Computer
• A computer is an electronic device, operating
under the control of instructions stored in its
own memory, that can accept data,
manipulate the data according to specified
rules, produce results, and store the results
for future use.
• Computers process data to create information.
• Data is a collection of raw unprocessed
facts, figures, and symbols.
• Information is data that is organized,
meaningful, and useful. To process data
into information, a computer uses
hardware and software.
• Hardware is the electric, electronic, and
mechanical equipment that makes up a
computer.
• Software is the series of instructions that
tells the hardware how to perform tasks.
• Computer data processing is any process that a
computer program does to enter data and
summarise, analyse or otherwise convert data into
usable information.
• The process may be automated and run on a
computer.
• It involves recording, analysing, sorting,
summarising, calculating, disseminating and storing
data.
Steps that constitutes data processing cycle are
• Input,
• Processing, and
• Output.
1. INPUT=In this steps the initial data, or input data, are prepared in
some convenient form of processing.
2. PROCESSING= In this step the input data are changed, and usually
combined with other information, to produce data is more useful
form. Thus, pay checks may be calculated from the time cards, or a
summary of sales for the month maybe calculated from the sales
orders. The processing step usually involves a sequence of certain
basic processing operations.
3. OUTPUT= Here the results of the preceding processing steps are
collected. The particular form of the output data depends on the
use of data.
COMPUTER CAPABILITIES
• speed because they can process data faster
• repetitiveness because they can perform same operation
tirelessly
• accuracy because they have specific results
• can perform logical operations
• they can store and recall info because it has data storage
capability - enables one to restore or bring back any of his works
• self checking for they can verifies the accuracy of its own
• self operating because its capable of executing instructions
• The computer enables one to restore or bring back any of his
works
• The computer can do two things at the same time
• The computer can be improved and upgraded.
Limitations of a Computer
• Humans learn by themselves Computers cant, we
have to program them.
• Humans don't Need computers to survive... we
grow our own food in the world, but computers
need Electricity... and computers don’t know how to
make it. they probably don't even know how to, it
might be in a server but Computers don’t "realize"
• Humans have freedom... computers are
programmes... we switch them on, wait a minute
(don't do nothing) and the computers just sits there
doing nothing whereas we can go off and have a
party.
Limitations of a Computer
• It cannot generate information on it’s own
• The computer cannot correct wrong
instruction
• The computer will give you wrong information
if you feed it with wrong data
• The computer can only do what you tell it to
do
Basic structure of a Computer
Control Unit
Central
Processing
Unit
Arithmetic and
Logic Unit
Input device Output device
Main Memory
Auxiliary
Memory
• An input device is any hardware component
that allows a user to enter data and
instructions into a computer.
• Commonly used input devices are the
keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, digital
camera, and PC camera.
Functional Unit
• The central processing unit (CPU) is the electronic
device that interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate the computer.
• CPU consists of Control Unit and Arithmetic and
Logic Unit.
• Control Unit manages the computer's various
components;
– it reads and interprets (decodes) the program
instructions, transforming them into a series of control
signals which activate other parts of the computer.
• The ALU is capable of performing two
classes of operations: arithmetic and
logic.
• The Arithmetic and Logic Unit is
responsible for the computational
operations such as addition , subtraction,
multiplication and division
• The logic unit is responsible for making
decisions based on comparisons and
conditions.
• Main memory is a temporary storage that
hold data and instructions during processing.
• It is sometimes called primary memory or
random access memory.
• It is volatile, this means that it can hold data
and instructions only if power is available.
• It is expensive
• It stores limited amount of data and
instructions.
• Auxiliary memory is also called secondary
memory or secondary storage.
• It is the slowest and cheapest form of
memory. It cannot be processed directly by
the CPU. It must first be copied into primary
storage (also known as RAM).
• Secondary memory devices include magnetic
disks like hard drives and floppy disks ; optical
disks such as CDs and CDROMs ; and magnetic
tapes, which were the first forms of secondary
memory.
Types of Computers
• Personal Computers
• Personal Digital Assistant
• Mainframe Computer
• Mainframe Computer
• Super Computer
• A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose
computer with limited storage capacity, low processing
power and relatively cheap.
• PCs are single user systems that is computers intended
to be operated directly by only one user .
• Software applications for personal computers include,
but are not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets,
databases, Web browsers and e-mail clients,
digital media playback, games, and myriad personal
productivity and special-purpose software applications.
• A personal computer may be a
– desktop computer or
– a laptop/notebook.
Desktop computer
Is a pc designed to be used on a fixed location
and normally fit on top of a desk. It has a separate
monitor, keyboard, mouse and system unit.
• Laptop is also known as a notebook.
It is designed for portability
purposes. It has a monitor, keyboard,
mouse and system unit mounted
together.
