Why Computers?

Two major factors that stimulate development in any field are the following:
 Demand of users and potential users
 Available technology
Advantages of Computers :
 Perform repetitive tasks
 More accurate while dealing with large numbers
 Work at constant efficiency
 Are used in almost every field
 Process millions of instructions in a fraction of a second
 Effective and efficient data storage and retrieval
CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM
1. Speed
2. AccuracY
3. Versatility
4. Diligency
5. Storage Capability
6. Reliability
7. Automation
Uses of Computers
Application Area Use of Computers

Scientific Research Used to resolve complex scientific problems accurately in a short time

Business Used in banks, airports, share markets, hotels, export houses, Government offices and others
for rising business 10 applications like MIS, Payroll, Inventory, Financial Accounting etc

Defense Used to computerize warplanes, ships, radars and many advanced weapons

Space Used to design computerized space satellites, rockets and related technology

Data Communication Used to computerize geo-graphically separated offices through networking

Telecommunication Used in ISDN, E-mail, Internet, Intranet, VSAT, Videoconferencing, Paging, Cellular phones
etc.

Medicine Used in hospitals and nursing homes/clinics for maintaining medical records, prescription
writing, diagnostic applications and computerized scanning(CAT Scanning)

Education Used in development of CBT (Computer Based Teaching)/ CAT (Computer Aided Teaching)
programs for education

Law & Order Used to records data of vehicles

Libraries Used to develop Library Management Systems

Publishers Used for Desk Top Publishing (DTP) for designing & printing of books

Engineering Used CAD (Computer Aided Designing)/CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) by engineering
companies

Emerging Technologies Used in Artificial Intelligence (Expert Systems, Robotics etc.) and Virtual Reality

COMPUTERS IN BUSINESS
Computers have completely altered the structure of business. They are reshaping the basics of business.
Customer service, operations, product and marketing strategies, and distribution are heavily, or
sometimes even entirely, dependent on computer-enabled applications.

LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS
No IQ: A computer is not a magical device. It can only perform tasks that a human being can. The
difference is that it performs these tasks with unthinkable speed and accuracy. It possesses no
intelligence of its own. Its IQ is zero, at least till today. Hence, only the user can determine what tasks a
computer will perform. A computer cannot take its own decision in this regard.
No Feelings: Computers are devoid of emotions. They have no feelings and no instincts because they
are machine. Although men have succeeded in building a memory for the computer, but no computer
possesses the equivalent of human heart and soul.
What is touch typing?
Touch typing is the ability to type using all your fingers, without looking at the keyboard. This a valuable
skill for employers because it enables employees to produce and edit text at a much faster speed than
usual. It also means that finished work has a greater level of accuracy. For employees, it means a better
work experience, and more time available for other tasks. Touch typing skills are beneficial in almost all
industries, especially with continued technological advances. There are individual benefits to touch typing,
too. First of all, touch typing makes working at a computer more comfortable. Second, it enhances
communication between colleagues and customers. Third, it improves the accuracy of documents.
6 Benefits of touch typing skills

1. Save time
2. Better for your overall health
3. Decrease fatigue
4. Increased speed of text production
5. Accuracy
6. Increases workplace productivity

Email (electronic mail) is a way to send and receive messages across the Internet. It's similar to
traditional mail, but it also has some key differences. To get a better idea of what email is all about, take a
look at the infographic below and consider how you might benefit from its use.
Email advantages
 Productivity tools: Email is usually packaged with a calendar, address book, instant messaging,
and more for convenience and productivity.
 Access to web services: If you want to sign up for an account like Facebook or order products
from services like Amazon, you will need an email address so you can be safely identified and
contacted.
 Easy mail management: Email service providers have tools that allow you to file, label, prioritize,
find, group, and filter your emails for easy management. You can even easily control spam, or
junk email.
 Privacy: Your email is delivered to your own personal and private account with a password
required to access and view emails.
 Communication with multiple people: You can send an email to multiple people at once, giving
you the option to include as few as or as many people as you want in a conversation.
 Accessible anywhere at any time: You don’t have to be at home to get your mail. You can access
it from any computer or mobile device that has an Internet connection.
Understanding email addresses
 To receive emails, you will need an email account and an email address. Also, if you want to
send emails to other people, you will need to obtain their email addresses. It's important to learn
how to write email addresses correctly because if you do not enter them exactly right, your emails
will not be delivered or might be delivered to the wrong person.
 Email addresses are always written in a standard format that includes a user name, the @ (at)
symbol, and the email provider's domain.
A word processor is a computer program used to create and print text documents that might otherwise
be prepared on a typewriter. The key advantage of a word processor is its ability to make changes easily,
such as correcting spelling, adding, deleting, formatting and relocating text. Once created, the document
can be printed quickly and accurately saved for later modifications.
SPREADSHEET A spreadsheet is a computer program used to organize real world data, such as a
rolodex or check register, that allows the user to easily maintain and access the information stored within
it.
POWERPOINT It is a professional presentation program that allows the user to create "presentation
slides" that can be displayed on the computer screen or through a projector that is plugged into the
computer.
COMMON FUNCTIONS:
The Menu Bar is a common sight in almost all Microsoft Windows programs. It features text-based
menus, on which are listed virtually every option. Each menu expands when clicked (with the left mouse
button), offering many options categorized by specific tasks. This menu is also customizable (for instance,
the “Acrobat” menu on the right of the image above many not be listed on all computer systems) to offer a
more personalized experience for the user.
Toolbars provide “shortcuts” to commands also found in the Menu Bar. Toolbars are usually located just
below the Menu Bar, and exist to offer another way to perform the same task. As with all Microsoft
Windows programs, there are usually three ways in which to perform every task in order to suit the user’s
preferences. Remember, if you can’t remember what an icon stands for, hover your mouse over it and a
box will pop up with the explanation!
Title Bar Where file information is located. Notice the default title "Book1." You will get a chance to rename your
spreadsheet the first time you choose to save it.