INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

RULE S IN THE COMPUTER LAB:

1. Do not enter the lab without permission.
2. No eating/drinking in the computer lab, if liquid spills near the
keyboard the keys will malfunction
3. No bags in the lab
4. No running/ shouting/ noise in the lab.
5. Students should not switch on the computers unless told by the
teacher.
6. Chairs should be neatly arranged at all times
7. Strictly no playing games during the lesson
8. Do not bring external flashes in the lab to avoid spread of viruses
9. You are not allowed to change the settings on computers
10. You are not allowed to use the internet without
permission.
11. No charging of phones in the computer lab

Definition of Terms
Computer

It is an electronic device that works under the control of stored programs to automatically accept, store
process data into information.

Computer Hardware - is the term used to describe the actual pieces of equipment in a computer

Examples of computer Hardware are keyboard, mouse, CPU etc. or the

Physical parts of a computer.

Peripheral devices – these are devices external to the CPU or connected to the CPU e.g. keyboard,
mouse, speakers etc.

Data – Refers to raw facts and figures of an activity.

- Data is meaningless and needs to be processed to be meaningful

Information – It is data that has been converted into meaningful form, it is processed data.
 If data entered in the computer is wrong (garbage in) the results will be wrong (garbage
out) generally referred as GIGO Garbage -In Garbage- Out

Software – it is general term for the programs that control the computer system

Main components of a computer system

A computer system is made up of hardware and software

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF A COMPUTER

PRIMARY MEMORY

INPUT OUTPUT
Central CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
UNITS UNITS

Processing Unit

The CPU is mainly referred to as the brain of the computer because it controls the activities of the
computer.

There are 3 main components of the CPU

 Control unit
 Memory unit
 Arithmetic And Logic unit

Primary Storage/Main memory

 Primary storage is also known as main memory.
 Sometimes referred to as main store
 It holds programs and data that are in in use at that time. There are two main types of memory
which are RAM and ROM
  It is sometimes divided into Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM)
and Cache Memory.

i. Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Random Access Memory temporarily stores jobs when the computer is processing.
 It is a volatile and temporal memory meaning it uses electrical pulses, information is lost when
the computer is switched off.
 It determines the speed of the processor, the more RAM you have the faster the speed
of your computer.
 RAM is normally referred to as main memory or simply memory.
 Primary memory is more expensive than secondary memory.
 The size of primary memory is less than that of secondary memory
ii. Cache Memory
 Cache memory is an advanced form of RAM.
 It sits between microprocessors and RAM.
 It is used to help speed up the performance of the computer by keeping frequently used
data and instructions.

RAM CACHE MEMORY PROCESSOR

iii. Read Only Memory (ROM)

 Read Only Memory is non-volatile memory that is it continues storing its contents even
if power is switched off.
 It is used to permanently store programs about the computer’s configuration settings
e.g. booting up programs are stored in ROM chips as well as instructions that enable
hardware devices to communicate.
 You can only read data from ROM, and you cannot write into it. Programs are normally
written into ROM during the manufacturing process and once written the data cannot be
erased.
 There are different types of ROM which include:
a. PROM (programmable read-only memory) - a PROM is a memory chip on which you can store a
program or write data to it. Once the PROM has been used, you cannot wipe it clean and use it
to store something else. Like ROMs, PROMs are non-volatile.
b. EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) - an EPROM is a special type of PROM that
can be erased by exposing it to ultraviolet light.
c. EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) - an EEPROM is a special type
of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge.

Computer memory
A bit is a binary digit (1’s and 0’s). It is the basic unit to measure the size of memory in the computer.
Computer memory is however measured in bytes
 Equivalent to
1 bit Either 0 or 1
8 bits 1 byte (one character)
1024 bytes 1Kilobyte (Kb)
1024Kb 1Megabyte(Mb)
1024Mb 1Gigabyte(Gb)
1024Gb 1Terrabyte(Tb)

Control Unit – It co-ordinates all activities of the computer e.g. input and output devices, co-ordinates
the flow of information between RAM, ROM and ALU

(ALU)Arithmetic logic unit – This were all the mathematical operations are performed. Arithmetic
operations are addition, subtraction, division and multiplication and logical operations.

SECONDARY STORAGE
These are devices which keep information for later use

Backing store / auxiliary store – these devices store information away from the computer for later use

Examples of storage devices

 Flash disk
 Compact disc
 Memory card
 Floppy disk
 Magnetic tapes
 Zip disks
 Internal hard disk
 External hard disk
 Cassette

Basic Components of a computer

Four Functions about computer are:

accepts data Input

processes data Processing

produces output Output

 stores results Storage

Basic computer Operations

1. Input:

 This is the process of entering data and programs in to the computer system.
 Input (Data) can also be referred as the raw information entered into a computer
from the input devices. It is the collection of letters, numbers, images etc.
 Computer is an electronic machine like any other machine which takes input as raw
data and performs some processing giving out processed data.
 Therefore, the input unit takes data from us to the computer in an organized
manner for processing.

2. Storage:

 The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as storage.

 Data has to be fed into the system before the actual processing starts.
 Therefore the data is first stored in the storage unit for faster access and processing.
This storage unit or the primary storage of the computer system is designed to do
the above functionality.
 It provides space for storing data and instructions.
 The storage unit performs the following major functions:
• All data and instructions are stored here before and after processing.

• Intermediate results of processing are also stored here.

3. Processing:

 Process is the operation of data as per given instruction. It is totally internal process
of the computer system.
 The task of performing operations like arithmetic and logical operations is called
processing.
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU) takes data and instructions from the storage unit
and makes all sorts of calculations based on the instructions given and the type of
data provided.
 It is then sent back to the storage unit.
4. Output:

 Output is the processed data given by computer after data processing. Output is also
called as Result.
 We can save these results in the storage devices for the future use.

5. Control:

 The manner how instructions are executed and the above operations are performed.
Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output are performed by
control unit.
 It takes care of step by step processing of all operations inside the computer.

GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

First Generation of Computers (1942-1955)

 These were the earliest computers that used valves in controlling machines.
 They were based on vacuum tubes as their processors
 Examples of first generation computers are ENIVAC and UNIVAC-1.
 They were very large computers, fitting about the size of an average room.
 Used punch cards for input and printouts for output.

Advantages
 Vacuum tube technology which was being used made possible to make
electronic digital computers.
 These computers could calculate data in millisecond hence they made work
easier.

Disadvantages
 The computers were very large in size, they needed much space.
 They consumed a large amount of energy.
 They heated very soon due to thousands of vacuum tubes.
 They were not very reliable.
 Air conditioning was required.
 Constant maintenance was required.
 Costly commercial production.
 Limited commercial use.
 Very slow speed.
 Limited programming capabilities.
  Used machine language only.
 Used magnetic drums which provide very less data storage.
 Not versatile and very faulty.

Second Generation Computers (1955-1964)

 The second generation computers used transistors instead of valves.

 The size of the computers was decreased by replacing vacuum tubes with
transistors.
 The examples of second generation computers are IBM 7094 series, IBM 1400
series and CDC 164etc.
 They also used punched cards for input and printouts for output.

Advantages
 Smaller in size as compared to the first generation computers.
 The 2nd generation Computers were more reliable
 Used less energy and were not heated.
 Wider commercial use
 Better portability as compared to the first generation computers.
 Better speed and could calculate data in microseconds
 Used faster peripherals like tape drives, magnetic disks, printer etc.
 Used Assembly language instead of Machine language.
 Accuracy improved.

