Problem Solving using Computers (ICS-111)

TEXT BOOKS and REFERENCES

Text Books:
1. E. Balaguruswamy, “Programming in ANSI C”, Tata McGraw Hill, 6 th
Edition.
2. E. Balaguruswamy, “Object Oriented Programming with C++”, Tata
McGraw Hill, 5th Edition 2012.

References:
1. The Complete Reference – Fourth edition , Herbert Schildt
2. Object Orented Programming in C++ , Robert Lafore , 4 Edition.
 Chapter - 1
Introduction to Computers
 Objectives
To learn and appreciate the following concepts

Basic introduction, concepts

Functionality of a computer
Memory system and its types
Input – Output devices
Bus technology
Overview of Application Software
Overview of System Software
Overview of Operating Systems
Assemblers Compilers and Interpreters
 Introduction to computers

 A computer is an electronic device, operating

under the control of instructions (Software) stored
in its own memory unit.

 It can accept data (Input), manipulate data

(Process), and produce information (Output) from
the processing.

 Generally, the term “computer” is used to

describe a collection of devices that function
together as a system.
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 Key characteristics of a computer

 Speed  Faster processing

Accuracy  The quality or state of being correct or precise.

Diligence persistent and determined effort to complete a task

Storage capability  Permanent storage & non-permanent

storage

Versatility  Having varied uses or serving many functions

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Various Computing devices

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 What Does A Computer Do?

Computers can perform four general operations :

• Input
• Processing / Computation
• Storage
• Output

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 Data and Information

 Data – Collection of raw facts, figures and symbols.

 Computers manipulate/processes data to create

information.

 Information is data that is organized, meaningful,

and useful.

 During the output Phase, the information that has

been created is put into some form, such as a
printed report.
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 Instruction to computer

 Program or software - a detailed list of

instructions that tells the computer what exactly
to do.

 Before processing a specific job, the

corresponding instructions (program) to do that
job must be stored in memory.

 Once the program is stored in memory the

computer can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other.
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Block Diagram of a Computer

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 Computer peripherals

Input, output, or auxiliary storage devices are

attached to a computer

 Input Devices include keyboard and mouse,

scanners.

 Output Devices include printers, video display,

LCD screens.

 Auxiliary Devices include disk drives, CD-ROM and

DVD-ROM drives, modems, and digital cameras.
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 Input devices
An external device connected to the CPU, used to
feed data and instructions for solving the problem
at hand

 Mouse
 Keyboard
 Joystick
 Light pen
 Trackball
 Optical Scanner
 Voice input

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 Output devices
An external device connected to the CPU that is
used to display the results.
 Monitor
 printer
 plotter
 plasma display panels
 LCD displays
 voice output

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 System unit
 The Central Processing Unit and Memory
Unit are together called as System Unit.

 Data and instructions received from the

input device are stored and processed in the
System unit.

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 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The data and instructions received from the input
device are processed in this unit.

It is divided two functional units.

 Control Unit (CU)
 Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

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 Arithmetic and Logical unit

Performs arithmetic and logical operations:

Example:
arithmetic(+,-,*,/ etc..) and
logical (AND, OR, NOT, <,= etc..) operations

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 Control unit

Controls the order in which your program

instructions are executed.

Functions of CU:
 Fetches data and instructions to main memory

 Interprets these instructions

 Controls the transfer of data and instructions to

and from main memory

 Controls input and output devices.

 Overall supervision of computer system

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Computer memory classifications

The computer memory is classified into:

• Main memory / Primary storage memory

Eg. RAM, ROM

• Secondary memory / Auxiliary storage memory

Eg. Magnetic tapes, magnetic disks,

• Cache memory

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 Memory unit
It is any storage device where the data and
instructions fed by the user are stored.

It is an ordered sequence of storage cells, each

capable of holding a piece of information

Each cell has its own unique address

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 Memory unit
The computer memory is measured in terms of
bits, bytes and words.

A bit is a binary digit either 0 or 1.

A byte is unit of memory and is defined as

sequence of 8 bits.

