Institute of Product Design & Manufacturing

Universiti Kuala Lumpur

Introduction to Computers

Computer hardware
Input, Output & peripheral devices
History of computers
 Basic Components of a Computer System

What is computer?

An electronic device that can accept data (input),

process the input to useful information (process)
according to a set of instructions, store the
instructions and the results of processing (storage),
and produce the information (output).
 Basic Components of a Computer System

Other definition:-

• A machine that can be programmed to accept data

(input), process it into useful information (output),
and store it away (in secondary storage device) for
safekeeping or later reuse

• Process is directed by software but performed by the

hardware
 Information Age
• Evolving more rapidly than Industrial Age
• Will continue into the current century
 Cornerstones of our Economy

Forging a Computer-Based Society:

• Land
• Labor
• Capital
• Information
 Jobs
Forging a Computer-Based Society:

• From physical to
mental
• From muscle-power to
brain-power
 A Computer in Your Future
• Where used?
– Bank withdrawal
– Supermarket
– Drive the car
• Do I need a Personal Computer?
– Campaign: One Home, One PC
– Many more use at work
• Will I use a computer in my future career?
– Almost every job will involve use of a computer

Video: Future of Information Technology

 Computer Literacy
• Awareness
– Importance
– Versatility
– Pervasiveness in our society
• Knowledge
– What are computers
– How do computers work
– Terminology
• Interaction
– Use some simple computer applications
 Is computer literacy enough?
• Need to be computer literate to manipulate
a computer
• Need to be computer fluent on computer
concepts as a basis to build deeper
knowledge
• Computer fluency make one able to
continue follow developments as computers
continue to evolve
 Basic Information Technology
Concept
• Information technology - the use of modern
technology to aid the capture, storage, retrieval,
analysis, and communication of information.

• The various methods of delivering information are

by the use of data, text, image, and voice for
personal or organization needs.
 History of Computers
• Man from centuries ago used a physical unit or sets
of units to represent numbers or quantities.
• A number or a quantity can be represented by a
physical thing, whether it is:

a pebble an electrical relay

a transistor
a mark on a bit of paper a bead of wire

a mechanical gear wheel a vacuum

tube
 The Nature of Computers

Characteristics Results
• Speed • Productivity
• Reliability • Decision making
• Storage capability • Cost reduction
Where Computers Are Used:
Graphics

Graphs and charts

Animated graphics

Visual walk-through
Where Computers Are Used:
Education
• Teaching and
testing aid
• Learning by doing
• Computer-based
instruction
Where Computers Are Used:
Retailing

• Bar codes for pricing

and inventory
• Shipping
 Where Computers Are Used:
Energy
• Locate oil, coal, natural gas, and uranium
• Monitor the power network
• Meter reading
Where Computers Are Used
:Law Enforcement
• National
fingerprint files
• National files on
criminal
• Computer
modeling of DNA
Where Computers Are Used:
Transportation
• Cars
• Run rapid transit systems
• Load containerships
• Track railroad cars
• Monitor air traffic
Where Computers Are Used:
Money

• Record keeping

• Banking by phone

• Credit cards
Where Computers Are Used:
Agriculture
• Billing • Feed combinations
• Crop information • Livestock breeding and
performance
Where Computers Are Used:
Government
• Forecast weather
• E-government
• Process immigrants
• Taxes
• Registration: birth, identity, car etc.
 Where Computers Are Used:
The Home
• Educational tool
• Record keeping
• Letter writing
• Budgeting
• Drawing and editing
pictures
• Newsletters
• Connecting with others
Where Computers Are Used:
Health and Medicine

• Monitor patients

• Electronic imaging

• Diagnose illnesses

• Tele-health
Where Computers Are Used:
Robotics

• Perform jobs that are dangerous for

humans
• Factory work
Where Computers Are Used:
The Human Connection

• Assist the disabled

• Assist athletes by
monitoring their
movements
 Where Computers Are Used

The Sciences Connectivity

• Research • Communication
• Simulation • Telecommuting
 Where Computers Are Used

Training Paperwork
• Airline pilots • Junk mail
• Railroad • Term paper
engineers • Record keeping
 Computers are all around!
• Grocery store
• Schools
• Libraries
• Bank
• Mail
• Malls
We interact with computers everyday!
What computers can’t do yet?

