Department of Information Technology

Ghana Communication Technology

University (GCTU)
Diploma In Information Technology
Course Code: CSIS 151
Course Title: Fundamentals of
Computing Hardware and Software
(3 Credit)
Level: 100

Lecturer: Prince Modey

 Lecture One ‘A’

Objectives
 By the end of the lecture, students should be able to:
I. explain data, information, and data processing cycle
II. explain what a computer is
III. state advantages and disadvantages of computers, computer
generations and classifications of computers
Introduction
 What is computing?
 Computing refers to using computer
technology and computational methods to
solve problems and perform tasks (Abebe et
al., 2020).
 It involves various fields, including computer
science, data science, artificial intelligence,
and more.
 Computing has changed the world more than
any other invention of the past hundred years
and has come to pervade nearly all human
endeavours.
Introduction cont.

 Why the study of computing?

 Nearly
all the most exciting and important
technologies, arts, and sciences of today and
tomorrow are driven by computing.
 Understanding computing illuminates deep
insights and questions into the nature of our
minds, our culture, and our universe.
Data and Information
What is Data?
 Data is a representation of facts, concepts or
instructions in a formalised manner which should
be suitable for communication or processing into
information.
 A computer system considers everything as data,
instructions, pictures, songs, videos, documents,
etc.
 Data can also be raw and unorganised facts that are
processed to get meaningful information.
 Data contains numbers, statements, and
characters in a raw form.
Data Types
 Data type is an attribute of data which tells the
compiler or interpreter how the programmer
intends to use the data.
 It is the classification of data which tells the
compiler or interpreter how the programmer
intends to use the data.
 Most programming languages support various types
of data, including integer, real, character or string,
and Boolean.
 There are two types of data type available for
programming purposes: Primitive data and Non-
primitive data.
Data Types cont.
What is Information
 Information is
 the structured, organized, and processed data
 Within a particular context, that makes it relevant
and helpful to the one who desires it.
 the processed data on which decisions and actions
are based. Or it is processed data in such a way
that it can be meaningful to anyone who receives
it.
Types of Information
 two general types: quantitative or qualitative.
 Quantitative information tells
 how much or how many
 can be presented in two forms: numerical or
graphical information.
 For example, there are 12 roses in the vase.
 Quantitative information is used throughout
businesses.
 How many units were sold? Or
 How many pounds are being spent on employee
salaries?
Types of Information cont.
 Qualitative information describes something in
nonquantitative terms.
 For example, the roses in the vase are red.
 Qualitativecharacteristics can be used to
describe job categories or positions, such as
marketing manager, graphics designer, or
programmer.
Sources of Information
 two basic sources of information are
 internal: those gathered within an organization,
and
 External: those gathered outside the
organization.
 Three common internal sources are:
 Documents (balance sheet, employee file, …),
 Observations (observing a situation or event),
and
 Surveys (a form of questionnaires, telephone
interviews, or personal interviews).
Sources of Information cont.
 Common external sources include:
 surveys
 annual reports from other organizations
 statistics from government agencies
 trade publications and
 research reports.
DATA PROCESSING / INFORMATION
GENERATION
➢ Data processing is the re-
structuring or re-ordering of
data by people or machines to
increase their usefulness.
➢ Data processing consists of
three basic steps; Input,
Processing and Output.
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15
DATA PROCESSING CYCLE

➢ Data-processing cycle refers to the

processes/steps of transforming raw data
into useful information through the use of
a computer.
➢ The data processing cycle consists of four
steps: Input, Processing Output and
Storage.

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DATA PROCESSING CYCLE cont.

➢ Input Operation - It is the process

of entering data and instructions
into the computer system.
➢ Processing Operation –the data is
converted to produce data in a
more useful form.
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DATA PROCESSING CYCLE cont.

➢ Output Operation –the results of the

processing step are displayed.
➢The particular form of the output
data depends on the use of the data.
➢ Storage—saving data, programs, or
output for future use.

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19
DATA PROCESSING DEVICES

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 What is an Information System?
Asystem is any set of components that
work together to perform a task.
 An information system is a set of
components that work together to
manage the acquisition, storage,
manipulation, and distribution of
information.
 Components of an Information Processing
System
 Hardware: includes all the physical
equipment that makes up a computer.
 Software: the instructions that cause the
hardware to do the work.
 Data: provide the basis for the information
generated by an information system.
 People: make products, deliver services,
solve problems, and make decisions.
 Procedures: The methods, policies, and
rules that govern the use of the information
processing system are called procedures.
 Introduction Computers
 What is a Computer?
 A computer is an electronic device, which
accepts data as input and processes data
to generate the output in a required
format.
 A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its memory unit, that
can accept data (input), manipulate data
(process), and produce information
(output) from the processing.
Overview of a computer system

Source: classhall.com
Overview of a computer system
Functionalities of a Computer
 Digital computer carries out the following five functions −
i. Takes data as input.
ii. Stores the data/instructions in its memory and
uses them as required.
iii. Processes the data and converts it into useful
information.
iv. Generates the output.
v. Controls all the above four steps.
Components of a Computer
 Computers has two main
resources/components
 Hardware: are the physical components of a
computer like the processor, memory devices,
monitor, keyboard etc.
 Software: is the set of programs or
instructions that are required by the
hardware resources to function properly.
Advantages of Computers
 Computers have high speed
 Computers are accurate
 Computers have large storage
capabilities
 Computers are diligent
 Computers are versatile machine
 Computers are reliable
 Computers perform tasks automatically
 Reduce paperwork and cost
Disadvantages of Computers
 Computers have No I.Q
 Computers are very Dependent
 Computers have No Feeling
Computer Generations
 First generation: 1946 – 1958
 Second generation: 1959 – 1964
 Third generation: 1965 – 1970
 Fourth generation: 1971 – today
 Fifth generation: Today to future
Types of Computers

Based on Computing Power & Size:

Laptop / Palmtop
Micro Computer / Desktop
Mini Computer / Mainframe
Super Computer
Assignment
 What is the difference between primitive and non-primitive data
types?
 State the differences between data and information.
 Read about Information Systems.
THE END