Chapter 1

Introduction to Computer

Computer science department, SMU 2024

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 Contents

• Getting Started…..

• What is Computer?

• What are data and information?

• Data processing and information processing

• Basic Characteristics of computers

• Advantages and limitations of Computer

• Generations of computers

• Types of computer

• Computers Systems

• Data representation method & Numbering System

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 What is Computer?
• It is acronym meaning: Common Operating Machine
Particularly Used for Trade Education and Research

• Follow a set of instruction(program)

• It is a programmable electronic device that stores,

retrieves, and processes data.

• The world’s giant and greatest computer is human brain.

(Naturally intelligent mind).
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 Data
• Data is unorganized fact need to be processed.
• it is unstructured fact and figure
• Data is input which can be number, text, sound etc…..
• It never depends on Information.
Examples
1. “X” company’s collected data through survey
2. Citizens’ data during census
3. Student’s mark of consecutive semester
// We will see how the 3rd example is processed and changed

into information by practical example.

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Data processing
It is a process of reorganizing collected data into our need.
Information
• It is processed and organized data
• It is dependent on Data.
• It will answer who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’ and we can derive valuable
information from the data and make it more useful for us.
• Information informs you of something. It answers a specific question. It
represents a specific truth or fact.
• It can be structured, in tabular , graph or data tree.. //we will see in detail
in chapter 3
• Help us to make decision
Examples
1. Census Report: Census data used to get information about total
population of a country and set the budget.

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2. Survey reports and results :“X” company’s collected survey data is
summarized into reports to present to management of the company.
3. Student’s CGPA : used to get information about low achieving
students to advice. // Here is an actual example. (from our department
document)
4. Knowledge
• A group of information
• Help us to draw conclusion.
Wisdom
• wisdom is knowledge applied in action.
• Using knowledge we will invent/innovate things to the society.

Fig 1. Hierarchy of data processing 6

//Sources of Information will be your reading Assignment
Data processing and Information processing
Data processing: Transformation of data into more useful form.
Data can be processed manually, mechanically or electronically.

1. Manual data processing: processing of data by hand.

2. Mechanical Data Processing: - involves the use of mechanical materials like

calculators, typewriters etc.

3. Electronic Data Processing: - is the processing of data using computers.

Data processing cycle

Input Process output

∴ Unless we feed wrong input we will always get reliable output.

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 Information processing

• Data processing and information processing are often use

interchangeably.

• The information produced at lower level is being used as data for a

higher-level activity.

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 Characteristics of computer

1. Automatic: A computer is an automatic machine because once started on a job

they carry on until the job is finished without any human assistance.

2. Diligence: A computer is diligent machine so it is free from tiredness, lack of

concentration, fatigue. A person gets tired of doing some work in a few hours

but a computer has an ability to do any work continuously for many hours.

3. Versatility/Flexibility: A computer system is multitasking so that you can do

two or more tasks very easily at the same time.

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4) Accuracy: computer is accurate and consistent, unless there is an error in the
input data (GIGO).
5) Reliability: Because of dependability of computer almost all big industries or
big e-Commerce companies like Amazon and Flipkart, and big search engine
companies like - Google and Bing, all these companies are dependent on
computers.
6) Storage: Computers have the ability to store all types of data such as pictures, files,
programs, games, and sound for many years and later we can get any data in a few
seconds at any time for taking that information and for future retrieval. The
information is stored in the form of files on internal or external hard drives
(HDD).Nowadays we can save our data on cloud too. Examples Cloud Storage,

7) Speed: A computer processor’s clock speed determines how quickly the

central processing unit (CPU) can retrieve and interpret instructions.

