INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

UNIT 3
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

The internal architectural design of computers differs from one system model to another. However, the
basic organization remains the same for all computer systems. The following five units (also called "The
functional units") correspond to the five basic operations performed by all computer systems.

Input Unit
Data and instructions must enter the computer system before any computation can be performed on the
supplied data. The input unit that links the external environment with the computer system performs this
task. Data and instructions enter input units in forms that depend upon the particular device used. For
example, data is entered from a keyboard in a manner similar to typing, and this differs from the way in
which data is entered through a mouse, which is another type of input device. However, regardless of the
form in which they receive their inputs, all input devices must provide a computer with data that are
transformed into the binary codes that the primary memory of the computer is designed to accept. This
transformation is accomplished by units that called input interfaces. Input interfaces are designed to
match the unique physical or electrical characteristics of input devices to the requirements of the
computer system.
In short, an input unit performs the following functions.
1. It accepts (or reads) the list of instructions and data from the outside world.
2. It converts these instructions and data in computer acceptable format.
3. It supplies the converted instructions and data to the computer system for further processing.
Output Unit
The job of an output unit is just the reverse of that of an input unit. It supplied information and results of
computation to the outside world. Thus it links the computer with the external environment. As computers
work with binary code, the results produced are also in the binary form. Hence, before supplying the
results to the outside world, it must be converted to human acceptable (readable) form. This task is
accomplished by units called output interfaces.
In short, the following functions are performed by an output unit.
1. It accepts the results produced by the computer which are in coded form and hence cannot be
easily understood by us.
2. It converts these coded results to human acceptable (readable) form.
3. It supplied the converted results to the outside world.
Storage Unit
The data and instructions that are entered into the computer system through input units have to be stored
inside the computer before the actual processing starts. Similarly, the results produced by the computer
after processing must also be kept somewhere inside the computer system before being passed on to the
output units. Moreover, the intermediate results produced by the computer must also be preserved for
ongoing processing. The Storage Unit or the primary / main storageof a computer system is designed to
do all these things. It provides space for storing data and instructions, space for intermediate results and
also space for the final results.
In short, the specific functions of the storage unit are to store:
1. All the data to be processed and the instruction required for processing (received from input
devices).
2. Intermediate results of processing.
3. Final results of processing before these results are released to an output device.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The main unit inside the computer is the CPU. This unit is responsible for all events inside the computer.
It controls all internal and external devices, performs "Arithmetic and Logical operations". The
operations a Microprocessor performs are called "instruction set" of this processor. The instruction set is
“hard wired” in the CPU and determines the machine language for the CPU. The more complicated the
instruction set is, the slower the CPU works. Processors differed from one another by the instruction set.
If the same program can run on two different computer brands they are said to be compatible. Programs
written for IBM compatible computers will not run on Apple computers because these two architectures
are not compatible.
The control Unit and the Arithmetic and Logic unit of a computer system are jointly known as the Central
Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU is the brain of any computer system. In a human body, all major
decisions are taken by the brain and the other parts of the body function as directed by the brain.
Similarly, in a computer system, all major calculations and comparisons are made inside the CPU and the
CPU is also responsible for activating and controlling the operations of other units of a computer system.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
The arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) of a computer system is the place where the actual execution of the
instructions take place during the processing operations. All calculations are performed and all
comparisons (decisions) are made in theALU. The data and instructions, stored in the primary storage
prior to processing are transferred as and when needed to the ALU where processing takes place. No
processing is done in the primary storage unit. Intermediate results generated in the ALU are temporarily
transferred back to the primary storage until needed at a later time. Data may thus move from primary
storage to ALU and back again as storage many times before the processing is over. After the completion
of processing, the final results which are stored in the storage unit are released to an output device.
Control Unit
The control unit directs and controls the activities of the internal and external devices. It interprets the
instructions fetched into the computer, determines what data, if any, are  needed, where it is stored, where
to store the results of the operation, and sends the control signals to the devices involved in the execution
of the instructions.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND APPLICATION SOFTWARE
System software is general purpose software which is used to operate computer hardware. It provides
platform to run application softwares. Application software is specific purpose software which is used by
user for performing specific task.
 S.No System Software Application Software

System software is used for operating Application software is used by user

1. computer hardware. to perform specific task.

System softwares are installed on the

computer when operating system is Application softwares are installed
2. installed. according to user’s requirements.

In general, the user does not interact with

system software because it works in the In general, the user interacts with
3. background. application sofwares.

Application software can’t run

System software can run independently. It independently. They can’t run
provides platform for running application without the presence of system
4. softwares. software.

Some examples of application

Some examples of system softwares are softwares are word processor, web
5. compiler, assembler, debugger, driver, etc. browser, media player, etc.

