ICT

Introduction to Computer and Emerging

Technologies
 Topic
1. Introducing Today’s Technologies:
Computers, Devices and the Web 2.
Processors, Memory, Adapters and Buses 3.
Digital Storage 4.Input and Output Devices 5.
Computer Codes 6. Conversion

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 ICT-Textbook
1. Discovering Computers 2016(First Edition)
Cengage Learning By Misty E. Vermaat; Susan
L. Sebok; Steven M. Freund; Jennifer T.
Campbell; Mark Frydenberg (Helly Cashman
Series)

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Today’s Technology

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Artificial Intelligence Augmented Reality and
Virtual Reality

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 Introduction to computer
What is Computer?
• "A computer is a programmable electronic device that takes data,
perform instructed arithmetic and logical operations, and gives the
output.“
• It can process numerical as well as non-numerical calculations.
• Charles Babbage is called the “Father” of the computer. The First
mechanical computer designed by Charles Babbage in 1837 was called
Analytical Engine . It uses read-only memory in the form of punch
cards.
• A computer is designed to execute applications and provides a variety
of solutions through integrated hardware and software components.
• It works with the help of programs and represents the decimal numbers
through a string of binary digits.

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• It also has a memory that stores the data, programs, and result of
processing.

Elements of computer

• Input (Data):
• Input is the raw information entered into a computer from the input devices. It is the collection of
letters, numbers, images etc.

• Process:
• Process is the operation of data as per given instruction. It is totally internal process of the computer
system.

• Output (information):
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• Output is the processed data given by computer after data processing. Output is also called as Result.
We can save these results in the storage devices for the future use.

Purpose of a Computer
• There are several purposes of a computer. Some of the basic tasks are computations,
retrieving data, process information, information storage & so much more.

• Performing Calculations: Computers are widely used to perform computations,

mathematical operations, additions, subtraction, multiplication, division & so much
more. Computers have an inbuilt calculator. Spreadsheets are the programs used to
calculate totals. Microsoft Excel sheet is an example of the spreadsheet

• Storing Data: Data can be stored with the help of store information. Any information
can be stored in any folder, anywhere on the computer. The document can also be
saved automatically.

• Retrieving Data: Any information can be saved & retrieved whenever one wants.

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 • Processing Data: Every operation done on your personal computer can be processed
anytime one wants. Every time you start a computer & one can process the
information or data.

Basic Structure of Computer

Input Unit
• This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data into computer.
This unit makes link between user and computer. The input devices translate
the information into the form understandable by computer.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
• CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU performs all types of data
processing operations. It stores data, intermediate results and instructions
(program). It controls the operation of all parts of computer.

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• CPU itself has following three components : ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit),
Memory Unit, Control Unit
Output Unit
• Output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the information
from computer. This unit is a link between computer and users. Output devices
translate the computer’s output into the form understandable by users.

Advantages of Computer
• Multitasking
Multitasking is one among the main advantage of computer. Person can do multiple
tasks, multiple operations at a same time; calculate numerical problems within few
seconds. Computer can perform millions or trillions of work in one second.
• High Speed
Modern computers have incredible speed of processing. It takes only few seconds for
calculations that we take hours to complete. Computers makes it possible to receive,
supply and process large volumes of data at very high speed.

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 Computer speed is measured in units of millisecond (one thousandth of a second),
microsecond (one millionth of a second), nanosecond (one billionth of a second) , and
pico second (one trillionth of a second).
• Accuracy
Computer can ensure consistently very high degree of accuracy in computations. It
processes data according to the sequence of instructions . Hence, if input data and
procedures are correct, the output will be consistently accurate.
• Storage Capability
The Computer has an in-built memory where it can store a large amount of data. You
can also store data in secondary storage devices such as floppies, which can be kept
outside your computer and can be carried to other computers.
• Diligence
A computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration, etc. It can work for hours
without creating any error. If millions of calculations are to be performed, a computer
will perform every calculation with the same accuracy. Due to this capability it
overpowers human being in routine type of work.
• Versatile

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 It means the capacity to perform completely different type of work.
You may use your computer to prepare payroll slips. Next moment you
may use it for inventory management or to prepare electric bills.
• Reliable
A computer is a reliable machine. Every Modern electronic
computer's components have long lives. Now Computers are designed
to make maintenance easy.
• Automatic
Computer is an automatic machine. It can ability to perform the given
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.

Disadvantages of computer:
• Virus and hacking attacks

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 Virus may be a worm and hacking is just an unauthorized access over computer for a
few illicit purpose. Virus can go to other system from email attachment, viewing an
infected website advertisement, through removable device like USB etc.
• Online Cyber Crimes
Online cyber-crime means computer and network may have utilized in order to commit
crime. Cyber stalking and fraud are the points which comes under online cyber-crimes.
• Reduction employed opportunity
Mainly past generation wasn’t used of the pc or they need the knowledge of computer
they faced an enormous problem when computer came in field.
• High cost
Computers are expensive. Even the foremost affordable computers are still very
expensive for the typical person in South Africa. Since computers empower people.
• Distractions
If you’ve got ever spent hours browsing the web or watching videos on YouTube, then
you recognize how distracting computers can be! Because of their high entertainment
value.
• Increases waste and impacts the environment
With the speed that computers and other electronics get replaced, all of the old
devices that get thrown away have a big impact on the environment.
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 Mobile and Game Device
• Mobile computers are those computer which are portable i.e.: they can be carried easily from one place
to another. They are usually classified in the following categories − Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) :
• The main purpose of this device is to act as an electronic organizer or day planner that is portable, easy
to use and capable of sharing information with your computer systems.
• PDA is an extension of the PC, not a replacement. These systems are capable of sharing information with
a computer system through a process or service known as synchronization. Both devices will access each
other to check for changes or updates in the individual devices. The use of infrared and Bluetooth
connections enables these devices to always be synchronized.
• With PDA devices, a user can browse the internet, listen to audio clips, watch video clips, edit and
modify office documents, and many more services. The device has a stylus and a touch sensitive screen
for input and output purposes.

