COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS

The term Computer is derived from the Greek word Compute means to Calculate. Basically, Computer was a Calculating Device. But, now a days computer is a multi- purpose device.

: Definition
Computer is an electronic device which receives data from the user as an input, stores data, process data with high speed and gives meaningful information as an output.

Features:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Speed Storage Accuracy Diligiency Versatility Automation

Speed:
Speed is measured in H:M:S. A second is divided into 4 units. 1. Milli Seconds (10-3) = Thousand part of Sec 2. Micro Seconds(10-6) = Millionth part of sec 3. Nano Seconds(10-9) = Billionth part of sec 4. Pico seconds(10-12) = Trillionth part of sec

Storage :
Storage is measured in Bytes. 8 Bits(Binary Digits)= 1 Byte or 1 Char 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilo Byte (KB) 1024 KB = 1 Mega Byte (MB) 1024 MB = 1 Giga Byte (GB) 1024 GB = 1 Tera Byte (TB)

Accuracy :
Accuracy means exactness. A Computer can perform the given operation with exact result with enormous speed.

Deligiency :
Deligiency means Hard working. Computer can perform the given task day and night continuously without tiredness.

Versatility :
Versatility means All rounding. A computer can perform any type of operation in any field.

Automation :
Automation means repetitions. A computer can display a title or a graphic continuously number of times without intervention of user.

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS
1. ABACUS METHOD :
It was a method introduced by Chinese and Japanese in 3000 B.C. for Counting. It was a wooden frame structure that containing beads and strings. To manipulate the beads on the strings they performed simple calculations like subtractions and additions.

2. Manual Calculating Device :

It was designed by John Napier in 1614. He designed it with bones for multiplications. So, it was called as Napiers Bones Machine. The Slide Rule and the Logarithm Table are examples.

3. Mechanical Adding Machine :

It was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642. It was the first calculator. He designed the engine with gears and wheels. It was also called as Pascaline. It could perform additions, subtractions, divisions and multiplications.

4. Difference Engine & Analytical Engine

Charles Babbage (USA) who is father of modern digital computers designed Difference Engine in 1822 and Analytical Engine in 1833. The Analytical engine was completely digital engine to perform calculations. It was to be capable of 60 additions per minute.

5. Punched Card Device : Herman Hollerith introduced Punched Card Device

in 1887 for

Census purpose. It was called as Census Machine. Hollerith setup a company The Tabulating Machine Company which was became the International Business Machine Company

GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS
First Generation : 1946 - 55
Components : Vacuums Tubes. : 18,000 Numbers Weight : 30 tons Size : 50 to 60 sq.feets.

Advantages :
1. It made possible the designing of digital computers.

Disadvantages :
1. Huge in size. 2. Eliminate more heat. 3. Frequent bursts of Vacuum Tubes. 4. Processing speed was very slow. Eg: ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Ingtegrator and Calculator) EDSAC : Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer EDVAC : Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer UNIVAC : Universal Automatic Computer

Second Generation : 1956 - 65

The Transistor Technology used in this generation. A transistor was made with Silicon in 1948.

Advantages :
1. Small in size 2. Processing speed was improved.

Disadvantages :
1. Failures of components at more heat 2. Frequent disturbances 3. Frequent maintenance. Eg: IBM 7094, IBM - 1620 (IBM - International Business Machine)

Third Generation : 1966 - 75

A computer designed with the Integrated Circuits(ICs) generally called as Chip. The ICs were released in 1964 and made with Silicon(Si) and Germanium(Gr). It was possible to integrate 10,000 components on a single chip.

Advantages :
1. Portable in size. 2. No failures of chips 3. Minimum maintenance

4. Processing speed was very high.

Disadvantages :
1. To made up of IC chips advance technology was required. Eg: IBM - 360, ICL - 1900

Forth Generation : 1976 - 85

In this generation the components were enhanced over 30,000 on a single chip called LSIC (Large Scale Integrated Circuits). The Microprocessors were used.

Advantages : Enormous processing speed Disadvantages : Nil.

Eg: IBM PCs.

Fifth Generation : 1986 onwards

In this generation it is possible to integrated more than one million components on a single chip known as VLSIC (Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits).

Advantages : Enormous Processing speed Disadvantages : Nil.

Our present generation is Fifth Generation. In this generation the VLSIC technology is also called as Artificial Intelligence Technology. Eg: Super Computers, Robots etc. The first Super Computer is Cray -I The latest Super Computer is Param Padma

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
Computers are classified into three categories depending on the type of data they are designed to process. 1. Analog 2. Digital 3. Hybrid

Analog Computers:
1. Manual Computers 2. The Data will be in discrete form. 3. Once the data fed to the computer it will be in continuous form till the data ends. Eg: Computers used in Factories, Oil refilling

Stations, Satellite launching Stations etc,.

