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Introduction To Information Technology
TOPIC -1
INTRODUCTION TO IT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
 Information Technology or “infotech” is a technology
that merges computing (Computer Technology) with
high-speed communication links (Communications
Technology), carrying different types of data i.e. Text,
Audio, Graphics, and Video.
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
 Computer technology consist of a programmable,
multi-use machine that accepts data (raw facts and
figures) and process or manipulates it into information,
we can use, such as summaries, totals, or reports.
 Purpose of the computer technology is to speed up
problem solving and increase productivity.
 Different types of computer are Calculator, Desktop
Computer, Portable Computer, Mainframe, Super and
Petrol Pump.
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
 Communication technology or Telecommunication
technology consists of electromagnetic devices and
systems for communicating over long distances.
 Purpose of the communication technology is to link
remote places of the world together, so that,
information can easily be exchanged.
 Different types of devices used in communications are
Telephone, Radio, Broadcast television, Cable television,
Satellite, Cellular phone, WebTV and Telegraph.
In essence, the combination of computer
technology and communication technology is
referred to as Information Technology.
 The present age is without any doubt, the age of
information technology. Because computers speedily
provides information and communications links sends
these information to the remote places of the world in no
time.
 All electronic, electromagnetic and other devices and
systems that are used in computer technology or
communications technology make the Information
Technology.
TOPIC -2
DATA AND INFORMATION
DATA
 Data is a plural form of the Latin word Datum, which
means “something given”. In computer terminology the
term data is defined as:
“Any thing given in raw form like numbers, words and facts
is called data.” OR
“Raw facts and figures about something is referred to as
data.”
 Raw – means unorganized, unprocessed and one can’t
take decision upon it. Examples are Naveed, 670, Blue,
Dheri, etc.
Types of Data
There are four types of data usually used as input to
computer.
1. CHARACTER DATA
 Character Data consist of numbers, letters, or other
symbols that are represented each by a single byte
in the ASCII.
According To the Syllabus
 Character data takes less space in memory than all
other types of data.
 Character data can further be divided into the following
four types.
NUMERIC DATA
 Consist of decimal numbers from 0 to 9 and decimal
point notations.
ALPHABETIC DATA (TEXT DATA)
 Consist of any alphabets from ‘A’ to ‘Z’ or from ‘a’ to
‘z’. For example Ali, Dheri, etc.
ALPHANUMERIC DATA
 Consist of alphabets and numbers in combined form.
For example B52, F16, etc.
SPECIAL-CHARACTERS DATA
 Consist of special characters alone or in combination
with other characters. For example, $12, 50%, &, {, >,
etc.
2. GRAPHICS DATA
 Graphics data consist of still pictures, which are in
computer terminology the digital representation of
non-character information such as drawing, chart, or
photograph.
 Graphics data takes more space in memory than
Character data.
 There are two types of graphics used in computer.
According To the Syllabus
BITMAPS
 Bitmap graphics have information about each pixel
stored in the file i.e. they are resolution dependent.
 Bitmaps are easy to be displayed but scaling (sizing)
the bitmap will cause it of the poor quality.
 BMP (Bitmap), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format),
JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Technology), etc. are
files that stores bitmap graphics data.
VECTOR GRAPHICS
 Vector graphics do not store information about
each pixel in the image. Rather vector graphics store
mathematical equations that describe how to redraw
the image.
 In other words vector graphics are resolution
independent and that is why they retain their original
quality in case of scaling.
 Graphics of CorelDraw, AutoCAD, etc. are vector
graphics.
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Introduction To Information Technology
3. AUDIO DATA  Input devices such as mouse, keyboard, joystick, etc.
are used to enter data for processing.
 Audio data includes digitized music, speech, or any
other sound.
 Audio data exists (is stored on computer) in various file 2. MANIPULATING THE DATA
formats e.g. WAV, WMA (Windows Media Audio),  Manipulation means to process the input data.
MPEG, RealAudio, QuickTime and MP3 (Moving  Processing may consist of the organizing (classifying),
Pictures Experts Group Audio Layer 3). arranging (sorting), calculating, and/or and
 MP3 is a special audio file format that reduces summarizing of data.
(compresses) an audio file to about one-tenth of its
original size with little or no change in its original quality.