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Smartphones :
• This kind of phone combines the features of a PDA with that of a mobile
phone or camera phone. It has a superior edge over other kinds of mobile
phones.

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• Smartphones have the capability to run multiple programs concurrently. These
phones include high-resolution touch screens, web browsers that can access
and properly display standard web pages rather than just mobile-optimized
sites, and high-speed data access via Wi-Fi and high speed cellular broadband.
• The most common mobile Operating Systems (OS) used by modern
smartphones include Google's Android, Apple's iOS, Nokia's Symbian, RIM's
BlackBerry OS, Samsung's Bada, Microsoft's Windows Phone, and embedded
Linux distributions such as Maemo and MeeGo. Such operating systems can be
installed on different phone models, and typically each device can receive
multiple OS software updates over its lifetime.
Tablet PC and iPads:

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• This mobile device is larger than a mobile phone or a PDA and
integrates into a touch screen and is operated using touch sensitive
motions on the screen. They are often controlled by a pen or by the
touch of a finger. They are usually in slate form and are light in weight.
Examples would include ipads, Galaxy Tabs, Blackberry Playbooks etc.
• They offer the same functionality as portable computers. They support
mobile computing in a far superior way and have enormous processing
horsepower. Users can edit and modify document files, access high
speed internet, stream video and audio data, receive and send e-mails,
attend/give lectures and presentations among its very many other
functions. They have excellent screen resolution and clarity.

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Laptop :
• The second type of computer you may be familiar with is
a laptop computer, commonly called a laptop.
• Laptops are battery-powered computers that are more
portable than desktops, allowing you to use them almost
anywhere.
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Game Device :
• A game console is a highly specialized computer system designed to allow one or more
users to play computer games.
• It is usually used together with a television or other type of display device, although
there are a number of hand-held game consoles that have their own built-in display
and are completely self-contained.

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• If an external display unit is required, the console must generate audio and video
signals of the required type, which are transmitted to the display unit via the
appropriate cable type.
• The features of a game console include controllers (devices that allow the user to
interact with a game in much the same way as a joystick, keyboard or mouse on a
personal computer), a power supply unit (PSU), a central processing unit (CPU), and
random access memory (RAM).

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 Types of Computers
• When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such as
a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and they
perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an
ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.
• Desktop computers
• Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school. Desktop computers
are designed to be placed on a desk, and they're typically made up of a few different
parts, including the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
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• Laptop computers
• The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a laptop computer, commonly
called a laptop. Laptops are battery-powered computers that are more portable than
desktops, allowing you to use them almost anywhere.
• Tablet computers
• Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more portable
than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for
typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.
• Servers
• A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network. For
example, whenever you use the Internet, you're looking at something that's stored on a
server. Many businesses also use local file servers to store and share files internally.
• Other types of computers
• Many of today's electronics are basically specialized
computers, though we don't always think of them that way.
Here are a few common examples.

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• Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of things
computers can do, including browsing the Internet and playing
games. They are often called smartphones.
• Wearables: Wearable technology is a general term for a group
of devices—including fitness trackers and smartwatches—that
are designed to be worn throughout the day. These devices are
often called wearables for short.
• Game consoles: A game console is a specialized type of
computer that is used for playing video games on your TV.
• TVs: Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that let
you access various types of online content. For example, you
can stream video from the Internet directly onto your TV.

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 Classification of Computer
• The four basic types of computers are as under:
1. Supercomputer 2. Mainframe Computer 3.
Minicomputer 4. Microcomputer
SUPERCOMPUTER
• The most powerful computers in terms of performance and data processing
are the Supercomputers. These are specialized and task specific computers
used by large organizations.
• These computers are used for research and exploration purposes, like NASA
uses supercomputers for launching space shuttles, controlling them and for
space exploration purpose.
• The supercomputers are very expensive and very large in size. It can be
accommodated in large air-conditioned rooms; some super computers can
span an entire building.
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• Seymour Cray designed the first Supercomputer “CDC 6600” in 1964. CDC
6600 is known as the first ever Supercomputer.
• Other super computers are
- Y-MP/C_90 by Cray research Inc,
- PARAM supercomputer by C-DAC india,
- IBM’s Sequoia, in United States
- Fujitsu’s K Computer in Japan
- IBM’s Mira in United States
- IBM’s SuperMUC in Germany
Super Computer

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USES OF SUPERCOMPUTERS

• Space Exploration : Supercomputers are used to study the origin of the

universe, the dark-matters. For these studies scientist use IBM’s powerful
supercomputer “Roadrunner” at National Laboratory Los Alamos.

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• Earthquake Studies : Supercomputers are used to study the Earthquakes
phenomenon. Besides that supercomputers are used for natural resources
exploration, like natural gas, petroleum, coal, etc.

• Weather Forecasting : Supercomputers are used for weather forecasting, and

to study the nature and extent of Hurricanes, Rainfalls, windstorms, etc.

