1.0.

Introduction
1.1. What is Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or "data." It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You can use a computer to type documents, send email, and browse the internet. You can also use it to handle spreadsheets, accounting, database management, presentations, games, and more. All types of computers consist of two basic parts: Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the computer monitor or keyboard.

Figure 1: Computer Monitor Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task. Some examples of software are web browsers, games, and word processors such as Microsoft Word.

Figure 2: Some Examples of Software

1.2. Two Main Different Types of Computers

No. 1. Types of Computer Desktop Computers 2. Laptop Computers / Notebook Explanation Mostly used at work, home, school, or the library. They can be small, medium, or large in style, and usually sit on a desk. Easy to upgrade and expand, or add new parts. Cheaper compare to laptops. Laptops are battery or AC-powered personal computers that allowing you to use them almost anywhere. More difficult to access the internal

components. Unable to upgrade them as much as a desktop. It's usually possible to add more RAM or a bigger hard drive.

1.3. History of Computer

First Generation Computers (1940s 1950s) - ENIAC Second Generation Computers (1955 1960) - IBM 1401

Fourth Generation Computers (1971 present) - Using microprocessor

Third Generation Computers (1960s) - IBM System/360

Chart 1: History of Computer

First Generation of Microcomputers (1971 1976)

MOS Technology KIM-1 Altair 8800 Apple I

Second Generation Microcomputers (1977 present)

Commodore PET Apple II IBM PC (80s)

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

DOS or Disk Operating System Macintosh

Portable Computers
Epson HX-20, GRiD compass Dulmont Magnum Kyotronic 85

Chart 2: Fourth Generation Computers (1971 present) - Using microprocessor

1.4. Parts of Computer

Figure 3: Component of Computer No. 1. Parts Monitor Explanation A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphic. There are two basic types of monitors: o CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors o LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much thinner and lighter. CRT monitors, however, are generally more affordable. 2. Modem A modem is a device that sends and receives computer information over a telephone line or high-speed cable. Modems are sometimes built into the system unit, but higherspeed modems are usually separate components. 3. System Unit The system unit is the core of a computer system. The most important of these components is the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the

"brain" of your computer. Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores information that the CPU uses while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when the computer is turned off. Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. 4. Mouse A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on your computer screen. It's small, oblong, and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail. Some newer mice are wireless. 5. Speaker Speakers are used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with cables. Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer. 6. Printer A printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. The two main types of printers are inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are the most popular printers for the home. They can print in black and white or in full color and can produce high-quality photographs when used with special paper. Laser printers are faster and generally better able to handle heavy use. 7. Keyboard A keyboard is used mainly for typing text into your computer. Has keys for letters and numbers, but it also has special keys: o The function keys, found on the top row, perform different functions depending on where they are used.

o The numeric keypad, located on the right side of most keyboards, allows you to enter numbers quickly. o The navigation keys, such as the arrow keys, allow you to move your position within a document or webpage.

2.0 CPU (CU & ALU)

Two typical components of a CPU are the following: The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations. The control unit (CU), which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

Figure 4: Relationship between ALU and CU i. Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) The computers ability to perform numerical and logical operations is provided by the ALU. All of the ALUs operationseven its logical operationsare performed using binary digits. To simplify the design of computer circuits, however, various ways have been worked out to perform all arithmetic operations by means of addition techniques. Logical operations can be performed with binary digits by letting the digits stand for true and false instead of for the numbers 1 and 0. The ALU is divided into different sections for different functions, such as adding numbers, comparing numbers, and performing various logical functions. One very important kind of section is known as a register. All registers store bits of information that are received in the form of electron pulses. Then, at the CPUs

command, they release the information for use elsewhere. Some registers can do other jobssuch as decoding instructionsin addition to storing information temporarily. Registers usually consist of banks of electronic switches known as flip-flops. Many flipflops can be connected together to make registers for counting or for other functions.

ii.

Control Unit. The control unit schedules and coordinates the work of all of the other parts of

the computer. One of the main functions of the control unit is to regulate the speed of computer operations so that the operations can be synchronized. To do this, it sends out a continuous stream of electronic pulses generated by an oscillator called the clock. The clock sets the basic rhythm of all of the CPUs calculating and processing operations. Pulses generated anywhere in the CPU are synchronized to the clock beat so that operations take place in exactly the right order. Different kinds of computers have different clock speeds. Most PCs have clock speeds of around 3 to 4 GHz (gigahertz, or billions of cycles per second). In general, the faster the clock speed of a processor, the faster the computer can perform its functions. However, employing more than one processor in a computer or using processors with multiple cores can achieve even higher processing speeds.

3.0 Input and Output

Before a computer can process your data, you need some method to input the data into the machine. The device you use will depend on what form this data takes (be it text, sound, artwork, etc.). Similarly, after the computer has processed your data, you often need to produce output of the results. This output could be a display on the computer screen, hardcopy on printed pages, or even the audio playback of music you composed on the computer.

i.

Input Device No. 1. Device Keyboard Explanation The computer keyboard is used to enter text information into the computer, as when you type the contents of a report. 2. Pointing Devices The graphical user interfaces (GUIs) in use today require some kind of device for positioning the on-screen cursor. Typical pointing devices are: mouse, trackball, touch pad, trackpoint, graphics tablet, joystick, and touch screen. 3. Mouse The mouse pointing device sits on your work surface and is moved with your hand. 4. Touch pad Most laptop computers today have a touch pad pointing device. You move the on-screen cursor by sliding your finger along the surface of the touch pad. 5. Trackpoint Some sub-notebook computers (such as the IBM ThinkPad), which lack room for even a touch pad, incorporate a trackpoint, a small rubber projection embedded between the keys of the keyboard. 6. Trackball The trackball is sort of like an upside-down mouse, with the ball located on top.

7.

Joysticks

Joysticks and other game controllers can also be connected to a computer as pointing devices. They are generally used for playing games, and not for controlling the on-screen cursor in productivity software.

8.

Touch screen

Some computers, especially small hand-held PDAs, have touch sensitive display screens.

9.

Graphics tablet

A graphics tablet consists of an electronic writing area and a special pen that works with it. Graphics tablets allows artists to create graphical images with motions and actions similar to using more traditional drawing tools.

10.

Scanners

A scanner is a device that images a printed page or graphic by digitizing it, producing an image made of tiny pixels of different brightness and color values which are represented numerically and sent to the computer.

11.

Microphone

A microphone can be attached to a computer to record sound (usually through a sound card input or circuitry built into the motherboard).

12.

MIDI Devices

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a system designed to transmit information between electronic musical instruments.

ii.

Output Device No. Device CRT Monitor Explanation The traditional output device of a personal computer has been the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor.

1.

2.

Flat Panel Monitor

A flat panel display usually uses an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen to display output from the computer. These printers form the image on the page by spraying tiny droplets of ink from the print head. The printer needs several

3.

Ink Jet Printer

colors of ink (cyan, yellow, magenta, and black) to make color images. 4. Laser Printer A laser printer produces good quality images by the same technology that photocopiers use. 5. Sound Output Computers also produce sound output, ranging from simple beeps alerting the user, to impressive game sound effects, to concert quality music.

4.0 Secondary Storage

Secondary storage is a storage medium that holds information until it is deleted or overwritten regardless if the computer has power. For example, a floppy disk drive and hard drive are both good examples of secondary storage devices. As can be seen by the below picture there are three different storage on a computer, although primary storage is accessed much faster than secondary storage because of the price and size limitations secondary storage is used with today's computers to store all your programs and your personal data.

Figure 5 : Types of Computer Storage Currently the most common forms of secondary storage device are: Floppy disks Hard disks Optical Disks Magnetic Tapes. Solid State Devices

5.0 Software
Software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provides the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it. Software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. Types of software include web pages developed in languages and frameworks like HTML, PHP, Perl, JSP, ASP.NET, XML, and desktop applications like OpenOffice.org, Microsoft Word developed in languages like C, C++, ObjectiveC, Java, C#, or Smalltalk. Three main type of software:

1. System software System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware, to provide basic functionality, and to provide a platform for running application software. System software includes device drivers, operating systems, servers, utilities, and window systems

2. Programming software Programming software include tools in the form of programs or applications that software developers use to create, debug, maintain, or otherwise support other programs and applications. Programming tools are intended to assist a programmer in writing computer programs, and they may be combined in an integrated development environment (IDE) to more easily manage all of these functions.

3. Application software Application software is developed to perform in any task that benefits from computation. It is a set of programs that allows the computer to perform a specific data processing job for the user. It is a broad category, and encompasses software of many kinds, including the internet browser being used to display this page.