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Wednesday, 20 January 2021

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SS1 2ND TERM COMPUTER STUDIES (2020/21)
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WEEK TOPIC Obasa Mustapha

I'm an InfoTech crazy dude

1 Review of first term examination and Computer enthusiast. I
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playing and watching football especially
2-3 OUTPUT DEVICES Arsenal and Barcelona.
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· Definition of output devices
My Archive
· Examples of output devices
► 2022 (2)
· Structure of the CRT monitor ▼ 2021 (1)
▼ Jan 2021 (1)
· Types of Printers SS1 2ND TERM COMPUTER STUDIES
(2020/21)
· Differences between Printer and monitor
► 2020 (3)
4-5 COMPUTER SYSTEM SOFTWARE ► 2019 (2)
► 2018 (7)
· Definition of system software
► 2017 (3)
· Types of system software ► 2016 (3)
► 2015 (2)
· Definition and functions of Operating system
► 2013 (1)

· GUI and CLI ► 2012 (1)

6 COMPUTER APPLICATION SOFTWARE Labels

Business (2)
· Definition of application software and types
Educational (15)
· Examples of application packages Information (4)
Jobs/Vacancy (2)
7 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES Motivational (2)
Technology (6)
· Definition of Programming language
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· Levels of programming language Total Pageviews Followers

· Characteristics of each level of

programming language
· Differences among the levels of
programming languages
· Examples of programming languages
8-9 BASIC PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
· BASIC character set, operators data types,
keyword, variable/constant, expressions,
statements
· BASIC program examples

TOPIC ONE: OUTPUT DEVICES

Output devices are devices that enable the computer to
communicate the results of data processing carried out
by it to the user. These devices enable the computer to
display text, graphics (pictures and images) or produce
sound. Examples of output devices include monitor,
printer, speaker, plotter, braille embosser etc.
Features and uses of output devices
1. Monitor: The monitor, also called Visual Display Unit
(VDU) is a TV-like structure attached to the System
Unit through the VGA cable. It displays text and
graphics (images). The content showing on the
monitor is called a soft copy.
2. Printer: A printer is a device attached to the System
Unit through the USB cable or other types of cable.
It is used to produce the information showing on the
monitor on paper, transparencies, and plastic. Such
a printout is called a hardcopy.
3. Speaker: A speaker is a device used for producing
sound captured by the microphone or music in mp3,
wav, etc. formats. Speakers come in different forms
such as headphones, earphone (canal phones),
headset etc. and can also be used with portable
devices such as mp3 player, mobile phones etc.
4. Plotter: A special type of printer used for printing
drawings, charts, maps etc. using multi-coloured
automated pens. It is usually used by architects,
engineers and surveyors. Though they are rarely
used now and are being replaced by wide-format
conventional printers, which can produce high-
quality graphics.
5. Projector: A device that helps directs the content
on a display screen (monitor) onto a particular flat
surface.
6. Braille Embosser: is a device that can generate the
printed material using the braille writing system for
blind or visually impaired users.
Structure and type of CRT monitor
The Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) used as a computer monitor
was invented by Karl Ferdinand Braun. This monitor
employs the CRT technology used most commonly in the
manufacturing of television screens. In this, a stream of
intense high energy electrons is used to form images on
a fluorescent screen. A cathode ray tube is basically a
vacuum tube containing an electron gun at one end and
a fluorescent screen at another end. From this electron
gun, a process called thermionic emission generates a
strong beam of electrons. These electrons travel through
a narrow path within the tube with high speed using
various electro-magnetic devices and finally strike the
phosphor points present on the fluorescent screen, thus
creating an image. Today, CRT monitor are being
replaced with flat Plasma screen, Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD) and Light Emitting Diode (LED).

