FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER

Application areas/uses of computer

 Bank  Sports
 Communication  Social Media
 Business
 Scientific Research
 Education
 Travel and Ticketing
 Media
 Medical Science and Health
care
 Hardware:
 All the physical components of a computer
 Software
 programs and languages used by the computer

 Data can be in the form of text, graphics, images, Documents, audio,

 Network: can connect your computer to other computers to share
information and hardware components
 Server: It provides services to other computers
 Communication channel: A path or link that connects computers
 Network : LAN/MAN/WAN
 Internet: It is a worldwide collection of public networks that are
linked to each other for information exchange
WWW: World Wide Web (W3)
 Intranet : special type of network to communicate and share
information within the organization.
 Parts of a Computer:
• Input devices
• Output devices
• Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Memory
• Motherboard
• Expansion Cards
• Storage Devices
Input devices
Mouse: Left and a right button.
Keyboard –keyboard on a typewriter. Keyboard is used to type text
Microphone –Used to record sound into a computer.
Scanner – Used to transfer an exact copy of a photograph or
document into a computer
Webcam - Webcam captures and send live pictures to other users
Stylus - Stylus is, similar to a pen, used to make selections and enter
information by tapping on a touch sensitive surface.
Trackball - Trackball is a pointing device, like a mouse, consists of a
ball that is rotated to move the pointer on a computer screen.
Output Devices
Monitor- used to display information in visual form, using text and
graphics. It is like a Television. (CRT,LCD,LED)
Printer- It is used to create a paper copy
Speaker / Headphone – It is used to hear(Audio) sounds.
Motherboard: The motherboard connects input,
output, and processing devices together and tells the
CPU how to run
Expansion Cards: It is a circuit board that can be
attached to a motherboard to add features such as
video display and audio capability to computer.
Types: Video card, Network interface card (NIC),
Sound card(converts audio signals from a microphone,
audio tape, or some other source to digital signals)
• Storage Devices: storage devices to store computer
information
• EX: Hard drive(disk), CD-ROM, floppy disk, DVD-
ROM
• Hard disk: A magnetic disk that is usually the main
storage device on most computers. It can be an
external or an internal device.
• Floppy disk: A portable storage device that allows you
to store a small amount of data. A disadvantage of this
disk is that it can be easily damaged by heat, dust, or
magnetic fields.
CD-ROM: A portable storage medium that allows you to
store 400 times more data than on a floppy disk. It is less
prone to damage than a floppy disk.
DVD-ROM: A portable storage medium that is similar to
a CD-ROM; however, it can store larger amounts of data
than a floppy disk or a CD-ROM. A DVD-ROM is
commonly used to store movies and videos
 Ports and Connections
• A port is a channel through which data is transferred
between input/output devices and the processor
• Universal serial bus (USB) port: You use this to connect
peripheral devices such as a mouse, a modem, a keyboard,
or a printer to a computer
• FireWire: You use this to connect devices such as a digital
camera
• Network port: You use this to connect a computer to other
computers to exchange information between the
computers
• Parallel port and serial port: You use these ports to connect printers
and other devices
• Display adapter: The display adapter generates the video signal
received from a computer, and sends it to a monitor through a cable.
It may be on the motherboard.
• Power: A motherboard and other components inside a computer use
direct current (DC).
 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
• A computer system is a programmable machine designed
to perform arithmetic and logical operations to produce
meaningful results in desired format
• A computer system is into 3 units –
1. Input Unit,
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3. Output Unit.
 Block diagram of a Computer system

CPU
CU
INPUT OUT PUT
ALU MU

Storage
CPU Divided in 3 Parts
• CU(Control Unit): It receives each and every instruction
from user and coordinates between different parts to
perform various operations
• Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU):- It performs all the
mathematical and logical calculations
• Memory Unit: - It is a temporary storage where small
amount of data is stored while other operations are
being performed.
 BIOS (Basic Input Output
System)
• The essential instructions written and stored by the
manufacturer to load operating system and take care of
basic input/output operations is referred as BIOS
 RAM ROM
Random Access Read Only Memory
Memory
It is temporarily store Permanent memory
commands and data

