Computer

- an electronic device that receives input, stores or processes the input as per user
instructions and provides output in desired format.
- an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory

The Information Processing Cycle

Input-Process-Output Model

Data is considered as computer input.

Information is basically processed data.

The processes that can be applied to data are of two types:

1. Arithmetic operations − include calculations like addition, subtraction, differentials,
square root, etc.
2. Logical operations − include comparison operations like greater than, less than, equal
to, opposite, etc.

The Components of a Computer

Input Device - Allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer.

Output Device - Hardware component that conveys information to one or more people.

System Unit - Case that contains the electronic components of the computer that are used to
process data.

Storage Device - Records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage media.

Communications Device - Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and
information to and from one or more computers or mobile devices.

The Characteristics of Computer

Speed − Typically, a computer can carry out 3-4 million instructions per second.

Accuracy − Computers exhibit a very high degree of accuracy. Errors that may occur are usually
due to inaccurate data, wrong instructions or bug in chips – all human errors.

Reliability − Computers can carry out same type of work repeatedly without throwing up errors
due to tiredness or boredom, which are very common among humans.

Versatility − Computers can carry out a wide range of work from data entry and ticket booking
to complex mathematical calculations and continuous astronomical observations. If you can input
the necessary data with correct instructions, computer will do the processing.

Storage Capacity − Computers can store a very large amount of data at a fraction of cost of
traditional storage of files. Also, data is safe from normal wear and tear associated with paper.

Advantages of Using Computers

- Computers can do the same task repetitively with same accuracy.
- Computers do not get tired or bored.
- Computers can take up routine tasks while releasing human resource for more intelligent
functions.
Disadvantages of Using Computer

- Computers have no intelligence; they follow the instructions blindly without considering
the outcome.
- Regular electric supply is necessary to make computers work, which could prove difficult
everywhere especially in developing nations.

Other disadvantages:
- Health Risks,
- Violation of Privacy,
- Public Safety,
- Impact on Labor Force,
- Impact on Environment

Green computing involves reducing the electricity consumed and environmental waste generated
when using a computer.

Strategies include:
- Recycling
- Regulating manufacturing processes
- Extending the life of computers
- Immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers

Categories of Computers
1. Desktop computers are personal computers (PCs) designed for use by an individual at
a fixed location. IBM was the first computer to introduce and popularize use of desktops.
2. Mobile Computer - personal computer you can carry from place to place.
3. Mobile Device - Computing device small enough to hold in your hand.
4. Game Consoles - a mobile computing device designed for single-player or multiplayer
video games.
5. Servers - controls access to the hardware, software, and other resources on a network.
- Provides a centralized storage area for programs, data, and information.
6. Mainframes - computers used by organizations like banks, airlines and railways to
handle millions and trillions of online transactions per second.
Important characteristics of mainframe computers
a. Big in size
b. Hundreds of times Faster than servers, typically hundred megabytes per second
c. Very expensive
d. Use proprietary OS provided by the manufacturers
e. In-built hardware, software and firmware security feature
7. Supercomputers - he fastest, most powerful computer
- capable of processing more than one quadrillion instructions in a single second
8. Embedded Computers - a special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a
larger product.
Embedded computers are mostly integrated to the following:

Elements of an Information System

1. Hardware - the physical components of the technology.
2. Software - a set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do.
3. Data - a collection of facts.
4. People - an essential element that must not be overlooked.
5. Procedures - series of steps undertaken to achieve a desired outcome or goal.
Computing Components

System unit (chassis) - contains and protects the electronics of the computer or mobile device
from damage.

INSIDE THE CASE

1. Motherboard - serves to connect all of the parts of a computer together.
- the "backbone" of the PC
2. Processor - also called the central processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the
basic instructions that operate a computer
- contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
a. control unit - he component of the processor that directs and coordinates most of
the operations in the computer.
b. arithmetic logic unit (ALU) - performs arithmetic, comparison, and other
operations.

