INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Computer Basics

• What is a computer?

Device capable of performing computations and making logical decisions

Different parts of a computer

The Monitor

The monitor looks

like a TV and lets
you see your work
and your files.
Different parts of a computer
The CPU box

“Central Processing Unit”. They

contain the brains of the computer.
Different parts of a computer
CD/DVD Drive

CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk-

Read Only Memory. They are flat,
shiny disks that store information.
Most can hold up to 700 megabytes
of information. A DVD (Digital
Video Disc) looks just like a CD, but
holds much more information! They
can store 4.7 gigabytes of data!
Different parts of a computer

Flash Drive
It’s like a mini,
portable hard drive!
You plug it into the
USB (Universal
Serial Bus) port on
the front of
computers and you
can save to it!
 How Do Computers Work?
• Input--This is the information that enters into a
computer. Some common input devices include the
keyboard, mouse and scanner.
• Output--This is the information that comes out of a
computer after it has been processed. The information
comes out on output devices such as a printer or
computer monitor.
• Processing--This is when the information is handled by
the computer’s brain, known as the CPU (Central
Processing Unit).
Input Devices
 The Keyboard

The keyboard is probably the

most used input device. It
operates a lot like a typewriter,
but has many additional keys
that let it do special things a
typewriter can’t.
 The Mouse

It’s another input device. It’s called a mouse

because of it’s shape and the way the cable
attaching it to the computer looks a bit like a tail.
There are two kinds of mice. Some use a roller
ball that allows the mouse to roll around a flat
surface. When you do that and look up at the
screen, you’ll see a small moving arrow. This arrow
is called the pointer.
Scanner

A scanner is a very useful

input device. You can place a
page of writing or pictures in
the scanner and it will send
the information to your
computer. There they can be
changed, saved into a
computer file, or printed.
 Output Devices
• Printers
• Monitors
• Audio Speakers
 Printers
One output device is a printer. Once a
computer user has created something on the
computer, such as a story, he can send it to
the printer. The printer prints exactly what’s
on the screen.
 Speakers

Speakers can be connected to your computer so

you can hear very realistic sound effects and
wonderful music. Some computer monitors come
with built in speakers.
 Computer Processor
Once information has been sent to a
computer by one of the input devices it’s
processed. The computer uses it’s brain to
process the information. The computer’s brain
is called the CPU, or Central Processing Unit.
 The CPU

The CPU is also called

the microprocessor.
The word “micro” means
small. Since the CPU is
located on a small
computer chip about 1
inch square, that makes
sense!
Random Access Memory

When a computer processes

information, it uses software
programs. Each program
requires a certain amount of
electronic memory, or RAM
(Random Access Memory) to
run correctly.
 Random Access Memory

RAM is temporary memory. The computer holds

information in this memory and gets it when it
needs it.
If a computer has more RAM, it can solve
problems and process information faster! If
you’re updating your computer, more RAM is a
great thing to add!
 Read-Only Memory

A second kind of computer memory is ROM,

which stands for Read-Only Memory. This
memory is permanent. The information there
was put there when the computer was made.
The computer needs the information in it’s
ROM memory in order to function.
Computer Hardware

• Hard Drive
• Motherboard
• Sound Card and Video Card
• Memory Card
• Power Supply
• NIC Card
• BIOS
 Hard Disk Drive

The Hard Disk Drive is a magnetic storage

device. All the computer programs and files
you create and save are located there. This is
permanent storage (at least until you uninstall
software or delete a file). The hard drive is
normally signified by the drive letter “C”.
Today’s hard drives can store a HUGE amount
of information. A new computer might have a
hard drive that will hold 250 GB’s!
 Hard Disk Drive

Inside the Hard Disk Drive

case you’ll find circular disks
that are made of steel. On
the disks, there are many
tracks, or cylinders. An
electronic reading device
called the head passes back
and forth over the
cylinders, reading
information from the disk or
writing to it.
 Hard Disk Drive
Hard Disk Drives use Magnetic Recording
Techniques. The magnetic medium can be easily
erased and rewritten and will “remember” the
magnetic flux patterns stored on it for many years!
The Motherboard
 The Motherboard

Your computer couldn’t work without the

motherboard. It ties everything together! It
allows every part of your computer to receive
power and communicate with each other.
Everything that runs the computer or enhances
it’s performance is either part of the
motherboard or plugs into one of it’s expansion
slots or ports.
 Sound and Video Cards

Sound and Video Cards are Output Devices.