• Nuclear Weapons Testing : Supercomputers are used to run weapon

simulation that can test the Range, accuracy & impact of Nuclear weapons.
Mainframe Computer
• Although Mainframes are not as powerful as supercomputers, but
certainly they are quite expensive nonetheless, and many large firms &
government organizations uses Mainframes to run their business
operations.
• The Mainframe computers can be accommodated in large
airconditioned rooms because of its size. Super-computers are the fastest

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 computers with large data storage capacity, Mainframes can also process
& store large amount of data.
• Banks educational institutions & insurance companies use mainframe
computers to store data about their customers, students & insurance
policy holders.

Popular Mainframe Computers

• Fujitsu’s ICL VME
• Hitachi’s Z800
Mainframe Computer

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Mini Computer
• Minicomputers are used by small businesses & firms. Minicomputers are also
called as “Midrange Computers”. These are small machines and can be
accommodated on a disk with not as processing and data storage capabilities
as super-computers & Mainframes.
• These computers are not designed for a single user. Individual departments of
a large company or organizations use Mini-computers for specific purposes.
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• For example, a production department can use Mini-computers for
monitoring certain production process.

Popular Minicomputers
• K-202
• Texas Instrument TI-990
• SDS-92
• IBM Midrange computers
Mini Computer

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Micro Computer
• Desktop computers, laptops, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablets &
Smartphone are all types of microcomputers. The micro-computers are widely
used & the fastest growing computers.
• These computers are the cheapest among the other three types of
computers.

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• The Micro-computers are specially designed for general usage like
entertainment, education and work purposes.
• Well known manufacturers of Micro-computer are Dell, Apple, Samsung, Sony
& Toshiba.
• Desktop computers, Gaming consoles, Sound & Navigation system of a car,
Netbooks, Notebooks, PDA’s, Tablet PC’s, Smart phones, Calculators are all
type of Microcomputers.
Micro Computer

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 What is Data and Information?
Data:
› Data are individual facts which are in raw format
› Data is a raw and unorganized fact that required to be processed to make it
meaningful.
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 › Data can be simple at the same time unorganized unless it is organized.
› Generally, data comprises facts, observations, perceptions numbers,
characters, symbols, image, etc.
› Example: number, text, sound
Information: › Data which is in
processed format.
› Information is a set of data which is processed in a meaningful way
according to the given requirement.
› Information is processed, structured, or presented in a given context to
make it meaningful and useful.
› Example: Mobile Number, result, music

The Web
• The Web is the common name for the World Wide Web, a subset of the
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 Internet consisting of the pages that can be accessed by a Web browser.

• The Web, is a collection of websites or web pages stored in web servers and
connected to local computers through the internet.

• These websites contain text pages, digital images, audios, videos, etc. Users
can access the content of these sites from any part of the world over the
internet using their devices such as computers, laptops, cell phones, etc.

• The WWW, along with internet, enables the retrieval and display of text and
media to your device.

• The building blocks of the Web are web pages which are formatted in HTML
and connected by links called "hypertext" or hyperlinks and accessed by
HTTP.

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• Website is a set of related web pages located under a single domain
name, typically produced by a single person or organization.

• web page is a document available on world wide web. Web Pages are
stored on web server and can be viewed using a web browser.

• A software application used to access information on the World Wide

Web is called a Web Browser.
• Some widely used browsers include IE, Firefox, Safari, and Google
Chrome.

• Web server is a computer that hosts a website on the Internet.

• Online Social Networks: Its also called Social Networking site, its
website that encourages members in its online community to share
ttheir intrests, ideas, stories, photos, music and
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 What is the difference between
the Web and the Internet?
• The Internet is a global network of networks while the Web,
also referred formally as World Wide Web (www) is collection
of information which is accessed via the Internet.
• Another way to look at this difference is the Internet is
infrastructure while the Web is service on top of that
infrastructure.
• Alternatively, the Internet can be viewed as a big book-store
while the Web can be viewed as collection of books on that
store.

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• At a high level, we can even think of the Internet as hardware
and the Web as software!

What is digital security?

• Digital Security is the collective term that describes
the resources employed to protect your online
identity, data, and other assets.
• In other words, digital security is the process used
to protect your online identity.
What Kind of Information is Considered a Digital Security Risk?
• Not every bit of your information is useful to cybercriminals. below listed data
are on risk if it is shared with strangers.
Personal Identification Data :

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• This data includes your name, phone number, address, email account name,
IP address, and, most damaging, your Social Security number. It also includes
information that potentially pinpoints your location. Personal data is often
used for identity theft and social engineering. Also, a hacker who has your
Social Security number (or equivalent) can open credit card accounts in your
name, thereby eventually destroying your credit score.
Personal Payment Data :
• If it has to do with financial transactions, it’s considered personal payment
data. This information includes credit and debit card numbers (including
expiration dates), online banking numbers (account and routing), and PIN
codes. Criminals who gain access to your online banking information can even
transfer funds out of the accounts or make purchases.
Personal Health Data :
• Also known as personal health information (PHI), this data type encompasses
information on your health, including medical history, prescription drugs,
health insurance subscriptions, and doctor and hospital visits. This
information is precious to high-rolling cybercriminals since they can use your
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 health information to file false insurance claims or order and resell
prescription drugs.
What Are the Different Types of Digital Security?
• There is a lot that can go wrong if your digital data is compromised. security
in the digital world comes in many forms, offering a wide choice of defense
methods. These include:
Antivirus Software :
• Viruses delivered through malware and other malicious systems infect your
data and bring your system to a screeching halt. A good antivirus program not
only detects and cleans out these infections, but also keeps out suspicious
programs and isolates likely threats.
Current, Updated Firewalls :
• This tool monitors web traffic, identifies authorized users, blocks
unauthorized access, and—if current enough—will even protect against next-
generation viruses. Firewalls have been around for years, and many cyber
security experts dismiss them as obsolete. However, a state-of-the-art version
is a potentially useful tool for keeping out unwanted users.
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Proxies :
• Proxies are digital security tools that bridge the gap between users and the
internet, using filtering rules in line with an organization’s IT policies. Proxies
block dangerous websites and leverage an authentication system that can
control access and monitor usage.

