UNIT-3

COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
AND APPLICATIONS
3.1 COMPUTER- INTRODUCTION
"Computer is an electronic device which is capable of receiving
information (data) in a particular form and of performing a sequence of
operations in accordance with a predetermined but variable set of
procedural instructions (program) to produce a result in the form of
information or signals".
"A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information,
or "data." It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You can
use a computer to type documents, send emnail, and browse the internet.
You can also use it to handle spreadsheets, accounting, database
management, presentations, games, and more
A computer is a programmable machine designed to perform
arithmetic and logical operations automatically and sequentially on the
input givern by the user and gives the desired output after processing.
Conputer components are divided into two major categories namely
hardware and software. Hardware is the machine itself and its connected
devices such as monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. Software are the set of
programs that make use of hardware for performing various functions.
Charles Babbage is called the "Father" of the computer. The First
mechanical computer designed by Charles Babbage was called Analytical
Engine. It uses read-only memory in the form of punch cards.
Four Functions about computer are:
|accepts data Input
processes data Processing/Mill
produces output Output
stores results Storage
 cOMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIC
1. Input (Data):
Input is the raw information entered into a computer from the in
devices. It is the collection of letters, numbers, images ctc.
2. Process:
Process is the operation of data as per given instruction. It is total.
internal process of the computer system.
3. Output:
Output is the processed data given by computer after data processinp
Output is also called as Result. We can save these results in the stora
devices for the future use.
3.1.1CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS
Much of the world runs on computers and computers profoundi
changed human life mostly for better.
Characteristics of computer are:
1. Speed:
A computer is a very fast device. It can carry out instructions at a
very high speed obediently, uncritically and without exhibiting any
emotions. It can perform in a few seconds the amount of work that a
human being can do in an entire year - if he work day and night and is
nothing else. Apowerful computer is capable of performing about 34
million simple instructions per second.
Some calculátion that would have taken hours and days to complete
otherwise, can be completed in a few seconds using the computer. The
speed of computer is calculated in MHz, that is one million instructions
per second.
2.
Accuracy:
Accuracy of a computer is consistently high and the degree of
accuracy of a particular computer depends on the instructions and th
type of processor. But for a particular computer, each and every
calculation is performed. For example, the computer accurately give the
result of division of any number up to 10 decimal points.
3. Versatility:
Versatility is one of the most wonderful things about conputer. Mult
processing features of computer makes it quiet versatile in nature. On
moment, it is preparing the results of particular examination, the ne
moment it is busy preparing electricity bills, and in between it may
helping an office secretary to trace an important letter in seconds.
 LEARNING
ICT FOR ENRICHING TEACHING AND is
It can perform different types of tasks with same case. AIl that
it. Briefly, a
reguired to change its talent is to slip in a new program into
any task provided that the
computer is capable of performing almoststeps.
ask can be reduced to a series of logical
4. Rellability:
Computer provide very high speed accompanied by an equality high
own
mistakes of their
level for reliability. Thus computers never make
accord.
5. Power of Remembering:
A computer can store and recall any amount
of information because
information can be
of its secondary storage capability. Every piece ofrecalled information
retain as long as desired by the user and it can be information recalled
almost instantaneously. Even after several years, the
computer.
will be as accurate as on the day when it was fed to the
6. Common Data Used:
One itern can be involved in several different procedures or accessed,
can hinder the
update and inspected by a number of different users. This
work of those who need access to data. As the time is changing, more and
can perform but in
more facilities are beinig added to the computers theyoperations.
practical life many tasks are limited to these basic
1. Diligence
traits of
The computer is a machine, does not suffer from the human
continuously
tiredness. Nor does it loses concentration even after working
for a long time.
This characteristics is especially useful for those jobs where same
lasks is done again and again. It can perform long and complex
end.
calculations with same speed and accuracy from the start till the
8. Storage
which can store a
The computers have a lot of a storage devices
Cemendous amount of data., Data storage is essential function of the
a large amount
mputer. Second storage devices like floppy disk can store
of data permanently.
Oor 1 IBit
4 Bits INibble (or) Nano Byle
2 Nibbles (or) 8 Bits IByte
 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICAlI.
96) IKB (Kilo Byte)
1024 Bytes
IMB (Mcga Byte)
1024 KB
1GB (Gige Byte)
1024 MB
1TB (Tera
1024 GB Byte)
IHB (Hexa
J024 TB Byte)
I024 HB 1PB (Peta
Byte)
1024 PB
1ZB (Zeta Byte)
3.1.2 APPLICATION OF
Computers have proliferated into variousCOMPUTERS
user, computer is a tool that areas of our lives. For a
needed. You may use computer provides the desired information, whenever
to get information about
of tickets (railways, the
airplanes and cinema halls), books inreservation
a library,
medical history of a person, a place in a map, or the
of a word. The
information may be presented to you dictionary meaning
in the form of text,
images, video clips, etc.
Education Computers are extensively used, as a tool and as an
for imparting education. Educators use aid
presentations of their lectures. Computerscomputers prepare notes and
based training packages, to provide distanceare used to develop computer
software, and to conduct online examinations.education usingusethe e-learming
to get easy access to
conference and journal
Researchers computers
access to the research material. details and to get global

