Chapter one

Introduction to computer system

What is computer system?

• A computer system is a digital electronic machine that can programmed to perform
some operations as per the computer program instructions.
• It consists of both hardware and software components.
• The computer hardware components are physical components mounted within the
computer case and some are also connected externally.
• On the other hand, computer system is defined as a digital electronics device that can
be programmed to accept some inputs in terms of data, then process this data as per
the program instructions and provide the output in the desired format that can be used
for some meaningful work.

• The computer user interacts with the application software and provides the input
data. This data is processed by the computer system with the help of application
software.
• The application software in turn interacts with the operating system and the
processed data or we can call program output is then sent to the output device.
• This output device could be either a monitor, speaker, printer, storage device.
• Computer system needs to be directed to perform various user specified
operations.
• So, the computer system needs a program which directs the computer hardware.
• Computer program is also commonly referred to as software.

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 • Here computer system includes computer system organization and architecture
and its technical features.
• Some hardware component such as mother board, hard disk drive (Disk Memory)
power unit, CPU [Micro-processors], RAM, Computer Buses, cooling fans.
Feature of computer system
• Computer system is programmable
• Computer accepts raw data and produce information
• Computer system is a digital machine
Computer system is programmable
• Computer system consist of both Software and hardware.
• Hardware components are physical parts that we can touch and interact. Whereas
the software is essential to drive the hardware.
• Here computer system is programmable that means, the computer will perform the
task only as per the program instruction.
• Computer needs a program written in a programming language to execute a
particular task on the computer system.
• The computer program directs the computer system through series of instructions.
Each program instruction performs a specific part of the operation.

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What is computer program?
• The software components are computer programs. The program consists of set of
instructions that directs the computer system hardware computers to perform the
desired operations.
• Computer programs are generally written using high level (human readable)
programming language such as C, C++, java, python.
• however, a high-level program is first required to be converted into low level
(machine code) machine instructions in binary, that can be directly executed by the
computer. This conversion is called program compilation.
• The computer system interprets these program instructions and then performs the
desired operations. The CPU executes the program instructions one by one.
Computer accept input and provide output
• Computer convert raw data into information.
• The computer systems are versatile machines and can be used to perform number
of operations.
• For example, a company might use the computer system for managing employee
database, customer database, inventory management, billing, recording keeping,
payroll processing, accounting and many such applications.
• Computer system is also used to process the raw data and produce the information
that can be used for some meaningful purpose.
• The information can be used for some meaningful work such as decision making
within an organization.
Computer system is digital
• The computer is a digital electronic machine. That means, computer can understand
and execute instructions on in binary which consist of only two numbers that is 0
and1. the binary code is also referred as machine code or machine language.
• The computer CPU is the brain of computer system. The CPU is responsible to
perform both arithmetical and logical operations.
• However, the computer Micro-processor (CPU) can understand and execute
instructions only in machine code in binary.
• So, it doesn’t really matter in which programming language you write your program
code because eventually, all computer programs must be first converted to machine
code in binary consisting of only 0 and 1. And therefore, all programs in high level
are converted by the microprocessor.
• The conversion process to translate the high-level programing into low level
machine code is called program compilation.
Characteristics of computer system
• Automatic working
• Operating speed
• Accuracy of calculation
• Computer is versatile
• Computer is diligent
• Computer has memory

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 • Computer needs program
• Computer is reliable
Automatic working
• Computers are extensively being used for automatic operations. The computer once
programmed to perform some task can continue without any human intervention.
• The artificial intelligence has further enhanced this capability for the computers.
The computer can repetitively perform many operations in the automatic mode.
Accuracy of calculation
• The computer can perform millions of complex calculations and take logical
decisions as per the program instructions with remarkable accuracy.
• However, the accuracy also depends upon the accuracy of the program instructions.
The computer will produce wrong result if there are any mistakes into the program
instructions.

