BASIC COMPUTER

OPERATIONS
 Basic Terms, Concepts, Functions
and Characteristics of PC Hardware
Components
Question?
What is a computer?
COMPUTER
A computer is an electronic device that
manipulates information, or data. It has the
ability to store, retrieve, and process data
and then…displays the results.
Uses of Computer
 Send electronic mail (e-mail) to a friend in the
Philippines and abroad. ~ No Stamp Required ~
 View and edit digital pictures on your computer.
 Listen to your favorite music on the internet.
 Watch the latest DVD release on your computer.
“Please Pass the Popcorn”
 With the use of the internet and a web camera,
talk and see someone from another country with
the use of computer.
 Pay your bills online.
 Used to manage Home Budget. You can
easily calculate your expenses and income. 
 People can find any type of information on
the internet. Educational and informative
websites are available to download books,
tutorials etc. to improve their knowledge
and learn new things.
 Uses of computers in Medical Field
 Uses of Computers in Business
Three Components of Computer

1.Hardware
 The computer equipment
 Includes printers, monitors, disk drives, etc.
2.Software
 Programs which tell the computer what to do
 Examples - word processing, spreadsheet,
presentations, photoshop, games, etc.
3.Peopleware
 Users
 Encoders, programmers, Systems Analysts
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
Input Devices
Input devices are any electronic devices connected to
computer that produce input signals.

A keyboard is an example of input

device for text input.

• A scanner is an example of input device

for graphical as well as text input.
 A microphone is an example of
input device for audio input

A webcam is an example of an
input device for video input.

A mouse is also an input device but it

is called a pointing device used
to input data into a computer.
a. Input Devices for Texts

• You can enter data such as text and commands into a

computer by pressing the keys on then keyboard.
• You can press the keys of a virtual keyboard on the
screen.
• An optical reader is a device that uses a light source to
read characters, marks and codes and then converts
them into digital data that a computer can process.
b. Input Devices for Graphics

• A scanner is a device that captures images from

photographic prints, posters, magazine pages
and similar sources for computer editing and
display.
• A digital camera allows you to take pictures and
store the photographed images digitally.
c. Input Devices for Audio

• Audio input is the speech, music and sound

effects entered into the computer. This can be
done by using input devices such as a
microphone and digital musical instruments like
the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
keyboard.
d. Input Devices for Video
• Video input are motion images
captured into the computer by special
input devices.
• A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) video
camera is a type of digital video camera
that enables a home or small business
user to capture video and still images.
• A webcam is a video camera that
displays its output on a web page.
• A digital video camera allows you to
record full motion and store the
captured motion digitally.
e. Pointing Devices

Mouse Trackball Touch Screen

Graphic Tablet
• A pointing device is another form of input
device. Pointing devices such as a mouse,
trackball, graphics tablet and touch screen are
used to input spatial data into the computer.
• Spatial data refers to data that is continuous and
multi-dimensional.
OUTPUT DEVICE
• An output device is hardware that is
capable of delivering or showing
information to one or more users. An
output device displays, prints and presents
the results of a computer’s work.
Types of Output Devices

A display device is an output device that

visually conveys texts, graphics and video
information.
 A monitor is an example of an output device
that can be used to display text. It can also display
graphics and video. It is similar to a television set
that accepts video signals from a computer and
displays information on its screen.
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector uses its
own light source to project what is displayed on
the computer on a wall or projection screen. A
digital light processing (DLP) projector uses tiny
mirrors to reflect light which can be seen clearly in
a well-lit room.
A printer is an output device that prints text
and graphics on a physical medium such as
paper or transparency film.
• A photo printer is a colour printer that produces
photo quality pictures.
• An image setter produces high quality output
compared to an ordinary laser printer. An image
setter is a high resolution output device that can
transfer electronic text and graphics directly to
film, plates or photo-sensitive paper.
• An audio output device produces music, speech,
or other sounds. A pair of speakers is an audio
output device that generates sound. The
headphone is a pair of small speakers placed
over the ears and plugged into a port on the
sound card. A woofer or subwoofer is used to
boost the low bass sound and is connected to
the port on the sound card.