Complex human activities

What else? Can you think of
others?
Computer System

People

Software

Hardware
 People

• Computer programmer – person who

writes programs

• Users or End-users – make use of the

computer’s capabilities
 Software

• Programs

• Set of instructions that directs the

hardware to do a required task
and produce the desired results
 Hardware:
Basic Components of a Computer
 Computer Components
1. Input Devices
- examples: keyboard and the mouse
- data entered on the keyboard and temporarily stored
in the computer’s memory and displayed on the monitor

2. System Unit
- contains the electronic circuits that cause the processing
of data to occur
- consists of central processing unit, memory, (RAM and
ROM)
and other electronic components
- CPU has a control unit and arithmetic/logic unit
- RAM temporarily stores data and program instructions
when they are processed
 Computer Components – cont.

4. Output Devices
- most commonly used output devices are monitor and
printer
- Monitor :commonly as CRT or Flat Panel Display
- Printer: Dot-Matrix, Ink-Jet etc.

5. Secondary Storage Devices

- also known as auxiliary storage devices
- stores instructions and data when they are not being
used by the system unit
- Examples : floppy disk and hard disk drive
 How a Computer System Works

Storage

Information
Data
Input Process Output
 How a Computer System Works –
cont.
Software
- The instructions needed to direct the computer to
complete specific tasks.

• The CPU follows the step-by-step instructions in a

program to complete the tasks from user.

• Operating system is the system software that controls

the basic, low-level hardware operations and file
management.
 Computer Configuration and
Classification

Microcomputers
- Also known as personal computers
- Physical sizes : palmtop, desktop and tower case
- Cheaper and smaller in size

Minicomputer
- Also known as departmental computers
- Physical sizes : small to large cabinets
- Support business application
 Computer Configuration and
Classification – cont.

Mainframe
- Large computers with the capability to process
data at millions of instructions per second.
- Physical size : partial to full room of equipment

Supercomputer
- Most powerful and expensive computers
- Vast quantities of data manipulation
- Physical size : full room of equipment
- No. of users : hundreds of users
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

- It is the heart of the computer, that is the microprocessor

chip.
- A highly complex, extensive set of electronic circuitry
that executes stored program instructions.
- CPU perform three main tasks :-
• Perform arithmetic operations
• Perform logic operations
• Retrieval and storage of data
 CPU – cont.

- CPU consists of two main units :-

1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
- arithmetic operations e.g. +, -, x, /
- logic operations e.g. >, >=, ==, <, <=
2. Control unit
- fetches instructions from memory
- decode/translate instructions
- executes the processing tasks
- stores result in memory
 CPU – cont.

What happens in a CPU?

- CU fetches instructions - ALU executes

from memory arithmetic/logic
- CU decodes/translates instruction
instructions, directs -ALU stores results into
necessary data to ALU memory
 CPU – cont.
Memory
- also known as primary storage, primary memory, main
storage, internal storage, and main memory

- Consists of RAM and ROM

1. RAM (Random Access Memory)
- volatile; means the data exists only when power is ON
- two types of RAM, dynamic and static

2. ROM (Read Only Memory)

- non-volatile; means data permanently stored in and
cannot be changed
 Function of Computer System

Data handling

I Input
P Process
O Output
S Storage
 Processing: Batch vs. Interactive

• 2 types of information processing

– Batch processing
– Interactive processing : Real time
 Input devices

• Accept data or commands and convert

them to electronic form
• Getting data into the computer
– Typing on a keyboard
– Pointing with a mouse
– Scanning with a wand reader or bar-code
reader
– Terminal
 Output devices
• Convert from electronic form to some other
form
• May display the processed results
• Usable information
Monitor or screen Printer
• Text • Black and white
• Numbers • Color
• Symbols
• Art
• Photographs
• Video
 Input and Output Devices

1. Input devices

- Common type of devices used are the keyboard and the

mouse
- Standard type of keyboard is the QWERTY which has
86 keys (basic) and 101-102 keys (enhanced).
- Mouse is a pointing device for effective use of computer
interface. Trackball and touch pad are also considered as
pointing devices.
 Input and Output Devices – cont.

Digitizer
- A pad with a pen-like stylus.
- The tablet sends electronic signals to the
computer, displaying the image drawn.
 Input and Output Devices – cont.
Input devices– cont.
Source data automation
the use of special equipment to collect data at
the source and send it directly to the computer.

OCR Images
MICR

Bar code Hand Written

 Input and Output Devices – cont.