It is volatile It is non-volatile
 TYPES OF COMPUTERS
• Depending on the size and the purpose of a personal
computer, it can be categorized into four different
types
1. Desktop
2. Laptop
3. Handheld
4. Tablet.
 Desktop computers
• Desktop computers are made up of individual
components such as a monitor, a keyboard, a system
unit
• Desktop computers are not portable
• It’s placed on the surface of a desk or a table.
• Desktop computers run on electricity or UPS
 Laptop computers
• Laptop computers are lightweight personal
computers.
• Laptop made up of internal Components such as a
monitor, a keyboard, a system unit
• Laptop computers are smaller in size as compared to a
desktop computer
• Laptop computers small and portable.
• laptop computers run on electricity or on battery
Handheld computers
• Handheld computers are devices used for
specific everyday tasks, such as managing
personal data
• smaller than laptops
 Tablet computers
• Tablet computers are fully functional computers that
allow you to write directly on the screen by using a
tablet pen
• tablet pen to perform mouse functions
• Tablet computers, therefore, do not need a keyboard
and a mouse.
Role of Memory
• It stores data in the memory (Holds the Data)
• Bit: A single bit can hold only one of two values, 0
or 1.
Memory Unit Relationship with Earlier
Memory Unit

Kilo Byte (KB) 1 KB = 1024 Bytes

Mega Byte (MB) 1 MB = 1024 KB
Giga Byte (GB) 1 GB = 1024 MB
Tera Byte (TB) 1 TB = 1024 GB
 Computer Performance
• CPU speed – The CPU speed is the rate at which the CPU can
perform a task, such as moving data to and from RAM, or performing
a numerical calculation. A computer with the faster CPU completes a
task more quickly
• Harddisk factors – Speed and size of the harddisk play an important
role when a program needs to process large volumes of data.
Harddisks differ in storage capacities, speed of data storage and
retrieval. If the speed of data retrieval is fast, the computer takes
less time to start and to load programs
• RAM - The computer uses RAM (Random Access Memory) to store
the information that is currently in use. If the amount of RAM is
large enough to hold all of the information in use, this can result in
faster computer performance.
 Productivity Programs
• programs to perform a variety of tasks
1.Word-processing and publishing programs:- It is used to
create and modify text-based documents. MS Word is a
commonly used word-processing program. Publishing Programs
are used to combine text and graphics to create documents
such as brochures, greeting cards, books etc.
2.Presentation Programs:- It is used to present your
information in the form of slides. We can add sound and
pictures to these slides to make them more attractive and
informative. MS Powerpoint is a commonly used presentation
program.
• 3. Spreadsheet Programs:- It is used to create results,
timetables, budgets, perform mathematical calculations,
making charts and graphs etc. MS Excel is an example of
spreadsheet program.
• 4. Database Programs:- It is used to store and manage data in
an organized way. We can also create simple reports from the
data we have stored. An example of Database program is MS
Access.
• 5. Graphics Programs:- It is used to create and edit
drawings. It is also used to enhance photographs. The
Paint Program is an example of a graphics program.
Communication Programs
• Computers use special programs called communication
programs that allow you to send and receive messages with
other people in a digital format
• E-mail – Electronic Mail
• Exchange of messages from one computer user to
another computer user.
• To send an e-mail message, you must have an Internet
connection and an e-mail account.
• EX: [email protected]
• A domain name identifies the name and type of
organization
• Sending and receiving e-mail messages is an instant way
of communicating with anyone.
• It only takes a few seconds to send and receives an e-
mail.
• Receiver of the e-mail may or may not be available at
the time of receiving of the e-mail.
• E-mail is stored in his/her e-mail account inbox folder.
He/She can read the e-mail at any time
• Chat – It allows you to send and receive messages immediately.
• Chat programs can be used to communicate with several people
at the same time.
