DAV INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, AMRITSAR

Class: XI Sub: Informatics Practices

Chapter : 1 : Computer System
COMPUTER SYSTEM
A computer is an electronic device that processes data, converting it into information that is
useful to people. Any computer- regardless of its type- is controlled by programmed instructions,
which gives the machine a purpose and tell it what to do.
A computer is:

• An electronic device
• Can be programmed
• Accept data
• Processes the data
• Generate output
• Works with the help of hardware and software

COMPONENTS
OF COMPUTER

CPU MEMORY INPUT/OUTPUT STORAGE

DEVICES DEVICES

All these components function together as a single unit to deliver the desired output.

TYPES OF COMPUTER
(Based on various forms and size)

PERSONAL
HIGH END TABLET SMART PHONE
DESKTOP LAPTOP
SERVER COMPUTER COMPUTER
COMPUTER

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

It is the electronic circuitry of a computer that carries out the actual processing and is usually
referred to as the brain of the computer. It is also commonly called ‘microprocessor'

Basic Working of CPU

• A CPU can be placed on one or more microchips called integrated circuits (IC). The
ICs comprise semiconductor materials.
• The CPU is given instructions and data through programs. The CPU then fetches the
program and data from the memory and performs arithmetic and logical operations as
per the given instructions and stores the result back to memory.
• While processing, the CPU stores the data as well as instructions in its local memory,
'called' registers.

COMPONENTS OF CPU

ALU CU
Registers
(Arithmetic and Logic Unit) (Control Unit)

• ALU performs all the arithmetic and logic

ALU operations that need to be done as per the
instruction in a program.

• CU controls sequential instruction execution,

interprets instructions and guides data flow
CU through the computer’s memory, ALU and input or
output devices.

• Different registers are used for storing data,

REGISTERS instructions or intermediate results
INPUT DEVICES

An input device is a piece of computer hardware equipment used to provide data and control signals
to an information processing system such as a computer or information appliance

Data entered through input device is temporarily stored in the main memory (also called RAM) of
the computer system..

Keyboard
Keyboard is the most common and very popular input device which helps to input data to the
computer. The layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional typewriter, although there are
some additional keys provided for performing additional functions.
Mouse
Mouse is the most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control device having a
small palm size box with a round ball at its base, which senses the movement of the mouse and
sends corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.
Joystick
Joystick is also a pointing device, which is used to move the cursor position on a monitor
screen. The joystick can be moved in all four directions. It is mainly used in Computer Aided
Designing (CAD) and playing computer games.
Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select a displayed menu item or
draw pictures on the monitor screen.
Scanner
Scanner is an input device, which works more like a photocopy machine. Scanner captures
images from the source which are then converted into a digital form that can be stored on the
disk. These images can be edited before they are printed.
Microphone
Microphone is an input device to input sound that is then stored in a digital form.
Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)
MICR input device is generally used in banks as there are large number of cheques to be
processed every day. The bank's code number and cheque number are printed on the cheques
with a special type of ink that contains particles of magnetic material that are machine readable.
This reading process is called Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR). The main
advantages of MICR is that it is fast and less error prone.
Optical Character Reader (OCR)
OCR is an input device used to read a printed text.CR scans the text optically, character by
character, converts them into a machine readable code, and stores the text on the system
memory.
Bar Code Readers
Bar Code Reader is a device used for reading bar coded data (data in the form of light and dark
lines). Bar coded data is generally used in labelling goods, numbering the books, etc. It may
be a handheld scanner or may be embedded in a stationary scanner.

Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it into an alphanumeric value, which is then
fed to the computer that the bar code reader is connected to.
Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
OMR is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the type of mark made by pen or
pencil. It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of examinations having multiple
choice questions.
Braille Keyboards
Specially designed braille keyboards are also available to help the visually impaired for
entering data into a computer.
OUTPUT UNIT
The output unit consists of output devices that are attached with the computer. It converts the
binary data from CPU to human understandable form.

Most commonly used Output devices are:

Visual Display Unit/Monitor – CRT, LCD, Plasma or Touch Sensitive:

A monitor is an output device that is responsible for receiving data from a computer and
displaying that information as text or images for users to see.
Printer
A printer is the most commonly used device to get output in physical (hardcopy) form.

PRINTERS

DOT 3D
INKJET LASERJET
MATRIX PRINTERS

3D-printer:
 used to build physical replica of a digital 3D design.
 used in manufacturing industries to create prototypes of products.
 explored in the medical field, particularly for developing body organs.
Speakers:
Receives sound signal from a computer and then plays that sound signal and thus we hear
songs or music or any other audio.
Plotters
Produces high quality images and drawings commonly used for CAD).
Projector
Gets data from a computer and displays or projects the same information onto a screen or a
wall. Projector cannot directly accept data from a user and send that data to another device.