COMPUTER

Basics
module v
What is a COMPUTER?

It is an electronic, programmable
device that can accept data, process
the data and produce results and store
the results for future use
Four Basic Operations

1. Input
2. Storage
3. Process
4. Output
 Computer classified
All types of computers consist of two basic parts:

set of instructions
any part of your
that tells the
computer that has a
hardware what to
physical structure.
do.

Hardwa
Software
re
 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

1. Financial and Transaction Processing Systems: ATM, POS

 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

2. Registration and Billing: Airline Ticketing, Hotel Reservation

 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

3. Weather Forecasting
 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

4. Manufacturing applications
– Computer-Aided Manufacturing, Computer-Aided Drawing, Robotics
 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

5. Communication Applications
– Cellular Phones, e-mail, internet chat
 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

6. Transportation - Auto-Pilot, Traffic Lights

 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

7. Educational Applications
- Computer-Aided Instruction, Presentation, Presswork, Statistics
 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

8. Military and Law-Enforcement - SpeedTrap,

GPRS, Remote Sensing (Satellites)
 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

9. Recreation - Games, Movies, MP3

 SOME COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

10. Office Productivity - Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation,

Desktop Publishing, Imaging
 SOME ADVANTAGES OF
USING COMPUTERS
1. Efficiency
 Speed, Consistency, Reliability
2. Versatility
3. Convenience
4. Connectivity/Communication
5. Storage
 SOME DISADVANTAGES OF
USING COMPUTERS
1. Violation of Privacy
2. Public Safety
3. Impact on Labor Force
4. Health Risks – computer addiction and technology
overload
5. Impact on Environment - computer manufacturing
processes and computer waste are depleting natural
resources and polluting the environment.
6. Power interruption
 Classification of Computers

 Computers are classified according to:

1. Age and Components
2. Power and Size
3. Design
4. Function
5. Architecture
 Classification of Computers
[1.] According to Age and Components

 Early Computers - Gears/Relays and Mechanical Systems

 First Generation - Vacuum Tubes and Monolithic Systems
 Second Generation- Transistors (Hardware) and Batch System
(Software)
 Third Generation - Integrated Circuits (Hardware) and
Multiprogramming Systems (Software)
 Fourth Generation - Microprocessor/VLSI and Personal
Computing
Classification of Computers
[2.] According to Power and Size

Microcomputer

Minicomputer
Supercomputer
Mainframe
Different Types of
Microcomputer/Personal Computers

1. Desktop Computers
2. Laptop Computer
3. Others:
 Tablet Computers
 Smartphones

 Game Consoles
 TVs
Classification of Computers
[3.] According to Design

 General-purpose
 perform most common computing tasks
 Special-purpose
 designed from scratch to perform a specific function
Classification of Computers
[4.] According to Function

 Server
 Workstation
 Terminal
 Stand-alone/ Personal
Classification of Computers
[5.] According to Architecture

 Serial - Uniprocessor
 Parallel- Array/Vector Processor, Multiprocessor,
Multicomputer (Cluster)
History of Computers
• {watch video}

“Modern Marvels:
The Creation of
Computers”
Major Components of a Computer

All types of computers consist of two basic parts:

1. Hardware
2. Software
Hardware Components of a
Computer

Categories:
1. Input
2. Output
3. I/O
4. Process
5. Storage
INPUT HARDWARE
 [Input Hardware]

Keyboard
Function Keys
Numeric Keypad

Alphanumeric Keys
Cursor Keys
 [Input Hardware]

Pointing Devices: mouse, trackball, touchpad

 [Input Hardware]

Digital Camera
 [Input Hardware]

Webcam
 [Input Hardware]

Barcode Readers
 [Input Hardware]

Microphones
 [Input Hardware]

Game devices: Joystick and Gamepad

OUTPUT DEVICES
 [Output Hardware]

MONITORS: CRT, LCD, OLED

 [Output Hardware]

PRINTERS: Laser, Color Ink-jet,

Dot-matrix, Thermal
 [Output Hardware]

SPEAKERS and Headphones

INPUT/OUTPUT
DEVICES
 [Input/Output Hardware]

Touchscreen
 [Input/Output Hardware]

Modem
• is a device that transmits data over, for example,
telephone or cable lines

• converts digital to analog, and v.v.

