Computer Skills

College of Dentistry - 1st year

Lecturer: Shivan Artoshy

What is a computer?
• Computer is an electronic device that accepts data (input),
manipulates the data (process), produces information based
on the manipulation (output) and stores the results (storage).

• It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.

Information Processing Cycle

Human Brain analogy

 Computer advantages
Why we use computers to do work we could do without
a computer?
• Speed and accuracy of calculations and processing: Computers can
process data much faster than we can.
• Memory: Computers are able to store and recall, huge amounts of data.
• Economic in cost and time.
Types of Computers
 1- Super computers
• Super computer is non ordinary computer.
It is an extremely high performance
computer that can perform hundreds
of billions of floating point operations
 (gigaflops) per second.
• Super computers are very expensive and
are employed for specialized applications
that require large amounts of
mathematical calculations.
1- Super computers
• It is a high performance computing
machine designed to have extremely
fast processing speeds.
• They are rare because of their cost and
size.
• Supercomputers have various
applications, such as weather forecasting,
performing complex scientific
calculations, nuclear energy research.
• Used by companies like NASA.
2- Mainframe computers
• Large-sized, powerful multi-user
computers that can perform different
actions or ‘processes’ at the same time.
• Mainframe computers can be used by as
many as hundreds or thousands of users at
the same time.
• Great processing speed and data storage.
• Often connected to many individual PCs
with limited processing capabilities.
• Very expensive, Used in large insurance
companies, banks, Airlines etc.
 Super computers Vs. Mainframe computer
1. Supercomputers are used for large
and complex mathematical
computations.
2. Supercomputer’s speed is more than
Mainframe computer. It can execute
billions of instructions within a
second.
3. Super computers are mostly purpose-
built for one or a few specific
institutional tasks.
4. Supercomputers are the largest and
costly computers.
1. While Mainframe computers are
used as a storage for large database
and serve as a maximum number
of users simultaneously.
2. Mainframe computer’s speed is
comparatively less than
Supercomputers.
3. Mainframe computers are built to
handle a large variety of tasks.
4. Mainframe computers are smaller
and less costly than
supercomputers in size.
3- Microcomputers or Personal computers
(PCs)
• The most popular type of computer in use
today. The PC is a small-sized, relatively
inexpensive computer designed for an
individual user.
• It is small enough to fit on top of a desk, can
be used by one user at a time.
• Computers may be called ‘desktop’
computers, which stay on the desk, or
‘laptop’ computers, which are lightweight
and portable.
• Used in homes, schools etc.
4- Portable computers (Laptops)
• Similar in specification to a personal
computer Screen and
• keyboard are integrated into a single unit
• Can be used from the mains or with a
built-in rechargeable battery
• More expensive than personal computers.
• Ideal computer for business people who
are constantly on the move
Hardware & Software
• A Personal Computer is broadly categorized into two parts
1- Hardware
2- Software.

Hardware
• The term hardware:- refers to the physical parts of a computer such
as the system unit, mouse, keyboard, monitor etc.
• Those parts which you can see or touch
1- Input devices
• This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data into
the computer.
• This unit creates a link between the user and the computer.
• The input devices translate the information into a form
understandable by the computer.
1- Input devices
• An Input device is any hardware part that allows you to enter data
and instructions into a computer.
• Some examples of input devices are as follows:
• Keyboard: It is a board containing the keys of letters, numbers and some
functions which allows you to type information into the computer.
1- Input devices
• An Input device is any hardware part that allows you to enter data
and instructions into a computer.
• Some examples of input devices are as follows:
• Mouse: A small hand-held device used to point, select, and click on items and
to drag and drop items from one place to another.
1- Input devices
• An Input device is any hardware part that allows you to enter data
and instructions into a computer.
• Some examples of input devices are as follows:
• Scanner: It allows you to scan pictures, text and images and save it to your
computer in a digital form.
1- Input devices
• An Input device is any hardware part that allows you to enter data
and instructions into a computer.
• Some examples of input devices are as follows:
• Web Cam: It is a digital camera that captures an image through the computer
to a computer network.
1- Input devices
• An Input device is any hardware part that allows you to enter data
and instructions into a computer.
• Some examples of input devices are as follows:
• Barcode Reader: It is a photoelectric scanner that translates the bar code
symbols into digital form.
1- Input devices
• An Input device is any hardware part that allows you to enter data
and instructions into a computer.
• Some examples of input devices are as follows:
• Joystick: Small hand lever that can be moved in any direction to control
movement on the screen. It can be used for playing games.
2- Output devices
• The output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the
information from the computer.
• This unit is a link between the computer and the users.
• Output devices translate the computer's output into a form
understandable by the users.
2- Output devices
• Output Devices are the devices used to translate the processed
information into a form that humans can understand.
• Some examples of output devices are as follows:
• Printer: A printer produces a hard copy of the material you are working on.
For example: Laser Printer and Ink-jet Printer.
2- Output devices
• Output Devices are the devices used to translate the processed
information into a form that humans can understand.
• Some examples of output devices are as follows:
• Speaker/Headphones: They are used to output voice from a computer.
2- Output devices
• Output Devices are the devices used to translate the processed
information into a form that humans can understand.
• Some examples of output devices are as follows:
• Touch Screen: It can be used as both Input and output device at the same
time. It receives input from the touch of a finger. For example – smart phones.
3- Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• A CPU is brain of a computer. It is
responsible for all functions and processes.
• It controls the operation of all parts of the
computer.
• CPU performs all types of data processing
operations.
• Also known as a processor.
• Regarding computing power, the CPU is the
most important element of a computer
system, It determines the speed of your
computer, which is measured in GHz (Giga
Hertz).
How does a computer process
information?
• When data is input into a computer, the numbers or words we
understand are translated into a binary numbers system.
• Binary is the language of computers.
How does a computer process
information?
• Everything you type, input, output, send, retrieve, draw and so on is,
in the end, converted to the computer’s native language: binary.
• The binary system uses only two symbols, 0 and 1, to represent
values.
Unit of Measurements: Storage
measurements
• The basic unit used in computer data storage is called a bit (binary
digit).
• A bit is the smallest unit of information held in a computer.
• Computers use these little bits, which are composed of ones and
zeros, to do things and talk to other computers.
• All your files, for instance, are kept in the computer as binary files and
translated into words and pictures by the software (which is also ones
and zeros).
Cont…
• For example, one code might define the letter A as ‘11000001’ and
the letter B as 11000010’.
• When the person entering data strikes the A key on the keyboard, the
computer registers it as ‘11000001’.
• In this way, the computer can store words and numbers as binary
digits and then retrieve them and convert them back into words or
numbers as required.
Cont…
• Computers work on a binary system, i.e. they process data in 1s or 0s. This 1 or 0 level
of storage is called a bit.
• Memory is divided into millions of units called bytes
• 4 bits =1 nibble
• 8 bits= 1 Byte (Each byte contains 8 bits)
• 1 byte =1 Character
• 1024 bytes = 1 Kilobyte (KB)
• 1024 kB = 1 Megabyte (MB)
• 1024 MB = 1 Gigabyte (GB)
• 1024 GB = 1 Terabyte (TB)
Converting numbers
In computers, the main numeral systems are based on the positional system
in base 2 (binary numeral system), with two binary digits, 0 and 1.

How to convert from Binary to Decimal:

It based on this series number which is multiplicative by 2.
Series is : 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 and so on.
• Next lecture we will continue