The

Computer
 The computer has become an indispensable tool in the
world of work and play.

BASIC USES

The Computer Organizations depend on them for communication,

Document preparation,

Record keeping, and a host of other tasks.

Whether at school, home or the
library, students use laptops,
netbooks and tablets to access Computers are also leisure activities
interactive content online, play
educational games and conduct
widely used for such as reading,
research.

playing games,
watching
movies
Smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops.
So what is a Computer

A COMPUTER IS AN A HOMEOWNER DIRECTS HIS WEB A STUDENT STUDYING IN

BROWSER TO HIS HOME SECURITY SCOTLAND USES HER
ELECTRONIC MACHINE OR PROVIDER’S WEBSITE AND MAKES
DEVICE CAPABLE OF CHANGES TO THE SETTINGS OF HIS
MAGICJACK PHONE SERVICE
TO CALL HER RELATIVES IN
EXECUTING INSTRUCTIONS HOME SECURITY SYSTEM WHILST
THE CARIBBEAN.
TRAVELLING OVERSEAS.
ON DATA.
Computer
A PARENT RECEIVES AN SMS (TEXT)
MESSAGE FROM HER CHILD’S SCHOOL
ADVISING THAT THE CHILD’S EASTER
TERM REPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR
VIEWING ONLINE.
ONE SMARTPHONE USER SENDS A AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
WHATSAPP MESSAGE TO THREE OF TRAVELLER GETS A TEXT MESSAGE
FROM THE CAR RENTAL COMPANY THE
HER FRIENDS TO CONFIRM THE MINUTE HE STEPS OFF THE AIRPLANE
DETAILS OF THEIR MOVIE DATE. TO ADVISE HIM OF THE LOCATION OF
HIS ASSIGNED CAR.
Computer system

 A computer system – is is a complete computer installation including hardware,

software, users, procedure and data.
8 categories of
computers
 Personal computers

 Mobile computers
 Mobile devices

 Game consoles
 Servers

 Mainframe computer
 Super computers

 Embedded computers
 The category it best fits into may be determined
by the computer’s size, processing power or level
of portability.
Advantages of computer usage
SPEED – COMPUTERS ARE REMARKABLY QUICKER
WHEN TYPING AND EDITING DOCUMENTS DUE TO
THEIR AMAZING PROCESSING SPEED AND EDITING
TOOLS. YOU CAN EDIT A DOCUMENT FASTER ON A
COMPUTER COMPARED TO THAT OF RE WRITING IT
BY HAND ON ANOTHER PAPER
ACCURACY –WORD PROCESSING SOFTWARE HAS
IMPROVED THE ACCURACY OF THE DOCUMENTS WE
PRODUCE. BUSINESSES WOULD BE EMBARRASSED BY
AN ERROR WITHIN THEIR PUBLISHED INFORMATION.
THEY CAN MAKE USE OF SOFTWARE TO REDUCE THESE
ERRORS.
Cont’d

 Storage – computers presents a larger and more efficient way to store your data.
It eliminates the headaches of filing cabinets and lost for data due to damaged
paper.
 Reliability – You need to contact your friend to ask a question about homework,
but their e-mail address is written in your diary and is still at home. You can log in
and access this information through your online e-mail account. You have a
webmail account so you know you can access this information anywhere.
Disadvantages of computer usage
Security and integrity- This is because of the
digital nature of the data stored and the ease with
which data may be transferred from one computer
system to the next.
Cost- The initial cost of setting up a computer system with all
the required components is high. There are also costs
associated with operating a computer system such as
electricity, consumables (paper and ink) and any necessary
repairs.
Components of a
computer system
Components

 There are four major hardware components that makes up a computer system
which are all held together in a box like case.
 These components are:
 CPU
 Main Memory
 Secondary Storage
 Input and output Devices
 Is the brain of the computer.

Central
processing Consists of the control unit and ALU.

unit (CPU)
Interprets and carries out the basic instructions
aka the that operate a computer.

Processor
Referred to as microprocessor in mobile
devices because of it’s size.
CPU
 Fetches instructions and data from
main memory.

Decodes instructions fetched from

Control Unit main memory.

Directs and coordinates the

operations of the ALU.
Arithmetic Logic Unit

Performs arithmetic operations, for example, Performs comparison operations, for example checks
division, multiplication, addition and subtraction. whether one data item is bigger, smaller or equal to a
second item.
Input/output (I/O) devices

Data originates in many forms (text, pictures and sounds) but can only be
processed and stored in a form that makes sense to a digital computer.

Input devices such as keyboards, microphones and scanners are hardware

components that accept data for processing.

Output devices such as speakers and printers provide users with the
information produced by a computer system.
Understanding computer specifications.
CPU type and speed:
 IntelR PentiumR Dual Core T4200 (2.0 GHz/800 MHz FSB/1 MB cache)
 IntelR – Manufacturer
 PentiumR – CPU type
 Dual Core – CPU has two processors on one microchip
 T4200 – CPU model number
Understanding computer specifications.
CPU speed and type: (cont’d)

 IntelR PentiumR Dual Core T4200 (2.0 GHz/800 MHz FSB/1 MB cache)
 2.0 GHz – clock speed of processor (2,048 GHz)
 800 MHz – speed or frequency at which the data on the motherboard moves;
determines how fast the memory and CPU run
 1 MB cache – very fast on-processor memory; improves performance of CPU as
it interfaces with memory (that, at a speed of 800 MHz, is 2. times slower than the
processor)
 2 GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800 MHz

Understanding
2 GB – memory capacity
computer
specifications. Shared – video/display system uses some of this memory
Memory
capacity, type Dual Channel DDR2 – memory type

and speed:
800 MHz – memory speed
 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)

Understanding
500 GB – hard drive capacity
computer
specifications.
Hard drive SATA – device interface

capacity, speed:
5400 RPM – speed at which the disk platters rotate; the
bigger the number the faster the access time
 A computer may be either general-purpose or special-
purpose.

All general-purpose computers usually comprise four

Let’s Review major components: CPU, main memory, secondary storage
and input/output devices.

Computer systems carry out four major functions: input,

processing, output and storage.
 The central processing unit (CPU) interprets and carries out
the basic instructions that operate a computer; it contains a
control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), both of which
work together to perform processing.

The control unit directs and coordinates the operations in

Let’s Review the computer; the ALU performs arithmetic, comparison
and other operations.

Computers operate on the machine (fetch–execute) cycle.

They fetch the instructions of a program and execute each
instruction in turn.
 Main memory stores data being processed by the CPU, data
being retrieved from secondary storage and data being
transferred in and out of the computer via I/O devices.

Secondary storage holds data, instructions and information

Let’s Review that are not currently being processed by the CPU.

Input devices facilitate the entry of data and instructions

whereas output devices produce the results of processing.
END