Disadvantages
 Cooling system was required
 Constant maintenance was required
 Commercial production was difficult
 They were only used for specific purposes
 Costly and not versatile

Third Generation Computers (1964-1975)

 Third generation computers used the integrated circuits (IC).
 The computer became smaller in size, faster, more reliable and less expensive.
 The examples of third generation computers are IBM 370, IBM System/360, UNIVAC
1108 and UNIVAC AC 9000 etc.
 Advantages
 Smaller in size as compared to previous generations.
 More reliable.
 Used less energy
 Produced less heat as compared to the previous two generations of computers.
 Better speed and could calculate data in nanoseconds.
 Used fan for heat discharge to prevent damage.
 Maintenance cost was low because hardware failure is rare.
 Totally general purpose
 Could be used for high-level languages.
 Good storage
 Versatile to an extent
 Less expensive
 Better accuracy
 Commercial production increased.
 Used mouse and keyboard for input.

Disadvantages
 Air conditioning was required.
 Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacturing of IC chips.

Fourth Generation Computers (1975-Present)

 The fourth generation computers started with the invention of Microprocessor.
 The Microprocessor contains thousands of ICs.
 The technology of integrated circuits improved rapidly. The LSI (Large Scale
Integration) circuit and VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) circuit was designed.
 It greatly reduced the size of computer.
 The examples of fourth generation computers are Apple Macintosh & IBM PC.
Advantages
 More powerful and reliable than previous generations.
 Small in size
 Fast processing power with less power consumption
 Fan for heat discharging and thus to keep cold.
 No air conditioning required.
 Totally general purpose
 Commercial production
 Less need of repair.
 Cheapest among all generations
 All types of High level languages can be used in this type of computers

Disadvantages
 The latest technology is required for manufacturing of Microprocessors.
 They are fragile. They can be easily damaged


Fifth Generation Computers (Present & Beyond)

 Scientists are working hard on the 5th generation computers with quite a few
breakthroughs.
 It is based on the technique of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
 Computers can understand spoken words & imitate human reasoning.
 Can respond to its surroundings using different types of sensors.
 Scientists are constantly working to increase the processing power of computers.
 They are trying to create a computer with real IQ with the help of advanced
programming and technologies. IBM Watson computer is one example that
outsmarts Harvard University Students.
 The advancement in modern technologies will revolutionize the computer in future.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be classified according to size, brand, processing speed and so on.

On the basis of Size

1. Minicomputer:
2. Mainframe:
3. Supercomputer:
4. Microcomputer:

Super Computer

 It’s the biggest, fastest, and most expensive computers on earth.

 The fastest and most powerful type of computer
 Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications
that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations. Eg; weather
forecasting, animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research,
and petroleum exploration.
  The chief difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a
supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as
possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs
concurrently.

Mainframe Computer

 A very large and expensive computer

 It is capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously.
 In some ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they
support more simultaneous programs.
 But supercomputers can execute a single program faster than a mainframe.

Mini Computer

 A midsized computer.
 A minicomputer isn't very mini. Its more like a personal computer.
 In general, a minicomputer is a multiprocessing system capable of supporting from
4 to about 200 users simultaneously.

Micro Computer or Personal Computer

• Your personal computer is a microcomputer.
 A personal or micro-mini computer is sufficient to fit on a desk.
•

Types of Computers

 As technology continues to progress by leaps and bounds, it is not surprising that

the computer has been modified into different shapes, with varied features and a
wide range of purposes.
 Let us take a look at the different types of computers which will help us understand
their functions and what they are used for.

Personal Computer or PC –

 A PC is a computer that is used by someone for his personal use.

 It is a complete system in itself and its convenient size, price and simple functions
make it easy for the end-user to work on it without any intervention from computer
operators.

Desktop –

 Any PC that is designed to be placed on a desk and not for portability is called a
desktop.
  Such computers are kept in a permanent location and can be a little bulky.
 They usually have more power and storage compared to their movable
counterparts.

Laptop or Notebook –

 A PC that can be moved around is called a laptop.

 It gets its name from the fact that you can keep it on your lap and use it. It is also
called a notebook because you can carry the battery-operated device to classes or
meetings conveniently and store any notes or information in it.
 It integrates the monitor, keyboard, pointing device, CPU, memory and hard drive
in one system.

Netbook –

 This is similar to a laptop, the only difference being that it is smaller in size, which
makes it even more portable.
 It is also less expensive and performs the basic functions, but its internal parts are
not as powerful as a desktop or laptop.

Workstation –

 This computer is a desktop which is larger and consists of a more powerful

processor
 It has greater memory space and extra ability to do specific kind of work.
 It is commonly used by programmers, game developers, video or sound editors and
graphic designers.

PDA – A Personal Digital Assistant

 It is a small, highly integrated computer usually using flash memory for storage
instead of a hard drive.
 It uses touchscreen technology and doesn’t have a keyboard.
 Those which use a digital pen for input are called handheld computers.
 It is light, portable, has good battery life and fits within your palm.

Server –
  The server’s main purpose is to provide certain services to other computers or a
whole network of computers.
 It is much larger than any average computer and generally a whole room is
necessary to fit the whole server.
 It has powerful processors, additional amount of memory and bigger hard drives.

Embedded Computer

 Presently Embedded System is invading almost all household instruments to

modern war equipment.
 An embedded system is a computer system with a dedicated function within a
larger mechanical or electrical system, often with real-time computing constraints.
 Real Time Operating System is a necessary requirement of an embedded system
with real time multitasking facility.

Dumb terminal

 A dumb terminal is simply an output device that accepts data from the CPU.
 A dumb terminal has no processing capabilities; it must rely entirely on the central
computer.
 A display monitor that has no processing capabilities.
 In contrast, a smart terminal is a monitor that has its own processor for
special features, such as bold and blinking characters. Dumb terminals are not as
fast as smart terminals, and they do not support as many display features, but they
are adequate for most applications.

Intelligent terminal

 A terminal (monitor and keyboard) that contains processing power.

 Intelligent terminals include memory and a processor to perform special display
operations. In contrast, a smart terminal has some processing capabilities, but not as
much as an intelligent terminal.
APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS

Uses of computers in Hospitals

o Storage of patient, supplier, asset and employee records.

o Monitoring patients and alerting the doctors or nurses when a problem occurs.
o Taking measurements on patients. eg blood pressure, temperature level, weight, etc.
o Used for monitoring of patients during surgeries they control body scanners and
sensors.
o Making an appointment
o Expert system- some doctors make use of expert systems to help with diagnosis and
prescribing the best remedy.
o Plastic Surgery-Models- plastic surgeons use imaging technology to show a patient
how they will look after surgery provided everything all goes well.
o Mothers can now be told the anomalies’ or baby deformation before birth and
proper preparations can be made through scanning technology.
o Medical research is now computerized.

Uses of Computers in Education

o Distance learning- used by people who fail to attend traditional lessons and they can
learn from home and at work.
o Interactive learning- teachers can use interactive white boards to perform
demonstrations or presentations to audience.
o Keeping student information and staff information.
o Printing examination papers and assignments.
o Keeping records of school cashflow and printing levy and tuition fees
o Used for printing school documentation and school reports
o Assessment- in some cases after exams have been written, the papers are scanned
into computer systems and examiners are able to access the papers online and carry
out their assessment work.

Uses of Computers in Banks

 o It is possible to apply for loans, overdraft facilities, and credit cards and view
investment opportunities.
o Transferring funds from one account to another and pay bills is possible.
o Used for cash disbursement- ATMs( Automated Teller Machines)
o Used for storage of client account details like account name, account number,
address, sex, etc.

