IT Concepts

Introduction to IT & Computer System

M Fawad
 Introduction to IT

• IT is a technology that uses computers with

high speed communication links to spread
information from one place to another
• This inter connection of computers enables
people to send and receive information
• IT typically refers to equipments such as
computers, data storage devices, networks and
also communication devices.
 Introduction to IT

Combination of computer, its services and its

infrastructure is called Information Technology
 IT includes

• computer
• data networks
• technology services
 Computer System
• The word “computer” is derived from the Latin
word “compute” which means to compute or
calculate

• With this meaning a computer is considered to

be a calculating device that can perform
arithmetic operations in less mount of time

• Computer 80% were used for Mathematical

Operations
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• But today’s computers perform a lot of jobs
like
– arithmetic operations,
– text based work,
– graphical work
– Videos
– Audio
– etc

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 What Is a Computer?

• Computer is an electronic device that can

perform arithmatic and logical operations

• By arithmetic we mean
addition,subtraction,multiplication,division and
remainder operation
• By logical we mean to combine two
expression.e.g. & || not etc.
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• A computer is an electronic device that can
– accept data (input),
– process the data according to specified rules or
instructions (Processing),
– store the results (storage) for future use &
– produce results (output).

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 Components of computer system
• Computer has two basic components
– hardware
– Software
Hardware: the physical components of computer that
can be seen and touched directly. e.g. processor, RAM,
mouse, keyboard, printer etc.
Software: A set of instructions that tell the computer
what to do. It is responsible for monitoring the tasks of
computer hardware. e.g. operating system, device
drivers, computer programming languages.

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 Examples of S/W and H/W
• Sole, wisdom, power in the living body are the
examples of software. because we can not see
and touch them.
• On the other hand different physical organs of
the human body like hands, feet etc are
examples of hardware. But they can not work
without sole.
• Similarly computer hardware can not work
without software.
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 Characteristics of a computer
System
• Almost everybody works on computer to solve
their problems
• Computer is used that much because of its
characteristics
• Following are some of the characteristics due
to which computer is considered to be so
useful and helpful

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• Speed
• Accuracy
• Diligence
• Power of remembering
• No feelings
• Versatility

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• Speed:
– Computer is a very fast device
– It can perform the amount of work in few seconds
that a human being can do in whole year
• Accuracy:
– The accuracy of a computer is consistently high and
the degree of accuracy of a particular computer
depends on its design
– Errors may occur in a computer, but these are
mainly due to human beings rather than
technological weakness,

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• Diligence
– Human beings get bored from monotony
– If they work on the same thing for a long time,
they get bored and also become tired
– Unlike human beings, a computer is free from
monotony, tiredness, etc.
– thus it can work for hours without creating any
error.

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• Power of remembering:
– A computer can store and recall any amount of
information
– Every piece of information can be retained as long
as desired by the user and can be recalled as when
required
• No feelings:
– Computers are free of emotions
– They have no feelings because they are machines
– they work for us day and night without any
difficulty
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Versatility

•  It means the capacity to perform completely

different type of work.
• You may use your computer to prepare
payroll slips.
• Next moment you may use it for inventory
management or to prepare electric bills.

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 Elements/Components of
Computer System
 A computer system is the combination of the
following five/six elements:
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. People
4. Procedures
5. Data/Information
6. Connectivity

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 1. Hardware:
• The machines in computer system are known as
hardware
• The Physical and real components are called
Hardware
• Hardware are divided into Four Groups:
– Input Hardware
– Storage Hardware
– Processing Hardware
– Output Hardware
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 2. Software
• Software: A set of instructions that tell the
computer what to do.
• Computer software (often called just software) is
a set of instructions and associated
documentation that tells a computer what to do
or how to perform a task 
• Two types of Software
– System Software
– Application Software

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 3. People
• Computer system is
– designed by the people,
– Built by the people and
– Used by the people
• People operate the computer Hardware as well as
develop computer software
• Peoples are grouped as :
– System/ Software Developers
– System/ Software Administrators
– System/ Software Operators/users

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 4. Procedures
• Procedures means Rules, Policies, Methods,
Techniques required to use the Computer
system
• These procedures are learn by the user and then
applied on the computer to complete a task
• If a user don’t the method How to use the
computer system he will not be able to do his
work using the computer system

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 5. Data vs Information
• Data
– Plural of “DATUM” (Latin) word means something
given
– Collection of facts and figures
– Raw form (not meaningful)
– Decision can not be taken on
• Examples
– Name of students
– Marks of individual subjects
• Information
– Date after processing
– Furnished or processed form
– Meaningful
– And decision can be made on information
• Examples
– The overall percentage score of a student
 Types of data
• Textual
– Alphabetical
– Numeric
– Alpha-numeric
– Symbolic
• Non-Textual
– Pictorial
– Audio
– Video
– Compound
data Processes data into
Raw facts, figures, and
information
symbols Data that is organized,
meaningful, and useful

Produces and stores results

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 6. Connectivity
• If two or more than two computer system
wants to share the data they needs
Connectivity

• Computers are connected by two ways:

– Wire/ Guided Media
– Wireless/ Unguided Media

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