Unit 1

Introducti
on to
computer

By Deepshikha Singh
.NO TITLE PAGE NO. SIGNATURE

1. INTRODUCTION TO 1
COMPUTER
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF 3-4
COMPUTER
3. GENERATION OF 5-10
COMPUTERS
4. CLASSIFICATION OF 11-14
COMPUTER

5. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM 15-19

6. COMPUTER MEMORY 20-26

7. ROLE OF COMPUTERS IN 27-30

NURSING

8. SUMMARY 31-32

9. CONCLUSION 32-33

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UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, computers are an integral part of our lives. They
are used for the reservation of tickets for airplanes and
railways, payment of telephone and electricity bills, deposit
and withdrawal of money from banks, processing of
business data, forecasting of weather conditions, diagnosis
of diseases, searching for information on the Internet, etc.
Computers are also used extensively in schools, universities,
organizations, music industry, movie industry, scientific
research, law firms, fashion industry, etc. The term
computer is derived from the word compute. The word
compute means to calculate. A computer is an electronic
machine that accepts data from the user, processes the
data by performing calculations and operations on it, and
generates the desired output results.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability and

versatility are some of the key characteristics of a
computer. A brief overview of these characteristics
are-

 Speed The computer can process data very fast,

at the rate of millions of instructions per second.
Some calculations that would have taken hours and
days to complete otherwise, can be completed in a
few seconds using the computer.

 Accuracy Computer provides a high degree of

accuracy. For example, the computer can accurately
give the result of division of any two numbers up to
10 decimal places.

 Diligence When used for a longer period of time,

the computer does not get tired or fatigued. It can
perform long and complex calculations with the
same speed and accuracy from the start till the end.

 Storage Capability Large volumes of data and

information can be stored in the computer and also
retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of
data can be stored, temporarily, in the primary
memory.

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 Versatility Computer is versatile in nature. It can
perform different types of tasks with the same ease.
At one moment you can use the computer to prepare
a letter document and in the next moment you may
play music or print a document.

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 GENERATION OF COMPUTER

First Generation Computers

The technology behind the primary

generation of computers was a
fragile glass device, which was called
a vacuum tube. These computers
were very heavy and really large.
These weren’t very reliable, and
programming on them was a tedious
task as they used a low-level
programming language and had no

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OS. First-generation computers were
used for calculation, storage, and
control purposes.

Second generation computer

The second generation of computers,

spanning roughly 1956 to 1963, was
a significant leap forward in
technology, primarily due to the
introduction of the transistor.
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes,
making computers smaller, faster,
more reliable, and less energy-
intensive. This generation also saw
the development of programming
languages that were more user-
friendly than the binary code of the
previous generation.

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 Third generation computers

The third generation of computers,

spanning roughly 1965 to 1971, was
characterized by the introduction of
integrated circuits (ICs). This

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 technology, often referred to as
“chips,” allowed for the
miniaturization of transistors and
other components, leading to faster,
more reliable, and smaller
computers. Third-generation
computers also saw the emergence
of operating systems and high-level
programming languages like
FORTRAN, COBOL, and BASIC.

Fourth generation computer

The fourth generation of computers,

spanning roughly 1971-1980, is
characterized by the invention of the
microprocessor and the widespread
adoption of Very Large Scale
Integration (VLSI) circuits. This era
saw the rise of personal computers

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(PCs) and the development of more
adaptable, faster, and reliable
machines

Fifth generation computer

The first generation of computers

was developed from 1946-1959,
followed by the second generation
from the 1950s-1960s, the third
generation from 1964-1971, the
fourth generation from 1971-2010,
and the period from 2010 to till date
and beyond is roughly considered as
the period of the fifth generation of
computers.

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 Classification of computer

Microcomputer

Minicomputer

Main computer

Super computers

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 1. MICROCOMPUTER

A microcomputer, also known as

a personal computer (PC), is a
small, self-contained computer
that uses a microprocessor as its
central processing unit. It’s
designed for individual use and
often includes peripherals like a
keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Examples of microcomputers
include desktop computers,
laptops, tablets, and
smartphones.

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 ( Microcomputer)

2. Minicomputer

Minicomputer, computer that

was smaller, less expensive, and
less powerful than a mainframe
or supercomputer but more
expensive and more powerful
than a personal computer.
Minicomputers were used for
scientific and engineering

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 computations, business
transaction processing, file
handling, and database
management.

3. Mainframe computer

A mainframe, also known as big

iron, is a high-performance
computer used for large-scale,
compute-intensive purposes and

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 tasks that require greater
availability and security than
smaller-scale machines. Historically,
mainframes have been associated
with centralized rather than
distributed computing.

4. Supercomputer

A supercomputer is a high-
performance computer designed for
complex scientific and engineering

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 tasks requiring extremely fast
calculations. It’s a specialized
machine, not a general-purpose
computer, and is used for
applications like weather
forecasting, scientific simulations,
and artificial intelligence research.

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 The computer system

A computer system primarily

comprises of a central Processing
unit, memory, input/output devices,
and Storage devices. All these
components function together As a
single unit to deliver the desired
output. A computer System comes
in various forms and sizes. It can
vary from a high-end server to a
personal Desktop, laptop, tablet
computer, or Smartphone.

Central Processing Unit

(CPU)
It is the electronic circuitry of a
Computer that carries out the actual
Processing and is usually referred to
As the brain of the computer. It is
also Commonly called ‘processor’

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 also. Physically, a CPU can Be
placed on one or more microchips
called integrated Circuits (IC). The
ICs comprise semiconductor
materials. The CPU is given
instructions and data through
Programs. The CPU then fetches the
program and data From the memory
and performs arithmetic and logical
Operations as per the given
instructions and stores the Result
back to memory.

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 Input Devices
The devices through which control
signals are sent To a computer are
termed as input devices. These
Devices convert the input data into
a digital form that is Acceptable by
the computer system. Some
examples of Input devices include
keyboard, mouse, scanner, touch
Screen, etc.

Output Devices

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 The device that receives data from a
computer system For display,
physical production, etc., is called
output Device. It converts digital
information into human
understandable form. For example,
monitor, projector, Headphone,
speaker, printer, etc.

Computer Memory

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 A computer system needs memory
to store the data and Instructions
for processing. Whenever we talk
about The “memory” of a computer
system, we usually talk About the
main or primary memory. The
secondary Memory (also called
storage device) is used to store
Data, instructions and results
permanently and for Future use.

Primary Memory
The primary memory is an essential
component of a Computer system.
Program and data are loaded into
the Primary memory before
processing. The CPU interacts
Directly with the primary memory to
perform read/Write operation.

It is of two types viz. i) Random

access Memory (RAM), and ii) Read
only memory (ROM).

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 RAM is volatile i.e. as long as the
power is supplied to The computer,
it retains the data in it. But as soon
as the Power supply is turned off, all
the contents of RAM are Wiped out.
It is used to store data temporarily
while the Computer is working.
Whenever the computer is started
Or a software application is
launched, the required Program and
data are loaded into RAM for
processing. RAM is usually referred
to as main memory and it is Faster
than the secondary memory or
storage devices.

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 On the other hand, ROM is non-
volatile, means its Contents are not
lost even when the power is turned
off. It is used as a small but faster
permanent storage for The contents
which are rarely changed.

Secondary Memory
Primary memory has limited storage
capacity and Is either volatile (RAM)
or read-only (ROM). Thus, a
Computer system needs auxiliary or
secondary memory To permanently
store the data or instructions for

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 Future use. The secondary memory
is non-volatile and Has larger
storage capacity than primary
memory. It Is slower and cheaper
than the main memory. But, it
Cannot be accessed directly by the
CPU. Contents of Secondary storage
need to be first brought into the
main Memory for the CPU to access.
Examples of secondary Memory
devices include Hard Disk Drive
(HDD), CD/DVD, Memory Card, etc.,

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Software
The software comprises of set of
instructions which On execution deliver
the desired outcome. In other Words,
each software is written for some
computational Purpose. Some examples
of software include operating Systems
like Ubuntu or Windows 7/10, word
processing Tools like LibreOffice Writer or
Microsoft Word, video Player like VLC
Player, photo editors like Paint and Libre
Office Draw. A document or image stored
on the Hard disk or pen drive is referred
to as a softcopy. Once Printed, the
document or an image is called a
hardcopy.

