REVIEWER

MODULE TITLE: FAMILIARIZE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Lesson 1: What is a computer?

- It is an electronic device that accepts, processes, stores, and outputs data at high speeds according to
programmed instructions.
 Ways in which the computer is used:
- Word processing
- Calculations
- Communication
- Computer-assisted learning
- Research
- Presentations
- Database management
- Automation
- Entertainment
- Gaming

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

1. Supercomputer
- A supercomputer is the fastest and very expensive type of computer.
- Generally it occupies one floor of a building to install all the nodes or components of the supercomputer or it is
as large as a gymnasium.
- The uses of supercomputers include weather forecasting, creating animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations,
nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration.
2. Mainframe Computer
- Generally, they are as large as the size of the room of the building.
- They are mainly used for banking transaction processing, for ATM (Automated Teller Machine) processing and
for large programs which run for months.
3. Minicomputer
- Nowadays, minicomputers are merely obsolete.
- It is typically about the size and shape of a closet, mounted in a single tall rack.
- A minicomputer is a multiprocessing system capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users simultaneously.
4. Microcomputer
- Microcomputer is generally a synonym for the personal computer or PC which is a computer designed for an
individual. It has a microprocessor chip called the central processing unit (CPU).
- Microcomputer typically used at home, at school, or in business. They use it for word processing, accounting,
desktop publishing, surfing the web, database management, editing photographs, creating graphics and playing
music or games.

Embedded Computers
- Calculators, phones, DVD players, remote controls, TVs, and microwaves are some examples of
these.
- These electronic devices contain microprocessor chips that made them as special-purpose computers
called embedded computers.

Lesson 2: Understanding the Computer System

Components of a Computer System
I. Hardware- the physical, touchable, electronic and mechanical parts of a computer system.
A. Input Devices- devices that accepts data and instructions from the user or from another computer
system.
Types of Input Devices:
A.1 Keyboard Entry- Data is inputted to the computer through a keyboard.
- Keyboard - The first input device developed for the PC.
A.2 Direct Entry- A form of input that does not require data to be keyed by someone sitting at a
keyboard. Direct-entry devices create machine-readable data on paper, or magnetic media, or feed it
directly into the computer’s CPU
 Three Categories of Direct Entry Devices:
1. Pointing Devices - An input device used to move the pointer (cursor) on screen.
a. Mouse - The most common 'pointing device' used in PCs. Every mouse has two
buttons and most have one or two scroll wheels.
Mouse Actions:
1. Click- Press and quickly release the left button.
2. Double- Click - Press and quickly release the mouse left button twice.
3. Right-Click - Press and quickly release the right button. Right-clicking
an item usually displays a list of things you can do with the item.
4. Point - Placing the mouse pointer over any icon or data without
pressing any button.
5. Drag - Keep the left button pressed while you move the mouse to
move icons and data around the screen.
b. Touch Screen- A display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or
stylus. Used in myriad applications, including ATM machines, retail point-
of-sale terminals, car navigation and industrial controls. The touch screen
became wildly popular for smart phones and tablets.
c. Light Pen - A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal used to draw
pictures or select menu options. The user brings the pen to the desired
point on screen and presses the pen button to make contact.
d. Digitizer Tablet - A graphics drawing tablet used for sketching new
images or tracing old ones. Also called a "graphics tablet," the user
contacts the surface of the device with a wired or wireless pen or puck.
Often mistakenly called a mouse, the puck is officially the "tablet cursor."
2. Scanning Devices - A device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and
translates the information into a form the computer can use.
3. Voice-Input Devices- Audio input devices also known as speech or voice
recognition systems that allow a user to send audio signals to a computer for
processing, recording, or carrying out commands. Audio input devices such as
microphones allow users to speak to the computer in order to record a voice
message or navigate software.
B. Processing Devices - a component in a computer that manages the storage and retrieval of
information.
1. System Unit- The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes called the chassis. It
includes the following parts: Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory Chips, Buses, Ports,
Expansion Slots and Cards.
2. Motherboard/Mainboard/System Board- The main circuit board of a computer. It
contains all the circuits and components that run the computer.
3. CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a
computer system. It performs all of the instructions and calculations that are needed and
manages the flow of information through a computer.
4. Primary Storage - (internal storage, main memory or memory) is the computer's working
storage space that holds data, instructions for processing and processed data (information) waiting
to be sent to secondary storage.
2 Types of Memory
a. ROM - (Read Only Memory) ROM is non-volatile, meaning it holds data
even when the power is ON or OFF.
b. RAM - (Random Access Memory) RAM is volatile, meaning it holds
data only when the power is on. When the power is off, RAM's
contents are lost.
 5. Expansion Bus - A bus is a data pathway between several hardware components inside
or outside a computer. It does not only connect the parts of the CPU to each other, but
also links the CPU with other important hardware.
6. Adapters- Printed-circuit boards (also called interface cards) that enable the computer to
use a peripheral device for which it does not have the necessary connections or circuit
boards. They are often used to permit upgrading to a new different hardware.
7. Power Supply Unit - Installed in the back corner of the PC case, next to the
motherboard. It converts 220v AC (standard house power) into DC voltages that are used
by other components in the PC.
8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)- Also known as hard drive, is a magnetic storage device that is
installed inside the computer. The hard drive is used as permanent storage for data. In a
Windows computer, the hard drive is usually configured as the C: drive and contains the
operating system and applications.
9. Optical Drive - An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the
optical media. There are three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital
Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD).
10. Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) - Designed to optically access data stored on a DVD. A
laser moves back and forth near the disk surface and accesses data at a very fast rate.
11. Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)- This storage media is also known as a diskette. Size is 3 ½ inches
in diameter and a capacity of 1.44 MB.
C. Output Devices - Any piece of computer hardware that displays results after the computer has
processed the input data that has been entered.
1. Computer Display Monitor- It displays information in visual form, using text and
graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the screen or
video display terminal.
Types of Monitor
a. CRT Monitors- Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) were the only type of displays for use
with desktop PCs. They are relatively big (14" to 16" deep) and heavy (over 15
lbs).
b. LCD Monitors - Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology has been used in laptops for
some time. It has recently been made commercially available as monitors for desktop
PCs.
c. LED Monitors - (Light Emitting Diode) - A display and lighting technology used
in almost every electrical and electronic product on the market, from a tiny on/off
light to digital readouts, flashlights, traffic lights and perimeter lighting.
2. LCD Projectors - utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution
between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that
light cannot pass through them.
3. Smart Board- A type of display screen that has a touch sensitive transparent panel covering the
screen, which is similar to a touch screen.
4. Printer - A device that prints text or illustrations on paper.
Types of Printer
a. Ink-jet or Bubble-Jet Printer - sprays ink at a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers
produce high-quality text and graphics.
b. Laser Printer- Uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser printers
produce very high quality text and graphics.
c. LCD and LED Printer - Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid crystals or
light-emitting diodes rather than a laser to produce an image on the drum.
d. Line Printer- Contains a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one
time. Line printers are very fast, but produce low-quality print.
 e. Thermal Printer - An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated pins
against heat-sensitive paper. Thermal printers are widely used in calculators and
fax machines.
5. Speakers- Used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with
cables. Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.

D. Storage Devices - devices that store the entered information and programs for future use.
1. Primary Storage (Main Memory)- the internal storage directly used by the CPU in
processing data or instructions.
Kinds of Main Memory
a. Random Access Memory - commonly referred to as RAM, stores data and
instructions that are used by the CPU to perform tasks done by the user.
b. Read Only Memory- commonly referred to as ROM, stores instructions that test
the computer if all the devices attached on it are working properly.
2. Secondary Storage Memory - used to store instructions and data when they are not being
used in memory; disk drive is a generic term for data storage devices for computers.
Types of Secondary Memory
a. Hard Disk Drive- A hard disk drive is found inside the computer case which is
made of a stack of rotating disks called platters. Data is recorded on a series of
tracks that have been divided into sectors.
b. Compact Disk- Compact disks use an optical disk drive which uses a laser beam
to read tiny holes in the compact disk media which the drive translates into digital
data.
Types of Compact Disk
1. CD-ROM (Compact disks use an optical disk drive which uses a laser
beam to read tiny holes in the compact disk media which the drive
translates into digital data.
2. CD-R - (Compact Disk-Recordable) – a type of CD that enables you to
store files on them although once data is written, you cannot erase it. A
CD-R can usually store up to 700 MB of data
3. CD-RW - (Compact Disk-Rewritable) – unlike a CD-R, CD-RW allows
you to store and erase files on it for a limited the newer generation of
optical disk storage technology which is essentially faster and of greater
storage capacity. This kind of optical disk can hold cinema-like videos,
still photos and computer data better than CDs. A single sided DVD can
usually store up to 4.7 GB of data.

4. DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) - the newer generation of optical disk

storage technology which is essentially faster and of greater storage
capacity. This kind of optical disk can hold cinema-like videos, still
photos and computer data better than CDs. A single sided DVD can
usually store up to 4.7 GB of data.
c. USB Flash Drive- This device is also known as a flash drive, thumb drive or
memory stick.
Flash drives are much bigger in capacity than floppy disks but smaller in size
while offering better performance.
 II. SOFTWARE- is the set of instructions (also called a program) that guides the hardware to
operate effectively.
MAIN TYPES OF SOFTWARE
1. System Software- Any software required to support the production or execution of
application programs, but which is not specific to any particular application. Common
operating systems include Windows, the Macintosh OS, OS/2 and UNIX.
2. Application Software - Designed to help the user to perform singular or multiple related tasks.
Examples of Application Software
a. Word Processing Software - Creates, edits, saves, and prints documents. Example:
MS Word, WordPerfect, Ami Pro, MacWrite, Writer.
b. Spreadsheet Software - An electronic spreadsheet consisting of rows and columns is
used to present and analyze data. Example: MS Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro, Calc.
c. Presentation Software - Create slides or handouts for presentations (speaker
delivered or self-running. Special effects provided, similar to manual process of using
different pieces of audio or video equipment. Example: MS PowerPoint,
Presentations, Impress
d. Database Management Software- Used to structure a database, a large collection of
computer programs. Data is organized as fields and records for easy retrieval.
Example: MS Access, dBase, Fox Pro, Oracle.
e. Graphic Software- Graphics programs display results of data manipulation for easier
analysis and presentation. Example: Macromedia Flash, Harvard Graphics, 3D Studio
Max, Adobe Photoshop
f. Electronic Mail (e-mail) - Process of sending e-mail similar to manual process for
addressing, writing, and then mailing letter on paper. Only need e-mail program,
correct e-mail address, and connection to the Internet or mail server.
g. Web Browsers - Allows you to connect to the Internet and view web sites for
different companies, organizations, or individuals

3. People Ware - Refers to people involved in the data processing operations such as the system
administrator, office workers, students and others.