Clock speed(execution speed) is measured in gigahertz (GHz).E.g. 2.5 GHz, 3.0 GHz

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ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF
COMPUTERS

Limitations
Advantages • Have no imagination and perception
• Saves our Time
• Cannot detect flaw or error in logic.
• Data storage capability
• Compatibility issues
• It is used in any field.
• Computers can’t Decide
• We use it for research and education
• Depend on the user input.
• Reduce paper works
• Cyber security problem
• We can list 7 characteristics, that we
• Need update and upgrade
have discussed earlier on advantage of
computers.

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 Generations of Computers
Computer generations classification is essentially based on:

• The basic devices used.

• Architecture , languages and storage media

• Electronic circuit elements used

• Speed of their operations

• Computer generations are usually categorized by improvement in hardware, speed

and reliability.

• They are classified into first to sixth generation.

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First generation (1950s)
• Vacuum tubes was components for the electronic circuit.
• Punched cards were used as the inputs and magnetic grams were used for
internal storage. And could handle more than 10,000 additions each second.
• ENIAC is a typical example of a first-generation computer.
• It consisted of nearly 20,000 vacuum tubes, 10,000 capacitors and 70,000
resistors. Power consumption was very high and it generated much heat.
• It weighed over 30 tons and took up a lot of space, requiring a large room to
house it.

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First Generation Computer (ENIAC)

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Second generation (early 1960s)
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes.

• Small size, low power consumption

• Magnetic cores was used as primary storage.

• Magnetic drum and magnetic tape were used as secondary

storage.

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• They operate in a speed of microseconds
(millionths of a second) with more than 200,000
additions.
• High level languages COBOL and FORTRAN were
introduced during this period.
• The first computer to use transistors was TX-0.

• Another example IBM 1401

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Third generation(late 1960s, early 1970s)
• Transistors were an improvement over the
vacuum tube, but they still generated a great
heat, which damaged the computer's sensitive
parts.
• Transistors were replaced with Large Integrated
Circuit (LIC) or chips.

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• RAM and ROM were used as primary storage.
• Magnetic disks began to replace magnetic tape as
secondary storage
• Processing speed and storage capacity increased.
• The computer was used in census calculation, military,
banks and industries.
• High-level languages like COBOL (Common Business
Oriented Language) and FORTRAN (Formula
Translation) were widely used to develop programs.
Example
• IBM-360 series,IBM -1130 series, ICL-900 series

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Fourth generation (1972 - 2010)
• The fourth generation of computers took advantage of
the invention of the microprocessor, more commonly
known as a CPU.

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• Intel 4004 was the first microprocessor developed by American
Intel Corporation in 1971.

• Microprocessors, with integrated circuits make it possible for

computers to fit easily on a desk and for the introduction of the
laptop.

• Application software for microcomputers became popular.

• RAM,ROM and cache memory are used as a primary storage

• Large Integrated Circuit expanded to Very Large Scale Integrated

Circuits (VLSI).
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• Large computers capable of adding 15 million numbers per
second.

• Size, cost, power requirement, heat generation decreased

where as operating speed, storage capacity and use of computer
increased compared to the previous generation.
• Because of computer networks ,E-mail, Internet and website
are developed.

• High level language like R, Java, python, c++, c#, prolog etc.
are widely used.

• Example: computers, we are using today.

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Fifth generation (2010 to present)
// You have studied in detail in Introduction to emerging technology
• The fifth generation of computers is beginning to use AI (artificial
intelligence)
• The aim is to bring machines with genuine IQ.
• These computers are able to converse with people, be able to mimic human
sense, manual skills, and intelligence.
• E.g. Sophia developed by Hanson Robotics.
• Expanded to VVLSI (Very Very Large Scale Integration) or Ultra-Large
Scale Integration (ULSI).
• These machines are Heuristic (Learn from experience).
• Users will also be able to interact with them in natural languages such as
English, Amharic etc.
• Read more on https://searchenterpriseai.techtarget.com/definition/AI-
Artificial-Intelligence

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Sixth generation (future generations)

