THE COMPUTER

Definition

The computer can be defined as an intelligent machine that can perform many tasks such as storing,
processing, accepting data and giving out information when it is required.

It can also be defined as a programmable, multiuse machine that accepts data raw facts and figures and
processes or manipulates in to information we can use such as totals or summaries.

A computer is primarily made of the central processing unit (CPU), the monitor, the keyboard, and the
mouse. Other pieces of hard ware commonly referred to as peripheral devices such as a scanner, a
projector, printers can enhance or improve your experience with a computer.

For a computer to be able to accomplish its tasks, and therefore be referred to as a system, all its major
components must be available. These components include;

i. Computer hardware
ii. Computer software
iii. Human ware

Since a computer is a computing device it’s known as a processor. The Input is known as data while the
Output is known as information and the calculation can be performed on data is the process.

DATA PROCESS INFORMATION

Data

Data are raw facts or observations that are considered to have little or no value until they have been
processed, for a purpose. Unrelated items of data are essentially considered to be without any meaning
and are always referred to as noise. Data consists of numbers, alphabets, and any other form of data such
as pictures, sound.

INFORMATION

Information consists of data that have been processed, understood, interpreted and is for purpose to the
recipient.

PROCESS

Process can be any mathematical or logical operation done on the data eg Addition, division, subtraction,
multiplication, <=,>=, <, > etc
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS/ TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Differences in certain computer characteristics have caused several developments in classifications of

computers. The mostly frequently used classifications segregate computers by size, generations, purpose
and processor power.

A. BY SIZE

The computers are classified by size, which refer not only by their physical size but t their ability to
process large volumes of data, or handle large computational problems. These can be categorized into

1. Micro-computers

Micro-computers also called personal computers or PCs first appeared in the mid 1970’s. They are called
micro- computers because the part that processes information is contained in one integrated circuit called
the micro-chip. Micro-computers are available in the number of formats for example, Desktop and laptop.

a. A desktop

A computer is referred to as “a desk top” when its relatively small enough to be positioned on top of the
table where a person is working. Such a computer can also be placed on the floor or a side of the table; in
which case the monitor would be placed on top of the table.

This is the most common type of a computer used in the offices or at home. A desk top computer is made
of different devices that are connected with cables.

b. A laptop

A computer is called “lap top” when it combines the CPU, the monitor, the key board and the mouse into
one unit to be so small that you can carry it on your laps when travelling.

A laptop is also called a note book, other parts or devices such as an external mouse, external keyboard, a
monitor or peripheral devices such as a printer or projector can be connected to the laptop.

NOTE

A lap top is only physically smaller than a desk top but everything considered, it can do anything that a
desktop can do.

2. Super computers

It’s the biggest in size the most expensive in price than any other computer. It can process trillions of
instructions in seconds. This computer is not used as personal computer in a home neither by a student in
a college. It’s for instance used by governments and forecasting weather reports worldwide.
 3. Mini computers

Mini computers are between the mainframe and the micro computers in terms of size, power, memory
and price.

A typical mini might have between 5-50 different users. Mini computers can perform all of the functions
of general purpose computers, but are limited by their small memories and restricted input/output (I/O)
capabilities.

4. Main frame computers

Commonly used in big hospitals, air line reservation companies, and many other huge companies prefer
mainframe because of its capability to retrieve data on a huge basis.

However, they are expensive

B. BY PROCESSOR POWER

Due to the changes in technology, processor power is also increasing at a higher rate, so computers are
getting faster and faster each year. The higher the processor power, the faster the computer.

Computers with high processor power, require more system reserves such as high system memory,
Random access memory (RAM) ,hard disk space including modern programs. The most common types of
processors are 80283 or simply 80386, 80486,286, Pentium 1, Pentium 11, Pentium 111, Pentium IV, etc

c. BY PROCESS

Digital computers

These are classified in this way because they process data that is represented in a form of discrete values
(Bits). These are widely used in research, business and education sectors.

Analog computers

These process data that are in continuous measurable quantities or units for example pressure, electrical
voltages are quantities that can be measured by comparing them with other specific units.

Examples of analog computers are thermometers, voltmeters, speedometers etc.

