Lecture 4 (Computer Organization, Input and Output Device)

Computer Organization
All types of computers follow a same basic logical structure and perform the following five basic
operations for converting raw input data into information useful to their users.

S. N. Operation Description
1 Take Input The process of entering data and instructions into the computer
system
2 Store Data Saving data and instructions so that they are available for
processing as and when required.
3 Processing Data Performing arithmetic, and logical operations on data in order to
convert them into useful information.
4 Output Information The process of producing useful information or results for the user,
such as a printed report or visual display.
5 Control the workflow Directs the manner and sequence in which all of the above
operations are performed.

Input Unit
This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data into computer. This unit makes link
between user and computer. The input devices translate the information into the form understandable
by computer.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU performs all types of data processing
operations. It stores data, intermediate results and instructions (program). It controls the operation of
all parts of computer.

Output Unit
Output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the information from computer. This
unit is a link between computer and users. Output devices translate the computer's output into the
form understandable by users.

Prepared by: Muhammad Afsar Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Feni University
E-mail: [email protected]
 Lecture 4 (Computer Organization, Input and Output Device)

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

CPU consists of the following features:
• CPU is considered as the brain of the computer.
• CPU performs all types of data processing
operations.
• It stores data, intermediate results and instructions
(program).
• It controls the operation of all parts of computer.

CPU itself has following three components.

• Memory or Storage Unit
• Control Unit
• ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)

Memory or Storage Unit

This unit can store instructions, data and intermediate results. This unit supplies information to the
other units of the computer when needed. It is also known as internal storage unit or main memory or
primary storage or Random access memory (RAM).

Its size affects speed, power and capability. Primary memory and secondary memory are two types
of memories in the computer. Functions of memory unit are:
• It stores all the data and the instructions required for processing.
• It stores intermediate results of processing.
• It stores final results of processing before these results are released to an output device.
• All inputs and outputs are transmitted through main memory.

Control Unit
This unit controls the operations of all parts of computer but does not carry out any actual data
processing operations.
Functions of this unit are:
• It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data and instructions among other units of a
computer.
• It manages and coordinates all the units of the computer.
• It obtains the instructions from the memory, interprets them, and directs the operation of the
computer.
• It communicates with Input/Output devices for transfer of data or results from storage.
• It does not process or store data.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

This unit consists of two subsections namely
• Arithmetic section
• Logic Section

Prepared by: Muhammad Afsar Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Feni University
E-mail: [email protected]
 Lecture 4 (Computer Organization, Input and Output Device)

Arithmetic Section: Function of arithmetic section is to perform arithmetic operations like addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division. All complex operations are done by making repetitive use of
above operations.

Logic Section: Function of logic section is to perform logic operations such as comparing, selecting,
matching and merging of data.

Input Devices
Following are few of the important input devices which are used in a computer:
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Joy Stick
• Scanner
• Graphic Tablet
• Microphone
• Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR)
• Optical Character Reader(OCR)
• Bar Code Reader
• Optical Mark Reader(OMR)

Keyboard
Keyboard is the most common and very popular input
device which helps in inputting data to the computer.
The layout of the keyboard is like that of traditional
typewriter, although there are some additional keys
provided for performing additional functions.

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.
The keys on the keyboard are as follows:
S. N. Keys Description
These keys include the letter keys (A-Z) and digit keys (0-9) which
1 Typing Keys
generally give same layout as that of typewriters.
It is used to enter numeric data or cursor movement. Generally, it
2 Numeric Keypad consists of a set of 17 keys that are laid out in the same configuration
used by most adding machines and calculators.
The twelve function keys are present on the keyboard which are
3 Function Keys arranged in a row at the top of the keyboard. Each function key has
unique meaning and is used for some specific purpose.
These keys provide cursor and screen control. It includes four
directional arrow keys. Control keys also include Home, End, Insert,
4 Control keys
Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt),
Escape(Esc).
Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter,
5 Special Purpose Keys
Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.

