Introduction to Computer

By
Suleyman Abdiea
 Brief History
 Since the very early stage of human civilization
people have used machines to do calculations.
 Earliest counting machines was the Abacus
which was used by the ancient Greeks and
Romans.
 In 1833 the Englishman Charles Babbage
designed his Analytical Engine, a machine
capable of performing much more complex
calculations. This is generally agreed to the first
computer.
 In 1936, the British Mathematician Alan Turing
designed a device that could be programmed to
perform a sequence of discrete steps.
History
 Trends in Computer Development
 Faster – If you compare the calculations/second column of Table 2, you can see that
modern computers are at least 100,000 times faster than the first examples of digital
computers

 Cheaper - In the early days of computing, vast amounts of money were needed just to build
a single computer. Today, computers are mass-produced, and many people can afford to buy
their own computer for their home.

 More versatile - The very early computers were designed for a single purpose (for example,
census counting). These days computers are capable of performing a wide range of tasks.
Therefore, they have become more versatile.

 Smaller - The ENIAC census counting computer was the size of a tennis court and the
weight of 6 elephants. Today, the part of a modern digital computer that does the processing
is about the size of a coin.

 Easier to use - One of the major improvements in computers over the years is their ease
of use. To begin with, the task of entering instructions into the computer was very time-
consuming and prone to error. Today computers are much easier to use.

 More reliable - The early computers often suffered from poor reliability of their components.
Today, if they are looked after properly, computers can work for many years without
breaking down.
 .
1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
Why learn about Computer?
 Now a days computers dominated the world greatly. All economic
activities need computer applications.( education, defense, research,
marketing, libraries, entertainment, transportation, controlling different
machines, electronic business, social issues, etc
 The world is being considered as a “village” since information
exchange around the globe is performed within minutes due to advent of
computers.
 Computer is programmable electronic device and it accepts
information, process it and produces output.
Computer performs different tasks

Hardware and software are the two major components of computer

 1.2 Types of Computers
Computers are classified based on type of information they use,
capacity, number of users they serve at one time, size, etc
1. Information type
. Digital information
Take a limited number of different
values. (Digital watch can take only
one value out of 0-9), computers stores only digital
values in 0’s and 1’s
1 byte = 8 bits
1 kilobyte (kB) = 1024 bytes
1 megabyte (MB) = 1024 kilobytes
1 gigabyte (GB) = 1024 megabytes
. Analogue Information- can take any value. (analogue watch)
2. Capacity: Depending on the processing power of computers,
they are classified as super, Mainframe, Mini and micro
(personal computer)
 Microcomputers: also known as personal computers or PCs
are designed for single user at a time. Depending on their size
and computing power microcomputers can be further
subdivided into 3 subcategories Desktop, Laptop, Handheld
 Minicomputers: are medium sized computers that are more
costly and powerful than microcomputers. They are designed
to be used by several users at a time.
 Mainframes: are designed to allow a number of users at one
time. Larger and more powerful than minicomputers. (usually
more than 100)
 Supercomputers: Are designed with the primary aim of
making the computer as fast as possible. Used for mainly for
computationally intensive calculations, such as weather
forecasting and scientific research.
 Super Computer

Microcomputers

Desktop Laptop Handheld

3. Number of users: classified as Server (more than one user at a time) and Standalone (only one user at one time)
4. Size: Desktop, Tower, laptop, Notebook, etc.
1.3 Networking and Internet
1.3.1 Networking:
. It is a system of connecting two or more computers in order to share information and resources.
. Sharing of information and resources bring cost effectiveness
. Plays a key role to use our limited resources effectively and efficiently.
. Two types of networks according to owning public and private. And WAN and LAN according to geographical
distribution.
1.3.2 Internet
. It is a huge computer network connecting thousands of computer all over the world.
. It provides various indispensable facilities such as e-mail, WWW,
 2. Computer Hardware
2.1 Input Hardware/Input Device
2.1 Input Hardware/Input Device
2.2 Processing Hardware
2.3 Output Hardware
2.4 Storage Hardware

2.1 Input Hardware/Input Device

 Is used to enter data and instruction to the computer
2.1.1 Mouse
. Is a pointing device gripped by one hand
. It has a detection device (ball) on the bottom
. Has two buttons, left mouse button and right mouse
button
2.1.2 Keyboard
 • Keyboard is a primary input device that allow users to type in
text and commands to the computer .
 Parts of keyboard
1. Letter and number keys: these are used to enter alphabets and numbers.
2. Function keys: The 10 or 12 F keys at the top of a keyboard (f1-f12). They
generate short, fixed sequences of character codes that instruct application
programs running on the computer to perform certain actions (f1 to display
help, f5 to refresh, f2 setup bios, f8 safe mode,
3. Cursor movement keys: include arrow keys, page up, page down, Home,
and end these are used to move the cursor around the screen.
4. Numeric keypad: uses for entering numbers or to move the cursor on the
screen. Num Lock should be on (light on) to enter numbers and off (no
light) to move cursor.
5. Ctrl and Alt keys: The Ctrl (Control) and Alt (Alternate) keys make other
keys on the key board to perform different task.
6. Esc key: we use the Esc (Escape) key in most programs to back out quit
whatever we are currently doing.
7. Print Screen/SysRq: is used to print the copy of the screen.
8.Pause/Break: is used to stop computer from performing
the same task and over again, fro eg, in DOS programs it
was common to encounter infinitely repetitive task
9. Enter key: is used to enter a new line
10. Caps Lock key: is used to enter alphabets in upper case.
11. Shift key: is used to enter characters at the top of a key.
(example: !,@,#,$,^,& and to change the case mode. Off
lower case and on upper case.)
12. Spacebar: is used to create space between words and
characters.
13. Tab key: is used to insert space words or select an option
on a dialog box.
14. Window key: is used to open the start window
15. Backspace: is used to delete a character located to the
left of the cursor.
16. Delete key: is used to delete a character located to the
right of the cursor.
17. Insert key: is used to switch between the insert mode
and the overwrite mode.
18. Home key: is used to go to the beginning of
the line where the cursor is found
19. End key: is used to go to the end of the line
where the cursor is found.
20. Page up key: use this key when you want to
go upwards quickly in your document.
21. Page Down key: use this key when you want
to go down quickly in your document.
 2.1.3 Scanner
 An optical scanner uses light-sensing equipment
to convert images such as a picture or text into
electronic signals that can be manipulated by a
computer.
 The two most common scanner types are the flat
bed scanner which is similar to an office
photocopier, and handheld scanner which is
passed manually across the image to be passed.
 2.1.4 Microphone

 Microphone is device for converting sound into

signals that can be stored, manipulated, and
played back by the computer
 2.1.5 Modem

 Stands for Modulator and DEModulator

 Connects a computer system to a telephone
line or cable TV network and allows
information to be transmitted to or received
from another computer.
 Each computer that sends or receives
information must be connected to a modem
 Changes digital signal into analogue and
analogue to digital
 2.2 Processing Hardware

 Is the microprocessor (Central

processing unit) which performs all
the processing works (arithmetic
calculations, logical calculations and
relational operations)
 2.3 Output Hardware/Output Device
 Devices that the computer uses to
give its output to the user.
 Transfer information from the
computer’s CPU to the computer user
 2.3.2 Monitor

 A video display unit or screen or monitor converts

information generated by the computer into
visual information.
 Monitors commonly take one of two forms:
. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
 2.3.2 Printer
 Printers take text and image from a
computer and print them on paper
 Different kinds of printers such
as . . dot-matrix -use tiny wires to
impact upon an inked ribbon to form
character.
. Ink jet - fine droplets of ink onto a
page to form characters and pictures
Computer Printer . Laser jet - use beams of light to
draw images on a drum that then
picks up fine black particles called
toners. (fast and provide high quality
print out.)
 2.4 Storage Hardware (Storage Device)

 Storage hardware provides permanent storage of

information for retrieval by the computer.
 The two main types of storage device
. Disk drive – hard disk, floppy, flash, magneto-
optical and compact
. Memory – RAM and ROM
2.4.1 Hard Disk
. Resides in the system unit
. Stores information
. Permanent part of the computer
. Can store large amount of data and retrieve that
information very quickly.
. Its measured in GB and can store up to 300GB now a
days
 2.4.2 Floppy Disk (Diskette)
 Store information in magnetic particles embedded
in removable disks.
 Store less information than Hard disks (about
1.44 MB)
 Retrieve information in at a much slower rate.
 2.4.3 Magneto-Optical devices
 Store information on removable discs that are
sensitive to both laser and magnetic fields.
 They can typically store as much information as
hard disks, but have slightly slower retrieval
speeds.
 2.4.4 Compact Discs
 CD drive : Like floppy drives, compact disk (CD) is
a removable storage medium. There are three types of
CD:
. CD-ROM (CD Read-Only Memory) it is not
possible to write new information to the disks.
. CD-R (CD-Recordable) – can only be written to
only one time.
. CD-RW (CD-Rewritable) – can be written to many
times
 DVD drives: The technology involved in DVD
(Digital Video Disk is similar to that of CD drives.
But their storage capacity is greater (around 4GB),
like CDs, DVDs can be either read-only or writable.
 2.4.5 Memory
 Refers to the computer chips that store
information for quick retrieval by the CPU.
 Two types of Memory:
Random Access Memory (RAM) –
stores data and programs to be worked
on/processed by microprocessor. It is the
work space of the computer and volatile.
Read Only Memory (ROM) – stores
instructions provided by the manufacturer
of the computer, which are used for the
operation of the computer itself. Remains
permanently.
 2.5 Communication Hardware
 Modem - Device that converts digital and analog signals. At the source, a
modem converts digital signals to a form suitable for transmission over analog
communication facilities. At the destination, the analog signals are returned to
their digital form. Modems allow data to be transmitted over voice-grade
telephone lines. (WAN)
 Network Interface Card (NIC) - Board that provides network communication
capabilities to and from a computer system. Also called an adapter (WAN and
LAN)
 Switch - Network device that filters, forwards, and floods frames based on the
destination address of each frame. The switch operates at the data link layer of
the OSI model.
 Hub - Generally, a term used to describe a device that serves as the center of a
star-topology network.
 3. Computer Software
 Software is the second major component of a computer.
 It is a computer program, which is a set of instructions,
that causes the hardware to do some work.
 Without software, a computer is nothing except a collection
of equipment. All activities of the computer hardware are
directed and coordinated by software.
 It is bridges the interaction between computer and the
user.
 The two primary software categories are:
. Operating System (System software) – control the
overall operation of the computer
. Application software – perform specific tasks such as
word processing, calculation, database management.
 3.1 Operating System

The development of the ‘Windows’ operating system

 Operating system is the heart of a computer
system. Without operating system, the hardware
as well as other software do not function at all.
 Control the overall functioning of a computer.
 Operating systems receive instructions from the
user, interprets the commands and executes
accordingly, place programs into the computer’s
memory and cause it to execute them, control
the computer’s input and output devices, manage
the computer’s resource such as its disk space,
protect the computer from unauthorized use,
keep stored data secure, and so on.
 Based on the number of users that operating
systems serve at one time they can be
categorized as:
 Single user: Operating systems that serve only
one user at one time is single user (stand alone).
For example; MS DOS, MS Windows9x, windows
2000 professional, windows XP.

 Multi user: Serves more than one user at one

time. These operating systems are used in
networks. Example; MS Windows 2000 server.
 3.2 Applications Software
 Designed to perform a specific task.
 Application programs can also be classified as;
. On-the-shelf – for common public use like
Microsoft Office)
. Home made – developed for one company use
only; for example IBEX of BoFED.
 3.2.1 Word Processing
 Used to produce good quality documents such as
reports, memos, letters manuals, etc.
 Check spelling and grammar of sentences and
provide alternatives for mistakes.
 Allow to include pictures, graphs and tables in
any document. (MS Word, Word perfect,
Wordstar)
 3.2.2 Spreadsheet Program
 Looks like a sheet of paper ruled into a grid of
columns and rows.
 Used for calculations by creating formulas and
performs many calculations in fraction of
seconds.
 Provide facilities for creating different types of
charts. MS Excel, lotus 1-2-3, QuatroPro are
some well known spreadsheet programs.
 3.2.3 Database Management System (DBMS)

 Different types of DBMS software are available in the

market today.
 We can classify DBMS as;
. Standalone: Serves one user at one time, for
example MS Access)
. Server: Serves more than one user at one time, for
example MS SQL Server and Oracle).
 3.2.4 Other Software
 There are some software such as network
software and programming languages which have
intermediate characters between the system and
application software.