BASIC

CONCEPT OF
COMPUTING
What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic
device that accept data,
processes data to perform
various tasks and give the
output of processed data as
information and stores the
information.
An electronic device that stores, retrieves,
and processes data, and can be
programmed with instructions. A
computer is composed of hardware and
software, and can exist in a variety of
sizes and confi gurations.
A computer’s four major functions:
 Accepts data
 Processes data into information
 Outputs data or information
 Stores data and information
Thus data is the raw fact which computer
uses. Data can be in form of diagram,
numbers, alphabets, words, video etc.
Hardware & Software
Two major components of a computer:
• Hardware components
• Software components

The term hardware refers to the

physical components of your computer
such as the system unit, mouse,
keyboard, monitor, etc.

The software is the instructions that

make the computer work. Software is
held either on your computer’s hard
disk, CD-ROM, DVD, or on a diskette
(floppy disk) and is loaded (i.e. copied)
from the disk into the computer's RAM
(Random Access Memory), as and
Hardware Components

I nput Devices -- "How to tell it what to do“

-A keyboard and mouse are the standard

way to interact with the computer. Other devices
include joysticks and game pads used primarily
for games.

Output Devices -- "How it shows you what it is

doing"

-The monitor (the screen) is how the

computer sends information back to you. A
printer is also an output device.
Hardware Components
INPUT DEVICES

• The Mouse
• Used to ‘drive’ Microsoft Windows

• The Keyboard
• The keyboard is still the
commonest way of entering
information into a computer
• Tracker Balls
• an alternative to the traditional
mouse and often used by
graphic designers
Hardware Components
INPUT DEVICES
• Scanners
• A scanner allows you to scan printed
material and convert it into a file
format that may be used within the PC
• Touch Pads
• A device that lays on the desktop and
responds to pressure
• Light Pens
• Used to allow users to point to areas on a
screen
• Joysticks
• Many games require a joystick for the
proper playing of the game
Hardware Components

OUTPUT DEVICES
• VDU
• The computer screen is used for
outputting information in an
understandable format
• Printers
• There are many different types of
printers.
• In large organizations laser printers
are most commonly used due to the
fact that they can print very fast
and give a very high quality output.
Hardware Components
OUTPUT DEVICES
• Plotters
• A plotter is an output device
similar to a printer but normally
allows you to print larger images.
• Speakers
• Enhances the value of
educational and presentation
products.
• Speech synthesizers
• Gives you the ability to not only
display text on a monitor but also to
read the text to you
Hardware Components

Storage Devices -- "How it saves

data and programs“

-Hard disk drives are an internal,

higher capacity drive which also stores
the operating system which runs when
you power on the computer.

-"Floppy" disk drives allow you to

save work on small disks and take the
data with you.
Hardware Components

Hard Disks
• Speed:
• Very fast!

• The speed of a hard disk is often quoted as

"average access time" speed, measured in
milliseconds.
The smaller this number the faster the
disk.
• Capacity:
• Enormous! Often 40/80 Gigabytes.
A Gigabyte is equivalent to 1024
Megabytes.
• Cost:
• Hard disks costs are falling rapidly and
normally represent the cheapest way of
storing data.
Hardware Components

Diskettes (Floppy
Disks)

• Speed:
• Very slow!

• Capacity:
• Normally 1.44
Mbytes.
• Cost:
• Very cheap.
Hardware Components
CD-ROM Disks

• Speed:
• Much slower than hard disks. The
original CD-ROM speciation is given
a value of 1x speed, and later,
faster CD-ROMs are quoted as a
multiple of this value.
• Capacity:
• Around 650 Mbytes and more
Hardware Components
DVD Drives

• Speed:
• Much faster than CD-ROM
drives but not as fast as hard
disks.
• Capacity:
• Up to 17 Gbytes.

• Cost:
• Slightly higher than CD-ROM
drives.
Main Parts of Computer

M em ory -- "How the processor stores

and uses immediate data“
• RA M - Random Access Memory
• The main 'working' memory used by the
computer.

• When the operating system loads from disk

when you first switch on the computer, it is
copied into RAM.

• As a rough rule, a Microsoft Windows based

computer will operate faster if you install more
RAM. Data and programs stored in RAM are
volatile (i.e. the information is lost when you
switch off the computer).
Hardware Components

Memory

• ROM – Read Only Memory

• Read Only Memory (ROM) as the name suggests is a
special type of memory chip that holds software that
can be read but not written to. (Nonmodifiable)

• A good example is the ROM-BIOS chip, which

contains read-only software.

