Introduction of

Information and
Communication
Technologies
LECTURE NO 2

Prepared by : Miss Mehwish Mehmood

 Introduction to Computers
A computer:
◦ Is an electronic machine
◦ Allow users to store information
◦ Enables to carry out different operations to process that information

Computer Basics / Session 1 2

 Uses of Computers
A computer allow users to store information in various formats and process it to perform different actions:
◦ Process complex data
◦ Access information remotely
◦ Watch movies for entertainment

The different tasks that are executed by an user using a computer are:
◦ Store, format, and print text files
◦ Write, test, and execute different types of software
◦ Maintain records of financial statements
◦ Present information in a visually appealing manner
◦ Access various kinds of information and resources from all over the world
◦ Exchange electronic mails with contacts
◦ Watch movies, listen to music, and play games

Computer Basics / Session 1 3

 Terminology [1-7]
The description of the following terms helps the user to understand the working of the computer in detail

◆ Hardware
Are physical components of a computer
Includes all the mechanical, electronic and magnetic parts of a computer

◆ Software
Is a program that enables the computer to operate
Is a set of codes or rules in electronic form
Instructs the computer about actions to be taken
Referred as a program or an application
Example - Internet Explorer is a software for accessing the Internet

Computer Basics / Session 1 4

 Terminology [2-7]

◆ Operating System (OS)

Is collective software that integrates various software programs
Acts as an interface between the user and the computer
Manages interaction between software and hardware resources
Example - Microsoft Windows is an operating system

◆ Data
Is a distinct piece of information present in a form suitable for computer processing
Is different from programs
Can exist in various formats, such as electronic format or number or text on a paper
Example - Numbers entered by the user are data for the calculator program

Computer Basics / Session 1 5

 Terminology [3-7]

◆ Workstation
Is a type of computer used for professional tasks that require high performance
Have the capacity to store and process large quantities of data
Have more powerful resources than regular desktop computers
Linked together to form a network of computers known as local area network

◆ Booting
Is a process by which the operating system loads and starts when the computer is turned on

Computer Basics / Session 1 6

 Terminology [4-7]

◆ Units of Memory
Represents data by presence or absence of electronic charge
Uses only two numbers to represent any kind of data known as binary data
A Bit or binary digit:
◦ Is the smallest unit of data that can be stored on a machine
◦ Can have only one of the two possible values, 0 or 1
◦ Is not suitable to measure data in large quantities
◦ Bytes:
◦ Are series of bits combined into larger units to obtain meaningful information

Computer Basics / Session 1 7

 Terminology [5-7]

The table lists the units of measurement of computer data

Higher Unit Lower Unit

1 Byte 8 Bits

1 Kilobyte (KB) 1024 Bytes

1 Megabyte (MB) 1024 KB

1 Gigabyte (GB) 1024 MB

1 Terabyte (TB) 1024 GB

Computer Basics / Session 1 8

 Terminology [6-7]

◆ Units of Speed – kHz, MHz, GHz

All electronic components work on a clock signal
The number of oscillations per second determines the speed of the device
The table lists the different units of speed

Unit of Speed Number of Clock Cycles

Kilohertz (kHz) One thousand clock cycles per second

Megahertz (MHz) One million clock cycles per second

Gigahertz (GHz) One billion clock cycles per second

Computer Basics / Session 1 9

 Terminology [7-7]

◆ Desktop
Is the first screen users view after the computer is switched on and the boot up process is completed

◆ Soft Copy
Is the electronic version of data that users can view on a computer screen and is not in printed form on a
paper

◆ Hard Copy
Is the printed, non-electronic version of the soft copy
Is also known as a printout

Computer Basics / Session 1 10

 Generations of Computers

Major milestones achieved in the history of computer development are regarded as computer
generations
With each new generation, computers have become smaller in size, more powerful, and less
expensive
Each generation of computers are characterized by a major technological advancement that
changed the way how computers operate

Computer Basics / Session 1 11

 First Generation [1-2]

1944:
◦ IBM developed the first electro-mechanical computer
◦ Named it IBM Automatic Science Controlled Computer (ASCC) or Mark I
◦ Made from hundreds of thousands of mechanical components
◦ Was huge, slow, and very expensive machine

1946:
◦ Presper Eckert and John Mauchly developed Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Computer (ENIAC)
◦ Was the first general purpose electronic computer that could be programmed to
execute different computing tasks
◦ Was thousand times faster than electro-mechanical computers developed earlier
◦ Used vacuum tubes for circuits and magnetic drums for memory

Computer Basics / Session 1 12

 First Generation [2-2]

ENIAC was improved further to develop advanced computers based on vacuum tubes, such as Electronic
Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) and Universal Automatic Computer I (UNIVAC I)
EDVAC was based on the concept of Turing Machine, a hypothetical machine that could store program
and data
UNIVAC I was built in 1951 and was the first commercial computer developed in the United States of
America (USA)
Computers of the first generation used machine language to perform operations
Machine language consisted of only binary 1s and 0s which:
◦ Was very difficult for programmers to work
◦ Could not be easily debugged
Executed only one job at a time
Executing a large program involving multiple routines was tedious and time-consuming

Computer Basics / Session 1 13

 Second Generation [1-2]

Was built using transistors instead of vacuum tubes

A transistor is an electronic device made of semi-conductor material
Advantages of transistors are as follows:
◦ Faster
◦ Smaller
◦ Energy-efficient
◦ Reliable
◦ Cheaper than vacuum tubes
◦ Generates virtually no heat in comparison to vacuum tubes

Second generation of computers used punch cards for individual input and tapes
for batch input and printouts for output
Memory used in these computers was based on memory core technology

Computer Basics / Session 1 14

 Second Generation [2-2]

These computers used symbol-based or assembly language

Symbolic languages allowed programmers to specify instructions in words
Higher-level languages, such as COBOL and FORTRAN were also developed during
the second generation

Computer Basics / Session 1 15

 Third Generation

Were based on semiconductor technology

Used small chips of semiconducting material
Were cheaper, smaller in size, and operated at much faster speeds
The use of Integrated Circuits (ICs) mounted on tiny chips led to the shrinking of space
Enabled commercial production of personal computers at a large scale
Introduced the concept of an operating system

Computer Basics / Session 1 16

 Fourth Generation [1-2]

Used microprocessor that includes thousands of integrated circuits on to a single

semiconductor chip
Microprocessor:
Was first used in electronic calculators and later lead to development of modern Personal Computers (PCs)
Acts as Central Processing Unit (CPU) for most electronic devices
Resulted in shrinking of the size of computers

Can perform all the tasks of a full-scale computer

Computer Basics / Session 1 17

 Fourth Generation [2-2]

The main characteristics that separated microprocessors from the computers of earlier generations
are as follows:
◦ Instruction Set - Microprocessors used assembly language for programming
◦ Instructions Per Second - The performance of a microprocessor was measured in terms of how many
instructions it could execute per second
◦ Clock Speed - Defines the frequency (number of clock cycles per second) of the signal at which the
microprocessor operates

Fourth generation of computers is also characterized by use of Graphical User Interface (GUI) and
mouse

Computer Basics / Session 1 18

 Basic Computer Components

Following components work in conjunction to perform the tasks specified by the

user:
◦ Hardware components
◦ Motherboard
◦ Central Processing Unit (CPU)
◦ Input Devices
◦ Output Devices
◦ Storage Devices

◦ Software components
◦ System Software
◦ Application Software

Computer Basics / Session 1 19

 Hardware Components [1-10]

◆ Motherboard
Is a large rectangular board inside the computer’s cabinet with integrated circuitry that connects
several hardware components
Provides connectors to connect other peripheral components

Sample Motherboard
Computer Basics / Session 1 20
 Hardware Components [2-10]

◆ Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Is the heart of the computer
Performs various arithmetic and logical operations
Controls all the tasks a computer performs
Consists of following functional components:
◦ Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) – performs all the computations for arithmetic and logical
operations
◦ Control Unit (CU) – provides control signals to supervise the operations of the CPU
◦ Set of registers – Contains temporary data generated during computations
◦ Buses – are communication pathways that carry data between different functional units

Computer Basics / Session 1 21

 Hardware Components [3-10]

◆ Input Devices
Accepts data from the user and transmits it to the CPU in electronic form for processing
The table lists some of the commonly used input devices

