Applications of Information and

Communication Technologies
Lecture 3
Presented by
Dr. Muhammad Umar Javed
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science 1
 Parts of Computer Systems
 A complete computer system consists of
• Hardware (Physical devices of a computer system)
• Software (A set of programs)
• Data
 Parts of Computer Systems
 Hardware
• Consists of electronic circuits and mechanical devices used to perform
various functions
• Physical part of computer system
• Used to control computer operations (i.e. Input and Output)
• For example hardware components are: CPU, memory unit, keyboard,
mouse, monitor, printer, disk drivers etc.
 Parts of Computer Systems
Software
• Set of instructions that tell the computer what to do
• Also called a program

Data
• Consist of individual facts or pieces of information
• Converting them into useful information
 Organization of Computer Systems
A computer system consists of
• Input unit
• Output unit
• Storage unit
• CPU
• ALU
• CU
 Input Unit
An input unit performs the following functions

• Accepts instructions from the outer world

• Converts the instructions and data into computer acceptable form

• Provides the converted instructions and data to the computer system

 Output Unit
An output unit performs the following functions

• Accepts the results provided by the computer system in coded form

• Converts the coded instructions into human acceptable form

• Provides the converted instructions and data to the outside world

 Storage Unit
The storage unit performs the following functions

• Holds data and instructions required for processing

• Holds intermediate results of processing

• Holds final results before releasing them

• Primary storage and secondary storage

 Primary Storage
Also known as the main memory

• Housed inside the system

• Volatile memory

• Expensive

• RAM, ROM, cache, PROM, EPROM

 Secondary Storage
Also known as the actual memory

• Stores the data permanently

• Non-volatile memory

• Cheaper

• Hard disks, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, solid state drives

 Central Processing Unit
CPU refers to the brain of the computer

• It is the combination of Arithmetic Logic Unit and Control Unit

• All the activities are performed through it

 Arithmetic Logic Unit
ALU is the place where actual executions are performed

• ALU performs basic arithmetic and logic operations

• Examples of arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication,

division

• Examples of logic operations: AND, OR, NOT gates, relational operators

 Control Unit
CU controls, manages and coordinates the operations of the components of the
computer systems

• CU acts as a central nervous system

• Provides control signals

• Communicates with I/O devices for transfer of data or fetching results from
storage.
 Basic Operations of Computer Systems
 Inputting:
• The process of entering data and instructions into the computer system.

Storing:
• Saving data and instructions to make them readily available for initial and additional
processing whenever required.
 Basic Operations of Computer Systems
 Outputting:
• The process of producing useful information or results for the user such as a printed
report or visual display

Processing:
• Performing arithmetic operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide, etc.) or logical
operations (comparisons like equal to, less tan, greater than etc.) on data to convert
them into useful information.
Memory
Memory
 Primary Memory
• Type of memory which is directly accessed by the CPU.
• CPU continuously reads instructions stored in the primary memory and executes
them.
• RAM
• Data is stored temporarily, so it is a volatile memory.
• The information stored in the RAM is basically loaded from the computer’s disk and includes
information related to the operating system and applications that are currently executed by the
processor.
• ROM
• Data provided by the manufacturers regarding the system and can only be read by the user but
cannot cannot be modified.
 Secondary Memory
• Auxiliary memory, consists of slower and less expensive devices that communicate
indirectly with CPU via main memory.
• Stores the data and keeps it even when the power fails. It is used to store or save large
data or programs or other information.
• Types
• Magnetic disks
• Optical drives
• USB drives
Memory Units
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