input), process those requests (process) then store or save those processed data for
retrieval purpose (storage) and lastly, produce output if being required by the user (output). It
can work properly and efficiently if given proper instruction through a program.

A program is a set of instruction that tell as a computer what to do with an initial

command coming from the user.

Advantages of using a computer

• Generates information at a very high speed

• Process data accurately
• Saves and retrieves information when needed
• Performs logical operations
• Reduce paper works and costs
• Diligent, versatile and reliable

The disadvantage of using computer

• Cannot generate information on its own

• Cannot derive its meaning from objects around
• No original decisions
• Cannot work without electricity
• Cannot make judgments no feelings, and emotions

Computer`s capabilities to perform quick analysis and rapid calculations enable it to

become the digital era`s favorite machine. From a private room in a house to multiple offices of
big and giant business firms in the world, this device almost conquers all side of the earth.

Below are some of the various fields where computer is being used:

• Business
A computer has a high speed of calculation, diligence, accuracy, reliability, or versatility
which has made it an integrated part in all business organizations.

• Education
Computers are one of the most valuable resources in a classroom because they serve
so many useful functions. Nowadays, this machine is a great help to student in doing
their researches and projects

• Healthcare
Computer have played such a vital role in the health of individuals. This becomes an
important part of every hospital`s laboratories, dispensaries and doctor`s offices for
managing patient`s record and findings.
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• Engineering
One of the major areas being performed by computer in the field of engineering is
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) which provides the creation, design and modification of
images in some of the fields such as structural, industrial, and architectural
engineering.

• Military
The military also employs computerize control system. Some military areas where
computer has been used are:

1. Missile Control
2. Military Communication
3. Military Operation and Planning
4. Smart Weapons

• Communication
People around world make use of computer for communication purpose. Some areas
played by the role of computers is e-mail, chatting and video-conferencing.

• Government
Different government offices have already embraced and utilized the power of the
computer for their annual budgeting, tax collections, citizen`s population, and welfare.

• Other fields related to Business

o Banking – this field related to business is dependent on computer for facilities such
as online accounting facilities and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).
o Insurance – this field user computer for keeping the records of its client and
customer including the updates of its payments and benefits.
o Marketing – uses a computer for creating advertisement and marketing strategies.

Types of Computers

1. Personal Computer
It is single-user computer system having a moderately powerful microprocessor. It has
features such as portability and convenience since it can be brought and placed
wherever. Some of the types of personal computer are the following:
o Laptops are considered as personal computer because it is being designed for
personal and private uses only. It is also being called a laptop since its nature is
usually to be place on top of your lap.
o Netbooks are subgroup of laptops acting as category of small, lightweight and less
expensive compared to laptop prizes.
o Tablets de- emphasize the use of traditional input devices (keyboard and mouse) by
using a touchscreen feature. It can be used using your bare finger, a stylus or light
pen.
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES

2. Workstation
A work is a high-end personal computer designed for technical, mathematical, or
scientific application. Intended primarily to be used by one person at time, they are
commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operation system.

3. Minicomputer
It is a mid-sized computer that has the capability of being accessed by up to 250 users
simultaneous.

4. Mainframe computer
This type of computer has more capabilities compared to minicomputers. This can
process request or commands from hundreds to thousands of users at the same time.
This is more expensive than minicomputer and needs a wide space for its station.

5. Supercomputer
This is most expensive and fastest type of computer in the world. Supercomputers are
being bought and employed for specialized applications that required an immense
amount of storage and processing capacity for millions of users to access their services.

Computer Peripheral Devices

The peripheral device is generally defined as any device being connected to your computer to
make it work in different ways. These devices could either be physically connected to the ports
of your computer or via wireless connection using Bluetooth technology.

Other Definition of Peripheral Devices

Laypeople defined peripheral device as any device connected outside computer unit such as
your printer, scanner, mouse and keyboard, however technical people do consider any device
being present inside your computer and are being connected to the motherboard such as Hard
disk, Random Access Memory (RAM), video and audio cards. According to the most technical
definition, the only pieces of a computer not considered to be peripherals are the central
processing unit, power supply, motherboard, and computer case.

Types of Peripheral Devices

1. Input Devices are devices connected to your computer and being used to send
information or command to the computer. These are devices used to accept commands
or request from the user.

• Keyboard- is an input device for typing letters, numbers and other special characters
(@,#,%,^). Its layout is quite similar with your traditional typewriter although there are
specials keys being added for performing additional functions.

