Day 01
Introduction to Computer
COMPUTER
• A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in
its own memory that can accept data (input), process the data according to specified rules,
produce information (output), and store the information for future use.
FUNCTIONALITIES OF A COMPUTER
Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross terms:
• Takes data as input
• Stores the data / instructions in its memory and use them when required.
• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
• Generates the output.
• Control all the above 4 steps
Data, Information and Knowledge
• Data: Facts and figures which relay something specific, but which are not organized in
any way and which provide no further information regarding patterns, context, etc. So
data means "unstructured facts and figures that have the least impact on the typical
manager.“
• Information: For data to become information, it must be contextualized, categorized,
calculated and condensed. Information thus paints a bigger picture; it is data with
relevance and purpose. It may convey a trend in the environment, or perhaps indicate a
pattern of sales for a given period of time. Essentially information is found "in answers to
questions that begin with such words as who, what, where, when, and how many".
• Knowledge: Knowledge is closely linked to doing and implies know-how and
understanding. The knowledge possessed by each individual is a product of his
experience, and encompasses the norms by which he evaluates new inputs from his
surroundings.
The content of the human mind can be classified into four
categories:
1. Data: symbols
2. Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to "who", "what",
"where", and "when" questions
3. Knowledge: application of data and information; answers "how" questions
4. Wisdom: evaluated understanding.
We need to understand that processing data produced Information and process
Information produces Knowledge and so on.
Characteristics of Computer
• 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. For example, calculation and
generation of salary slips of thousands of employees of an organization, weather
forecasting that requires analysis of a large amount of data related to temperature,
pressure and humidity of various places, etc
• 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. Secondary storage devices like floppy disk and
compact disk can store a large amount of data permanently.
• 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. Computers have several
limitations too. Computer can only perform tasks that it has been programmed to do.
Computer cannot do any work without instructions from the user.
It executes instructions as specified by the user and does not take
its own decisions.
Generations of Computer
Types of Computers
