An overview of the computer system

Before the information age which introduced digital communication, information was difficult to get and relay to others.
The emergence of the computer brought about digital information which is the result of computer processing.

Definition of a computer: a computer is an electronic device that accepts data, process, store or produce results in a
printed form (hard copy)

CONSTITUENTS OF A COMPUTER
The computer system comprises of two parts namely:

1. Computer hardware
2 Computer software
Computer hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer that can be seen, touched and handled. The computer
hardware can be divided into two parts namely:
(a) The system unit: this is the combination of the main parts which include the central processing unit,
motherboard, buses and circuitry.
(b) Computer peripherals: these are hardware that are attached to the system unit to enhance its functionality.
They include the keyboard, mouse, printer, speaker, scanner, joysticks
Computer hardware components are grouped into;
Input devices
Output devices
Processing devices
Storage devices

Processing devices
The central processing unit (CPU) is the major component of the computer and is called the processor.
The CPU fetches instructions or task from the main memory and executes them one after the other. The speed of the
CPU is measured in Hertz (MHZ)
It is divided into three parts namely:
1. Control unit
2. Arithmetic and logic Unit(ALU)
3. Memory Unit

CONTROL UNIT (CU)

The control unit controls and coordinates the activities of all the other units of the computer. It is considered as the
logical hub of the computer. It receives data and instructions from the input devices, stores them in the main
memory and fetches them according to the instructions it gets and interprets and executes instructions one at a time.
ARITHMETIC AND LOGIC UNIT (ALU). This performs the arithmetic and logical operations on the data. When the
control unit receives an instruction related to performing arithmetic or logic operation on data, it passes that
instruction to the ALU. ALU performs addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; it compares numerical and
alphabetic data.
The ALU consist of a number of registers. A register is an exceptionally fast temporary memory device which holds
data and instructions as long as it is being interpreted and executed. registers are used for the most frequently
needed data items to avoid having to access the main memory every time such data is needed.

THE MEMORY UNIT

One major advantage of the computer is its storage capacity where huge amount of information can be stored. The
computer memory is the storage area of the computer. It is divided into two categories;
1. Primary Memory
2. Secondary memory
The primary memory is the main memory of the computer. CPU can directly read or write on this memory. It is fixed
on the motherboard of the computer.
Primary memory is further divided into
1. RAM(Random Access memory)
2. ROM (Read only memory)
The RAM is a temporary memory that holds information the CPU is currently working on hence it is called
working memory. It also called a volatile memory because information held on RAM can be lost as power supply
to the computer is turned off.
Read only Memory (ROM) information stored in ROM is permanent in nature i.e it holds data even if the system
is switched off. It is also called nonvolatile memory.
Differences between RAM and ROM

Random Access Memory Read only Memory

1. Data transfer is frequent and fast
2. RAM holds user data, processes or task
the operating system only at the time the
computer is working
3. RAM is highly volatile
4. Contents of RAM are erased when power
is turned down
Data transfer is slower than RAM but faster than
hard disk
In a personal computer, the ROM contains a
specialized program called the BIOS that initiate
loading the operating system from the hard disk
drive into RAM when ever the computer is turned
on
ROM is non volatile
It typically stores the computer’s initial start-up
instructions

Secondary Memory (AUXILIARY MEMORY) these are external storage devices that are attached to the computer
system.
Examples include: hard disc, compact disc, floppy discs (diskettes), flash drives, digital versatile discs (DVD)
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
The computer software is a set of instructions or programs that directs the operations of the computer and
devices attached to it. Software is essential for the hardware to function properly
The computer software is divided into system software and application software. Examples of system software
include: operating system, compilers, and interpreters.
Examples of application software include: Microsoft word, Corel draw, excel, adobe PageMaker etc
Characteristics of the computer
1. Speed: the computer is an electronic device with a very high speed. The operations on the data inside the
computer are performed through electronic circuits to the given instructions. The data and instructions flow
along these circuits with high speed that is close to the speed of light.
2. Arithmetic and logical operations: computer can perform arithmetic and logical operations. In arithmetic
operations, it performs the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. In logical operations it compares
the numerical data as well as alphabetical data.
3. Accuracy: in addition to being very fast, the computer is also a very accurate device. It gives accurate output
result provided that the correct input data is given to it.
 4. Automation: the computer can automatically perform operations without the user interfering with the
process of the operation.
5. Versatility (flexibility) the modern computer can perform different kind of tasks simultaneously.

INPUT DEVICES
An input device is a piece of hardware that is used for providing information to the computer. It converts
data and instruction into binary form for acceptance by the computer. Examples of input devices are:
1. Keyboard: the keyboard is a typewriter-like device that allows the user to type in text and commands to
the computer.
2. Mouse: the mouse is a pointing device designed to be gripped by one hand. It has a detection device
3. Microphone: this is a device for converting sound into sound into signals that can then be stored,
manipulated and played back by the computer
4. Joy stick: this is a pointing device composed of a lever that moves in multiple directions to navigate a
cursor or other graphical objects on the computer screen.
5. Magnetic ink character reader (MICR): this is a technology used to identify and process checks.
6. Touch screen
7. Scanner
8. Floppy disks
9. Compact disks
10. Optical mark reader(OMR)
The Mouse
The mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting a two-dimensional motion relative to its
supporting surface.
Types of mouse include:
Optical, mechanical, wireless or cordless mouse
Ways of operating the mouse
Different ways of operating the mouse cause specific things to happen in the GUI
(i) Left Clicking: this is pressing and releasing the left mouse button
(ii) (Left) Double-click: this is clicking the mouse button two times in a quick succession
(iii) Right click: this is clicking the second mouse button
(iv) Scrolling: this is done by scrolling the middle button up or down
(v) Button chording: this is the combination of left-click or right click or keyboard.

OUTPUT DEVICES

These are devices that are used to display data that has been processed by the computer to the user.

Output devices include: Monitor, printer, speaker, projector and plotter.

Monitor or visual display unit: the monitor is an output device that produces softcopy output

Types of monitors include:

Cathode ray tube (CRT)

Flat-panel displays

Plasma display panel

PRINTERS: a printer is an output device which produces text or graphics of documents stored in electronic forms usually
on physical print media such as paper or transparences. The output produced from a computer which is permanent in
nature is called hardware.

Printers are divided into two broad categories:

Impact printers and

Non-impact printers.

Impact printers: they are called impact printers because the print mechanisms cause characters to be printed by impact
such as is a hammer hitting a letter through a ribbon. There are two types of impact printers

Dotmatrix/character printer

Line printers

Non-impact printers: these printers do not rely on such principles as hammers striking through ribbons to produce
characters. Characters are produced by optical techniques.

Types of non-impact printers include:

Laser printers

Inkjet printers

Thermal printers

Projector: it is a display device that project a computer created image. The computer sends the image data to the video
card which then sends the video image to the projector.

Plotter: a plotter creates a hardcopy rendition of a digitally rendered design.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Software is a set of programs and documentations that performs chores on a computer system. It Is a set of programs
that enable the hardware to function.

Software is categorized into

1. system software
2. Application software
System software is a set of programs that control the operations of a computer and peripherals attached to the
computer. Examples include:
Operating system