 What is a computer

A computer is a fast and accurate electronic symbol manipulating device which accepts data, processes them
and sends the output as per a set of instruction.

 Characteristics of a computer
1. Speed
2. Accuracy
3. Diligence
4. Versatility
5. Power of remembering
6. No IQ
7. No feelings

 Types of computer

By function, computer is of three types

1. Analog
2. Digital
3. Hybrid

 Classification of digital computer on basis of size

1. Super computer
2. Mainframe computer
3. Mini computer
4. Micro computer

 The generation of computers

Generation provides a framework for the growth of computer industry. Originally, the term ‘generation’ was
used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies. But nowadays, it has been extended to include
both the hardware and the software which together make up an entire computer system.
First generation(1942 – 1955)
 Used vacuum tubes as component
 Worked in millisecond(10-3 secs.)
 Language was machine language
Second generation(1955-1964)
 Transistors are the main component
 Worked in mictosecond(10-6 secs)
 Language was assembly language
Third generation(1964 – 1975)
 Integrated circuits (ICs) or chips are the main component
 Worked in nanosecond(10-9 secs)
  Language was high level language
Fourth generation(1975 onwards)
 Chips become more integrated(Very Large Scale Integration – more than one million components are
integrated)
 Works in picoseconds(10-12 secs)
 Language high level language
Fifth generation(yet to come)
 Computer will be with IQ
 It will have KIPS(Knowledge Information Processing System)
 Work has already been started. A few examples have already come out.

 Functional Units of a micro computer

o Input Unit
 Accepts data from the outer world
 Converts these instructions and data to computer acceptable form
 Supplies the converted instruction and data to the computer system for further processing.
Examples of input devices
1. Keyboard : Most keyboard layouts are still a variation of the key layout of a typewriter, at least for the
Alphabetic, numerical and special character keys. Keyboards are available for various other
languages than English too. The keys used are
 Alpha keys contain alphabets from A to Z
 Numeric keys contain numbers from 1 to 0
 Function keys contains keys from F1 to F12
 Navigation keys with four arrow keys
 Special keys including space bar, shift keys, alter keys, control keys enter key, del key
 Numeric key pad
 Special purpose keys including ESC key, print screen, scroll lock etc

2. Mouse : It is an input device which can be handled by single hand. It is a pointing device mostly used
with GUI based operating systems. There are three types of mouse –
 Mechanical mouse
 Optical mouse
 Opto mechanical mouse

3. Joystick: It is an input device generally used for playing video games. It has a handle which can help in
navigating the turtle or graphics on the screen.
4. Trackball: It a pointing input device that works like a mouse. It has an exposed ball on its upper surface
and buttons.
5. Scanner : A scanner is a device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine
pages, and similar sources for computer editing and display. Scanners come in hand-held, feed-in and
flatbed types and for scanning black-and-white only, or color.
6. OCR : Optical character recognition or optical character reader (OCR) is the electronic or mechanical
conversion of images of typed, handwritten or printed text into machine-encoded text, whether from a
scanned document, a photo of a document, a scene-photo (for example the text on signs and
billboards in a landscape photo)
7. OMR : Optical mark recognition (also called optical mark reading and OMR) is the process of capturing
human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests. They are used to read
questionnaires, multiple choice examination paper in the form of lines or shaded areas.
8. MICR : Magnetic ink character recognition code, known in short as MICR code, is a character
recognition technology used mainly by the banking industry to streamline the processing and clearance
of cheques and other documents. MICR encoding, called the MICR line, is at the bottom of cheques and
other vouchers and typically includes the document-type indicator, bank code, bank account number,
cheque number, cheque amount (usually added after a cheque is presented for payment), and a
control indicator. The format for the bank code and bank account number is country-specific.
9. Barcode Reader : A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an optical scanner that can read
printed barcodes, decode the data contained in the barcode and send the data to a computer. Like
a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating for optical impulses
into electrical signals. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers contain decoder circuitry that can analyze
the barcode's image data provided by the sensor and sending the barcode's content to the scanner's
output port.
10. QR Code : QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is the trademark for a type of matrix
barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) first designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan. A
barcode is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is
attached. In practice, QR codes often contain data for a locator, identifier, or tracker that points to a
website or application. A QR code uses four standardized encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric,
byte/binary, and kanji) to store data efficiently; extensions may also be used.

