Summary (Chapter 1,2,3)

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What is a computer?
 A computer is a digital electronic device
that accepts data in one form and
processes it to produce data in another
form.
 More precisely…

 A computer is a device that works under a

control of a set of instructions (stored
programs), for storing and processing data
to produce information.
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Types of Modern-day Computers

 Computers can be classified according to

their usage, power and size
 Super Computers
 Mainframes
 Minicomputers
 Microcomputers
 Desktop computers
 Laptops / Notebooks
 Palmtops / Handheld computers
 Embedded computers

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Super Computers…

IBM Blue Gene

The Columbia Supercomputer,

located at the NASA Ames Research
Center.
Cray Jaguar XT5 – (fastest supercomputer)

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Mainframe computers…

Honeywell bull DSP7000 IBM Z10

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Minicomputers…

DEC’s PDA

IBM AS/400 series

HP 3000

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Microcomputers
 Computers with a microprocessor
 Various integrated circuits and elements of
those huge computers are replaces by a
single integrated circuit called a “chip”.
 Examples:
 Desktopcomputers, Video game consoles,
Laptops, palmtops, tablet PCs, and other
embedded computers are microcomputers.

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The parts of a Computer System

 A computer system consists of four basic
components
 HARDWARE

 SOFTWARE

 DATA

 USERS

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HARDWARE
 The parts that can be seen and touched.

SOFTWARE
 Is an organized set of instructions to perform specific tasks.

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Inside the machine

CPU
Control
Unit

Arithmetic
&
Logic Unit

Registers
Peripheral
Memory Storage
Devices

System Bus

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The Microprocessor/Processor/ Central

Processing Unit (CPU)

 It performs the actual processing of data

and manages all other devices.
 The procedure that transforms raw data
into useful information is called
Processing.
Data Processing Information

A,B ADDITION A+B

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Basic Components of a CPU

CPU
Control
 At the basic level, a
Unit microprocessor consists of:
Arithmetic  Control Unit (CU)
&
Logic Unit  Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
Registers
 Registers

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Basic Components of a CPU …

 Control Unit
 It coordinates and controls all hardware operations,
main memory and the processor it self.

 ALU
 It carries out the basic
 Arithmetic Operations:
 Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and division
 Logical Operations:
 AND, OR, NOT

 Registers
 Registers store the data and instructions temporarily
for the fast access of the ALU.
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Memory
 In a typical microcomputer the memory can be
divided into two parts:

RAM
 RAM: Random Access Memory

ROM  ROM: Read Only Memory

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Peripheral Devices
 Input devices accept data and instructions from
the user or from another computer system.
 Ex: keyboard, mouse ...

 Output devices return processed data back to

the user or to another computer system.
 Ex: printer, monitor …

 Communication devices perform both input and

output operations allowing computers to share
information.
 Ex: modems and network interface cards …
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Input Devices
 Convert the input (Data or Instruction) to
the computer understandable format
(Electronic Signal).

Data / Instructions
Input 10010100
Interface Computer
Device

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Types of Input Devices

 Keyboard
 Pointing Devices
 Microphone
 Scanner
 Touch Screen
 Light Pen
 Digitized Tablet
 POS Terminal
 Bar-Code Reader
 MICR
 OCR
 OMR
 Web Cams
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Output Devices
Converts computer understandable data
( electronic data – 1,0 s) into a human
understandable format (text, image, video,
sound).

Output “Hello”
Computer 10101101
Interface
Device

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Types of Outputs and Devices

 Soft Copy Output
 Monitors

 MultimediaProjectors
 Sound Systems

 Hard Copy Output

 Printers

 Plotters

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Communication Devices

 Modems

 Network Cards

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Modems (modulator and demodulator )

 Used to communicate over telephone lines

Telephone line

Digital Digital
Computer signal Computer
signal
1 Modem 1 Modem 2 2

Analog signal

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Network Card/Adapter
 Interface between the computer and the
network.

Computer
Network Network card

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Storage Devices
 Storage devices store data permanently
(hold data, even when the computer is
turned off)
 Capacity is measured in bytes to terabytes

 There are three types of storage devices

 Magnetic storage devices
 Optical storage devices

 Other storage devices

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Types of magnetic storage

 Hard disks

 Diskettes (Floppy diskettes / Zip diskettes)

 Magnetic tapes

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Optical Storage Devices

 Compact Disc Read-Only Memory
(CD-ROM)
 CD-Recordable (CD-R)
 CD-Rewritable (CD-RW)

 Digital Video Disc Read-Only Memory /

Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory
(DVD-ROM)

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Other Types
 Flash Memory (Memory Stick, Pen Drives, Thumb
Drives, USB Keys )
 Use an electronic chip to store data
 Capacity : 64MBs – 256 GBs

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Review Questions

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1. What is a computer?
A computer is a digital electronic
device that accepts data in one form
and processes it to produce data in
another form.

A computer is a device that works

under a control of a set of instructions
(stored programs), for storing and
processing data to produce information.

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Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya.
CS100 (2010/2011)

2. What are the major types of

modern day computers
 Super Computers
 Mainframes
 Minicomputers
 Microcomputers

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3. What are the examples of

microcomputers
 Desktop computers
 Laptop computers

 Palmtop computers

 Game consoles

 Embedded computer systems

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4. What are the basic parts of any

computer system?
 Hardware
 Software

 Data

 Users

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 5. What is meant by the Hardware
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and Software of a computer

system?
 Hardware:
 The parts of a computer system that can
be touched.

 Software:
A of set of Programs consists of
organized set of instructions to perform
specific tasks.

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CS100 (2010/2011)

6. Draw a diagram to illustrate the

components inside a computer.
CPU
Control
Unit

Arithmetic
&
Logic Unit

Registers
Peripheral
Memory Storage
Devices

System Bus
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CS100 (2010/2011)

7. What are the basic components of

a CPU?
CPU
Control
 At the basic level, a
Unit
microprocessor consists
Arithmetic
& of:
Logic Unit  ControlUnit (CU)
Registers  Arithmetic and Logic Unit
(ALU)
 Registers

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Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya.
CS100 (2010/2011)

8. What are the two types of memory

used in microcomputers?
 RAM - Random Access Memory

 ROM - Read Only Memory

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9. Why does the RAM is considered

as a “Volatile Memory” ?
 Because, when the power is off the
content stored in the RAM is lost.

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 10. What are the 3 types of peripheral
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devices? Specify the purpose of

each of those devices.
 Input devices
 accept data and instructions from the
user or from another computer system.
 Output devices
 returnprocessed data back to the user or
to another computer system.
 Communication devices
 perform both input and output operations
allowing computers to share information.
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 11. What are the two types of outputs
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in a computer system? State

example devices for each type.
 Soft Copy Output
 Monitors

 MultimediaProjectors
 Sound Systems

 Hard Copy Output

 Printers

 Plotters

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 12. What are the two types of
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computer monitors which are

widely in use?
 CRT

 Flat Panel

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13. State two devices that are used to

communicate between computers.
 Modem

 Network Card (Network Interface Card)

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14. What is the purpose of using

Storage Devices?
 Storage devices are used to store
data permanently.

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15. State three types of storage devices

that are widely in use. Give examples
of each type.
 Magnetic storage devices
 Hard
disks, Floppy diskettes, Zip diskettes,
Magnetic Tapes

 Optical storage devices

 CD, DVD, Blu-Ray Discs

 Other storage devices

 Flash drives, Memory cards
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