INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND PC SOFTWARES

UNIT- I

Computer:

(_Computers are large electronic machines that can manipulate data in the desired
way by executing a detailed set of instructions called as program. This means. a computer
is a programmable machine) It can execute a programmed list of instructions and respond
to new instructions that it is given-

The computers can be defined to be a fast and accurate electronic system that is
designed to accept, process ad output data by means of instructions.

Categories of computer :

Computer systems can be categoriz.ed according to their processing speed and

power into:

• Micro.·,m 1p111a is a computer that can perfonn all of its input. proces~ . output
and storage activities by itself.

• Mi11iw111p11tl!r is often used in situations where a microcomputer is not

powerful enough but a mainframe is too expensive.

• M11i11/r11111l! is a large. expensive. but powerful computer that can handle

hundreds or thousands of connected users at the same time.

• S11perco111p11tl!r is the fastest. most po\\erful. and most expensiYe computer

used for applications that require complex and sophisticated mathematical
calculations.
Computer hardware components:

The computer architecture may also be defined as the science and art of
selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet
functional , performance and cost goals.

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I. Monitor 6. Power supply unit

2. Motherboard 7. Optical disc drive
3. CPU (Micro processor) 8. Hard disk drive
4. RAM (Main memory) 9. Keyboard
5. Expansion cards IO. Mouse

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l. Monitor

A visual display unit (or monitor) is a piece of elcclri,·al ..:q ui pment. usually
separate from the computer case. which displays viewable imag~s generated by a
compukr ~ithout producing a permanent record .

2. Motherboard

The motherboard is the primary circu it hu.trd within a personal computer. Many
other components connect directly or indirectly to the motherboard. Motherboards
usually contain one or more CPUs.

3. CPU (Microporcessor)

The centrd processing unit(CPU) is the part of

computer which executes software protl ram instructions. ,a ~•., •· .·.-·;:.iJ•'.i?ilf¼~
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All PCs contain a type of CPU known as \~ =~ 'i,\fA_-.__J,f

minoproccs,or. The microprocessor often plugs into th " _ Jjg~/ '.~~~~
motherboard.

4. RAM (Main Memory)

A computer's main memory is fast storage that is directly accessible by the CPU
and is used lo store the currently executing program and immediately needed data)Main

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memory is much faster than mass storage devices like hard disks or uptical Ji~1."i But the
(!_nain memory is usual!) w lill,ik . Volatile means the RAM•)
does not retain its contents (instructions or data) in the
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absence of power.)

5. Expansion Slots

Expansion slots on a motherboard are designed to accept peripheral cards that add
functionality to a computer system, such as a video or a sound card.

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6. Power supply unit (SMPS - Switch Mode Power Supply)

A power supply unit (PSU) is the component that supplies power to the other
components in a computer. A power supply unit is typically designed to convert ..\C to
usable low-Yoltage DC power for the internal components of the computer.

7. Optical disk drive

Optical dri ves retrieve and/or store data on optical discs like CDs and DVDs
which hold much more information than classic portable media options like the Ile- pr~
d isk.

8. Hard disk drive

Mass storage devices store programs and data eYen

when the power is off. They require power to perform read
and write functions during usage.

9. Keyboard

A ke~ b, ,:1 ru is an arrangement of buttons that each

correspond to a function. letter. or number. They are the primary
devices of inputing text. The most common layout of the
keyboard is the (.)\\ ERTY layout. which °"'as originally used in type\Hiter~ .

10. Mouse

A 1'·1uuse is a small. slidable deYice that users hold and

slide around to point the object. In the past. they had a single
button. Now. many Mice have two or three buttons. A "right
click" function button on the mouse. which performs a secondary
action on a selected object. The scroll wheel can also be pressed dovm, and therefore be
used as a third button. Different programs make use of these functions differently.

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Architecture of Computer :

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The major units of digital computers are,

I . Input unit

2. Memory unit

3. Aritlnnetic Logic Unit

4. Control unit

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 5. Output Unit

Input/ Output Unit:

The input unit interacts with the input devices like Keyboard, mouse, etc., and the
output unit sends the processed data to the output devices like monitors, printers, etc.

Memory Unit:

In memory unit there are two types of memory. Read Only Memory (ROM) and
Random Access Memory (RAM). The ROM stores software permanently. The software
is not lost when the computer is switched off, ie. ROM is non-volatile. The Random
Access Memory (RAM) which can be written to and read from. The stored data is
volatile.