• Computer Mouse- is an input device generally used for clicking and pointing.
Common mouse actions are clicking right-clicking, scrolling, drag and drop and
pointing.
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES

• Touch Screen- a specialized type of screen that accepts information or command

form the user when it is being touched. This input device has a combined feature of a
keyboard and a mouse.

Other modern types of input devices:

o Microphone
o Barcode Reader
o Image Scanner
o Web Camera
o Game Controller
o Light pen
o Digital Camera

2. Processing Devices are devices that perform the command given by a user through
input devices (mouse and keyboard). This operation involves the manipulation of data.
The input data are being transformed and usually combined with other information to
produce data into a more useful form. It includes the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and
other expansion cards (video, audio, network).

• Graphics Processing Unit, Sound and network cards are among the example of
processing devices.

• Central Processing Unit (CPU) is busiest processing device inside a computer;

responsible for all types of processing.

3. Output Devices are devices that produce outputs either in electronic or physical form.
These are any devices that produces information and area usually printed on any type of
paper.

The following are some of the important output devices of a computer:

• The monitor is commonly termed as Visual Display Unit (VDU), it is being used to
display anything or whatever you are doing with your computer such as images,
texts, videos and other characters which formed through tiny dots called pixels.

• The printer is an output device widely and commonly used for all types of printing.
o Impact Printer- print characters by striking them on the ribbon.
o Non-impact printer- used ink instead of a ribbon for printing.

• Projector is an output device used for displaying the content of your computer for
wider viewing.

• The speaker is another type of output devices that produces sounds when a certain
video or music has been played on your computer.
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES

4. Storage devices, also known as computer memories are devices used to store or save
information for retrieval purposes. These are classified into three main types: Cache
memory, Primary Memory and secondary memory.

• Cache Memory is a very high-speed semiconductor memory which can speed up

the CPU. Its acts as a buffer between the CPU and the main memory. It is used to
hold those parts of data and program which are most frequently used by the CPU.

• Primary Memory holds only those data and instruction on which the computer is
currently working. It has a limited capacity and data lost when power is switched off.

• Secondary Memory this type of memory is also known as external memory pr non-
volatile. It is slower than the main memory. These are used for sorting
data/information permanently.

How it’s being formed?

Computer units are being formed by the powerful combination of hardware and software
which initially requires compatibility before being merged. However, the computer will not
work without the interaction coming from the so-called, peopleware.

1. Hardware - is consist of all the tangible parts and physical components of a

computer. Almost all computer devices (input, processing, output and storage
devices) are considered hardware. Here are some common example of hardware
components:

o Computer Case this is an enclosure that contains the main components of a

computer: motherboard, hard disk, computer memories and power supply
unit and expansion cards.

o Power Supply Unit (PSU) this component convert Alternating Current (AC)
into Direct Current (DC) for the other components of the computer. This also
protects the supply from overloading and guards the performance of
computer against degradation.

o Motherboard this component is also known as a system board or main

board of the computer. It houses the Central Processing Unit (CPU) which
responsible for all types of processing information. This component also
provides an interface between the peripheral devices and the system
software such as the operating system, the BIOS or UEFI and other utility
programs.

2. Software - is defined as program that run, manage and operate the entire computer
system. This is consisting of instructions that tell the computer what to do and how to
execute a certain task.

Two types of software:

 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES

a) Application Software is program that has been developed to perform a specific

task, to solve a particular problem o to simply give entertainment. To get the
desired result, user need to interact with application.

b) System Software is the main reason why application software can interact with
the computer. By simply defining system software, this is programs initially
installed or executed on the computer before the installation of the application
software since without this, any application software won`t run or execute its
task.

Types of System software

o Operating System
o Utility Programs
o Language Translator

3. Peopleware - is considered as a computer component but not up to technical level

of its terms. It is components because of its role as the commander to make the
computer works. Without peopleware, the existence of a computer is expected to be
null and void.

Peopleware includes the following but not limited to:

A. Technical Support - tech support is generally what most non-IT folks think of
when they imagine an information technology department. These type of IT
experts can be known by variety of titles- “help desk technicians”,” operation
analyst,” or “problem managers”- but at the end of the day their main job is to
provide expert troubleshooting advice to clients. People working in any business
outsourcing company are considered to be technical support staff. They are
being paid for service rendered to costumer over the phone, assisting and
resolving hardware and software issue.

B. Programmers - computer programmers are the brains behind software functions

– they write and test the code that make up software programs. These types of
people have very powerful logical and analytical skills since they give commands
for the computer to do its task by simply writing codes and execute it.

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