Uses of Computers in Industry Sector

o Used to store data on employees, sales, raw materials, etc.

o Used for computer aided design (CAD) - this is whereby computers are used to
design models of infrastructure like bridges and test for their strength before
building actual structures on the ground.
o Used for industrial automation. Whereby computers take control of all production
processes in industries.
o Used for communication between departments and branches of an operation.
o For monitoring robots in car assemblies, television production, computer
manufacturing, etc.
o Marketing- when a product is manufactured it needs to be marketed to attract
customers so graphical software is used to design advertisements for magazines, TV
and billboards.

HARDWARE

o These are the physical components of a computer.

o This is the term given to the tangible parts of a computer system. Eg keyboard, CPU,
screen, printer and speaker
o Hardware is divided into two ie the motherboard and peripheral.
o The motherboard consists of the CPU and the Main Memory.
o Peripherals are devices that are connected to the CPU and are controlled by it.
o Peripherals can be split into three sections which are Input, Output or Storage.
INPUT DEVICES
Input devices accept user commands in a form the computer can use and sends them into the computer
for processing. They are thus used for data entry. Since data exist in different forms therefore several
input devices can be used to suit a particular form of data. Data can be obtained from source documents
for example invoices, receipts, timesheets and financial statements. No useful task can be performed by
the computer without the input and output devices.

Input devices include keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, digital camera, joystick and document
readers such as magnetic ink character reader (MICR), optical character reader (OCR) and optical mark
reader (OMR).

Methods of input
i. Online data input- the operator directly enters data from a keyboard onto a backing storage
source
 ii. Offline data input- involves the preparation of the input data in a machine readable format off-
line, then inputs directly from the machine readable format to the backing source.
iii. Special purpose input- involves either the computer itself or a special microprocessor ready
characters or marks on some input device.

TITLE
Online input Keyboards with visual display units(VDU), Device connected directly to the
point of sale equipment computer
Offline input Magnetic tape, Magnetic disk Operator works independent of
the computer
Special purpose OMR, OCR, MICR, Bar coding Machines read data from a
input document and transmit it to the
computer

Input Devices
 Input devices are parts of the computer used to send data and instructions to the
computer
 There are many input devices the most common one is the keyboard and the mouse
 Other egs are input devices keyboard, mouse, track ball, joystick, light pen, touch
screen, modem, scanner, microphone, bar code reader, digital camera, video,
digitizer, magnetic ink character recognition (MICR), magnet strips or stripes
i. Mouse
A mouse is a device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display screen. The mouse
may contain up to three push buttons each of which has a different functions depending on the program
being used have. Nowadays, mice may also include a scroll wheel for scrolling through long documents
etc.

ii. Keyboard
A keyboard contains a set of typewriter like keys that enable you to enter data in the computer. The
keys on computer keyboards are often classified as follows:
a. Alphanumeric keys - letters and numbers
b. Punctuation keys - comma, period, semicolon etc.
 c. Special keys - function keys, control keys, arrow keys, Caps Lock key etc.
The standard keyboard layout that we use is known as a QWERTY keyboard because the first six keys on
the top row of letters spell QWERTY. Local computer stores sell keyboards with the Maltese characters.

iii. Trackball
A trackball is a pointing device. Essentially, a trackball is a mouse lying on its back. To move the pointer,
you rotate the ball with your thumb, your fingers, or the palm of your hand.
The trackball usually has two or three buttons next to the ball. These buttons are used in the same way
that you use mouse buttons. The trackball, unlike the mouse, is stationary and so it does not require
much space to use it.

iv. Scanner
A scanner is a device that transfers printed text and images to a computer. There are different types of
scanners – the flatbed scanners being the most common. Other types of scanners are sheet-fed
scanners and handheld scanners.

Flatbed Scanners

The most commonly used scanner is a flatbed scanner also known as desktop scanner.
It has a glass plate on which the picture or the document is placed. The scanner head
placed beneath the glass plate moves across the picture and the result is a good
quality scanned image. For scanning large maps or toposheets wide format flatbed
scanners can be used.

Sheet-fed Scanners

Sheet fed scanners work on a principle similar to that of a fax machine. In this, the
document to be scanned is moved past the scanning head and the digital form of the
image is obtained. The disadvantage of this type of scanner is that it can only scan
loose sheets and the scanned image can easily become distorted if the document is
not handled properly while scanning.

Handheld Scanners
Hand-held scanners although portable, can only scan images up to about four inches wide. They require
a very steady hand for moving the scan head over the document. They are useful for scanning small
logos or signatures and are virtually of no use for scanning maps and photographs.

Sometimes scanners form part of a multifunction printer. Such printers have printing, scanning and
photocopying features.
Scanners arrive with:

a. Driver software –the program that controls the operation of the scanner.
b. Photo-editing software – the program used to manipulate scanned images.
c. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software – the program used to transfer printed
text into a word-processor for editing and formatting

There are other types of scanners that are used for specialized purposes. These include magnetic strip
reader, magnetic ink character reader, optical mark reader and bar code reader. They are explained
separately below.

v. Magnetic Strip Reader

This input device reads a magnetic strip on a card. Handy for security reasons, it provides quick
identification of the card's owner. This method is used to run bank cash points or to provide quick
identification of people entering buildings

A Credit card showing the magnetic strip

vi. Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR)

A computer can read numbers and letters printed with ink containing magnetic material. MICR is used
by banks to process cheques. The account details at the bottom of the cheque can be accurately read in
this manner since MICR is not affected by dirt.

A cheque detailing the MICR number

vii. Optical Mark Reader
The Optical Mark Reader (OMR) can read information in the form of numbers or letters and put it into
the computer. The marks have to be precisely located as in multiple choice test papers.

A sample multiple choice answer paper

viii. Bar Code Reader

Bar codes can be used on goods in supermarkets, libraries and on magazines. Bar codes provide
a quick method of recording the sale of items. A bar code is a pattern printed in lines of
differing thickness. The system gives fast and error free entry of information into the computer
system.

Infra-red bar code reader Bar code

ix. Touchpad
A touchpad is a small, touch-sensitive pad used as a pointing device on most laptop computers. By
moving a finger or other object along the pad, you can move the pointer on the display screen. Tapping
the pad is equivalent to clicking the mouse.
x. Stylus
A stylus is a pointing and drawing device shaped like a pen used on digitizing tablets or touch screens on
mobile phones. The stylus is used to move the pointer and select objects on the display screen.

xi. Joystick
A joystick is a lever that moves in all directions and controls the movement of a pointer or some other
display symbol. It is similar to the aircraft control stick. Joysticks typically include two buttons called
triggers and are used mostly for computer games, training simulators and controlling robots.

xii. Web camera or Webcam

A webcam is a device used to hold video communications over Internet. Typically webcams are used
with communication programs such as Skype and MSN Messenger. Through webcams users are able to
see each other and movements in real time. Webcams can be used to record video files and to take still
pictures. External webcams connect to the computer through USB ports. Most laptops have in-built
webcams.

xiii. Digital camera

A digital camera is an electronic camera that uses a light-sensitive processor chip to capture
photographic images in digital form on a small diskette inserted in the camera or on flash-memory chips.
Once a picture has been taken, it can be transferred to the computer, and then manipulated with a
graphics program and printed.
Digital photos can be incorporated in word-processing documents, presentations, sent by email or
posted on a web site. The resolution of the digital photos is limited by the optical resolution of the
digital camera. Digital photos are quicker and cheaper to process compared to film photos.

xv. Microphone
A microphone is a device that allows sound signals to be converted into digital files that may be stored
on the computer. Microphones can be stand-alone or incorporated with headphones or in-built in
laptops.