COMPUTER LANGUAGES

Two Basic Types of Computer Language

 Low-Level Languages: A language that corresponds directly to a specific machine
 High-Level Languages: Any language that is independent of the machine

Low-Level Languages
Low-level computer languages are either machine codes or are very close them. A computer cannot
understand instructions given to it in high-level languages or in English. It can only understand and
execute instructions given in the form of machine language i.e. binary. There are two types of low-level
languages:
 Machine Language: a language that is directly interpreted into the hardware
 Assembly Language: a slightly more user-friendly language that directly corresponds to machine
language

Machine Language
Machine language is the lowest and most elementary level of programming language and was the first
type of programming language to be developed. Machine language is basically the only language that a
computer can understand and it is usually written in hex.
In fact, a manufacturer designs a computer to obey just one language, its machine code, which is
represented inside the computer by a string of binary digits (bits) 0 and 1. The symbol 0 stands for the
absence of an electric pulse and the 1 stands for the presence of an electric pulse. Since a computer is
capable of recognizing electric signals, it understands machine language.

Advantages Disadvantages

Machine language makes fast and

All operation codes have to be remembered
efficient use of the computer.

It requires no translator to translate

the code. It is directly understood All memory addresses have to be remembered.
by the computer.

It is hard to amend or find errors in a program written in the

 
machine language.

Assembly Language
Assembly language was developed to overcome some of the many inconveniences of machine language.
This is another low-level but very important language in which operation codes and operands are given in
the form of alphanumeric symbols instead of 0’s and l’s.
These alphanumeric symbols are known as mnemonic codes and can combine in a maximum of five-letter
combinations e.g. ADD for addition, SUB for subtraction, START, LABEL etc. Because of this feature,
assembly language is also known as ‘Symbolic Programming Language.'
This language is also very difficult and needs a lot of practice to master it because there is only a little
English support in this language. Mostly assembly language is used to help in compiler orientations. The
instructions of the assembly language are converted to machine codes by a language translator and then
they are executed by the computer.

Advantages Disadvantages

Assembly language is easier to Like machine language, it is also machine dependent/specific.

understand and use as compared to
 Advantages Disadvantages

machine language.

Since it is machine dependent, the programmer also needs to

It is easy to locate and correct errors.
understand the hardware.

It is easily modified.  

High-Level Languages

High-level computer languages use formats that are similar to English. The purpose of developing high-
level languages was to enable people to write programs easily, in their own native language environment
(English).
High-level languages are basically symbolic languages that use English words and/or mathematical
symbols rather than mnemonic codes. Each instruction in the high-level language is translated into many
machine language instructions that the computer can understand.

Advantages Disadvantages

A high-level language has to be translated

High-level languages are user-friendly into the machine language by a translator,
which takes up time

The object code generated by a translator

They are similar to English and use English vocabulary and
might be inefficient compared to an
well-known symbols
equivalent assembly language program

They are easier to learn  

They are easier to maintain  

They are problem-oriented rather than 'machine'-based  

A program written in a high-level language can be

translated into many machine languages and can run on any  
computer for which there exists an appropriate translator

The language is independent of the machine on which it is

used i.e. programs developed in a high-level language can
be run on any computer text

FLOWCHART IN PROGRAMMING

Flowchart is a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm. Flow chart are very helpful in writing
program and explaining program to others.
 Symbol Purpose Description

Flow line Used to indicate the flow of logic by connecting symbols.

Terminal(Stop/Start) Used to represent start and end of flowchart.

Input/ Output Used for input and output operation.

Processing Used for arithmetic operations and data-manipulations.

Used to represent the operation in which there are two

Decision
alternatives, true and false.

On-page Connector Used to join different flow line

Off-page Connector Used to connect flowchart portion on different page.

Predefined Used to represent a group of statements performing one

Process/Function processing task.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE

When we want to develop a program using any programming language, we follow a sequence of steps.
These steps are called phases in program development. The program development life cycle is a set of
steps or phases that are used to develop a program in any programming language.
Generally, program development life cycle contains 6 phases, they are as follows….

 Problem Definition
 Problem Analysis
 Algorithm Development
 Coding & Documentation
 Testing & Debugging
 Maintenance
program development,program development life cycle
1. Problem Definition
In this phase, we define the problem statement and we decide the boundaries of the problem. In this phase
we need to understand the problem statement, what is our requirment, what should be the output of the
problem solution. These are defined in this first phase of the program development life cycle.

2. Problem Analysis
In phase 2, we determine the requirements like variables, functions, etc. to solve the problem. That means
we gather the required resources to solve the problem defined in the problem definition phase. We also
determine the bounds of the solution.

3. Algorithm Development
During this phase, we develop a step by step procedure to solve the problem using the specification given
in the previous phase. This phase is very important for program development. That means we write the
solution in step by step statements.

4. Coding & Documentation

This phase uses a programming language to write or implement actual programming instructions for the
steps defined in the previous phase. In this phase, we construct actual program. That means we write the
program to solve the given problem using programming languages like C, C++, Java etc.,

5. Testing & Debugging

During this phase, we check whether the code written in previous step is solving the specified problem or
not. That means we test the program whether it is solving the problem for various input data values or not.
We also test that whether it is providing the desired output or not.

6. Maintenance
During this phase, the program is actively used by the users. If any enhancements found in this phase, all
the phases are to be repeated again to make the enhancements. That means in this phase, the solution
(program) is used by the end user. If the user encounters any problem or wants any enhancement, then we
need to repeat all the phases from the starting, so that the encountered problem is solved or enhancement
is added.