1.

1 Computer Systems : Overview

Computer is an electronic device that receives
input, stores or processes the data and provides
output in desired format
Basic parts of computer
The basic parts of computer are :
1. Input Unit : Devices used to input data and instructions
2. CPU (Central Processing Unit ):
i) ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): Performs Arithmetic & logical
operations
ii) Memory Unit : Stores Programs, Data and instructions
iii) Control Unit : It controls all the parts of the computer
3. Output Unit: Devices used to provide information to the user in
desired format
Block Diagram of the Computer System:
Advantages of Computer
1. High Speed: Typically a computer can carry out 3-4 million
instructions per second
2. Accuracy: Computers exhibit a very high degree of accuracy. Errors
that may occur are usually due to human errors.
3. Storage Capacity : Computers can store a very large amount of data
at a fraction of cost of traditional storage of files.
4. Reliability: Computers can carry out same type of work repeatedly
without throwing up errors due to tiredness or boredom
5. Versatility: Computers can carry out a wide range of work
6. Cost Effectiveness: It reduces the paper work and human effort,
thereby reducing cost.
Disadvantages of using Computer
• Computers have no intelligence
• Regular electric supply is necessary to make computers work
• Trained people required to work on computers
Applications of Computers:
Computers have made their presence in almost every walk of life today
like:
• Business
• Commercial Organizations
• Education
• Health Care
• Military
• Government
• Research, etc.
1.2 Computer Generations: (History)
1.3 Types of Computers
Computers are broadly classified in 4 different types based on their
Speed and size
1. Super Computers
2. Mainframe Computers
3. Mini Computers
4. Micro Computers
Super Computers:

• Supercomputers are the fastest and

most expensive computers.
• They are mainly used by
governments such as the military,
security services and the weather
office and also large universities for
scientific research, modeling etc.
• Supercomputers need to be housed
in specifically designed rooms with
environmental controls and air
conditioning system.
Mainframe Computers:
• Mainframes are large, powerful
computers that can carry out many
different tasks for many different
people at the same time.
• They are slower than a supercomputer
but they are far less expensive.
• They are usually connected to a large
number of peripherals e.g. printers,
terminals, disk drives etc.
• They are used by large companies such
as Banks, Airlines, & Multinational
Companies.
Mini Computers:

• Minicomputers are much smaller

than mainframe computers.
• They are also much less
expensive.
• They possess most of the features
found on mainframe computers,
but on a more limited scale.
• Medium and small businesses
typically use these computers.
Micro Computers:

• Microcomputers are the types of computers we are using in

our labs at YTI.
• These computers are usually divided into desktop models
and laptop models.
• They are terribly limited in what they can do when compared
to the larger models discussed above. They are designed to
be used by one person at a time.
• They are much slower than the larger computers, and they
cannot store nearly as much information, but they are
excellent when used in small businesses, homes, and school
classrooms.
• These computers are inexpensive and easy to use.
• They have become an indispensable part of modern life.
• Modern desktop computers, video game consoles, laptops,
tablet PCs, and many types of handheld devices, including
mobile phones may all be considered examples of
microcomputers.
1.4 Computer Hardware:
What is hardware? The physical parts of the computer are known as
hardware. Generally speaking which we can touch and feel that is
called “Hardware” They are:
• Input Devices
• Output Devices
• Storage Devices
• Motherboard & Processors
• Communication Devices
1.4 Input Devices:
KEYBOARD

• Keyboard is the most common

and very popular input device
which helps in inputting data to
the computer. Keyboards are of
two sizes 84 keys or 101/102
keys, but now keyboards with
104 keys or 108 keys are also
available for Windows and
Internet.
1.4 Input Devices
• MOUSE : Mouse is most
popular pointing device. Mouse
can be used to control the
position of cursor on screen, but
it cannot be used to enter text
into the computer.
JOYSTICK :
• Joystick is also a pointing device
which is used to move cursor
position on a monitor screen. It
is mainly used in Computer
Aided Designing (CAD) and
playing computer games.
LIGHT PEN:
• Light pen is a pointing device
which is similar to a pen. It is
used to select a displayed menu
item or draw pictures on the
monitor screen.
SCANNER:
• Scanner is an input device which
works more like a photocopy
machine. Scanner captures
images from the source which
are then converted into the
digital form that can be stored
on the disc. These images can be
edited before they are printed.
MICROPHONE:

• Microphone is an input device to

input sound that is then stored
in digital form.
MAGNETIC INK CARD READER (MICR):

• MICR input device is generally

used in banks because of a large
number of cheques to be
processed every day. The bank's
code number and cheque number
are printed on the cheques with a
special type of ink that contains
particles of magnetic material that
are machine readable. This
reading process is called Magnetic
Ink Character Recognition (MICR).
BAR CODE READERS

• Bar Code Reader is a device used

for reading bar coded data (data
in form of light and dark lines).
Bar coded data is generally used
in labelling goods, numbering
the books etc. Bar Code Reader
scans a bar code image, converts
it into an alphanumeric value
which is then fed to the
computer to which bar code
reader is connected.
OPTICAL MARK READER (OMR)