Machine Cycle - the steps performed by the computer processor for each machine
language instruction received.

Clock Speed - measured in MHz or GHz where 1 MHz means 1 million cycles per second
whereas 1 GHz equals to 1 billion cycles per second.

Processor Cooling systems

- Heat sinks
- Liquid cooling technology
- Cooling pads

Data representation shows how data types are structured, how signs are represented in
numerical values or how strings are formatted such as single character or text/paragraph
in the computer system.

3. Memory - consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be

executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processing
the data.
- It stores three basic categories of items:
> The operating system and other programs
> Applications
> Data being processed and the resulting information
- Memory size commonly is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB)
 - Computers and mobile devices contain two types of memory

Memory cache - speeds the processes of the computer because it stores frequently used
instructions and data.

Cache memory - Small piece of high-speed volatile memory available to the processor
for fast processing.

Caching - process of keeping some data and instructions in cache memory for faster
access.

Cache hit - finding data or instruction in cache.

4. Adapters
Adapter card - enhances functions of a component of a desktop or server system unit
and/or provides connections to peripherals

Expansion slot - a socket on a desktop or server motherboard that can hold an adapter
card

5. Buses - allows the various devices both inside and attached to the system unit to
communicate with one another

Data Bus− Lines that carry data to and from memory are called data bus. It is a
bidirectional bus with width equal to word length of the microprocessor.

Address Bus− It is a unidirectional responsible for carrying address of a memory

location or I/O port from CPU to memory or I/O port.

Control Bus− Lines that carry control signals like clock signals, interrupt signal or ready
signal are called control bus.

6. Power Supply and Batteries

- The power supply or laptop AC adapter converts the wall outlet AC power into DC power
- Mobile computers and devices can run using either a power supply or batteries
- Batteries typically are rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

TERMS TO REMEMBER:

a. Read-only memory (ROM) refers to memory chips storing permanent data and
instructions
b. Firmware is permanent software programmed into a read-only memory.
c. Flash memory can be erased electronically and rewritten
d. CMOS (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) is a technology uses battery
power to retain information when the power to the computer is off.

Input and Output

- Extending Capabilities of Computers and Mobile Devices

Input devices
1. Keyboard - an input device that contains keys you press to enter data and instructions
into a computer or mobile device.

Keyboards have the following keys:

- Typing area / alphanumeric keys
- Function keys
- Toggle key
 - Navigation keys
- Media control buttons
- Internet control buttons
- Other special key

Ergonomic keyboard - has a design that reduces the chance of repetitive strain injuries
(RSIs) of wrist and hand.

Ergonomics incorporates comfort, efficiency, and safety in the design of the workplace.

2. Pointing Devices
Pointer - a small symbol on the screen whose location and shape change as a user moves
a pointing device

Mouse - fits under the palm of your hand comfortably optical mouse, laser mouse, and
touch mouse

Touchpad - a small, flat, rectangular pointing device that is sensitive to pressure and
motion

Trackball - a stationary pointing device with a ball on its top or side

Touch screen - a touch-sensitive display

Pen Input - with pen input, you touch a stylus or digital pen on a flat surface to write,
draw, or make selections

Graphics tablet - also called a digitizer, is an electronic plastic board that detects and
converts movements of a style or digital pen into signals that are sent to the computer.

3. Motion, Voice, and Video Input - sometimes called gesture recognition, users can
guide on-screen elements using air gestures.

Speech recognition - a device's ability to distinguish spoken words.

Voice recognition - a device's ability to distinguish the voice of the speaker rather than
the words.

Audio input - the process of entering any sound into the computer such as speech, music,
and sound effects

Video input - the process of capturing full-motion images and storing them on a
computer or mobile device’s storage medium.

