INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY
CHASE ACADEMIC FOUNDATION
TEARCHER: JORNEL YEARWOOD
Slide 1 (Introduction)
WHAT IS A
COMPUTER?
COMPUTER

• A computer is an electronic device that accepts data, process the data and produces an
output.
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS

• A computer system may be categorized as either a general-purpose or a special-purpose

computer based on the extent of its capabilities.
• A general-purpose computer consists of hardware and software suitable for undertaking
a wide range of tasks.
• A special-purpose computer is one which performs a small range of tasks and contains
features uniquely designed for use in a particular industry or application.
GENERAL-PURPOSE COMPUTER SYSTEMS

• Regardless of size, speed and processing power, all general-purpose computer systems
solves problems by getting some input, doing some processing and producing some
output.
• Input- designed components (input devices) accept input (from human interaction or
another device) and convert it in a form (digital) suitable for processing.
• Processing- the microprocessor (CPU) performs one or more designated operation (such
as a multiplication) on the digital data, and in the process making it more meaningful for
the use intended.
GENERAL PURPOSE-COMPUTER SYSTEMS

• Storage- Data and the information produced are saved for later use.
• Output- Data and information are retrieved from memory and /or storage and presented
to the end user via one or more output devices (such as monitor or printer).
SPECIAL- PURPOSE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Game consoles, embedded computers and e-readers are three of the more common types of
special-purpose computer system. The Nintendo Wii and Sony playstation 3 are two of the
most popular games consoles. Embedded computers are included in devices such as
automated teller machines, microwave ovens and home security systems. Amazon’s Kindle
and the Nook by Barnes and Noble are two popular e-book readers.
COMPONENTS OF A TYPICAL COMPUTER
SYSTEM
Components Function
Central processing Unit Consists of the control unit and the ALU. The control unit fetches, decode
(CPU) also known as and executes instructions stored in memory after which the arithmetic logic
the microprocessor unit performs calculations on the data in memory.
Main memory also Stores data, instructions and the results being processing by the CPU.
known as immediate
access storage
Secondary storage Stores data, instruction and the results of processing on a permanent basis.
Example include flash drives, memory cards, DVDs and Hard drives.
Input and Output Accepts input from and gives output to the users. Example of input device
devices are the keyboard, mouse and scanner. Examples of the output devices are
flat panel displays, speakers and printers.
 Processor
Control Unit ALU

Input device Main Memory Output Device

Storage device
HARDWARE

• Hardware are the physical parts of the computer system and include peripherals and core
architecture components such as the motherboard, power supply processor and memory.
PERIPHERAL DEVICES

• A peripheral device is any hardware component that is connected to and controlled by the
computer, but is external to its CPU.
THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

• The central processing unit (CPU), also called the processor, interprets and carries out the
basic instructions that operate a computer. A processor contains a control unit and
arithmetic logic unit(ALU), both of which work to preform processing. The processor is
usually housed on a chip. In personal computers, mobile devices and gaming devices the
CPU is popularly referred to as a microprocessor because of it’s small size.
THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

Components Functions
Control unit • Fetches instructions and data from main memory
• Decodes instructions fetched from main memory
• Directs and coordinates the operation of the ALU

Arithmetic logic • Performs comparisons operations, for checks whether one data item is bigger,
unit smaller or equal to a second item
• Performs arithmetic operations, for example, division, multiplication, addition
and subtraction.
MAIN MEMORY

• Main memory is the space within a computer where data and information is stored while
being activity worked on. Main memory is also known as immediate accesses storage and
is installed in computers as RAM (random access memory).
• It stores data
• It stores program instructions
SECONDARY MEMORY

The long-term storage needs of computer are met by secondary storage, also known as
Backing storage, mass storage or storage.
Secondary storage has two main functions:
• It holds data, instructions and information permanently;
• It serves as a storage area for data and instructions that may be needed by the processor
during a current processing activity.
INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

• Data originates in many forms(text, pictures and sounds) but ca only be processed and
stored in a form that makes sense to a digital computer. Input devices such as keyboards,
microphones and scanners are hardware components that accepts data for processing.
Output devices such as speakers and printers provide users with the information produced
by a computer system.
INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

Application Input Devices Input Medium

Data entry Keyboard Keystrokes
Web browsing Mouse Mouse clicks
Voice-controlled computing Microphone Voice commands
Retails sales Point-of-sale system Barcode
Remote controlled access Remote control Infrared beam
Banking at an ATM machine Magnetic stripe reader Magnetic stripe on ATM card
INPUT DEVICES

• Keyboard- The keyboard is the standard input device attached to general-purpose

computer system. Some modern keyboard have keys for launching Internet applications
and multimedia control.
• Mouse- a mouse is an input device used to manipulate data and program instructions by
pointing, selecting, dragging and clicking. These versatile input devices are available as
different types; corded and cordless, optical and mechanical, radio and laser.
INPUT DEVICES

• Joystick- A joystick is a point-and-click input device that moves the pointer on the screen
according to the movement of the lever by the user. It is used mainly for games.
• Digital and web cameras- allow digital photographs to be entered into computer. These
include digital cameras, document cameras (web cams). Whereas all three are capable of
capturing still images and videos, the web cams is optimized for video and document
camera for still images. Digital cameras stores images and videos on the camera’s built in
memory.
INPUT DEVICES

• Microphone- is a devices for inputting audio data into the computer. A microphone may
exist as a stand-alone devices or it may be integrated into another devices such as a
webcam, monitor or headset. A stand-alone mic connect to your computer via the ‘mic’
or ‘line in ‘ port on the computer system’s sounds card or front panel of the system unit.
Microphones are used for real time person-to-person conversation during online chats and
teleconferencing.
INPUT DEVICES

• Document Scanner- are used to input text, diagrams and pictures into the computer.
Document scanners are often used in conjunction with specialized software.
• Touch screen monitor- is a computer screen that is sensitive to touch, so that the user can
point to things on it by touching the screen itself, without using a mouse.
• Barcode reader- is a specialized optical mark reader that ‘visually’ interprets barcodes.
This data capture devices scans barcodes and, with specialized software, converts them
into machine readable data. Barcodes are black and white stripes found on many products
sold in retail.
INPUT DEVICES

• Magnetic strip card reader convert information from a stripe of magnetic material
attached to a plastic card. Strips card readers are attached to hotel and office doors,
parking meters, airport check-in kiosks among many other devices and places.
• Point-of-sale system is a bundled hardware-software solution that accepts transaction
data from a variety of source and completes the processing of the transaction at the point
of sale. The point at which transaction are being carried out is usually in retail
environment such as supermarket, cinema or pharmacy.
HOMEWORK

Define the following devices and their functions.

• Optical character reader
• Optical mark reader
• Magnetic ink character reader
• Biometric system
• Light-pen
OUTPUT DEVICES

Information produced by a computer must be presented in a useful form to be of value to

the user. Output is the information that a computer generates as a result of its processing.
Computer output may printed on a paper/plastic (hardcopy), display on a monitor/screen, or,
stored on a secondary storage medium (soft copy).
HARD COPY VS SOFT COPY

• Hardcopy is permanent printed output from a computer.

• Soft copy is a temporary form of output, as produced by a visual display unit or audio
output device
VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT/MONITOR

• A visual display unit (VUD) is the hardware component of a computer system that
handles the display of information that user see. This information may be program output,
error messages or data that is being entered at the keyboard or input from some other
input device.