Voice-recognition software uses a microphone to convert a person’s speech into digital signals by
comparing the electrical patterns produced by the speaker’s voice with a set of pre-recorded patterns
stored in the computer. Microphones are also used along with Internet telephony software to
communicate with other people via Internet.

xvi. MIDI Devices

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a system designed to transmit information between
electronic musical instruments. A MIDI musical keyboard can be attached to a computer and allow a
performer to play music that is captured by the computer system as a sequence of notes with the
associated timing (instead of recording digitized sound waves).

xvii. Graphic Tablet

A Graphic tablet is a pointing device that facilitates the accurate input of drawings and designs. A
drawing can be placed directly on the tablet, and the user traces outlines or inputs coordinate positions
with a hand-held stylus.

A graphic tablet with pen

B. PROCESSING
Processing is done by the central processing unit (CPU) also known as the processor or microprocessor.
The CPU is the brain of the computer and it is responsible for processing data and instructions. There are
many different processors made by many different companies; the two main companies producing chips
particularly for Windows based computer systems are Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Intel
manufactures the Intel and Celeron brands of processors while AMD produces the Athlon and Duron
brands of processors.
Other companies make chips for other applications, particularly IBM, Motorola, nVIDIA and ATi. Other
companies however license out their processor designs for other companies to fabricate, for example
ARM and Sun.

The CPU is composed of the Control Unit, Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) and registers.

Control Unit
The control unit is the command centre of the processor. It generates command signals that are used to
control the operations of all devices in the computer system. The control unit thus maintains order
within the computer system and directs the flow of traffic (operations) and data. The control unit
retrieves instructions from memory and executes them accordingly. It is responsible for keeping each
part of the computer in proper synchronization. The primary functions of the control unit can be
summarized as:
 To read and interpret program instructions
 To direct the operations of internal processor components
 To control the flow of programs and data in and out of RAM (for RAM see page ……)
Examples of control information include RESET signals and READ/WRITE signal.

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

The Arithmetic and Logic Unit performs arithmetic operations such as additions, multiplication,
subtraction and division. It also performs logical operations such as AND, OR, NAND, NOT and NOR. The
actual processing or execution of programs or data happens in the ALU

Registers
The registers are temporary storage locations found inside the processor. They store information during
processing. The processor executes instructions sequentially (one after another) hence sub results have
to be temporarily stored in registers before they are recalled for further processing. For example let’s
say the processor wants to calculate (23 x 2) + (27 / 3). It first multiplies 23 by 2 and divides 27 by 3 and
then stores the result, recalls it and then adds the result to 23. It will then recall the result of (23 x 2)
which is 46 and the result of (27 /3) which is 9 and then multiplies them to get 414.
Computer Speed
The processor speed also referred to as the clock speed is the rate at which instructions are executed by
the processor. A processor speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) which means millions of cycles or
instructions per second. A processor can be single (1x), Dual (2x), Quad (4x) core. Multi cores imply that
the processor executes the same instruction at one goal with the power of multiple processors. This
principle of sharing one process among multiple processes is referred to as multi processing.

Units used in measuring processor speed

Equivalent to
1 instruction 1 Hertz(Hz)
1000 Hertz 1 Kilohertz (KHz)
1000 Kilohertz 1 Megahertz (MHz)
1000 Megahertz 1 Gigahertz (GHz)
1000 Gigahertz 1 Terahertz (THz)

Computer Performance
The processing speed of a computer is the rate at which the hardware and software interact
to manipulate data. There are several factors determining the processing speed of a
computer:

1. The clock speed of the CPU – A higher clock speed

means more units of data can be processed each second.
The clock speed of the CPU is measured in megahertz
(MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

2. The design of the CPU – Different CPUs may be

designed to process larger units of data at a time or
process certain types of data more efficiently. An Intel
Pentium Celeron processor running at 800MHz will not be
as fast as an Intel Pentium II processor running at the
same clock speed.

3. The amount of RAM – Increasing the memory size of

RAM improves the speed of a computer. This is because at
any single time more programs and data can be loaded
from the hard disk to it. Thus, the CPU can process data
more efficiently.
 4. The type of hard disk – Different hard disks have
different access speeds. Access speed is the time taken to
read and write data to the disk. High access speeds
improve the processing speed of a computer.

Also the amount of free space on the hard disk affects the processing speed of the
computer. MS Windows is constantly shuffling data between the hard disk and RAM,
creating a lot of temporary files in the process. Hard disk space is needed for these
temporary files. Thus, free hard disk space can optimize the performance of a
computer.

5. The type of graphics card – Modern graphics cards

often have new design features and more built in memory
than older ones. These graphic cards enable computers to
run graphics orientated software more quickly and
smoothly.

6. The type of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM – Fast CD- and DVD-

ROMs reduce the time taken to access data and move
data. A 52× speed CD-ROM drive is faster than a 36×
speed drive for a given type of disk.

7. The number of applications running – The processing

speed of a computer slows down if a lot of
programs/applications are running at the same time. It is
important to close programs which are not being used.

C. OUTPUT
 This is the displaying of the results of the processing to the user.
 Output devices accept results or data generated by the computer and present this information
to the user in a variety of different means.
 Output devices are parts of a computer that are used to display the results of work done by the
computer.
 Output can be in the form of hard copy, softcopy and sound.
- Softcopy - refers to output that can be display on a monitor. A soft copy output can be
referred to as a digital document.
 - Hardcopy - refers to output from a printer or a plotter. Unlike softcopy output, hardcopy
output can be viewed without the need of the computer.
- Sound – refers to output from the speakers

Examples of output devices are printers, monitors, speakers.

Printers
 Printers produce “hard copies” printed on permanent material. The two categories of printers
are impact and non-impact printers.

Impact Printers
 Impact printers are the oldest print technologies still in active production.
 They are most functional in specialized environments where low-cost printing is essential such
as for back office printing.
 They use a print head containing a number of metal pins which strike an inked ribbon placed
between the print head and the paper.

Ink ribbon used by impact printers

An impact printer showing detail of print head

 The three most common forms of impact printers are dot-matrix, daisy-wheel, and line printers.
Dot-Matrix Printers
- It uses a print head to strike the printer ribbon imprints ink dots on the paper which form
human-readable characters.
- Because the print head must strike the surface of the paper with enough force to transfer ink
from a ribbon onto the page.
- It is ideal for environments that must produce carbon copies through the use of special multi-
part documents.
- Each character is made as a group of small dots.

Multi part document

Examples of dot matrix printers include Epson LX300, Epson LX780 and Citizen Prodot 24s.
Advantages
 Low purchase cost.
 Have one of the lowest printing costs per page
 Can handle multipart forms or make carbon copies.
 They are able to use continuous paper rather that individual sheets
 Low repair cost.
 They can withstand unclean or dusty environment whereas Inkjet or laser jet printers require
clean environment
 Using these printers require negligible operator training
 They are reliable in situations where printed content is more important than quality

Disadvantages
 They are noisy since the print head has direct contact with the print material
 Produces low quality print particularly for pictures
 They have limited color performance.
 They have lower speeds compared to non-impact printers.

Dot matrix printer common problems

 Light or poor print quality
 Paper jams
 Missing print
 Paper out
 Dark smudges
 Flecks of ink

Daisy-wheel Printers
 It uses the same printing technology as a typewriter.
 Daisy-wheel printers are loud and slow.
 They cannot print graphics, and cannot change fonts unless the print wheel is physically
replaced.
 The standard of print is similar to that produced by an electric typewriter.
 Daisy-wheel printers are generally not used in modern computing environments.

