Study Material for Computer Basic

1. Introduction

What is Computer?

A computer is a programmable machine designed to perform arithmetic and logical

operations automatically and sequentially on the input given by the user and gives
the desired output after processing. Computer components are divided into two
major categories namely hardware and software. Hardware is the machine itself and
its connected devices such as monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. Software are the set of
programs that make use of hardware for performing various functions.

Characteristic of computer:

The characteristics of computers that have made them so powerful and universally
useful are speed, accuracy, diligence, versatility and storage capacity. Let us
discuss them briefly.

Speed
Computers work at an incredible speed. A powerful computer is capable of
performing about 3-4 million simple instructions per second.

Accuracy
In addition to being fast, computers are also accurate. Errors that may occur can
almost always be attributed to human error (inaccurate data, poorly designed
system or faulty instructions/programs written by the programmer)

Diligence
Unlike human beings, computers are highly consistent. They do not suffer from
human traits of boredom and tiredness resulting in lack of concentration. Computers,
therefore, are better than human beings in performing voluminous and repetitive
jobs.

Versatility
Computers are versatile machines and are capable of performing any task as long
as it can be broken down into a series of logical steps. The presence of computers
can be seen in almost every sphere – Railway/Air reservation, Banks, Hotels,
Weather forecasting and many more.

Storage Capacity
Today‟s computers can store large volumes of data. A piece of information once record
(or stored) in the computer, can never be forgotten and can be retrieved almost
instantaneously.
Evolution of computer
The Early years (Chinese Abacus)

The first counting device was the abacus, originally from Asia. It worked on a place-value notion
meaning that the place of a bead or rock on the apparatus determined how much it was worth.

Napier’s bones (1600s)

Napier’s bone is a manually-operated calculating device created by John Napier of Merchiston

for calculation of products and quotients of numbers.

Pascaline (1642)

Blaise Pascal invented the mechanical calculator called Pascaline. This calculating machine
could add and subtract two numbers directly and multiply and divide by repetition.

Difference Engine (1812)

Charles P. Babbage, the “father of the computer”, designed a machine, the difference engine
which would be stream-powered, fully automatic and commanded by a fixed instruction
program.

Ada Lovelace (1840s)

Ada Lovelace, world’s first computer programmer, provided the first algorithm intended to be
processed by Charles Babbage’s early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical
Engine.

She suggested that a binary system should be used for storage rather than a decimal system.

Boolean logic (1850s)

George Boole developed Boolean logic which would later be used in the design of computer
circuitry.

Hollerith’s Tabulator (1890s)

Dr. Herman Hollerith introduced the first electromechanical, punched-card data-processing

machine which was used to compile information for the 1890 U.S. census. Hollerith’s trabulator
became so successful that he started his own business to market it. His company would
eventually become International Business Machines (IBM).
Vacuum Tube (1906)

The vacuum tube is invented by American physicist Lee De Forest.

Turing Machine (1943)

British mathematician Alan Turing developed a hypothetical device, the Turing machine which
would be designed to perform logical operation and could read and write.

Harvard Mark I

Howard Aiken, in collaboration with engineers from IBM, constructed a large automatic digital
sequence-controlled computer called the Harvard Mark I. This computer could handle all four
arithmetic operations, and had special built-in programs for logarithms and trigonometric
functions.

ENIAC

The giant ENIAC (Electrical numerical Integrator and Calculator) machine was developed by
John W.Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, Jr. At the university of Pennsylvania. It used 18,000
vacuums, Punch-card input, Weighed thirty tons and occupied a thirty-by-fifty-foot space.

Basic Applications of computer:

The operating system such as Windows 7,8,10 or Linux, is the basic application of a
computer. It is a system‟s application that allows the computer and other application
software to function

1.2 Component of computer:

1.2.1 Functional Units:

a. Input Unit: This unit is used for entering data and programs into the computer
system by the user for processing.

b. Storage Unit: The storage unit is used for storing data and instructions before and
after processing.
 – – – –Dotted lines (– – – –) indicate
flow of instruction solid lines
(–––––) indicate flow of data

c. Output Unit: The output unit is used for storing the result as output produced by the
computer after processing.

d. Processing: 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. CPU includes
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control unit (CU)

Arithmetic Logic Unit: All calculations and comparisons, based on the

instructions provided, are carried out within the ALU. It performs arithmetic
functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and also logical
operations like greater than, less than and equal to etc.

Control Unit(cu): 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.

