BY ERNIKHIL SIR Computer System 1.7 INTRODUCTION Today's world is an information-rich world and it has become a necessity for everyone to know about computers and the latest technology. Nowadays, everything around us involves technology, primarily computers, whether it is withdrawal of money from the ATMs, online shopping, e-learning, ticket reservation for railways and airlines, payment of telephone or electricity bills, diagnosis of diseases or searching for information on the internet. Even a student's life revolves around smartphones, whether it is email, web surfing, downloading or uploading information, connecting to social networking sites, clicking photos, and so on. In short, computer has made a great impact on us and has become an integral part of our lives. The computer's capability to process, store, and retrieve data and information has made it an integral part of all kinds of environment—home, office or business, The widespread use of computer has made it imperative for us to have knowledge about it, its advantages and disadvantages, and its internal structure. So, technically, a computer is defined as an electronic device that takes input from the user in the form of data and instructions, processes this data and produces result (output) as information, ‘ETM: A computer is an electronic device that accepts a set of instructions in the form of a program, executes it and displays the output to the user. Thus, working of a computer can be expressed as an equation given below: Data_]—» [Processing Fig. 1.1: Data, Processing and Information Here, data is defined as raw facts or figures such as 106, “Shaurya’, “Class 11”. This data does not have any meaning when presented as such. However, this data can be organized or processed to transform it into useful information.MUCUS Tec Ue BY ER NIKHIL SIR I é . information is defined as a collection of data which is organized in a particular manner tg aeicrate meaningful or processed data. For example, “Shaurya is a Class 11 student with enrolment number 106”. This is a processed data which gives some meaningful information, Therefore, a computer takes input in the form of data and generates output in the form of information. This process of converting data into some meaningful information is calle Information Processing Cycle, which we will discuss now. 1,2 BASIC COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM Computer is a combination of hardware and software, Hardware is the physical components of a - computer like motherboard, memory devices, monitos, keyboard, etc., while software is a set of programs or [ Sottware | instructions. Fig. 1.2: Components of Computer System Both hardware and software together make the computer system function. Let us first have a look at the functional components of a computer. Every task given to a computer follows an Input-> Process-> Output Cycle (IPO cycle). It accepts certain input, processes that input and produces the desired output. The input unit takes the input, the central processing w does the processing of data and the output unit produces the output. The memory unit holds the data and instructions during the processing, Fig. 1.4 below shows the basic structure of a computer. It is also known as Von Neumann Architecture. A computer receives data and instructions through “Input Devices” which get processed by the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the result is shown through “Output Devices". The “Main/Primary Memory” and “Secondary/Auxiliary Memory” are used to store data inside the computer. The main memory holds the input and intermediate output during the processing. Let us discuss each unit/component in detail. CPU (Central Processing Unit) Fig. 1.4: Functional Components of a Computer SystemBY ER NIKHIL 1.2.1 Input Unit {An input unit takes/accepts input and converts it into binary form so that it can be understood by the computer: The computer input constitutes data and instructions. ‘The input unit comprises input devices attached to the computer. These devices accept input from the user and convert it into a form that can be understood by the computer (i.e. code/form). The term “Binary” means two states—ON/OFF or HIGH/LOW voltage turn, two bits or symbols, 1 for ON and 0 for OFF. input unit fetches the input and converts it into binary form which is directly understood by | the computer. | ow discuss the most extensively used input devices, Let us ni 1. Keyboard: The most commonly used input device is a keyboard which directly enters data in the form of letters, digits and commands into the computer. ‘A computer keyboard possesses additional keys in contrast to a traditional typewriter, such as function keys, alphanumeric keys, direction keys, and other keys (special and lack keys). 2. Mouse: A mouse is a pointing device with a roller at its base, used for moving a pointer on a computer monitor. It converts the movements of the user's hand into a unique set of binary digits representing the position of the mouse at a particular instant. When a user moves a mouse across @ flat surface, the pointer moves in the direction of the mouse’s movement. 3. Light Pen: A light pen is a pointing device that can be used to select anything on the computer screen by simply pointing at it or for drawing figures directly on the screen. It consists of 4 Photocell mounted on a pen-shaped tube and is capable of sensing a position on the screen when its tip touches the screen. Clicking is performed by pressing the pen on the screen. A light pen is mostly used by engineers, architects or designers. 4. Optical Mark Reader (OMR): An OMR is capable of recognizing pre-specified type of mark made with a dark pencil or ink. Special pre-printed forms are designed with boxes that can be marked with a dark pencil or ink. Such a document is read by an OMR, which transcribes the marks into electrical pulses that are transmitted to the computer. This technology is called Optical Mark Recognition (OMR). itis commonly used for grading specially-designed MCQ answer sheets and in areas whe:~ ff alternatives and the volume of data to be responses are one out of a small number o processed is large. 5. Smart Card Reader: A smart card is embedded witha microprocessor that can hold a certain amount of personal data in its memory. The special reader machine that is used to read this microprocessor is known as smart card reader, The card is made of plastic, generally PVC. Smart cards are used as ATM cards, ID-cards, credit cards and debit cards. They are used in banking and medical sector, and in Jarge companies for strong security authentication. a = — 3 Ssy der: A bar code is @ collection or a sequence iam SR ights and widths that are printed on various types 6. Bar Code Rea fe that reads these bar codes is called a bar of different hei eY of products. The machin: code reader. \ .s and a light sensor which translates Ir consists ofa light source. len ' optical impulses into ‘electrical signals. Also, it contains decoder circuitry which analyzes the bar code’s image data and sends the bar code’s content to the scanner’s output port. 7, QR Code Reader: QR Code is an abbreviation for Quick Response Code It is a special kind of bar code that anybody can scan with a ‘Smartphone App that usually directs the Use to a website. QR Codes have gained popularity in commercial marketing because they are very easy to handle. Rather than typing in an entire web address, the veer merely scans the code and is directed for processing toa website, ge, calendar event, locations and more, SMS message, email address, email messa 8. Biometric Sensor: It is an input device that is used to uniquely identify a person on the basis of physical oF behavioural traits. ‘A biometric sensor can scan human characteristics, such as eyes, fingerprints, and DNA. It is commonly used to mark attendance of employees/students in an organization/institution. It is also popular as a security device to provide restricted entry In secured areas. splay screen which allows interaction sensitive transparent panel covering termediate device. The touch screen touch the screen with Touch Screen: It is a type of di with computer through a touch the entire screen without any in uses a technology that enables the users to fingers to select objects. Touch screens are mostly found \e in systems where users need to choose options from a list, This facility is usually found in public such as Automated Teller Machine (ATM), shopping malls, s, airports and in mobile devices. Amicrophone is an input device used works with a sound card and is mainly used places, amusement park: 10. Microphone: data to a computer. It for sound recording. to provide audio Eee ar ore 1.2.2 Central Processing Unit (GPU) Te er * i esol cesta of a computer, It directs and governs all the processing ce inside the computer. The CPU consist: a nsists of two components—ALU and CU—that A. Arithmetic Logic Unit a ane Elo Unie (ALU); All calculations and comparisons are made in this unit. The ihe onary ecb hmetic G, -,*, [and logical (>, <, >=, <=, <>) operations, sent from eine its ream ents (addition, subtraction, etc.) and the result is i sul z at ips te Copier decent oie logical operations is either true or false and arseBY ERNIK B. Control Unit (CU): The CU controls the flow of data from input devices to memory and from memory to output devices. It controls and guides the interpretation, flow and manipulation of all data and information, It does not actually pracess the data; instead, it sends control signals to ALU and memory for carrying out the required operations. C. Registers: These are high-speed temporary stora; work as per the instructions given by the contr: data immediately required for performing an operation, s priority jobs/data inside registers for faster excllon/preceeann Nene fit at different sizes (16 bit, 32 bit, 64 bit and so on) and each register inside the CPU hey specific function like storing data, storing an instruction, storing address of a Iecation in memory, etc. Learning Tip: Control Unit (cu) Controls all the functions like ‘Input. cutput, storage and process. It instructs ALU which operation 1s t0 be carried out. ie areas found in the CPU, Registers 0} unit (CU), storing instructions and 1.2.3 Memory Unit (MU) Memory unit (Primary/Main Memory) is used as a storage unit for program as well as data. The memory can be both primary and secondary depending upon its location in the computer system. The main or primary memory stores information (data and instructions). ‘The memory unit or main memory is divided in (a) Random Access Memory (RAM) (b) Read Only Memory (ROM) > RAM (Random Access Memory) Itisa read/write memory as itis possible to both read from and write to location within RAM. Itis used for primary storage in computers to hold active information of data and instructions. The RAM isa volatile memory as it loses its contents when the power is switched off or interrupted. > ROM (Read Only Memory) It isa read-only memory, je, the data and instructions are placed in the ROM at the time of its manufacturing and can’t be changed thereafter, ROM is slower than RAM and is used to hold certain essential instructions to check basic hardware components such as booting, procedures to load operating system, and frequently-needed functions. Fig. 1.5: RAM (Random Access Memory) 1.6: ROM (Read Only Memory) > Cache Memory Cache memory is a small memory that operates much faster than the primary memory or RAM. When the CPU requires certain data present fn RAM (primary memory), it first sends the request to the cache [Fig, 1.7 (a)], which Fig. 1.7(a}: Cache Memory 3 3 8—q BY ER NIKHIL SIR stores recently-used values. Since cache memory is placed between CPU and maj memory, it makes this data available to the CPU very quickly by sending the data is CPU instead of main memory and, thus, reduces access time significantly, thereby improving the overall performance of the computer. It is also called CPU memory that a computer microprocessor can access more quickly, than it can access regular RAM [Fig. 1.7(b)]. This memory is typically intograteg directly with the CPU chip or placed on a separate chip that has a separate bus interconnect with the CPU. Cache ~ | | | Memory | «<> RAM — Hrd disk ‘ | } | cpu Fig. 1.7(b}: Placement of Cache Memory inside CPU “CIM: Cache Memory.also called CPU memory, isa high-speed memory available inside the CPU in order to speed up access to data and instructions stored in RAM. + Units of Memory The elementary unit of memory is a bit. A bit stands for binary digit, i.e., either 0 or 4, which is an elementary unit of computer memory. Combinations of these bits together are used to store the data and instructions. Bight bits together form 1 byte and a group of four bits is called a Nibble. ‘Table 1.1 shows the computer memory units used till date. Table 1.1: Computer Memory Units 1. Binary Digit 1 Bit = 2 Byte 1 Byte = 8 Bits S ee Kilo Byte (KB) 1 KB = 1024 Bytes = 4. Mega Byte (MB) 1 MB = 1024 KB - es. Giga Byte (GB) 1GB = 1024 MB 7 6. Tera Byte (TB) 178 = 1024 GB ie. Peta Byte (PB) 1PB=10247B 8 —_-Exa Byte (EB) 1 EB = 1024 PB 9, Zetta Byte (28) 12B = 1024 EB 18 = 1024 ZB 10. Yorta Byte (YB) nn Bronto Byte (Brontobyte) _1 Bronto Byte = 1024 YB fd 12. Geop Byte (Geopbyte) 1 Geop Byte = 1024 Brontabytes 1.2.4 Output Unit Output unit is formed by the output devices attached to the computer. Output devices produce the output generated by the CPU in human readable form. These devices can also be used to store the results for future use.BY ER NIKHIL ‘The commonly used output devices are explained as under: > Visual Display Unit (VDU)/Monitor: The monitor, popularly known as screen, is the most common device for displaying the output of the computer-processed information. It displays information in the same way as it is seen on a television screen, The monitor is also called Visual Display Terminal (VDT) or Visual Display Unit (VDU). Its display may be CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), Plasma or touch-sensitive. CCTM: A monitor is termed as an Input as well as an Output device, > LCD Screen (Television): A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is smaller and lighter in weight as compared to a CRT monitor and, hence, ideal for use in laptops, palmtops and other portable devices. + Printer: A printer is an output device which is used to generate hard copies (printout) of 1 the output generated by the computer system. The printer can generate both text and images on paper. Printers are classified as Impact (there is a mechanical contact between printer head and paper) and Non-impact Printers (no mechanical contact between printer head and paper). The various types of printers are as follows: (i) Dot Matrix Printer: A dot matrix printer (also known as Serial printer) prints one character at a time. It uses dots to create an image. This printer prints characters by striking an ink- soaked ribbon against the paper and, hence, is termed as Impact Printer. These printers have low operating costs and can be used to generate carbon copies also. (ii) Inkjet/Deskjet/Bubble Jet Printers: An inkjet printer is the most common type of low-cost printer. It uses the technique of spreading quick dry ink on paper. The ink is stored in the form of cartridges of different colours (red, green, black and yellow). These printers generate high quality prints and are ideal for small offices and homes. Laser Printers: These printers use laser technology to produce printed dacuments. They are very fast and are used for high quality =~ — Speakers: A speaker is a type of output device that generates sound as an output. For a speaker to produce sound, a special device called sound card is required to be installed in the computer system, CT ch > Plotters: Plotters are output devices that are used for producing Bood quality images and -drawings. Unlike printers, they support printing of large-sized papers. They are mainly used in computer-aided design (CAD).BYER mate 1.3 SECONDARY MEMORY Secondary storage devices are used to store a large amount of data ee rie is not Possible by using the primary or main memory. The amount ob dee a a a ai i defineg as Disk Capacity, which is measured in terms of bytes, kilobytes ( . ), megabyt | and so on. Some of the common secondary storage devices are as a ln ace caning om roa isk: -volatile, high capacity storag a © reer tess tsi onde di pocket on ave ate meeps magnetic material and sealed inside a case. It does not get lost or damaged by andling, as a hard disk is generally fixed inside the computer. / Data is stored on the platters in tracks, sectors and cylinders to keep it organized and to make it easier to find. Platter Spindle (Disk diving motor) wack Head Spindle ‘Actuator axis Platter Boom | sector actuator Cylinder i HOD Case Read/Write ‘Actuator Head acm Fig. 1.8: Hard Disk and its Major Components + Track: Each platter is divided into concentric rings called “tracks”. There are thousands of tracks on each platter. A track is divided into segments of sectors which is the basic unit of storage. * Sector: Each track is divided into sectors. A sector, as a rule, holds 512 bytes of data. + Cylinder: A cylinder consists of a set of tracks described by all the heads (on separate platters) at a single seek position. Each cylinder is equidistant from the centre of the disk. (b) Blu-ray Disk: A Blu-ray Disk (BD) is a high-capacity optical disk medium developed for recording, rewriting and playing back high definition video. It can store large amounts of data and was designed to supersede the ~BVD. Bhu-ray disks support higher resolutions and more advanced video and audio formats as compared to DVDs. () Compact Disk (CD): It is a thin optical disk which is commonly used to store audio and video data. The capacity of standard 120mm CD 's 700MB, Transfer speed is mentioned as a multiple of 150 KB/s, for example, 4X means 600 KB/s. (UES teeta ene eae et(a) Magnetic Tapes: In this, magnetic coatings are stored as data on a thin tape, Earlier, this medium was used for archival purposes, ¢ (e) DVD: Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc is an optical disc storage device. It can be recorded on single side or on double side Its capacity may range from 4.7 GB to 8.5 GB. : (f)_ USB Pen Drive: It is a small, portable memory which can be plugged into a computer with USB Port. Its capacity is less than that of a hard disk but much more than a floppy or a CD. Also called a pen drive, it is more reliable. (g) Memory Cards: These are data storage devices mainly used with digital cameras, computers, mobile phones, music players, video game console, etc. Memory cards offer high recording ability with power-free storage. 1.4 COMMUNICATION BUS Acommunication bus is a collection of wires that transfer data between computer components, fe, carry binary information to and from input/output devices and memory. It usually transmits binary numbers, one bit per wire. The bus system in computer is made up of three types of buses: 1, Address Bus 2. Data Bus 3. Control Bus System bus Fig. 1.9: Communication Bus System > Address Bus: Address bus system is used to specify address of a data/memory location. CPU is connected to main memory by a set of parallel wires, which is the address bus and carries address to Memory Address Register (MAR). The width of a bus determines the number of memory locations that can be addressed. Address bus consists of 16 wires, thus it consumes 16 bits, ie., its width is 16 bits. For example, a 64-bit address bus can transfer 2“ memory locations/addresses. > Data Bus; Data bus carries data in binary form. It is an 8-bit bus to transfer data from one place/component to another in a computer system. The size of data bus from memory to CPU equals the number of bits in an instruction called CPU word length. Also, number of parallel wires is called bus width, as it depends on number of bits. Computer System > Control Bus: Control bus carries instructions to carry out operations such as Read from/Write to memory and its associated input-output (1/0) operations.Ri08- bere 1.5 CONCEPT OF OPERATING SYSTEM An operating system isa program that acts as an interface between the user and hardware of the computer as shown in Fig, 1.10, The OS helps to manage resources ‘of the computer and optimize its performance. An OS is the first program to be executed on a computer after the BIOS. OS performs all basic tasks such as identifying basic input/output devices, accepting input from the input devices, sending results to the output devices, Keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling other peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. 110: Operating System CCTM: An operating system is an integrated set of specialized programs that is used to manage the overall operations of a computer. tt acts as an interface between the user, computer hardware and software, Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs. DOS (Disk Operating System), UNIX, LINUX and Windows are some of the commonly-used operating systems, Need for an Operating System The operating system is an essential component of the system software inside a computer system. The need for an operating system is described below: 1. User Interface: Operating system provides instructions to prepare user interface, ie, the way to interact with the user either through GUI (Graphical User Interface) or command prompts. 2. Program Execution: Operating system loads necessary programsinto the computer memory which are required for its proper functioning. 3. Resource Allocation: Operating system controls and allocates the system resources like CPU time, memory (RAM), etc. 4. Manipulation of File System: Operating system manages the method format in which information is stored on and retrieved from the hard disk. 5. 1/0 Operations: Operating system handles all the input-output (1/0) operations. 6. Error Detection: Operating system performs the crucial function of error detection and handling. 7. Operating system controls the various system hardware and software resources. ‘and allocates them to the users or programs as per their requirement. ETc na te a Operating system, therefore, performs several functions such as Process Management, Memory Management, File Management and Device Management. Teas 0S as a Resource Manager Operating system is responsible for allocating resources to specific programs to complete their task. en 2 computer has multiple users, the need for managing and controlling the resources (like memory fil, devices, ec) is even greater. Operating system keeps track of who is usingBY ER NIKHI which resource, grants resource request and handles the same request from different users and programs. Thus, operating system as a resource manager manages and protects multiple computer resources: CPU, Processor, Internal/External memory, Tasks, Applications, Users, Communication channels, etc. It handles and allocates resources to multiple users or multiple programs running at the same time and space (eg., processor time, memory, 1/0 devices). It also decides between conflicting requests (or efficient and fair resource use (for example, maximize throughput, minimize response time). Resource management constitutes multiplexing (sharing) resources. It is carried out in two different manners: + Time multiplexing ‘+ Space multiplexing Computer System VO Devices Memory Operating 0 Controller © Printers, ‘System Kepboanis Softwar Digital camera, ve 10 controler ef} +. Diath camera Programs : and Data : s 10 Controller }#}—————»>> Processor| **+| Processor Storage os Programs Data Fig. 1.11: OS as a Resource Manager In time multiplexing, CPU time gets shared among different programs, or users use it by turn. Consider a situation where different programs give command to print at the same time. Time resource manager manages the task and determines who will go next and for how long. Programs or users take turns, ie, only one at a time. Thus, the multiple print commands lined up on a single printer shall be carried out one by one. In space multiplexing, instead of completing one by one, each one gets some part of the resource, Main memory is divided amongst several running programs. OS assumes enough memory to hold multiple programs as it is more efficient to hold several programs at once rather than allocating all the memory to a single user. vv| BY ER NIKHIL SiR The Program Loader A loader is a part of an operating system, Ze., a system software program that is responstpyy for loading programs and libraries from secondary storage devices Into main memory. It is ong of the essential stages in the process of starting a program as it places programs into memory and prepares‘them for execution. Loading a program involves reading the contents of the executable file containing the program instructions into memory, and then carrying out other required preparatory tasks to prepare the executable file for running. Once loading is complete, the operating system starts the program by passing control to the loaded program code. Memory | Object Executable program Code ready for execution =H Fig. 1.12: Role of Loader and Linker 1.6 TRANSITION FROM CALCULATOR TO COMPUTER TO SMART DEVICES Electronic devices have become an integral part of our lives and people depend on them for the purpose of collecting information and solving problems. The two most important tools in this category that have made our lives easier are a computer and a calculator. A computer is a desktop device which can be used for several purposes. A calculator is a small device that can perform all the basic arithmetic tasks and operations that help people in solving complex numbers and numericals. Computers and calculators are similar in the sense that both are calculating devices. However, there is a difference between a computer and a calculator. Before the advent of computers, calculators were the tools that were made use of by the students to do computation while solving math problems. Not that they are not used these days; in fact, by the time we switch on the computer, we would complete the operation on a calculator. However, calculators can carry out only one function at a time. Even when we have to solve a small problem, we need to press a number of buttons to arrive at the solution. On the contrary, a computer is capable of carrying out many operations at the same instant. Computer programs are a series of instructions that are given to a computer to perform complex calculations without any further assistance. So, if the right program is installed on a computer, we do not need to tell the computer what to do next as it can perform all the steps required in getting i the answer. It will come up with the answer at lightning speed without having to press any uuttons. CGE Sarr Pee UN er LetFig. 1.13: Transition from Calculator to Computer Thus, the subtle differences in the working of a calculator and that of a computer can be decribed as follows: 1. Acomputer is an electronic device which is capable of receiving information and performing a sequence of operations based on the instructions given to it to produce a result in the form of output. A calculator is a device used for mathematical calculations and has a small keyboard and display screen that shows the results. 2. The first computers were developed in the 1960's, whereas the first calculators were introduced in the 17th century. 3. Acomputer has the capacity to perform calculations and other logical functions, whereas a calculator only performs arithmetic and geometrical operations. juter is bigger in size and is not that easy to carry, whereas a calculator is small and 4. Acompi gg y small and fits in the pocket. 5. Acomputer is costly and is priced at % 10,000 onwards, whereas a calculator is cheaper and costs % 200 onwards. = Se 6. Acalculator only carries out one action ata time, whereas a computer can perform several functions ata time. 7. A computer has a large memory and stores data in several megabytes, whereas a calculator is smaller'in memory and stores only one calculation. ‘Thus, it can be concluded that the transition from a calculator to a computer system requires: > Extended hardware support such as devices required for input, processing and for generation and display of the output obtained with better screen sizes and enhanced display support. Ahigh-performance CPU that can do multitasking and can handle several types of operations Integrated software support which signifies the execution of different tasks through user- friendly graphical environment and a strong operating system (0S). > Programmability which ensures programming the computer system as a versatile machine for handling multiple operations. High memory capacity and storage. Provision of sufficient power to runall the programs with a complete set of software, utilities and hardware support. Computer SystemBY ER NIKHIL ol 1.6.1 Transition from computers to smart devices ; In recent years, we have observed major transition from computers to cant fate with the vision to make machines smart enough to reduce human labour to. al 8 et ie 7 of inter-connected devices where the devices are smart enough to share information With us, to -Sloud-hased applications and to each other (device to device). ‘Smart devices or “Connected devices” as they are commonly called, are designe n aa ai way that they capture and utilize every bit of data which you share or use in oes ' ese devices will use this data to interact with you on daily basis and complete tasks: This i wave of connectivity is going beyond laptops and smartphones, it’s going towards connected cars, smart homes, connected wearables, smart cities and connected health care. These devices will bridge the gap between physical and digital world to improve the quality and productivity of life, society and industries. With JOT (Internet of Things) catching up Smart homes is the most awaited feature, with brands already getting into the competition with smart applicances. Wearables are another feature trending second on the internet. With the launch of Apple Watch and more devices to flow in, these connected devices are going to keep us hooked wi iehthe inter-connected world. 1.7 TROUBLESHOOTING WITH PARTS OF A COMPUTER While working on a computer system, at times you observe some issues with its smooth funetioning. Do you know what to do if your screen goes blank? What if you can't seem to close an application, or can’t hear any sound from your speakers? Whenever you have a problem with your computer, there are many basic troubleshooting techniques you can use to fix issues like this. Most of the time, problems can be fixed using simple troubleshooting techniques, like closing and reopening the program. It's important to try these simple solutions before resorting to more extreme measures. If the problem still isn't fixed, you can try other troubleshooting techniques. (1) Problem: Power button will not start computer + Solution 1: If your computer does not start, begin by checking the power cord to confirm that it is plugged securely into the back of the computer case and the power outlet. * Solution 2: If it is plugged into an outlet, make sure it is a working outlet. To check your outlet, you can plug in another electrical device, such as a Jamp. * Solution 3: If you are using a laptop, the battery may not be charged. Plug the AC adapter into the wall, then try to turn on the laptop. If it still doesn’t start up, you may need to wait a few minutes and try again. CUE eae PANU dF () Problem: An application is running slowly + Solution 1: Close and reopen the application. * Solution 2: Update the application. To do this, click the Help menu and look for an Option to check for Updates. If you don’t find this option, another idea is to run an online search for application updates.an) avy) problem: An application is frozen Sometimes an application may become stuck, or frozen. When this happens, you won't be able to close the window or click any buttons within the application. + Solution 1: Force quit the application. Ona PC, you can press (and hold) Ctrl+Alt+Delete (the Control, Alt, and Delete keys) on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. OnaMac, pressandhold Command+Option+Esc. You can then select the unresponsive application and click End task (or Force Quit on a Mac) to close it. + Solution 2: Restart the computer: If you are unable to force quit an application, restarting your computer will close all open apps. Problem: The computer is frozen Sometimes your computer may become completely unresponsive, or frozen. When this happens, you won't be able to click anywhere on the screen, open or close applications, or access shut-down options. + Solution 1 (Windows only): Restart Windows Explorer. To do this, press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. Next, locate and select Windows Explorer from the Processes tab and click Restart. You may need to click More Details at the bottom of the window to see the Processes tab. Servet Hote LoatSanie ) (2 Senco cal ee (Me, » Gy Sania Howe Loe Saee et ‘Senice Hons Loc Serco, (i Serie Hore to Sater (3) te Hot Lea Sytem et Seve Hoe Newer Seen te) (BD Sevee Hore tate Saice 12) Since es Fama Procedan, 1 Semcesand Cone app Computer Systemrina evo els Lee pv ennsn sol on. The Power button is usually locateg ically indicated by the power symboj, ‘onds to force the computer tp + Solution 2: Press and hold the Power butt oon the front or side of the computer, tyPl Press and hold the Power button for 5 to 10 sec shut down. you can unplug the power cable * Solution 3: Ifthe computer still won't shut down, you may be able to remove the From the electrical outlet. If you're using 2 laptoPy battery to force the computer to turn off. uld be your last resort after trying the other suggestions Note: This solution shot above. (¥) Problem: The mouse or keyboard has stopped working « Solution 1: If you're using a wired mouse oF keyboard, make sure it’s correctly plugged into the computer. « Solution 2: ifyou're using a wireless mouse and that its batteries are charged. or keyboard, make sure it's turned on (VI) Problem: The sound isn't working level. Clic! to make sure the sounc ic the audio button in the top-right or « Solution 1: Check the volume I d is turned on and that bottom-right corner of the screen the volume is up. « Solution 2: Check the audio player contro! their own separate audio controls. Make sure the sound i volume is turned up in the player. 1s. Many audio and video players willhave is turned on and that the =” «Solution 3: Check the cables. Make sure external speakers are plugged in, turned on, and connected to the correct audio port or a USB port. If your computer has color-coded ports, the audio output port will usually be green. «Solution 4: Connect headphones to the computer to find out ifyou can hear sound through the headphones. (Vi) Problem: The screen is blank { + Solution 1: The computer may be in Sleep mode, Click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard to wake it. + Solution 2: Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on. + Solution 3: Make sure the computer is plugged in and turned on. «+ Solution 4: If you're using a desktop, make sure the monitor cable Is properly connected to the computer tower and the monitor. ‘Apart from the above problems and their solutions w6 have discussed, if the problem still persists, then it may require a more advanced solution like reformatting your hard drive or reinstalling your operating system where It Is recommended to consult a professional.| | | | ' | | 1.8 DATA REPRESENTATION You must have heard that computers work on ones and zeros, ie, ones and zeros do play a big role in how computers work. In other words, data inside the computer gets stored in digital form (0s and 1s). Inside computers, it’s all about wires and circuits which carry all the information, Now, the question arises how do you store or represent information using electricity? If it is a single wire, there exist two states, ON/OFF; Yes/No; True/False; 1/0. This ON and OFF together constitutes a BIT, which is the smallest piece of information a computer can store as shown in Fig. 1.14, , Thus, if we use mare wires, we get more bits with more Os and 1s; with more bits, we can represent more complex information as shown in the figure below. ae 1] Aes OA mJ EX Sieeaian as Fig. 1.14: Data Representation inside a Computer The data stored in the computer may be of the following kinds: * Numeric data (0, 1, 2, 9). * Alphabetic data (A, B, C, 2). + Alphanumeric data - combination of any of the symbols - (A, B, C, + Special characters (+, -, Blank), etc. 22), (0, 1, sun 9), OF All these kinds of data, be it alphabets, numbers, symbols, sound data or video data, is Tepresented in terms of Os and 1s, in the computer. Each symbol is represented as a unique combination of Os and 1s digit. These digits can be represented in different types of number systems used in digital technology. The most common formats of data representation, which we are going to discuss in detail are as follows: 1. Binary data representation 2. asc 3. Unicode Computer Systemoven nanny eine Nene BINARY DIGIT ELECTRONIC ELECTRONIC Computers store all data as patterns of 0's and (mT) CHARGE STATE 1's. Information systems using 0's and 1's are collectively known as binary information systems. Each 0 or 1 ina binary value is called a bit, which is short for binary digit. A binary digit, or bit, is the smallest unit of data in computing. It is represented by a 0 or a 1. Binary numbers are made up of binary digits (bits), eg, the binary number 1001 A collection of & bits is called a byte. A byte isa very common unit of storage for electronic memory. It is usually the smallest chunk of data that programs process, although many languages support, processing individual bits as well, Processing data smaller than a byte is generally not as easy as processing whole bytes. A collection of 4 bits is called a nibble. Aword is the maximum amount of data a CPU can process at once, bytes (8 to 64 bits), Numeric data is stored using several different binary number formats, all of which use a finite number of binary digits (bits), and therefore are subject to overflow and round-off. The circuits in a computer's processor are made up of billions of transistors. A transistor is a tiny switch that is activated by the electronic signals it receives. The digits 1 and 0 used in binary reflect the on and off states of a transistor. Computer programs are sets of instructions. Each instruction is translated into machine code —simple binary codes that activate the CPU. Programmers write computer code and this is converted by a translator into binary instructions that the processor can execute. All software, music, documents, and any other information that is processed by a computer, is also stored using binary. and is usually 1, 2, 4, or 8 «es Pe Outputs Informatics Practices with Python-XI Fig. 1.15: Binary Data FormatBY ER NIKH| ascit (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) ASCII code is most widely-used alphanumeric code which is used in computers to translate text (letters, numbers, and symbols) into a form that can be sent to and understood by other computers and devices such as modems and printers. It is developed by American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The standard ASCII character set uses just 7 bits for each character and so it has 2” =126 possible code groups. It represents all of the standard keyboard characters as well as control functions such as Return & Linefeed functions. The characters encoded are vumbers 0 to 9, lowercase letters a to 2, uppercase letters A to Z, basic punctuation symbols, control codes that originated with Teletype machines, and a space. Table 1.2: Standard or Lower ASCII characters and codes ELS ei A a 097 033 © 00100001 065 01000001 034 © 00100010 B 066 or000010 bb #035 = 0100011 C 067 1000011 c $ 036 00100100 _D 068 1000100 d 4% «© 037“ OD100101 069 01000103 e & 038 © 00100110 F 070 1000110 f + 039 ooT00111 o7t o1000111 sg (040 00101000 -H 072 01001000 sh ) 04190101001 073 01001001 i + 042 00101010 J 074 1001010 j + 043 ooToIONNK 075 or001011. sk , 044 = 00101100 L 076 91001100 = 045 00101101 M 077° 01001101 Ss m = 046 © 00101110 N 078 91001110 n 7 047 oot01111. 0 079 g1001111 oo 0 048 cor1o000 P 080 91010000 op 1 049 00110001 Q 081 «01010001 q 2 050 o1t0010-&R 082 01010010 3 051 00110011 Ss 083 01010011 s 4 052 00110100‘ T 084 1010100 t 5 053 00710101—U 085 0110101 6 054 90110110 086 01010110 v 7 055 oont0111.W 087 01010111 ww 8 056 00111000 x 088 111000 x 9 057 0111001 -¥ 0g9 o1o11001 sy + 058 = oo111010-z 090 o1011e10 sz 4 059° OOTTTONN 091 1011011 < - 060 90111100 \ 092 91011100} = 081) contig? 093 1011101 > 062 oo1lTH10. 094 1011110. ~~ 7 063) 00111111 095 o1onntay @ 064 01000000 *- = 08601700000 19 5 ta 5 3 BBY ER NIKI a. UNICODE (For Multilingual Computing) forms. It is Unicode is a new universal coding standard adopted by all new lat mies i: Promo " Unicode Consortium which is a non-profit prniaion Unicode roid ania te irrespective of the platform, proj i ree te . te dee > sort the worldwide interchange, Processing 2 we saa oft diriten tons of the diverse languages. A unique Se nice a er What at the . the platform, no matter what the program, no matter what lications, Unicade is the preferred encoding scheme used by XML-based tools and applications, Significance of UNICODE ; ; / * Unicode enables a single software product or a single website to be designed for Multiple Platforms, languages and countries (no need for re-engineering) which can lead t 2 significant reduction in cost over the use of legacy character sets data corug Unicode data can be used through many different systems without data corruption, Unicode represents a single encoding scheme for all languages and characters, Unicade is a common point in the conversion between other character encoding schemes, Since it is a superset of all of the other common character encoding systems, you can convert from one encoding scheme to Unicode, and then from Unicode to the other encoding scheme, | + Unicode is the preferred encoding scheme used by XML-based tools and applications, — BYTES * Beto: Datais defined 3s raw facts, such as figures, symbols and numbers that can be used for analysis. > Information: information is defined as a collection of data, » snd compar one i OSaetsasan intermediary providing commmuricavon) between the user ofa computer and computer hardware, * farewore devices: input device, system unit, output devices and memory devices are collectively known as 3 hardware devices. Fey > user: Abuicanbedefnedasa Set of wires/cables to carry binary information toor from input/output devices = and memory. E> tecruintencs Closely with primary storage, or main memory, cefertng to it for both instructions and data, FY > Therearethree basic components inthe CPU register section—arithmetic and ‘ogic unit, memory and control unit. EY > Cenvalorocesing unt sth bain ot any computer system. BF Control unt contrats all the hardware operatiors, ie, nput and output units, storage and processor, etc. Cy > Thearithmetic logic unitsin computers are ‘capable of performing addition, ‘Subtraction, di EJ aswell as some logical operations, y > The memory of a computer can hold Program instructions, data values and intermediate results of ealculations. EJ) * Memory Unitis an essential component for Storing the programs and data executed by the CPU = = The main memory of computer is also known as RAM, Standing for Random Access Memory. + External memory, which is sometimes called backing store or secondary memory, allows the Permanent storage y Registers are small data-holdi ithi inary | oon NE SFe8S within CPU that hold data, instructions and Memory address during * Main memory can either be ROM or RAMBY ER NIKHI ROM is read only memory that stores some pre-written instructions. 1 RAMis random access memery thatcan be read and written andis used for manipulating data during processing, z The primary memory RAM is volatile in nature as all contents are erased as soon as power goes off vy The storage unit stores the contents permanently. > Major storage devices are hard disks, CD, DVD, flash drive and Blu-ray Discs The numbers ‘0" and ‘I’ are called binary digits, + Binary data representation has only two symbols, O and 2 + ASCII, ISCil and UNICODE are the three internal storage characters representation, % Abutfer is a data area shared by hardware devices or program processes that operate at different spceds or with differant sets of priorities. > Amemory card can store various types of data, such as text, pictures, graphics, audio and video, » Calculator is a handheld device used to perform basic math operations, while a computer is a multipurpose device which can also perform complex calculations. While a calculator can cavry out only one operation at atime, computers can perform multiple tasks and, with the help of a series of instructions called computer programs, can carry out the entire task without any assistance, SOLVED QUESTIONS === Very Short Answer Questions 1. List the names of two components of the CPU. ‘Ans. The names of two components of CPU are as follows: * Control Unit * Arithmetic Logie Unit 2, What is an I-P-O cycle? Ans. A computer takes input in the form of data and generates output in the form of information. This process: of converting data into some meaningful information is called information processing or Input-Process- ‘Output (I-P-O) cycle. 13. List all the functional components of a computer. Ans, The functional components of a computer are as follows: (2) Input Unit {b) Central Processing U {c) Output Unit (d)_ Memory Unit 4, Who invented the mouse? Ans. Mouse is a pointing {input) device that was developed by Douglas Engelart in 1963. 5. What are the two parts of main memory? Ans. Two parts of main memory are as follows: * Random Access Memory (RAM) * Read-Only Memory (ROM) 6. Why are the secondary storage devices required? ‘Ans. The secondary storage devices are required because of the following two reasons: + The primary memory is finite and limited in size. ‘In secondary storage, data and programs do not disappear when power is turned off. 7. Two devices used by the supermarket point-of-sale (POS) terminal are a bar code reader and a keyboard. Name two other input/output devices used at the POS and give a use for each device. ‘Ans. (2) Monitor used to display the information about the items purchased or sold. (b) Printer used for taking printout of the bill or invoice generated. 8. Given below are some features of two types of computer memories—RAM and ROM. List each feature under RAM or ROM. (a) Non-volatile memory (b) Contents can’t be changed (c} Stores data or files the user is currently working on (¢) Volatile memory (e) Can be written to and read from ‘Ans. RAM: (a), (c),(e); ROM: (b), (4). (cPu) 3) 4 fa 5 fsSEE 1 BY ER NIKHIL SIR an hat does a bus mean tat between CPi e's 9 broup of conducting tines tat transport data, address and control SENals Vand memory, 10. Why is data b us bi-directional? mapn Ans. Data bus is biirectional because the same bus Is used for data transmission from MIErOPrOCess0r to ‘memory location or input/output device and vice verso. Short Answer Questions ssteteatte 1. Six storage devices are described belaw. Name the storage device being described ant st the Appropriate category of storage (2) Optical media which usc one spiral track; red lasers are used to read ond wet data on the media Surface; makes use of dual-layering technology to increase storage capac! " {b) Non-volatie memarychip: content ofthe chip cannot be altered; itis often usedtastore the start-up foutines in a computer (eg., the 8105). — {€) Optical media which use concentric tracks to store data; this allows read and write oPerations to be carried out at the same time. . iors wi (4) Non volatile memory device which usesflash memories (which eonsist of millions of transistors wired ina series on a single circuit board) (6) Optical messa which use blue laser technology to read and write data onthe media surface, (f) Magneticaisc with very large storage capacity;can be used tostore vastamounts of data; mostly fixed in computer cases and serves as the main storage device. Ans. (a) DVD Offline Storage (b) ROM Primary Memory {c) DVD-ROM Offline Storage (a) Solid State Memory/Memory Card _Ofline Storage fe) Blu-ray Dise Offline Storage if) Hara Disk Secondary Memory. 2, A campany is planning to have a videaconference. In its videoconferencing area, there are some microphones, speakers and webcams. Describe the purpose of each of the devices. ‘Ans. Microphone: This device is used to input sound or the vocal input of the people speaking. Speakers; These are needed so as to hear the sound/audio output from the computer. Webcam: Webcam or web camera is needed to capture the video image of the scene and all the people participating in videoconterencing. 3, What is the function of memory? What aré its measuring units? ‘Ans. The memory temporarily holds the data and information during processing. The smallest unit of memory is @ byte (8 bits), A byte can store one character in binary form. Other measuring units are kilobyte (KB) equal to 1024 (2) bytes, 1 Megabyte (MB) equal to 1024 XB, 1 Gigabyte (GB) equal to 1024 MB and Terabyte (TB) equal to 1024 GB. 4. A school newsletter contains text and images in it. The head teacher needs one thousand copies of this newsletter. Give four reasons why a laser printer should be used rather than an inkjet or a dot matrix printer. (i) High quality printouts—better than inkjet or dot matrix Fast printouts~faster than inkjet or dot matrix (iil) Prints very quietly—quicker than inkjet or dot matrix {iv) Cost per page is low—cheaper than inkjet or dot matrix 5, What is the difference between RAM and ROM? ‘Ans. RAM refers to random access memory where both read and write aperations can take place. But RAM is a volatile memory; its contents are lost when power is tuned off. ROM refers to read-only memory where only read or write operation can take place. ROM is a non-volatile memory. Bath RAM and ROM Ans. Informatics Practices with Ld Lui. are parts of the primary memory. 6, Why is computer beneficial to us? ‘ans. Computers are beneficial to usin endless waystike storing and retrieving large volume of data/information easily, efficiently and in 9 secured manner. Computers can perform calculations on large and complex data sets within a fraction of second with complete accuracy. This device can be used anywhere and everywhere whether at home of at workplace or for scientific purposes.7. What is the difference between an address bus and a data bus? ‘Ans. The difference between an address bus and a data bus is as follows: “Address bus: An address bus contains the address of the piece of memory or I/O devices to be read from ‘or written to. One wire is required for each bit which means 16 bits will require 16 wires. A 16-bit binary umber allows 216 oF 32,000 different numbers. Data Bus: A data bus actually carries the data to be processed in the binary form. It carries the information between the processor and various other external units, such as memory. Its typical size is 8 or 16 bits 4. Explain the usage of the smart card reader. ‘Ans, You must be aware of ATM cards that are used in ATM machines. ATM cards store data through magnetic strios, which are pasted on the back of these cards. Magnetic strips hold much mare data than printed characters or bar cades per unit of space. These strips are not human-readable and are, therefore, used to store confidential data, Moreover, it is almost impossible to create a duplicate copy of the cards containing such strips. Special reader machines are required to decode the encoded data stored on these magnetic strips. ‘The enhanced version of a card containing magnetic strips is called a smart card. A smart card is ‘embedded with a microprocessor that can hold a certain amount of personal data in its memory. The special reader machine that is used to decode the data on smart cards is known as smart card reader. 9. What is the difference between data and information? ‘Ans. The difference between data and information is as follows: Data is defined as raw facts and figures such as “Tejas”, “MBA”, “2013”, “ABC. This data does not have ‘any meaning when presented as such. However, this data can be organized or processed to transform it into useful information. Information is defined as a collection of data which is organized in a particular manner to generate some meaning. For example, “Tejas passed MBA in 2023 from ABC" isthe information that we have obtained after processing the data given above. 10. Why is primary memory termed as ‘destructive write’ memory but ‘non-destructive read’ memory? [HOTS] ‘Ans. When a memory location is read from the primary memory, the contents of the memory word remain the same; they ate not altered. Therefore, a primary memory is termed as ‘non-destructive read’ memory since the read operation does not destruct the contents of a memory word. ‘When a write operation takes place, the previous contents of the memory wordare overwritten. Thus, the primary memory is termed as ‘destructive write’ memory as the write operation destructs the contents ‘of a memory word. 11, What is Unicode? How is it useful? ‘Ans. Unicode is a new universal coding standard adopted by all new platforms. it is promoted by Unicode Consortium which is a non-profit organization. Unicode provides a unique number for every character irrespective of the platform, program and the language. It is a character coding system designed to support the worldwide interchange, processing, and display ofthe written texts of the diverse languages. A unique number for every character, no matter what the platform, no matter what the program, no matter what the language. UNSOLVED QUES THON $ === 41, Define a computer. 2, How does an ALU work? 3. Briefly explain the working of a control unit. 4, Define hardware and software. 5. What is an operating system? iF 6. What is software? 7. List some of the hardware in computer equipment. 8. Explain the types of operating systems with examples. i 9. “Hardware is of no use without software and software cannot be used without hardware.” Explain. 10. How can software be classified? Name at least one software in each of the categories, Computer SystemEs B s & ig S a = ————_"~ a BY ER NIKHIL SIR. > a 2n operating system? Write names of any two popular operating systems. 2 ly the measuring units of memory. 13. What are output devices? Give some examples. 14. List different types of impact printers. 15, Briefly explain the working of a laser printer. 16. What is the use of a light pen? 17. What do you understand by RAM and ROM? 18. Explain in brief the working of a touch screen. 19. What are plotters? List different types of plotters. 20. What are secondary storage devices? Give examples. 21. What is the major difference between optical and magnetic discs? 22. What do you mean by a communication bus? List its types. 23. List the differences between a CD and a DVD. 24, Explain the statement, “Functioning of a computer i similar to the way the hurman brain functions. 25, Explain in brief the basic architecture of a computer. 26. What is an input unit? its significance. 27. List and briefly explain all the components of a CPU. 28. Why is a control unit referred to as the central controller of a computer? 29. Does an ALU work independently or in coordination with some other unit? Give reasons. 30. Compare data and information. 31. How does an output unit work? Give examples of some output devices. ‘32, What is the role of memory in the functioning of a computer? 33. List all the hardware components of a computer. Give thelr significance. 34, Explain various components of a computer system and show the relationship between them with the help of a diagram, 35. Compare volatile memory and non-volatile memory. 36. Define primary storage devices. List theit types. 37. What do you mean by a mouse? List its types. 38. What is a bar code? Why is a bar code reader used? 39. Explain in brief the inkjet and bubble jet printers. 40. What is a plotter? Give the benefits and limitations of using plotters. 41. Explain any three types of input devices. 42. Explain any three types of output devices with their purpose. 43, Define VDU. Name its two types. 44, Give the difference between an impact and a non-impact printer. 45. Discuss the following devices: {a} Light Pen (b) Graphic tablet («) CD-ROM (a) OVD. 46. What is the significance of address and data buses? Long Answer Questions 1. Describe the basic architecture and functioning of a computer, 2. Describe the terms hardware and software along with their components, 3, Explain plotters and thelr types. 4. Discuss the various categories of a printer. 5, What do you mean by memory devices? Explain RAM and ROM. 6. Discuss secondary storage device in detail. 7. What are memory cards? Discuss their types.