Computer is versatile
• The computer is a truly versatile machine that can be used for many applications.
The use of computer is now an essential part of every industry and profession we
can possibly think of.
• Part from its applications in academics, the computers are everywhere, the
computers are used by the students, teachers, musicians, doctors, engineers,
accountants, armed force and architects
• Both large scales and small-scale companies are dependent upon the computers to
manage their business operations.
Computer is diligent
• There are many business corporations and manufacturing companies that work day
and night without any break. Such operations and production lines can be very well
managed by the use of computers.
• Depending upon the use, the computer hardware is specially tailor made to handle
such prolonged operations.
Components of computer system

• Computer system is composed of Hardware Components (input, processing,

memory and output units) and Software Component (system, and application
software).

1. HARDWARE COMPONENTS
• Hardware components are units that are visible/tangible or physical part of
computers. The hardware of the computer can be divided into:

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 a) Input Devices
b) Output Devices
c) Processing Devices
d) Storage Devices
These system components are organized as shown in the following figure.

Figure 1: Organization of Computer System

Input Devices
• Input Devices are those devices that are required to translate data that is in human
readable form, into a form the computer can process. These devices allow direct
interaction between human and machine.
Keyboard: A Keyboard converts letters, numbers and other characters into
electrical signals that are machine readable by the computer’s processor. There are
two types of keyboard
o Special Purpose Keyboard
o General Purpose Keyboard

o Special Purpose Keyboard contains limited number of keys and they are used
for specific applications.
For Example: 1. Billing Machines 2. ATM in Banks, etc.
o General Purpose Keyboard is connected to the personal computer and look
like a typewriter keyboard to which some additional keys are added. There are
different categories of keys available in the keyboard.
Mouse: is a small, handy pointing device containing usually two buttons:
❖ Primary button (Left button)
❖ Secondary button (Right Button) and

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 ❖ A scrolling button in the middle.
Mouse contains a rolling ball beneath it and on moving the mouse, the cursor moves on the
screen, as the ball rotates. The following operations can be performed using the mouse.
❖ Selection (Single click)
❖ Giving Commands (Double click)
❖ Dragging Objects (By pressing mouse button)
❖ Dropping Objects (By releasing mouse button)
Touchpad: the cursor is controlled with the fingers. About the same size as a
mouse, touchpad is a flat, rectangular device. As fingers are moved over the surface
of the touchpad the cursor moves on the screen. The click operation is performed
by tapping the fingers on the surface of the pad.
Light Pen: is a light sensitive stylus or pen like device, connected by a wire to the
computer. There is a button in the Light Pen. When the user brings the pen to the
desired location in the screen and presses the button, the computer identifies the
command and executes accordingly. It is mainly used for CAD (Computer Aided
Design) applications. Used for entering data by writing on a computer screen.
Digitizing Tablet: is an electronic device with a flat surface and specially designed
stylus. A user can draw or write anything over the flat surface using the stylus. It
is used mainly for CAD and graphics applications in designing cars, buildings,
medical devices and robots.

Touch Screen: is a device that has a mixed characteristic of being input and output
device. It displays the choice of commands, and instructions. When you touch the
screen using your fingers, the unit senses the X-Y coordinate points and executes
the command at that point.
Scanner: The keyboard can input only text through keys provided in it. If we want
to input a picture the keyboard cannot do that. Scanner is an optical device that can
input any graphical matter and display it back. The common optical scanner devices
are Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR), Optical Mark Reader (OMR) and
Optical Character Reader (OCR).

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 Microphones: are used to enter voice data. They let computers listen to us. Without
microphones, computers would not have sound data in them.
Digital Cameras: are photoelectrical devices that enter image data to computers.

Output Devices
Results have to be received from the CPU after processing. Output devices are used to
receive the results from the CPU after processing. These output devices after receiving the
results, translate the information processed by the computer into a form that humans can
understand. There are various output devices:

Monitor or Display Devices

The Monitors are also called as Display devices or soft copy output devices. Any
information displayed in the screen is called the softcopy output.
These monitors display information in the human readable form. The size of the monitors
(measured diagonally from one corner to another) differs from 12 inches to 17 inches. Size
of the display area is 25 lines and 80 characters. In the monitor a blinking object called
CURSOR, helps to identify the control. Cursor helps the user to identify the control of the
computer system and helps to find the present position of the control.
The display devices are of different types.
a. Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)
b. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
c. Electro Luminescent (EL)
Monitors are also used as input devices by using LIGHT PEN, TOUCH SCREEN, etc.
Touch screens allows the operator to touch the screen to select his input through his finger.
BPL, HP, ACER, IBM, TATUNG is the famous monitor manufacturers.
Printers
Printers are also called as Hardcopy output devices. Using printers any information
consisting of text, symbols, pictures (graphics), etc. can be printed in paper for future
reference. Any printed information is called the Hardcopy.
Plotter: is also a printer that produces hard copy output. Plotters produce high
quality color graphics output by using pens for creating images. Plotters help to
draw maps from stored data. Plotters are ideal for Engineering, Drafting and many
other applications that require intricate graphics.
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 Speakers: are sound producing output devices. They are used in multimedia
systems.
Projectors: it is an output device which provides a temporary softcopy output. It
is used to project information from a computer on to a large screen. It can be
simultaneously viewed by a large group of people.

Processing Devices
The Central Processing Unit is the Computing part of the Computer and is also called as
the Brain of the Computer. The various components within the CPU can be identified as
following:
1. Control Unit
2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
3. Registers
In a personal computer or microcomputer, the control unit and the ALU together, is a small
chip called the Microprocessor or the Processor. This Processor and other components
necessary to make the computer to function are housed in a main circuit board called the
Mother Board or the System Board. In micro-computers the processor works hand in
hand with memory unit and other components to carry out processing. Finally, the various
components within the CPU can be consolidated as
(a) The Processor (Control Unit and Arithmetic & Logic Unit)
(b) Memory Unit(Register
a) The Processor executes the given instructions and manipulates data into information.
As mentioned earlier the processor can be further divided into two components
❖ Control Unit
❖ Arithmetic & Logic Unit

The Control Unit directs the Instructions in the form of electronic signals, to the rest of
the computer that are input unit, ALU, memory and output unit. The Control unit can be
defined as ‘the section of the CPU that selects, interprets and sees to the execution of
program instructions’

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The Arithmetic & Logic Unit performs all Arithmetic and Logical operations and
controls the speed of those operations. The ALU can be defined as ‘the part of a
computing system containing the circuitry that does the adding, subtracting,
multiplying, dividing and comparing.’
Control and Arithmetic & Logic Unit are separate from memory, because memory varies
from control and ALU depending upon the user's requirement.
As a separate device the control and ALU units are known as the Processor. Processors
used in Microcomputers are known as Microprocessors. The speed of the Processor is
summed by 2 things:
• The number of Operating cycle it executes in a time period
• And the amount of data it can process in one cycle.
During one operating cycle, "the processors transfers an amount of data from memory to
the arithmetic unit, performs a calculation on an amount of data, Transforms an amount of
data from memory to an output device, or Reverse data into memory from an input device".
A clock called RTC - Real Time Clock - coordinates the activity of all of the devices
controlled by the processor. The speed of the clock governs the number of cycles a
processor can execute each second. Minimum speed of the processor operates at about 1
million cycles per second.

b) Registers
The Registers are special purpose, high speed temporary units. They hold various types of
information such as data, instructions, addresses and the intermediate results of
calculations. Essentially, they hold the information that the CPU is currently working on.
Registers can be thought as CPU’s working memory. As soon as a particular instruction or
piece of data is processed, the next instruction immediately replaces it, and the information
that results from the processing is returned to main memory.

Storage Devices
This component of the computer system is extensively used for storing data and
instructions. It supplies the stored information to the other units of computer as and when
required. It also provides space for storing data and instructions, space for intermediate
results and also space for the final results.

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There are two types of storage devices:
1. Primary Storage Devices
2. Secondary Storage Devices
1. Primary Storage Devices
It is part of the main computer system. Processor directly stores and retrieves information
from it. The processor accesses the primary memory in random fashion, that is, it can access
any location of this memory either to reading formation from it or to store information in
it. There are two types of Primary Storage Devices:
a) Random Access Memory (RAM)
b) Read Only Memory (ROM)

a) Random Access Memory (RAM)