The uses of computer provide a tool in the

as CBE (Computer Based Education system known
Education).
CBE invoves Control, Delivery and
The computer eucation is very Evaluation of learning.
graph of computer students. familiar and rapidly increasing the
There are number of methods in
use which educational institutions can
computer educate the students.
to
t is used for
prepare a
analyses are carried out. database about student performance and
 CTFOR ENNCHINGTEACHING AND LEARNING
1. Entertaiament:
Computers have a major impact on the cntertainment industry. The
user can download and view movics, play games, chat, book tickets for
cinema halls, use multimedia for making movies, incorporate visual and
sOund effects using computers, etc. The users can also listen to music,
download and share music, create music using computers,etc.
2. Sports:
Acomputer can be used to watch agarme, view the scores, improve
the game, play games (like chess, etc.) and create games. They are also
Lsed for the purposes of training players.
3. Advertistng
Computer is a powerful advertising media. Advertisement can be
displayed on different websites, electronic-mails can be sent and reviews
of a product by different custormers can be posted. Computers are also
LSed to create an advertisement using the visual and the sound effects.
For the advertisers, cormputer is a medium via which the advertisements
can be viewed globally. Web advertising has become a significant factor
in the marketing plans of almost all companies. fact, the business
model of Google is mainly dependent on web advertising for generating
revenues.

4. Medicine:
Medical researchers and practitioners use computers to access
information about the advances in medical research or to take opinion of
doctors globaly. The medical history of patients is stored in the computers.
Computers are also an integral part of various kinds of sophisticated
medical equipments like ultrasound machine, CAT scan machine, MRI
Scan machine, etc. Computers also provide assistance to the medical
surgeons during critical surgery operations like laparoscopic operations,