System Software
The software that provides the basic
functionality To operate a computer by
interacting directly with its Constituent

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hardware is termed as system software.
A System software knows how to operate
and use different Hardware components
of a computer. It provides services
Directly to the end user, or to some other
software. Examples of system software
include operating systems, System
utilities, device drivers, etc.

Application Software

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The system software provides the core
functionality of The computer system.
However, different users need the
Computer system for different purposes
depending upon Their requirements.
Hence, a new category of software Is
needed to cater to different requirements
of the endusers. This specific software
that works on top of the System software
is termed as application software. There
Are again two broad categories of
application software: General purpose
and customised application software.

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Role of computers in
nursing

1. Electronic Health Records (EHRs):

Computers store and manage patient

information, making it readily accessible
to healthcare professionals. This includes
medical history, test results, and
treatment plans, enabling better
coordination of care.

2. Patient Monitoring:

Computerized systems help monitor vital

signs, heart rate, and other physiological
parameters, alerting nurses to any
abnormalities.

3. Documentation:

Computers are used to document patient

care, including assessments,

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interventions, and evaluations. This
documentation ensures a comprehensive
and accurate record of patient care.

4. Communication:

Nurses use email, messaging apps, and

video conferencing for communication
with colleagues, patients, and families.
This facilitates rapid information
exchange and collaboration.

5. Clinical Decision Support Systems

(CDSS):

These systems assist nurses with clinical

decision-making by providing reminders,
alerts, and information on best practices.

6. Telemedicine:

Nurses can use telemedicine to provide

care to patients in remote areas or who
cannot travel to a clinic. This expands
access to care and improves continuity of
care.

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 7. Research:

Computers are used for data analysis,

literature searches, and the
dissemination of research findings.

8. Inventory Management:

Computerized systems help track and

manage supplies and medications,
ensuring they are available when needed.

9. Nursing Education:

Computers are used in nursing education

for teaching, learning, and accessing
resources. Online learning platforms and
virtual simulations enhance training.

10. Administrative Tasks:

Computers are used for scheduling,

payroll, and other administrative tasks,
freeing up nurses’ time for patient care.

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31
 Summary
A computer is an
electronic device that was
discovered by Charles
Babbage. He is known as
the father of computers.
There are various parts to
a computer. The four
major parts of a computer
are the mouse, keyboard,
monitor and CPU. With
computers, we can send
and receive messages
through emails and save

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important information. It
helps to store and modify
data. Nowadays,
computers are used in
schools, banks, offices,
etc., and it is now
impossible to survive
without computers. In
order to run any
organisation, institution,
or any other office, a
computer is a must.
Computers have made life
easier for people of
different age groups.

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 Conclusion

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 In conclusion, computers
have revolutionized
society, significantly
impacting various sectors
like education, business,
and healthcare. They
enable faster, more
efficient task completion,
saving time and effort
while reducing costs.
Furthermore, computers
offer unique opportunities
for imagination, creation,
and personal growth,
contributing to a better
future.

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 Bibliography
1. Computer Fundamentals
by P.K. Sinha – A
foundational book
covering basic computer
concepts and
hardware/software
components.

2. Fundamentals of
Computers by V.
Rajaraman – Covers
computing concepts,
operating systems, and
programming basics.

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 3. Computer Science: An
Overview by J. Glenn
Brookshear and Dennis
Brylow – Offers a broad
introduction to all areas
of computer science.

4. Introduction to
Algorithms by Thomas H.
Cormen et al. – A widely
used textbook for
understanding algorithms
and data structures.

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 5. Computer Organization
and Design by David A.
Patterson and John L.
Hennessy – Focuses on
computer architecture
and system design.

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