4. Scanners and Reading Devices

Scanner - a light-sensing input device that reads printed text and graphics and then
translates the results into a form the computer can process

Flatbed Scanner - creates a file of the document in memory instead of a paper copy

Optical reader - a device that uses a light source to read characters, marks, and codes
and then converts them into digital data that a computer can process.

OCR (optical character recognition) - the use of technology to distinguish printed or

handwritten text characters inside digital images of physical documents, such as a scanned
paper document.

Optical mark recognition (OMR) – commonly used with PCOS machine here in the
Philippines during Elections

Bar code reader - also called a bar code scanner uses laser beams to read bar codes.

QR code - stores information in both a vertical and horizontal direction

RFID (radio frequency identification) - uses radio signals to communicate with a tag
placed in or attached to an object
An RFID reader reads information on the tag via radio waves
RFID can track:
- Tracking times of runners in a marathon
 - Tracking location of people and other items
- Checking lift tickets of skiers
- Gauging temperature and pressure of tires on a vehicle
- Checking out library books
- Managing purchases
- Tracking payment as vehicles pass through booths on tollway systems

MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) devices read text printed with magnetized ink
- An MICR reader converts MICR characters into a form the computer can process
- Banking industry uses MICR for check processing

Data collection device - obtains data directly at the location where the transaction or
event takes place

Output Devices
Four types of output are:
- text
- graphics
- audio
- video
1. Display visually conveys text, graphics, and video information

- A monitor is a display that is packaged as a separate peripheral device

- LED monitor (light emitting diode monitor)

The quality of a display depends primarily on its:

- Resolution - the number of pixels a screen can show, both horizontally and
vertically
- Response time - the time it takes your monitor to shift from one color to
another
- Brightness – how bright the monitor display
- Dot pitch - rating of a monitor tells you just how sharp the displayed image will
be
- Contrast ratio - defined as the ratio of the luminance of the brightest color to
that of the darkest color that the system is capable of producing

To display the highest quality images, the monitor should plug in a:

- A DVI port
- An HDMI port
- A Display Port

2. Printer - an output device that produces text and graphics on a physical medium.
2 major types of printer
a. Impact printers are printers which works by creating a direct contact between ink
ribbon and paper.
b. Nonimpact printer forms characters and graphics on a piece of paper without
actually contacting the paper.

Ink-jet printer forms characters and graphics by spraying tiny drops of liquid ink onto
a piece of paper
- Color or black-and-white
- Speed is measured by the number of pages per minute it can print
- Ink-jet printers are a popular type of color printer used at home and in the office

Laser printer - a printer linked to a computer producing good-quality printed material

by using a laser to form a pattern of electrostatically charged dots on a light-sensitive
drum.
- High-speed - High-quality
- Color - Black-and-white

All-in-one printer - a single device that prints, scans, copies, and in some cases, faxes

3-D printer uses a process called additive manufacturing to create an object by adding
material to a three-dimensional object, one horizontal layer at a time.

Thermal printer generates images by pushing electrically heated pins against the heat-
sensitive paper
 Mobile printer is a small, lightweight, battery-powered printer that allows a mobile user
to print from a mobile device

Label printer is a small printer that prints on an adhesive-type material that can be
placed on a variety of items

Plotters are used to produce high-quality drawings

Large-format printers create photo-realistic quality color prints

Other Output Devices

1. Headphones are speakers that cover or are placed outside of the ear for more
comfortable computing experience
2. Earbuds (also called earphones) rest inside the ear canal.
3. Data Projector is a device that projects the text and images displaying on a
computer or mobile device screen on a larger screen so that an audience can see
the image clearly
4. Interactive whiteboard is a touch-sensitive device, resembling a dry-erase
board, that displays the image on a connected computer screen
5. Joysticks, wheels, gamepads, and motion-sensing game controllers can be
considered output devices when they include force feedback.
6. Braille Printer, also known as braille embosser, is an impact device that creates
tactile dots on sturdy paper, making written documents accessible to the blind