Lusaka Business and Technical College | Engineering Department

Lesson notes 2: ELEMENTS OF A COMPUTER

Program: TTL1 / Craft / Tech / Dip
Subject: Introduction To Computers
Intake: Year 1
ELEMENTS OF A COMPUTER

A computer is a machine made of devices that allows you to enter data (input) process it (CPU), store it
(memory) and output the result.

For an electronic device to be called a computer, it must be composed of the following elements

▪ Input unit
▪ Processor (Central Processing Unit) Unit
▪ Memory unit
▪ Output unit

Input Unit
This is the unit that enables a computer to accept data from the user or environment for processing. The
input Unit is formed by that we use to feed data into the computer known as input devices.

At this point it is imortant

The following are the some of the examples of input devices:

Keyboard

A keyboard is a device that is used to enter alphabetical, numerical and other characters into the
computer by pressing keys or buttons. When a keyboard button is pressed, a character represented appears
on the screen. Below is a picture of a typical computer keyboard.

Figure 2.1

Page 1 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
Mouse
Mouse is the most common input device for selecting option from a Graphical User Interface
(GUI. A typical mouse consist of four parts: a right button, left button, scroll button and a light
detector beneath it to sense directions of movements when it is move on a flat surface. Thus,
when the mouse is connected to the system unit, a pointer symbol appears on the screen, this
symbol corresponds to the movement of a mouse.

Note: there are different types of mice. The figure below shows a typical mouse and a gaming
mouse (which has 9 buttons).

Basic mouse
Gaming mouse

Figure 2.2

Scanner

A scanner is a device that is used to convert paper documents such as photographs and pages of
text into a digital format. A scanner reads an image and converts it into a digital file.

Take a challenge stop worrying about how to move with all your necessary paper documents
such as NRC, certificates, Receipts etc. have your documents scanned and store them on a
suitable storage device (to be covered later) or electronic mail box. The figure below shows an
example of a scanner:

Figure 2.3

Page 2 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
Microphone

A microphone detects sound and converts it into electric signals which are then transmitted to the
computer. The received analog signals are then converted into digital signals, by a special
hardware, so that it can be manipulated and stored by the computer.

A microphone is used for online chatting during video and audio call, voice recognition, voice
recorder, etc. Microphone of a computer is mounted inside the casing. The following figure
shows some of the variety of microphone:

Figure 2.4

Processor (Central Processing Unit) Unit

Data is entered in the computer through the Input Devices for processing. The processor, also
known as Central Processing Unit, performs processing (thus manipulation) of data into
information. It is the unit that reads and executes program instructions. Hence it is known as the
brain of the computer.

The Central Processing Unit abbreviated as CPU has two main components namely Arithmetic
and Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU). Other components of the CPU include Registers;
this is simply the type of memory found in the CPU.

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

The ALU performs arithmetical and logical operations.

▪ Arithmetical operations are mathematical activities that involve addition, subtraction,
manipulation, division or multiplication.
▪ Logical operations involve comparison of data items. For example, comparing if two data
items match or if one is greater than the other. Let me give a simple practical example
here: when you enter a password for your account on the computer, or PIN number for
the ATM bank machine. The ALU will compare if the data you have entered matches the
information stored in the system.
o Logical operations also include those which evaluate whether a given statement is
true or false.

Page 3 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
Control Unit (CU)

This is a component that coordinates how data moves around the CPU; it directs the operations
of the CPU.

▪ The Control Unit tells the computer’s memory, ALU, Input and Output devices how to
respond to program’s instructions.
▪ The Control Unit is the one that fetches instructions from Main memory for execution in
the CPU.

Output Unit

When the Central Processing Unit processes or converts data into information, this information is
made available to the user by computer hardware known as output devices. Thus, output is the
product of processing that is meant for the user (humans). The output devices present
information in a form that is readable or understood by humans, such as video or audio.

Let me draw your attention to our previous lesson, where I explained that the computer sees and
understands data and information as patterns of zeros (0s) and ones (1s), referred to as binary
digits (bits). With this in mind know that all the beautiful pictures that you see on the screen, the
computer does not see or read them as you do. It is all a combination of zeros and ones, different
patterns representing different dots (pixels) of different colors forming an image which is
represented to the user.