Types of monitor
There are two types of monitor, namely:
1. Monochrome monitor: This monitor displays its
characters in only one colour. The colour could be
white, green or amber. Looking at the monochrome
monitor, one can see two colours; one colour for the
background and one for the foreground. The two colour
combinations can therefore be black and white, green
and black or amber and black.
2. Colour monitor: This monitor displays information in
colours. It is similar to a colour television but it handles
data more quickly and has a sharper output.
Types of printer
There are two types of printer, namely impact and non-
impact printers.
I. IMPACT PRINTERS: This type of printer behaves like a
typewriter whereby a character is printed when a metal
slug strikes on a carbon ribbon. Impact printers have
contact with the surface of the paper. Examples of
impact printer include the following:
A. DOT MATRIX printer: This prints characters and
graphic images by impacting a ribbon and transferring
dots of ink onto the paper. It prints dot matrix
characters by pressing the end of selected wires against
ribbon and paper. The dots are used to form the
characters and images on the paper.
B. LINE printer: This prints a line of character at a
time. The output speed is between 200 to 3000 lines per
minute (LPM)
C. CHARACTER printer: This prints one character at a
time moving across the paper. The output speed range
from 200 to 400 characters per second (cps)
II. NON-IMPACT PRINTER
Non-impact printer creates images on paper in a manner
similar to that of a photocopying machine. They do not
have contact with the surface of the paper. Examples
include:
A. INK JET printer: This prints by spraying small streams
of quick-drying ink onto the paper and using it to form
characters, shapes and images. The ink is stored in
disposable ink cartridges, which can be black or
coloured. They are found in homes and offices.
B. LASER printer: This uses an electrically charged drum
to transfer toner or dry ink onto paper like the
photocopier does. It traces an image by using a
computer-controlled laser beam.
C. THERMAL printer: This prints by transferring dots of
ink or dye from a ribbon onto paper and passing the
ribbon and the paper across a line of heating elements.
The characters are produced with a print head
containing a matrix of small heating elements. This
printer is very quiet in operation because the printer
head does not strike the paper.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IMPACT AND NON-IMPACT
PRINTER
IMPACT PRINTER NON-IMPACT PRINTER

Makes noise while printing Does not make noise while printing

Produces low quality images Produces high quality images

Uses ribbon to print Uses ink (dry and wet) to print

Does not have heating element Has heating element that dries the ink
on paper

Prints only one colour at a time Can print more than one colour at a
time

Has striking pins/heads that strike the Does not have striking pin heads to
characters or dots on paper strike characters on paper

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MONITOR AND THE PRINTER

MONITOR PRINTER

Has screen Has no screen

Uses no ribbon, ink, cartridge or toner Uses ribbon, cartridge, ink or toner

Uses no paper Uses paper and printable medium

Display texts, images and pictures Prints text, images and pictures on
paper

Some have vacuum tubes or a liquid Has no vacuum tube or a liquid crystal
crystal