2. Output devices
- most common devices are monitor displays and printers
- Two types of display; flat panel display and CRT
display (Cathode Ray Tube)
- Two categories of printers; impact and non-impact
printers
 Input and Output Devices – cont.

Displays

1. Flat Panel
- commonly used in laptop, notebook
- examples of flat panel; LCD, Gas Plasma

2. CRT
- produce best images for computers
- two types of display; monochrome and color
- monochrome; displays one color (green or
amber)
- color; four types:
 Input and Output Devices – cont.

Displays – cont.
Resolution
Standard Graphic Add-on-Boards
(by pixels)
CGA (Color Graphic Adapter) 640 x 200

EGA (Enhanced Graphic Adapter) 640 x 350

VGA (Video Graphic Array) 640 x 480

SVGA (Super Video Graphic Array) 1024 x 768

 Input and Output Devices – cont.

Printers
Two types of printers (according to printing methods)

Impact printers
-use a physical contact with the paper to produce an image
-e.g. dot matrix printer and line printer

Non-impact printers
-Place images on a paper without physically touching it
-e.g. thermal, inkjet, laser printer
Can you think of any other
input/output devices?
 The Processor

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Converts data to useful information
• Interpret and execute instructions
• Communicate with input, output and
storage
 Two Types of Storage

• Secondary storage
long-term storage

• Primary storage or memory

temporary storage
 Memory / Primary Storage

• Temporary storage
• Holds input to be processed
• Holds results of processing
• Contains the programs to control the
computer and manipulate input into
output
• Volatile
 Secondary Storage

• Long-term storage
• Non-volatile
 Secondary Storage Examples
• Magnetic disks – read and written by
magnetic disk drive
– Hard disk
– Diskette
• Optical disks – read and written by optical disk
drives
– CD-ROM
– DVD-ROM
• Magnetic tape – read and written by magnetic
tape drives
– Primarily used for back-up
Magnetic Disk
 Secondary Storage

• It is needed because
– Main memory stores data temporarily
– Main memory space is limited

 Benefits of secondary storage

 Space
 Reliability
 Convenience
 Economic
 Computer System

• Computer
– CPU
– Memory

• Peripheral equipment
– Connected to the computer by a cable
– Input, output, storage
 Computer Network
• Definition
– A system that uses communications equipment to
connect computers and their resources.

• Types
– Local area network (LAN) – connects computers
in close proximity
– Metropolitan are network (MAN) – connect
computers between buildings in the same
geographic area
– Wide are network (WAN) – connects computers
over great distances
 Home Connectivity

• Connect home PC to other computers

• Use modem to convert signals

between electronic (computer) and
analog (voice) formats
 Internet
• Collection of networks
• No ownership
• No central source for services available
• No comprehensive index of what information
is available

Connects Everyone!
Individuals Libraries
Businesses Research labs
Organizations Government
 Getting Connected

• User’s computer must connect to a server

• Server must communicate using TCP/IP
• The user can purchase access to a server
from an ISP (Internet Service Provider)
Internet – What Can You Do?
• WWW – World Wide Web
• FTP – File Transfer Protocol
• E-mail
• UseNet
• IRC – Internet Relay Chat
• Bulletin Boards
 World Wide Web
• Browser – program that allows the user
to move around and explore the
Internet
• Use the mouse to point and click on
text and graphics
• Web page
• Web site
• Home page
Classifications of Computers
• Use the computer that fits your needs
• Based upon
– Size
– Speed
– Cost
– Portability
– Number of simultaneous users supported
– Available software
– Typical use
 Personal Computers
• Other names
– PC
– Microcomputer
– Home computer
• Categories
– Low-end functional
– Fully powered
– Workstations
– Net computer or net box (Web TV)
• Desktop Models
 Notebook Computers
• Portable
– Lightweight
– Fits in a briefcase
– Battery operated

• Laptop
– Larger
– Heavier

• More expensive that desktop models

 Handheld Computers
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
– Scheduling
– Addresses
– Handwritten input
– May offer wireless e-mail and fax

• PDA Phone
– More power than PDA
– Cellphone, GPS, MP3/MP4, Camera,
Video, TV, Radio etc.
– Runs various type softwares, serving various
applications
 Other Types of Computers
Mainframes
– High speed
– More expensive
– Used to process large amounts of data quickly
– Support multiple users
– Does server tasks

Supercomputers
– Fastest speed
– Most expensive
Operating System and Its Function
What is a software?

