TAGUMPAY NAGAÑO HIGH SCHOOL

Diversion, San Leonardo Nueva Ecija 3102

T. L. E. 7
Quarter 1
( Week 1 – 2)

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 TAGUMPAY NAGAÑO HIGH SCHOOL
Diversion, San Leonardo Nueva Ecija 3102

Quarter1: Module 1
Introduction to Computing

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS

Technology becomes integral part of our lives nowadays. It includes but not limited to the use of
computer and other communication devices. But despite of these, are we familiar of what a
computer is? What are the different hardware components of computer, its characteristics,
limitations, and uses?

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

A computer is an electronic multipurpose device that receives, process, displays and stores data. It
process data to create information. Data is a collection of unorganized facts, including words,
numbers, pictures, and sounds. Information is the result of processed data that are organized with
its meaning and use.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

Computer is an electronic device which is used to store the data, as given instructions it gives result
quickly and accurately. It becomes man’s brainpower extension because of the characteristics such
as speed, accuracy, storage capacity, diligence, versatility, power of remembering, no IQ and no
feeling.

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LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTER

1. Dependence on Prepared Instructions

ORGANIZATION OF COMPUTER

It is concerned on understanding of the basic computer hardware structure together with peripheral
devices. It realizes the computer operational units and their interconnections to form the computer
system.

Figure 1. The Basic Organization of a Computer System and its Hardware Components

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CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)or simply referred as processor, the brain and heart of the
computer. Inside the computer system, the processing is mostly performed by the CPU. It is
considered as the most important element in a computer system. It processes the data and produces
output, which may store by an application or displayed on the screen. The CPU has two
components, namely:

1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - performs arithmetic and logical operations.

Registers are the internal memory units of CPU that contain information used in the Arithmetic
Logic Unit (ALU) processing.

COMPUTER PERIPHERALS

These devices are the computer external taking in information, allowing the computer to
put out information in visible and audible form.
Without peripherals, communication with computer would be far more limited.
Peripheral devices can be external or internal. There are many different peripheral devices,
but they fall into the following general categories:

A. INPUT DEVICES

Refer to the physical pieces of computer hardware used for sending data or instructions into computer.

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B. OUTPUT DEVICES

It provides and displays output from the computer.

C. INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES

Perform both input and output functions, such as computer data storage device including a disk
drive, USB flash drive, memory card, and tape drive, smart board and a touch screen. Gadgets
such as digital watches, smartphones, and tablet computers have interfaces which allow them to
be used as computer peripheral devices.

D. STORAGE DEVICES

Aside from the different devices attached on a computer, there are also called storage devices. This
device is used to store, port and extract information either in permanent or semipermanent form.

Types of Storage Devices

1. Primary storage devices

They are usually design in smaller size but in data access these devices have the fastest speed.
Primary storage device includes the RAM, graphic card memory and cache memory. Primary
storage is also called as main storage, main memory or internal memory.

2. Secondary storage devices

They are usually having large storage capacity and are usually used to store data permanently.
Secondary storage devices include the hard disk drive, optical disc drive and flash drive. A
secondary storage device is being known as an auxiliary storage device or external storage.

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MODULATOR-DEMODULATOR (MODEM)

A modem is a hardware component that enables computer to connect over the internet through
devices like router or switch to transmit data over telephone or cable lines in the form of analog
waves.

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 Quarter1: Module 1
Computer Memory

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS

How large is a human brain? Do computers have brains? Can we make the computer like a human
brain? These are the questions that trigger our mind as we heard about computer memory.

Let us find out!

COMPUTER MEMORY

A memory is just like a human brain. It is the storage space in the computer where data is to be
processed, and instructions needed for processing are stored. Memory is primarily of three types.

1. PRIMARY MEMORY/MAIN MEMORY

Types of Memory

a. ROM or Read Only Memory is a non-volatile memory meaning it can hold data even when the
power is ON or OFF.

b. RAM or Random Access Memory is a volatile memory which can hold data and instructions
while processing is happening. When the power is off, contents of RAM are lost. The CPU is the
brain of the computer while RAM is the working memory or thinking memory used to store data.

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2. CACHE MEMORY

It is a high-speed memory that speeds up the CPU and makes data retrieval from the computer's
memory more efficient by holding parts of the most frequent used data and program of the CPU.
The advantage of cache memory is that it is faster compared to main memory resulting to less
consuming of access time but being very expensive and its limited capacity are some cons of using
it.

3. SECONDARY MEMORY

It is also known as external memory use for storing data and information permanently. Secondary
memory is not directly accessed by the CPU. The contents of secondary memories are first read
by the main memory before it can be accessed by the CPU. Examples are CD-ROM, DVD, and
disk.

Directions: For deeper knowledge on computer memory, utilize the internet and watch the video
presentation using the URL below.

https://youtu.be/c3m9r62jMS8