ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT PREPARATION & MANAGEMENT

SECTION 1 FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTING

DEFINITION OF A COMPUTER

A computer is an electronic machine or device that accepts data,

processes the data and produces information.

COMPONENTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

The Computer system consists of the following SIX (6) components:

1. Hardware The physical parts or devices of the computer

system.
E.g. System unit, input & output devices, secondary storage
devices and communication devices.

2. Software A set of instructions written in computer language

called programs. They control the operation of the hardware
components of the computer.
E.g. Microsoft Word, Windows Media Player, Paint etc.

3. People Persons who program, use and maintain the computer

system.

4. Procedures A sequence of instructions (steps, methods and

rules) for using and managing the computer system.

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5. Data or Database Data that is stored in an organized way for
quick access.

PARTS OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTER SYSTEM

The personal computer (PC) system consists of the following parts:
1)

Input Devices ** Devices used to enter data into the

computer system.

2)

Processing Devices housed in the System Unit a metal

casing.
The System Unit contains a motherboard which comprises:
Central Processing Unit (CPU) - referred to simply as the
processor or central processor, the CPU is where most
calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU
is the most important element of a computer system. It is also
referred to as the Brain of the computer.
The CPU consists of two (2) typical components:
i.

Control Unit (CU) This extracts instructions from

memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the
ALU when necessary.

ii.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) Performs mathematical

calculations and stores the results in memory or
registers.

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3)

Output Devices ** - to present processed information to a

computer user.

4)

Secondary Storage Devices to store data permanently for

later use.

5)

Communication Devices to connect the computer to

communication networks.

** Input / Output (I/O) Devices are known as peripherals.

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