Has no paper tray Some have paper tray

TOPIC 2: COMPUTER SYSTEM SOFTWARE

Definition of software
A computer software (or software) is a general term
used to describe a set of instructions usually called a
program, which control the operation of a computer or
used to accomplish a specific task.
Types of software
Software can be broadly divided into two, namely:
i. System software: This software helps direct and
control the running of computer’s hardware and other
connected devices. It helps to manage computer
resources such as memory and processor. Examples
include Operating system, Translators and utility
software.
ii. Application software: This software enables the
computer to perform specific tasks. Examples include
word processing package, spreadsheet package, game
software etc.
Types of System software
1. Operating system: Operating system is a suite/set
(collection) of programs/software that controls the
execution of application programs and
coordinates/manages the hardware components. It can
also be defined as a set of programs that controls and
manages computer resources/components and provides
other useful services. The purpose of an operating
system is to provide an environment in which a user can
execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner.
Functions of Operating system
i. Serves as an interface between the user
and the computer/hardware and software
ii. Access control/ System Security: By means
of password and other similar access control
techniques the OS prevents unauthorized access
to programs and data.
iii. Controls program execution: The OS runs
and control all other system programs and
application software
iv. Booting/Starting up the computer: The
operating system manages the starting up of the
computer
v. Controls hardware resources
vi. File-system manipulation (for users and
their programs) - read and write files and
directories, create and delete them, search
them, list file Information, permission
management.
vii. Control over system performance: The OS
records the delay between the request for a
service and the response from the system and
manages the situation accordingly.
viii. Protects the system from errors and
failures/error handling
ix. Task management: The OS gives control to
the program the user brings to the foreground
(from among multiple opened programs).
x. Device management: The device
management function controls hardware devices
by using special software called device drivers,
which are installed in the operating system. This
makes the operating system recognize the
device.
xi. Memory management
Examples of Operating system
Operating system can be grouped into two, namely,
the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the Command
Line Interface (CLI).
· The GUI group makes use of windows, icons,
mouse, scroll bar, and Pointer. In this group, we
have the Microsoft series (Windows 95, 98,
NT/2000, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8,10), Chrome OS,
Apple System 7 and macOS, Linux variants like
Ubuntu.
· The CLI group includes the IBM Disk Operating
system (DOS) that is phased out, the Microsoft
Disk Operation System (MS-DOS) and UNIX. The
Command line is a text-based interface that
allows the user to interact with the computer
system by typing in commands (instructions).
2. Translators: Translators are programs that convert
programs written in languages other than the machine
language to machine language. Examples are Assembler,
Interpreter and compiler.
3. Utility Software: Utility software is system software
designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or
maintain the operation of a computer, its devices, or its
software. Examples include disk utilities like
defragmenters, compressors and cleaner. There are also
other operating system utilities such as antivirus
programs, registry cleaners, Screen saver, file viewer
(windows explorer), editors and system restoration
programs. Utility softwares are built into the computer
operating system, however may be installed separately.
TOPIC 3: COMPUTER APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application softwares are the programs that enable
computer to perform specific productive task.
Types of application software
1. User application development program: This kind of
software is used to develop programs usually called in-
house programs, which are customized to perform
specific functions for the user such as administration,
payroll, production control, banking, inventory etc.
Examples include NetBeans, Eclipse, Android studio etc.
2. Application packages: The application packages are
software packages that perform generalized functions
and are produced for the general public to use. This
category of software can be grouped based on their
functions as listed below:
1. Database management: Examples include
Microsoft Access, Oracle, MySQL, Dbase etc. which
are used for creating, maintaining and updating
databases (collection of related information).
2. Word processing: Examples include Microsoft Word,
Lotus WordPro, Corel WordPerfect, Professional
Write etc. are used to create document such as
letter, memos made up of textual and graphical
information.
3. Spreadsheet, calculation and data analysis:
Examples include Microsoft Excel, Amipro, Quattro
Pro, Lotus 1-2-3 etc. which contains grids of cells
arranged in rows and columns used for entering data
for calculation and analysis.
4. Graphic designing: Examples include Corel Draw,
Adobe Photoshop, Paint etc. which can be used to
draw and make designs related to graphics.
5. Slide presentation: Examples include Microsoft
PowerPoint, Impress, Prezi etc. which contains
collection of slides used to hold information that can
be presented in form of slide show.
6. Email management: Examples include Microsoft
Outlook, MS Exchange etc. which contains tools for
sending and receiving electronic mail (e-mail).

TOPIC 4: PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

Computer programming is the specification of
instructions that a computer follows to perform a
particular task.
A computer program is a sequence of instructions that
tells a computer what to do and how to do it.
A programming language is a language used to write
instructions for the computer. Programming language,
like any human language has rules and grammar that
governs the formation of a statement.
The syntax of a language describes the possible
combinations of symbols that form a correct statement.
The meaning given to these combinations of symbols is
called semantics.
Levels of programming
1. Machine language: Is a system of instructions and
data directly understood by the computer’s CPU. These
instructions and data are combinations of sequence of
bits (0’s and 1’s) with different patterns corresponding to
different commands to the machine.
2. ii) Assembly language: This language uses
abbreviations or symbolic letter codes (mnemonics) to
write each machine-language instruction. The letter
codes are used in place of binary digits. Programs written
in Assembly language are translated into machine
language by an Assembler.
3. iii) High level language: The instructions of this
language are written using words that are very close to
human languages and algebra-type expression. They are
closer to human understanding and are translated into
machine language by a compiler or an interpreter.
Both machine and assembly languages are also called low
level languages.
Features/characteristics of each level of programming
language
i) Machine language
1. These instructions consist of binary numbers (set
of 0’s and 1’s)
2. This language is machine dependent i.e.
instructions written for a particular type of
computer can only be executed on that particular
machine.
3. It is very hard for people to write and understand
thus making the programs error prone.
4. Each CPU design has its own machine language,
which is the set of instructions that the CPU of that
machine understands and executes.
ii) Assembly language
1. Uses mnemonics (symbolic operation codes) and
operands (symbolic storage address).
2. Machine dependent
3. For any assembly language instruction, one
machine language instruction is generated.
4. It illustrates fundamentals of computer
construction and operation.
iii) High level languages
1. Machine independent: programs written or
compiled on one type of Computer can be executed
(run) on different type of computer that has
different architecture.
2. It uses instructions that seem English-like and
thus closer to human understanding.
3. Easy to detect errors
4. Consists of well-defined syntax and standard.
5. Requires a compiler to translate into machine
language before the computer can execute them.
6. Programs written in HLL are called source code
and the compiled version is called object code.
Comparison of levels of Programming Languages

MACHINE LANGUAGE ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGE

Difficult to learn, write It is difficult but easier It is easier to learn, write

and debug than machine language and debug

It is machine Machine dependent Machine independent

dependent

Does not require a Requires a translator Requires a translator

translator called Assembler called a compiler or
interpreter

Instructions consist of Instructions consist of Instructions consist of

binary digits (1’s and symbols and mnemonics English-like words,
0’s) symbols and numeric.

