Computer Basics

Overview on Computers

Being a modern-day kid you must have used, seen, or read about computers. This is
because they are an integral part of our everyday existence. Be it school, banks, shops,
railway stations, hospital or your own home, computers are present everywhere, making our
work easier and faster for us. As they are such integral parts of our lives, we must know what
they are and how they function.

A computer can be defined literally as a device that can calculate. However, modern
computers can do a lot more than calculate. A computer is a piece of equipment that can
be programmed (instructed) to perform certain functions. 

To be classified as a computer, a piece of equipment must perform the basic

operations: input; process; output; and store. Computer input is called data and the
output obtained after processing it, based on user’s instructions is called information. Raw
facts and figures which can be processed using arithmetic and logical operations to obtain
information are called data. 

The processes that can be applied to data are of two types:

Ø  Arithmetic operations − Examples include calculations like addition, subtraction,

differentials, square root, etc.

Ø  Logical operations − Examples include comparison operations like greater than, less
than, equal to, opposite, etc.

Characteristics of Computer

To understand why computers are such an important part of our lives, let us look at some of
its characteristics:

 Speed − Typically, a computer can carry out 3-4 million instructions per second.
 Accuracy − Computers exhibit a very high degree of accuracy. Errors that may occur
are usually due to inaccurate data, wrong instructions or bug in chips – all human
errors.
 Reliability − Computers can carry out same type of work repeatedly without
throwing up errors due to tiredness or boredom, which are very common among
humans.
 Versatility − Computers can carry out a wide range of work from data entry and
ticket booking to complex mathematical calculations and continuous astronomical
 observations. If you can input the necessary data with correct instructions, computer
will do the processing.

Storage Capacity − Computers can store a very large amount of data at a fraction of
cost of traditional storage of files. Also, data is safe from normal wear and tear
associated with paper.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Computer

Advantages of Using Computer

Now that we know the characteristics of computers, we can see the advantages that
computers offer.

 Computers can do the same task repetitively with the same accuracy.
 Computers do not get tired or bored.
 Computers can take up routine tasks while releasing human resource for more
intelligent functions.

Disadvantages of Using Computer

Despite so many advantages, computers have some disadvantages of their own.

 Computers have no intelligence; they follow the instructions blindly without

considering the outcome.
 Regular electric supply is necessary to make computers work, which could prove
difficult everywhere especially in developing nations.

Types of Computer

When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such as
a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and they
perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM,
scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.

All modern computers and computing devices use microprocessors whose speeds and
storage capacities are skyrocketing day by day. The developmental benchmark for
computers is now their size. Computers are now classified on the basis of their use or size.
Based on Purpose

Most computers in use today are General-Purpose computers — those built for a great
variety of processing jobs. Simply by using a general purpose computer and different
software, various tasks can be accomplished, including writing and editing (word
processing), manipulating facts in a data base, tracking manufacturing inventory, making
scientific calculations, or even controlling organization’s security system, electricity
consumption, and building temperature. General purpose computers are designed to
perform a wide variety of functions and operations. You will probably use this type of
computer reading this article and I am using a general purpose computer typing this article
in some software (MS Word). A general purpose computer is able to perform a wide variety
of operations because it can store and execute different programs in its internal storage.
Unfortunately, having this ability is often achieved at the expense of speed and efficiency. In
most situations, however, you will find that having this flexibility makes this compromise a
most acceptable one.

As the name states, a Special-Purpose Computer are designed to be task specific and most
of the times their job is to solve one particular problem. They are also known as dedicated
computers, because they are dedicated to perform a single task over and over again. Such a
computer system would be useful in playing graphic intensive Video Games, traffic lights
control system, navigational system in an aircraft, weather forecasting, satellite launch /
tracking, oil exploration, and in automotive industries, keeping time in a digital watch, or
Robot helicopter. While a special purpose computer may have many of the same features
found in a general purpose computer, its applicability to a particular problem is a function
of its design rather than to a stored program. The instructions that control it are built
directly into the computer, which makes for a more efficient and effective operation. They
perform only one function and therefore cut down on the amount of memory needed and
also the amount of information which can be input into them. As these computers have to
perform only one task, therefore, they are fast in processing. A drawback of this
specialization, however, is the computer’s lack of versatility. It cannot be used to perform
other operations.