o Storage Unit

A storage device is any computing hardware that is used for storing, porting and extracting data
files and objects. It can hold and store information both temporarily and permanently, and can be
internal or external to a computer, server or any similar computing device. A storage device may
also be known as a storage medium or storage media. Storage media is of two types :
 Primary Storage Unit
 Secondary Storage Unit
 Features of Storage Unit :
 Access Time: In a computer, it is the time interval between the instant at which
an instruction control unit initiates a call for data or a request to store data, and the instant at
which delivery of the data is completed or the storage is started.
 Storage Capacity: Storage capacity refers to how much disk space one or more storage devices
provides. It is also known as word or word length and is measured by bytes.
 Cost per bit: An obvious goal is to minimize the cost.
Primary Storage Unit: A primary storage device is any storage device or component that can store non-volatile
data in computers, servers and other computing devices. It is used to hold/store data and applications
temporarily or for a shorter period of time while the computer is running. Primary storage is also known as
main storage, main memory or internal memory. Random Access Memory (RAM) is primary-volatile memory
and Read Only Memory (ROM) is primary-non-volatile memory.
Read Only Memory (ROM) –
 Stores crucial information essential to operate the system, like the program essential to boot the
computer.
 It is not volatile.
 Always retains its data.
 Used in embedded systems or where the programming needs no change.
 Used in calculators and peripheral devices.
 ROM is further classified into 4 types- ROM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM.

Random Access Memory(RAM) -

 It is also called as read write memory or the main memory or the primary memory.
 The programs and data that the CPU requires during execution of a program are stored in this memory.
 It is a volatile memory as the data loses when the power is turned off.
 RAM is further classified into two types- SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic
Random Access Memory).

Secondary Storage Unit : A secondary storage device refers to any non-volatile storage device that is internal
or external to the computer. It can be any storage device beyond the primary storage that enables permanent
data storage. A secondary storage device is also known as an auxiliary storage device or external storage.
By accessing, Secondary storage can be classified as
 Sequential Access Storage device
 Direct Access Storage device
Sequential Access Storage Device : In computing, sequential access memory (SAM) is a class of data storage
devices that read stored data in a sequence. This is in contrast to random access memory (RAM) where data
can be accessed in any order. Sequential access devices are usually a form of magnetic storage or
optical storage. E.g. Magnetic Tape
Direct Access Storage Device : Any memory device in which it is possible to find any particular record as
quickly, on average, as any other record. The computer's internal RAM and disk storage devices are examples
of random-access devices. E.g. magnetic disk, optical disk etc.
By storing medium, secondary storage is of two types:
 Magnetic medium
 Optical medium
Magnetic Disk:
 Floppy disk: floppy disk, also known as a floppy, diskette, or simply disk, is a type of disk
storage composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular
plastic enclosure lined with fabric that removes dust particles. Floppy disks are read and written by
a floppy disk drive (FDD).

What is track and sector:

In computer disk storage, a sector is a subdivision of a track on a magnetic disk or optical disc.
Each sector stores a fixed amount of user-accessible data, traditionally 512 bytes for hard disk drives (HDDs)
and 2048 bytes for CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. ... The sector is the minimum storage unit of a hard drive.
What is cluster?

In personal computer storage technology, a cluster is the logical unit of file storage on a hard disk; it's
managed by the computer's operating system

What is hard disk?

A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk[b] is an electro-mechanical data storage
device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information using one or more rigid rapidly
rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material. The platters are paired with magnetic heads,
usually arranged on a moving actuator arm, which read and write data to the platter surfaces.[2] Data is
accessed in a random-access manner, meaning that individual blocks of data can be stored or retrieved in
any order and not only sequentially. HDDs are a type of non-volatile storage, retaining stored data even
when powered off.at is

Pen Drive

Commonly known as USB flash drive it is a portable device which means it can be easily transferred from
one location to another due to its compact design it looks like a pen shape and therefore it is named as
pen drive. The pen drives are used in a wide range in the world they have easily replaced CD’s, Floppy Disk
due to its huge data storing capacity and faster data transferring speed. Pen drives and USB flash drives
are connected to USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port which is available on computer motherboards they are
used without any additional power supply they receive the power directly from the USB port itself and
hence are playing dominant role in the PC world.