A computer will display information on the screen for the user to see, or produce sound for the
user to hear, or vibrations for the user to feel ( for example when one is playing a car racing
game such as need for speed, when a car hits into a wall, the game pads will vibrate to notify or
signal the player of the occurrence). All this is done by hardware equipment called output
devices.

The following are the different examples of output devices:

Monitor
This is a visual display unit of a computer where softcopy
output is presented

▪ It allows the user to view the output.

Speakers Page
are output
4 of 11 devices that produce audio signals
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri received from sound card.
Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy

- A sound card is what enables a computer to send audio

signals to audio devices.
Speaker

Printer

A printer is a device that produces hardcopy output.

The computer transmits images to a printer, which
then recreates the received image on paper.

Now, you may have come across different quality and fill of printouts. Some appear with very
good quality such that even if the paper gets wet, depending to what extent, the prints will still be
intact where as some prints easily get messed up.

This is because there are two categories of printers and each category has different types of
printers.

For more on types of printers follow the links below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEVurb1uVFA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr0qKDnPNmE

Plotter
This is a computer hardware device which is used to produce
vector graphics. (Click for more on Vector graphics-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fs2t6P5AjY or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJFc3KlEdLM )

Plotters are different from printers in the sense that they do not
use toner, they use writing tools such as pen, pencil and marker
to draw multiple, and continuous lines forming images. onto a
paper.
Page 5 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email:▪lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
Plotters are used to produce very large drawings.
MEMORY ELEMENT
Memory element also referred to as Storage Element is the unit that holds data, information and
programs in a computer.

The memory element contains two types of memory, thus Primary Memory and Secondary
Memory.

Note that, often the term Storage is used to refer to the secondary Memory.

Primary Memory
Primary Memory is the type of Memory that holds data, information and instructions that are
currently in use.

▪ Key word here is currently in use.

▪ The thing is that the other type of memory (secondary Memory) is a slow medium. It is
important to note here that the CPU works at a very high speed, and because of this
nature it cannot work with a device that is slow. It needs a device that can be accessed at
a speed of which its operations can be supported, and this is where the primary memory
comes in. therefore all data and programs that are currently being worked on by the CPU
reside in primary memory.
▪ When data is entered in the computer awaiting processing, it is held in Primary Memory.
And all programs and information on secondary memory, when activated, are loaded into
primary memory.

TYPES OF PRIMARY MEMORY

There are two types of Primary Memory namely Random Access memory (RAM) and Read
Only Memory (ROM).

Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM also known as main memory is the actual Memory used to hold data or programs which
are running on a computer.

▪ This is the short-term (temporary) memory of a computer, which loses contents when
power to the computer is cut or turned off. (Have you ever experienced or heard someone
complaining when there is a sudden interruption of power supply? You would go like
“Oh no! My work is gone, I was not saving!”) Now that is characteristic of RAM which
is referred to as Volatile.
o This is why every time you are creating, or making changes to document or
editing a photo, before you close the application or turn off the computer, a
Page 6 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
 message will pop up asking you if you want to save the changes. Because if you
don’t save, you will not find the changes you made or document you created next
time.
o By performing a save operation your document or work is transferred to
secondary memory (backing storage).
▪ Main Memory is referred to as Random Access because it the time it takes for the CPU
to access content is not affected by its physical location. Any location in RAM can be
directly accessed like any other, hence the term Random Access.

Read Only Memory (ROM).

As the name suggest, this is the type of memory that comes with contents from the manufacturer.
Only the read operation can be performed on this type of memory. That is, the memory can only
be read and cannot be altered or written to.

▪ The contents of ROM are permanently written to it, theyare hardwired on it.
▪ Unlike RAM, Read Only Memory ROM is non-volatile which means it does not lose the
contents even in the absence of power..
▪ The user of the computer does not use this type memory when working on any
application or saving a document.(it is read only, nothing can be written to)
▪ Every operation that a computer performs, it does so by executing instructions which
reside in primary memory. For example when a computer is starting up, there are series
of steps that are carried out in order for it to be ready for use. To do this the CPU
executes of run instructions that readily available in Primary memory ROM.

Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory is also referred to as backing storage. This is the type of memory used for
permanent storage.

▪ Once data has been processed the information produced can be stored for future reference
in what is known as secondary or backing storage.
▪ Backing storage is non-volatile, thus, even when the computer is switched off or power
removed from the device, it returns the contents (you will find the contents the next time
you access the device).
▪ Backing storage is not directly accessed by the CPU, it is slower than main memory;
therefore, anything on this storage that has to be worked on is first copied to main
memory. Remember that if any changes are made to the contents which have been loaded
into main memory, a save operation is to be performed for those changes to be transferred
to the actual file on the backing storage.

Page 7 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
 ▪ Note: that backing storage includes external storage devices, whereas main memory is
internal memory of a computer.

There are three types of backing storage technology

• Magnetic storage
• Optical storage
• Solid state storage

Magnetic Storage
The magnetic storage devices consist of tiny particles that are magnetisable. The parts of the
storage medium that are used to read and write data are called read-write heads, they contain
electromagnets.

▪ When electromagnet comes close to the tiny magnetisable particles, the particles become
charged. In the previous lesson you learnt that a computer understands binary, 0s and 1s,
with this in mind;
o Particles that are charged represent 1s and uncharged particles represent 0s. These
particles are arranged in a certain pattern to represent different data.
▪ Magnetic storage media involve moving particles during the process of reading and
writing.
▪ Magnetic storage devices include the following:
o Hard disk

o Magnetic tape

o Floppy disk

Page 8 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
 Above image shows both sides of a floppy disk.

Optical Storage
Optical storage devices use light reflection (Laser) to read and write data.

Two things are required for optical storage technology, one is the optical media which are
circular discs and the other is optical drives which have the laser beam source for lightening and
the photo diodes for generating the voltages patterns when the reflection beam hit on these.

• CD (Compact Disc)
o These are mostly used for storage of music files and some programs.
o They have low storage capacity of about 700 MB.
• DVD (Digital versatile Disc):
o Other than storing what an ordinary CD can, DVDs are used to store standard
definition (SD) movies. (Standard Definition (SD) quality is the cheapest format
of movies)
o The capacity of DVDs is more than that of CDs. They have a capacity of 4.7GB
• BD (Blue-Ray Disc):
o These are used for storing high definition movies and these have larger capacities
than both the CD and DVD.

Variations of optical disks

CD-ROM/ DVD-ROM/BD-ROM
Compact Disk-Read Only Memory is an optical disk which contains data which cannot be
changed. The contents on the disk can only be read.

Page 9 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
CD-R/DVD-R/BD-R
Compact Disk-Recordable is also referred to as WORM (Write Once Read Many). This is the
type of disk that is writable.
However once data has been written to this disk it cannot be deleted or edited. Thus it can only
be written once but can be read many times.

CD-RW/DVD-RW/BD-RW
Compact Disk-Rewritable is a disk that can be read and be written to. Data written to Rewritable
disk can be edited or deleted.
Solid State Storage
Solid State Storage (SSS) is the type of non-volatile storage that does not involve any moving
parts in its operations like the other two described above. Now let me bring this close to what
you may be familiar with; have you noticed that when you insert a CD in the CD drive there is a
sound that is produced likened to something rotating or moving? Now that sound is as a result of
a disk spinning (moving) so that the lens can read or write on different sectors of the disk.

Just like Optical storage devices, magnetic storage also involves moving parts during the read
and write operations, which is not the case with Solid State Storage.

Solid State Storage is electrically erasable and rewritable and this is what makes it work faster
than magnetic and optical storage.

The following are examples of Solid State Storage:

USB flash drive

This is the storage device that

comes in different sizes and is
connected to a USB port.

Multimedia Card (MMC)

This is a storage media which is

used on portable devices, such
as a camera, and can be removed
and used on a Personal
computer.

Page 10 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy
SD Memory Card

Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card is used in mobile

devices such as cell phones.

- MMC and SD cards differ in their physical

size, capacity and their usage.

The Image above shows both sides of micro SD Card.

Follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaN1SKti3ts&t=14s to know how data is

stored on the three storage technologies.

Analytical question
Types of storage devices
Click on the link below to watch a video on computer storage devices and attempt the question
that follows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0KIfGxp37E

Question: Outline five factors that must be considered when selecting or buying a computer
storage device.

Page 11 of 11
Lecturer: Ms. E. Phiri Email: lizzyphiri30@gmail.com SkypeId: Lizzy