Many of today's electronics are basically special-purpose computers, though we don't

always think of them that way. Here are a few common examples.

 Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers can do, including
browsing the Internet and playing games. They are often called smartphones.
 Wearables: Wearable technology is a general term for a group of devices—
including fitness trackers and smartwatches—that are designed to be worn
throughout the day. These devices are often called wearables for short.
 Game consoles: A game console is a specialized type of computer that is used for
playing video games on your TV.
  TVs: Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that let you access various
types of online content. For example, you can stream video from the Internet directly
onto your TV. 

Based on Size and Power

Desktop computers are personal computers (PCs) designed for use by an individual at a

fixed location. IBM was the first computer to introduce and popularize use of desktops. A
desktop unit typically has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Introduction of desktops popularized use of computers among common people as it was
compact and affordable.

Riding on the wave of desktop’s popularity many software and hardware devices were
developed specially for the home or office user. The foremost design consideration here
was user friendliness.

Despite its huge popularity, desktops gave way to a more compact and portable personal
computer called laptop in 2000s. Laptops are also called notebook computers or
simply notebooks. Laptops run using batteries and connect to networks using Wi-Fi
(Wireless Fidelity) chips. They also have chips for energy efficiency so that they can conserve
power whenever possible and have a longer life.

Modern laptops have enough processing power and storage capacity to be used for all
office work, website designing, software development and even audio/video editing.

After laptops computers were further miniaturized to develop machines that have
processing power of a desktop but are small enough to be held in one’s palm. Tablets have
touch sensitive screen of typically 5 to 10 inches where one finger is used to touch icons
and invoke applications. 

Keyboard is also displayed virtually whenever required and used with touch strokes.
Applications that run on tablets are called apps. They use operating systems by Microsoft
(Windows 8 and later versions) or Google (Android). Apple computers have developed their
own tablet called iPad which uses a proprietary OS called iOS. 

A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network. For

example, whenever you use the Internet, you're looking at something that's stored on a
server. Servers are computers with high processing speeds that provide one or more
services to other systems on the network. They may or may not have screens attached to
them. A group of computers or digital devices connected together to share resources is
called a network. Many businesses also use local file servers to store and share files
internally.
Servers have high processing powers and can handle multiple requests simultaneously.
Most commonly found servers on networks include:

 File or storage server

 Game server
 Application server
 Database server
 Mail server
 Print server

A mainframe computer is a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many

hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. However they are not as powerful as
supercomputers, but certainly they are quite expensive nonetheless, and many large firms &
government organizations uses Mainframes to run their business operations. Mainframes
can also process & store large amount of data. Mainframes are computers used by
organizations like banks, airlines and railways to handle millions and trillions of online
transactions per second. Important features of mainframes are: 

 Big in size
 Hundreds of times Faster than servers, typically hundred megabytes per second
 Very expensive
 Use proprietary OS provided by the manufacturers
 In-built hardware, software, and firmware security features

Supercomputers are the fastest computers on Earth. They are used for carrying out
complex, fast and time intensive calculations for scientific and engineering applications.
Supercomputer speed or performance is measured in teraflops, i.e. 1012 floating point
operations per second.

Chinese supercomputer Sunway TaihuLight is the world’s fastest supercomputer with a

rating of 93 petaflops per second, i.e. 93 quadrillion floating point operations per second.

Most common uses of supercomputers include:

 Molecular mapping and research

 Weather forecasting
 Environmental research
 Oil and gas exploration
Basic Parts of a Computer

The basic parts of a computer are categorized as follows:

 Input Unit − Devices like keyboard and mouse that are used to input data and
instructions to the computer are called input unit.
 Output Unit − Devices like printer 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 suggests, this unit controls all the functions of the
computer. All devices or parts of computer interact through the control unit.
 Arithmetic Logic Unit − This is the brain of the computer where all arithmetic
operations and logical operations take place.
 Memory − All input data, instructions and data interim to the processes are stored in
the memory. Memory is of two types – primary memory and secondary memory.
Primary memory resides within the CPU whereas secondary memory is external to it. 

