COMPUTER SYSTEMS
& PROGRAMMING
Engr. Muhammad Tayyab
Computers are Everywhere
Objective
Define the word computer.
Discuss various ways computers can be categorized.
Identify six types of computers designed for individual
use.
Identify four types of computers used primarily by
organizations.
Importance of computers in todays society.
How computers are used in various sectors of our society.
The Computer
The computer is a electronic device that processes data,
converting it into information that is useful to people.
Any computer, regardless of its type is controlled by the
programmed instructions, which give the machine a
purpose and tell it what to do.
Digital Computers
Use binary numbers
Break data into tiny number and use that data to
represent information.
Analog Computers
The earliest computers were analog computers.
Digital systems represent the distinct value whereas in
analog it represent as a variable.
The analog systems were more flexible but the less
precise.
Early analog computers were mechanical weighing
several tons, gears and motors were used to perform the
calculations.
Computers for Individual Users
Desktop computers
Workstations
Notebook computers
Tablet computers
Handheld computers
Smart phones
Desktop Computers
Personal computers PCs are used for the individual
purpose.
They are also called microcomputers, because they are
the smallest ones for the personal use.
The PC that is designed to sit on a desk or table.
The most common type of computers which is used in
schools, homes, offices, etc.
Todays desktop computers are very powerful, they can
handle multitasking.
They produce music, edit photographs, make
calculations, games are played and lot more.
Desktop Computer
Its heavy one can be taken anywhere easily.
The main components include System Unit.
The two most common designs vertical one & horizontal
one.
Workstations
Specialized single user computer that has more power
than the desktop computer.
The machines are more popular in scientists, engineers
and animators, who need more than average speed and
power to perform sophisticated tasks.
They often have high-resolution monitors, accelerated
graphics handling capabilities, which are useful in
architectural or engineering design, modeling, animation
and video editing.
Notebook Computers (Laptops)
Notebook computers are the size of 8.5 x 11 inch, easily
fit inside the brief case.
People frequently put them on their laps hence the name
laptops.
Because of the portability they are also called mobile
computers.
Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs are the newest development in portable full
functioning computers.
They are lighter and can accept input form the pen called
the stylus or digital pen.
Handheld PCs
Handheld personal computers are computing devices
small enough to fit into your hand.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
Smart Phones
Some cellular phone have double the miniature PCs, they
have the advance features which common phones do not
have, thats why called the smart phones.
Computers for Organizations
Some computers handle the needs of the many users at
the same time.
These powerful systems are commonly used by the
organizations, like schools, offices, banks, etc.
Network Servers
Individual computers are connected with the centralized
server.
Organization may have hundreds of server working under
the network, they are called the cluster or server farms.
Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computers are used in the large organization
like insurance companies, banks, etc. where same data is
used by multiple users.
Each user access the data by a device called the terminal.
A dumb terminal, do not store data and can not perform
processing operations
An intelligent terminal, can process data but can not store
data.
Minicomputers
Introduced in 1960s.
Name minicomputer because of the small size compared
to the computer of that day.
The capabilities of minicomputers were between the
mainframe and personal computers.
Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the fastest computer made and
physically are the largest.
They can process huge amount of data.
Fastest supercomputer can perform one trillion
calculations per second.
Supercomputer have been long used in the mapping of
human genome, weather forecasting and modeling of
fission reactions.
Computers in Society
Automobiles
Personal Schedulers
Carry your data with you
Faxes & E-mails
Communicate and share data
Why are Computers so Important
The Information
Home Users: Communications, business work at home,
school work at home, Entertainment, Finances, etc.
Education: Paint, MS Word, Spread sheets, networking &
programming.
Small Business: Daily tasks, Inventory management,
accounts, payroll, etc.
Industry: Design, Shipping, Process Control.
Government: Population, Taxes, Military, Police, etc.
Health: Robotic Surgical Devices, Diagnostic Equipment,
etc.
Looking Inside the Computer Systems
Parts of Computer System
Parts of Computers
Hardware
Software
Data
User
Hardware
The mechanical devices that made up the computer are
called the hardware.