According To the Syllabus

 Audio data takes more space in memory than 3. MANAGING THE OUTPUT RESULTS
Graphics data.  The processed and manipulated data is then ready to
be displayed as information for decision making.
 The output results are either displayed on display device,
4. VIDEO DATA
which is called soft-copy or printed on a paper by
 Video data consist of a series of still pictures printer, which is called hard copy.
(frames) that are displayed one after another. These
pictures or frames are displayed or projected one after
another at a typical speed of 15-30 frames per
second, creating an illusion of movement or video. Difference between MDP and EDP
 With so many frames of pictures, you can imagine that Following is the difference between Manual Data
video files will really take the most space in memory Processing (also called Conventional Data Processing)
than any other file format. and Electronic Data Processing.
 Video data is stored on computer in various file formats
such as MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group), AVI
(Audio Video Interleave), QuickTime, WMF (Windows MDP EDP
Media Format), and RealVideo. 1. All performed by 1. Performed by
human himself electronic machines

INFORMATION
2. Slow method 2. Faster method
3. More error chances 3. Less or no error
4. Unreliable results chances
 Information is the organized, processed or
5. Cheap system 4. Reliable results
manipulated, and meaningful form of data. 6. Difficult to perform 5. Expensive system
 Decision can be taken upon Information. 7. Time consuming 6. Easy to perform
 Computers process data into information, e.g. To 7. Time saving
produce a paycheck (information), a computer processes
the employee’s name, number of hours worked, and the
hourly rate of pay (data).
 Examples of information are Summaries, Totals,
Reports, NIC, Pictures, Movies, Bill etc.
 Types of data are also types of Information.
TOPIC -4
TOPIC -3 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
DATA PROCESSING

According To the Syllabus

DATA PROCESSING
 Data Processing means to input data, manipulate or
process it and finally provide a meaningful output
called information.
 Data processing is done either manually i.e. by hand
(Manual Data Processing) or electronically by computer
(Electronic Data Processing).
COMPUTER
 A computer is an electronic machine that can
accepts data (raw facts and figures), manipulate
(process) it according to the given instructions,
produces results and store the results for future use.
Characteristics of Computer
The following characteristics (features) of computer can help
you understand what a computer is?

Functions of Electronic Data Processing (EDP) ELECTRONIC MACHINE

In EDP, Data is transformed into information electronically.  It is not a manual machine. Rather it uses electricity to
Following are the functions performed in EDP. run.

1. CAPTURING THE INPUT DATA PROGRAMMABLE

 The first function performed by an EDP system is
capturing the input data.
 The data captured may be in discrete-states (digital)
form or continuous (analog) form. Discrete data is for
example, 24, 25 or 0 & 1.
 Continuous data is for example, the speed of an
automobile or temperature of the day.
 Its programmer can program computer. Programmable
means you can control its operations by giving
instructions to it.
MULTI-USE (VERSATILITY)
 Computer can be used for multiple functions such as
playing audio/video, creating memos and reports,

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sending mail, playing games, forecasting weather
reports, purchases, calculations and so on, both at the
same time and at intervals.
SPEED
 Computer can perform in a few seconds the amount of
work that a human being can do in an entire year.
 A powerful computer is capable performing about 3 to 4
million simple arithmetic operations per second.
ACCURACY
 A computer performs an operation accurately. Errors
can occur in a computer, but these are mainly due to
human rather than technological weaknesses.
DILIGENCE (NO TIREDNESS)
 Unlike human beings a computer is free from tiredness
and lack of concentration, etc. and hence can work for
hours together without creating any error and without
grumbling.
POWER OF REMEMBERING
 Unlike human beings, computer can remember (store)
and recall any amount of information.
 A computer does not forget something, once stored.
 Computer stores data, information, and instructions on
its secondary storage devices such as Hard disk,
Floppy disk, CD, etc.
NO I.Q.
 I.Q. stands for Intelligence Query. Computer has no
intelligence of its own. It can only perform tasks that
a human being has told to it.
 A programmer gives instructions to computer to make
the computer able perform its tasks. A computer can’t
take its own decision.
NO FEELINGS
 Computers have no emotions and feelings because
they are machine. No computer possesses the equivalent
of a human heart and soul. They are only as good as
man makes and uses them.
TOPIC –5
HISTORY / EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
 “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
 Computer is invented as a result of man’s search for fast
and accurate calculating machine.
 The history of computer is described below.
600BC – 1617 (All manual)
 During this duration all machines invented were all
operated by hands (manually)
ABACUS (SOROBON) – 600BC
 Abacus was the first digital computer, although not
having all the features of a digital computer.
 It permits the user to represent numbers by positioning
the beads on a rack or string.
 Simple addition and subtraction can be done by
abacus.
 Still used in the Far East and its users can calculate at
amazing speed.
JOHN NAPIER’S BONE - 1617
 By John Napier
 It was consisting of a set of numbered rods carved on
bones.
 Made long calculations faster and accurate than
before.
1642 – 1842 (Mechanical)
According To the Syllabus
 Machines invented in this duration were all-mechanical
(automatic) or semi-mechanical.
1642
 Blaise Pascal invented first mechanical Adding
Machine.
 Addition and subtraction
1671
 Gottfried Leibniz of Germany invented the first calculator
for multiplication.
1842
 Charles Babbage, a nineteenth century professor at
Cambridge University, is considered to be the father of
modern digital computer.
 Babbage designed a “Difference Engine” in the year
1822, which could produce reliable tables.
 In 1842, he made an “Analytical Engine” that was
intended to be completely automatic.
 Analytical Engine was capable of performing the basic
arithmetic functions.
 60 additions per second
 Used punched card system as input.
 Analytical Engine had input unit, control unit,
processing unit (mill) and storage unit (store), which
was the basis for modern digital computer.
1937 – 1944 (Electro-Mechanical)
According To the Syllabus
MARK-I (1937-1944)
 Mark-I was the first Electro-mechanical device
invented in 1937 by Howard A. Aiken of Harvard
University in collaboration with IBM (International
Business Machines).
 Also called Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator.
 Technique was based on punch card.
 Five basic arithmetic operations are performed by
MarkI i.e. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
and Table reference.
 3 seconds needed for addition of two numbers, and
4.5 seconds for multiplication.
1948
 Transistor, the smaller and reliable successor to the
Vacuum Tube was invented.
EDVAC (1946-1952)
 Dr. John Von Neumann designed the EDVAC
(Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) on
“stored program” concept.
 “Stored Programs” means that a sequence of instructions
(programs) and data can be stored in the memory of
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computer for the purpose of automatically directing the
flow of operations.
 Von Neumann also introduced the idea of storing
instructions and data in the binary form (0 and 1),
instead of human readable words.
EDSAC (1947-1949)
 The EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic
Calculator) was developed by Britishers (Professor
Maurice Wilkes at the Cambridge University), almost at
the same time with EDVAC of U.S.A.
 The EDSAC was also developed on “stored program
concept”.
 Addition took 1500 microseconds and
 In computer electricity is either on or off. Vacuum
tubes, which were about the size and shape of small light
bulbs, stored data by turning individual tubes on or off,
so that to represent 0s and 1s. Vacuum tube was
nothing than a switch (on or off).
 The ENIAC, which belongs to this generation, used
18,000 tubes.
 These Computers were programmed in machine
language.
 Computers belongs to this generation are ENIAC,
EDVAC, EDSAC, etc.
ADVANTAGES
 Vacuum tube technology made possible the advent of

According To the Syllabus

multiplication took 4000 microseconds.
UNIVAC (1951)
 UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was the first
digital commercial computer developed by Sperry
Rand.
 UNIVAC I, was used for business firstly by General
Electric Corporation in 1954.
 In 1952, IBM (International Business Machines)
introduced the 701 commercial computer.
 In 1953, IBM produced the IBM-650 and sold over
1000 of these computers.
1964
 Integrated Circuits (ICs) were introduced in the world
of computer. The process of miniaturization of
computer started.
electronic digital computers.
 Fastest calculating devices of their time.
Computations were done in milliseconds.
DISADVANTAGES
 Too bulky (big) in size and has more weight. Size of
ENIAC was 1500 square feet, and weighed 30 tons.
 Unreliable (A vacuum tube failure occurred on average
once every 7minutes and it took about 15minutes to find
and replace the faulty tube.
 Heat Problem (due to thousands of Vacuum tubes).
 Air-conditioning required.
 Manual assembly of individual components into a
function unit.
 Non-portable – these computers were fixed on their
place.
 Commercial production was difficult and costly.

1965 Second Generation (1955 – 1964)

 First Mini Computer was developed, which used  Transistor – the parent of today’s computer
Integrated Circuits. components was used as the new technology.
 Transistor is a smaller and more reliable successor
to the vacuum tube.
1970
 Transistor is a tiny electrically operated switch, or
 Large Scale ICs (LSI) were developed. Large Scale gate, that can alternate between on and off many
means a large amount of Transistors are formed on a millions of times per second.
single IC chip.  Transistors were made individually and then formed into
an electronic circuit with the use of wires and solder.
1975  Programmed in machine or symbolic language.
 First Microcomputer was developed.
ADVANTAGES

According To the Syllabus

1980  Computers were small in size. The fist transistor was
one-hundredth of the size of a vacuum tube.
 CPU (Processor) was designed on a single chip.  More reliable.
 Less heat generated.
TOPIC -6  Computational times were reduced from milliseconds
to microseconds.
GENERATIONS OF COMPUTER  Better portability and wider commercial use than
first generation.

 In computer terminology, a generation means ‘a step in

technology’.
 Originally the term ‘generation’ was used to distinguish
between different hardware technologies, because
computer was only a hardware device at that time. But
nowadays, it has been extended to include both the
hardware and software.
 There are five generations of computer, known till
today.
First Generation (1942 – 1955)
 Vacuum Tube – The Grandfather of today’s computer
components was used in these computers as the most
important component.
DISADVANTAGES
 Air-conditioning required.
 Manual assembly of individual components into a
functioning unit required.
 Commercial production was difficult and costly.
Third Generation (1964 – 1975)
 IC (Integrated Circuit), which was the big step to the
miniaturization of electronic devices, was used as the
new most important component in computers, belonging
this generation.

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 IC is an entire electronic circuit including wires
formed on a single “chip”, or piece of special material,
usually silicon.
 Silicon is an element that is widely found in clay and
sand. It is used because
 Its abundance makes it cheap
 It is a semiconductor. A semiconductor is a
material whose electrical properties are intermediate
between a good conductor of electricity and a non-
conductor of electricity.
 It has a partial resistance to electricity.
 A “chip” or “microchip”, is a tiny piece of silicon that
contains millions of micro-miniature electronic
components, mainly transistors.
 Procedure-oriented languages were used.
 Mini Computers belong to this generation.
ADVANTAGES
 Smaller in size, even more reliable, and lower heat-
generated as compared to previous generations.
 Easily portable.
 Totally General-purpose. Widely used for various
commercial applications all over the world.
 Less power required.
 Manual assembly of individual components into a
functioning unit not required.
 Commercial production was easier and cheaper.
 Computer memory became volatile.
DISADVANTAGES
 Air-conditioning required.
 Highly sophisticated technology required for the
manufacture of IC chips.
 Time sharing and multiprogramming problem.
Fourth Generation (1975 – 1980)
 Used LSI (Large Scale Integration), VLSI (Very Large
Scale Integration), ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration)
chips instead of SSI (Small Scale Integration) and MSI
(Medium Scale Integration).
 SSI, MSI, LSI, VLSI, ULSI, etc. are the technologies that
represent number of components (mainly transistors)
on a single IC chip.
 SSI ----------- (10 – 20 components)
 MSI-----------(Up to 100 components)
 LSI------------(30,000 components)
 VLSI----------(More than 1 million components)
 ULSI----------(More than 10 million components)
 This generation used semiconductor, laser and bubble
memories technologies.
 Multiprocessing and distributed processing
capabilities.
 Significant Application Software.
 Significant advances in input/output devices.
(Optical readers, audio response terminals, graphics
display terminals, etc.)
 Mini and Microcomputers.
ADVANTAGES
 Smallest in size and very reliable.
 Heat generated is negligible and thus no air-
conditioning required.
 Much faster in computation than previous generations.
 Easily portable.
 Use of microprocessor.
 Totally general purpose.
 Cheapest.
DISADVANTAGES
 Highly sophisticated technology required for the
manufacture of LSI, VLSI, and ULSI chips.
Fifth Generation (1980 – onwards)
 Machine with genuine I.Q. – is the basic feature of this
generation.
 I.Q. means that computers in this generation are
supposed to be upgraded to a stage where AI (Artificial
According To the Syllabus
Intelligence) techniques such as voice recognition,
computer vision and natural language understanding, will
be incorporated in them.
 Japan has chosen the PROLOG (Programming in Logic)
language as its operating software and plans to have the
final machine talk with human beings see and deliver
pictures and hear the normal natural language.
 Industrial and Personal robots have been developed for
now.
 Scrub Mate is a robot, which is equipped with
computerized controls, ultra-sonic “eyes”, sensors,
batteries, three different cleaning and scrubbing tools,
and a self-squeezing mop. This robot is used to clean
bathrooms.
ADVANTAGES
 Increased internal memory and fast processing
speed.
 Robots and Expert Systems assist human beings in
many problems to solve.
 Computers were made possible to adopt some human
qualities.
DISADVANTAGES
 Highly sophisticated software and hardware
technology required developing such machines with
humanlike qualities.
TOPIC –7
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
According To the Syllabus
 Types or kinds of computers refer to their classification
on the basis of their working. There are three basic
types of computers.
Analog Computer
 Accepts analog input and provides and analog output
of information.
 Data is directly (without having to convert it into
numbers and codes) feed into it in continuously
varying form.
 Used to represent physical quantities such as distance,
velocity, acceleration, temperature, pressure, etc.,
because these quantities are continuously changing.
 No storage capability required, because they measure
and compare quantities in a single operation.
 Faster than digital, but not accurate, precise, and
repeatable.
 Output is generally in the form of readings on a series
of dial.
 Uses
 Engineering and scientific works
 Oil refinery
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 Examples are speedometer, thermometer, Super computers

barometer and analog clocks.  Super computer refers to the most powerful
scientific computer at a given time.

