IT SKILLS FOR TEACHERS
(IST50US)
LECTURER: MRS. E. KAMATI
0818484759 /
[email protected]
Contents
WHAT IS A COMPUTER
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
COMPUTER COMPONENTS
COMPUTER PROCESS
INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL MEMORY
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
What is a computer
Many definitions of what is a computer exists BUT in simple terms:
A computer is an electronic device that receives input in the form of data, process it
according to given program instructions and produces output in the form of
information.
Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of
instructions, or programs.
Computers are made up of Hardware(physical) components and software(internal)
programs
Generation of computers
Based on the characteristics of various computers developed from
time to time, they are categorized as generation of computers.
Generation
of
Computers
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Generation Generation Generation Generation Generation
First Generation
Computers
Second Generation Computers
Third Generation
Computers
Fourth Generation Computers
Fifth Generation
Computers
Currently available
Types of Computers
The four basic types of computers are:
•Mainframe Computer (first generation)
•Minicomputer (second generation)
•Workstation / Servers (third generation)
•Microcomputer (fourth generation)
•Supercomputer (fifth generation)
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.
Supercomputers are used for space exploration, earthquake studies, weather
forecasting and nuclear weapons testing.
Examples:
•IBM’s Sequoia, in United States
•NUDT Tianhe-1A in China
Mainframe Computer
Mainframes are not as powerful as supercomputers, but certainly they were quite
expensive nonetheless, and many large firms & government organizations used
mainframes to run their business operations.
The Mainframe computers can be accommodated in large air-conditioned rooms
because of its size.
Mainframes can also process & store large amounts of data.
Banks, educational institutions & insurance companies used mainframe computers
to store data about their customers, students & insurance policy holders.
Examples:
•Fujitsu’s ICL VME
•Hitachi’s Z800
Minicomputer
Minicomputers were used by small businesses & firms. Minicomputers are also
called as “Midrange Computers”.
These are small machines and can be accommodated on a desk with not as large
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 used Mini-computers
for specific purposes. For example, a production department can use Mini-
computers for monitoring certain production processes.
Examples:
•K-202
•Texas Instrument TI-990
Microcomputer
Desktop computers, laptops, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablets & smartphones 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. 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.
Examples:
• Desktop computers
• Notebooks, PDA’s, Tablet PC’s, Smartphones
Computer System
A computer is made up of components that work together to achieve a common
purpose.
A computer system consists of both hardware components and programs stored on
hardware.
The programs stored on computer hardware are often called software.
The hardware components of a computer system are the electronic and mechanical
parts. (Physical components)
The software components of a computer system are the computer programs. (Set
of instructions, telling hardware what to do)
Components of a Computer
Input Unit - (keyboard, mouse, Scanner, Controller, microphones etc)
Output Unit - (monitor, speakers, projector, printer, plotter etc)
Storage Unit - (hard disk drive, Optical Disks {Compact Disks, Digital Versatile
Disk, Blue Ray}, Flash disks/Memory sticks, External hard disk drive) Floppy disks
and magnetic tapes were used in the 1990s but have phased out.
Memory unit - (Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM))
Central Processing Unit - (Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit,
Registers)
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Components of a Computer
Computer process
• Computers process data through three stages:
• input (data) Process(CPU) Output (information)
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Input Unit
An input is any type of data that you enter into a computer is input
Data and instructions must be entered into the computer system before any
computation can be performed on the supplied data. Input devices are pieces of
hardware that get raw data into the computer and makes it ready for processing.
input devices on a PC
Keyboard - enter text
Mouse - select options entering commands by selecting items
Speakers - for retrieving sound input
Microphone – for entering sound input
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Output Unit
When entered raw data has been processed it becomes usable information.
Output devices are pieces of hardware that send this usable information out of
the computer.
Any information a computer produces is called output
Can see or hear output e.g. speakers, printers, projectors etc.
Examples of Output Devices
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Central Processing Unit
The CPU -- CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. This is the brain of the computer and is
often referred to as the "processor" or the "chip". It is found under a heat sink and fan and
sits directly on the motherboard.
The main unit inside the computer is the CPU. This unit is responsible for all events inside the
computer. It controls all internal and external devices, performs "Arithmetic and Logical
operations".
Software programs are made up of instructions that tell a computer what to do.
The CPU’s task is to read the program instructions and decode/understand them.
The CPU then processes the data according to the program instructions.
The Control Unit, Arithmetic and Logic Unit and the Registers of a computer system are jointly
known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU is the brain of any computer system.
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Motherboard
The motherboard is central to any computer system.
All components plug into the motherboard either directly (straight
into the circuit board) or indirectly (via USB ports).
Once connected to the motherboard, the components can work
together to form the computer system.
Components communicate and send signals to each other via the
BUS Network.
Motherboard
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Random Access Memory
•RAM -- RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and comes as modules in
predefined amounts (4Gb, 8Gb, 16Gb, 32Gb). It is also found directly on the
motherboard and usually in one, two or four slots.
•The memory chips store information, temporarily, for short term use by the
CPU.
•RAM is used to store information for files that are actually being processed by
the CPU at any given time.
•RAM is volatile, as data is stored temporarily and disappears when the computer
switches off.
The computer's RAM memory is an entirely different thing from the hard disk
drive. The hard disk drive stores information "permanently" for long term use.
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RAM Chips
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ROM (Read Only
Memory)
•ROM is used to permanently store instructions that tell the computer how to
boot (start up). It also loads the operating system (e.g. Windows).
•These instructions are known as the BIOS (Basic input/output system) or the
boot program.
•Information stored in ROM is known as READ ONLY. This means that the
contents of ROM cannot be altered or added to by the user.
•ROM is fast memory. Data stored in ROM can be accessed and read very quickly.
•ROM is Non-Volatile memory. This means that stored information is not lost
when the computer loses power.
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ROM
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Hardware
Computer hardware are the physical parts or components of a computer, such as:
Monitor,
Keyboard,
Computer data storage, hard disk drive (HDD),
Graphic card,
Sound card,
Memory (Random Access Memory),
Power Supply
Motherboard, and so on, all of which are tangible physical objects.
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Software
Software components of a computer system have no physical presence, they are
stored in digital form within computer memory. There are different types of
software, including:
system software,
utilities and
applications software.
Types of Software
There are three types of software
System Software
Utility Software
Application Software
System software
System Software is the software used to manage and control the hardware components
of the computer.
It also allows interaction between the hardware components and the other types of
software.
The most obvious type of system software is the computer's operating system but device
drivers are also included within this category.
Device drivers are software programs used to install hardware devices such as printers on
the computer. When device drivers are installed, the computer is able to detect and use
the hardware devices for such drivers.
Examples of operating systems are such as:
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux Ubuntu, Unix, Macintosh, Android, ios.
Utility Software
Utility Software is software used to perform computer management or maintenance
tasks.
Examples are such as
Anti-virus software,
File manager
Firewalls,
Backup software
Disk defragmenters and so on.
These software helps to maintain and protect the computer system but does not directly
interface with the hardware like the operating system.
Application Software
Application software is (also known as 'apps’).
These are designed to allow the user of the system complete a specific task or set of
tasks.
They include programs such as web browsers, Microsoft office software, games and so
on.
They are usually the reason you bought the computer system in the first place and aren't
concerned with the management or maintenance of the system itself.
e.g.
Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft PowerPoint
Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge
Paint, Calculator