They contain special circuits that allow your
computer to play sounds and display graphics on
your monitor.
 Memory Card

Remember RAM (Random Access Memory)

and ROM (Read-Only Memory)?
RAM cards will remember what you tell them and
can even change to remember new information.
But, when the computer is turned off, it forgets
everything you did! That’s why you always save
your work!
ROM is good at remembering, but cannot change
it’s mind. It holds the information that was built
into it!
 Power Supply
If there is any one component that is absolutely
vital to the operation of a computer, it is the
power supply! Without it, a computer is just a
box full of plastic and metal. The power supply
converts the alternating current (AC) line from
your home or office to the direct current (DC)
needed by the computer.
Cooling fan.

Computers put out a

LOT of heat and need
the fan to keep them
from overheating.
 Network Interface Card

A NIC card (Network

Interface Card) allows
your computer to talk to
other computers! A
cable called Cat5 is
plugged into the NIC
card and your computer
can then be attached to
a network and be on the
internet!
 BIOS CHIP

A BIOS chip (Basic Input

Output System) is a very
important computer
component. In simple
terms, the BIOS chip
wakes up the computer
when you turn it on and
reminds it what parts it
has and what they do!
All the parts together
 Computer Basics

Features of computer:
• High speed
• Accuracy
• Versatility
• Do not get tired
• Is consistent and never forgets
• high storage capability
• Power of remembering
• No intelligence
• No feelings
 Computing Systems

• Computers have two kinds of components:

• Hardware, consisting of its physical devices

(CPU, memory, bus, storage devices, ...)

• Software, consisting of the programs it has

(Operating system, applications, utilities, ...)
 Computer Organization
Six logical units in every computer:
1. Input unit
• Obtains information from input devices (keyboard,
mouse)
2. Output unit
• Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control
other devices)
3. Memory unit
• Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information
• ROM (Read Only Memory): CMOS, EPROM …
• RAM (Random Access Memory): SRAM, DRAM,
SIMM, DIMM …
 Computer Organization
Six logical units in every computer (cont):

4. Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) – part of CPU

• Performs arithmetic calculations (addition,
subtraction...) and logic decisions
5. Control unit (CU) - part of CPU
• Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the
computer
6. Secondary storage unit
• Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage
• Stores inactive programs
 Computer Organization
Processor
Input Information Output
Data Control Arithmetic
Devices Control Arithmetic Devices
Unit
Unit Logic
Logic Unit
Unit (ALU)
(ALU)

Instructions
Data
Information

Memory

Instructions
Data
Information

Storage
Devices
 Hardware: CPU

Central Processing Unit (CPU):

– the “brain” of the machine
– location of circuitry that performs arithmetic and
logical operations
– measurement: speed (roughly) in Gegahertz
– examples: Intel Pentium, AMD K6, Motorola
PowerPC, Sun SPARC,
 Hardware: RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM)

– “main” memory, which is fast, but volatile...
– analogous to a person’s short-term memory.
– many tiny “on-off” switches: for convenience
• “on” is represented by 1, “off” by 0.
– each switch is called a binary digit, or bit.
• 8 bits is called a byte.
• 210 bytes =1024 bytes is called a kilobyte (1K)
• 220 bytes is called a megabyte (1M).
 Hardware (Disk)

Secondary Memory (Disk):

– Stable storage using magnetic or optical media.
– Analogous to a person’s long-term memory.
– Slower to access than RAM.
– Examples:
• Hard disk (measured in gigabytes (230 bytes))
• CD-ROM (measured in megabytes), ...
 Hardware: the Bus
The Bus: The circuitry used to transmit data and instructions
from one place to another within the CPU
-- Connects CPU to other hardware devices.
– Analogous to a person’s spinal cord.
– Speed measured in megahertz (like the CPU), but typically
much slower than the CPU...
 Hardware: Cache

While accessing RAM is faster than accessing secondary memory,

it is still quite slow, relative to the rate at which the CPU runs.
To circumvent this problem, most systems add a fast cache
memory to the CPU, to store recently used instructions and data.
 Hardware: Summary
Putting the pieces together:

Main Secondary
cache CPU
Memory Memory

Bus

Programs are stored (long-term) in secondary memory, and

loaded into main memory to run, from which the CPU
retrieves and executes their statements.
 Software: OS
The operating system (OS) is loaded from secondary memory
into main memory when the computer is turned on, and
remains in memory until the computer is turned off.