• When you are chatting with someone, the person on the other
end receives the message and send the reply immediately.
• voice chat
• video chat
 keyboard
A set of keys that resembles a keyboard on a typewriter. You
use the keyboard to type text such as letters or numbers into
the computer
Function Keys – Keys labeled from F1 to F12 are function keys.
* use them to perform specific functions.
Special Keys – Keys, such as Control (CTRL) , SHIFT , SPACEBAR,
ALT , CAPS LOCK and TAB are special keys.
* The special keys perform special functions depending on
when and where they are used. WINDOWS LOGO key is also
a special key which is used to open Start Menu
Punctuation Keys: :,.?/!” { [
COMMAND Keys – Keys such as INSERT (INS), DELETE (DEL), and
BACKSPACE are command keys.
• INSERT key is used to write letters to the right of the cursor and
DELETE and BACKSPACE keys are used to remove typed text
NAVIGATION Keys –arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP and PAGE
DOWN are navigation keys.
ALPHABET keys – These keys are used for entering letters. (A to Z)
NUMERIC keys - These keys are used for entering numbers. (0 to 9)
 Mouse
• Mouse have at least two buttons, left and right
• The right button is used for specific functions
• left button to select items and provide instructions by clicking an
active area
 COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEMS
It manages and controls the hardware connected to a
computer.
It helps other programs running on a computer to use the
hardware.
It helps you organize and manage files and folder on the
computer.
It provides a user interface that allows you to interact with
the hardware, the operating system itself, and other
programs
• An operating system controls how programs work
with each other and how they interact with the
computer hardware. It also creates the file system
that determines how your data is stored within a
storage device.
• Example: Windows Vista, Windows 2008,Windows 7,
Windows 8, Windows 10,Linux, Unix, Ubuntu etc.
 Desktop
• A desktop is a computer display area of windows that contains
various objects
• My Computer or Computer – it contains all the storage areas of the computer
• Recycle Bin – it contains all the deleted content of the computer.
• My Network Places or Network – it contains the information of interconnected
computers.
• My Documents or Documents – it contains a common area to store various
types of files on the computer.
• Icons – The pictures that we see on the desktop screen are called
icons.
• Taskbar – At the bottom of the desktop, there is a bar which is
known as taskbar, left side of which may contain a Start button,
date, time and active device information
• Shortcuts – Shortcuts are the direct links to help the user to start
the application, which may be stored anywhere on the computer.
• Help and Support – It provides documented form of help
information to work on the computer.
• Search – It help to search for an applications or a file.
• Settings – It helps to customize various settings (Display,
Hardware, Software etc. ) of the computer.
• Documents – It provides quick links to all recent documents,
which were opened modified recently on the computer.
• Folder
• Rename/Edit
• Delete
 PERFORMING BASIC FILE
OPERATIONS
• Format that defines the way data is stored in the file
• doc/.docx ( word documents)
• .txt (Note pad)
• .xlsx (Excel)
• .gif/.jpg (image files)
• .exe (executable files)
• .wma and other (multimedia file)
• File – File is a collection of related information.
• Folder – We can organize files using folder. Different files can
be stored in a folder
• Folder Creation
• Rename/ Edit
• Copy & Paste
• Cut & Paste
• Delete
• Short Keys
THE INTERNET
1. Internet is used to communicate with people all around the
world instantaneously.
2. It helps us to get the latest information on the current events.
3. You can search information on any topic.
4. You can study online and get certification of courses you opt.
5. Internet is a great source of entertainment. We can listen to
music, play games, watch movies or share pictures etc.
6. We can buy and sell products online.
7. We can perform banking transactions.
Requirements of an Internet connection
• 1. A Computing Device:.
• 2. A Connection Device:
• 3. ISP: