practical-1-to-indentify-basic-parts-of-computers
practical-1-to-indentify-basic-parts-of-computers
practical-1-to-indentify-basic-parts-of-computers
Objective:-
Computer
A computer is a device that accepts information (in the form of digitalized data) and
manipulates it for some result based on a program or sequence of instructions on how the data is
to be processed. Complex computers also include the means for storing data (including the
program, which is also a form of data) for some necessary duration. A program may be
invariable and built into the computer (and called logic circuitry as it is on microprocessors) or
different programs may be provided to the computer (loaded into its storage and then started by
an administrator or user). Today's computers have both kinds of programming.
A computer system consists of both hardware and information stored on hardware. Information
stored on computer hardware is often called software. The hardware components of a computer
system are the electronic and mechanical parts. The software components of a computer system
are the data and the computer programs.
Memory
The processor performs all the fundamental computation of the computer system. Other
components contribute to the computation by doing such things as storing data or moving data
into and out of the processor. But the processor is where the fundamental action takes place.
A processor chip has relatively little memory. It has only enough memory to hold a few
instructions of a program and the data they process. Complete programs and data sets are held
in memory external to the processor. This memory is of two fundamental types: main memory,
and secondary memory.
Main memory is sometimes called volatile because it looses its information when power is
removed. Secondary memory is usually nonvolatile because it retains its information when
power is removed.
Main memory:
Main memory is where programs and data are kept when the processor is actively using them.
When programs and data become active, they are copied from secondary memory into main
memory where the processor can interact with them. A copy remains in secondary memory.
Main memory is intimately connected to the processor, so moving instructions and data into and
out of the processor is very fast. Main memory is sometimes called RAM. RAM stands for
Random Access Memory. "Random" means that the memory cells can be accessed in any order.
When people say that a computer has "512 megabytes of RAM" they are talking about how big
its main memory is. One megabyte of memory is enough to hold approximately one million
(106) characters of a word processing document. (There will be more about bytes and megabytes
later on in these notes.)
• Closely connected to the processor.
• Stored data are quickly and easily changed.
• Holds the programs and data that the processor is actively working with.
• Interacts with the processor millions of times per second.
• Needs constant electric power to keep its information.
Secondary Memory:
Secondary memory is where programs and data are kept on a long-term basis. Common
secondary storage devices are the hard disk and optical disks.
A hard disk might have a storage capacity of 500 gigabytes (room for about 500 x 109
characters). This is about 100 times the capacity of main memory. A hard disk is slow compared
to main memory. If the disk were the only type of memory the computer system would slow
down to a crawl. The reason for having two types of storage is this difference in speed and
capacity.
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Microphone
• Bar code reader
• Graphics tablet
An output device is used to send data out of the system. Some output devices are:
• Monitor
• Printer
• Speaker
• Plotter
Software
Computer software consists of both programs and data. Programs consist of instructions for the
processor. Data can be any information that a program needs: character data, numerical data,
image data, audio data, and countless other types.
Fundamental Idea: Both programs and data are saved in computer memory in the same way.
The electronics of computer memory (both main memory and secondary memory) make no
distinction between programs and data.
Types of Programs:
There are two categories of programs. Application programs (usually called just “applications”)
are programs that people use to get their work done. Computers exist because people want to
run these programs. Systems programs keep the hardware and software running together
smoothly. The difference between “application program” and “system program” is fuzzy. Often
it is more a matter of marketing than of logic.
The most important systems program is the operating system. The operating system is always
present when a computer is running. It coordinates the operation of the other hardware and
software components of the computer system. The operating system is responsible for starting
up application programs, running them, and managing the resources that they need. When an
application program is running, the operating system manages the details of the hardware for it.
For example, when you type characters on the keyboard, the operating system determines which
application program they are intended for and does the work of getting them there.
Systems Programs:
• Operating system
• Networking system
• Programming language software
• Web site server
• Data backup
Application Programs:
• Word processors
• Game programs
• Spreadsheets
• Data base systems
• Graphics programs
• Web browsers
Operating Systems:
An operating system is a complex program that keeps the hardware and software components of
a computer system coordinated and functioning. It is like the owner of a small shop, who keeps
everything in order by attending to customers, accepting deliveries, stocking the shelves, doing
the bookkeeping, and so on. The shopkeeper must promptly attend to tasks as they arise.
Without the shopkeeper the shop could not function.
Most computer systems can potentially run any of several operating systems. For example, most
Pentium-based computers can run either Linux or Windows operating systems. Usually only
one operating system is installed on a computer system, although some computers have several.
In any case, only one operating system at a time can be in control of the computer system. The
computer user makes a choice when the computer is turned on, and that operating system
remains in control until the computer is turned off.
Assessment Scheme: