Introduction

• A computer is an electronic device, under the control of instructions stored in its memory that
can accept data (input), process the data according to specified rules (Program), produce
information (output), and store the information for future use

• Data vs Information

• Data are raw numbers or other findings which, by themselves, are of limited value.

• Information is data that has been converted into a meaningful and useful context.

• Computers are being used extensively nowadays in everyday life/every field In the form of
laptop, desktop, smartphone, gadgets etc.

Functionalities of a computer

Any digital computer performs five functions in gross term.

1. Take data as input

2. Stores data/instructions

3. Process those stored data

4. Generate the output

5. Control all above steps

Basic Computer Organization

Functional components of a computer

Input/Output Units

Input Unit

A device through which data and programs from the outside world enter the computer system.
Output unit

A device through which results stored in the computer memory are made available outside the
computer system.

Control Unit

Control unit

It organizes the computer to work computer as single unit

Arithmetic/Logic Unit

Performs basic arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction Performs logical
operations such as AND, OR, and NOT. Most modern ALUs have a small amount of special
storage units called registers that can be accessed faster than main memory.

Memory

• A collection of cells, each with a unique physical address Most computers are byte-addressable

Cell at address 11111110 contains 10101010

Memory Units

RAM and ROM

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Memory in which each location can be accessed and changed Read Only Memory (ROM)

Memory in which each location can be accessed but not changed RAM is volatile, ROM is not

Secondary Storage Devices

mass auxiliary storage device

cache memory, supplementary memory system that temporarily stores frequently used instructions and
data for quicker processing by the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer.

What are the types of ROM?

Ans: The types of ROM include Mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory.

What is Mask ROM?

Ans: Mask ROM is a type of ROM where the data is permanently programmed during the manufacturing
process using a photolithographic process.

What is PROM?

Ans: PROM stands for Programmable Read-Only Memory. It is a type of ROM that can be programmed
once using a special device called a PROM programmer.

What is EPROM?
Ans: EPROM stands for Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. It is a type of ROM that can be
erased and reprogrammed using ultraviolet light.

What is EEPROM?

Ans: EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. It is a type of ROM that
can be erased and reprogrammed electronically.

What is flash memory?

Ans: Flash memory is a type of ROM that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead
of byte-by-byte.

Secondary Storage Devices

Hard disk

Fixed Head HDD / Movable head HDD

A hard disk is a set of stacked disks. Each disk has data recorded electromagnetically in concentric
circles, or tracks, on the disk Hard Drive Types

1. Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA)

2. Serial ATA (SATA)

3. Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

4. Solid State Drives (SSD)

Input Devices

Input devices can send data or information to a computer or another device. Keyboard: It is an input
device which sends data in to the computer. The data send depends on the key pressed by the user.

Mouse: A mouse is a small handheld input device which controls a cursor in a graphical user interface.
It can move and select text, files, folders etc. on our computer according to the user input.

Scanner: Scanner optically reads and document, file or image and then changes it into digital signal
and sends to the computer.

OMR: optical mark recognition/ reader, is used to read marks on a document and send them to
computer.

OCR: OCR stands for optical character Recognition, is an input device which reads printed text and
sends that to computer.
MICR: Magnetic Ink Character Reader is an input device which generally finds application is banks to
process cheques.

Microphone: it receives audio generated by some input source and sends the same to a computer.

Webcam: it sends the captured images to a computer.

Graphics Tablets: This input device is used to draw using hand.

Trackballs: an upside-down mouse, encased within a socket. Is a cursor control device. Barcode
reader: It is used to read the barcode of various items and feed the same to computer.

Gamepad: Also known as joy pad is the input controller for video games. Joystick: these input devices
are used to control video games.

Output Devices

A device that can receive data from computer or another device and create output with that data is
called output device. Examples of various output devices are as :

Monitor: A monitor is an output device that is responsible for receiving data from a computer and
displaying that information as text or images for users to see.

Speakers: Receives sound signal from a computer and then plays that sound signal and thus we hear
songs or music or any other audio.

Projector: Gets data from a computer and displays or projects the same information onto a screen or
a wall. Projector cannot directly accept data from a user and send that data to another device.

Both Input / Output Devices

An input/output device is capable of receiving data from users or another devices and also sending
data to another devices or computers. That means a devices which can be used as both input device
and output device are called Input / Output (I/O) devices. Some examples of input/output devices are
as:

USB drive: Also known as pen drive or flash stick works as both input device to computer and as an
output device. USB drives receive or save data from a computer as an input and it can also send data
to a computer or another device.

Facsimile: Facsimile or FAX machine has a scanner which is an input device and a small printer to
provide output.

Modems: It is used to transmit and receive data from one computer to another computer or
other devices using telephone lines

CD-RW drives and DVD-RW drives: Receives data from a computer as input to copy onto and save into
writable CD or DVD. We also use CDs or DVDs to transfer data to a computer.

Touch Screen: Touch screen is both input and output device. By touching the screen input is provided
and being a screen, it is used as an output device.

Headsets: Headset consists of speaker as an output device and microphone

functions as an input device.

Software
It is an organized instructions/code written by programmers using any of various special computer
languages for specific purpose.

Types of software:

(1) Application software: It handles specialized/ common tasks a user wants to

(2) System software: controls the basic functions of a computer and hides the complexity
of computer system from user and application software. E.g. Operating System, Compiler,
Interpret etc.

(3) Utility software: Which helps to manage, maintain and control computer resources.
E.g. are antivirus software, backup software and disk tools.

System software

OPERATING SYSTEM

An Operating System (OS) is a system program that controls and manages the computer
resources (resource manager) so that application software can run on it.

Example: Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Linux, MAC OS, Ubuntu, Apple’s i-Phone OS etc.

HOW OPERATING SYSTEM WORKS

In any computer or mobile device, the operating system can be termed as the back bone
when it comes to software. This is because it has to be there before other programs can be
run. It works as a middleman (interface) between machine and user.

At the simplest level, an operating system does two things:

It manages the hardware resources of the computer system. These resources include such
things as the processor, memory, disk space, etc.

It provides a stable, consistent way for applications to deal with the hardware without
having to know all the details of the hardware.

FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM

• Processor management

Loads, schedules and execute process/programs.

• Memory management

Allocates /De-allocation of memory for program execution.

• Device management

Communicate and controls various I/O devices.

• Storage management

Manages and controls the storage device to provide space to program for execution &
data save.

• Application interface
 API/drivers provide a way for applications to make use of hardware subsystems

• User interface

structure for interaction between a user and the computer

TYPE OF OPERATING SYSTEM

* Single-User, Single Task Operating System:

These operating systems work on single task & single user at a time.E.g. DOS

* Single-User, Multi-Task Operating System:

These operating systems works on more than one task and process them

concurrently at a time.E.g. windows 95 or later version of windows

* Multiuser Operating System:

In these OS, multiple users are allowed to access the same data or information at a time
via a network. E.g. Unix, Linux, Windows7.

* Multiprocessing Operating System:

Here, a single process runs on two or more processors. All the processing and their
management takes place in a parallel way, hence this OS are also called as Parallel Processing.
E.g. Linux, UNIX and Windows 7.

* Embedded Operating System:

These are embedded in a device, which is located in ROM.E.g. OS of icrowaves, washing

* Distributed Operating System:

In these OS, the computers work in co-operation with each other.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE/PROGRAMMING SOFTWARES

Language processor/Programming Language

As the computer understand machine language (0/1) where as Humans understand

Language Processors does the coversion task(high level to machine lang.

These are of 3 types Language processors

* Assembler * Compiler * Interpreter

It convert high-level language code to machine code in one session. It takes time because it have to
translate high-level code to lower-level machine language all at once and then save the executable
object code to memory.

Interpreters
It translates code like a compiler but reads the code and immediately executes that code, and
therefore it is initially faster than a compiler.

Assemblers

It translates an assembly language program into machine language.

(2) Application software

* General Purpose application software

These are ready to use software for daily use purpose

e.g. word processor, spread sheet, presention, DBMS etc.

* Specific Purpose application software Softwares which are designed for specific task

e.g. Payroll, Hotel Mgmt, Hospital Mgmt, Stock Mgmt etc.

(3) Utility software

that assist OS in carrying out certain specialized tasks are called utility software.

▪ Antivirus - An anti-virus scans the system for any virus and if detected, gets rid of it by
deleting or isolating it.

▪ Compression tools - Compression tools are utilities that assist operating systems in shortening
files so that they take less space.

(3) Utility software

▪ Disk Cleanup - Disk cleanup tools assist users in freeing up disk space.

▪ Disk Defragmenter - Disk defragmenter is a disk management utility that increases file
access speeds by rearranging fragmented files on contiguous locations.

▪ Backup - Backup utility enables backing up of files, folders, databases or complete disks.

▪ File management tools - Utility software providing regular file management tasks like
browse, search, update, preview, etc. are called file management tools.