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• This new generation of computers use knowledge of quantum mechanics — the area
of physics that studies atomic and subatomic particles.
• Quantum computing uses the quantum bit (qubit) as the basic unit of information
rather than the conventional bit. Qubits are the storage units and data representation
units in a quantum computer.
• A Quantum Computer is a computer system or a device that is used for calculating
complex problems that a normal computer system cannot handle or may take a
hundred years to solve the problem.
• A quantum computer with just 30 qubits, for example, it can perform 10 billion
floating-point operations per second.
• This aspect of quantum technology means that a qubit can be both zero and one at the
same time, and in different proportions. Bits, on the other hand, can only have one
value at a time — either one or zero.
• Quantum computers have a simpler architecture than conventional computers and they
have no memory or processor. The equipment consists solely of a set of qubits that
makes it run.
• Main uses of quantum computing is in development of new materials, finance,
Healthcare, and Air transport.

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 Types of Computers
I. Classification by the method of operation (processing)
• Analog , Digital and Hybrid computers
Analog Computers
• Analog computers operate by measuring, physical magnitude like pressure,
temperature, voltage.
• They are special purpose computers.
Digital Computers
• Digital computers deal with discrete variables.(binary numbers)
• They operate by counting instead of measuring.
Hybrid computers

• The best features of analog and digital computers can be combined into a
single device to form a hybrid computer.

• A computer found in insensitive-care unit (ICU) is good example.

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II. Classification by purpose of application
• Based upon their application, computers are classified as special purpose or general
purpose.

Special purpose computers

• They are designed to solve a single type of problem

• Most of analog computers are special purpose computers.

Examples: The public telephone box, Traffic control system

General purpose computers

• They are designed to solve variety of problems through the use of “store program
concept”.

• Most of digital computers are general purpose computers.

Examples: Microcomputers, Mini computers, Super computers

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III. Classification by physical size, price, capacity and
performance
• At this stage we mean a general-purpose digital computers.
• General-purpose digital computers are then classified as follows by their capacity
and size.
• From highest to lowest Super computer, Mainframe computers, Mini computers and
Micro computers.
Super computer
• It is the fastest, largest and most potential type of computer
• They are multi-user systems
• They are used to process huge amount of data.
• Used in space technology centers, meteorology stations, astronomical observatories,
intercontinental communications, and airline organizations.
• The picture below shows a supercomputer at the William R. Wiley Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory; the Linux-based system is composed of nearly 2,000
processors. Courtesy: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

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super computer found in NASA

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Mainframe computers
• These computers are smaller in size and capacity, lower in speed & memory capacity
than super computers.
• They are multi-user systems
• Banks still lean on mainframes for their core operations. Many customer
interactions, such as credit card and ATM transactions, are carried out through high
volume, real-time, online transaction processing (OLTP).

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Mini computers
• They can handle multi-users
• Smaller in size than the mainframe computers.
• Have relatively lower speed compared to mainframe computers.

Microcomputers
• The most widely used type of computers
• They are single users
• can fit on desktops and laptops

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 Computers Systems
• A computer system consists of hardware and software.

Basic Physical components (hardware parts) of a computer system

1. Central processing Unit (CPU) or simply Processor

2. Storage Devices (Main memory and Auxiliary memory)

3. Input Devices

4. Output Devices

5. Communication Bus

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1. Central processing Unit (CPU) or Processor

• It is the brain of the system.

• Electronic circuits made up of millions of transistors placed into integrated circuits.

• Plays main role in conversion of data into information.

• Consists of Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit and Register

• Two sole manufacturers of CPU are:

1. Intel Corporation Intel stands for Integrated Electronics.

Example – Intel Xeon, Intel Core i series, Intel Core m series

2. AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) American multinational semiconductor company

Example – AMD Ryzen, AMD Threadripper, AMD FX-Series, AMD EPYC,AMD Opteron, AMD Athlon 64

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1. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
• GPU is considered as heart of Deep Learning, a part of Artificial Intelligence. It is a
single chip processor used for extensive Graphical and Mathematical computations
which frees up CPU cycles for other jobs.
• GPUs render images more quickly than a CPU because of its parallel processing
architecture, which allows it to perform multiple calculations across streams of data
simultaneously.
Example RTX 8000, Titan RTX, RTX 2060

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Arithmetic Logic Unit
• It is fundamental building block of the central processing unit.
• Executes arithmetical calculations and logical comparisons.

