Introduction

to
Computer
ENG \ Mohammed Abdel Rahman Alwali
COMPUTER

Definition

A computer is an electronic device,

operating under the control of
instructions stored in its own memory
that can accept data (input), process
the data according to specified rules,
produce information (output), and
store the information for future use.
Functionalities of a computer
 Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross
terms:
 Takes data as input
 Stores the data/ instructions in it’s memory and use them
when required.
 Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
 Generates the output.
 Controls all the above four steps.
Computer Components
 Any kind of computers consists of HARDWARE AND
SOFTWARE.
 Hardware:
Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements that
constitutes a computer system. Computer hardware refers to the
physical parts or components of a computer such as the monitor,
mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, hard drive disk (HDD),
system unit (graphic cards, sound cards, memory, motherboard
and chips), etc. all of which are physical objects that can be
touched.
HARDWARE Input Devices
 Input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware
equipment to provide data and control signals to an
information processing system such as a computer or other
information appliance. Input device Translate data from form
that humans understand to one that the computer can work
with. Most common are keyboard and mouse.
Output devices
 An output device is any piece of computer hardware
equipment used to communicate the results of data
processing carried out by an information processing system
(such as a computer) which converts the electronically
generated information into human readable form.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 Central Processing Unit (CPU) A CPU is brain of a computer. It is

responsible for all functions and processes. Regarding computing
power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer
system.
The CPU is comprised of three main parts :
* Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Executes all arithmetic and logical
operations. Arithmetic calculations like as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. Logical operation like compare numbers,
letters, or special characters.
Control Unit (CU): controls and co-ordinates computer components.
* Registers :Stores the data that is to be executed next, "very fast
storage area".
Primary Memory:

RAM: Random Access Memory (RAM) is a memory

scheme within the computer system responsible for
storing data on a temporary basis, so that it can be
promptly accessed by the processor as and when
needed. It is volatile in nature, which means that data
will be erased once supply to the storage device is
turned off. RAM stores data randomly and the processor
accesses these data randomly from the RAM storage.
RAM is considered "random access" because you can
access any memory cell directly if you know the row
and column that intersect at that cell.
Primary Memory:-

 ROM (Read Only Memory): ROM is a

permanent form of storage. ROM stays
active regardless of whether power supply to
it is turned on or off. ROM devices do not
allow data stored on them to be modified.
Secondary Memory:

 Stores data and programs permanently :its retained after the power
is turned off
 1. Hard drive (HD): A hard disk is part of a unit, often called a "disk
drive," "hard drive," or "hard disk drive," that store and provides
relatively quick access to large amounts of data on an
electromagnetically charged surface or set of surfaces.
 2.Optical Disk: an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disk drive that uses
laser light as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from
optical discs.
 3. Flash Disk A storage module made of flash memory chips. A Flash
disks have no mechanical platters or access arms, but the term "disk"
is used because the data are accessed as if they were on a hard
drive. The disk storage structure is emulated.
Software

 Software is a generic term for organized

collections of computer data and
instructions, often broken into two major
categories:
1. system software that provides the basic non
task-specific functions of the computer,
2. application software which is used by users
to accomplish specific tasks.
Software Types

 A. System software is responsible for controlling,

integrating, and managing the individual hardware
components of a computer system so that other software and
the users of the system see it as a functional unit without
having to be concerned with the low-level details such as
transferring data from memory to disk, or rendering text onto
a display. Generally, system software consists of an operating
system and some fundamental utilities such as disk
formatters, file managers, display managers, text editors, user
authentication (login) and management tools, and networking
and device control software.
 B. Application software is used to accomplish specific tasks other
than just running the computer system. Application software may
consist of a single program, such as an image viewer; a small
collection of programs (often called a software package) that work
closely together to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet or text
processing system; a larger collection (often called a software suite)
of related but independent programs and packages that have a
common user interface or shared data format, such as Microsoft
Office, which consists of closely integrated word processor,
spreadsheet, database, etc.; or a software system, such as a
database management system, which is a collection of fundamental
programs that may provide some service to a variety of other
independent applications.
Unit of Measurements

 Storage measurements: The basic unit used in

computer data storage is called a bit (binary digit).
Computers use these little bits, which are composed
of ones and zeros, to do things and talk to other
computers. All your files, for instance, are kept in the
computer as binary files and translated into words
and pictures by the software (which is also ones and
zeros). This two number system, is called a “binary
number system” since it has only two numbers in it.
The decimal number system in contrast has ten
unique digits, zero through nine
Computers classification