Digital Computer  Fastest, most powerful, most expensive and may be

 Digital computer accepts digital input and provides
digital information.
 Data is feed into it in the form of discrete states of
electricity (Electrical charge present or absent i.e. 0 or
1). It means that data is not entered in continuous
largest in size.
 Number of simultaneously connected users is from
hundreds to thousands.
 General Price is from 500,000 dollars to more than
85 million dollars.
 Physical size is usually full room of equipment.

According To the Syllabus

form.
 Used to represent digital quantities. Digital quantities
usually consist of digits. For example, 12:15, no of
students in a class, 0 and 1, etc.
 They have storage capabilities or in other words
memory.
 Results are more accurate, precise and repeatable.
 Uses
 Scientific operations
 Business operated jobs
 Examples are Accounting machines, calculators,
digital watches and other digital machines, etc.
 ASCII White (Accelerated Strategies Computing
Initiative white) is the fastest super computer in the
world has the following features.
 8,192 processors
 Can process 12.3 trillion operations per second
 Takes up 12,000 square-feet space (which is the
space required by two basket-ball courts)
 Weighs 106 tons
 97,000 times the memory of 64MB microcomputer
 16,000 time the secondary storage capacity of a
10GB microcomputer hard disk.
 83 miles of wiring
 Cost 85 million dollars

 Applications/ Uses
Hybrid Computer
 Sending astronauts into space
 Hybrid computer is having the best features of both
 Testing safety and aerodynamic features on
analog and digital computers.
cars and aircraft
 Controlling missile guidance systems
 The speed of analog computer
 Weather forecasting
 The accuracy of digital computer
 Modeling molecules
 Census count
 Used to represent quantities both in physical as well
 Oil exploration
as digital forms.
 Simulating nuclear weapons tests
 Different measurements are converted into digits
and are processed by the computer.
 Examples are ASCII White, Cray T3E, and CYBER-
 Uses
205.
 Air defense system
 Petrol pump (New)
Mainframe Computers (High-End Servers)
Computer  Large, expensive, very powerful computer that can

According To the Syllabus

s handle hundred or thousand of connected users
simultaneously.
Analog Digital Hybrid  Each user accesses the mainframe’s resources through a
Computer Computer Computer device called a terminal or some times PCs.
s s  Two types of terminals are used:

TOPIC –8  A dumb terminal – does not have its own CPU or

CLASSIFICATION/CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
 Classification of computers refers to the subtypes of
digital computer.
 Digital computers are typically classified into five
categories according to their physical size, price,
speed and processing power.
 Super or Super-powerful computers
 Mainframe or Large computers
 Mid-range or Mini or Medium-size computers
 Micro or personal or Small-size computers
 Mobile or portable devices/ computers
storage devices. It has a display screen and a
keyboard and can input and output data but cannot
by itself process store data.
 An intelligent terminal – can perform some
processing operations, but it usually does not have
any storage.
 Mainframes have usually very large memory. They can
store tremendous amount of data, instructions and
information.
 Physical size is Partial room to a Full room of
equipment.
 General price ranges from 300,000 dollars to
several million dollars. Thus a standard choice for
almost any large business.
 Midrange Servers (Mini computers) and other
mainframes can access data and information from a
mainframe.
 Large companies such as Airlines, banks and
insurance companies use mainframes.
 Examples are IBM 4381, ICL 2900, and NEC 610.