Control unit, arithmetic logic unit and memory are together called the central processing
unit or CPU. 

The basic parts of a desktop computer are the system unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse,

and power supply. Each part plays an important role whenever you use a computer.

 The system unit or most commonly known as computer case is the metal and plastic box
that contains the main components of the computer, including the motherboard, central
processing unit (CPU), and power supply. The front of the case usually has an On/Off
button and one or more optical drives.

 Computer cases come in different shapes and sizes. A desktop case lies flat on a desk, and
the monitor usually sits on top of it. A tower case is tall and sits next to the monitor or on
the floor. All-in-one computers come with the internal components built into the monitor,
which eliminates the need for a separate case. 

The monitor works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to display images
and text on the screen. Most monitors have control buttons that allow you to change your
monitor's display settings, and some monitors also have built-in speakers.

Newer monitors usually have LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-emitting diode)

displays. These can be made very thin, and they are often called flat-panel displays. Older
monitors use CRT (cathode ray tube) displays. CRT monitors are much larger and heavier,
and they take up more desk space.
The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with a computer. There are many
different types of keyboards, but most are very similar and allow you to accomplish the
same basic tasks.

The mouse is another important tool for communicating with computers. Commonly known
as a pointing device, it lets you point to objects on the screen, click on them,
and move the 

There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical. The optical mouse uses an
electronic eye to detect movement and is easier to clean. The mechanical mouse uses a
rolling ball to detect movement and requires regular cleaning to work properly.

There are other devices that can do the same thing as a mouse. Many people find them
easier to use, and they also require less desk space than a traditional mouse.

The most common mouse alternatives are below.

 Trackball: A trackball has a ball that can rotate freely. Instead of moving the device
like a mouse, you can roll the ball with your thumb to move the pointer.
 Touchpad: A touchpad—also called a trackpad—is a touch-sensitive pad that lets
you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your finger. Touchpads are
common on laptop computers.

Computer Peripherals

The most basic computer setup usually includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard,

and mouse, but you can plug many different types of devices into the extra ports on your
computer. These devices are called peripherals. Let's take a look at some of the most
common ones.

 Printers: A printer is used to print documents, photos, and anything else that

appears on your screen. There are many types of printers, including inkjet, laser,
and thermal printers. There are even all-in-one printers, which can also scan and
copy documents.
 Scanners: A scanner allows you to copy a physical image or document and save it
to your computer as a digital (computer-readable) image. Many scanners are
included as part of an all-in-one printer, although you can also buy a
separate flatbed or handheld scanner.
 Speakers/headphones: Speakers and headphones are output devices, which
means they send information from the computer to the user—in this case, they allow
you to hear sound and music. Depending on the model, they may connect to
the audio port or the USB port. Some monitors also have built-in speakers.
 Microphones: A microphone is a type of input device, or a device that receives
information from a user. You can connect a microphone to record sound or talk
with someone else over the Internet. Many laptop computers come with built-in
microphones.
 Web cameras: A web camera—or webcam—is a type of input device that can
record videos and take pictures. It can also transmit video over the Internet in real
time, which allows for video chat or video conferencing with someone else. Many
webcams also include a microphone for this reason.
 Game controllers and joysticks: A game controller is used to control computer
games. There are many other types of controllers you can use, including joysticks,
although you can also use your mouse and keyboard to control most games. 
 Digital cameras: A digital camera lets you capture pictures and videos in a digital
format. By connecting the camera to your computer's USB port, you can transfer the
images from the camera to the computer.
 Mobile phones, MP3 players, tablet computers, and other devices: Whenever
you buy an electronic device, such as a mobile phone or MP3 player, check to see if it
comes with a USB cable. If it does, this means you can most likely connect it to your
computer.

