computers

 Computer is an electronic device that receives input stores or

process the input and provide desire output.
 Data
Raw fact and figures which can be processed using
arithmetic and logical operations to obtain information is called data.
 Information
Processed form of data is called information.

INPUT PROCESS DESIRED OUTPUT

 The basic parts of a computer

MEMORY

INPUT UNIT CONTROL UNIT OUTPUT UNIT

ALU
 Input unit
Devices like keyboard, mouse that are used to input data
and instructions to the computer are called input unit.
 Output unit
Devices like and visual display unit that are used to provide
information to the user in desired format are called output unit.
 Control unit
As the name suggest it controls all the functions of the
computer.
 ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit)
Brain of the computer. Where all operations take place.
 Memory
 All input data,insructions and data interm to the process are stored
in the memory.
 Memory is of Two types,
1. Primary Memory :- Primary Memory is Located inside the CPU.
2. Secondary Memory:- Secondary Memory is Located outside the CPU.
 CPU
 Heart of the Computer.
 Devices like keyboard,mouse,printer etc.are connected to the CPU.
 Hardware and Software

 Hardware is a part that we can physically touch or see.

 Software is a set of instructions or programs to work the
hardware and give the desired output.Software we can
not see or touch.
 Characteristics of computer
 Speed
Depending on the processor computer can carry out 3-4 million instructions per
second.
 Accuracy
Computer have very high degree of Accuracy.Errors are rare but occurring due to
malfunction of the software or hardware.
 Reliability
Computers are reliable.They can continue working for long hours without errors.
 Versatility
Computer can carry different works if proper instructions are provided.
 Storage Capacity
Computer can store very large amount of data,with in the computer and space in
cloud.
 Advantages

 Computer can do same task with same accuracy.

 Computer do not get tired or bored.

 Computer can take up routine tasks while releasing human

resource for more intelligent function.
 Disadvatages

 Computers have no intelligence; they follow the instructions blindly

without considering the outcome.

 Regular electric supply is necessary to make computers work.

 Booting

The process of starting a computer is called booting.

 Switching on power supply
 Loading operating system into computer’s main memory
 Keeping all applications
 When a computer is started the booting process starts .
 The initial program which starts from BIOS ( basic input
output system) .
 This is a software which is embedded in hardware. We cannot
change this .
 There are two types of booting-

1. Cold Booting − When the system is started by switching on the

power supply it is called cold booting. The next step in cold booting
is loading of BIOS.
2. Warm Booting − When the system is already running and needs to
be restarted or rebooted, it is called warm booting. Warm booting is
faster than cold booting because BIOS is not reloaded.
 Different Types of computers
 Desktop
 Computers designed for an individual use.
 Kept in fixed location.
 This consist of central processing unit (CPU) , monitor, keyboard
etc.
 Laptop
 Also called notebook computers or just notebooks.
 Laptops run using batteries and connect to networks using Wi-Fi
(Wireless Fidelity) chips.
 Tablets
 The miniature form of laptops, with reduced size of a laptop
and held in palms.
 They can be operated by just touching on the screen.
 Companies have developed their own tabs with different OS.
 Eg:- Apple has developed IPAD and with an operating system
IOS.
 Servers
 These are also computers but are with higher capacity as
compared with desktops.
 High processing speed.
 Larger memory and storage space and can compute multiple
task at the same time .
 Mainframes
 Super computers with very high capacity as compared to servers.
 Which can be worked in much faster .
 Its big in size, expensive.
 Super computers
 The fastest computers on earth.
 They are used to carry out complex, fast, and time intensive
calculation for scientific and engineering applications.
 The performance of these are measured in teraflops (1012
floating point operations /sec).