UNIT 1

INTRODUCTION
TO

COMPUTERS
ICT 111

MR CHOLA A
:

http://chola07.github.io/chola-Resume/
 THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Computer is an electronic device that accepts data as input, processes the

input data by performing mathematical and logical operations on it, and gives
the desired output. The computer system consists of four parts—(1) Hardware,
(2) Software, (3) Data, and (4) Users.
 HARDWARE
• Hardware consists of the mechanical parts that make up the computer as a
machine. The hardware consists of physical devices of the computer. The
devices are required for input, output, storage and processing of the data.
Keyboard, monitor, hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, printer, processor and
motherboard are some of the hardware devices.
 SOFTWARE
Software is a set of instructions that tells the computer about the tasks to be
performed and how these tasks are to be performed. Program is a set of
instructions, written in a language understood by the computer, to perform a
specific task. A set of programs and documents are collectively called software.
The hardware of the computer system cannot perform any task on its own. The
hardware needs to be instructed about the task to be performed. Software
instructs the computer about the task to be performed. The hardware carries
out these tasks. Different software can be loaded on the same hardware to
perform different kinds of tasks.
 DATA
• Data are isolated values or raw facts, which by themselves have no much
significance. For example, the data like 29, January, and 1994 just represent
values. The data is provided as input to the computer, which is processed to
generate some meaningful information. For example, 29, January and 1994
are processed by the computer to give the date of birth of a person.
 USERS
• Users are people who write computer programs or interact with the
computer. Programmers, data entry operators, system analyst and computer
hardware engineers fall into this category
 CHARACTERLISTICS OF A COMPUTER
Speed: The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions of instructions per second. Some
calculations that would have taken hours and days to complete otherwise, can be completed in a few seconds
using the computer. For example, calculation and generation of salary slips of thousands of employees of an
organization, weather forecasting that requires analysis of a large amount of data related to temperature,
pressure and humidity of various places, etc.
 Accuracy Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For example, the computer can accurately give the
result of division of any two numbers up to 10 decimal places.
 Diligence When used for a longer period of time, the computer does not get tired or fatigued. It can perform
long and complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy from the start till the end.
 Storage Capability Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the computer and also retrieved
whenever required. A limited amount of data can be stored, temporarily, in the primary memory. Secondary
storage devices like floppy disk and compact disk can store a large amount of data permanently.
 Versatility Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform different types of tasks with the same ease. At one
moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter document and in the next moment you may play music or
print a document.
 THE INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT CONCEPT

A computer is an electronic device that (1) accepts data, (2) processes data,
(3) generates output, and (4) stores data. The concept of generating output
information from the input data is also referred to as input-process-output
concept.
 THE INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT CONCEPT
• Input The computer accepts input data from the user via an input device like keyboard.
The input data can be characters, word, text, sound, images, document, etc.
• Process The computer processes the input data. For this, it performs some actions on
the data by using the instructions or program given by the user of the data. The action
could be an arithmetic or logic calculation, editing, modifying a document, etc. During
processing, the data, instructions and the output are stored temporarily in the
computer’s main memory.
• Output The output is the result generated after the processing of data. The output may
be in the form of text, sound, image, document, etc. The computer may display the
output on a monitor, send output to the printer for printing, play the output, etc.
• Storage The input data, instructions and output are stored permanently in the
secondary storage devices like disk or tape. The stored data can be retrieved later,
whenever needed.
 COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
HARDWARE
The computer system hardware comprises of three main components —
1. Input/Output (I/O) Unit,
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU), and
3. Memory Unit.
The I/O unit consists of the input unit and the output unit. CPU performs
calculations and processing on the input data, to generate the output. The
memory unit is used to store the data, the instructions and the output
information. The figure below illustrates the typical interaction among the
different components of the computer.
THE COMPUTER HARDWARE
 APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS
• Computers have proliferated into various areas of our lives. For a user, computer is a tool
that provides the desired information, whenever needed. Some of the application areas
of the computer are listed below:
Education Computers are extensively used, as a tool and as an aid, for imparting
education. Educators use computers to prepare notes and presentations of their lectures.
Computers are used to develop computer-based training packages, to provide distance
education using the e-learning software, and to conduct online examinations. Researchers
use computers to get easy access to conference and journal details and to get global
access to the research material.
Entertainment Computers have had a major impact on the entertainment industry. The
user can download and view movies, play games, chat, book tickets for cinema halls, use
multimedia for making movies, incorporate visual and sound effects using computers, etc.
The users can also listen to music, download and share music, create music using
computers, etc.
 APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS

Sports A computer can be used to watch a game, view the scores, improve the game, play games (like
chess, etc.) and create games. They are also used for the purposes of training players. Advertising
Computer is a powerful advertising media.
Advertisement can be displayed on different websites, electronic-mails can be sent and reviews of a
product by different customers can be posted. Computers are also used to create an advertisement
using the visual and the sound effects. For the advertisers, computer is a medium via which the
advertisements can be viewed globally. Web advertising has become a significant factor in the
marketing plans of almost all companies. In fact, the business model of Google is mainly dependent on
web advertising for generating revenues.
Medicine: Medical researchers and practitioners use computers to access information about the
advances in medical research or to take opinion of doctors globally. The medical history of patients is
stored in the computers. Computers are also an integral part of various kinds of sophisticated medical
equipments like ultrasound machine, CAT scan machine, MRI scan machine, etc. Computers also
provide assistance to the medical surgeons during critical surgery operations like laparoscopic
operations, etc.
 APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS
Science and Engineering :Scientists and engineers use computers for performing complex
scientific calculations, for designing and making drawings (CAD/CAM applications) and also for
simulating and testing the designs. Computers are used for storing the complex data, performing
complex calculations and for visualizing 3 dimensional objects. Complex scientific applications
like the launch of the rockets, space exploration, etc., are not possible without the computers.
Government The government uses computers to manage its own operations and also for e-
governance. The websites of the different government departments provide information to the
users. Compute are used for the filing of income tax return, paying taxes, online submission of
water and electricity bills, for the access of land record details, etc. The police department uses
computers to search for criminals using fingerprint matching, etc.
Home: Computers have now become an integral part of home equipment. At home, people use
computers to play games, to maintain the home accounts, for communicating with friends and
relatives via Internet, for paying bills, for education and learning, etc. Microprocessors are
embedded in house hold utilities like, washing machines, TVs, food processors, home theatres,
security devices, etc.
 ASSIGNMENT 1

The computer has evolved from a large-sized simple calculating machine to a smaller but
much more powerful machine. The evolution of computer to the current state is defined
in terms of the generations of computer. Each generation of computer is designed based
on a new technological development, resulting in better, cheaper and smaller computers
that are more powerful, faster and efficient than their predecessors. Currently, there are
five generations of computer. Explain the five generations, giving all the details about
each generation.
 INTRUCTIONS:
 Length: The assignment should be at least 5 pages long, typed in Times New Roman,
size 12, with 1.5 line spacing. The assignment should include a cover page and a reference
page.

 Please Submit your assignment (physical copy, either printed or handwritten ) to your class
Representative (Hildah Mwewa) before 17:00 on a Saturday.

 Ensure that all responses are written in your own words and avoid plagiarism. Cite sources
where necessary.

Do NOT use chatbots such as ChatGPT or other AI tools to generate responses for this
assignment. You are expected to research and formulate your own answers to demonstrate
your understanding of this course.
END !