Module 1 – Digital Literacy

Computer Basics
Advantages and Disadvatages
Functionalities of a Computer
Advantages of Computer
 High Speed
 Accuracy
 Storage Capability
 Diligence
 Versatility
 Reliability
 Automation
 Reduction in Paper Work and Cost
Disadvantages of
Computer
No IQ
Dependency
Environment
No feeling
Application of Computer in Various Fields

Business Banking Insurance

Application of Computer in Various Fields

Education Marketing Healthcare

Application of Computer in Various Fields

Engineering Military Communication

Design
Application of Computer in Various Fields

Government
 Generations of Computer
The main features are:
1 Generation:
st

1946 – 1959  Vacuum tube technology

Vacuum Tube  Unreliable
 Supported machine language only
 Very costly
 Generated a lot of heat
 Slow input and output devices
 Huge size
 Need of AC
 Non-portable
 Consumed a lot of electricity
 Generations of Computer
The main features are:
 Use of transistors
 Reliable in comparison to first generation
2nd Generation:
computers
1959 – 1965
Transistor  Smaller size as compared to first
generation computers
 Generated less heat as compared to first
generation computers
 Consumed less electricity as compared to
first generation computers
 Faster than first generation computers
 Still very costly
 AC required
 Supported machine and assembly
languages
 Generations of Computer

The main features are:

3rd Generation:  IC used
1965 – 1971
Integrated Circuit  More reliable in comparison to
previous two generations
 Smaller size
 Generated less heat
 Faster
 Lesser maintenance
 Costly
 AC required
 Consumed lesser electricity
 Supported high-level language
 Generations of Computer
The main features are:
 VLSI technology used
4 Generation:
th
 Very cheap
1971 – 1980
VLSI Microprocessor  Portable and reliable
 Use of PCs
 Very small size
 Pipeline processing
 No AC required
 Concept of internet was
introduced
 Great developments in the
fields of networks
 Computers became easily
available
 Generations of Computer
The main features are:
 ULSI technology
5th Generation:  Development of true artificial
1980 – Onwards ULSI intelligence
Microprocessor  Development of Natural language
processing
 Advancement in Parallel Processing
 Advancement in Superconductor
technology
 More user-friendly interfaces with
multimedia features
 Availability of very powerful and
compact computers at cheaper
rates
 Types of Computer

Personal Computer (PC) Workstation

It is a single user computer It is also a single user computer

system, similar to personal
system having moderately computer however has a more
powerful microprocessor powerful microprocessor
 Types of Computer

Mini Computer Main Frame

It is a multi-user computer system, It is a multi-user computer system, capable

capable of supporting hundreds of of supporting hundreds of users
users simultaneously. simultaneously. Software technology is
different from minicomputer.
 Types of Computer
Supercomputer

It is an extremely fast computer,

which can execute hundreds of
millions of instructions per second.
A Computer ....
• takes input
• processes it according to stored instructions
• produces results as output
Data vs Information
• A
• A
– your grade in the
exam
• 2, 4, 23, 30, 31, • 2, 4, 23, 30, 31, 36
36 – Next week’s
Lotto
numbers
Bit
– Single Binary Digit
– Can have value 0 or 1, and nothing else
– A bit is the smallest possible unit of information in a computer

Groups of bits can represent data or information

– 1 bit - 2 alternatives
– 2 bits - 4 alternatives
– 3 bits - 8 alternatives
– 4 bits - 16 alternatives
– n bits - 2 alternativies
– 8bits - 2 = 256 alternatives
– a group of 8 bits is called a byte
Hardware
• The physical (electronic and mechanical) parts of a computer
or information system

Peopleware
• anything that has to do with the role of people in the
development or use of computer software and hardware
systems

Software
• The programs that control the operation of the computer
system
 Components of Computer
Systems - Hardware
Input Systems

• Keyboard
» Most common input
device
» QWERTY

• Mouse
» Cursor manipulation
device
» Trackball
 Components of Computer Systems
• Pens
Touch Screens
• Stylus
 Components of Computer Systems
Magnetic Ink Character Bar Code Readers
Recognition (MICR)
 Components of Computer Systems
Output Systems