 Computers can be generally classified by size and

power as follows, though there is Considerable overlap:
 Personal Computers (PCs):
 Purpose and Use: Personal computers are primarily
designed for individual use or by a small number of people in
homes or small offices. Their purpose is to meet everyday
computing needs such as browsing the internet, writing
documents, sending and receiving emails, running office
applications, enjoying multimedia (photos, videos, music), and
playing games.
 Main Types of Personal Computers (PCs)
 Desktops: Typically consist of a separate system unit (case/tower), monitor,
keyboard, and mouse. They are characterized by their expandability (adding
new components or upgrading existing ones) and are often more powerful for
the price compared to laptops.
 Laptops/Notebooks: Portable devices that integrate all essential
components into a single unit. They are characterized by their ease of
portability and the ability to work anywhere, relying on a battery for
operation away from a power source. Laptops have evolved to include
subcategories such as Ultrabook's (thin and lightweight) and 2-in-1 devices
(convertible to tablets).
 Tablets: Portable touch-screen devices, often used for browsing the internet,
reading e-books, watching videos, and running simple applications. They may
come with detachable keyboards to enhance productivity.
 Technical Specifications: The technical specifications of personal
computers vary significantly depending on the price and intended use. They
can range from basic devices for internet browsing to high-performance
machines for gaming or video editing. Key components include the central
processing unit (CPU), random-access memory (RAM), storage unit (HDD or
SSD), graphics card (GPU), and monitor.
Workstations:
 Purpose and Use: Workstations are high-performance
computers specifically designed to meet the needs of
professional users in fields that require significant
processing power, advanced graphics, and high reliability.
They are used in areas such as:
 Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Engineering:
Product design, 3D modeling, engineering analysis.
 Computer Graphics and Animation: Creating 3D
images and videos, special effects.
 Video and Audio Editing: Processing large multimedia
files.
 Scientific and Data Analysis: Performing complex
calculations and analyzing large datasets.
 Software Development: Compiling and running
complex code.
 Technical Characteristics: Workstations are characterized by powerful
and reliable components, often of professional-grade quality, such as:
 High-end Multi-core CPUs: To provide significant parallel processing
power.
 Large RAM Capacity: To handle large applications and files
efficiently.
 High-speed SSDs: To reduce loading and response times.
 Professional-grade GPUs: Designed to provide high performance in
3D graphics and editing applications. They often support advanced
features such as high color accuracy and large memory.
 Advanced Cooling Systems: To maintain performance stability
under high load.
 Advanced Memory and Performance Management Features: To
improve the efficiency of working with demanding applications.
 Operating System Designed for Stability and Performance:
Often use professional versions of operating systems.
In summary,
personal computers are designed for
general and individual use,.
workstations are specialized and
high-performance tools used by
professionals in fields that require
advanced computing power and
graphics.
Minicomputers:
 Size and Scope: Minicomputers represented a mid-range
category between large mainframes and smaller personal
computers. They emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, being
smaller and less expensive than mainframes, but more
powerful and capable than personal computers at the time.
 Uses: They were primarily used in small and medium-sized
enterprises, departments within large companies, universities,
and laboratories. They were suitable for running applications
such as payroll processing, inventory management,
accounting, and some engineering and scientific tasks.
 Technical Characteristics: They were characterized by
their ability to support multiple users simultaneously (multi-
user capability), and they possessed greater processing power
and memory than personal computers of their era.

Mainframes:
 Size and Power: These are very large and extremely
powerful computers, characterized by their immense ability
to process vast amounts of data and execute a large number
of complex operations in the same time.
 These computers often occupy entire rooms and require
specialized cooling systems.
 Uses: They are primarily used in very large organizations
such as banks, insurance companies, airlines, government
agencies, and large data centers.
 They are used for managing massive databases, processing
huge volumes of transactions (such as credit card
transactions), and running critical applications that require
high reliability and security.
 Supercomputers:
 Size and Power: These are the fastest and most powerful types
of computers in existence. They are designed to perform complex
and intensive computational tasks that require enormous
processing power and ultra-high speed. They often consist of
thousands or even millions of interconnected processors.
 Uses: They are used in highly advanced scientific and
engineering research fields, such as:
 Weather and climate prediction: Simulating complex
atmospheric models.
 Molecular and pharmaceutical modeling: Designing drugs
and understanding chemical reactions.
 Astronomy: Processing and analyzing astronomical data.
 Energy research: Modeling nuclear fusion reactors and
exploring new energy sources.
 Advanced artificial intelligence: Training large deep learning
models.