They are used to manipulate analog data, (continuous and non countable). Examples of their applications
is in air traffic control (ATC)

Hybrid computers

These are computers with a combination of both analog and digital functionalities e.g. laptops
COMPUTER SOFT WARE

Soft ware or programmes consist of step by step instructions that tell the computer how to programme a
task. In short, software are programmes that we run in our computer systems. They allow the hardware to
do their job. Without the software, the hardware would not know what it’s supposed to do.

There are two main types of the software

(a) System software

(b) Application software

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

Systems software is the one that enables the application software to interact with computer and helps the
computer to manage its resources. It tells the computer how to interpret data and instruction, how to run
peripheral devices like printers, disk drives, and keyboard and how to use the hard ware in general.

Systems soft ware comprises of a large number of instructions that can further be taken into three
categories that is

 Operating system (OS)

 Utility programmes
 Language translators

The operating system (OS)

The OS consists of master system of the programmes that manage the basic operation of a computer and
provides resource management services such as control use of hardware resources such as disk space,
memory, CPU, time allocation and peripheral devices. It also allows application software to communicate
with hardware.

Examples include Microsoft Windows with versions such as Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft windows
98, Windows 2007 ultimate, Windows XP professional, Windows server 2003 etc.

Other include; LINUX, UNIX etc.

The operating system is automatically loaded onto the RAM memory as soon as you turn on/boot the
computer

BOOTING

Refers to the process of loading an operating system into the computer’s main memory. In short starting
up a computer is the processing called booting.
There are two types of booting

Warm boot/soft boot

Cold boot/hard boot

Warm boot or soft boot; this is when a computer is restarted without powering it off that is necessary
when troubleshooting, like when removing a virus.

Cold boot/hard boot; this is to power down computer at least 30 seconds rather than restarting it.

The POST routine

The POST (power on self test) is an inbuilt diagnostic program that checks your hardware to ensure that
everything is present and functioning properly before the BIOS (Basic input output system) begins the
actual boot.

The post routine in a Read on memory (ROM) Bios initializes the system and runs a test of the entire
computer into the computer system. POST checks hardware then a parity program checks the memory.

CLASSIFICATION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Based on the number of computers, an operating system can act an interface and two types of operating
systems are identified.

1. Single user system

An OS is like translator which takes care of the user computer interface. It acts as an interface for only
one user and it’s therefore a single user system.

Ideally, all stand-alone computers ie such computers which are not connected to any other computers use
this operating system. When the processor of a computer does only one job at a time, then its called a
single user system. E.g. Disk Operating system (DOS)

2. Multi user system.

The concept of multi user system is exactly the opposite of the concept of a single user system when a
computer system acts as an interface for more than one user; it becomes a multiuser environment system.

Large computer systems are designed to allow many people run their applications at the same time.

A multiuser operating system “slices up” the processing time of the CPU in to very brief segments and
shares them amongst the users.
FUNCTIONS OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM

1. The operating system conducts a process called booting. This is the first process which takes place the
moment the computer’s electrical switch is put on. During this process all the peripheral devices
connected to the computer are checked and validated. At the end of this validating process, the operating
system the signals the user and begin working on the computer.

2. The O.S controls the computer hardware

3. It controls the flow of data between the various application programmes

4. It provides human computer interface (HCI) to allow people use the computer efficiently windows
interface.

5. It manages security such as the use of passwords. Logging in requires the OS to connect the user to the
correct directories and assign the right privileges

6. Scheduling. It shares out the time available on the CPU

7. It shares out the available memory.

2. UTILITY PROGRAMS

These are generally used to support, enhance and expand existing programs in a computer system. They
are also known as routine that serve general purpose for programmes which carry out a given function on
whatever data is presented to them.

Many operating systems have utility programmes inbuilt for common purposes such as.

Copying utility. These copies the content of one disk to another

Sorting utility- this takes data and arranges them in the order specified by the user

Antivirus software- this is for virus protection

Disk mantainence software (data recovery)

3. LANGUANGE TRANSLATORS

This is the software that translates programs written by a programmer in a high level language such as a
basic into machine language which the computer can understand. High level language is the one that is
intelligible to humans rather than computer

The computer understands one language that is Binary language of Os and 1s that is the machine
language

1or 0 is called a bit

0 represents open circuit (off)

1 represents complete circuit (on)

For example

Letter H is represented in computer as

H-01001000

A-01000001

B-01000010

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI)

This is whereby the operating systems are used to interact with users with the help of pictures rather than
writing long character based commands

GUI is the part of an operating system users interact with that uses graphic icons and the computer mouse
to issue commands and make selections

BASIC COMPONENTS OF GUI

1. Desk top. This is the area of the screen which displays the various components of GUI. It’s
always the starting screen to the operating system environment
2. Window.

Every group under GUI operating system has a number of icons. These are enclosed in the frame called
window, windows separate one group from the other.

3. The menu and the menu bar

There is a menu bar at the top of the display which shows the various menu options. The menu and the
menu bar are displayed at the desk top. Every GUI has at least one menu containing options and these
options may sometimes contain further options displayed as pull-down menu.

Control menu

Every window opened in the GUI environment has control menu which has menu options that maximizes
or minimizes and close the window

APPLCATIONS SOFTWARE
This is the software designed to solve or satisfy specific problems /needs or to perform specific task. It
works through an operating system to gain access to the hardware. It carries out tasks that the user is
interested in such as writing a letter, sending an email etc for example

Word processor soft ware

Spread sheets (Microsoft excel)

Power point

Web browser

Games etc

Entertainment software

COMPUTER HARDWARE
Hardware consists of physical components or devices of a computer that you can see, touch and feel for
example monitor, keyboard, CPU, mouse, scanner, projector, printer, RAM, sound cards, network cards,
the mother board.etc

Computer hardware falls into five categories

(a) Input hardware

(b) Output hardware
(c) Processing hardware
(d) Storage hardware
(e) Communications hardware

1. STORAGE HARDWARE

These consist of devices that store data and instructions either temporarily o r permanently for computer
usage for example RAM, hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk, flash disk, memory card, magnetic tapes etc

There are two principle categories of storage hardware that is

Primary and secondary storage devices

A. Primary storage

The term primary storage refers to Random access memory (RAM) where both data and instructions are
temporarily held for immediate access by the computer micro processor (central processing unit).

Primary storage is considered to be volatile form of storage meaning that data and instructions are lost
when the power to the computer is turned off.

Primary storage also known primary memory or main memory is also called central memory and is of two
types namely;

RAM random access memory ROM (Read only memory)

 -Its read only memory that is users cannot write
-Its read/ write memory that is users can either anything to it
write onto this memory or read from it

-It’s volatile in nature that is (the moment It is non-volatile. Its storage is permanent.
power is switched off the memory gets erased/
deleted)

-It’s known to be primary storage that is both -It’s known to be secondary storage (auxiliary)
data and instructions are temporarily held for that is data and instructions are stored
immediate access by the CPU permanently

B. Secondary storage hardware devices

These consist of devices that store data and instructions permanently for computer use.

Secondary storage is known to be non volatile form of storage. There are four major types of secondary
storage devices that is

a) Optical Disks
b) Floppy Diskettes
c) Hard Disks
d) Magnetic Tapes
e) Others Include; Sim Cards, Flash Disks, Memory cards etc.

OPTICAL DISKS

These are also known as compact disks (CDs) or laser optical disks. They are removable disks on which
data is written and read through the use of laser beams.

Optical disks can store massive quantities of data including not only texts but also pictures, sound, and
full motion video in a highly compact form

They include;
 (a) CD-ROM DISK (Compact disk read only memory)

This is the most commonly used disk with micro computers it’s read only storage meaning that no new
data can be written to it, but can only be read

CD-ROM has been most widely used for reference materials with massive amounts of data like
Encyclopedias and multimedia applications that combine texts, graphics and sound.

(b) Digital video/ versatile disk (DVDs)

These are optical disk, the same size as CD-ROMs but of even higher capacity. They can hold a minimum
of 4.7 GBs f data, enough to store full length high quality motion picture.