Hybrid Computers :
Hybrid computer is the combination of both Analog and Digital Computers. It is mainly used in medical field for ECG(Electro Cardio Graph).

Digital Computers :
1. Micro 1. Speed Milli sec 10-3 2. Storage less 3. Processors single 4. Users One 5. Purpose P.C 6. Cost Cheep 2. Mini Micro sec 10-6 large Multi 50 Net working Expensive 3. Main Nano sec 10-9 large Multi 200 Net working Expensive 4. Super Pico 10-12 large Multi 500 Net working Very expensive

INPUT DEVICES
1. Key Board :
Key Board is the most common input device of a Computer. We can input Alphabets, Numbers and Symbols from the keyboard. It is similar to Type Writer keyboard designed by sholes. It has F1 to F12 -Function keys 0 to 9 -- Number keys A to Z -Alphabetical keys Symbol keys -+,-,=,$,%,@ etc. Special Keys -Inset,Del, Home, End, PgDn, PrtScr Pause etc. Arrow keys or Cursor movement keys Combination Keys --,,, Alt, Shift, Ctrl.

Keyboards are available with 101 keys, 102 keys, 104 keys, 105 keys, 112 keys, 121 keys and 132 keys(Internet Keyboard).

Mouse :
Mouse is an Electro-mechanical input device to select the items on the screen by Clicking, Dragging and Dropping. It mainly used in Graphical applications. Mouse was first introduced by APPLE Company with one button. It is now available as 3 button Scroll mouse.

MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader) :

MICR is used mainly in Banks to process the Cheques. It can read the cheque numbers and special characters on the cheques which are printed by Magnetic ink material(Iron Oxide). It can read 2500 cheques per minute.

OMR & OCR (Optical Mark Reader & Optical Character Reader) :
Both are used to read the answer sheets in the Competitive Examinations. OMR can read the marks which are thickened by the pencil and OCR can read the Alphanumeric data which are hand written or type written. They can read the marks by exposing the Ultra Violet Rays. They can read 2400 marks per minute.

BCR (Bar Code Reader) :

Bar codes are the light and thick lines which stores data of a Company and Goods details etc. Bar codes can read by the Laser beams. Bar codes are displayed on Books, Packages, Parcels, Telephone bills etc. They are used to maintain the secretes of a company.

Scanner :
It scans any data on a document. The scanned document will send to the computer as a Graphic format.

Joystic :
It is especially used to play computer games.

Light Pen :
It is mainly used to draw diagrams for Artists using a screen and a special pen. Micro phone : To input sound data.

OUTPUT DEVICES

MONITOR :
Monitor is a well known output device. It is a Softcopy device. It is generally called as VDU(Visual Display Unit). Normally, Monitor consists of 25 rows and 80 columns. The screen represents number of tiny dots called Pixels(Picture Elements). A normal screen resolution is 200 x 640 pixels. Monitors are two types : 1. Monochrome Monitors 2. Coloured Monitors. Monochrome Monitors displays one colour B&W). Coloured Monitor displays many colours. Monitors are available in 14, 15, 17, 21 sizes.

ADAPTORS :
Adaptors supply colours to the Monitors. The adaptors are 6 types. 1. MGA (Monochrome Graphic Adaptor): It supplies one colour(B&W). 2. CGA (Coloured Graphic Adaptor) : It supplies 6 colours. 3. EGA (Enchanced Graphic Adaptor) : It supplies 16 colours. 4. HGA (Herculus Graphic Adaptor) : It supplies single colour with high resolution for Graphic mode. VGA (Video Graphic Adaptor) : It supplies 256 colours.

SVGA (Super Video Graphic Adaptor) :

It supplies more than 256 colours upto 16 million colours.

PRINTERS :
Printer is a Hard copy Device. We can print out any data which displayed on the Monitor. Basing on the speed and mode of printing, printers are divided into 2 types. 1. Impact Printers 2. Non-impact Printers.

1. Impact Printers :
A header is working for Printing process. The header pins hit the ribbon for printing. These are poor letter quality printers. These are 2 types. 1. Character printers 2. Line printers i) Character Printer :

3. They can print character by character in Dots pattern. The print head comprises of print pins (9 pins or 24 pins). The pins strike out on the ribbon, then the data will be embossed on the paper. 4. The speed is measured in CPS (Characters Per Second). Generally, the printing range is 40 to 250 CPS. 5. Eg: Dotmatrix and Daisy wheel printers.

ii) Line printers :

6. Line printers are impact printers used for producing high volume paper output. They can print line by line. The speed of printing is LPM (Lines Per Minute). The printing range is 300 to 2500 LPM. 7. Eg: Band printers 2. Chain Printers 3. Drum Printers.