Input Device Description

Keyboard Main input device for the computer
Mouse Basic input device that converts user click/actions into electronic signals
Scanner An image based input device which captures images of the documents and sends it
to a scanning software in the computer for processing
Joystick Motion control device used to play games

Computer Basics / Session 1 22

 Hardware Components [4-10]

◆ Output Devices
Accepts processed data from the computer and present it to the user in a legible format
The table lists some of the commonly used output devices

Output Device Description

Visual Display Unit An external monitor acts as the visual display device
(VDU) or Monitor
Printers Prints the output on a sheet of paper, as a hard copy
Plotters Plotters are special type of printers used to print graphs and large
drawings
Speakers Speakers accept audio signals from the computer as input and convert
them into audible sound

Computer Basics / Session 1 23

 Hardware Components [5-10]

◆ Storage Devices
Are also called as memory devices
Is used to record digital data from the computer in different formats
Can be classified as Primary storage devices and Secondary storage devices

◦ Primary Storage Devices

Is located within the computer cabinet
Is used to store data for direct access by the CPU

Computer Basics / Session 1 24

 Hardware Components [6-10]

◆ The table lists some of the commonly used primary storage devices

Primary Storage Device Description

Read-Only Memory (ROM) Memory once written, cannot be erased but can be read multiple times. It
contains startup instructions and other data permanent

Random Access Memory (RAM) Provides high data access speeds.

RAM is used to store program instructions and data temporarily.
Unique addressees and can store in any location
Quickly retrieve information.

Computer Basics / Session 1 25

Hardware Components [6-10]
Two types of RAM are as follows:
◆ Static RAM (SRAM) – provides faster access speeds but is expensive

◆ Dynamic RAM (DRAM) – provides slower access speeds than SRAM and is
used in modern commercial computers
 Hardware Components [7-10]

◆ ROM can be further classified as follows:

◦ Programmable ROM (PROM) - Non-volatile memory similar to ROM except that content
is written after manufacturing the device
◦ Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM) - Non-volatile memory similar to PROM except
that its contents can be erased
◦ Electronically Erasable PROM (EEPROM) - Non-volatile memory which can be erased
and re-written several times

◆ Secondary Storage Devices

Is used to permanently store the data for a long time
Is not directly accessed by the CPU
Acts as an external storage device

Computer Basics / Session 1 27

 Hardware Components [8-10]

◦ The table lists some of the commonly used secondary storage devices

Storage Device Description

Magnetic Tape Made up of a plastic strip coated with magnetic material
Magnetic Disks Non-volatile secondary memory similar to magnetic tapes with a read/write
head is used to access any location directly on the disk
Two main types of magnetic disks are as follows:
◆ Floppy Disk – stores up to 1.44 MB of data

◆ Zip Disks – similar to floppy disk, but provides storage capacity of up to

100 MB

Computer Basics / Session 1 28

 Hardware Components [9-10]
◦ The table lists some of the commonly used secondary storage devices

Storage Device Description

Optical Disks Non-volatile secondary storage device uses a strong, laser beam to record the data
on a reflective surface
Optical disks are of three main types:
◆ CD-ROM: Compact Disk – Read Only Memory
◆ WORM: Write Once Read Many
◆ CD-RW: Compact Disk – ReWritable
Cache Memory A special type of RAM that provides much faster access speeds than regular RAM

Computer Basics / Session 1 29

 Hardware Components [10-10]

◆ USB Drives and External Hard Disks

Is a type of Flash Memory
Is non-volatile memory that can be erased and reprogrammed
Can store large amounts of data in very small sized memory chips
USB Drives:
Also called as pen drives
Are based on Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology
External hard disk:
Is largest capacity hard drive connected externally to the computer by using a USB cable
Is compatible with all operating systems

Computer Basics / Session 1 30

 Buses, Ports, and Peripherals

• Information travels between components

through groups of wires called Buses.
Buses, Ports, and Peripherals
•Peripherals are external devices for receiving input or producing output.
•Example (keyboard, monitor, and mouse).
•Communicate with other parts of the system.

•Ports provide attachment and communication with external devices by means of:
•Slots ( For internal attachments )
•Ports ( For external attachments )
 Software Components [1-3]
◆ Software is a program that contains lines of codes or instructions
◆ Computer software can be categorized in to the following two categories:
◦ System Software
◦ Application Software
◆ The figure displays the organization of a computer

Organization of a Computer
Computer Basics / Session 1 33
 Software Components [2-3]
◆ System Software
Is a set of low-level programs that controls the computer hardware
Is a collective term which refers to the Operating System (OS)
Are of following types:
Operating System (OS):
◦ Is a collection of several small programs that co-ordinate to manage the interaction between user
and the computer hardware
◦ Is required to be installed before user can install any other program
◦ Microsoft Windows, Linux and Apple Macintosh are examples of operating systems
◦ Firmware:
◦ Is a small software used to operate a specific electronic device
◦ Device drivers are an example of firmware

Computer Basics / Session 1 34

 Software Components [3-3]

◆ Application Software
Is designed to enable users to perform a specific task on their computer
The table lists some of the common types of application software

Type of Software Description

Word Processing Software Enable users to create, edit, format, print and manage electronic text
files
Spreadsheet Software Enable manipulation of large amount of numerical data in a grid-based
(tabular) structure
Presentation Software Enable creation of slide shows by inserting various graphical elements
E-mail Software Enable users to send, receive, read and reply to electronic mails
Database Software Enable users to manipulate, manage, and organize a database
Multimedia Software Enable users to create, manipulate and play media in audio and video
formats
Communication Software Enable users to connect to the Internet, exchange electronic mails,
share files and communicate information

Computer Basics / Session 1 35

 Types of Computers

Computers can be classified based on size and power

Computers can be broadly categorized into following three types:
◦ Mainframe Computers – are large-sized, very powerful computers that can be shared by hundreds of
users
◦ Mini Computers - are also used for multi-processing
◦ Personal Computers - are also known as microcomputers and are small sized and inexpensive. The two
types of commonly used personal computers are :
◦ Desktop computer
◦ Laptop computer

Computer Basics / Session 1 36

 Desktop Computer

◆ Desktop Computer
Is designed for use at a single location
Comprises functional components, such as
keyboard and mouse
Consist of following physical components:
Monitor – displays the visual output
Speaker – plays the audio output
Keyboard – enables users to provide
input to the computer
Mouse – enables users to provide input
to computer Sample Desktop Computer
Rectangular Cabinet – houses all
hardware components of the computer

Computer Basics / Session 1 37

 Laptop Computer

◆ Laptop Computer
Is a portable computer which integrates a display,
keyboard, track pad, and a rechargeable battery
Is designed for use on the move
Are also known as Notebook Computers or simply
Notebooks

Sample Laptop Computer

Computer Basics / Session 1 38

 How Does a Computer Work [1-2]

◆ During the booting process of the computer, the main memory (RAM) is divided into three major
sections:
◦ Operating System Space – stores the operating system
◦ Application Space – stores the different application programs
◦ User Data Space – stores all the user related information

◆ A computer performs following processing functions in order to generate output depending on the
provided input:
◦ Accepting the input
◦ Processing the input
◦ Presenting the output
◦ Storing the output

Computer Basics / Session 1 39

 How Does a Computer Work [2-2]

◆ Consider an example, where a student wants to write some text and get it printed.
◆ The text processing application and the OS work in conjunction to execute actions required to complete
this task:
◈ Accepting the input
◈ Processing the input
◈ Displaying the output

Computer Basics / Session 1 40

 Accepting Input

◆ User uses the text processing program and types the content that is to be printed
◆ The keystrokes from the keyboard are collected by the OS and stored in the memory
area of text processing application
◆ Simultaneously, the OS also sends instructions to the video card which controls the
monitor and displays the typed characters on the screen

Computer Basics / Session 1 41

 Processing the Input

◆ When the user performs various functions on the text processing application,
appropriate commands are sent to the OS

◆ The OS sends the instructions for execution on CPU

◆ Simultaneously, if some notifications are to be displayed on the screen, appropriate

commands are sent to the video card for display

Computer Basics / Session 1 42

 Displaying the Output

Users give the print command to the text processing application

The text processing application sends this command to the OS
The OS collects the data to be printed from the text processing application
The OS sends the data to printer’s device driver
The device driver sends appropriate commands to the printer
The printer prints the data on a sheet of paper

Computer Basics / Session 1 43

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