Optical Disk Drive

An optical drive is a type of computer disk drive that reads and writes data from optical disks through laser
beaming technology. This type of drive allows a user to retrieve, edit and delete the content from optical
disks such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray disks. Optical drives are among the most common computer
components. An optical drive may also be known as an optical disk drive (ODD).
Central Processing Unit

CPU, an acronym for Central Processing Unit is supposed to be the brain of computer. It mainly executes
the programs and controls different parts of computer such as memory, input and output devices.
Programs and data are stored under its control. It helps to see output on the screen and get print out on
the paper through printer. Centre Processing Unit includes two parts:

 Control Unit
 Arithmetic Logic Unit

Control Unit

It controls the internal process of computer. It controls the input and output processes of the computer. It
also directs the exchange of data and instructions between memory and ALU. It receives the instructions
of a program to execute the program. It receives the instructions of a program to execute the program
itself form memory. Then it converts the instructions into electronic signals and delivers them to the
appropriate devices to complete the data processing. Control unit also directs ALU about the location of
the data to be processed in the memory. The control unit also instructs the ALU what operations to be
performed, and after processing, where to store the output. The instructions in the form of signals are sent
to various parts of computers through the control bus of system. A combination or group of wires is called
a bus. This bus carries electronic signals throughout the system unit. They are named on the basis of the
type of signals they carry.

Registers

Computer instructions are carried out by the CPU. To execute instructions, information is exchanged. CPU
of computers uses memory unit to exchange information fast and satisfactorily. This memory unit is called
registers. Registers are not the part of main memory. They store information for time being. Size of a
register is equal to the capacity of its storage of bit. If a register can store 8-bit then it is called as 8-bit
register. There are following types of registers

 Program Control/Counter Register: This stores address of the instructions to be executed next.
 Memory Address Register: stores active memory location of computer instruction.
 Memory Buffer Register: stores the contents read from or written onto memory.
 Instruction Register: stores instructions to be executed.
 Accumulator Register: stores the intermediate result of the data. These registers are used while
execution of information.
 Input/Output Register: used to travel information between input/output devices.

Cache memory:

A small high speed memory used to reduce speed mismatch between slow speed RAM and high speed
CPU. Cache memory is of two types : L1 and L2 cache.
  L1 Cache: also known as onboard or primary cache and is built into the CPU itself. This is
typically very small in size but is very fast.
 L2 Cache: also known as external or secondary cache. It is built into a separate chip, but is much
faster than conventional memory.

Output unit

Produces output after changing the computer readable form into human readable form with the help of
output interface. There are different types of output devices:

Monitor: helps to display the output. Different types of monitors are there:

 CRT(Cathode Ray Tube) monitor

 TFT(Thin film Tube) monitor
 LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) Monitor
 LED(Light Emitting Diode) Monitor

Printers: helps to produce printed output. Printers are basically of two types:

 Impact: printing type resembles with printing by typewriter. In this type of printer, a metallic
hammer or a print head strikes on paper and ribbon to print characters. In impact printing,
characters are printed either as got matrix or as solid fonts on the paper. Impact printers are
classified as
o Character Printer(speed about 30 to 600 characters per second) e.g. Dot Matrix Printer
o Line Printer(speed about 300 to 6000 lines per minute) e.g. drum printer, chain printer etc.
o Page Printer: (speed 15 pages per minute to > 1000 pages per minute) e.g. Laser Printer

 Non-Impact: A type of printer that does not operate by striking a head against a ribbon. Examples
of nonimpact printers include laser and ink-jet printers. The term non-impact is important primarily
in that it distinguishes quiet printers from noisy (impact) printers.
  Plotter: it reproduces drawing using pens that are attached to movable arms and are directed
across the surface of a stationary piece of paper. Many plotters, however, combine a movable pen
armed with paper that can also roll back and forth to make the drawing. This two way movement
allows any configuration to be drawn.

 Speech synthesizer: it is an output device that converts written words or sentences into sound. This is
mainly used in learning exact pronunciation and accent of a particular language. In addition, this is also
used by the visually challenged people. This device presents output with the help of speaker.

 Speaker: A speaker is a term used to describe the user who is giving vocal commands to a software
program. A computer speaker is an output hardware device that connects to a computer to generate
sound. The signal used to produce the sound that comes from a computer speaker is created by the
computer's sound card.
 Terminals: Terminals are of three types:
 Dumb Terminal: are those terminals which have not their own CPU or storage device. It works with
only input and output devices. This, functions like a window to the main computer installed
somewhere else.
 Smart Terminal: are capable of doing some processing work but it has no storage device of its own.
 Intelligent Terminal: are supposed to be complete computer. This is connected to a large network
of computer. This can normally perform all sorts of jobs.