Arithmetic Unit Logic Unit

Is used to make a decision on
 Performs mathematical the logical operation
calculations AND,OR,>,<,>=,<=,==,!= ……

=IF ():- it is used to perform
Addition, Subtraction,
conditional statement and
Division….. comparisons for the selected
range of cells.
 1+2*3-4^2/2 E.g.
=IF(G2>85,"A",IF(G2>75,"B",I
 Performs Number conversion F(G2>65,"C",IF(G2>55,"D"))))
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 The logic gate design diagram of ALU look likes:

Control unit
• It controls all the activities of other units of computer system.
• coordinates instruction execution in the CPU.
• It is referred as ” Traffic cop” of the CPU.
• The control unit tells the ALU what operation to perform on that data, and the ALU stores the
result in an output register.

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Registers
Registers are small and fast storage units and the most important components of CPU.
• Perform three tasks:- Fetch, Decode, Execute
• Fetch: On this stage registers take the instruction stored in main memory requested by the user.
• Decode: Instructions are interpreted and which operation is to be performed based on the
instructions.
• Execute: Results produced by the CPU then stored in main memory & will be displayed on the
screen.

2. Storage Devices
I. RAM
• It is Volatile memory and directly accessible by the CPU.
• 4GB as an absolute minimum and target 8GB, 16GB and 32GB better experience
• A memory socket or RAM slot allows RAM to be inserted into the computer.

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II. ROM (Read Only Memory)
• Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is saved inside ROM.
• The instructions in ROM are set by the manufacturer and cannot be changed by the user
• A nonvolatile memory that provides startup instructions when the computer is turned on.

Auxiliary Memory
I. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) (Either external or internal)
• It is magnetic disk made up of metal and located inside the system unit. Magnets can erase your data.
• It has a mechanical arm to read and write data
• HDD capacities range from 40GB up to 18 TB
• Differentiate Physical and logical hard drive //bonus question

II. Solid State Drive (SSD) (Either external or internal)

• capacities range from 1 up to 4TB.

• it is safe from any effects of magnetism.

• File Opening Speed is Up to 30% faster than HDD

• It has embedded controller to read & write

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Precautions needed with the hard disk

• Don’t turn the power off without shutting the computer down

through the normal shut-down procedure. Failure to shut down

the computer correctly can lead to corruption of data.

• Don’t subject the computer to severe vibrations or jerks or move

the computer if the power is turned on. This could cause physical

damage to the hard drive.

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• Flash Disk Drive, Optical Disks, Flash Memory cards //will be reading assignment

3. Input Devices

• Help us to enter data into the computer to be processed.

• It converts data from a form suitable to human beings to one understandable by the
computer.

Examples of input devices mouse, scanner microphone

4. Output Devices

• Used to get information out of a computer to be examined, analyzed or distributed to

others.
• Convert the result of the only-machine understandable form to a form understandable by
human beings.
Examples of input devices plotters, printer, Visual Display Unit (VDU)

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Precautions needed with the hard disk

• Don’t turn the power off without shutting the computer down

through the normal shut-down procedure. Failure to shut down

the computer correctly can lead to corruption of data.

• Don’t subject the computer to severe vibrations or jerks or move

the computer if the power is turned on. This could cause physical

damage to the hard drive.

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5) Communication Bus
• The 1s and 0s must travel from one place to another inside the processor, as well as
outside to other chips.
• To move the 1s and 0s around, electronic lines called a bus are used. The electronic
lines inside the CPU are known as the internal data bus or system bus.
• The external data bus connects the processor to electric plug, keyboard, mouse, hard
drive, and other devices.

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Components of computer System

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A picture of ASUS computer’s motherboard

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Tips to buy laptop or desktop computers

Visit these sites below before doing so!

1. https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/556585/top-10-things-consider-when-

buying-new-laptop

2. https://www.abt.com/learn/desktop-computer-buying-guide

3. https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-pick-the-best-laptop-for-your-needs

4. https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/computers/desktop-and-

laptop-computers/buying-guides/laptops

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Computer Software
• It is a collection of instructions (programs) that enable the user to interact with a
computer, its hardware.
• Software makes an interface between the user and the electronic components of the
computer.
• There are two types of software
1.System software
2.Application software

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System Software

• refers programs which facilitate the work of computer hardware.

• Manage resources, handles input/output devices.
• Performs functions that users shouldn’t have to or unable to
handle.
• Make complex hardware more user friendly.
• Acts as intermediate b/n users and hardware.
Categories of System Software’s
I. Operating System
II. Language Software

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Operating System

• Coordinates the activity between the user and the computer.

Types of Operating System
• Operating System can be classified by:
 The no of programs they can handle at a time
 The no of users they serve at once
i) Single-tasking OS: only one program can be run on a computer
a time.
In order to run another program, the first program loaded in
computer memory should be removed.
It can’t handle two or programs at a time.

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ii) Multi-tasking operating system
Used to store files, to run application programs.
Extensively uses graphical objects to communicate with users.
Enables a computer to perform several tasks simultaneously.
iii) Multi user operating system
It supports a no of work stations connected to a central system.
A no of users can use the resources of one high capacity computer.
iv) Real time operating system
Capable of processing data so quickly that the results are available
to
Influence the activity currently taking place.
Their purpose (characteristic) is to respond to an event within a
well-defined time.
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The Evolvement of Windows operating system

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Language Translaters
• Convert the programming instructions written by users into
binary(machine) code.
• Written for specific programming languages and computer systems.
• High level language software is software that has its own compiler to
detect syntax errors of the user program code. E.g. Java, python, c++, c#
etc.
Includes: Translator, Compilers and Interpreters.
Translator: is a program that converts one or more programming language.
Assemblers, Compilers & interpreters
Assemblers: translates assembly language into machine code means
binary digits.
Compiler: translates high level language into machine code.
Interpreter: translates each instruction of high level language & execute
the instruction before translating the next instruction
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Application Software

• Software's designed to perform tasks for specific area.

• Called as application packages as they may include a no of
programs, operating instruction, documentation etc.
• Categories based on task or functionality
 Word Processors:
is a computerized type writer.
Permits electronic creation, editing, formatting & printing text.
E.g. Microsoft word, WPS word
 Spread Sheet
Is an electronic worksheet display on VDU.
Used for Financial analysis, & other mathematical operation
E.g. Microsoft Excel, WPS Excel
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Application Software (Cont’d)
 DBMS:
Allows us to store information on a computer, retrieve it when you
need it & update it when necessary.
Purpose: We can store large mailing list, inventory record or billing
& collect information in lists stored in files & manipulate this
information.
E.g. Oracle DB, Microsoft Access, & Mysql
 Presentation Graphic Softwares
Allows users to create visual representation
E.g. Microsoft power point, WPS power point

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Data representation method & Numbering System
• The data entered in the computer usually presented using the letter of
alphabet, various special symbols, numerals (decimal no system).
• Since computer is an electronic device {digital device} that understands
electrical flows(signals), there is no letter, symbol and numbers inside the
computer.
• Computer works with binary numbers (discrete 0 & 1’s values).
Number System:
• A number system is a set of symbols used for counting.
• There are various number systems
• The value of each digit in a number can be determined using
 The digit (Roman Number Systems)
 The position of the digit in the number (weight a base associated with it)
 The base of the number system
• Base is the total number of the digits available in the number system
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Number System (Cont’d)

• Binary number system (base 2) (0-1)

• Octal number system (base 8) (0-7)
• Decimal number system (base 10) (0-9)
• Hexadecimal number system (base 16) (0-9 & A-F)
 For the purpose of understanding how data are represented,
stored, and processed in a computer, we will discuss two of them.
Decimal and Binary data representation.
 Decimal
In every day life, we use numbers based on combination of the digits
between 0 & 9. this counting is known as decimal.
It is base ten number system because there are ten choices of digits
between 0 and 9.
It is inconvenient for computer to represent data.
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 Binary
Binary numbers are made up of binary digits 0&1 known as bits.
It is base two number system.
The circuits in computer processor are made up of billions of
transistors.
A transistor is a tiny switch that is activated by the electronic signals
it receives.
The digits 1&0 used in binary reflect the on & off state of transistor.
Conversion from binary to its equivalent decimal and from decimal
to its equivalent binary is possible.
Before discussing, the conversion first we have to understand the
concept of Encoding.

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 Encoding
Everything on a computer is represented as streams of binary
numbers.
Audio, Images & character all look like binary numbers in machine
code.
Encoding formats have been standardized to help compatibility
across different platforms.
The more bits used in a pattern, the more combination of values
becomes available.
 Character Encoding
Converts one or more character sets into computer codes (series of
an equivalent arrangement of bits).
ASCII and Unicode(utf-8) are two common ways of coding
characters as numbers.
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 EBCDIC (Extended binary coded decimal interchange code)
It is an 8 bit coding scheme (00000000 - 11111111)
It accommodates to code 28 or 256 different characters.
It is a standard coding scheme for the large computers.
 BCD
Stands for Binary coded decimal
It uses 6 bits to code a Character
 ASCII-7
Stands for American Standard code for Information interchange.
Used widely before the introduction of ASCII-8 (the extended
ASCII)
Uses 7 bits to represent a character.
128 different characters can be coded.
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 ASCII-8 (Extended ASCII)
Uses 8-bits to represent alphanumeric characters (letter, digits and special symbols)
256 different characters can be represented.
It is the most widely used type of coding scheme for Micro computer System.
7 55 digit 7

8 56 digit 8

9 57 digit 9

: 58 colon

; 59 semicolon

< 60 less-than

= 61 equals-to

> 62 greater-than

? 63 question mark

@ 64 at sign

A 65 uppercase A

B 66 uppercase B

C 67 uppercase C

D 68 uppercase D

E 69 uppercase E

F 70 uppercase F

G 71 uppercase G

H 72 uppercase H

I 73 uppercase I

J 74 uppercase J

K 75 uppercase K

L 76 uppercase L 58
M 77 uppercase M
Data Representation

• Data represented in a computer in the form of code which can have

a corresponding electrical signal.
• Data is represented in a way as series of electrical switches in
arranged manner.
• Data stored, processed or communicated within a computer system
in different units like bit, byte and word.
• Bit:
• the smallest unit of data representation
• A single element in a computers which has only two possible
states, 0 and 1 (indicates OFF and ON respectively)
• Stands for Binary Digit

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Data Representation(Cont’d)
• Byte
• the basic unit of data representation
• commonly contains 8 bits (can represent 256 characters)
• Represent a character
• Used as a unit of measurement in a computer memory,
processing unit, external storage and communication
• Stands for group of Binary Digit
• Word
• The number of bits that a computer processes at a time or a
transmission media transmits at a time
• Is a combination of bytes (1, 2, 3 or 4 based on the capacity of
the computer)
• Word length is usually expressed in bits
• The large the word length a computer has the more powerful and
faster it is.
• Bytes can store/transmit information but, slow in speed
Example: 8, 16, 32 and 64 bit operating system computers
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