• Often network cards and video cards also

contain ROM chips.
Hardware Components
H ow Computer Memory Is Measured

• Bit
• All computers work on a binary numbering system,
i.e. they process data in one's or zero's. This 1 or 0
level of storage is called a bit.
• Byte
• A byte consists of eight bits.
• Kilobyte
• A kilobyte (KB) consists of 1024 bytes.
• Megabyte
• A megabyte (MB) consists of 1024 kilobytes.
• Gigabyte
• A gigabyte (GB) consists of 1024 megabytes.
Hardware Components

M icroprocessors -- "The brain of the

computer“
-PCs primarily use microprocessors (sometimes called the
chip). The older Intel versions include the 386, 486 and
now the Pentium line.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is normally an

Intel Pentium (or equivalent) and it is one of the most
important components within your computer.
• It determines how fast your computer will run and
is measured by its MHz speed.
• Thus a 600 MHz Pentium is much faster than say a
400 MHz Pentium CPU.
• It is the CPU that performs all the calculations
within the computer.
Hardware Components

Some of the Factors that Impact

Computer's Performance

• CPU speed
• RAM size
• Hard disk speed and capacity
Computer Software

 Computer software refers to a set of instructions that tell a

computer how to perform specific tasks or functions.
 Here are the main categories of computer software:

 1. System Software: System software is a category of

software that manages and controls the hardware
components of a computer system. It provides a platform for
running application software and acts as an intermediary
between the computer hardware and the user. Examples are
Operating system, device driver etc
 2. Application software refers to programs and software
applications that perform specific tasks for the user,
application software is designed to meet the needs of the
user.
Software Component
Application Software
• Word processing
applications
• Microsoft Word

• Lotus Word Pro

• WordPerfect

• Spreadsheets
• Microsoft Excel

• Lotus 123

• Database
• Microsoft Access

• Lotus Approach
Software Component
Application Software
• Payroll
• Sage software

• Presentation tools
• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Lotus Freelance

• Desktop publishing
• Abode Photoshop

• Multimedia applications
• Microsoft's Encarta CD-ROM
based encyclopaedias
Computer Network

A computer network is a set of

interconnected computers and other devices
that are capable of communicating with
each other. The purpose of a computer
network is to share resources, exchange
information, and enable communication
between the connected devices.
Uses of Network:
Resource Sharing
Communication
Data Storage and Retrieval
Collaboration and File Sharing
Different Discipline/programme in Computing Science

 Computer Science

 Computer Science is about building abstract

models of real-world objects or phenomena,
with the aim of using the model to solve
problems by automating the models
through the use of algorithm, and
implementing the algorithm in form of
instructions which the computer can
understand.

 Thus Computer Science is about solving problem

by abstraction
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a is the field of computer

science that focuses on the development of
intelligent machines capable of performing tasks
that typically require human intelligence.

 Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human

intelligence processes by machines, especially
computer systems. Specific applications of AI
include expert systems, natural language
processing, speech recognition and machine vision.
Software Engineering

 Software Engineering is the branch of computer science

that deals with the design, development, testing, and
maintenance of software systems. It involves applying
engineering principles to the entire software
development process to ensure the production of high-
quality software that meets user requirements, is
reliable, and is delivered on time and within budget.
Computer Information Systems (CIS)

 Computer Information Systems (CIS) is another field

in computing that focuses on the application of
information technology to solve business problems
and enhance organizational processes. It combines
elements of computer science, business, and
management to develop and manage information
systems that support the goals and objectives of an
organization.
Cybersecurity

 Cyber security is a specialized discipline within the broader

field of information technology that focuses on protecting
computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized
access, attacks, damage, or theft. As technology continues
to advance, the importance of cybersecurity has grown
significantly.

 Cybersecurity professionals play a crucial role in

safeguarding digital assets and maintaining the integrity of
systems and data in the face of evolving cyber threats. The
field is dynamic, and ongoing education and training are
essential for cybersecurity practitioners to stay abreast of
the latest threats and security measures.
Information Technology (IT)

 Information Technology (IT) is a broad field that

encompasses the use of technology to store, retrieve,
transmit, and manipulate data for various purposes. It
involves the utilization of computers, networks, software
applications, and other technologies to manage and
process information.

 Information Technology is a driving force behind

innovation and digital transformation in various
industries. IT professionals play crucial roles in
businesses, government organizations, healthcare,
education, and virtually every sector where technology is
utilized
Computer engineering

 Computer engineering is a branch of engineering that

involves computer science and electronic processes. In this
field, professionals design, test and refine computer hardware
and programs. They may create new inventions, collaborate
with programming teams and refine technological processes
to increase efficiency.

 Computer engineering is a discipline that combines principles

and practices from both electrical engineering and computer
science. It focuses on the design, development, and
maintenance of hardware and software components of
computing systems. Professionals in computer engineering
work on a broad range of technologies, from designing
microprocessors and integrated circuits to developing
software applications and systems
Cloud computing

 Cloud computing is a paradigm that involves the delivery of

computing services over the internet. Instead of owning and
maintaining physical servers or data centers, users can access
and use computing resources, such as servers, storage,
databases, networking, software, and analytics, through cloud
service providers. These services are delivered on a pay-as-you-
go basis, allowing users to scale resources up or down based on
their needs.

 Professionals in the cloud computing discipline may work in

various roles, including cloud architect, cloud engineer, cloud
administrator, or cloud security specialist, depending on their
specific expertise and responsibilities. Continuous learning is
crucial in this rapidly evolving field to stay abreast of new
technologies and best practices.
Thank you