• OMR is a special type of optical

scanner used to recognize the
type of mark made by pen or
pencil. It is specially used for
checking the answer sheets of
examinations having multiple
choice questions.
Output Devices: Monitors, Printers, Speakers

• The devices used for displaying

the information from the
computer.
• Monitors, commonly called as
Visual Display Unit (VDU), are CRT Monitor
the main output device of a
computer. There are two types
of monitors:
1) Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT)
2) Flat- Panel Display (LED & LCD)
LED/LCD Flat Panel Monitor
PRINTERS:
1) Impact Printers : The impact 2) Non-Impact Printers : Non-impact
printers print the characters by striking them printers print the characters without using ribbon.
on the ribbon which is then pressed on the • Very high speed.
paper.
• Very high quality output.
• Give good graphics quality.
• Support many fonts and different character size.

Dot Matric Printer

Laser Pinter
Daisy Wheel Printer Inkjet Printer
SPEAKERS:
• It is used for audio output from
the computer

Speakers
1.5 Computer Software:
• What is Software?
• Software is a set of programs, which is designed to perform a well-
defined function.
• Software is classified in two main types:
• 1) System Software
• 2) Application Software
Software:
Software:
SYSTEM SOFTWARE: System software serves as the interface
between hardware and the end users. It is collection of programs
designed to operate, control, and extend the processing APPLICATION SOFTWARE:
capabilities of the computer itself. It is further classified in 2
types: Software that are designed for
1) Operating System Software
• It is a system software that manages all the parts, memory
doing users job.
resources and operations of the computer. It acts as an
interface between the user and the computer • Examples of Application
• Examples of Operating System Software:
DOS, Windows, UNIX and Linux etc.
software are:
• Examples of Mobile Operating System Software: MS Word, MS Excel, MS
Android & iOS
2) System Utilities Software
PowerPoint &Photoshop etc.
• It is a system software designed to help analyze, configure,
optimize or maintain a computer.
• Examples of System Utilities Software:
WinZip, Antivirus Software, AntiSpyWare
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• Network: A Computer network is collection of multiple computers
which are connected to each other to share information and
resources
• Internet: The Internet is a world-wide / global system of
interconnected computer networks.
• ISP: An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is an organization that provides
internet connection to subscribers. Examples: ZAIN, STC, MOBILY,
CABLENET …
• TCP/IP: is a short-form for Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet
Protocol. It is the communication protocol for Internet.
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• Internet Address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL): It is the name
of the website that exists in the World Wide Web.
For Example, www.yic.edu.sa is an internet address
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• There are some standard codes that are present in almost all the Internet
addresses. These codes are related to either the country of origin or type of
organization the computer is located in. Some of these codes are given in the
table below: Code Explanation

edu Educational facility

com Commercial organization

gov Non-military government body

mil Military concern

org Other organization

net Network resource

ac Academic institutions

in India

sa Saudi Arabia
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• World Wide Web: The World Wide Web (WWW) is a large-scale, on-line
repository of information of all the public web sites on the Internet.
• Search Engine: Search engines are programs that fetch web pages having
related information based on specified keywords on the internet. It is a
useful tool for searching information on the internet.
Examples : AltaVista, Google and Yahoo.
• Web Browsers: A web browser (commonly referred to as a browser) is a
software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information
resources on the World Wide Web.
• Examples: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Mozilla,Firefox, Mosaic and Opera
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• E-Mail: The electronic mail is the most widely used application on the
Internet. It is a simple tool for sending and receiving brief text
messages between individuals or a group of people.
• Advantages of E-MAIL:
• Speed – fast medium of communication
• Multimedia – Besides text, you can also send sound, images and video.
• Cost – cheaper than postal mail
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• Firewall: A firewall is used to secure and protect an organization’s
computer network from illegal access.
• Virus: Computer viruses are small programs or scripts that can
negatively affect the health of your computer. These malicious little
programs can create files, move files, erase files, consume your
computer's memory, and cause your computer not to function
correctly.
1.6 Important Computer Terminologies
• Shareware: Shareware is a copyrighted software that you can use on a ‘try before
you buy’ basis. If you like the program after using it for a specified trial period,
usually 30 days, you must pay the registration fee. Most of the computer games
are shareware like Doom game.
Example : WinZip, Getright, etc

• Freeware: Freeware is copyrighted software given away for free.

Example : MSN Messenger, Adobe PDF, Yahoo Messenger, etc
IMPORTANT ABBREVIATIONS

• CD : Compact Disk • CRT : Cathode Ray Tube

• DVD : Digital Versatile Disk • OS : Operating System
• PC : Personal Computer • LCD : Liquid Crystal Display
• USB : Universal Serial Bus • LAN : Local Area Network
• NIC : Network Interface Card
• CPU : Central Processing Unit
• TCP/IP: Transmission Control
• RAM : Random Access Memory Protocol/Internet Protocol
• ROM : Read only Memory • ISP : Internet Service Provider
• MB : Megabytes • WWW: World Wide Web
• GB : Gigabytes • URL : Uniform Resource Locator
• KB : Kilobytes • LED : Light Emitting Diode