Software
Software is a set of instructions that makes the computer
to perform tasks.
Data
Data consists of individual facts or pieces of information
that by themselves may not make sense to a person.
User
People are the computer operators also called the user.
The Information Processing Cycle
A computer converts data into information by performing
various actions on the data.
For example, a computer might perform a mathematical
operation on two numbers, then display the results.
Or performing some logical operation to compare two
numbers and display the result.
These operations are part of the process called the
information processing cycle, which is set of steps
computer follows to receive data, process the data
according to the instructions from the program and display
the resulting information to the user.
Information Processing Cycle
Essential Computer Hardware
Processor
Memory
Input & Output
Storage
Processing Devices
The procedure that converts raw data into useful
information is called the processing.
In personal computers processor consists of one or more
chips called the microprocessor.
The motherboard is rectangular card that contains the
circuitry that connects the processor with other
components.
Memory Devices
Memory is one or more sets of chips that store data
and/or program instructions, either temporarily or
permanently.
Two types are most common, Random Access Memory
(RAM) & Read Only Memory (ROM).
RAM
RAM is like a electronic scratch pad inside the computer.
It is made of chips mounted on the circuit board.
RAM is volatile mean it loses content when the power is
shut off.
RAM has direct impact on the performance of the
computer, more RAM mean more speed, its speed is
measured in bytes.
ROM
ROM permanently stores its data, even when the
computer is shut off.
It is non volatile because it never loses its contents.
It holds the instructions that need to operate the
computer.
When computer power is switched on it checks the ROM
for directions that help it start, and information about the
hardware devices.
Input & Output Devices
Input devices accepts the data and instructions from the
user or from the other computers like internet.
Output devices returned the processes data to the user or
to another computer system.
Keyboard
Mouse
Trackball & Touch pad
Joystick
Scanner
Digital Camera
Microphone
Output Devices
The function of the output devices are to display the
results.
Monitors
Printers
Speakers
Some devices act as both input and output devices like;
Touch Screens
Communication devices
Storage Devices
Computer also need place to keep the program files and
related data when they are not in use.
The purpose of storage is to hold the data permanently,
even when the computer is off.
Difference B/W Storage & Memory
There is more room in storage than in memory.
Contents are retained in the storage even when the
computer is off, but it loses data in memory.
Storage devices operate much slower than the memory
chips.
Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Software Brings the Machine to Life
The ingredients that enables the computer to perform a
specific task is software, which consist of instructions.
A set of instructions that drive a computer to perform
specific task is called a program.
These instructions tell the machines physical component
what to do.
System Software
System software is any program that controls the
computers hardware or that can be used to maintain the
computer in some way so that it runs more efficiently.
An Operating System tells the computer how to use its
own components, e.g Windows, Macintosh, Linux, etc.
A Network Operating System allows computers to
communicate and share data across a network while
controlling network operations and overseeing the
networks security.
A Utility is a program that make the computer system
easier to use or perform highly specialized tasks.
Application Softwares
Application software tells the computer how to accomplish
the specific tasks, such as word processing, drawing, etc.
Word processing software are used for creating the text
based documents like, newsletters & Brochure.
Spread sheets for numeric based documents.
Data base management software like MS Access.
Presentation programs like MS Power Point.
Graphics programs like, paint, adobe photoshop, Flash,
etc.
Multimedia, producing and editing videos, windows movie
maker, etc.
Entertainment, Web Design Tools, Education and Games.
Computer Users
Personal computers which are the main focus of this
book, are designed to work with a human user.
People also sometimes believe that computers can think
and make decisions just like human do.
Even the most powerful computers, supercomputers
require human interaction.
The Users Role
When working with the personal computer, the user can
take several roles, depending on what he wants to
accomplish;
Setting up the system
Installing Sofware
Running Programs
Managing Files
Maintaining the system
Userless Computers
There are many types of computer that do not require
human interaction.
Cars built in computer system
Washers
Drayer
Security system
Navigation system
Computers in your Career
Restaurants & Grocery store Managers
Courier Dispatcher
Construction Managers
Automotive Mechanics
