Introduction to

Computer Systems
 Computer
• A computer is a machine capable of automatically processing data according to
instruction lists given.
• Data processing includes, but not limited to, carrying out arithmetic operations,
comparing logical values, as well as, transmitting, receiving and storing information.
• Data processing tasks, no matter how long or complex they are, can be performed
with series of some simple commands, considered “native” to the computers
processing those data.
 
Here are some examples of such benefits in normal circumstances.

• Computers work fast. Despite common complaints that sounds like “My
computer is slow”, it does work very fast! A computer can execute
billions commands in a second. Suppose we have golf balls that each of
them can be either white or black, how fast can you compare the colors of
one thousand pairs of golf balls and say how many pairs are different? A
computer can do it in one nanosecond.
• Computers work consistently. No matter how many times a computer
performs the same job, the result is similar every time. (Telling a
computer to intentionally does something randomly dose not count!)
• Computers remember a huge amount of stuffs. A large amount of data
can be written into computers’ memory. Hundreds of books can be stored
in and recalled back from a computer’s memory with ease.
• Computers are loyal. Computers do and only do as instructed,
straightforwardly. If the instruction is right, the result is right.
• Computers work hard. Computers do not complain about doing repetitive
tasks. It does not get bored as it happens with people. Surprisingly,
repetitive tasks are things that computers do all the time and do well.
Furthermore, computers can work continuously for very long periods.
 For each of the following fields, give an example of how computer
can be used to assist human’s job. (Be creative!)

• Automobile manufacturing
• Education
• Healthcare
• Homeland security
• News agency
• Retail business
• Which part(s) of a computer that you think its/their functionalities are the
closest to human’s brains?
• How is the speed of a CPU measured?