Non-impact Printers :
8. These are page printers and letter quality printers. They can print page by page at a time. The speed is measured in PPM (Pages Per Minute). 9. Eg : Ink jet printers , Laser jet printers. 10. In Ink jet printers, the ink in the Cartridges flow through the nozzles and spray on the paper. 11. In Laser jet printers, the chemical powder in the toners flow through the nozzles and spray on the paper. 12. The range of printing is 2 to 20 PPM.

Plotters :
13. Plotters are also the printers to print huge size of data such as Glow sing letters, Geological maps, Survey maps, Architectural Diagrams etc.

: DIAGRAM OF COMPUTER
INPUT DATA Processing INFO OUTPUT

Secondary Memory Primary Memory Input ALU Output

CU

CPU
CPU (Central Processing Unit) :
It is main unit of the computer. It can be regarded as a brain of computer. It can read & write, stores data, retrieving data with its 3 main devices called ALU, CU & MU.

Micro-processor :
ALU & CU are called as Micro-processor. It is the main processing unit in CPU.

ALU (Arithmetical & Logical Unit) :

It can perform arithmetical operations and logical operations. The arithmetical operations (+, -, /, *) can be performed by the Digital Circuits and the logical operations(>, <, >=, <=, <>, and, or, not) can be performed by the Logic gates with the help of Boolean Algebra. The result will be performed in this unit.

CU (Control Unit) :
It is main unit in CPU. It manages and co-ordinates all the units in the CPU. It issues signals to the other units like Central Nervous System of Brain. It regulates data flow like Traffic Police.

MU (Memory Unit) :
Memory means storage of data. Memory is a collection of compartments(locations). Each location is assigned a number called its address. Each memory location subcompartments that can store 0s and 1s.

Memory is 2 types. I. Primary memory II. Secondary memory. I. Primary Memory : It is main memory which stores less quantity of data. It is 2 types. 1. ROM 2. RAM

1. ROM (Read Only Memory) :

It is non-volatile (Permanent) memory. It is only for reading. The user can not modify or erase the data in the ROM. When the power is switched off the data can not lost. The information which is required for computer will be written on the BIOS chip with Firmware programs. Every time computer is turned on, the programs in ROM automatically checks all the circuits to see that they work. It is 3 types. 1. PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) 2. EPROM (Erasable PROM) 3. EEPROM (Electrically EPROM)

2. RAM (Random Access Memory) :

It is volatile (Temporary) data. The uses can alter or erase the data in the RAM. When the power is switched off, the data will be lost. RAM is also reffered as Read / Write memory. RAM is measured in Kilobytes(KB). 1 KB to 256 KB. It is 2 types. 1. DRAM (Dynamic RAM) 2. SRAM (Static RAM)

SECONDARY MEMORY:
Secondary memory is the auxiliary memory. It stores large volume of data on a permanent basis. The secondary memory storage devices are : Floppy Disks, Hard disks, CDs, DVDs, Zip drives, Jaz drives, Magnetic tapes etc.

FLOPPY DISK
Read & Write slot Disk Protecting Shell Disk Protecting Notch Index hole Disk Rotating spindle Circular disk On / Off switch A 31/2 FLOPPY DISK

Inside Floppy Disk

Tracks & Sectors Sectors Bits 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 8 Bits = 1 Byte or 1 Char A DISK A TRACK

FLOPPY DISK :
Floppy disk is a single disk with limited data. It is a flexible disk made with Mylar plastic material and coated with Iron Oxide(Fe2O) material on the disk surfaces. The disk has two surfaces divided with concentric invisible circles called Tracks. Each Track is divided with number of compartments called Sectors. The data will be stored in the sectors in the form of 0s & 1s. Floppy disks are available in 3 sizes. 31/2, 51/4 and 8 disks. The general size floppy disk is 31/2 disk with 1.44 MB maximum capacity as Double sided and High Density(2HD). The speed of disk is measured in RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). The floppy disk has 1400 RPM

A HARD DISK

Plotter Cylinder Central Shaft Disk Protecting Shell

HARD DISK :
Hard disk is a set of disks. It is a multiple disk pack. The disks are made with Aluminium material. The pack has 2 to 10 disks with a central shaft. Each disk has 2 surfaces(Plotters). Each Plotter has tracks & sectors. The sectors are sub-divided as Clusters to store data. The plotters are coated with Iron Oxide material. Hard disks are available with 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, 8GB, 10GB to 250GB. The speed of a Hard disk is 3600 RPM, 4800 RPM, 7200 and above RPM.