This Memory Unit is known as the main memory or primary memory or internal memory
or Random Access Memory (RAM) of the computer. Memory can be defined as
‘Descriptive of a device or medium that can accept data, hold them and deliver them,
on demand at a later time. Data recorded in memory remain there as long as electrical
current is available to sustain the memory pattern of ‘+ve’ and ‘-ve’ charges. If power
drops information stored in memory is destroyed. That is, if power is off, information
stored in memory will be destroyed. That is why, main memories are said to be volatile.
b) Read Only Memory (ROM)
There is also another type of Memory called Read Only Memory (ROM). Information
once stored cannot be modified. Information stored in this memory can be used only for
reading purpose. Hence, the name Read Only Memory. ROM is also called as BIOS. The
expansion of the word BIOS is BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM. PHONIX, AMI, AMD
are some BIOS–ROM manufacturer’s name. There are different types of ROMs
➢ PROM – Programmable Read Only Memory
➢ EPROM – Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
➢ EEPROM – Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
Programmable read only memory – once programmed it cannot be modified. That is, when
a PROM is loaded with program then it becomes a ROM. If in a PROM it is possible to
write then it is called EPROM – Erasable Programmable read only memory. But as a rule

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nobody will modify, as it requires special devices to modify. All ROM, PROM, EPROM
are called FIRMWARE - that is, Software built into the Hardware.
2. Secondary Storage Devices
The Memory which can store data or information permanently for future use is called
secondary storage devices. Normally, these secondary storage devices are very huge in
storage capacity and economical when compared to the main memory or RAM.
Examples of secondary storage devices are:
• Hard disks
• Magnetic Tapes
• CD-ROM (Compact Disk – Read Only Memory)
• Floppy Disks, Etc.
HARD DISKS are also called as Non-removable disk or Rigid Disk fixed inside the
computer. It can contain more volume of data. Removable, smaller size hard disks are
called Winchester Disk. Brand names of the hard disks are SEAGATE, SAMSUNG,
KANESK, LARSON AND TUBRO.
Hard disks are available in many sizes such as
• 20MB, 40MB, 100MB, 540MB, 1GB, 20GB, 40GB [TODAY] ONWARDS
FLOPPY DISKS are also called floppies – flexible diskettes or removable disks used for
backup purpose. They are encased permanently in a protective envelope, which is insulated
into the disk drive.
Optical Disk Optical disks use laser light to read or write data from optical disk. Laser -
Light Amplified Stimulated Emission of Rays. Optical disks use high powered laser light
to burn microscopic holes on the surface of the disk to store data. Burned out part is called
pit, and the non-burnt part is called land. Land may represent binary 0 and pit binary 1.

CD pit and land

Optical disks use low powered laser to read data. There are two most common types of

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optical disks:
✓ CD (Compact Disc)
✓ DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
CD (Compact Disc)
CD can store 700MB of information. Data is stored only on one side of the disc. There are
three basic types of CDs:
1. CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) - This kind is read only i.e. you
can’t write data to such CDs or you can’t erase from them. Data is only
accessed/read from these CDs.
2. CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) - It is also called WORM (Write Once and Read
Many). These CDs can be written on once. But then after, you can’t rewrite on it or
erase data from it. After you first wrote data on such discs, then only thing you can
do to read data from them.
3. CD-RW (Compact Disc Read-Write) - They are also called erasable optical discs.
You can write data as many times as you want on such CDs. You can also erase the
content of such CDs.
DVD
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. It is a relatively new technology that is introduced
recently. It is similar to CD except that it can store large amounts of data and it has narrow
tracks than CD. It can store 4 -17GB of information.
Another possible categorization is based on the significance of the devices – System Unit
and Peripheral Devices.
Disk drive: is part of a computer system which reads from and writes data on a disk.

The following terms are used to denote the capacity of the memory

Bit – Binary digit – Either 0 or 1 – Smallest unit of measurement.

Byte – Group of 8 Bits is called a Byte. The memory capacity is generally
expressed in multiples of Byte.
Kilo Byte (KB) – 1024 Bytes make 1 KB.
Mega Byte (MB) – 1024 KB make 1 MB – 1 Million Bytes.
Giga Byte (GB) – 1024 MB make 1 GB – 1 Billion Bytes.

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Tera Byte (TB) – 1024 GB make 1 TB – 1 Trillion Bytes.