A daisy wheel showing detail of the characters

Advantages
 They are not expensive
 Can produce letter-quality text
 They can be used for carbon copy printing
  They are able to use continuous paper rather that individual sheets

Disadvantages
 They produce more noise than dot matrix printers when printing
 They cannot print graphics.
 They can print only one type of font hence to change font you have to manually replace the
print wheel
 They are slow

Line printers
 Line Printers are high-speed impact printers in which one line of type is printed at a time.
 These printers are similar to dot matrix printers, however, Line Printers use paper that is
provided in boxes of continuous fan folds rather than cut sheets.
 Line Printers are still popular for accounting and other business and bookkeeping applications.

Impact Printer Consumables

 Of all the printer types, however, impact printers have relatively low consumable costs.
 Ink ribbons and paper are the primary recurring costs for impact printers.

Non-impact printers
There are three types of non-impact printers:
 Ink jet printers
 Laser printers
 Thermal printers

Inkjet printers
 They are also commonly called bubble jet printers.
 Inkjets use nozzles to spray characters on to the page and they use ink cartridges as
consumables.
 This method of printing can generate up to 200 characters (cps) and allows for good quality,
cheap colour printing.
 Ink-jet printers will remain the choice of any environment, home or office with low volume
printing needs
Examples of inkjet printers include Canon BJC 620, HP 610C, HP590C, Epson Stylus Colour 300 and
HP859C
Advantages of inkjet printers
 High resolution output
 Quiet
 Small footprint
 Energy efficient
Disadvantages of inkjet printers
 Higher cost per page than laser printers
 Slower than laser printers
 Cut sheet only
 High cost of print cartridges

Ink cartridges

Laser Printers
 Laser printers use a laser beam and dry powdered ink to produce a fine dot matrix pattern.
 The standard of print is very good and laser printers can also produce very good quality printed
graphic images too.
 It uses the principle of a photocopier and uses a laser beam to print characters onto a page.
 Laser printers use toner cartridges as consumables.
Examples include HP LaserJet 1100, HP LaserJet 2100, HP LaserJet 4L and Epson EPC 5700.

Advantages of Laser Printers

 High resolution output
 They print faster
 They don’t produce any noise
 Have low cost per page

Disadvantages of Laser Printers

 High purchase price (initial cost is very high)
 Cut sheet only

Thermal Printers
 Characters are formed by heated elements being placed in contact with special heat sensitive
paper forming darkened dots when the elements reach a critical temperature.
 Thermal printer paper tends to darken over time due to exposure to sunlight and heat.
  The standard of print produced is poor.
 Thermal printers are widely used in battery powered equipment such as portable calculators.

A fax machine uses a thermal printer

All –in one (multifunction) Printers

The all-in-one printer has emerged as the choice in the home or office with copier, scanner, and fax
needs, too.

Advantages of All-in-One Printers

 Can function as a printer, a scanner, a copier, and a fax machine
 Get four functions for the price of 1 or 2
 Functional specifications close to separate devices (output quality, speed, and so on)
Disadvantages of All-in-One Printers
 Can handle only one function at a time
 Larger footprint than a comparable printer

Factors to consider when buying a printer

 The quality of the printout normally referred to as print resolution. Print resolution is measured
in dots per inch (dpi)
 The speed of the printer measured as pages per minute (ppm), characters per second (cps) or
lines per minute (lpm).

Plotters
 A plotter is a graphics printer that draws images with multi colored ink pens.
 Plotters are large-scale printers that are very accurate at reproducing line drawings.
 They are commonly used for technical drawings such as engineering drawings or architectural
blueprints in scientific and engineering sectors. The output includes graphs, drawings, charts,
maps etc. The two basic types of plotters are called flatbed plotters and drum plotters.

Flatbed plotter

 It is a plotter where the paper is fixed on a flat surface and pens are moved to draw the image.
 This plotter can use several different colour pens to draw with.
 The size of the plot is limited only by the size of the plotter's bed.

Top view of a flat bled plotter

Drum plotters,

 It is also called upright plotters and is vertically positioned.

 They have a drum that the paper rolls on.
 Drum plotters usually make more noise and are more compact than flatbed plotters.

Speakers
 Speakers can be plugged into the back of computers carrying a sound card.
 The speakers enhance the multimedia capabilities of computers.

Headphones
 Headphones are typically plugged into the front of computers.
 These are used to hear sound coming out of the computer.
 Some headphones incorporate also a microphone.

Monitors
 Monitors are devices used to display information from the computer.
 They are also referred to as visual display units (VDU).
 There are two main types of monitor screens namely Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Thin film
Transistor - Liquid Crystal Display (TFT -LCD) normally referred to as flat screens.
 CRT monitors are old generation monitors that are large, bulky and heavy. They however are
durable.
 Today’s LCD monitors are flat and are relatively light weight.
 They also consume less power compared to CRT screens

CRT monitor LCD/ TFT monitor

Basic factors to consider when buying monitors

  Screen resolution-
 Screen size - The measurement of the size is the diagonal size of the screen.

Projectors
 A projector takes a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen
using a lens system.
 All video projectors use a very bright light to project the image
 Video projectors are widely used for
-conference room presentations,
-classroom training,
-home theatre applications.

D. INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES
Some devices e.g. touch screens and modems can serve as both input and output devices.

Touch screens
 Touch screens used in some restaurants and some ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) can also
be used as both input and output devices.

A touch sensitive monitor

Modems
Modems are used as input devices when these receive information from the Internet (such as email).
They are used as output devices when sending information (such as email) to a recipient.

STORAGE
This is the keeping of information for future reference. Storage devices can be classified into
two areas namely:
 Primary storage
 Secondary storage
Primary Storage
 Primary storage is also known as main memory.
 It is subdivided into Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM) and
Cache Memory.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Random Access Memory temporarily stores jobs when the computer is processing. It is volatile
meaning when the power is switched off data is lost from the computer. It is directly accessible
to the processor. The more RAM you have the better the performance of your computer. RAM
is normally referred to as main memory or simply memory. Primary memory is more expensive
than secondary memory. Because of this the size of primary memory is less than that of
secondary memory

ii. Cache Memory

Cache memory is an advanced form of RAM. It sits between microprocessors and RAM. It is
used to help speed up the performance of the computer by keeping frequently used data and
instructions. Today’s technology allows integrating the cache memory into the processor hence
improving the speed of data and instruction access by the processor. Two common layers of
cache memory are Level1 (L1) cache and Level 2 (L2) cache. Normally the L1 cache is integrated
into the processor and the L2 cache is found just outside the processor.

RAM CACHE MEMORY PROCESSOR

iii. Read Only Memory (ROM)

Read Only Memory is non volatile memory that is it continues storing its contents even if power
is switched off. It is used to permanently store programs about the computer’s configuration
settings e.g. booting up programs are stored in ROM chips as well as instructions that enable
hardware devices to communicate.
You can only read data from ROM, and you cannot write into it. Programs are normally written
into ROM during the manufacturing process and once written the data cannot be erased. There
are however other variations of ROM which include:
d. PROM (programmable read-only memory) - a PROM is a memory chip on which you can store a
program or write data to it. Once the PROM has been used, you cannot wipe it clean and use it
to store something else. Like ROMs, PROMs are non-volatile.
e. EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) - an EPROM is a special type of PROM that
can be erased by exposing it to ultraviolet light.
f. EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) - an EEPROM is a special type
of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge.