Digital privacy
• Digital privacy is when you can use the internet and connected devices without
compromising your information.
• Different people have different comfort levels when it comes to digital privacy.
• People are willingly handing over their data to social media.
• When you create social media profiles or post to social media, all of that information
gets stored on the site’s servers, if a hacker accesses it, you are at risk.
• Privacy means that not only do other people not have unwanted access to your
information, but also that you can also control what data is public and what stays
private.
Privacy Benefits
• Unauthorized users cannot access our personal data.
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• All aspects of our life are not transparent.
• Isolation
• Different relationships with distinct people.
• It makes users feel protected about their data and information.
• No misuse or unwanted attacks.
• Encourages customers for sharing and shopping information with organizations.

Programs and Apps

What is Computer Program?
• A computer program is a sequence of instructions written using a
Computer Programming Language to perform a specified task by the
computer.

• A computer system can be considered to be made up of two main

components—hardware and software.
• All the physical devices such as monitor, mouse, keyboard and CPU that
you can touch and feel constitute the hardware components.
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• However, hardware alone cannot perform any task on its own until it is
given some instructions.

What is Software?
• The software is a computer program that provides a set of instructions
to execute a user’s commands and tell the computer what to do.
System Software :
• System software is a set of programs that control the operations of a computer and
devices attached to the computer.
• It creates links between the user and the computer as well as controls the execution of
application programs.
• System software is software designed to provide a platform for other software.

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• System software makes the operation of a computer more fast, effective, and secure.
Types of system software
• Operating system
• Device Driver
• Utility software
• Language Translator
Operating System (OS) :
• An operating system is a set of programs that control and
supervises a computer system and provides services to
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 computer users. Operating system software controls the
overall activities of the computer. It acts as an interface
between a user, program, and the hardware.
• Without an operating system, a computer is useless.
• Example: Ms-DOS, Windows XP/ Vista/ 7/8/10, LINUX, Mac
OSX, UNIX, etc.

Some basic functions of operating system are

• Recognize input from the input devices.
• Send output to the output devices.
• Provide a platform to run other software.
• Management of files and directories.
• Security and backup
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• Acts as an interface between user and computer.
Language translators:
• Language translators are software programming tools that convert one
type of code into another. They translate a high-level programming
language into machine code that the central processing unit (CPU) can
comprehend & vice-versa.
What are compilers, interpreters, and assemblers?
• Compilers : In a single session, compilers convert high-level language
code to machine (object) code. Compilers take a long time to run
because they must translate high-level code into lower-level machine
language all at once and then save the executable object code to
memory.
• Interpreters : An interpreter, like a compiler, translates code but reads
it and instantly executes it, making it initially faster than a compiler. As a
result, interpreters are frequently employed as debugging tools in

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 software development tools since they can execute a single line of code
at a time.
• Assembler : An assembler is a program that converts assembly language
code into machine code. It functions as a compiler for the assembly
language, but it can also be used interactively like an interpreter.
Remember, assembly language is a low-level language.
Utility software :
• Utility software is a computer software program, which helps the users
to manage files and folders, Check and remove viruses, develop
programs, fix errors on the disk, etc.
• These are also the software tools that help users while preparing
programs.
• Examples: Tune-up utilities, disk clean up, Antivirus software, etc.

Device Driver:

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• It is system software that is responsible to operate or control a
particular type of device. Drivers are hardware-dependent and
operating-system-specific.
• Nowadays, most of the devices are plug-and-play. Examples are
keyboard, mouse, pen drive, and monitor.
• However, we can install it manually as well. Some devices like printers,
LAN Card, Video Graphics Adapters, wireless devices need to be
installing before the device can be used.
Application software:
• The software used for special propose written in a specific language is known
as Application software.
• Users use application software for different purposes like designing, printing,
data processing, calculation, entertainment, etc. Application software is
divided into two types:

• General purpose software or Packaged software :

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• The software that is developed in a packaged form for sale to the general
public is called packaged software.
• Packaged software is used to solve some common problems of many people or
users. The ready packages are available in the market on CDs or DVDs for
various purposes.
• Some examples of packaged software are Word processors such as MS-word,
Spreadsheet such as MS Excel, Database software such as MS-Access,
Communication software such as Google Chrome, etc.

• Specific propose or Customized software :

• The specific propose software is used to perform the specific tasks. They are
specially developed on the demand of clients.
• Accounting(SAGE), Multimedia, Computer-Aided Design, Supermarket Billing,
mark sheet preparation, etc. are some examples of specific purpose software.

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 Communication and Network
Communication :
• In Computer, communications describes a process in which two or
more computers or devices transfer (send & receive) data,
instructions and information over transmission media via
communication devices.
• Some communications involve cables and wires; others are sent
wirelessly through the air.
• For successful communications, you need a sending device , a
communications channel, a receiving device .
• All types of computers and mobile devices serve as sending and
receiving devices in a communications system.

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• One type of communications device that connects a communications
channel to a sending or receiving device such as a computer is a
modem.
• Two examples of communications channels are cable television lines
and telephone lines.
• There are two type data communication Wired and Wireless.
Wired Communication:
• In computing a wired setup uses physical cables to transfer data between different
devices and computer systems. The cables can be copper wire, twisted pair or fiber
optic.
• Wired network is used to carry different forms of electrical signals from one end to
the other.
• Most wired networks use Ethernet cables to transfer data between connected PCs.
Ethernet works or operates in a narrow range and it is little bit difficult to configure as
compared to wireless networking technologies.

Wireless Communication:
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 • In computing a wireless setup does not use physical cable for data or voice
communication
• wireless network refers to the use of infrared or radio frequency signals to share
information and resources between devices.
• Wireless technologies are designed to reduce the time and different type of obstacles
created by the cables.
• Many types of wireless devices are available today; for example, cellular mobile,
handheld PCs, satellite receivers, laptop, PDAs, wireless sensors etc.

Wired v/s wireless

SR. NO PARAMETER WIRED WIRELESS
1 Installation Difficult (Because more no’s of compound are Easy installation
used during installation and required no’s of
cables for connecting each and every
computers)
2 Speed and Bandwidth High (up to 100mbps) Low (up to 54mbps)

3 Reliability High(Due to existence of wired technology and Reasonably high( because if the major
as manufactured cable have higher section like router break down the
performance) whole network will be affected)

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4 Cables Ethernet, copper and optical fibers Works on radio waves and
microwaves
5 Mobility Limited, as it operates in the area covered by Not limited, as it operates in the entire
connected systems with the wired network wireless network coverage
6 Security Good Weak
7 Interference Less (Networks are invisible to other wired Higher (the potential for
radio networks. The presence of one wired network interference due to weather,
other
has no effect on the performance of another wireless devices, or obstructions like
wired network) walls)
8 Quality of Service Better Poor
9 Connection setup time Less More
10 Devices used Hubs and Switches Routers
11 Cost Less as cables are not expensive More as wireless subscriber stations,
wireless routers, wireless access
points and adapters are expensive
12 Applications LAN (Ethernet), MAN WLAN, WPAN(Zigbee, bluetooth),
Infrared, Cellular(GSM,CDMA, LTE)
13 Standards IEEE802.3 IEEE802.11a, IEEE 802.11b ,
IEEE802.11g

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 Computer networks
• A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together, often
wirelessly, via communication devices and transmission media.
• Computer networks make it possible for one device to communicate with
another device.
• A network can be as small as distance between your mobile phone and its
Bluetooth headphone and as large as the internet itself, covering the whole
geographical world.
• Different types of computer networks are:
Personal Area Network :
• A Personal Area Network (PAN) is smallest network which is very personal to a
user. This may include Bluetooth enabled devices or infra-red enabled devices.

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• PAN has connectivity range up to 10 meters. PAN may include wireless
computer keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth enabled headphones, wireless
printers and TV remotes.
• For example, Piconet is Bluetooth-enabled Personal Area Network which may
contain up to 8 devices connected together in a master-slave fashion.
Local Area Network :
• A computer network spanned inside a building and operated under single
administrative system is generally termed as Local Area Network (LAN). Usually, LAN
covers an organization’ offices, schools, colleges or universities.
• LAN is used for connecting two or more personal computers through a communication
medium such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc.
• It is less costly as it is built with inexpensive hardware such as hubs, network adapters,
and Ethernet cables.
• LAN provides higher security because there is no outside connection with the local
area network thus the data which is shared is safe on the local area network and can’t
be accessed outside.
• The data is transferred at an extremely faster rate in Local Area Network.

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 • LAN can be wired, wireless, or in both forms at once.

Metropolitan Area Network :

• MAN is a network that covers a larger geographic area by interconnecting a different
LAN to form a larger network.
• In MAN various Local area networks are connected with each other through telephone
exchange line.
• The size of the Metropolitan area network is larger than LANs and smaller than WANs,
a MANs covers the larger area of a city or town.
• Government agencies use MAN to connect to the citizens and private industries.
• MAN is used in communication between the banks in a city, in an Airline Reservation,
in a college within a city, in the military.
• It has a higher range than Local Area Network(LAN).
Wide Area Network :
• A WAN is a network that extends over a large geographical area such as
country, continent or even a whole world.
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• WAN provides long distance transmission of data.
• The size of the WAN is larger than LAN and MAN.
• A WAN is not limited to a single location, but it spans over a large geographical
area through a telephone line, fiber optic cable or satellite links.
• The internet is one of the biggest WAN in the world.
• A WAN is widely used in the field of Business, government, and education,
mobile broadband connections such as 3G, 4G etc.

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 Advantages of networks
1. Ease of accessibility
• Modern computer networks are easy to explore. So, even if you are a kid or a person new to technology, you'll
find it easy to connect.

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2. Flexibility
• Here, flexibility means that different people will be able to explore different things as per their requirements. For
this purpose, computer networks provide you a wide array of choices to share a particular piece of information.
For example, e-mail or messaging apps like Whatsapp. So, there is flexibility for different users.
3. Convenient resource sharing
• The main aim of a computer network is to enable sharing of resources among its users. You can use resources
such as printers, scanners and photocopy machines that can be shared across multiple users. This resource sharing is
important for big companies as they can use one single common network for connecting with their employees.
4. Connectivity
• Computer Networks improve connectivity irrespective of a person's location. In these testing times, we can see
live examples as we use video call apps or Google documents to connect with our friends and colleagues.
5. Security
• Computer networks provide security through authorization. Authorization is done via user id and password. So, it
ensures that when we log in, we are only able to do it when there is a perfect match between our details and the
details stored in the database.
6. Great storage capacity
• Organizations have an abundance of data that needs to be stored. For that purpose, they are required to store
them in a central server. A central server is a remote server that is accessible to each and every employee. So, if in
case one loses the data, others have it.

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7. Reduced cost
• Cost is one of the crucial factors that one needs to consider while evaluating the pros and cons of a particular
technology. In networking, a central server is used that enables companies to store files in one place and thus
reducing file storage expenses.

Disadvantages of networks
1. Lack of robustness
• Computer networks rely on the main server called the central server. If the central server malfunctions or
there is an issue in the central server, then the entire network would stop functioning. So, this is a major
disadvantage due to dependency on a single server.
2. Spread of computer virus
• As computers in a network are interconnected, there is a high probability that if one of the computers is
affected by the virus, others too can get affected. This spread can actually damage the entire system.
Also, if the central server gets corrupted, then it's quite dangerous as the network depends on the central
server.
3. Independence issues
• The entire networking system is based on a centralized server, so it lacks independence. So, individual
users lack the freedom to use the computer as per their wish.
4. Lack of productivity
• Since a network has a lot of advantages and applications, it is certain that it results in simultaneous use of
many services that cause distraction. Thus, due to employees focusing on a numerous tasks, productivity
issues are quite common. 5. Health issues
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• Computer network provides access to a gamut of services including entertainment, gaming, and movies.
These result in making you addicted to the content and thus results in overuse of these services. This
excessive screen time makes you feel lethargic, causes eye strain and body pain.
6. Cost of network
The expense of executing the system including cabling and equipment can be expensive.

Technology Uses
• It becomes difficult in today’s digital world to do plenty of work without a computer because there are
multiple uses of computers in the daily life of various fields in many aspects.
• Uses of technology in different fields Home
• Computers are used at homes for several purposes like online bill payment, watching movies or shows at
home, home tutoring, social media access, playing games, internet access, etc. They provide
communication through electronic mail. They help to avail work from home facility for corporate
employees. Computers help the student community to avail online educational support.
Medical Field
• Computers are used in hospitals to maintain a database of patients’ history, diagnosis, X-rays, live
monitoring of patients, etc. Surgeons nowadays use robotic surgical devices to perform delicate
operations, and conduct surgeries remotely. Virtual reality technologies are also used for training
purposes. It also helps to monitor the fetus inside the mother’s womb. Entertainment
• Computers help to watch movies online, play games online; act as a virtual entertainer in playing
games, listening to music, etc. MIDI instruments greatly help people in the entertainment industry in
recording music with artificial instruments. Videos can be fed from computers to full screen
televisions. Photo editors are available with fabulous features.
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Industry
• Computers are used to perform several tasks in industries like managing inventory, designing purpose,
creating virtual sample products, interior designing, video conferencing, etc. Online marketing has seen a
great revolution in its ability to sell various products to inaccessible corners like interior or rural areas.
Stock markets have seen phenomenal participation from different levels of people through the use of
computers. Education
• Computers are used in education sector through online classes, online examinations, referring e-books,
online tutoring, etc. They help in increased use of audio-visual aids in the education field.
Government
• In government sectors, computers are used in data processing, maintaining a database of citizens and
supporting a paperless environment. The country’s defense organizations have greatly benefitted from
computers in their use for missile development, satellites, rocket launches, etc.
Banking
• In the banking sector, computers are used to store details of customers and conduct transactions, such
as withdrawal and deposit of money through ATMs. Banks have reduced manual errors and expenses to
a great extent through extensive use of computers. Business
• Nowadays, computers are totally integrated into business. The main objective of business is transaction
processing, which involves transactions with suppliers, employees or customers. Computers can make
these transactions easy and accurate. People can analyze investments, sales, expenses, markets and
other aspects of business using computers. Training
• Many organizations use computer-based training to train their employees, to save money and improve
performance. Video conferencing through computers allows saving of time and travelling costs by being
able to connect people in various locations. DTP (Desktop Publishing)

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• It has revolutionized how composing for printing used to done. Now every book for printing is
composed on computer since it is very easy to edit and read on screen.
Arts
• Computers are extensively used in dance, photography, arts and culture. The fluid movement of dance
can be shown live via animation. Photos can be digitized using computers.
Science and Engineering
• Computers with high performance are used to stimulate dynamic process in Science and Engineering.
Supercomputers have numerous applications in area of Research and Development (R&D). Topographic
images can be created through computers. Scientists use computers to plot and analyze data to have a
better understanding of earthquakes.

Technology Users
1. Home User : A home user is any person who spends time using
technology at home. EX: children

2. Office User : A small/home office user includes employees of

companies with fewer than 50 employees as well as the self
employed who work from home. Ex: Accounting offices

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3. Mobile User : A mobile user includes any person who works with
computer or mobile device while away from a main office. EX: meter
reader, package delivery person

4. Power User : A power user is a user who requires the capabilities of a

powerful computer. EX: scientist, architects.

5. Enterprise User : An enterprise has hundreds of employee or

customers who work in or do business with offices across a region,
the country or the world, known as enterprise user.

Servers
• A server is a computer on a network that manages
network resources.

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• The function of a computer server is to store,
retrieve and send or "serve" files and data to other
computers on its network.
• Many businesses of all sizes use a local network or
"intranet" in their office facilities.
• There are many types of servers:
› Rack Server
› Blade Server
› Tower Server

Rack Server

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• A rack server, also known as a
rackmounted server , is
a computer designed to be
situated in a rectangular
structure called a server rack.

• Rack servers are mounted on

standardized racks that can reach
10 feet in height, allowing the data
center to efficiently deploy dozens
of rack-mounted servers.

• The advantages of a server rack

include better space conservation
for rack servers, increased
scalability, maximized air flow when
coupled with a cooling system and
ease of regular computer
maintenance and diagnostics, given
that their design allows technicians and operators to easily slide rack servers in
and out of them.
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 Blade Server
• A blade server is a modular server that allows multiple servers to be housed in a smaller
area.
• These servers are physically thin and typically only have CPUs, memory, integrated
network controllers, and sometimes storage drives built in.
• Any video cards or other components that are
needed will be facilitated by the server chassis.
Which is where the blades slide into.
• Blade servers are often seen in large data
centers. Due to their ability to fit so many servers
into one single rack and their ability to provide a
high processing power.
• Blade servers are small circuit boards that act as
servers within their server enclosure; they are an excellent choice for high
processing power in a dense environment.

Tower Server
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• Tower servers are servers in a standalone chassis configuration. They are
manufactured with minimal components
and software, so mid-size and enterprise
customers can heavily customize the
servers for specific tasks.
• For example, tower servers usually do
not come with additional components
like advanced graphic cards, high RAM, or
peripherals.
• Tower servers are popular owing to the
scalability and reliability features since
unlimited servers can be added to the
existing network largely because of the
independent nature of the individual
tower servers.
• Tower servers come with the capacity for
high optimization and customization,
allowing organizations to match the server configuration to their needs.

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 Terminal
• A terminal is a computer, usually with limited
processing power, that enables users to send data to
and/or receive information from a server, or host
computer.
• Special purpose terminals perform specific tasks and
contain featured uniquely designed for use in a
industry.
• The host computer, processes the data and then, if
necessary, sends information (output) back to the
terminals.

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• Three widely used special-purpose terminals are
point-of-sale (POS) terminals, automated teller
machines (ATMs), and self-service kiosks.
Terminals
Point-of-sale (POS):
• The point of sale (POS) terminal is an electronic device used to process card
payments at retail locations. Point-of-sale terminals are set up to accommodate
customer purchases of goods and services.
• These computer terminals normally are located in supermarkets, gasoline stations,
and similar places with a link to the banks’ own computer records.
• When a customer of the bank makes a purchase, the amount of the transaction is
deducted from the customer’s deposit account and added to the store’s account.
• The costs of installing POS terminals vary with the size of the business and the terms
from the supplier. Small merchants may have to pay rent for the terminal, as well
as pay an additional per-transaction fee.
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Automated teller machines (ATMs) :
• An Automated Teller Machine, which are more popularly known as ATMs, is a
specialized computer that makes it convenient for bank account holders to manage
their money.
• It provides a way of performing quick and easy transactions on an individual basis.
These machines allow you to undergo self-serviced transactions without the help of
an actual teller and without having to visit the bank branch.
• It allows them to check their account balances, withdraw or deposit money, transfer
money from one account to another, print a statement of account.
Self-service kiosks:
• Self service kiosk is an interactive computer terminal featuring specialized hardware and dedicated
software that provides access to information and applications for communication, commerce,
entertainment or education.
• Integration of technology allows kiosks to perform a wide range of functions in different and new sectors.
For instance, kiosks are now used for paying bills, traffic fines kiosk are also used to perform number of
financial transactions in exchange for merchandise.
Kiosk applications include:
• Public Information Kiosk: Public information kiosks provide convenient services to customers, such as live
message, headline news and store direction, or even searching function.
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• Bill Payment Kiosk: The kiosk serves as an excellent aggregation point for financial services, including
online banking, check cashing, money orders and eCommerce.
• Ticketing Kiosk: For amusement parks, airports, stadiums and lotteries, self-service ticket kiosks are
convenient and saving time.
• Self-Ordering Kiosk: Customers can place an order directly at the kiosk

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 Cloud computing
• Cloud computing is the delivery of computing resources as a
service, meaning that the resources are owned and managed
by the cloud provider rather than the end user.
• Those resources may include anything from browser-based
software applications (such as Tik Tok or Netflix), third party
data storage for photos and other digital media (such as
iCloud or Dropbox), or third-party servers used to support the
computing
infrastructure of a business,
research, or personal
project.
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• This means that you don’t need to worry about hard drives,
main-frames, or where any of this hardware and software is
located.
• Cloud computing is based on service models. These are categorized into three basic
service models which are -
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) : cloud-based services, pay-as-you-go for services such as
storage, networking, and virtualization. It provides access to fundamental resources
such as virtual machines, virtual storage, etc.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) : hardware and software tools available over the internet. It
provides the runtime environment for applications, development and deployment tools,
etc.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) : software that’s available via a third-party over the internet.
This model allows to use software applications as a service to end-users. Examples:
Google Apps, Dropbox

Types of Cloud Computing :

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• Public Cloud: The cloud resources that are owned and operated by a third-party cloud
service provider are termed as public clouds. It delivers computing resources such as
servers, software, and storage over the internet.
• Private Cloud: The cloud computing resources that are exclusively used inside a single
business or organization are termed as a private cloud. A private cloud may physically
be located on the company’s on-site data centre or hosted by a third-party service
provider.
• Hybrid Cloud: It is the combination of public and private clouds, which is bounded
together by technology that allows data applications to be shared between them.
Hybrid cloud provides flexibility and more deployment options to the business.

Embedded computers
• Embedded computer are special purpose computers which are used to control
the activities of large units.
• Embedded computers are incorporated into other devices, rather than being
stand alone computer.
• It is a microprocessor-based system, specially designed to perform a specific
function and belong to a larger system.
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• An embedded system has three components − hardware, application
software and Real Time Operating system (RTOS).
• So we can define an embedded system as a Microcontroller based, software
driven, reliable, real-time control system.
• Embedded devices play a crucial role in the functioning of cars, home
appliances, medical devices, interactive kiosks, and other equipment we use in
our daily lives.
• There are number of products in which embedded computers are used :
mobile phone, television, camera, video recorder, etc

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 Ports and Connections
• Ports is a place through which peripheral devices are attached
to a system unit of computer.
• A Computer Port is an interface or a point of connection
between the computer and its peripheral devices. Some of the
common peripherals are mouse, keyboard, monitor or display
unit, printer, speaker, flash drive etc.
• The main function of a computer port is to act as a point of
attachment, where the cable from the peripheral can be
plugged in and allows data to flow from and to the device.

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• A computer port is also called as a Communication Port as it
is responsible for communication between the computer and
its peripheral device
• Audio and video ports are known as jack.
• Ports have many types of connectors which connects cable to
the peripheral devices.
• Pc have many types of ports like Serial port, Parallel port, USB
port, etc

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80
 Types of ports
1. Serial ports :
• A serial port is basically a serial communication interface through which information transforms one bit at a
time. It is one of the oldest type of interfaces.
• These are basically used for external modems.
• These are basically available in two versions in market these are 9 pin, 25 pin model.
• Data travels at a speed of 115 kilo-bits per second.
• Communication port which is also known as COM port. RS-232 and RS-442 standards are compatible for serial
port.
2. Parallel ports :
• A parallel port is basically a parallel communication interface through which information transforms multiple bits
at a time.
• These are basically used to connect peripherals such as scanner or printers.
• These are also known as printer port.
• These are available in 25 pin model.
• Data travels at a speed of 150 kilo bits per second.
3. PS/2 (Personal System/2) ports :
• These are basically 6 pin mini Din connector used to connect keyboard, mice to a PC compatible computers.
• These are basically used by old computers for connecting mouse or keyboard.
• These are called as mouse port.

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• IBM introduced it in 1987.
• These ports are still favored in organisation for security reason.
• Most of the old computers provide two PS/2 port, each for the mouse and keyboard.
4. USB (Universal Serial Bus) port :
• It is basically a standard cable connection interface between computer and external device. devices such
as external hard disk, printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, etc.
• Basically it can connect all types of external devices to the computer such as mouse, keyboard, printers,
speakers etc.
• It was introduced in 1997.
• Minimum 2 ports are there in every computer system.
• Data basically travels at a speed of 14mb/s which is much faster than serial port.
• The devices that uses USB port gets power from a USB port.
5. VGA Ports :
• VGA connector stands for Video Graphic Array connector, these are basically 15 pin connector available
in many video-cards, computer, projectors etc.
• It is used to connect monitor to computer’s video card.
• These were introduced by IBM in 1987.
• VGA basically utilizes analog signal hence it can only be used to lower resolution or we can say VGA is
only capable of lowering the resolution.
• Similar to the serial port connector. However, serial port connector has pins, VGA port has holes.
6. Firewire Port :
• They are useful for connecting devices which requires faster data transmission speed which includes video
cameras, printers, digital camera etc.
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• Connects camcorders and video equipment to the computer.
• Data travels at 400 to 800 megabits per seconds.
• Invented by Apple.
• It has three variants: 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire 800
connector.
7. Modem Port :
• Connects a PC's modem to the telephone network.
• Ethernet Port
• Connects to a network and high speed Internet.
• Connects the network cable to a computer.
• This port resides on an Ethernet Card.
• Data travels at 10 megabits to 1000 megabits per seconds depending upon the
network bandwidth.
8. Game Port :
• Connect a joystick to a PC
• Now replaced by USB
• Digital Video Interface, DVI port
• Connects Flat panel LCD monitor to the computer's high-end video graphic cards.
• Very popular among video card manufacturers.
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 9. Sockets :
• Sockets connect the microphone and speakers to the sound card of the computer.
10. Special Purpose Ports :
• MIDI (musical instrument digital interface)
• SCSI (small computer system interface) – high speed parallel port for disk drives and
printers
• 1394 or FireWire (like USB port) – connects multiple devices
• IrDA (InfraRed Data Association) – used for wireless connections
• Bluetooth – also used for wireless, uses radio waves

Assignment-1
1. Define computer and explain classification of computer.
2. What is network? explain types of network.
3. Explain www also differentiate www with internet.
4. What is software explain types of software.
5. Differentiate wired and wireless communication.
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6. Discuss in which area technology is used.
7. What is port? Discuss types of ports.
8. What is terminal? Explain its types.
9. Explain types of server in detail 10. What is digital security
explain in brief.
11. Write short note on cloud computing.

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