The word can be defined as a sequence of

16/32/64 bits or 2/4/8 bytes respectively depending
on the machine architecture.

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 Main memory / Primary memory
It is the place where the data and instructions of the
program currently being executed are stored.
High speed.
This is a temporary memory because the data
and instructions stored here get erased when
the power goes off.
It is a semiconductor memory and measured in
terms of megabytes and gigabytes.
Eg. RAM and ROM

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 RAM & ROM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory
 It is the read and write memory.
 Any memory location can be accessed directly without
accessing it sequentially.
 Hence it is called as random access memory.
 During power failure the information stored in it will be
erased.
 It is also called as volatile memory.

ROM stands for Read Only Memory

It is a permanent memory and non-volatile.
The contents in ROM can not be changed
It stores mainly stored program and basic input output
systems programs.

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 Classifications of ROM
PROM :Programmable Read Only Memory
It is a variation of ROM.
The contents of this memory are decided by the user
These contents can not be erased once they are written to
it.

EPROM : Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

It is a modification to PROM.
Contents stored can be erased by exposing it to Ultra Violet
Light source.

EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only

Memory
The contents stored in this can be erased electrically.
[ Flash, micro processors etc.]

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 Secondary Storage Devices
It is made up of magnetic material and stores large
amount of information for long time.

Low speed.
Non volatile memory
Holds programs not currently being executed.
Eg. Magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, compact disks
etc.

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 Cache memory
It is a High speed memory and placed between the
CPU and the main memory.
Users can not access this memory.
It stores the data and instructions currently to be
executed.
More costlier but less capacity than main memory.

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 Computer BUS
• Computer components are connected by a bus.

• A bus is a group of parallel wires that carry control

signals and data between components

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 Classifications of software

Software

Application System
Software Software

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 System software
• System software consists of programs that
manages the computer resources.
• Divided into three classes
– Operating System
– Utility software
– System Development software

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30
 Operating system
 Operating System is an integrated collection of programs
which make the computer operational and help in
executing user programs.
 It acts as interface between the man and machine.
 It manages the system resources like memory, processors,
input-output devices and files.
 Types:
 Single user [DOS] and Multi user OS [Windows XP, Unix],
 Real time OS [Windows CE, QNX],
 Single-tasking [DOS] and Multi-tasking [Unix],
 Distributed OS [Amoeba],
 Embedded OS [Windows CE, Symbian OS] etc.

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 An operating system is..
• A program that runs on the “raw” hardware and supports
resource sharing

• Operating System hides the messy details which must be

performed from the users

• Manages the hardware resources

– Each program gets time with the resource
– Each program gets space on the resource

• Manages different goals:

– Use hardware efficiently and give maximum
performance to each user.
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 Application software

• Application Software is directly

responsible for helping users solve their
problems.
• For example
• Word processing
• Electronic spreadsheet
• Database
• Presentation graphics

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 Computer Languages
• Machine Language- The only programming language
available in earlier days
– Consists of only 0’s and 1’s; e.g.:- 10101011

• Symbolic language or Assembly language-

– symbols or mnemonics used to represent
instructions
– e.g. ADD X,Y; Add the contents of y to x

• High-level languages- English like language using which

the programmer can write programs to solve a problem.
– e.g.: C, C++, C#, Fortran, BASIC, Pascal etc. 34
Machine level vs High level languages

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Assembly language Vs High level language

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 Language Translators
• Compiler : It translates a high-level language program into
machine language program at a time.
e.g.:- C, C++ compilers.

• Interpreter : It translates one statement of a high-level

language program into machine language at a time and
executes it.
e.g.:- Basic Interpreters, Java Interpreters.

• Assembler : is a program which translates an assembly

language program into machine language.
e.g.:- TASM(Turbo ASseMbler), MASM.

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Compiler Vs Interpreter

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 Summary
 Introduction to Computers
 Block Diagram of Computer
 Computer Memory Classification
 Software classifications
 Overview of Application Software
 Overview of System Software
 Overview of Operating Systems
 Functionality of Assemblers Compilers and
Interpreters

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