P.

4 COMPUTER LESSON NOTES

2021

COMPILED BY ;
MICHAEL KASULE
LESSON 1: COMPUTER
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- states the meaning of a computer
- Mentions the uses of computers
MEANING OF A COMPUTER
• A computer is an electronic device that accepts data as input, processes
the data and gives out information.
• A computer is an electronic device that allows people to perform
different tasks.
Examples of tasks that are performed by people;
- Typing letters - communication - online shopping
- Playing games - banking - graphic designing
 USES OF A COMPUTER
• Education: It is used for learning, teaching & research.
• Government: For planning and budgeting.
• Healthcare:
• Business: For record keeping.
• Entertainment: For playing music, watching movies & playing games.
• Defense: Used for defending a territory.
• Arts: Used for drawing and painting.
• Safety: Used to control traffic and give signals on the condition of the road.
• Weather stations: Used for recording and reporting the present conditions of the
atmosphere.
• Sports: Used for broadcasting sports activities.
• Manufacturing: Used for design, pdn, mrktn’ & advertisement.
 EXERCISE I
1. What is a computer?
2. Mention any four tasks performed by people using a computer.
3. Give any for uses of computers to people.
4. Mention any five organisations that use computers.
 LESSON 2: ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- states the meaning of a computer
- Mentions the advantages of using computers.
Introduction: A computer is an electronic device that accepts data as input,
processes the data and gives out information.
ADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTERS
• Computers work very fast.
• A computer never gets tired.
• A computer is very accurate.
• Computers store large amounts of data.
• Computers can do many different kinds of tasks.
 LESSON 3: COMPUTER HARDWARE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- Lists the hardware components of a computer
- Lists hardware input devices
- Lists hardware output devices
COMPUTER HARDWARE
Computer hardware is the physical component of a computer that we can see and
touch.
Examples of computer hardware;
- Keyboard - system unit - scanner - Card reader
- Mouse - printer - CD/DVD ROM - Flash drive
- Monitor - speakers - Webcam - Joy sticks
COMPUTER HARDWARE
 CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER HARDWARE
Computer hardware can be grouped into four;
(a) Input devices:
- Keyboard - Joystick - mouse - scanner - webcam - flash drive
(b) Processing devices
- Central Processing Unit (CPU) - Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Read Only Memory (ROM)
(c) Output devices
- Monitor - Printer - Speakers - Projector
(d) Storage devices
- CD /DVD ROM - Flash disk - Memory card - Diskettes
 EXERCISE 3
1. What is computer hardware?
2. Give any three advantages of using a computer.
3. Mention the four major groups of computer hardware.
4. List any two of each of the following;
(a) Hardware input devices (c) Hardware processing devices
(b) Hardware output devices (d) Hardware storage devices
5. Why is a printer referred to as a hardware component?
 LESSON 4: INPUT DEVICES
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- State the meaning of hardware components of a computer
- List the hardware components of a computer.
- Lists hardware input devices
ACTIVITY
1. _______ is used for typing.
2. _______ is used for snapping.
3. _______ is used for recording.
4. ______ is used for scanning.
5. ______ is used for installing.
6. ______ is a pointing device.
7. ______ is used for playing computer games.
The answers mentioned in the activity above are called input devices.
INPUT DEVICES
 INPUT DEVICES
The following are computer hardware input devices;
• Keyboard: is used to enter data into the computer system.
• Mouse: is a pointing device.
• Microphone: is used for recording sound.
• Webcam: is used for taking live photos and videos.
• CD/DVD ROM: is used for installing software, play music and games.
• Joystick: is used for playing computer games
• Scanner: copies pictures and pages and turns them into images that can be
saved on a computer.
 EXERCISE 4
1. Explain the meaning of computer hardware.
2. What are input devices.
3. Identify any 4 hardware input devices.
4. Why is a keyboard considered an input device?
5. Give the function of each of these input devices;
(a) Microphone
(b) Webcam
(c) Scanner
(d) CD ROM
 LESSON 5: OUTPUT DEVICES
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- State the meaning of computer hardware
- List the hardware components of a computer.
- Lists hardware output devices
ACTIVITY
1. _______ is used for printing.
2. _______ is used to hear music from the computer.
3. _______ is used for viewing from the computer.
The answers mentioned are called output devices.
OUTPUT DEVICES
 OUTPUT DEVICES
Output devices are parts of a computer system we use to display and print
our information from the computer.
Output devices allow computers to communicate with the users and with
other devices.
They include:
- Monitor - printer - headphone - projector
- speakers
 EXERCISE 5
1. What are output devices?
2. Identify any 4 examples of output devices.
3. Why is a projector referred to as an output device?
4. State the function of each of these output devices;
(a) printer (b) monitor (c) speakers
 LESSON 6: THE MONITOR
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- Defines the term monitor
- Lists the types of monitors
- States the uses of a monitor
COMPUTER MONITOR
A computer monitor is an output device that displays information in pictorial
form.
TYPES OF MONITORS
There are 2 types of monitors, namely;
- CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors - LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors
 TYPES OF MONITORS CONT’D
CRT monitor LCD monitors

USES OF MONITORS
• The main use of monitors is to display information.
 EXERCISE 6
1. What is a computer monitor?
2. Name the type of monitor drawn below.

3. State the difference between a monitor and a television.

4. Write these in full form:
(a) LCD (b) CRT
5. Give the difference between a CRT monitor and a LCD monitor.
6. Draw the structure of a CRT monitor.
 LESSON 7: PRINTER
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner;
- Defines the term printer
- Lists the types of printers
- States the uses of a printer
COMPUTER PRINTER
This is an output device that allows a user to print items on a paper.
TYPES OF PRINTERS
- Laser printers - LED printers
- Solid ink printers - Business Inkjet printers
- Home inkjet printers - Dot Matrix printers
- 3D printers - Multifunction printers
 EXERCISE 7
1. What is a printer?
2. Give the difference between a photo printer and other printers.
3. What is a multifunction printer?
4. Differentiate between black/white and colour printer.