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Midrange Servers (Mini Computers or Minis)
 Released in 1960.
 Smallest of their time, that is why they were called
Mini computers.
 Medium-size, medium-power, and medium cost
computers. Medium means – their size, power and cost
fall between mainframes and Microcomputers.
 Number of simultaneously connected users is from two
to several thousands.
 Physical size is about a small cabinet.
 General price ranges from 5,000 dollars to 850,000
dollars.
 In many cases, one Midrange server accesses data on
another server. In other cases, people use personal
computers or terminals to access programs on a
server.
 Examples: HP 3000, PRIME 9755, and IBM System-
36.
Note: Both Mainframes and Midrange Computers are
used as servers, but Mainframes are costly and good
choice for large organization and businesses, while
Midrange computers are cheaper than mainframes and
good choice for smaller businesses and organizations.
Microcomputers (Personal Computers/PCs)
 Released in 1970 onwards when CPU was designed on
a single chip.
 PCs are those computers that can perform all of its
input, processing, output, and storage activities by
itself.
 A personal computer contains a processor, memory
and one or more input, output, and storage devices.
 Uses
 Small businesses
 Large businesses
 Home and offices
 Popular examples are:
 PC-Compatible
 Apple
 PC- compatible was originally designed by IBM and
used Windows as its operating system software.
 Apple was designed by Apple Company and used
Macintosh operating system software.
 According to their specific uses, PCs are divided into the
following four types.
DESKTOP COMPUTERS
 Those in which the case or system unit sits on a desk,
with keyboard in front and monitor (screen) often on top
of system unit.
TOWER PCS
 Those in which the case/system unit sits as a
“tower”, often on the floor beside a desk, thus freeing
up desk surface space.
NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS
 Also called laptop computers, are lightweight,
portable computers with built-in monitor, keyboard,
hard-disk drive, battery and Ac adapter – that can be
plugged into an electrical outlet.
 Notebook means that you can fold and shut them just
like a notebook.
 Laptop means that they are small enough to fit on your
lap.
TABLET PC
According To the Syllabus
 Tablet PC combines the features of a traditional
notebook computer with the simplicity of pencil
and paper.
 Moreover, they usually do not fold shut and haven’t a
keyboard – they usually are touched with finger or
special digital pen.
Mobile Devices/ Computers
 Very small devices usually designed to allow
wireless access to the Web and E-mail.
 They usually do not have disk drives. Instead, these
devices store programs and data permanently on
memory inside the system unit or small storage media
such as memory cards.
 Popular types of mobile devices are hand-held
computers, PDAs, and Smart phones.
HAND-HELD (Palmtop Computers)
 They are small enough to fit in one hand while you
operate it with the other hand.
 They have small keyboards.
 Hand-held computer is the best choice for mobile
employees, such as meter readers and parcel delivery
people.
PDAs (Pocket PCs)
 They usually do not have keyboards; instead like
Tablet PCs – the screen is touched with the finger or
special pen called stylus.
 A stylus uses pressure to write and draw.
 PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) provide personal
According To the Syllabus
organizer functions such as a calendar,
appointment book, address-book, calculator, and
notepad.
 PDAs also provide facilities such as messaging,
electronic mail, word processing and spreadsheet
software and games.
SMART PHONES
 Smart phones are web-enabled telephones offering
the convenience of one-hand operation.
 Smart phones are usually designed to allow wireless
access to the Web and E-mail, in addition to their
regular telephone and paging capabilities.
 Some higher priced models have color screens and
play music.
 All mobiles having the capabilities to access the Web
and E-mail fall in this category.
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Digital
Computers
Super Mainframe Midrange
Computers Computers Servers/ Mini
Computers
Desktop Tower PCs
Computers
Hand-held
computers
TOPIC –9
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTERS
 “Components of computer” refers to the details of
Hardware and Software components of computer, but
you must keep it in mind that usually the title
“Components of Computer” is used for only hardware
components. We are using the title in its original sense,
because we find it necessary to organize the topics and
subtopics in a way that is easily understandable.
 There are two major components of modern computer
– hardware and software.
HARDWARE (Basic Computer Organization)
 Students should note that components of computer in
question paper would mean the hardware components
of computer.
 Electric, electronic and mechanical components of
computer are known as hardware. Hardware consists
of all the machinery and equipment in a computer
system. Hardware can be touched physically.
 Basic Computer Organization means that how
different hardware components of computer are
organized to form a whole system.
 The internal architectural design of computers differs
from one system model to another. However, basic
organization remains the same for all computer systems.
 Basic computer organization/Hardware Components
of computer include input devices, output devices, a
system unit, storage devices and communication
devices.
Input Devices
 Input devices are the hardware components that
allow users to enter data or instructions into a
computer.
 In other words input devices convert (translate) data
and instructions from people-readable form (i.e.
letters, numbers, other symbols) into a form that
computer can process (i.e. binary 0s and 1s).
Personal / Mobile
Micro Computers
Computers /Devices
(PCs)
According To the Syllabus
Notebook Tablet PCs
Computers
PDAs Smart
Phones
 If the CPU is the computer’s brain, then the input devices
are its eyes and ears.
 Popular input devices include the keyboard, mouse,
stylus, digital pen, microphone, digital camera,
scanner and joystick.
THE KEYBOARD
 Keyboard is an input device that converts letters,
numbers, and other characters into electrical
signals readable by the processor.
 Keyboards consist of keys that are pressed by users to
enter data into a computer.
 Desktop computer keyboards typically have from
101 to 105 keys and keyboards for smaller computers
such as notebook computers have fewer keys.
 In Desktop computer keyboards often attach via a cable
to a serial port, a keyboard port, or a USB (Universal

