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NORTH CENTRAL MINDANAO COLLEGE

Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Department of Education
GEC ELECT 2: Living in the IT era
1st Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

Topic

Components of Computer, Why Computers are Powerful and Classifying Computers

Rationale

By definition, a computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or

data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. It contains both hardware
components and software applications. Computers are powerful for variety of reasons. They
work with remarkable speed, reliability, consistency, and accuracy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

ILO 1: Identify the different parts of the computer system, and categorize the different
computer peripherals.
ILO 2: Assess why computers are considered powerful thinking machines.
Activity/Activities

Lecture

Discussion

Components of a Computer

The components of computer are made up of many different parts. A computer

contains both hardware components and a software application.

Hardware
- The hardware pertains to the computer’s physical devices. It is any part of the
computer that can be seen and touched. A computer’s hardware consists of
interrelated electronic devices that are used to manipulate the computer’s operation,
input devices, and output devices.
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Software
- Software is a set of programs, which is designed to perform a well-defined
function. A program is a sequence of instructions written to solve a particular problem.
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

Input Devices

Working with a computer would be ineffective if one does not intermingle with it
because the machine cannot accept and receive instructions and / or deliver an output
on its own. Input devices enter or send data and instructions from the user or from another
computer system on the internet.

The following are some of the most common and important input devices of a
computer:

• Keyboard - It most common input devices that accepts letters, numbers, and
commands from the user.
• Mouse - Lets one select options from on-screen menus. A mouse is a used by
moving it on a flat surface, pressing two buttons (left and right), and scrolling the
wheel that located between the buttons.
- A trackball has a ball that can rotate using a finger or the palm of a hand
to move the pointer.
- A touchpad also called trackpad is a touch- sensitive pad that lets the user
move the pointer by touching and dragging his or her finger on the pad.
• Microphone - Allows users to speak into the computer to input data and
instructions. While there are available stand-alone microphones for computers,
most of the time users buy a headset- a combination of microphone and
earphone- for the sake of practically.
• Scanner - Converts printed material (such as text and pictures) into a form the
computer can use. There are different types of scanners available; the most
common is flatbed scanner.
- A Hand-held or portable scanner can be small enough to fit inside one’s
pocket.
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- Pen Scanner are just a bit bigger than fountain pens and can scan the text
of a documents line by line. They do not give high- resolution scans and are
more expensive than flatbed scanners.
• Digital Camera - Allows one to take pictures then transfer the photographed
images to the computer or printer instead of storing the images on a traditional
film.
• PC Video Camera - Is a digital video camera that enables users to create a movie
or take still photographs electronically. With the PC video camera attached to the
computer, users can see each as they communicate via the computer.
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

Output Devices

An output device is any hardware component that transmits information to one

or more people. Output devices send back the administered data to the user or to
another computer system. The Three commonly used output devices are as follows:

• Printer – Produces text and graphics on a physical medium such as paper. The
two types of printer are the impact printer and the non- impact printer.
- An Impact printer makes contact with the paper by pressing an inked
ribbon against the paper using a hammer or pins. E.g. dot – matrix printer
- A Non - Impact printer does not use a striking device to produce
characters on the paper, and because it does not hammer against the
paper, the printer produces less noise. E.g. inkjet and laser printers.
• Monitor – Display text, graphics, and videos on a screen. Many monitors look
similar to a television. The three types of monitors available in the market are the
following:
- Cathode ray tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube containing an electron gum at
one end and a fluorescent screen at another end. Form this electron gun,
a process called thermionic emission generates a strong beam of
electronics.
- Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a flat- panel display that consist of a layer of
color or monochrome pixels arranged schematically between a couple
of transparent electrodes and two polarizing filter varied amounts and
making it pass through the liquid crystal layer.
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- Lightning –emitting diode (LED) is a flat-panel display that uses light-
emitting diodes for backlighting. The display is of LCD only but the
backlighting is done by LEDs. Led monitors are said to use much lesser
power than CRT and LCD. Thus, they are also considered environment-
friendly.

• Speaker – Allows one to hear music, voice, and other sounds. The signal used to
produce the sound that comes from a computer speaker is created by the
computer’s sound card.
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

System Unit

The system unit is the enclosure composed of the main elements of a computer
that are used to administer data. This can be referred to as a computer case or tower.
The circuitry of the system unit containing the primary components of a computer
with connectors into which other circuit boards can be positioned is recognized as
motherboard.