Arithmetic Logic Unit:

The Arithmetic Logic Unit is the heart of the computer. The ALU is nothing but
the microprocessor. lbis contains Registers and Arithmetic Logic Unit. Arithmetic Logic
Unit are used to manipulates data and Registers are used to store data. . It acts as the
central processing unit (CPU) of the computer.

Control Unit:

The Control unit is responsible for the entire functioning of the computer system.
The Control unit sends the control signals to arithmetic logic unit. The ALU works on the
instruction transferred to it. The ALU acts as the decision making unit.

Input Devices

1. Keyboard

A keyboard is standard input device. The keyboard consist of various

keypads for providing flexibility to the user. They are alphanumeric keypad,
numeric keypad, functional keypad and utility keypad. Toe utility keypad

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 includes the directional keypad, and the control keys like tab, shift, alt, ctrl.
etc

2. Mouse

A mouse is a small hand held pointing device. This is used to position the
screen cursor. As the cursor moves the same way the user's hand moves with
the mouse, the user is comfortable, during the input session.

3. Joystick

A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that

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pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the ),
device it is controlling. Joysticks are often used to control
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video games. and usually have one or more push-buttons.
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4. Touch screen

A touch screen is a display that can detect the presence and location of a touch
within the display area. The term generally refers to touch or contact to the
displa) of the deYice by a finger or hanJ. Touchscreens can also sense other
passive objects. such as a st, lus.

5. Lightpen

A light pen is a i:tl111pu11:-r inpm d e 1 ice' i

the fonu of a light-sensitive wand used i
conjunction with a computer mo ni to r. I
allows the user to point to displayed
objects. or draw on the screen. in a simila
way to a to u,:h screen but with greate
positional accuracy. A light pen can wor -
with any CRT-based display. but not wit! •'--r;:.;..,--
LCD screens. ...___ _ _ _ _ ____;_ _ _ _ ____J

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 6. Digital pen

A digital pen is a input deYice for a PC which capture the handwritten notes.
or hand\\ riting, of a user and digitizes them so that they may be stored on a
L'umputer and displayed on its monitor.

7. Barcode reader

A barcode reader is an electronic device

for reading printed barcodes. It consists
of a light source. a lens and a light
sensor translating optical impulses into I
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electrical ones.

Apart from the above input devices webcam, Image scanner,

Microphone, MIDI Keyboard are used as input devices for inputting images, audio and
video.

Output devices

Monitors:

A monitor is an output deYice which displays text and

images generated by computers. without producing a permanent
record.

Printers:

To prepare permanent copies of outputs printers are wiJel)'

used as primary output devices. Based on the features the printers are - ·
classified as impact and non-impact pri!lfcn . Different types of printers are Lbc'I pnnicr.
thennal printer. LED pn nter. Dot m:Hn\ ~, 1 1mc: r. Linc: pri nter . Bra ille c'm bu:,:,c'L lnh_1d
printer. Slip printer

Speakers:

Speakers are used as a audio output de,·ice. A speaker is

convert an eb:trind :,ignal to sL1und. The speaker pushes a
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med'.wn in accord with the pulsations of an electrical signal. thus ~I fv
causmg sound waYes to propagate to where they can then be •
received by the ear.

Storage devices

Computer data storage refers to computer components. devices. and recording

media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time. Computer
data storage provides infonnation retention. It is coupled with a cc:ntral p1ocess i11g un it
(CPU). Memory and storage were respectively called primary storage and secondary

storage.

Primary Storage :

Primary storage. presently known as memory. is

directly accessible to the CPU. The CPU continuously reads
instructions stored in memory and executes them as required.
R:mdom ac-cess llk'llll'r: (RAM) is used for primary storage.
RAM is rn!Jtik. i.e. they lose the information when not
powered. It is small-sized. light weight, but quite expensive.

Secondary Storage :

Secondary storage is not directly accessible by the

CPU. The compute, usually uses ,~
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secon ary storage. Secondary storage does not lose the data when the device ts
P<>Wered down-it is non-volatile.

Hard di sks are usually used as secondary storage. This has longer access time.
Hard disks are slower than memory. Rotating optical storage
devices. such as CD and DVD drives. have even longer access
times.

Some other examples of secondary storage devices are USB

dri ves . floppy disks. magnetic tape. paper tape. pWlch cards.
standalone RA M di sks. and Zip dri ws. The secondary storage is "[ -------
often formatted according to a file system format. fl ·~
The virtual memory. allowing utiliz.ation of more primary
storage capacity than is physically available in the system. As the primary memory fills
up. the system moves the least-used chunks (pages) to secondary storage devices.
retrieving them later when they are needed. As more of these retrievals from slower
secondary storage are necessary, the more the overall system performance is degraded.

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