2. SOFTWARE COMPONENTS
Software components are non-visible programs, procedures and associated documentations
that make possible the effective operation of computer system. Firmware is software
integrated into hardware.
To convert or process any raw data into meaningful information software is required.
Software is very important to any computer and it is compared as “breathe life” into the
computer.
Definition: Computer software is nothing but the step-by-step instructions given to the
computer in the form of programs or procedures or routines in order to accomplish any
specified task or to process the raw data and convert it into meaningful information. In
short the software is nothing but the intelligence of the computer. Software is “Soft”
because you can’t touch the instructions, the way you touch the computer equipment – the
“hard” ware.
Software has two different types as it is, for the computer and for the user.
A. System Software – controls and coordinates the computer hardware.
B. Applications Software – designed to solve a specific problem.
A. System Software
System Software called the Boss of the computer, manages the computer’s basic
operations, allows the computer to run applications software and allows the user to interact
with the computer. System software tells the computer how to interpret data and
instructions; how to communicate with peripheral equipment’s like mouse, keyboard,
printers etc. and how to use the hardware in general. There are many number of system
software, but let us consider only a few for our discussion. The different types of system
software are
1. Operating Systems
2. Device Drivers
3. Language Translators
4. Utility Programs

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1. Operating System is system software containing a set of programs called the supervisor
that manage the basic operations of a computer. Flexibility of the computer usage depends
on Operating System. Without the operating system loaded into the computer, all hardware
and other software are useless.
When the computer is switched on the operating system is automatically loaded into the
main memory or RAM of the computer. This process of loading the operating system into
the RAM of the computer is called Booting the computer.
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF AN OS ARE
➢ Input output management
➢ Memory management
➢ File management and
➢ Job control
2. Device Drivers: Each and every device (input or output) connected to the computer
requires relevant software, which makes the device to communicate or interact with the
CPU. The software that makes the devices to communicate or interact with the CPU is
called the device driver.
3. Language Translators: Humans need to communicate with computers. Computers
cannot understand data or information in human readable form. The data or information
in human readable form has to be converted into computer understandable form. To
communicate with computers and to instruct the computers to accomplish any specific task,
humans have developed many computer languages. These computer languages are of two
types
➢ High Level Language like Basic, FORTRAN, Pascal, C, C++, PL/1, Java, etc.
➢ Low Level Language like Assembly Language

Both these high level language and low level language require language translators to
convert the instructions in the human understandable form into machine understandable
form.
Compilers and Interpreters are the language translators required to translate high level
language into machine understandable form. Compiler helps to convert instruction
understandable by humans into instructions understandable by computers. Assembler is

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the language translator required to translate the assembly language into machine
understandable form.

4. Utility Programs are generally used to support, enhance or expand existing programs
in a computer system. Examples of utility programs are
❖ Backup – to duplicate the data or information for safety.
❖ Data Recovery – to restore data that is physically damaged or corrupted.
❖ Virus Protection – Antivirus software which will eliminate viruses from affected
files or protect files from being infected from viruses.
❖ Data Compression – To compress huge files and save memory storage.

B. Application Software
Application software can be acquired directly from a software manufacturer. Basically,
there are four categories of application software.
1. Productivity Software: The purpose of this software is to make the users more
productive at performing general tasks. For example, word processing, spread sheets,
presentation, database managers, accounting etc.
2. Home / Personal software: The purpose of this software is mainly for domestic and
personal use. For example, cook books, medical guide, gardening, etc.
3. Education / Reference software: The purpose of this software is mainly to learn any
subject or to refer for additional information.
For example: Encyclopedia, Dictionaries, Computer Based Tutorials (CBT), etc.
4. Entertainment software: The purpose of this software is for entertainment and time
passing. For example games.

Types of computer systems

• Desktop computer
• Palmtop computer
• Workstation computer
• Web server computer
• Mini computer

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 • Mainframe computer
• Super computer
• Embedded computer.

Computer system architecture

• In computer engineering, the computer system architecture is the conceptual design
and fundamental operational structure of a computer system.
• It is the technical drawing and functional description of all design components and
requirements. The system architecture defines the system performance parameters
such as speed and interconnections.

• The system architecture can also be defined as the science and art of selecting and
interconnecting hardware component to create computer system that meet function,
performance and cost goals.
• And therefore, better system architecture will produce a better design and system
performance.

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