Basic 101

Basic Computer Terms and

Definitions
 Computer
• A computer is a computing device that is similar to
an automated abacus that can execute a program,
that is, a sequence of automatic instructions.
• One of the most brilliant inventions of mankind.
Thanks to the computer technology, we were able
to achieve storage and processing of huge amounts
of data; we could rest our brains by employing
computer memory capacities for storing
information. Due to computers, we have been able
to speed up daily work, carry out critical
transactions and achieve accuracy and precision in
work.
What are the Different Types of
Computers?
• Based on the operational principle of
computers, they are categorized as
analog, digital and hybrid computers.
 Analog Computers:
• These are almost extinct today. These are
different from a digital computer
because an analog computer can
perform several mathematical operations
simultaneously. It uses continuous
variables for mathematical operations
and utilizes mechanical or electrical
energy.
Samples of Analog Computers
 Digital Computers
• They use digital circuits and are designed to operate on
two states, namely bits 0 and 1. They are analogous to
states ON and OFF. Data on these computers is
represented as a series of 0s and 1s. Digital computers
are suitable for complex computation and have higher
processing speeds. They are programmable. Digital
computers are either general purpose computers or
special purpose ones. General purpose computers, as
their name suggests, are designed for specific types of
data processing while general purpose computers are
meant for general use.
Sample of Digital Computers
 Hybrid Computers
• These computers are a combination of both
digital and analog computers. In this type of
computers, the digital segments perform
process control by conversion of analog
signals to digital ones.
Samples of Hybrid Computers
 • This was the classification of computers
based on their style of functioning. Following
is a classification of the different types of
computers based on their sizes and
processing powers.
 Mainframe Computers
• Large organizations use mainframes for highly
critical applications such as bulk data
processing and ERP. Most of the mainframe
computers have capacities to host multiple
operating systems and operate as a number of
virtual machines and can substitute for several
small servers.
Sample of Mainframe Computers
 Microcomputers
• A computer with a microprocessor and its central
processing unit is known as a microcomputer. They do
not occupy space as much as mainframes do. When
supplemented with a keyboard and a mouse,
microcomputers can be called personal computers. A
monitor, a keyboard and other similar input-output
devices, computer memory in the form of RAM and a
power supply unit come packaged in a microcomputer.
These computers can fit on desks or tables and prove
to be the best choice for single-user tasks.
 Microcomputer
• Personal computers come in different forms
such as desktops, laptops and personal digital
assistants. Let us look at each of these types of
computers.
 Desktops
• A desktop is intended to be used on a single
location. The spare parts of a desktop
computer are readily available at relatively
lower costs. Power consumption is not as
critical as that in laptops. Desktops are widely
popular for daily use in the workplace and
households.
Desktops
 Laptops
• Similar in operation to desktops, laptop
computers are miniaturized and optimized for
mobile use. Laptops run on a single battery or
an external adapter that charges the
computer batteries. They are enabled with an
inbuilt keyboard, touch pad acting as a mouse
and a liquid crystal display. Its portability and
capacity to operate on battery power have
proven to be of great help to mobile users.
Laptops
 Netbooks
• They fall in the category of laptops, but are
inexpensive and relatively smaller in size. They
had a smaller feature set and lesser capacities
in comparison to regular laptops, at the time
they came into the market. But with passing
time, netbooks too began featuring almost
everything that notebooks had. By the end of
2008, netbooks had begun to overtake
notebooks in terms of market share and sales.
Netbooks
 Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• It is a handheld computer and popularly
known as a palmtop. It has a touch screen and
a memory card for storage of data. PDAs can
also be used as portable audio players, web
browsers and smartphones. Most of them can
access the Internet by means of Bluetooth or
Wi-Fi communication.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
 Minicomputers
• In terms of size and processing capacity,
minicomputers lie in between mainframes and
microcomputers. Minicomputers are also called mid-
range systems or workstations. The term began to be
popularly used in the 1960s to refer to relatively
smaller third generation computers. They took up the
space that would be needed for a refrigerator or two
and used transistor and core memory technologies.
The 12-bit PDP-8 minicomputer of the Digital
Equipment Corporation was the first successful
minicomputer.
Minicomputers
 Servers
• They are computers designed to provide services
to client machines in a computer network. They
have larger storage capacities and powerful
processors. Running on them are programs that
serve client requests and allocate resources like
memory and time to client machines. Usually
they are very large in size, as they have large
processors and many hard drives. They are
designed to be fail-safe and resistant to crash
Servers
 Supercomputers
• The highly calculation-intensive tasks can be
effectively performed by means of
supercomputers. Quantum physics, mechanics,
weather forecasting, molecular theory are best
studied by means of supercomputers. Their
ability of parallel processing and their well-
designed memory hierarchy give the
supercomputers, large transaction processing
powers.
Supercomputers
 Wearable Computers
• A record-setting step in the evolution of computers was
the creation of wearable computers. These computers
can be worn on the body and are often used in the study
of behavior modeling and human health. Military and
health professionals have incorporated wearable
computers into their daily routine, as a part of such
studies. When the users' hands and sensory organs are
engaged in other activities, wearable computers are of
great help in tracking human actions. Wearable
computers do not have to be turned on and off and
remain in operation without user intervention.
Wearable Computers
 Tablet Computers
• Tablets are mobile computers that are very
handy to use. They use the touch screen
technology. Tablets come with an onscreen
keyboard or use a stylus or a digital pen.
Apple's iPad redefined the class of tablet
computers.
Tablet Computers
 Name and give the basic features and
functions of each computer.
2.
1. 3.

4. 5.
6.

7. 8.
 These were some of the different types of
computers used today. Looking at the rate of
advancement in technology, we can definitely
look forward to many more types of computers
in the near future.
COMPUTER SYSTEM, DEVICES AND
PERIPHERALS
 OPERATING SYSTEM
-The operating system is the most important
program that runs on a computer. Every general-
purpose computer must have an operating
system to run other programs.
Hardware
 Peripherals
• The peripherals are the input devices that are
connected to the machines. The keyboard,
mouse and printer are computer peripherals.
Some peripherals are important for the
working of the machine and some are added
components, without which one can work on
the computer.
Peripherals
 Types of Monitor
• A cathode ray tube or CRT
is traditionally used in most computer monitors and the
advent of plasma screens, LCD, DLP, OLED displays, and other
technologies. As a result of CRT technology, computer
monitors continue to be referred to as "The Tube". A CRT
works by moving an electron beam back and forth across the
back of the screen. Each time the beam makes a pass across
the screen, it lights up phosphor dots on the inside of the
glass tube, thereby illuminating the active portions of the
screen. By drawing many such lines from the top to the
bottom of the screen, it creates an entire screenful of images.
 Monitor
• The computer monitor is defined as the
computer screen or display unit. The monitor
helps in displaying the user interface and
programs. It is a way for the user to interact
with the computer, using the keyboard and
mouse.
A cathode ray tube or CRT
 A Liquid crystal display (LCD)
• is a thin, flat display device made up of any
number of color or monochrome pixels
arrayed in front of a light source or reflector. It
uses very small amounts of electric power, and
is therefore suitable for use in battery-
powered electronic devices.
A Liquid crystal display (LCD)
 A plasma display
• is an emissive flat panel display where light is
created by phosphors excited by a plasma
discharge between two flat panels of glass. The
gas discharge contains no mercury a mixture of
noble gases (neon and xenon) is used instead. This
gas mixture is inert and entirely harmless.
• The glass panels seem to be vacuum sealed,
because when they are broken the plasma breaks
up, seemingly from the addition of air to the
space.
A plasma display
Surface-conduction electron-emitter display
(SED)
• is a flat-panel, high-resolution display. Some SEDs have a
diagonal measurement exceeding one meter
(approximately 40 inches).
The SED consists of an array of electron emitters and a layer
of phosphor, separated by a small space from which all the
air has been evacuated. Each electron emitter represents
one pixel. The SED requires no electron-beam focusing, and
operates at a much lower voltage than a CRT. The
brightness and contrast compare favorably with high-end
CRTs. Prototype electron emitters have been developed
with diameters of a few nanometers. SED technology can
offer unprecedented image resolution.
Surface-conduction electron-emitter display
(SED)
 Digital Light Processing (DLP)
• is a technology used in projectors and video projectors.
In DLP projectors, the image is created by
microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a
semiconductor chip, known as a Digital Micromirror
Device (DMD). Each mirror represents one pixel in the
projected image. The number of mirrors corresponds to
the resolution of the projected image: 800x600,
1024x768, 1280x720, and 1920x1080 (HDTV) matrices
are some common DMD sizes. These mirrors can be
repositioned rapidly to reflect light either through the
lens or on to a heat sink.
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
• is a thin-film light-emitting diode(LED) in which the emissive
layer is an organic compound OLED technology is intended
primarily as picture elements in practical display devices. These
devices promise to be much less costly to fabricate than
traditional LCD displays. When the emissive electroluminescent
layer is polymeric, varying amounts of OLEDs can be deposited
in rows and columns on a screen using simple "printing"
methods to create a graphical color display, for use as
computer displays, portable system screens, and in advertising
and information board applications. OLED may also be used in
lighting devices. OLEDs are available as distributed sources
while the inorganic LEDs are point sources of light.
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
 Mouse
• Do not be baffled, a computer mouse is a
hand-held device that helps the user move
across the flat surface and help control the
pointer on the screen. It is a very accessible
device, as it helps one move faster across the
screen and perform many tasks quickly.
 Keyboard
• The computer keyboard is the peripheral unit of the
computer that helps in typing in the words and
numbers along with the symbols and thus
communicate with computer. In other words, it is the
way, how you can feed in information that needs to
processed into your computer.
 RAM
• Random Access Memory or RAM is the
temporary storage space in the computer that
helps place information so that is can execute
the program and instructions given. Once a
program is closed, the data is removed from
RAM. The amount of RAM helps in
determining the number of programs that can
be run.
RAM
 1.1 HARDWARE
The physical, touchable,
electronic and mechanical
parts of a computer system.
MAJOR HARDWARE
COMPONENTS OF A
COMPUTER SYSTEM
 SYSTEM UNIT
The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes
called the chassis. It includes the following parts:
Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory Chips,
Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and Cards.
 2. MOTHERBOARD / MAINBOARD /
SYSTEM BOARD
The main circuit board of a computer. It contains
all the circuits and components that run the
computer.
3. CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)
The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a
computer system. It performs all of the instructions
and calculations that are needed and manages the flow
of information through a computer.
 PRIMARY STORAGE
(internal storage, main memory or memory) is the computer's
working storage space that holds data, instructions for
processing and processed data (information) waiting to be
sent to secondary storage. Physically, primary storage is a
collection of RAM chips.
 5. EXPANSION BUS
A bus is a data pathway between several hardware
components inside or outside a computer. It does not
only connect the parts of the CPU to each other, but
also links the CPU with other important hardware.
 6. ADAPTERS
Printed-circuit boards (also called interface cards)
that enable the computer to use a peripheral device
for which it does not have the necessary connections
or circuit boards. They are often used to permit
upgrading to a new different hardware.
B. INPUT DEVICES
Accepts data and instructions
from the user or from another
computer system.
TWO (2) TYPES OF INPUT DEVICES
 1. KEYBOARD ENTRY

Data is inputted to the computer

through a keyboard.
 KEYBOARD
The first input device developed for the PC. Data is
transferred to the PC over a short cable with a circular
6-pin Mini-din connector that plugs into the back of
the motherboard.
 2. Direct Entry
A form of input that does not require data to be
keyed by someone sitting at a keyboard. Direct-
entry devices create machine-readable data on
paper, or magnetic media, or feed it directly into
the computer’s CPU.
THREE CATEGORIES OF DIRECT ENTRY DEVICES
 1. Pointing Devices

An input device used to move the pointer

(cursor) on screen.
 MOUSE
The most common 'pointing device' used in PCs.
Every mouse has two buttons and most have one or
two scroll wheels.
 TOUCH SCREEN
A display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or
stylus. Used in myriad applications, including ATM machines,
retail point-of-sale terminals, car navigation and industrial
controls. The touch screen became wildly popular for smart
phones and tablets.
 Light Pen
A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal
used to draw pictures or select menu options.
The user brings the pen to the desired point on
screen and presses the pen button to make
contact.
 VOICE- INPUT DEVICES
Audio input devices also known as speech or voice
recognition systems that allow a user to send audio
signals to a computer for processing, recording, or
carrying out commands. Audio input devices such as
microphones allow users to speak to the computer in
order to record a voice message or navigate software.
 C. OUTPUT DEVICES
• - Any piece of computer hardware
that displays results after the
computer has processed the input
data that has been entered.
 1. Computer Display Monitor
• - It displays information in visual form, using
text and graphics. The portion of the monitor
that displays the information is called the
screen or video display terminal.
 Types of Monitor
a. CRT Monitors
Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) were the only type of
displays for use with desktop PCs. They are relatively
big (14" to 16" deep) and heavy (over 15 lbs).
 b. LCD Monitors
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology has been
used in laptops for some time. It has recently
been made commercially available as monitors
for desktop PCs.
c. LED Monitors (Light Emitting Diode) -
A display and lighting technology used in almost
every electrical and electronic product on the
market, from a tiny on/off light to digital
readouts, flashlights, traffic lights and perimeter
lighting.
 2. LCD Projectors
utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid
crystal solution between them. An electric current
passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align
so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal,
therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass
through or blocking the light.
 3. PRINTER
A device that prints text
or illustrations on paper.
 INK-JET OR BUBBLE-JET
PRINTER
sprays ink at a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers
produce high-quality text and graphics.
 Laser Printer
Uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser
printers produce very high quality text and graphics.
 LCD and LED Printer
Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid crystals or
light-emitting diodes rather than a laser to produce
an image on the drum.
 CPU
• The central processing unit or CPU, also
known as the microprocessor or processor is
the brain of the computer. It helps execute
instructions in a software program and helps
retrieve instructions from the computer's
memory, comprehending and executing
instructions and helping direct the input and
output of the computer.
CPU
 Desktop
• The computer monitor or the screen of the
computer against which, the operating system
and access application programs, files and
documents are displayed is called the desktop.
Desktop
 File
• The file is a unit for information storage that
includes word-processor, spreadsheet,
pictures, music, etc. Each file is differentiated
with the help of a unique file name.
 Folder
• The folder is a unique system
that helps in organizing the
files, topics, programs and
projects on the computer.
The similar applications in a
folder will be grouped
together when an application
program is loaded. It is
similar to organizing files on
a shelf in your cabinet.
 Program
• A program is an executable software that runs
on a computer. It contains compiled codes
that run directly from the computer's
operating system.
 Operating System
• The operating system (OS) is the
software that communicates
with the computer hardware on
the primary level. No software
can be run on the computer
without the operating system. It
serves as a user interface and
helps allocating memory,
processes tasks, accesses disks
and peripheral.
Operating System

Windows Vista

Windows 7
 Command
• A command is a series of step by step
instructions that helps the computer perform
a specific action.
 Hyperlink/s
• A hyperlink is a program that helps one move
from one web page to another. The text is
underlined and the cursor that moves over
this text document, takes the shape of a hand.
This means there is a hyperlink added to the
text and you can click on it to move over to
another page or document.
Hyperlink/s
 Software
• The instructions that are provided to the
computer with step-by-step actions that help
executing a specific task is a software. A
computer cannot function without a software.
Software/s
 Hard Drives
• A hard drive is a special disk that is usually mounted
permanently inside your computer's cabinet. You rarely
see the hard drive, and almost never take it out. Hard
drives are made of different material than floppies, and
they are physically hard (although if you touched the
actual hard surface, you would destroy it!) They spin
much more quickly than floppies, and require much
more precision. They are sealed inside a special case, and
that is sealed inside the computer case. A hard drive has
a much larger capacity than a floppy, and is much faster
at saving and retrieving information. Modern computers
 Hard Drive
• The hard drive is the region where the
information is stored and helps the computer
to permanently retain and store the data.
 Drive Controller Cards
• Most computers come with a small card
installed that helps control all your disk drives.
It is called the Drive Controller Card. You really
don't need to worry about this device very
much. There are two major kinds, IDE and SCSI.
The only time you will ever care about this is
when you buy a hard drive. Just know that the
terms IDE and SCSI (pronounced 'scuzzie') are
terms that describe the drive controller card.
 Internet
• The Internet is a world-wide
network that helps connect
millions of users around the
world to share and
exchange data, information,
opinions, etc. The Internet is
not similar to World Wide
Web (WWW). The WWW is
a service that is provided on
the Internet for the users.
 Browser
• The web browser is an application that helps
render the source code of World Wide Web or
web pages that can be used by the user. The
information is rendered in understandable
form for the user by the browser. The
Microsoft Internet Explorer is an example of
the browser.
Browser/s
 Networks
• The network is a physical or logical
construction that connects different
computers together and helps them
communicate. The computer networking is
carried out through cabling or through
wireless networking. The best example is the
Internet that helps sites to connect on
different computers.
Networks
 DVD-ROM drive and DVD-RW drive
• DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory) drives fit
into the same PC drives bays as CD-ROM or CD-RW drives. The
difference between them is that the 'x' in a CD-ROM / CD-RW
drive's speed signifies the transfer rate of 150 kbps, whereas
the 'x' in a DVD-ROM drive's speed equals roughly 1.4
megabytes per second (Mbps). Therefore, a 1x DVD-ROM
drive's run faster than an 8x CD-ROM drive.
• DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc ReWritable) drives not only
have capabilities to read the data on the CDs and DVDs but
also can write the data to the disc, i.e. CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R,
DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW. The 'x' in a DVD-ROM /DVD-
RW drive's speed equals roughly 1.4 megabytes per second.
DVD-ROM drive and DVD-RW drive
 External Hard drive
• An external hard drive sits outside the main
computer tower in its own enclosure. This
portable encasement is slightly larger than the
hard drive itself, and it sometimes contains a
cooling fan. The external hard drive is
connected to the computer via an interface
cable, which allows the external hard drive to
communicate with the computer so that data
can be passed back and forth.
External Hard drive
 USB Flash Drive
• A USB flash drive is a data storage device that includes
flash memory with an integratedUniversal Serial Bus (USB)
interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and
rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk.
Most weigh less than 30 g.[1] As of January 2012 drives of
256 GB were available, 512 GB and 1 terabytes (TB) drives
were in planning,[2][3] and storage capacities as large as 2
terabytes are planned,[4] with steady improvements in size
and price per capacity expected. Some allow up to 100,000
write/erase cycles (depending on the exact type of memory
chip used)[5] and 10 years shelf storage time.[6][7]
USB Flash Drive
External DVD/CD Writer