- The instructions needed to direct the computer to

complete specific tasks.

- Software can be categorized into two types :-

Operating System and Its Function
– cont.
System Software
- program controlling the actual operations of the computer
equipments
- the operating system tells computer how to perform
functions such as load, store, execute application program,
transfer data between I/O devices and main memory

Application Software

- program that tells a computer how to produce information

- examples of application software :
Business, scientific, educational programs and etc.
 Operating System and Its Function
– cont.
Definition of OS :-
A set of programs that control and supervise a
computer system’s hardware

Purposes of OS :-
• To manage the hardware for efficient
utilization of computer resources

• To interface between a user/an application

program with the hardware
Operating System and Its Function
– cont.
• OS is made up of 2 programs;

Service
Program

Control
Program
 Operating System and Its Function
– cont.
1. Control program - three main functions
Resource allocation allocate processor time, primary storage,
input and output devices

Job management to monitor, schedule and control programs

for its efficient processing

Data management -managing access to data for input of

information to printers,
disks/displays
- all hardware components activities are
controlled by the supervisor program
 Operating System and Its Function
– cont.
2. Service programs
- provides services to the user/programmer
- services include language-translator programs and
utility programs
- language-translator program converts instructions from
English-like language to machine-language to be executed by the
computer
- utility program performs loading, saving, copying, keeping
track of files stored on a disk, preparing a formatted disk
Operating System and Its Function
– cont.

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 What an Operating System does?
1. Checks the functionality of the computer’s hardware. It
generates an error message (by messages or beeps) if
any components are found faulty.

2. Then the OS control programs will load the supervisor

program into the computer’s memory – booting

3. Once the supervisor control program in memory, the

system displays the prompt sign (C:\>), indicating that
it is ready to work
 MS-DOS
 DOS is the supervisor program of the computer
 It does all the followings
• Interface to peripherals – How to interpret input, how to
process data, and how to produce output
• Application launcher – Most programming software, games
etc. use DOS prompt to run application
• Utility provider – Manage disks and files, prepare disks for
storage, copy files to a disk, to move or rename files, and to
delete files
 MS-DOS – cont.
• Using DOS prompt to get command from user
• Examples for DOS operation
• DOS version/prompt type
• Modify date/time
• File and directory contents
• Clearing a DOS screen
• Going to subdirectory and back to root directory
• Searching for specific files
• Copy files from A drive / C drive
 TYPES OF OS
 Microsoft Windows (98,
2000, XP, Vista)
 Mac OS (X)
 Linux OS (Hundreds of
even thousands of distros
ex: Red Hat, Ubuntu,
Mandrake etc. Visit http://
distrowatch.com/
for listing of Linux OS)
 Unix OS etc.
 TYPES OF BROWSERS
 Mozilla Firefox
 Internet Explorer
 Opera
 Safari Flock
 Konqueror
 Flock

Firefox is gaining
Popularity over IE
 Low and High Level
Languages
Programming Language
- a set of written symbols that instruct the computer hardware
to perform certain tasks
- can be categorized as Low level Language and High Level
Language

Low Level Language

- Language that has the tendency towards specific,
delicate machine syntax
- Machine Language and Assembly Language
Low and High Level Languages
– cont.
Low Level Language – cont.

Machine Language
- consists of entirely 1’s and 0’s that only the computer
understands
- depends on different, specific hardware designs
- it executes very fast, but is time consuming and difficult to
understand
- only programmer who has the knowledge of the computer
architecture is able to understand the language
Low and High Level Languages –
cont.
Low Level Language – cont.
Assembly Language
- also considered as Low Level Language because it still needs
specific knowledge of hardware
- it differs from machine language because of it uses mnemonic
in spite of 1’s and 0’s to represent the operation codes
- mnemonic code is an alphabetic abbreviation that is easy to
remember
- it produce programs very efficient, less storage usage and the
execution is much faster
Low and High Level Languages –
cont.

High Level Language

- instructions resemble human language and mathematical
notation
- no detail knowledge of computer hardware and internal
operation of a computer
- easier to learn because of the English-like language rather
than understanding machine codes and instructions
- E.g. FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, Pascal, C/C++
 Assembler, Compiler and
Interpreter
Assembler

Compiler/Interpreter

(Source code) (Object code)

 Assembler, Compiler and
Interpreter – cont.
Compiler
- the source code will remain unchanged after the conversion
but can be updated and changed, then compiled again
- after it is compiled, then the object code can be executed
-example of HLL program uses compiler is the C and C++

Interpreter
- the interpreter will translate a program one line at a time,
executing each line of the program after it is translated
- if an error should occur during execution, the error must be
rectified or solved before it can proceed to the next line
- example of HLL program uses interpreter is the BASIC
Importance of Backup – cont.