Computer memory
A bit is a binary digit (1’s and 0’s). It is the basic unit to measure the size of memory in the computer.
Computer memory is however measured in bytes
 Equivalent to
1 bit Either 0 or 1
8 bits 1 byte (one character)
1024 bytes 1Kilobyte (Kb)
1024Kb 1Megabyte(Mb)
1024Mb 1Gigabyte(Gb)
1024Gb 1Terrabyte(Tb)

Secondary Storage
 Secondary storage is often referred to as auxiliary storage.
 It is used for permanent storage of data.
 Examples of secondary storage devices include hard disks, floppy diskettes, magnetic
tapes and flash disks.
 Secondary storage differs from primary storage in that it is not directly accessible to the CPU.
 Secondary storage media are said to be non-volatile
 Secondary storage can be categorized into:

- Optical storage media

-It makes use of random access technology to access data stored in a secondary storage.
-Examples of optical storage media are CD and DVD drives.

-CD-ROM (Compact Disk – Read-only memory)

-A CD–ROM is an optical disk containing data, which has been written and can be read through
the use of a laser beam.
-CD-ROMs are read-only media i.e. data on CD-ROMS cannot be erased or modified – it can only
be read.
-CD-ROM disks have large storage capacities of about 700MB.
Other types of optical disks include CD-R and CD-RW.
-CD-R (CD-Recordable) - disks can be written to once.
-Data on CD-R disks can be read but cannot be modified or deleted. They are also called Write
Once Read Many(WORM)
 CD-RW (CD-Rewritable) - disks can be erased and written to over and over again.

-DVD (Digital Versatile Disk or Digital Video Disk)

* DVDs are very similar to CD-ROMs but they can store much more data than CDs.
* DVDs have storage capacities which range from 4.7GB to 17GB.
*Typically these disks are used for full-length movies, advanced multimedia games and
interactive encyclopedias.

Semiconductor storage media

  It makes use of random access technology to access data on a storage media. Examples are RAM
and Flash Disk.

USB flash drive

- A USB flash drive consists of a small printed circuit board protected inside a plastic, metal or
rubber case.
- The USB connector is often protected by a removable cap.
- USB flash drives are small and easy to carry around. They can store large amounts of data (up
to 256GB).
- It flash drives connect to the computer through USB ports.

Memory card
- Memory card or flash memory card is a compact disk used to store digital data.
- Memory cards are typically used with digital cameras, smart phones etc.

Magnetic storage media

- Diskettes and hard drives are examples of magnetic storage media.

Hard disk
- A hard disk is constructed of rigid magnetic disks sealed in a protective case.
- Hard disks can hold very large amounts of data e.g. (300GB, 500GB and even 1TB).
- Most hard disks, referred to as internal hard disks, are fixed inside the computer.
- There are also external hard disks which connect to the computer through USB ports (small
rectangular slots in the computer).
- External hard disks can be carried around easily.

Magnetic Tapes

- Magnetic tapes look similar to audio cassettes.

- They are mostly used for backups or archives (tertiary storage).
- They can range in capacity from a few megabytes to upwards of 800 GB compressed.
- Magnetic tapes are used for large computers like mainframe computers where large
volume of data is stored for a longer time.
- It similar to cassette tape recorder.
- Magnetic tapes are not expensive.
 Fig. 2.3 Magnetic Tape

Advantages of Magnetic Tape:

 Compact: Data are stored much more compactly on tape.

 Economical: The cost of storing characters is very less as compared to other storage
devices.
 Fast: Copying of data is easier and fast.
 Long term Storage and Re-usability: Magnetic tapes can be used for long term storage
and a tape can be used repeatedly without loss of data.

Floppy diskettes

- Floppy diskettes are used to transfer small amounts of data between computers.
- Before data is stored on a floppy diskette, the diskette needs to be formatted.

Access mechanisms on secondary storage

- There two mechanisms used to access data stored on a storage medium are referred to as
sequential and direct access storage.
1. Sequential access storage
- A storage technology that is read or write in a serial (one after the other) fashion.
- Magnetic tapes are examples of sequential storage medium.
2. Direct access storage
- This is any secondary storage device which has relatively low access time for all its capacity.
- The direct access storage use the random access technology which is not the case in tape
drives.

Storage hierarchy
- As we go upwards on the storage hierarchy pyramid there is a decrease in access time due to
low capacity.
- As we go downwards there is an increase in capacity.

Increa
se in Cache Decre
capaci Memory ase in
ty Primary Storage access
time
Secondary Storage
HOMEWORK

1. State any three differences between primary storage and secondary storage.
2. Give any 5 examples of secondary storage devices
3. What are the advantages of magnetic tapes over flash sticks
4. On each of the following access methods, give at least two examples of storage media that can
be used
i. Sequential
ii. Random
The central processing unit

 This is the heart which is responsible for all the processes that take place in the
computer.
 It controls the processing and functioning of the computer, therefore it is the one
which carries out the instructions of a computer program, interprets and process
data.
 All the other components of the computer are connected through buses
 It may be linked to the central nervous system of an animal
 The type of processor determines the speed and effiency of the computer
 Generally the higher the processor model number the faster the processor
 The CPU is composed of the Control Unit (CU), Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and the
Main Memory.
 The CU and the ALU are mounted on a silicon chip called a microprocessor.

THE CONTROL UNIT

 Control unit is responsible for supervising operations of the processor.

 It controls the input and output devices.
 It also controls the loading and storage of data to and from the memory
 It is the one which controls the flow of information between the main memory and
the ALU
 It does the fetch and execute job that is retrieving instruction from memory and
executing them accordingly
 The control unit is driven by the clock pause, the rate of the clock already affect the
processor`s speed and it is measuring mega etch.

ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT

 As name states, it is responsible for all mathematical operations

 It receives data from control unit and performs either arithmetic operation ( +,-,:,x)
or logic operation (making a comparison and taking an action bases one result) for
example a=2 and else begins this example show that
 If a=2 the program should and if not equal to 2 it should start the operation again.

MAIN MEMORY

 It refers to a group of chips inside the processing unit where data is held
temporarily whilst processing takes place.
 It is also known as the main store or the Primary storage.
 It is used for storage of instructions waiting to be obeyed by the computer. It is also
used to store programs currently being processed.
 It consists of the Read Only Memory (ROM) and the Random Access Memory (RAM).

Processor speed
  The speed of the processor is measured in megahertz (MHz) which means million
circles of instructions every second
 The speed of the computer given by the clock of the computer which sends timed
electrical signals every second and provides processor`s heartbeat.
 The speed of the processor is determined by the clock speed for each
microprocessor.