Speaker
Headphone woofer
Storage Devices
What Is Computer Storage?
• Information and documents are
stored in computer storage so
that it can be retrieved
whenever they are needed later
on.
• Computer storage is the storing
of data in an electromagnetic
form to be accessed by a
computer processor.
Types of Computer Storage

1. Primary storage
2. Secondary storage
Primary Storage

• Primary storage is the main memory in a

computer. It stores data and programs that can
be accessed directly by the processor.

Types Of Primary Storage

• There are two types of primary storage which
are RAM and ROM.
 The Differences Between RAM And ROM
Random-Access Memory (RAM)
RAM is an acronym for Random-
Access Memory which means the
data and program in RAM can be
read and written.
RAM stores data during and after
processing. RAM is also known as
a working memory.
The data in RAM can be read
(retrieved) or written (stored).
RAM is volatile which means the
programs and data in RAM are
lost when the computer is
powered off.
Read-Only Memory (ROM)
ROM is an acronym for Read-
Only Memory. The data or
program in ROM can only be read
but cannot be written at all
ROM is another type of memory
permanently stored inside the
computer.
All the contents in ROM can be
accessed and read but cannot be
changed.
ROM is non-volatile. It holds the
programs and data when the
computer is powered off.
Random-Access Memory (RAM)
A computer uses RAM to hold
temporary instructions and data
needed to complete tasks. This
enables the CPU (Central
Processing Unit) to access
instructions and data stored in the
memory very quickly
Read-Only Memory (ROM)
Programs in ROM have been
prerecorded.
It can only be stored by
the manufacturer once and it
cannot be changed.
Secondary Storage
• Secondary storage is another alternative storage to save
your work and documents. It is very useful to store
programs and data for future use.
• It is non-volatile, which means that it does not need
power to maintain the information stored in it. It will
store the information until it is erased.
Types Of Secondary Storage

Magnetic Medium
Magnetic Medium is a non-volatile storage medium. It can
be any type of storage medium that utilizes magnetic patterns to
represent information. The devices use disks that are coated
with magnetically sensitive material. Examples of magnetic
storage are:
• magnetic disk such as:
 a floppy disk, used for off-line storage
 hard disk, used for secondary storage
• magnetic tape such as
 video cassette,
 audio storage reel-to-reel tape
Optical Medium

• Optical Medium is a non-volatile storage media ,

holds content in digital form that are written and
read by laser. These media include various types
of CDs and DVDs. These following forms are often
commonly used :
Optical Media Description
CD, CD-ROM, and Read only storage, used for distribution of digital
DVD information such as music, video and computer
programs.
CD-R Write once storage, the data cannot be erased or
written over once it is saved.
CD-RW, DVD-RW, Slow to write but fast reading storage; it allows data
and DVD-RAM that have been saved to be erased and rewritten
Optical media has more advantages over magnetic media such
as:
• Disk Capacity. One optical disk holds about the equivalent of
500 floppy disks worth of data.
• Durability. They are able to last for up to seven times as long
as traditional storage media.
 Flash Memory

• Flash Memory is a solid-state, non-volatile, rewritable

memory that functions like RAM and a hard disk drive.
Flash memory store bits of electronic data in memory
cells just like DRAM (Dynamic RAM) but it also works like
a hard disk drive that when the power is turned off, the
data remains in the memory. Flash memory cards and
flash memory sticks are examples of flash memory.

• Flash memory cards are also used with digital cellular

phones, MP3 players, digital video cameras and other
portable digital devices.
• Flash memory is also called USB drive, thumb drive, pen drive or
flash drive, are the up and coming players in the portable storage
market.

The advantages of flash memory are:

• offers fast reading access times among the secondary storage
devices, (though not as fast as RAM)
• durable and requires low voltage.
• light and small.

The disadvantage is, it is more expensive than the magnetic disk of

the same capacity.
The Differences Between Primary And Secondary Storage

PRIMARY STORAGE SECONDARY STORAGE

Known as the main memory of a Alternative storage in a computer.
computer.

Examples are: RAM / ROM. Examples are: Floppy disc, Hard disk,
CDROM, USB storages

Storage capacity is limited. Storage capacity is larger.

An internal memory (inside the An external storage that refers to
CPU) that can be accessed various ways a computer can store
directly by the processor. program and data.

Has a volatile memory for RAM INon-volatile, which means that

and nonvolatile memory for it does not need power to maintain
ROM. the information stored in it.
Ports - External connecting sockets on the outside of the
computer. This is a pathway into and out of the computer. A port
lets users plug in outside peripherals, such as monitors, scanners
and printers.

The Ports and their function

Type of Port Function Illustration

Serial Port Intended for serial type
mouse and older camera
Parallel Port Also called as printer port.
This is only for old model
printer. It has 25 pins. It is
a female port.

VGA (Video Used to connect monitors.

Graphic Array) It has 15 pins and it is a
Port female port.
 Type of Port Function Illustration
USB High speed serial interface
(Universal that is used with almost all
Serial Bus) devices. It is used to
Port connect latest model
printers, pen drives, cell
phones etc. it has 4 pins.
PS/2 Port Simple, 6-pin, low-speed
serial connections
commonly dedicated to a
keyboard and mouse.
Power Port Intended for power cord.

S-Video Port S-Video connections are

available on certain source
components and video display
devices, and offer a higher
level of video performance over
composite video signals.
Type of Port Function Illustration
Audio Port Intended for plugging in
the speaker or headset.

LAN (Local A physical interface often

Area used for terminating
Networking) twisted pair type cables
Port used to connect computers
onto a local-area networks
(LAN), especially Ethernet
RJ-45 connectors
Units for data measurement
• Bit
• Byte
• Kilobyte (KB)
• Megabyte (MB)
• Gigabyte (GB)
• Terabyte (TB)

Basic terminology
• 8 Bits = 1 Byte
• 1024 Byte = 1 KB
• 1,048,576 Bytes = 1024 KB = 1 MB
• 1,073,741,824 Bytes = 1024 MB = 1 GB
• 1,099,511,627,776 Bytes = 1024 GB = 1 TB
Carry out mensuration and calculation
Examples of components and devices that use byte storage include:
random access memory (RAM), hard disk drive space, CDs, DVDs, and
MP3 players.

CDs have a data storage capacity of approximately 700 MB. DVDs

have a data storage capacity of approximately 4.3 GB on a single-layer
disc, and approximately 8.5 GB on a dual-layer disc. BDs have a
storage capacity of 25 GB on a single-layer disc, and 50 GB on a dual-
layer disc. Once we know the size of a file or folder, it is possible to
determine the number of bytes being used.

For example:
A file is 20 KB in size
1 KB = 1,024 Bytes
20 * 1,024 = 20,480 bytes in a 20 KB file
Carry out mensuration and calculation

If a 20 KB file is stored in a 1 MB folder (1

MB = 1,048,576 bytes of space); then
approximately a total of 51 files can be
stored in that folder (1,048,576 / 20,480 =
51.2).
Other Examples:
• How many 52 KB jpg files can be stored on a 5 MB folder in
your hard drive?
• How many 3 MB mp3 files can be stored on a 2GB flash drive?
• How many 950 MB mp4 files can be stored on a 10 GB Hard
Disk Drive?
1. 52* 1024= 53,248
5*1,048,576= 5,242,880
5,242,880/ 53,248= 98 files

2. 3*1,048,576=3,145,728
2*1,073,741,824=2,147,483,648
2,147,483,648/3,145,728 = 682 files

3. 950 *1,048,576= 996,147,200

10*1,073,741,824= 10,737,418,240
10,737,418,240/996,147,200= 10 files
THANK YOU!!!