Data is exposed to several threats.

 Importance of Backup – cont.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

How does UPS works?

- it is connected in series with the computer system

- when power is interrupted, this result the UPS to function as a
backup supply of power to the computer system
- depends on the type of UPS, it will operate in 20 minutes or more
- it is advisable to backup important data within the time limit to
prevent any lost of data
 Importance of Backup – cont.

Components of UPS

- one rectifier (charger) to convert AC to DC and to fully charge

the battery
- one battery to supply DC power to the inverter and the supported
time are based on the number and size of batteries
- one inverter to convert DC to AC
- one static bypass switch to control the load from/to the power
source to/from the battery and allows certain load to transfer
tolerances needed by the computer and its peripherals
 The Computer Virus Crisis

The elements of a computer virus :

1. A set of instructions - a program being made to disrupt or

interfere other programs
2. Deliberately created - purposely created by humans or by itself
3. Actively propagates - reproducing itself
4. Infects other programs - contaminate or polluting different types
of programs
5. Able to do harm - can cause damage to others
6. Able to evolve - developing, growing and changing in
programs or systems
 The Computer Virus Crisis –
cont.
What are the damages of the virus to a computer system :

1. Creates garbage in your computer system that takes up space

in the memory and into your diskettes

2. Messing up files in their normal standard and altering some

of the files

3. Messing up the FAT (File Allocation Table) which contains

information of where are the other data's stored on your disk

4. Messing up the boot sector that can restrict your computer

from being able to execute at all
 The Computer Virus Crisis–
cont.
Types of anti-virus software

The Computer Virus Industry Association (CVIA) in the USA

has developed three basic categories of anti-virus software.

To prevent initial To identify and

infection remove viruses

To detect
infection
 COMPUTER NETWORKING

Network : Computers connected together to

communicate among themselves.

Resource Sharing
File Sharing
Communication
PCs’ Administration and Security
 COMPUTER NETWORKING –cont.

- Computer network technology can be classified by the distance

the network technology is designed to span

- There are three types of networking :

Local Area Network (LAN)

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Wide Area Network (WAN)
 COMPUTER NETWORKING –cont.

Local Area Network (LAN)

- Relatively small refers to the transmission media and

computer hardware
- The area is not exceeding 10 KM
- It only uses one type of transmission medium
- It share resources within building or campus
 COMPUTER NETWORKING –cont.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

- The network is larger compared to LAN
- The area covers a city of 10 to 100KM
- It requires efficient hardware and transmission media
to cover these areas
 COMPUTER NETWORKING –cont.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

- The network is larger than MAN and LAN
- It interconnect LAN of opposite sides of country or around
the world
- It covers huge geographical area in the world
 Modem

Local Area Network

Modem

Router Multiplexer Host Computer

Local Area Network Front end

Processor

Multiplexer
 LAN COMPONENTS

Every LAN is made up of a standard set of components:

 LAN TOPOLOGIES

Topology: The physical connection among computers

within a network

- the topology is the configuration of the hardware and shows

which pairs of nodes can communicate
-there are three common types of topologies :-

Star topology
Ring topology
Bus topology
Star

Ring

Bus
 LAN PROTOCOLS

Protocol : A set of rules to access the network to send

data.

Two common LAN protocols

 TRANSMISSION MEDIA

Transmission Media : The physical medium used for

transmission.

Twisted Types of TM
Pair Cable
Microwave
Transmission
Coaxial
Cable
Satellite
Fiber Optic Transmission
Cable
 TRANSMISSION MEDIA - Twisted
Pair Cable

Jacket

Copper wire conductor

Colour-coded insulation
 TRANSMISSION MEDIA – Coaxial
Cable

Insulation

Outer plastic covering

Inner conductor
 TRANSMISSION MEDIA – Fiber
Optic Cable
Optical fiber
Protective outer
sheath

Glass covering
Strength wires
TRANSMISSION MEDIA –
Microwave
TRANSMISSION MEDIA – Satellite
ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONS?