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Chapter 01 - Introducing Computer Systems

This document provides an introduction to computer systems by defining what a computer is, describing its basic characteristics and components. It explains that a computer is an electronic device that can perform calculations at high speeds and process data by storing, retrieving, and manipulating information. The key components of a computer system are hardware, software, data, and users. Hardware refers to the physical and tangible parts, software are sets of instructions that control the computer, data is the raw facts and information, and users are people who operate the computer.

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akila Induranga
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
81 views

Chapter 01 - Introducing Computer Systems

This document provides an introduction to computer systems by defining what a computer is, describing its basic characteristics and components. It explains that a computer is an electronic device that can perform calculations at high speeds and process data by storing, retrieving, and manipulating information. The key components of a computer system are hardware, software, data, and users. Hardware refers to the physical and tangible parts, software are sets of instructions that control the computer, data is the raw facts and information, and users are people who operate the computer.

Uploaded by

akila Induranga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1

Introducing Computer Systems


Outline

• What is a computer?
• Data Processing
• Characteristics of Computers
• Parts of computer system

2
The Computer Defined

• The word computer comes from the word


“compute” , which means, “to calculate”.

• Thereby, a computer is an electronic


device that can perform arithmetic
operations at high speed.

• A computer is also called a data processor


because it can store, process and retrieve
data whenever desired.

3
Data Processing
• The activity of processing data using a computer is
called data processing.

• Data is raw material used as input and information is


processed data obtained as output of data
processing. 4
Characteristics of Computers

1. Automatic: Given a job, computer can work on it


automatically without human interventions

2. Speed: Computer can perform data processing jobs


very fast

3. Accuracy: Accuracy of a computer is consistently high


and the degree of its accuracy depends upon its
design.

5
Characteristics of Computers

4. Diligence: Computer is free from monotony, tiredness,


and lack of concentration. It can continuously work for
hours without creating any error and without grumbling

5. Versatility: Computer is capable of performing almost


any task, if the task can be reduced to a finite series
of logical steps

6. Power of Remembering: Computer can store and recall


any amount of information because of its secondary
storage capability. It forgets or looses certain
information only when it is asked to do so

6
Characteristics of Computers

7. No I.Q.: A computer does only what it is programmed


to do. It cannot take its own decision in this regard

8. No Feelings: Computers are devoid of emotions. Their


judgement is based on the instructions given to them in
the form of programs that are written by us (human
beings)

7
Parts of the Computer System

• Computer systems have four parts

1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Data
4. User

8
Parts of the Computer System

• Hardware: Tangible parts


(Anything that can be touch)
• Software: Programs that instruct the computer
what to do

• Data: Pieces of Information


• User: People who operates the computer. Most
important part of the computer system. They
tell what to do to the computer. Specially
decisions
9
Parts of the Computer System -
Hardware

• A computer’s hardware consists of electronic


devices; the parts you can see and touch.

• The term “device” refers to any piece of


hardware used by the computer, such as a
keyboard, monitor, modem, mouse, etc.

10
Parts of the Computer System -
Software

• Software – also called programs – consists of


organized sets of instructions for controlling
the computer.
• Some programs exist for the computer’s use, to
help it manage its own tasks and devices.
• Other programs exist for the user, and enable
the computer to perform tasks for you, such as
creating documents.

11
Parts of the Computer System -
Data
• Data consists of raw facts, which the
computer can manipulate and process into
information that is useful to people.
• Computerized data is digital, meaning that it
has been reduced to digits, or numbers. The
computer stores and reads all data as numbers.
• Although computers use data in digital form,
they convert data into forms that people can
understand, such as text, numerals, sounds,
and images.
12
12
Parts of the Computer System – Users

• People are the computer’s operators, or


users.

• Some types of computers can operate


without much intervention from people,
but personal computers are designed
specifically for use by people.

13
Hardware –
Types of Hardware

A computer’s hardware devices are categorized


as follows:

Processor
Memory
Input and output (I/O) devices
Storage devices
14
14
Types of Hardware

Processor
– Brains of the computer

– Central Processing Unit (CPU) , or called


(processer)

– It is responsible for controlling the operations of all


other units of a computer system

15
Types of Hardware
Memory
– Memory also consists of chips attached to the
motherboard.

– Memory holds data and program instructions as the


CPU works with them. This memory is called Random
Access Memory (RAM).

– The CPU can find any piece of data in RAM, when it


needs it for processing.

– RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the


power is on. When the power is off, RAM’s contents
are lost. 16
Types of Hardware
Input and output devices
• Input devices accept data and instructions from the
user or from another computer system. The keyboard
and mouse are examples of input devices.

• Output devices return processed data back to the user


or to another computer system. The printer and
monitor are examples.

• Some devices perform both input and output, allowing


computers to share information. Touch screens and
digital cameras are the examples.

17
Types of Hardware

Storage devices
– Storage devices hold data not currently being used
by the CPU. Data is commonly stored on a magnetic
or optical disk. Each type uses a special medium for
storing data on its surface.

– A disk drive is a device that reads data from and


writes data to a disk. Most computers feature a hard
disk drive, and an optical disk drive.

– The most common optical storage devices are CD-


ROM and DVD-ROM drives.
18
Software

• Software is a set of electronic instructions that


tells the computer how to do certain tasks. A
set of instructions is often called a program.

• When a computer is using a particular program,


it is said to be running or executing the
program.

• The two most common types of programs are


system software and application software.

19
System Software

• System software exists primarily for the


computer itself, to help the computer perform
specific functions.

• One major type of system software is the


operating system (OS). All computers require an
operating system.

• The OS tells the computer how to interact with


the user and its own devices.

• Common operating systems include Windows, the


Macintosh OS, OS/2, and UNIX, Linux .
20
Application Software

• Application software tells the computer how to


accomplish tasks the user requires, such as
creating a document or editing a graphic image.
• Some important kinds of application software
are:

Word processing programs Spreadsheet software


Database management Presentation programs
Graphics programs Networking software
Web design tools and browsers Internet applications
Communications programs Multimedia authoring
Entertainment and education

21

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