Storage Devices

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❖ A computer can be utilized with only processing, memory, input, and output
devices. To make it very valuable, however, a computer also needs a place to
hold program files and all related a file when are not in use. The goal of using a
storage is to keep data permanently.
❖ There are many types of storage devices which include the flash disk drive, a small
portable storage device often referred to as pen drives, thumb drives or jump
drives.
❖ It has a memory capacity of 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32 GB, 64GB, 128GB, 1TB, and
now up to 2 Tb.
❖ Another type of storage is the hard disk drive. Most personal computers have at
least one no-removable hard disk that is regarded as non- volatile memory which
permanently stores and retrieves data.
❖ Another storage device is the compact disc. It is a flat, round and portable metal
disc. One type of compact disc is a CD-ROM, which can be accessed using most
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

CD and DVD drives. Another type of compact disc is a DVD-ROM, which has
enough storage capacity to store a full- length movie.

Why Computers are Powerful?

Computers are powerful for variety of reasons. They work with remarkable speed,
reliability, consistency, and accuracy.
Computers can store large amounts of data and information. Also, computers allow
users to communicate with other users or computers.
A user is anyone who communicates and interacts with a computer or makes use of
the information it generates.

Speed

❖ In the system unit, operations get done through electronic circuits. When data,
instructions, and information drift along these circuits, they travel at incredibly fast
speeds.
❖ Most computers bring out billions of operations in a single second. The world’s fastest
computer can be performed trillions of operations in one second.

Reliability and Consistency

❖ The electronics components in modern computers are dependable because they

have a low failure rate. The high reliability of components enables the computer to
produce consistent results.

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Accuracy

❖ Computers process large amounts of data and generate error-free results, provided
the data is inputted correctly and the instructions work properly. If data is
inaccurate, the resulting output is also incorrect.
❖ A computing phrase known as garbage in , garbage out points out that the
accuracy of a computer’s output depends on the accuracy of the point.

Communication

❖ It is unbearable to go through a day without communication. Communication

happens between two or more people sending and receiving messages from one
another.
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

❖ The one sending the messages is referred to as the sender while the one receiving
the information is known as the receiver.
❖ The message being transmitted can contain facts, thoughts, perceptions,
judgments, beliefs, attitudes, commands, and even reactions.
❖ For examples, two computers connected by a communications device, such as a
modem, can share stored data, instructions, and information.
❖ These two computers can be located in the same room or thousands of miles away
from each other in two different countries.

Classifying Computers

Computers can be classified based on size and computing power. However, as

technology advances, these classifications tend to overlap as modern computers have
become smaller, yet more powerful, and relatively cheaper.

The general classification of computers are as follows:

Personal computer – is a small, single - user computer based on a microprocessor. In

addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering
data, a monitor for displaying information, and storage device for saving data.

Workstation – is powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal

computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher – quality monitor.

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Minicomputer – is a multi-users computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds
of users simultaneously.

Mainframe – is a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting hundreds or

thousands of users simultaneously.

Supercomputer – is an extremely fast computer that can perform millions of

instructions per second. Below is a computer of NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer that
has 245,536 CPU cores and a total memory of 935 TB.

To compare, a computer with an Intel Core i3 processor, has only two cores for
running its programs and application. Core i5 and i7 models usually have only four cores.
Core i7 extreme processors can have six to eight cores; however, most applications
cannot use all the cores to full advantage. Thus, they do not operate at full capacity.
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

Imagine having more than 245,000 cores.

Computers are also categorized into a several types due to the introduction of
mobile devices and the proliferation of internet - capable devices. Specialized computers
are now classified according to specific uses.

The different types of computers are as follows:

Desktop computers – are computers designed to be placed on a desk, and are

normally made up of a few different parts, including the computer case, central
processing unit (CPU), monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

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Laptop computers – are battery- powered computer devices whose portability

makes them possible to use almost anytime, anywhere.

Tablet computer – are hand-held computers with touch sensitive screen for typing
and navigation.

Smartphones – are hand-held telephones which can do thing that computers can
do, including browsing and searching the internet and even playing console
games.

Wearables – include fitness trackers and smartwatches that can be throughout the
day.
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

Smart TVs – are the latest television sets that include applications present in
computers. For examples, videos can be streamed from the internet directly onto
the TV. The TV can also be used as a computer monitor and gaming monitor.

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Exercise

Applying, Analyzing, Synthesizing and Evaluating

Do you wish there was an invention to make your life easier or better? Describe it.
What would it do for you? Come up with ideas on how that device may be constructed

Assessment
GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE

Define each function of a computer hardware parts.

1. Motherboard

2. Power Supply

3. System Fan

4. Floppy Disk

5. Heat Sink

6. Processors/CPU

7. Computer Memory

8. Hard Drive

9. Optical Drive

10. Expansion Card

Resources

1. Living in the IT era (2019) by Ronina R. Caoili-Tayuan and Mia V. Eleazar (C & E Publishing,
Inc.)
2. Using Information Technology (2012) by Brian K. Williams and Stacey C. Sawyer
(McGraw-Hill)
3. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/people-politics-law/politics-policy-people/sociology/information-
technology-new-era/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab

Prepared By

Sufea M. Posa
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GEC ELEC 2 COURSE MODULE CECS Faculty

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