Serial Bus) port on the system unit.
On notebook and many hand-held computers the
According To the Syllabus
keyboard is built into the top of the system unit.
Pointing Devices (Mouse and other)
A pointing device is an input device that allows a user to
control a pointer on the screen. In a graphical user
interface (GUI), a pointer is a small symbol on the screen,
whose location and shape changes as a user moves a
pointing device. Some pointing devices are discussed
below.
MOUSE
 Mouse is an input device that is used to manipulate
objects viewed on the computer display screen.
 A mouse fits comfortably under the palm of you hand. It
is the most widely used pointing device.
 With the mouse, users control the movement of the

pointer, often called a mouse pointer in this case.
The top and sides of a mouse have one to four
buttons; some also have small wheel. The bottom of
mouse is flat and contains the mechanism that detects
movement of the mouse.
 Two types of mouse are:
 A mechanical mouse – has a rubber or a metal
ball on its underside and you place it on a mouse
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pad. Movement of ball is necessary to move the
pointer.
 An optical mouse – has no ball; rather it uses
devices that emits and sense light to detect the
mouse’s movement.
 Mice (Plural of Mouse) can be attached to the system
unit through serial port, mouse port, or USB port.
 Cordless or Wireless mice are also available.
TRACKBALL
 Similar to a mechanical mouse, but it has a ball on its
top.
 You rotate the ball with your thumb, fingers, or the
palm of your hand to move the pointer.
 A trackball usually has one or more buttons just like
mouse buttons.
 Requires less space than mouse, because here you
rotate only the ball not the whole device.
TOUCH PAD (TRACK PAD)
 A small stationary, flat, rectangular pointing device
that is sensitive to pressure and motion.
 To move the pointer, simply slide your fingertip across
the surface of the pad.
 Most often used with notebook computers.
POINTING STICK
 A pressure-sensitive pointing device shaped like a
pencil eraser that is positioned between keys on
mostly a notebook computer keyboards.
 The pointer on the screen moves in the direction, you
push the pointing stick.
 Some notebook computers have both a touch pad and a
pointing stick.
JOYSTICK AND WHEEL
 Users running game software or flight and driving
simulation software often use a joystick or wheel
as pointing devices.
 A Joystick is a vertical lever mounted on a base. You
move the lever in different directions to control the
actions of the simulated vehicle or player.
 A wheel is a steering-wheel type input device. Users
turn the wheel to simulate driving a car, truck, or other
vehicle.
 Most wheels also include foot pedals for accelerations
and braking actions.
 A joystick or wheel typically attaches via a cable to the
game port on a sound card or game card or to a USB
port.
LIGHT PEN
 Light pen is a hand-held input device that can detect
the presence of light on the specially designed monitor,
or a standard monitor.
 To select object on the screen, a user presses the
light pen against the surface of the screen or
points the light pen at the screen and the presses a
button on the pen.
 Health care professionals, such as doctors and
dentists, use light pens, because they can slid ea
protective sleeve over the pen – keeping their finger free
of pollution.
 Light pens also are ideal for areas where employees’
hands might contain food, dirt, grease, or other
chemical that could damage the computer.
TOUCH SCREEN
 A touch-screen is a touch-sensitive display device.
 Users interact with these devices by touching areas of
the screen with a finger.
 Computers in restaurants, cafeterias, gift shops, and
resorts usually have touch screens.
 Most PDAs, Tablet PCs, and some Notebook computers
have touch screens.
STYLUS, DIGITAL PEN, AND CURSOR
 A stylus and digital pen look like a ballpoint pen, but
uses pressure, instead of ink, to write text and draw
lines.
 A digital pen typically provides more functionality than
a stylus. These pens are quite sophisticated, featuring
erasers and programmable buttons.
 Architects, mapmakers, artists, and designers
create drawings ad sketches by using a pen or a cursor
According To the Syllabus
on a graphics tablet. A graphics tablet (also called
digitizer) is a flat, rectangular, electronic plastic board.
 A cursor looks similar to a mouse, except it has a
window with cross hairs, so the user can see through to
the tablet.
Voice/Audio Input Devices (Microphone)
An audio input device records analog sound such as
speech, music, or other sound effects, and translates it for
digital storage and processing.
MICROPHONE
 Microphone is the most commonly and may be solely
used audio input device.
 An audio signal (continuously variable wave within a
certain frequency range) recorded by the microphone
can be digitized in two ways – by an audio board or a
MIDI board.
 An audio board (sound-card) is an add-on circuit
board in a computer that converts analog sound
from a cassette player or a microphone to digital
sound and stores it for further processing and/or
plays it back, providing output directly to speakers
or an external amplifier.
 A MIDI board (usually found in the sound card)
stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface –
provides a standard for the interchange of musical
information between musical instruments,
synthesizers, and computers.
 Microphone may be
According To the Syllabus
 A stand-alone peripherals that sits on top of a desk
 Built into the computer or device
 Or in a headset
 Some external microphones have a cable that
attaches to a port on the sound card on the computer.
Others communicate using wireless technology.
 Voice recognition, also called speech recognition, is the
computer’s capability of distinguishing spoken words.
Voice recognition programs do not understand speech.
They recognize a vocabulary of pre-programmed words.
Video Input Devices (Video cameras)
Video input is the process of capturing full-motion
images into a computer and storing them on a storage
medium such as a hard disk or DVD.
VIDEO CAMERAS (Cam-Corders)
 Video Camera is the most commonly or may be solely
video-input device. In some cases a television may be
used for video input.
 Two types of video cameras are used.
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ANALOG VIDEO CAMERAS converts them into digital data that a computer can
process.
 Analog Video Cameras input analog video signals.
 Three types of optical readers are OCR, OMR and Bar
Computers, by contrast, use digital signals. To input
Code Reader.
video from these analog cameras, the analog signal is
converted into a digital signal using Video Capture
 OCR – (Optical Character Recognition) is used to
card. Simply plug a video camera, VCR, or other analog
read typewritten, computer-printed, or hand-
video device into a video capture port on the system
printed characters from ordinary documents and
unit. TV Tuner card is used to capture the video (and
translating the images into a form that the computer
audio) from television signals and display them on your
can process.
PC.
 OMR – (Optical Mark Recognition) is used to read
DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERAS hand-written marks such as small circles or
 The new generation of Video Cameras is called a Digital rectangles. A person places these marks on a form,
Video (DV) camera. such as a test, survey, or questionnaire answer
 A digital camera records video as digital signals instead sheet.