Soft Copy Modems

» Voice synthesis – Modulator-Demodulator
» Music – Allows computers to
» CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) communicate over
» LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) telephone lines
 Components of Computer Systems
Storage Systems

Memory Optical Disks

– Stores the bits and bytes (instructions – 15,000 tracks per inch
and data) – Digital code read by laser
– ROM - Read Only Memory – 650 Mbytes in a 4.75” plastic platter
» Non-volatile
– CD ROM; WORM; Erasable Disks
» Won’t disappear when power is off
– RAM - Random Access Memory
» Read/Write Memory
» Volatile
» SIMMs (Single Inline Memory
Modules):
4 Mbytes in a stick of chewing
gum
 Components of Computer Systems
Magnetic Disk
– A circular platter coated with
magnetic material
Floppy Disk
– 3.5”; 360kbyte to 2.88Mbytes (1.44 is
common)
Hard Disk
– 1.3”, 1.8”, 2.5”, 3.5”, 5.25”;
120Mbytes to over 6 Gigabyte (6
Gbyte)
 Components of Computer
Systems - Software
Operating Systems
• Operating System is the software that manages the
overall operation of the computer system
• Main purpose is to support application programs
• Hide details of devices from application programs
 Components of
Computer Systems
Operating Systems
• DOS (Disk Operating System) • Windows
– Single-tasking – GUI
– Command-driven – Can run DOS programs
– Huge number of applications written for DOS – Has network services
– Does not require powerful computer – Has multimedia extensions
– No network services – Requires large amounts of
– No multimedia extensions memory, disk space, powerful
– Designed for the Intel 80x86 processor processor
– Designed for the Intel 80X86
processors
 Components of Computer Systems
Operating Systems
• Macintosh OS
– Multi-tasking
– GUI called finder
– Very easy to use
– Very graphically oriented
– Has network services
– Has multimedia extensions
– Designed for the Motorola and PowerPC
processors
 Components of Computer Systems
Operating Systems

User interfaces Graphic User Interfaces (GUIs)

– Software which is responsible for passing – Pictures, graphic symbols (icons), to
information to and from the person using the represent commands
program (the user) – Windows: a way of ‘looking in’
– Communicates with and controls the computer on several applications at once
– Three types of user interface:
» Graphic user interfaces
» Menu driven interfaces
» Command driven interfaces
 Components of Computer Systems
Application Software

• Special Purpose • General Purpose

– Payroll – Word Processing (e.g. MS Word)
– Accounting – Desktop Publishing (e.g. Quark Xpress)
– Book-Keeping – Spreadsheets (e.g. MS Excel)
– Entertainment – Databases (e.g. MS Access)
– Statistical Analysis – Graphics (e.g. MS Powerpoint)
– E-mail (e.g. MS Mail)
– Internet Browsers (e.g. Firefox, Explorer)
 Components of Computer Systems

Application Software
• Integrated Software
– Goal: effective sharing of information between all applications
– For example: MS Office: Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Access can all
use each other’s data directly
– Object Linking & Embedding (OLE)
– Information is stored in one location only
– Reference is made to it from another application
– This reference is known as a link
– Don’t actually make a copy (cf. hypertext, multimedia,
WWW)
 The Processor
• The processor is a functional unit that interprets and
carries out instructions
• Also called a Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Every processor has a unique set of operations
• LOAD
• ADD
• STORE
 The Components of a Processor

Input ME MORY Output

CPU

Control Arithmetic
Unit & Logic Unit Registers
ALU
 The Control Unit Registers
• Supervises the operation of the processor • Register: a storage location
• Makes connections between the various components inside the processor
• Invokes the operation of each component • Control unit registers:
• Can be interrupted! – current instruction
– location of next instruction
The Arithmetic & Logic Unit to be executed
– operands of the instruction
• ALU • ALU registers:
• Provided the computer with its computational capabilities – store data items
• Data are brought to the ALU by the control unit – store results
• ALU performs the required operation
End of Presentation