5. Sclence and Engineering:

Scientists and engineers use computers for performing complex
scientific calculations, for designing and making drawings (CADICAM
applications) and also for simulating and testing the designs. Computers
are used for storing the complex data, performing complex calculations
and for visualizing 3-dimensional objects. Cornplex sciçnsific applicatins
e the launch of the rockets, space exploration, et:e not posibk
without the computers.
 APPUCAL
COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND
(98 Governaent:
own
to manage its
6
The government
uses computers
websites of the different
operationS
governme
a
e-governance. The Computers are e
also for information to the users.
departments provide taxes, online submission of
the filing of income
tax return,paying
record details, etc. Thee wate,
bills, for the access of land polic:
and clectricity to search for criminals using fingerpri
department uses computers
matching, etc.
7. Home:
become an integral part of home eguinme
Computers have now manta in the bonm
people use computers to play games, to
At home, friends and relatives via Internet.
accounts, for communicating with
bills, for education and learning, etc. Microprocessors are
paying washing machines, TVs, foo
embedded in house hold utilities like,
devices, etc.
processors, home theatres, security
8. Military:
Modern tanks, missiles
Computers are largely used in defense.
systems. Some military areas
weapons, etc., employ computerized control
where a computer has been used are:
Missile Control
" Military Communication
" Military operation and planning
" Smart Weapons
9. Banking:
Today Banking is almost totally dependent on computer.
Banks provide following facilities:
" Banks on-line accounting facility, which includes current balances,
deposits, overdrafts, interest charges, shares and trustee records.
ATM machines are making it even casier for customers to deal with
banks.
10. Business:
The computer's characteristic as high speed of calculation,diligence.
uracy, reliability. or versatility has made it an integrated part in all
usir: ss orgau: ations.
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99
Computer is used In business organisation for:
" Payroll Calculations
" Budgeting
" Sales Analysis
" Financial forecasting
" Managing employees database
e Maintenance of stocks, etc.
1. Communication:
Communication means to convey a message, an idea, a picture or
neech that is received and understood clearly and correctly by the person
or whom it is meant. Some main arcas in this category are:
E-mail
" Chatting
Usenet
FTP
Telnet
" Video-conferencing
Dissdvantages of computers :
Computer is highly dependent on the quality of input data fed to it.
Though computers are very fast in tasks that are pre-programmed,
it lake the ability of human brain to detect and correct errors that it
is not specifically programmed to do.
The task of programming a computer for a computer application is
very costly and time consuming. This reduces the utility of computers
for applications that are non-repetitive.
Computer systems are rather rigid. Once a computers system is
designed and programmed, aking even minor corrections or
improvenents can be quite csuy and time consuming. For this reason
a great care is required in dsign and development of computer
systems.
Computers require use of sophisticated equipment and support
maths using
Tacilities. For example, a person solving a problem of
with him or her anywhere with
Just a pen and paper can carry these
solved using a computer,
ease. However if the same problem is to besuitable
need access to a computer, it will
eperson will not only
 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS
software andisuitablee
100 the required
to have
also be noccessarycomputer.
clectri
power to run the cquipments is falling steadi.
and associated
The cost of computer continue to be much more costy
Still these equipments are and
processing equipments like pen and pencil. Al
compared to manual equipment makes it more difeu
these
tochnological complexity ofequipments as compared to equipment
to learn and maintain these
of manual information processing. infrastructure, such as poue
computers require additional
Use of
supply and software back up. Thisincreases the chances of probleme
a computer will not
due to failure of infrastructure. For example, a laptop with a
work where there is no electric power supply. Even limited period.
a
for
battery will work without power supply only
and dificult to
Failures of computer system can be more serious
the
correct. For example, one scratch on a hard disk can make
complete data on the disk inaccessible. In comparison, manual system
faults have comparatively limited impact. One page torn from a
cabinet full of documents has no impact on other documents.
Computers generally reduces the errors of processing. However if
there is an error in input data, it can result in major blunders in the
processing which the computer systen is unable to detect. In manual
systems, the chances of such blunders passing undetected and
corrected is much less.
3.1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows,
though there is considerable overlap:
I. Digital Computers
II. Analog Computers
III. Hybrid Computers
IV. Mainframe Computers
V. Super Computers
1. Personal or Digital
on a microprocessor. Incomputers: small, single-user computer based
A
addition to the microprocessor, a personal
computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor
information, and a storage device for saving data. for displaying
ICI FORENRICHING TEACHING AND LEARNING
Personal computers frst appeared in the late 1970s. One of the
ist and most popular personal computers was the Apple I, introduced
977 by Apple Computer. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, new
es and competing operating systens seemed to appear daily. Then,
1081, IBM entered the fray with its first personal computer, known as
TRM PC. The TBM PC quickly became the personal computer of
choice, and most other personal computer manufacturers fell by the
eide One of the few companies to survive IBM's onslaught was
Annle Computer, which remains amajor player in the personal computer
marketplace.
L. Digital Computers:
Digital Computer is capable of receiving information in a particular
form and performing sequence of operations in accordance with a
nredetermined but variable set of procedural instructions to produce a
reSult in the form of information or signal that means digits "0' or 1':
II. Analog Computers:
Analog Computers are mostly used for measuring frequently
changing physical qualities like temperature, pressure, speed etc. These
computers generally receive analog data as their input from mechanical
divices and calibrate the results.
Ex: Temperature, heat
Analog Computers are mostiy used in engineering and scientific
fields.
III. Hybrid Computers:
Hybrid Computers are combination of analog and digital computers.
They have the characteristics of both Computers. These are useful where
calculations are to be performed on arlogous data and results are to be
reported in numerical or digital form.
These computers are mostly used in Hospitals and Medical field.
Ex: ECG Machines, Blood Pressure measuring Instruments
IV. Mainframe Computers:
A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many
hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
Avery large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds.,
or even thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts
Wth a simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom
102 cOMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICAliIOM
and moves to supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just bel
supercomputers. In some ways, mainframes are more powerful th
Supercomputers because they support more simullaneous programs. R
supercomputers can execute a single program faster than a mainírar
The distinction between small mainframes and minicomputers is vague
depending really on how the manufacturcr wants to market its machin
V. Super Computer:
An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of million,
of instructions per secand.
The fastest type of computer. Supercomputers are very expensive
and are employed for specialized applications that require immens
amounts of mathematical calculations. For example, weather forccasting
requires asupercomputer. Other uses ofsupercomputers include animatet
graphics, luid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and
petroleum exploration.
The chief difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is
that asupercomputer channels all its power into executing afew prograrms
as fast as possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many
programs concurrently.
3,2 COMPONENTS OF COMPUTERS
3.2.1 HARDWARE OF COMPUTERS
Hurdware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure,
such as the computer monitor or keyboard.
Hardware is the collection of physical elements that constitutes a
computer system. Computer hardware refers to the physical parts or
components of a computer Such as monitor, mouse and Keyboard,
computer datastorage, hard drive disk (HDD). systen unit (graphic cards,
sound cards, memorv, motherboard and chips), ctc.
Firmware:
Firmware is loaded from the Read only memory (ROM) run from
the Basic Input-Output System (BIOS). It is a computer program that is
embedded in a hardware device, for example a microcontroller. As it
name suggests, firmware is somewhere between hardware and software.
Like software, it is a computer program which is executed by
microprocessor or a icrocontroller. But it is also tightly linked to a
piece of hardware, and has little meaning outside of it. Most devices
attached to modern systems are special-purpose compulers in their own