According To the Syllabus

of analog signals.
 Many DV cameras have the capability of capturing still
images (frames), as well as motion.
 To transfer recorded images to a hard disk or CD or
DVD, users convert DV cameras directly to a USB port
or a Fire-Wire ports on the system Unit. Thus the
computer does not need a video capture card.
 A PC video camera or PC-camera is a types of
digital video camera that enables a home or small-
business user to capture video and still images, send
e-mail messages with video attachments, add live
images to instant messages and make video
telephone calls.
 Web Cam is a video camera that displays its
output on a Web page (Web browser). A Web
Cam attracts web site visitors by showing images
that change regularly.
Scanners and Reading Devices
These are devices that capture data directly from a
source document, without human intervention. Source
documents, for examples, are time cards, order forms,
invoices, paychecks, advertisements, photographs, or
any other documents that contains data to be processed.
Three types of Scanning Devices are:
 Bar Code Reader – An optical reader that uses
laser beams to read bar codes. A bar code is an
identification code that consists of a set of vertical
line and spaces of different widths. The bar code
represents data that identifies the
manufacturer and the item. Each industry uses
its own type of bar code. The most familiar type of
bar code is UPC (Universal Product Code). Using a
Bar Code Reader, you can also observe the original
price of thee item.
MICR READERS
 MICR (Magnetic Ink character Recognition) is a
technology that reads text printed with magnetized
ink.
 A MICR reader converts MICR characters into a form the
computer can process.
 Used widely in banks for check processing. The MICR
reader reads the bank number, customer account
number, and the check number, already coded in
magnetized form.

OPTICAL SCANNER
 An optical scanner, usually called a scanner, is a light-
sensing input device that read the printed text and
graphics (drawing and photos, and the like); and then

According To the Syllabus

translates the results into a form, the computer
can process.
 Four types of scanners are flatbed, pen, sheet fed, and
drum.

 Flatbed – Works similar to a copy machine, except

it creates a file of the document inmemory instead
of a paper copy.

 Pen or Handheld – Move pen over text to be

scanned, then transfer data to computer. (Ideal for
mobile users)

 Sheet-fed – Item to be scanned is pulled into a

stationary scanning mechanism.

 Drum – Item to be scanned rotates around

stationary scanning mechanism. Very expensive,
used in publishing industries.

OPTICAL READERS
 An optical reader is a device that uses light source
to read characters, marks, and codes and then

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