1.2.2 Memory
Computer‟s memory can be classified into two types; primary
memory and secondary memory
a. Primary Memory can be further classified as RAM and
ROM.
RAM or Random Access Memory is the unit in a computer system. It is the place
in a computer where the operating system, application programs and the data in
current use are kept temporarily so that they can be accessed by the computer‟s
processor. It is said to be „volatile‟ since its contents are accessible only as long
as the computer is on. The contents of RAM are no more available once the
computer is turned off.

ROM or Read Only Memory is a special type of memory which can only be read and
contents of which are not lost even when the computer is switched off. It typically
contains manufacturer‟s instructions. Among other things, ROM also stores an initial
program called the „bootstrap loader‟ whose function is to start the operation of
computer system once the power is turned on.

b. Secondary Memory

RAM is volatile memory having a limited storage capacity. Secondary/auxiliary memory

is storage other than the RAM. These include devices that are peripheral and are
connected and controlled by the computer to enable permanent storage of programs
and data. Secondary storage devices are of two types; magnetic and optical. Magnetic
devices include hard disks and optical storage devices are CDs, DVDs, Pen drive, Zip
drive etc.

Hard Disk

Hard disks are made up of rigid material and are usually a stack of metal disks sealed in
a box. The hard disk and the hard disk drive exist together as a unit and is a permanent
part of the computer where data and programs are saved. These disks have storage
capacities ranging from 1GB to 80 GB and more. Hard disks are rewritable.

Compact Disk

Compact Disk (CD) is portable disk having data storage capacity between 650-700 MB.
It can hold large amount of information such as music, full-motion videos, and text etc.
CDs can be either read only or read write type.

Digital Video Disk

Digital Video Disk (DVD) is similar to a CD but has larger storage capacity and
enormous clarity. Depending upon the disk type it can store several Gigabytes of data.
DVDs are primarily used to store music or movies and can be played back on your
television or the computer too. These are not rewritable.

1.2.3 Input / Output Devices:

These devices are used to enter information and instructions into a computer for
storage or processing and to deliver the processed data to a user. Input/Output devices
are required for users to communicate with the computer. In simple terms, input devices
bring information INTO the computer and output devices bring information OUT of a
computer system. These input/output devices are also known as peripherals since they
surround the CPU and memory of a computer system.

a) Input Devices

An input device is any device that provides input to a computer. There are many input
devices, but the two most common ones are a keyboard and mouse. Every key you
press on the keyboard and every movement or click you make with the mouse sends a
specific input signal to the computer.

Keyboard: The keyboard is very much like a standard typewriter keyboard with a
few additional keys. The basic QWERTY layout of characters is maintained to
make it easy to use the system. The additional keys are included to perform
certain special functions. These are known as function keys that vary in number
from keyboard to keyboard.

Mouse: A device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a display
screen. A mouse is a small object you can roll along a hard and flat surface (Fig.
1.5). Its name is derived from its shape, which looks a bit like a mouse. As you
move the mouse, the pointer on the display screen moves in the same direction.

Trackball: A trackball is an input device used to enter motion data into

computers or other electronic devices. It serves the same purpose as a mouse,
but is designed with a moveable ball on the top, which can be rolled in any
direction.

Touchpad: A touch pad is a device for pointing (controlling input positioning) on

a computer display screen. It is an alternative to the mouse. Originally
incorporated in laptop computers, touch pads are also being made for use with
desktop computers. A touch pad works by sensing the user‟s finger movement
and downward pressure.

Touch Screen: It allows the user to operate/make selections by simply touching

the display screen. A display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or
stylus. Widely used on ATM machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car
navigation systems, medical monitors and industrial control panels.
 Light Pen: Light pen is an input device that utilizes a light-sensitive detector to
select objects on a display screen.

Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR): MICR can identify character

printed with a special ink that contains particles of magnetic material. This device
particularly finds applications in banking industry.

Optical mark recognition (OMR): Optical mark recognition, also called mark
sense reader is a technology where an OMR device senses the presence or
absence of a mark, such as pencil mark. OMR is widely used in tests such as
aptitude test.

Bar code reader: Bar-code readers are photoelectric scanners that read the bar
codes or vertical zebra strips marks, printed on product containers. These
devices are generally used in super markets, bookshops etc.

Scanner: Scanner is an input device that can read text or illustration printed on
paper and translates the information into a form that the computer can use. A
scanner works by digitizing an image.

b. Output Devices:
Output device receives information from the CPU and presents it to the user in the
desired from. The processed data, stored in the memory of the computer is sent to the
output unit, which then converts it into a form that can be understood by the user. The
output is usually produced in one of the two ways – on the display device, or on paper
(hard copy).
Monitor: is often used synonymously with “computer screen” or “display.”
Monitor is an output device that resembles the television screen (fig. 1.8). It may
use a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) to display information. The monitor is associated
with a keyboard for manual input of characters and displays the information as it
is keyed in. It also displays the program or application output. Like the television,
monitors are also available in different sizes.

Printer: Printers are used to produce paper (commonly known as hardcopy)

output. Based on the technology used, they can be classified as Impact or Non-
impact printers.

 Impact printers use the typewriting printing mechanism wherein a

hammer strikes the paper through a ribbon in order to produce output.
Dot-matrix and Character printers fall under this category.
 Non-impact printers do not touch the paper while printing. They use
chemical, heat or electrical signals to fetch the symbols on paper. Inkjet,
Deskjet, Laser, Thermal printers fall under this category of printers.
 Plotter: Plotters are used to print graphical output on paper. It interprets
computer commands and makes line drawings on paper using multicoloured
automated pens. It is capable of producing graphs, drawings, charts, maps etc.

Facsimile (FAX): Facsimile machine, a device that can send or receive pictures
and text over a telephone line. Fax machines work by digitizing an image.

Sound cards and Speaker(s): An expansion board that enables a computer to

manipulate and output sounds. Sound cards are necessary for nearly all CD-
ROMs and have become commonplace on modern personal computers. Sound
cards enable the computer to output sound through speakers connected to the
board, to record sound input from a microphone connected to the computer, and
manipulate sound stored on a disk.

1.3 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Computer software is the set of programs that makes the hardware perform a set of
tasks in particular order. Hardware and software are complimentary to each other. Both
have to work together to produce meaningful results. Computer software is classified
into two broad categories; system software and application software.

1.3.1 System Software:

System software consists of a group of programs that control the operations of a

computer equipment including functions like managing memory, managing peripherals,
loading, storing, and is an interface between the application programs and the
computer. MS DOS (Microsoft‟s Disk Operating System), UNIX are examples of system
software.

1.3.2 Application software:

Software that can perform a specific task for the user, such as word processing,
accounting, budgeting or payroll, fall under the category of application software. Word
processors, spreadsheets, database management systems are all examples of general
purpose application software.

Types of application software are:

Word processing software: The main purpose of this software is to produce
documents. MS-Word, Word Pad, Notepad and some other text editors are some
of the examples of word processing software.

Database software: Database is a collection of related data. The purpose of this

software is to organize and manage data. The advantage of this software is that
 you can change the way data is stored and displayed. MS access, dBase,
FoxPro, Paradox, and Oracle are some of the examples of database software.

Spread sheet software: The spread sheet software is used to maintain budget,
financial statements, grade sheets, and sales records. The purpose of this
software is organizing numbers. It also allows the users to perform simple or
complex calculations on the numbers entered in rows and columns. MS-Excel is
one of the example of spreadsheet software.

Presentation software: This software is used to display the information in the

form of slide show. The three main functions of presentation software is editing
that allows insertion and formatting of text, including graphics in the text and
executing the slide shows. The best example for this type of application software
is Microsoft PowerPoint.

Multimedia software: Media players and real players are the examples of
multimedia software. This software will allow the user to create audio and videos.
The different forms of multimedia software are audio converters, players,
burners, video encoders and decoders.

1.3 Classification of computer:

on the basis of the usage of data (i.e., discrete or continuous) computers can be
classified as:
 Analog computer: An analog computer (spelt analogue in British English) is a
form of computer that uses continuous physical phenomena such as electrical,
mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved.

 Digital computer: A computer that performs calculations and logical operations

with quantities represented as digits, usually in the binary number system

 Hybrid computer (Analog + Digital): A combination of computers those are

capable of inputting and outputting in both digital and analog signals. A hybrid
computer system setup offers a cost effective method of performing complex
simulations

On the basis of Size: Type of Computer

Super Computer
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. For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer.
Other uses of supercomputers include 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 capable of supporting hundred, or even
thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a
simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom and moves to
supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers. 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.In size and power, minicomputers lie between
workstations and mainframes. In the past decade, the distinction between large
minicomputers and small mainframes has blurred, however, as has the distinction
between small minicomputers and workstations. But in general, a minicomputer is a
multiprocessing system capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users
simultaneously.

Micro Computer or Personal Computer

• Desktop Computer: a personal or micro-mini computer sufficient to fit on a desk.
• Laptop Computer: a portable computer complete with an integrated screen and
keyboard. It is generally smaller in size than a desktop computer and larger than a
notebook computer.
• Palmtop Computer/Digital Diary /Notebook /PDAs: a hand-sized computer.
Palmtops have no keyboard but the screen serves both as an input and output device.

1.4 Representation of data concepts and data processing

Definition of Data
Data is distinct pieces of information, usually formatted in a special way. All software
is divided into two general categories: data and programs. Programs are
collections of instructions for manipulating data.
Data can exist in a variety of forms -- as numbers or text on pieces of paper, as bits
and bytes stored in electronic memory, or as facts stored in a person's mind. Strictly
speaking, data is the plural of datum, a single piece of information. In practice,
however, people use data as both the singular and plural form of the word.
Basic data types

In programming, classification of a particular type of information, it is easy for

humans to distinguish between different types of data. We can usually tell at a
glance whether a number is a percentage, a time, or an amount of money. We do
this through special symbols -- %, :, and $ -- that indicate the data's type. Similarly, a
computer uses special internal codes to keep track of the different types of data it
processes. Most programming languages require the programmer to declare the
data type of every data object, and most database systems require the user to
specify the type of each data field. The available data types vary from one
programming language to another, and from one database application to another,
but the following usually exist in one form or another.

Integer: In more common parlance, whole number; a number that has no fractional
part.
Floating-point: A number with a decimal point. For example, 3 is an integer, but 3.5
is a floating-point number.
Character (text): Readable text

Storage of data as files:

Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, is a technology consisting

of computer components and recording media used to retain digital data. It is a core
function and fundamental component of computers. The central processing unit
(CPU) of a computer is what manipulates data by performing computations. A
modern digital computer represents data using the binary numeral system. Text,
numbers, pictures, audio, and nearly any other form of information can be converted
into a string of bits, or binary digits, each of which has a value of 1 or 0. The most
common unit of storage is the byte, equal to 8 bits.

OPERATING SYSTEM

An operating system is a software component of a computer system that is responsible

for the management of various activities of the computer and the sharing of computer
resources. It hosts several applications that run on a computer and handles the
operations of computer hardware.
Users and application programs access the services offered by the operating systems,
by means of system calls and application programming interfaces. Users interact with a
computer operating system through Command Line Interfaces (CLIs) or Graphical User
Interfaces known as GUIs.
In short, an operating system enables user interaction with computer systems by acting
as an interface between users or application programs and the computer hardware.
Some of the common operating systems are LINUX, Windows, etc.

Number system
Decimal to binary

(24)10=(11000 )2

binary to decimal

(11000)2=( 24 )10

Octal to binary
(234)

COMPUTER LANGUAGE

Computer language or programming language is a coded syntax used by computer

programmers to communicate with a computer. Computer language establishes a flow
of communication between software programs. The language enables a computer user
to dictate what commands the computer must perform to process data. These
languages can be classified into following categories .
1. Machine language
2. Assembly language
3. High level language

1. Machine Language
Machine language or machine code is the native language directly understood by the
computer‟s central processing unit or CPU. This type of computer language is not easy
to understand, as it only uses a binary system, an element of notations containing only
a series of numbers consisting of one and zero, to produce commands.

2. Assembly Level Language

Assembly Level Language is a set of codes that can run directly on the computer‟s
processor. This type of language is most appropriate in writing operating systems and
maintaining desktop applications. With the assembly level language, it is easier for a
programmer to define commands. It is easier to understand and use as compared to
machine language.
3. High Level Language
High Level Languages are user-friendly languages which are similar to English with
vocabulary of words and symbols. These are easier to learn and require less time to
write.
They are problem oriented rather than „machine‟ based.
Program written in a high-level language can be translated into many machine
languages and therefore can run on any computer for which there exists an appropriate
translator.

Compiler & Interpreter

These are the programs that execute instructions written in a high-level language. There
are two ways to run programs written in a high-level language. The most common is to
compile the program; the other method is to pass the program through an interpreter.

a. Compiler
A compiler is a special program that processes statements written in a particular
programming language called as source code and converts them into machine
language or “machine code” that a computer‟s processor uses.

b. Interpreter
An interpreter translates high-level instructions into an intermediate form, which it then
executes. Compiled programs generally run faster than interpreted programs