CD (Compact Disk) :
Compact disk is made with rigid plastic material coated with Aluminium layer and again coated with Iron Oxide. The surface of the Disk has number of invisible pits. The data will be stored in the pits by burning process by Laser beams by the CD writers. A CD can store upto 700 MB of maximum capacity. Its speed is 8X to 52X(5200 RPM). CDs are 2 types. 1. CD-Rom - CD Read only. Once written read many (Worm) 2. CDRW - CD Re-Writable (Read & Write)

DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) :

A DVD and a CD look the same. The DVD technology provides a storage capacity that is at least 6 to 7 times greater than a CD. A DVD can stores more than 4.7 GB of data. A DVD-ROM Drive can play CD-ROMs and Audio CDs also.

HARDWARE :
A set of physical components which are made up of a material and visible to the human eye called Hardware. Eg: All peripherals of Computer.

SOFTWARE :
A set of instructions which control the peripherals to run the computer called software. To run the computer successfully, the software programs must be loaded into RAM from the ROM and the Hard disk. Software is two types. 1. System Software 2. Application Software.

1. SYSTEM SOFTWARE :
A set of programs written for the system which provide the environment to facilitate to writing of Application software. The System software is 3 types. 1). Language Translators 2). Operating Systems

3). Utility Programs.

1). Language:
Language means the way of communication to understand by each other. A common language to us to communicate. But to communicate with the system, we must communicate with the programming language. A set of instructions written in a particular language called Programming Language. It is 3 types. a. Low Level Language(LLL) or Machine Language. b. Assemble Level Language(ALL) c. High Level Language(HLL).

a. Machine Language :
Computer can understand only this language. A machine language is a set of instructions which are coded as a series of 1s and 0s. The machine language is machine dependent and the instructions in machine language will differ from machine to machine. Writing programs in machine language are very difficult.

b. Assemble Language :
It is code language. The programs written in symbolic codes. Eg: add, sub, mul, div etc. It is also machine dependent and varies from machine to machine. Writing programs in the code language are very difficult and the programs cannot understand by the computer.

c. High Level Language :

It is English language. It is programming language containing meaningful words. It is machine independent and can be used in different types of computers. It is easy to write programs in this language. Eg: COBOL : Common Business Oriented Language FORTRAN : Formula Translation BASIC : Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, Pascal, C, SQL(Structured Query Language), VB(Visual Basic) etc.

Language Translators :
The Assemble language and High level language must be converted into 0s and 1s to understand by the computer. The translators are 3 types. 1. Assembler : It is a software program that translates Assembly language program into binary machine language program. 2. Interpreter : It is a software program that translates and executes High Level Language programs into Machine Language programs line by line. 3. Compiler : It is also a software program that converts the High Level Language programs into Machine Language programs the entire program at a time

2). Operating System :

An operating system is a collection of programs that instructs the PC how to work its various components. It acts as an interface between user and the Computer. It provides link between users program and computers hardware. It is two types. 1. Single User OS : It allows only one user. It is 2 types. a. Single User & Single Tasking :It allows one user for single tasking. Eg: Dos. b. Single User & Multi Tasking : It allows one user for multi tasking. Eg: Windows.

2. Multi User OS :
It allows many users to work. It is 2 types. a. Multi User & Single Tasking : It allows many users for single tasking. Eg: Payroll b. Multi user & Multi Tasking : It allows many user for multi tasking. Eg: Unics, Windows-NT(New Technology).

Utility Programs :
These software programs are written by the programmers and supplied along with the software. Eg: Text editor, sorting, formatting etc.

2. APPLICATION SOFTWARE :
A set of programs which allow the user to write the specified applications called application software. It is 2 types. 1. Standard Product.2. Normal Product. Standard Software Product : A software product which is useful to all users for their tasks and accepted by ANSI (American Nations Standard Institution) called standard product. The product is universal product and can be released into International market through CDs. Eg: Ms.Office, Foxpro, Oracle, PageMaker etc.

Normal Software Product :

A set of programs written to perform a specified application. The product is limited in use. Eg: Student marks reports, Employees salary reports, Electricity bills, Telephone bills software.

Number System :
Any data must be converted into 0s&1s to understand by the system. The data may be characters, numbers, symbols and special characters of any. Number system is basically 4 types. 1. Binary number system : 0,1 2. Octal number system : 0 -7 3. Decimal number system : 0 -9 4. Hexa Decimal number system : 0 -9 & A -F.

We have been using Decimal number system in our day-to-day life. So, the numbers must be converted into systems binary language through the memory codes. The codes may be 6 bit BCD(Binary Coded Decimal) code, 7 bit ASCII(American Standard Code for Information Interchange) code, and 8 bit EBCDIC(Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code).

65 Decimal to Binary Conversion : A - 65 (ASCII Code) 2 32 2 16 2 8 2 4 2 2 2 1 -

1 0 0 0 0 0

Hence, the Binary number is 1000001

THE END