Examples of Programming Language

The following are some of the many programming
languages:
Python, Ada, Algol, APL, BASIC, C, C++, C#, COBOL,
FORTRAN, Java, JavaScript, LISP, Pascal, PHP, Perl,
Python, Visual Basic etc

TOPIC 5: BASIC PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

The BASIC programming language was developed in 1964 by
John G. Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz at Dartmouth College.
BASIC is an acronym that stands for “Beginner’s All-Purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code”
Basic Character Set
A character set is simply a list of letters, numbers and
symbols that provide one with the characters used in a
particular language. BASIC as a language has its own
character set, they include the following:
· Alphabets characters (A to Z or a to z)
· Numeric character (0, 1 to 9) including hexadecimal
characters.
· Special characters that perform special functions in BASIC

Arithmetic operators
USES
CHARACTER NAME

* Asterisk For multiplication, e.g. A*B or (3*5)

- Minus For subtraction, e.g. M-N or (4-1)

+ Plus For addition, e.g. K+N or (1+6)

/ Forward slash For real division, e.g. A/B or

(7/3)=2.33

\ Bask slash For integer division, e.g. P\G or

(7\3)=2

^ Caret For exponentiation, e.g. A^B or

(7^3)

Relational (Comparison) Operator

CHARACTER NAME USES

= Equal to A=B

> Greater than A>B

< Less than A<B

>= Greater than or Equal to A >=B

<= Less than or Equal to A <= B

Data types
Data type is a description of the set of values and the
basic set of operation that can be applied to values of
the type.
i) Integers: a positive or negative number
without decimal. It has a range of values from
-32,768 to 32,767. Each value is stored using 2 bytes
of memory (storage) space.
ii) Real numbers: numbers with fractional parts
or with a decimal point. It is stored using 4 bytes of
memory space.
iii) Boolean: consist of only two values; “YES and
NO” or “True or False” or 1 or 0.
iv) String: a sequence of characters in double
quote. For example, “Computer Studies” is a string
value with 16 characters. Each character is stored
using 8 bits (one byte) in the ASCII character set and
two byte in the UNICODE character set. Alphabet is
represented in ASCII.
Keyword
Keywords are words that have special meaning and
function in BASIC. Such words must be used strictly
according to their functions, otherwise the computer
will respond with error message.
Here are some of the BASIC keywords and their uses

KEYWORDS USES EXAMPLE

REM Make comment about an instruction or 10 REM Program to

about the whole program add two numbers

INPUT Used to ask the user to supply the data 5 INPUT A,B,C
to be processed while the program is
executing

PRINT Used to display the output of operation PRINT “The values”,

on the screen A,B

LET Used to assign a value to a variable 3 LET A=5

READ Used to tell the computer that the data 10 READ A,B
to be processed is supplied within the
program statements. Used together with
DATA keyword

DATA Used to show the computer the data it is 10 DATA 4,7

asked to read in the READ statement.
Used along with READ keyword.

END To end the program 5 END

Variables and Constant

Variable is an identifier or a name of a memory location
where data (values) can be placed or stored. Because
the value placed in a memory location can be changed
at any time, we call such memory location “a variable”.
However, when the value of a memory location is not to
be changed, we refer to such memory location as
“constant”.
Declaration of Variables and Constants
When you are to supply data to the computer for
processing, you are required to state the data type. This
help the computer to interpret it and an appropriate
storage space is reserved for the data. To achieve this,
the keyword DIMENSION (or DIM) is used to specify the
data type. For example, variable Name and Pie are to
hold “character and real” data values respectively. This
can be written in BASIC as follows:
1. DIM Char Name, INT Age, REAL Height
2. DIM Name AS Char, Age AS INT, Height AS Real
3. DIM Name$, Age%, Height!
Rules for naming Variable