INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

COMPUTER TERMS
A Computer is an electronic or digital device /machine which works under the
control of stored programs to accept raw data, store and process it to produce
information . It is basically a system which consist of input, process, storage and
output. It is mainly divided into two Hardware and Software.

information. It is the raw material in the processing of coming up with information.

INFORMATION – is the form taken by data after processing. It is more meaningful
and is used for decision making.
Examples of systems, data and information are
a. Accounting System, Transactions entered is the data and the output reports
such as the Balance sheet is the information.
Population system, Data refers to the details obtained by the relevant officers and the
information will be the reports on the Birth rate and death rate.

a. DATA – refers to the raw facts , opinions or figures which when processed
gives out
HARDWARE – a term used to describe physical components of the computer which
are tangible e.g. monitor screen, C P U, mouse.
SOFTWARE – is a name given to the various programs in a computer together with
their associated documentation and it is not tangible.
PROGRAM – is a set of instructions written in a computer language which tells the
computer to perform specific functions?
HARDCOPY – Is the output from a printer or graphic plotter, usually in form of T
paper.
H
SOFTCOPY- refers to the output on the monitor screen which is not tangible. E
PERIPHERALS – these are terminals linked to the C P U e.g. mouse, monitor.
A bit is a binary digit 1 or 0
A nibble is collection of 4 bits
Byte – is also referred to as a character and it is a collection of related bits. It is also
referred to as the unit for measuring the storage capacity of the computer . Examples
of characters are 6,h,c etc
Kilobyte = 1000 bytes
Megabyte = 100000 Kilobyte
Gigabyte = 1000 megabytes
Field – is a collection of related bytes e.g Nobuhle
Record – is a collection of related fields e.g a record of a patient may consist of fields
for Age, Sex, Address etc.
File – is a collection of related records. A file of students consist of students records
Database/Directory – is a collection of related files

Computer system diagram, a diagram reflecting the computer

configuration
System Unit

C.P.U
CONTROL UNIT

ARITHMETIC
AND
LOGIC UNIT

INPUT OUTPUT

MAIN MEMORY/PRIMARY
MEMORY/STORAGE

AUXILLARY/BACKING/
SECONDARY STORAGE

KEY
 Data/Instruction flow
Command/signal flow
C P U(Central processing Unit)
Is the unit which is known as the brain of the computer because all other units are
connected and work from it. It contains the memory of the computer, has disc drives
in it along with other various components of the computer. It is the function of the C
P U to read, interpret and process data and control the input – output operations of the
system. It has three main components:
 ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
 C U (Control Unit)
 Main memory

CONTROL UNIT

It controls all operations and other unit systems and is usually referred to as the
nervous system. It fetches instructions from the main memory, interpreter those
instructions and gives an appropriate command to a device.

ALU(Arithmetic and Logic Unit)

It carries Arithmetic operations +, -, /, * and Logic operations such as = >, <

MAIN MEMORY

Is the busiest part of the computer memory which is expensive and limited in storage
capacity. It has two main sections which are ROM (Read Only Memory) builds in
the computer system permanently. Stores programs permanently programmed by the
manufacturer. The programs in Rom enable start up of the computer and accept other
programs.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the largest part of the main memory which
carries out the following functions:
 Stores data awaiting processing
 Data currently being processed
 Stores instructions awaiting processing
 Stores instructions awaiting execution
 Stores information temporarily

ROM RAM
Has permanent storage Has temporary storage
Occupies less capacity Occupies the largest capacity
Not volatile Volatile (lose it’s contents when there is a
power cut)
Cannot be altered Allows changes to be made
SECONDARY STORAGE

Due to the fact that the primary storage is limited, in order to store massive programs
and data, the secondary storage is needed to supplement it. Examples of secondary
storage are magnetic tape, floppy disc.

PRIMARY SECONDARY
Less storage capacity Extensive storage capacity
Volatile in nature Not volatile
Access speed is fast Access speed is slow
Expensive to purchase Cheaper to purchase
Usually not portable Portable(that is it can be carried from one
place to another

WORD – is a grouping of binary digits usually larger than and is transferred as a unit
between primary memory registers and processor

Buffers

Are areas of the storage used to hold individual blocks of data temporarily when they
are read in or written out. They hold data during different stages of input or output. A
buffer may be an internal buffer area or buffer registers

Stored program concept

A system architecture scheme, credited largely to the mathematician John Von

Neumann, in which both programs and data are in direct—access storage( random
access memory, or RAM), thereby allowing code and data to be treated
interchangeably.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

 Versatility

Computers are very versatile that is they are capable of performing almost any
task from simple calculations to complex (CAD) computer Aided Devices,
modelling and stimulation to navigating missiles and satellites can communicate
with other computers and receive and send data in various forms, text sound,
video and graphics.

 Automation
Computers can perform a series of complex tasks of which once a task is initiated,
computers can proceed on their own until it is complete. They will execute
programs in the correct sequence, switch on and off at appropriate times, monitor
operational parameters.

 Deligence

Means constant and earnest in working, so application machines don’t get tired,
bored or lose concentration.

 Storage

Computers can store in the main memory and secondary storage. It has the
capability to store and retrieve huge amounts of data in a fast and efficient manner

 Accuracy

Very high error detection and correction techniques prevent false results leaving
errors to human factor.

 Word length

Is the number of bits a computer can process at a time.

A word is a group of bits that can represent a number, a computer, instructions,

one or more text or any group of bits treated as a separate unit of data by the
control unit.
Commonly used word lengths are 8, 16, 32, 64 bits.
The longer the word length the more the computer is able to process.
A word is normally a single storage location.