WHAT IS COMPUTER OVERVIEW |FULL DETAIL, ITS EXTRA KNOWLEDGE

Computer Overview

Introduction Today’s world is an information-rich world and it has become a necessity for everyone to know about computers. purpose of this chapter is to introduce you about computer system and its fundamentals.

Functionalities of a computer
Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross terms:

• Take data as input.
• Stores the data/instructions in its memory and can use it when required.
• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
• Outputs the information.
• Controls all the above four steps.

Input- Process- Output

Definition

Computer is man- made electronic device which processes the user’s data very quickly as per the user’s instructions to produce useful results.

Advantage of computer system

The following list demonstrates the advantages of computer in today’s arena.

High speed:

• Computer is a very fast working device.
• It is capable of calculating large data.
• The computer can process data with its speed in microsecond, nanosecond and even the picosecond.
• It can perform millions of calculations in few seconds as compared to man, who can spend many months for doing the same task.

storage capability

• Memory is a very important characteristic of computer.
• The computer has much more storage capacity than human beings.
• It can store large amount of data.
• It can store any type of data such as image, video, text , audio and any other types.

Accuracy

• In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.
• The computer perform calculations 100% error-free.
• Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy.

Diligence

• Unlike human being, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness and lack of concentration.
• It can work continuously without creating any error and boredom.
• It can do repeated work with same speed and accuracy.

Versatility

• A computer is a very versatile machine.
• A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done.
• This machine can be used to solve the problem relating to various different fields.
• At one instant, it may be be solving a complex scientific problem and the very next moment it may be playing a card game.

Reliability

• A computer is a reliable machine.
• Modern electronic components have failure-free long lives.
• computers are designed to make maintenance easy.

Automation

• Computer is an automatic machine.
• Automation means ability to perform the task automatically.
• Once a program is given to computer, i.e., stored in computer memory, the program and instruction can control the program execution without human interaction.

Reduction in paper work

• The use of computers for data processing in an organization lead to reduction in paper work and speeds up the process.
• As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required. the problem of maintenance of large number of files gets reduce.

Reduction in cost

Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high but it substantially reduces the cost of each of its transaction.

Disadvantages of computer system

The following list demonstrates the disadvantage of computer in today’s arena.
No I.Q.

• A computer is a machine and has no intelligence of its own to perform any task.
• Each and every instruction has to be given to the computer.
• A computer cannot take any decision on its own.

Dependency

• It can perform function as instructed by user, so it is fully dependent on human being.

Environment

• The environment of computer should be dust free and suitable to it.

No feelings

• Computer has no feelings or emotions.
• It cannot make judgement based on feeling taste, experience and knowledge unlike a human being.

Inside the system unit
All of you know that a computer is made up of an input unit, a processing unit (also called system unit) and an output unit. the processing unit is responsible unit is responsible for all the work done by a computer.

central processing unit (CPU)
The CPU is a chip inside the system unit. it is responsible for all the computations inside the computer. it further consists of two components:

Arithmetic logical unit (ALU)
the major operations performed by the ALU are addition, Subtraction, multiplication , division, logic (True/False) and comparison.

Control Unit (CU)
A control unit is the part of a CPU that directs its operations. it controls the actions of the other components so that instructions are executed in the correct sequence.

The motherboard
The motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer. it house a variety of microchips, sockets and electronic components, it plays an integral part in connecting all parts of a computer.

Now you know
The motherboard can easily be compared to compared to a human body’s nervous system. the wires (nerves) in it transfer data to all other components.

Memory of computer

A computer has a memory to remember and store the work done on it.
The main memory of a computer is in the form of chips which are fixed on the motherboard.
The computer memory is on two types:

• Primary memory
• Secondary memory

Primary memory
Primary memory of a computer is made of microchips. it is of the following types:

• Random Access Memory(RAM)
• Read Only Memory(ROM)

Random Access Memory(RAM)

Random Access Memory(RAM) holds the data, programs and results temporarily while you are working on the computer.
The contents of the RAM get erased when the computer is switched off.
So, it is called volatile memory.

Now You Know
More the RAM, faster the data will be processed. So while buying a new computer, make sure that it has sufficient RAM in it.

Read Only Memory(ROM)

Every computer comes with a ROM which help the computer to know what to do when it boots up, like checking the hardware attached and loading the operating system in the memory.

Now You Know
The process of starting up a computer is called ‘booting’. this process includes initializing all hardware components attached in your computer and loading of operating system which make your computer operational.

Secondary memory

Secondary memory consists of storage devices which are used to store the work done on the computer. these storage devices are the hard disk, the floppy disk, the Compact Disc(CD), the Digital Versatile Disc(DVD) and the pen drive.

Now You Know
There are two types od CDs available, which are CD-Recordable(CD-R) and CD-Re Writable (CD-RW). on a CD-R, you cannot delete the recorded data, but can keep on adding data on it till it becomes full. on a CD-RW, data can be erased and rewritten easily.

Measuring Memory Capacity

Since, in a computer all signals are in an electrical form, they can be either ON or OFF. where ‘1’ represent ON, and ‘0’ represent OFF. So, we can say that the computer understands the language of ‘0’s and ‘1’ only. any computer instruction or content which you enter in the computer is first translated into 0’s and 1’s format, and then processed or stored.

Binary Digits

A computer understand only ‘the binary language’ which consists of binary digits.

• 0 and 1 are called binary digits.
• The language consisting of these binary digits is called binary language.
• Each 0 and 1 is called a bit, which is the smallest unit to measure the memory.

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