Prepared by: Muhammad Afsar Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Feni University
E-mail: [email protected]
 Lecture 4 (Computer Organization, Input and Output Device)

Mouse
Mouse is most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control device having a small
palm size box with a round ball at its base which senses the movement of mouse and sends
corresponding signals to CPU when the mouse buttons are pressed.

Generally it has two buttons called left and right button

and a wheel is present between the buttons. Mouse can
be used to control the position of cursor on screen, but it
cannot be used to enter text into the computer.

Advantages:
• Easy to use
• Not very expensive
• Moves the cursor faster than the arrow keys of
keyboard.

Joystick
Joystick is also a pointing device which is used to move cursor position on a
monitor screen. It is a stick having a spherical ball at its both lower and upper
ends. The lower spherical ball moves in a socket. The joystick can be moved
in all four directions.

The function of joystick is similar to that of a mouse. It is mainly used in

. Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and playing computer games

Scanner

Scanner is an input device which works more like a photocopy

machine. It is used when some information is available on a paper
and it is to be transferred to the hard disc of the computer for
further manipulation. 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.

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).
The main advantage of MICR is that it is fast and less error
prone.

Prepared by: Muhammad Afsar Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Feni University
E-mail: [email protected]
 Lecture 4 (Computer Organization, Input and Output Device)

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. It
may be a hand held scanner or may be embedded in a
stationary scanner. 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 used where one out of a few
alternatives is to be selected and marked. It is
specially used for checking the answer sheets
of examinations having multiple choice
questions.

Output Devices
Following are few of the important output devices which are used in a computer.
• Monitors
• Graphic Plotter
• Printer
Monitors
Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display Unit (VDU), are the main output device of a
computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called pixels that are arranged in a rectangular form. The
sharpness of the image depends upon the number of pixels.
There are two kinds of viewing screen used for monitors.
• Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT)
• Flat- Panel Display
Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor
The CRT display is made up of small picture elements called
pixels. The smaller the pixels, the better the image clarity, or
resolution. It takes more than one illuminated pixel to form whole
character, such as the letter ‘e’ in the word help.

A finite number of characters can be displayed on a screen at

once. The screen can be divided into a series of character boxes -
fixed location on the screen where a standard character can be
placed. Most screens are capable of displaying 80 characters of
data horizontally and 25 lines vertically.

Prepared by: Muhammad Afsar Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Feni University
E-mail: [email protected]
 Lecture 4 (Computer Organization, Input and Output Device)

There are some disadvantages of CRT:

• Large in Size
• High power consumption

Flat-Panel Display Monitor

The flat-panel display refers to a class of video devices that have reduced volume, weight and power
requirement in comparison to the CRT. You can hang them on walls or wear them on your wrists.
Current uses of flat-panel displays include calculators, video games, monitors, laptop computer,
graphics display.

The flat-panel display is divided into two categories:

• Emissive Displays - The emissive displays are devices
that convert electrical energy into light. Examples are
plasma panel and LED (Light-Emitting Diodes).
• Non-Emissive Displays - The Non-emissive displays use
optical effects to convert sunlight or light from some
other source into graphics patterns. Example is LCD
(Liquid-Crystal Device)

Printers
Printer is an output device, which is used to print information on paper.
There are two types of printers:
• Impact Printers
• Non-Impact Printers
Impact Printers
The impact printers print the characters by striking them on the ribbon which is then pressed on the
paper.
Characteristics of Impact Printers are the following:
• Very low consumable costs
• Very noisy
• Useful for bulk printing due to low cost
• There is physical contact with the paper to produce an image
Non-impact Printers
Non-impact printers print the characters without using ribbon. These printers print a complete page
at a time so they are also called as Page Printers.
These printers are of two types
• Laser Printers
• Inkjet Printers
Characteristics of Non-impact Printers
• Faster than impact printers.
• They are not noisy.
• High quality.
• Support many fonts and different character size.

Prepared by: Muhammad Afsar Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Feni University
E-mail: [email protected]