 [Input/Output Hardware]

Router
• is a device that interconnects
two or more computer networks
 [Input/Output Hardware]

Switches

• is a small hardware
device that joins
multiple computers
together within one
LAN
 [Input/Output Hardware]

Network Hub
• is commonly used to connect segments of a
Local Area Network
PROCESSING DEVICES
 [Processing Hardware]

Motherboard
 [Processing Hardware]

Microprocessor & Heatsink/Fan

 [Processing Hardware]

Memory: RAM, Virtual Memory, ROM, CMOS

STORAGE DEVICES:
1. Magnetic storage
2. Optical storage
3. Memory Storage
 [MAGNETIC Storage Devices]

Floppy Disks
 [MAGNETIC Storage Devices]

Hard Disk Drives

[MAGNETIC Storage Devices]

Tape Drive
 [OPTICAL Storage Devices]

Compact Disc (CD)

CD – ROM
Compact Disk Read Only Memory -
a high capacity information storage
medium. Generally used for music
or software.
CD – R
Compact Disc Recordable (also
known as CD-Writable) - compact
discs that can be written once and
read many times. Created using a
CD-RW Drive.
CD – RW
CD Rewritable - similar in virtually
all respects to a CD-R, except that a
CD-RW disc can be written and
erased many times.
 [OPTICAL Storage Devices]

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)

DVD – ROM
Digital Versatile Disk Read Only
Memory - data can only be read and
not written nor erased and can hold a
minimum of 4.0 GB (gigabytes).
DVD – R
DVD Recordable - can write one time
only and which has a higher capacity
than a CD.
DVD – RW
DVD Rewritable - can be recorded and
erased multiple times.
 [MEMORY Storage Devices]

Memory Card/Flash Card

• SD card (Secure Digital card)
• CF card (Compact Flash card)
• Smart Media card
• Memory Stick
• Multimedia Card (MMC)

These cards are of varying sizes, and each is

available in a range of storage capacities that
typically corresponds directly to the price.
 [MEMORY Storage Devices]

(USB) Flash Disk/Drive

Next topic…

Computer Software
What is a Software?
• refers to the intangible components of
a computer system
o particularly the programs – or the set of
instructions, that the computer needs to
perform a specific task

 Computer hardware is useless without its

software
2 Major Categories of a Software:

1. System Software
2. Application Software
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
• helps the computer carry out its basic
operating tasks

• enables the application software to interact

with the computer hardware
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software is a collection of program including the following:
1. Operating System
– programs that coordinate computer resources, provide an
interface between users and the computer, and run applications.
2. Utilities
– perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources.

3. Device drivers
– specialized programs designed to allow particular input or
output devices to communicate with the rest of the computer
system
4. Programming languages
Basic Categories of OS
1) Embedded OS
– used for handheld computers and smaller devices like
PDAs. The entire OS is stored within or embedded in the
device
• Example: Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded,
Android and IOS
2) Network Operating systems (NOS)
– used to control and coordinate computers that are networked
or linked together
– typically located on one of the connected computer’s hard disk
• Example: Windows NT Server, Windows XP Server,
and UNIX
Basic Categories of OS

3) Stand-alone OS / Desktop OS
- control a single desktop or notebook
computer
- located on the computer’s hard disk

Examples: Windows XP, Windows NT, SuSE,

Red Hat, Ubuntu
2 Major Categories of a Software:

APPLICATION SOFTWARE
• enables user to perform specific computer tasks
• comes into four categories:
1. Productivity/Business
• Word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, DB
2. Graphics design/Multimedia
• Computer-aided design
3. Home/Personal/Educational
• Integrated software, reference, entertainment
4. Communication
• E-mail, web browser, video conferencing