DVDs are used to store multimedia applications with large amounts of video and graphics and may
replace CD-ROMs because they can store large amounts of digitized texts, graphics audio and video data.

c) WORM disk (write once read many)

A WORM disk can be written onto just once and cannot be erased; but can be read many times. This
technology is used for storing data that needs to remain unchanged.

d) CD-R (compact disk recordable)

This is a CD format that allows writing of data on a specially manufactured disk that can then be read by
the standard CD-ROM drive.

Data is only written of the disk once and if written data cannot be erased but can be read indefinitely.

e) Erasable optical disk (EOD)

These allow users to erase data so that the disk is used again. They are useful for applications requiring
large volumes of storage where information is only occasionally updated.

2. FLOPPY DISKETTES
Floppy diskettes are removable flat piece of mylar plastic that stores data and programmes as
electro magnetized spots.

Particularly data are stored as electromagnetic charges on metallic oxide film that works the
mylar plastic. Data are presented by the presence /absence of these electromagnetic charges
following standard form of data representation.

The disk is contained in a square paper envelope or plastic case to protect it from being touched
by human hand. It is called floppy because the disk inside the case or envelope is flexible and not
rigid.
 They are also sizes of diskettes that are commonly used that is
a) 3 ½ inches. There are the smaller size and now by far the most commonly used.

This size comes inside a hard plastic socket so that no additional protection envelope is needed

b) 5 ½ inches

This is the older and larger size; the disk is endorsed inside a flexible plastic socket. It’s often inserted
inside a removable paper or card board envelope or sleeve for protection where being used.

DISK DRIVES

To use a diskette, you need a disk drive which is usually inbuilt into the computer’s systems unit.

A disk drive is a device that holds, reads data from the diskette and also writes data onto the diskette.

Reading data means that data represented as the magnetized spots on the disk or tape are converted into
electronic signals and transmitted to the primary storage of the computer.

In short, read means that the disk drive copies data from the diskette.

Writing data means that the electronic information processed by the computer is recorded magnetically
onto the disk or tape.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOPPY DISKETTES

(a) Tracks and sectors

Data are recorded onto a floppy diskette in rings called tracks. These tracks are either visible glove or
single spiral; rather they are closed concentric rings. Each track is divided in to 8 or 9 sectors

Sectors are invisible wedge shaped sections used for storage reference purposes. When data are saved
from the computer to the diskette, data are stored by tracks and sectors on the diskette.

Unformatted vs. formatted

Some diskettes are unformatted meaning that they are manufactured without tracks and sectors. This
implies that you have a task of formatting the disks before you use them.

Data capacity and densities

The characteristics of micro computer disk drives differ and hence not all disks hold the same amount of
data. Some diskettes are 25/2D or “Ds/DD” meaning double sided, double density.
The first diskettes ware single sided storing data on one side only, now all diskettes are double sided.
They therefore, hold twice as much data as single sided diskettes.

A diskette capacity also depends or it’s recording density.

Recording density is the number of bytes per inch that can be written onto the surface of the disk.

There are three densities;

Single density

Double density

High density

Write protect features

Write protect features allow you to protect diskette from being written onto. Diskettes have features to
prevent someone from accidentally writing over them and hence obliterating data on the diskettes.

3. HARD DISKS

Hard disks are thin but rigid metal platters covered with a substance that allows data to be stored in form
of magnetized spots.

In micro computers hard disks are one or more platters sealed inside a hard disk drive that is in built in the
system’s unit.

However, there are also external hard disks which are connected to the computer using the universal serial
bus (USB). The drive is installed in a drive bay, a slot or opening in the computer cabinet.

An internal hard disk is not visible from outside the micro computer.

Inside however, is a disk (disks) on a drive spindle, read/write heads mounted on an actuator that moves
back and forth any power connections and circuitry. They may be 5 ¼ inches in diameter or 3 ½ inches
with some even smaller.

Hard disks work much the same as floppy diskette drives do with a read and write heads locating data
according to tracks and sectors.

ADVANTAGES OF HARD DISKS OVER FLOPPY DISKS

Capacity
 Micro computer hard disks typically hold from about 40-500mbs with the latest ones ranging between
1gGB-1TB

Speed

Hard disks allow faster access to data than floppy diskettes do because hard disks spin many times faster
than the diskette.

Hard disks however, have significant disadvantages

A possible “head crush”- a head crush happens when the surface of the read and write heads or particles
on its surface come into contact with the disk surface causing loss of some or all data on the disk. An
incident of this kind could be fatal if data have not been backed up.

MAGNETIC TAPES

The magnetic tape used for computer is made from the same materials used for audio tape.

Magnetic tape is thin plastic coated with a substance that can be magnetized.

Data can be represented by magnetized or non magnetized spots. It’s an older storage technology that is
still used for secondary storage of large volumes of information. There are two principle forms of tape
storage

a. Magnetized tape units for large computers

b. Cartridge tape units (tape streamers) used for back up purposes

OUT PUT/HARD WARE DEVICES

Output hard ware consists of devices or components that translate information processed by a computer
into a form that human beings can understand.

There are two main kinds of output that is

Hard copy

Soft copy

Soft copy refers to data that is shown on a display screen or is in audio or voice form etc. this kind of
output is not tangible.

Hard copy refers to what is printed out is tangible

The main data output devices are

Monitors

The monitors work much like television picture tubes to the screen with an electronic gun shooting a
beam of electrons to illuminate pixels on the screen.
Pixels-are smallest units of an image

The more the pixels per screen, the higher the resolution or clarity of an image on the screen

Monitors take forms such as cathode ray tubes (CRT) or visual display unit (VDU) and flat penal display
(FPD) e.g. laptop.

PRINTERS

Printers produce printed hard copies of information output. They fall into two categories

Impact printers such as dot matrix and line printers

Non impact printers such as laser jet, printers and ink jet printers.

Most printers print one character at a time but some commercial printers print an entire line on a page at a
time. In general impact printers are slower than non impact printers.

PLOTTERS

High quality graphic documents can be created using plotters with multi colored pens to draw rather than
to print computer output. Plotters are much slower than printers but are useful for out putting large sized
charts, maps, drawings etc.

INPUT HARDWARE

These consist of devices for entering data into a computer system in a form that can be processed by a
computer.

There are two main categories of input hard ware that is the keyboard and direct entry

KEYBOARD

This is an input device that looks like a type writer but has additional keys for specific purposes. It’s the
most common way of inputting data into the computer. Key board features include cursor key. Standard
type writer keys, numerical keys, functional and special purpose keys.

DIRECT ENTRY DEVICES

Direct entry means that the data are not entered into the computer through keyboard. However, many
such devices do not input all types of data and instructions, therefore they are often used a long with the
keyboard.

MOUSE

Scanners
The digital scanner works much the same as a photocopier. The scanner can capture images from a
document unlike the standard photocopier and translate them into digital signals suitable for input into the
computer.

The scanner can read printed text or graphics into the computer, in this way a scanner can be used to input
documents containing the diagrams and even photographs.

Magnetic ink character recognizer (MICR)

MICR is used by banks to process and scan large cheque numbers quickly.

The special symbols in magnetic ink at the bottom of each character are read using MICR either directly
into the computer memory for processing or onto the magnetic tape or onto any secondary storage device
for later input into the computer.

BAR CODE READERS (BCR)

They are used in super markets to read the coded price tags that are on the items.

OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNISER (OCR)

OCR depends on printing information in a special type font/face so that it can be read by the computer.
They are used for validating examination forms or for reading any printed matter.

LIGHT PEN

This uses a light sensitive style to enable the user scroll items from menu drawn on the screen.

Other direct entry input hardware devices include touch screen, CCTV cameras, hand writing recognition,
speech recognition etc.

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET

Terms related with internet www (world wide web) it is commonly abbreviated as ww commonly known
as web

WEB

Is a system of inter linked type that documents accessed through the internet. A system of internet serves
that support especially for market documents. The documents are formatted in a mark p language called
HTML (Hyper Text Mark up Language) that supports links to other documents as well as graphics, audio
and video files. This means you can jump from one documents to another simply by clicking on hot spots.

There are several applications called web browser that make it easy to access the www
Two of the most popular being fire fox and Microsoft internet explorer.

The world wide web was developed to be a poor of human knowledge and human culture which would
allow collaborators in remote sites to share their ideas and all aspects of a common project