CPU RAM Disk

Cache

OS

Bus
 Software: OS
• The OS acts as the “manager” of the system, making
sure that each hardware device interacts smoothly with
the others.
• It also provides the interface by which the user interacts
with the computer, and awaits user input if no
application is running.
• Examples: MacOS, Windows-95, Windows-NT, UNIX,
Linux, Solaris, ...
 Putting it all together

Programs and applications that are not running

are stored on disk.

Disk
CPU RAM
Cache

OS App

Bus
 Development of Computers

Abacus -- The oldest simple mechanical calculator

is abacus. Used over thousands years.

Abacus
 Development of Computers
Analytical engine – designed by Charles Babbage (Father
of computer) in 1830s. It is a more advanced mechanical
programmable “computer”.

The world’s first

programmer:
Ada Byron, she
contributed so
called the first
program being
implemented on the
Babbage’s analytical
engine.
 Development of Computers
The first electronic computer was built in early 1940s:
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
The first commercial computer: UNIVAC, 1951
(Universal Automatic Computer)
Generations of Computers
 FEATURES OF FIRST
1. Use of vacuum tubes GENERATION (1951-57)
2. Big & Clumsy
3. High Electricity Consumption
4. Programming in Mechanical
Language
5. Larger AC were needed
6. Lot of electricity failure
occured

Vacuum tubes
FEATURES OF SECOND
GENERATION (1958-63)

1. Transistors were used

Transistors Magnetic core
2. Core Memory was developed
3. Faster
4. First Operating System was
developed
5. Programming was in Machine
language & Assembly Language
6. Magnetic tapes & discs were used
7. Smaller in size than the First
generation computers
8. Consumed less heat & less
electricity
THIRD GENERATION
FEATURES (1964-70)

1. Integrated circuits developed

2. Power consumption was low
3. SSI & MSI Technology was
used
4. High level languages were
used

Integrated circuits
FOURTH GENERATION
COMPUTERS (1971- )

1. LSI & VLSI Technology used

2. Development of Portable
Computers
3. RAID Technology of data
storage
4. Used in virtual reality,
multimedia, simulation
5. Computers started in use for
Data Communication
6. Different types of memories
with very high accessing
speed & storage capacity
FIFTH GENERATION
COMPUTERS

1. Used in parallel processing

2. Used superconductors
3. Used in speech recognition
4. Used in intelligent robots
5. Used in artificial intelligence
 1st POPULAR COMPUTER

In 1981, IBM built the popular PC/XT with MS-DOS of

Microsoft.
 Computer Categories

• Personal digital
assistant (PDA) - a
small hand-held
computer that performs
simple tasks….
• Desktop computer - the
most popular choice for
personal computing
need
 Computer Categories

• Notebook computer - a fully

functional computer designed
to be carried around and run
on battery power
• Workstation : as used to
mean a more powerful
personal computer for
special applications It is a
high-end microcomputer
designed for technical or
scientific applications.
 Computer Categories

• Tablet computer - a pen-based

computer that provides the screen
capabilities of a PDA with the
functional capabilities of a
notebook or a desktop computer….
 Computer Categories

• Minicomputer - designed to
meet the computing needs of
several people simultaneously
in a small to medium-size
business environment. In
recent years, the minicomputer
has evolved into the "mid-
range server" and is part of a
network. IBM's AS/400e is a
good example
 Computer Categories

• Mainframe computer - designed to meet the computing needs of

hundreds of people in a large business environment. which is
now usually referred to by its manufacturers as a "large server”.
 Computer Categories

• Supercomputers -The most powerful computer; used for

researches, weather forecasting and space missions.
• There are thousands of processors (CPUs) working
simultaneously.
 Memory

Computer Memory Cell

HIGH 1
LOW 0

• Binary digit (bit) - the smallest unit of information

that a computer can process

• Byte - a group of eight bits

 Computer Basics

Kilobytes (KB) & Megabytes (MB), Gigabytes (GB), Terabytes (TB)

 Speed of a Computer

Measured by system clock frequency

Hz
KHz = 1000 Hz
MHz = 1000,000 Hz
GHz = 1000,000,000 Hz
THz = 1000,000,000,000 Hz

MIPS (MILLION INSTRUCTIONS PER SECOND) is

another measurement of CPU speed.