Inside the System Unit

Have you ever looked inside a computer case, or seen pictures of the inside of one?
The small parts may look complicated, but the inside of a computer case isn't really all
that mysterious.

The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the
CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to
control the video and audio, and connections to your computer's ports (such as USB
ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer.

The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside

the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of the
computer, and its job is to carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click the
mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to the CPU.

The CPU is usually a two-inch ceramic square with a silicon chip located inside. The
chip is usually about the size of a thumbnail. The CPU fits into the motherboard's CPU
socket, which is covered by the heat sink, an object that absorbs heat from the CPU.

A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), or millions of instructions per

second; and gigahertz (GHz), or billions of instructions per second. A faster processor
can execute instructions more quickly. However, the actual speed of the computer
depends on the speed of many different components—not just the processor.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your

computer performs calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is
needed.

This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off. If you're working

on a document, spreadsheet, or other types of file, you'll need to save it to avoid losing
it. When you save a file, the data is written to the hard drive, which acts as long-term
storage. 

RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). The more RAM you have, the
more things your computer can do at the same time. If you don't have enough RAM,
you may notice that your computer is sluggish when you have several programs open.
Because of this, many people add extra RAM to their computers to improve
performance.

The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are stored. The hard
drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still saved even if you turn the
computer off or unplug it. 

When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some of the data from
the hard drive onto the RAM. When you save a file, the data is copied back to the hard
drive. The faster the hard drive, the faster your computer can start up and load
programs. 

The power supply unit in a computer converts the power from the wall outlet to the

type of power needed by the computer. It sends power through cables to the
motherboard and other components.

 If you decide to open the computer case and take a look, make sure to unplug the
computer first. Before touching the inside of the computer, you should touch a
grounded metal object—or a metal part of the computer casing—to discharge any static
buildup. Static electricity can be transmitted through the computer circuits, which can
seriously damage your machine. 

Most computers have expansion slots on the motherboard that allow you to add
various types of expansion cards. These are sometimes called PCI (peripheral
component interconnect) cards. You may never need to add any PCI cards because
most motherboards have built-in video, sound, network, and other capabilities.
However, if you want to boost the performance of your computer or update the
capabilities of an older computer, you can always add one or more cards. Below are
some of the most common types of expansion cards. 

The video card is responsible for what you see on the monitor. Most computers have
a GPU (graphics processing unit) built into the motherboard instead of having a
separate video card. If you like playing graphics-intensive games, you can add a faster
video card to one of the expansion slots to get better performance.

The sound card—also called an audio card—is responsible for what you hear in the
speakers or headphones. Most motherboards have integrated sound, but you can
upgrade to a dedicated sound card for higher-quality sound. 

The network card allows your computer to communicate over a network and access the
Internet. It can either connect with an Ethernet cable or through a wireless connection
(often called Wi-Fi). Many motherboards have built-in network connections, and a
network card can also be added to an expansion slot. 

Bluetooth is a technology for wireless communication over short distances. It's often
used in computers to communicate with wireless keyboards, mice, and printers. It's
commonly built into the motherboard or included in a wireless network card. For
computers that don't have Bluetooth, you can purchase a USB adapter, often called
a dongle. 

Computer devices like keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. that we can see and touch are
the hardware components of a computer. The set of instructions or programs that make
the computer function using these hardware parts are called software. We cannot see
or touch software. Both hardware and software are necessary for working of a computer.
Computer Basics
Guide Questions

1. What is a computer?
2. What are the basic operations of computers?
3. What are the two types of computer based on purpose?
4. What are the types of computer based on size and power?
5. What are the categories of the basic parts of a computer?

Answers to Guide Questions

1. A computer is a piece of equipment that can be programmed to perform certain

functions
2. input; process; output; and store
3. General-purpose and special-purpose computer
4. Desktop, Laptop, Server, Mainframe, and Supercomputer
5. Input unit, Output unit, Control Unit, Arithmetic Logic Unit, and Memory

Learning Activity
Create a mind-map showing what you have learned about Computer Basics. Group work
with a maximum member of 4 students.