Revision no.

: PPT/2K804/04
PPT/2K403/02

Introduction to PC
 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

General Concepts of Computers

• A computer is a device that automatically performs arithmetic or

logical operations on information input to it and provides an output
according to the performed set of instructions stored within it.
• Hardware, Software and Firmware together make up a computer
system.
• Hardware describes all the physical components used in the
assembly of the computer.
• Software constitutes the instructions on which the computer acts
which thus makes the computer usable.
• Firmware are programs that are permanently written and stored in
computer memory.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Terminologies of Computers

• Computers understand only binary number system, which has

only two digits i.e. zero (0) and one (1).
• A single binary digit is called BIT; the smallest unit of
representing data in a computer.
• A set of binary patterns include the letters (A - Z), decimal
digits (0 - 9), and certain special characters such as
punctuation marks are known as alphanumeric character set.
• A group of 8 bits is called as one byte.
• A group of 1024 bytes is called as one kilobyte(KB).
• A group of 1024 KB is called as one Megabyte(MB).

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Terminologies of Computers (contd.)

• A group of 1024 MB is called as one Gigabyte(GB).

• A computer's WORD is a group of bits, the length of which
varies from machine to machine.The word may be as long as
64 bits or as short as 4 bits.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Computer’s Architecture

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Functional Units

• The basic structure of a computer is divided into 4

fundamental units.
– CPU(Central Processing Unit)
• Control Unit
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
– Input Devices
• Egs. Keyboard, Mouse etc.
– Output Devices
• Egs. Visual Display Unit(VDU), Printers, Plotters etc.
– Storage Unit
• Internal or Primary Storage
Egs. RAM and ROM
• External or Secondary Storage
Egs. Floppy disks, Hard disks, Optical disks etc.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Functional Working

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Software Basics

• Computers work with instructions

which is the input given by humans
and this organized body of
instructions is called Software.

• Software is needed to instruct

fundamental startup procedures like
data processing, word processing and
image processing.

• Computer’s can understand only one

language called Machine Language
which includes a set of instruction
codes written as a string of bits.Also
known as 1st Generation Language.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Software Basics (contd.)

• The difficulties posed by the Machine Language led to the

development of the Assembly Language, also referred as 2nd
Generation Language.
• Assembly Language is a direct translation of the machine
language code to understandable English type words however
it has to be translated back by the Assembler.
• Due to the cryptic nature of Assembly Language, High-Level
Languages were developed such as C, BASIC, etc.
• Next generation languages were result oriented and included
Database query languages which have to be compiled or
interpreted.
• Fifth generation languages are intended to enable users to
communicate with computers using Natural Language.
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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Classification of Software

• Classified into two distinct groups

– System Software
– Application Software
• System Software instruct the computer to control and manage
its internal functions, like initializing on start-up, controlling
external devices, organising the memory during operations
and many other activities.
– Eg. Windows 98
• Application Software consists of programs which carry out the
specific processing required for user's application such as
Word Processor, Spread Sheets, and Financial Accounting or
a computer-aided package.
– Eg. MS Office, Tally, A-CAD etc.

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 Revision no.: PPT/2K804/04

Design & Published by:

CMS Institute, Design & Development Centre, CMS House, Plot No. 91, Street No.7,
MIDC, Marol, Andheri (E), Mumbai –400093.
www.cmsinstitute.co.in

© CMS INSTITUTE, 2004. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored or emailed without the prior permission of Programme Director, CMS Institute