WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

• The term 'computer' is derived from the word 'compute' , which means to calculate.
• A Computer is an electronic machine, devised for performing calculations and controlling
operations that can be expressed either in logical or numerical terms.
• A computer is an electronic device that performs mathematical and non-mathematical operations
with the help of instn1ctions to process the information in order to achieve desired result.
• It is used in areas such as:
Education, industries, government, ~ . scientific research, law, social sciences, music, art,
etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPO IERS:
Following are the characteristics of computer:

a) Speed:
✓ The computer process data at an extremely fast rate, u million instructions per second.
✓ In a few seconds, computers can perform such a huge task that a normal human being may take
days or even years to complete.
✓ The speed of the computer is calculated in MHz (Megahertz), i.e. one million instructions per
second.

b) AcCOl'acy:
✓ The computers are also very accurate.
✓ The level of accuracy depends on the instructions and the type of machines being used.
✓ As we know that computer is capable of doing only what it is instructed to do, faulty
instructions for processing the data automatically lead to faulty results.
✓ This is known as 0100, ~ Garbage In Garbage out.
✓ Errors may occur in the result, but due to increased efficiency of error - detecting techniques,
they may be minimised. Ihus the probability of errors in a computer is negligible.

c) Reliability:
✓ Reliability is the measurement of the performance of a computer, which is measured against
some predetermined standard for operation without any failure.
✓ The major reason behind the reliability of the computers is that, at hardware level, it does not
require any human intervention between its processing operations.
✓ Computers have built-in diagnostic capabilities, which help in continuous monitoring of the
system.
d) Storage Capacitv:
✓ The Computer has an in-built memory where it can store a large amount of data and it can recall
the required.
✓ The memory of the computer is relatively small and can hold only a certain amount of
information.
✓ Hence data is stored in secondary storage devices such as floppies, which can be kept outside
your computer and can be carried to other computers.

e) Versattlltv:
✓ Computers are v,ersatile in nature.
✓ They can perform multiple tasks simultaneously with equal ease.
✓ &8: at one moment it can be used to prepare a letter, the other moment it can be used to play
music and in between you can print a document as well.

t) Diligence:
✓ A computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration, fatigue, etc.
✓ It can work for hours without creating any error.
✓ If millions of calculations are to be performed, a computer will perform every calculation with
the same accuracy. Due to this capability it overpowers human being in routine type of work.
COMPONENTS OF ACOMPUIER:
The five classic co1nponents of a computer are briefly described belo\v.
The operation of the processor is best understood in terms of these components.

CPU

][
Input ~
Memory
.......... Output
Devices i-- i-- Devices
][
Storage
Devices
The hard,vare components of a computer system are the electronic and
1necha11ical parts.
The sofh, 111·e co,nponents of a co111puter systen1 are the data and the con1puter
1

progrruns.

The 111ajor hard,vare cotnponents of a computer system are:

• Processor(CPU)
• Main memory
• Secondary me1nory
• Input devices
• Output devices
Block diagram or Computer
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Fig : Block Diagram of the computer.

A computer as shown in Fig. performs basically five major computer operations or functions
irrespective of their size and make. These are:

l) it accepts data or instructions by way of input,

2) it stores data,
3) it can process data as required by the user,
4) it gives results in the form of output, and
5) it controls all operations inside a computer.