INPUT DEVICES:

 Input devices are parts of the computer used to send data and instructions to the
computer
 There are many input devices the most common one is the keyboard and the mouse
 Other egs are input devices keyboard, mouse, track ball, joystick, light pen, touch
screen, modem, scanner, microphone, bar code reader, digital camera, video,
digitizer, magnetic ink character recognition (MICR), magnet strips or stripes

Keyboard:

 This is a human touch input device which mean it need a human hand to press the
key entering data
 It mostly captures text data
 There are four generally area of the keyboard : these are function keys labeled F1-
F12, the type writer in qwerty format , the numeric key pad located on far right of
the keyboard and cursor and control keys
 To use the keyboard , just press and release the keys

The mouse:

 The mouse is used for all point and click operations

 It is a powerful in today`s graphical user interface type of programs
 The mouse translates the movement of the hand to the movement of the arrow
called the mouse pointer, on the screen
 The mouse usually has a hole which rolls when the mouse is moved and this hole
causes the two shaft to rotate
 When the pointer is over the icon, the mouse buttons are clicked, double clicked, or
the mouse can be arranged to initiate an action

Track ball:

 It is commonly used instead of a mouse m laptop and notebook computers

 The main part of his device is a ball built into the keyboard
 The ball has the same function as the ball built into the bottom of the mouse
 When you turn the ball the pointer moves

Joystick

 The cursor movement on the screen is controlled by a vertical stick (hence the name
joy stick)
 In some variation
Scanner

 This is used to capture graphical image data

 The are two types of scenarios the hand and the table or flatbed scanner
 When you want to copy a printed picture into the computer you need a scanner to
capture it
 The hand scanner is pulled the handle manually , whereas table scanner
photocopier , and automatic pulls sensors over image

Light pen
 This is a device the size of a normal pen with a light at its end the light pen is
connected to the computer by code
 The user touches the point of the light pen on the screen of a special pad then make
writing or drawing motion
 This is most used by artists or designers

Touch pad
 This also allows the user to sketch a design
 This is a pad that a user can write on using pen like structure known as stylus
 All the movement made on the pad by the stylus are trans located into writing or
drawing on the screen , because the pad is sensitive to the position of the stylus and
the stylus is sensitive to to the pressure applied by the user

Touch screen
 This device works in a similar way to the light pen
 Signals are sent whenever the user touches any position on the screen , to execute a
particular instruction a finger or pen can be used as with map kiosks in shopping
centers pen based computers respectively
 Touch screens are easy to use so we call them user friendly
 They are usually found in public places some ATMs use them

Microphone

 It is an input device that translates sound into electric current , which the computer
will then digitalize
 Initially this was designed as special device for the hand capped and required
special software
 however more and more voice recognition software is becoming available allowing
user to speak text rather than type it
 voice recognition applications usually have to be trained to understand different
voices
 microphones are becoming increasingly important as internet tools and voice over
protocol is allowing verbal conversations and voice messaging across computer
networks
 computers that are equipped with microphone , sound card speaker can be used for
telephone network switching and this is becoming increasingly important in large
co-centers

Bar code reader

 this device works in a similar way as the hand held scanner but in this case it reads
a series of bars to identify an item or product
 in a shop it gives a fast and reliable service to both the sales person and the
customer
 when the bar code is swiped past the reader the computers a able to identify the
item and look up the price in the shop in the data base
 bar code readers are also used in large warehouses and courier companies like DHL
they are used to track the movement of parcels

Digital camera
 this is a special device used to capture images in digital instead of storing the image
like a convection camera on a film for subsequent chemical development
 it stores images on a floppy disk or in computer chip
 these are later downloaded on to computer for printing and editing
 the major advantages of digital pictures they can be Attached to email , and hence
photographers in distance areas can copy quick and easy
 the other advantages are that floppy disks or chips can be reused whereas normal
photographic can not
 it also has powerful tools available for editing and enhancing the pictures
 the digital camera can also take short video clips that can be used for multimedia
projects

Web Camera

Graphic Tablet

Video digitizer
 this is a special device used to display video signals from a video camera or video
recorder in a window on a computer screen
 still images can also be captured
 this is usually used by video editors because it allows to select the best part of a tape
 once the video sequences are on the screen they can stored onto the hard disk as
video clip , but remember if they are not properly compressed they can take space
 Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)

 This is mostly used by bank cheques

 The numbers printed on the bottom of the cheque have got magnetic particles in
them
 These can be quickly and easily read by a computer
 This input device is very reliable since even if someone scribbles the numbers with a
pen the data can still be read and entered into the computer for processing

OCR

OMR

Magnetic strips

 They are thin strips of magnetic tape found on most credit or debit and on the key
cards of some hotels
 When the card is used , data is read and processed information is displayed on the
screen for example good morning A. Banda! Almost everyone is used to these cards
each and every day if you have a bank card just check for the strip but don’t scratch
it
 The magnetic strips are used at money dispenser machines popularly known as
(ATM) automatic teller machine
 Most magnetic strips are used to merely identify the card holder
 However some applications both read and write on the magnetic strips

Remote Control

Sensors

Touch Screen

 Touch screen monitors are used for input as well as output.

 A touch screen is a special type of visual display unit.
 It has a grid of light beams or fine wires on the screen.
 It lets the user to interact with a computer by the touch of a finger rather
than typing on a keyboard or moving a mouse.
 The user enters data by touching icons or menus identified on the screen.
 Most touch screen computers use sensors to detect touch of a finger.
 Touch screen is well suited for simple applications like ATM.
 It has also become common in department stores and supermarkets.

Numeric Keypad
OUTPUT DEVICES

 These are devices that display or output work which has been done by the computer
in form readable to users
 These include :monitor printer plotter speaker

Monitor

 This is also called the screen or VDU , it’s the main way of getting the processed data
out of the computer
 monitors come in different shapes and sizes
 The most common size is the 14-inch monitor and the size of the monitor is
measured diagonally
 Although they come in different capabilities in terms of colour output their
functions are still the same - to display information to the user
 The normal PC monitor uses a cathode ray tube (CRT) which contains an electron
gun
 This shoots stream of electrons onto the screen coated with a phosphorescent
substance
 There are control buttons on the monitor that user can use to adjust the size
brightness and the position area of the display area
 The is also a power button to turn n and off the computer
 There is a light next to the power button to indicate the status of the monitor
whether its on or off
 Switching off the monitor will not affect your information
 Whenever you switch off your computer remember to switch off the monitor
 The C.P.U can run continuously for days because it has got an inbuilt fan but the
monitor need to be switched off because off the absence of the inbuilt fan it can
become hot after sometime

Types of Monitors
Liquid Crystal Display
 Liquid crystal display screen contains a substance called liquid crystal. The
molecules of this substance line up in such a way that the light behind the screens
blocked or allowed to create an image.
 This is another type of screen that does not consume as much power as the normal
(PC) personal computer monitors
 They are used in notebooks and lap top computers
 Some digital watches and calculators also use this type of display

Gas plasma Display

 Gas plasma display uses gas plasma technology.
 This technology uses a layer of gas between two glass plates.
 The gas release ultraviolet light when voltage is applied. The pixels on the screen
glow due to this ultraviolet light and form an image. Plasma display is available in
the sizes of upto 150 inches wide. It provides richer colors than LCD monitors but
are more expensive. That is why, it is not commonly used. It provides higher display
quality. This type of monitor can hand directly on a wall.

Touch Screen Monitors

 Touch screen monitors are used for input as well as output. A touch screen is a
special type of visual display unit. It has a grid of light beams or fine wires on the
screen. It lets the user to interact with a computer by the touch of a finger rather
than typing on a keyboard or moving a mouse. The user enters data by touching
icons or menus identified on the screen.
 Most touch screen computers use sensors to detect touch of a finger. Touch screen is
well suited for simple applications like ATM. It has also become common in
department stores and supermarkets.

Light emmiting diodes (LED)

 These are small electronic components that emit light when a voltage is passed
through them
 They are 3-10mm in diameter
 They normally display hard disk and network activities and are also used to monitor
the logic state of some control applications that is on and off

TFT

HD

Printers
 Printers produce hard copies on permanent materials
 It is called hard copy because it is tangible cannot easily change
 There are two categories of printers impact and non-impact printers
  The dot matrix is an example of an impact printer because it uses tiny dots to
produce letters and graphics
 They make a lot of noise and are slow
 Some example of dot matrix printers are the Epson LX300 Epson LXX780 and
citizen product 24
 Ink jet printers are an example of a non-impact printer because they use nozzles to
spray characters on the page
 They are between the dot matrix and the laser printers in terms of speed and
quality
 Some examples are canon us BTC 620 , HP 610C , HPS 590C , Epson stylus colour
800 and HP 859c

LASER jet printers

 LASER jet printers use the principle of a photocopier and use a laser beam to beam
to print character on a page
 They are faster and more expensive
 They are also an examples of a non-impact printer
 High quality text and graphics are produced
 Some examples are H.P laser jet (100 , laser jet 2100 , HP laser jet 4L , HP Laser jet
5L and the Epson EPL 5700
 Printer installed in computers
 Click to the start button
 Print to setting
 Click on printers
 The window will appear with icons of installed printers

DESK jet printers

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Braille Printers

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Plotters :
 Plotters are used in scientific and engineering section for drawing building plans ,
machines and parts
 Plotters can take A3 and A2 paper and come in different sizes and types
 Some of them are as big as a small classroom
 Plotters use precions motor controlled by a computer
 These motors move an arm arrow the paper in the “x” direction and a pen unit up
and down the arm in the “x” direction will not an electric-magnetic lift and drops the
pen on the paper , by so doing drawing the plotting an object according to
construction
 Speakers

 Computer with sound cards are able to translate digital sounds in audible signals via
speakers

Projectors

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STORAGE DEVICES

 These are parts of the computer that are used to store/keep data permanently for
later use.
 Storage media is grouped into Primary storage and Secondary storage.

Types of memory

 There are two types of memory primary and secondary memory

 Primary memory is also known as internal or main memory
 Secondary memory is held on the hard disk and is used when there is insufficient
primary memory to hold all the data or instructions (program)
 Primary memory is made up of semi-conductor memory chips found in CPU on the
mother board. there two types of primary memory that is RAM and ROM with ROM
other versions such as PROM ,EPROM and EAROM

Units of Measurement

PRIMARY STORAGE.

 It is also refered as the main memory or main store.

 Main memory is grouped into RAM and ROM.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)

 It is a memory chip inside the CPU casing used to store data and programs
temporarily during processing.
 The uses of RAM are to store programs currently running on the computer and it
acts as a working area for data and programs.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY RAM

 This is the section of memory that is used to store data that is currently in use and
it is the memory that is immediately accessible to the user without the delays
associated with input , output operations involving disk drive
 This type of memory enhances the speed of the computer
 The computer cannot function without RAM. All the data is transferred from the
hard disk to the RAM before being displayed on the screen or stored on the hard
disk. When you open a program all the instructions a computer need in order to
run the program are read into the RAM
 Since ram is volatile as soon as the power is turned off all information is lost so
when you switch on your computer you will have to retype your letter.

Characteristics of RAM

 It is volatile. It means that it loses its contents when power is switched off.
 It stores data temporarily
 The size of the RAM affects the speed of the operation of a computer. The bigger the
RAM size the faster the processor.

Dynamic RAM

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Static RAM

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READ ONLY MEMORY. (ROM)

 It is a memory whose contents can only be read from and cannot be erased or
edited.
 ROM contents are fixed during manufacturing, that is, they are hard wired.
 The uses of ROM are to store the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) of the
computer. It stores computer programs for the operation of the computer and its
peripherals.
 ROM is grouped into:
i. Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM)-this is a ROM chip whose contents
can be changed but only once.
ii. Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM)- this is a ROM whose
contents can be erased and modified several times.
iii. Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory (EEPROM)- this is a Read Only
Memory whose contents can be erased and modified several times using
electricity.

Secondary Storage.

Keeping information for later use is one of most important risks when one is operating
a computer. The following devices are used for storing information for later use.

 Hard Disk
 Floppy disks
  CDs (CDR, CDRW)
 DVDs (DVDRW, DVDR)
 Memory sticks
 Blu-ray disc
 Magnetic tapes
 Memory cards
 Flash sticks
 Cloud storage

Hard Disk/Hard Drive

 The hard disk is the most common form of secondary storage

 The hard disc is found in the central processing unit , commonly known as CPU and
cannot be removed by the user it is usually refered to as Drive {and when
partitioned , the other partition may be called drive D .Hard DISK differ in size from
20MB to 160GB the common hard disc range these days start from 6,4GB
 The hard disk has operating system , the basic software your computer requires for
it to be functional ,It will also had other programs applications such as your word
processing programs, Data and information are stored magnetically on the surface
of a flat circuital plate that rotates at a very high speed of about 60revolution per
minute
 He hard disk also contains the disk reads which read and write information onto a
disk
 They are a type of direct access storage device since each sector containing data can
be addressed directly and because of this access is extremely fast. APC may have
more than one had disk

Floppy/stiff disc

 These are removable part of secondary storage. They are used with floppy devices
and these are 2 types of floppy disk, the 3, 5 inch and the 5, 25 inch. The 5, 25 inch
disk is virtually discrete and new computers are being manufactures without this
drive. The 3,5 inch diskette is more robust , physically smaller and can hold more
information that the 5,25inch floppy. When both devices the 3,5 inch is usually
called drive

Advantage of floppy diskette

 They are cheaper than hard disk and CD-ROMS

 They are potable hence used to transfer data or information from one computer
 They offer direct access and they are faster than magnetic tapes

Disadvantage of floppy diskette

 They are prone to viruses

 They are difficult to handle
 They can easily be computer
  They have a relatively short life span
 They hold relatively small amount of data
 They are not always 100% reliable

Magnetic tapes:

 These are the same as those used by radio or tape recorders

 Data or information is stored on a tape in a sequential way in books separated by
interlock gapes .The tape drives have magnetic moves .Usually the tape drives is
essential and is connected to the computer by a cable

Advantage of using magnetic tape

 They are relatively cheap

 Used for back up purposes and can take a copy of hard disk
 They are reusable i.e they can be over written
 Can be used in any environment
 Easier to handle than multiply floppy disk when up large files

Disadvantages of using magnetic tapes

 Data access is very slow since it is sequential

 It is expensive to buy the drive

Compact disk

 These are the common means of distributing software to PCs

 They look exactly like music CDs hat are played in your radio
 They store large amounts of information up to 650mb which is equivalent to
325000 pages in the form of text ,sounds ,still images ,animation and video clips .a
laser beam reads the information ,CDs can be found in four different forms that is
CD-ROMs ,CD-Rs ,CD-RWs and finally DVDs

CD-ROMs

 These are the common means of distribution of software to PCs

 These letters stand for compact disk – read only memory which means you can
only read but cannot change anything either by deleting or adding new information
.although it is a storage device it cannot be considered a lacking store source the
user cannot write on it
  They are used to distribute programs such as encyclopedias dictionaries ,bibles ,
multimedia programs , educational programs , and games

CD-Rs

 These are blank CDs that the user writes on once only using a CD writer which can
be either internal or external

CD-RWs

 These are rewritable which means the user can read and write many times on it
using a hard disk

DVDs

 Digital Video Disks use the same principles as CD-ROMS but store more
information on both sides and can take up to 17 gigabytes. DVDs are becoming
widely used for distribution of films and video materials. they appeared in 1996
with the concern of videos on CDs. To play DVDs you must have a DVD or a PLAYER
(which is also able to play CD-ROMS)

Zip or flip disks

 These are like a floppy diskette but with an external zip drive
 They used for data back up and can take up to 120mb. their advantage is that they
are disconnected and stored in a different site from the computer ,so they are ideal
remote site back ups