Comp.211{R} Computer Application
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Comp.211{R} Computer Application Contents Introduction to Computers ................................................................................................................................. 2 Components of Computer .............................................................................................................................. 2 System Concept: ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Classification of Computers ............................................................................................................................... 3 1. Classification based on Computer Generations ......................................................................................... 3 2. Classification based on Computer Size ...................................................................................................... 4 3. Classification based on Computer Technology ......................................................................................... 5 4. Classification based on Purpose................................................................................................................. 5 Types of Memories ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Input Output Devices ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1) Output devices ........................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1) Screen ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.1) CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) .................................................................................................................. 7 1.1.2) LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen .................................................................................................. 8 1.2) Printers .................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2.1) Character printers ............................................................................................................................ 8 1.2.2) Line printers ..................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2.3) Page printers – LASER Printers ...................................................................................................... 10 1.3) Plotters .................................................................................................................................................. 12 2) Input devices ................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.1) Keyboard ............................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2) Mouse ................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3) Scanners ................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.4) Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR) ................................................................................................ 13 Storage and representation of numbers ............................................................................................................ 14 sign-and-magnitude...................................................................................................................................... 14 ones' complement, ........................................................................................................................................ 14 two's complement ........................................................................................................................................ 14 EXCESS-N .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Calculating two's complement ..................................................................................................................... 15 Alternative conversion process .................................................................................................................... 16 INFORMATION STORAGE CODES ............................................................................................................ 17 ASCII ........................................................................................................................................................... 17 Binary-coded decimal .................................................................................................................................. 18 EBCDIC ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 UNICODE.................................................................................................................................................... 20 Programming Languages ................................................................................................................................. 22 Machine Language ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Assembly language ...................................................................................................................................... 22 High level languages .................................................................................................................................... 23 Page 1 of 23 Comp.211{R} Computer Application Introduction to Computers The name comes from the word compute, which depicts the core development issue of computers- to develop a very fast calculating machine. Def. Computer is an electronic device that operates upon information. A computer can store, process and retrieve data as and when required. The working of computer is limited to the program stored in it. It is alternatively known as Data Processor Characteristics of Computers: 1. Speed: units of measuring speed of computer are µs (10-6) nanoseconds (10-9) and picoseconds (10- 12). In other words a computer can perform around 3-4 million simple operations per second. 2. Accuracy: Accuracy of a computer is very high and degree of memory depends on its design (hardware and software design). Errors if any are generally because of faulty programming, input/output error or by erroneous data entered by humans. 3. Diligence: Computers are very hardworking and doesn’t suffer from monotony, tiredness or lack of coordination. It can work for hours on a same task or different tasks. 4. Versatility: A computer can perform any task that can be reduced to logical steps. It can do multiple tasks (in such a short time that a person cannot figure out when it completed. 5. Power of remembering: can recall/store any type of information that can be represented in form of binary data. This information can be important or general information. It can be stored for infinite time because of presence of secondary storage devices. This information can be retrieved any time and the amount of storage available is infinite. 6. No I.Q.: A computer can’t do anything of its own. A computer can perform only those tasks which it is programmed to do. 7. No feelings: The emotional feelings are absent in computers. Components of Computer There are five basic components of computer. The classification is made on the basis of basic operations performed by the computer. 1. Input: Enter data and instructions. 2. Storing: Save data and instructions to retrieve them when they are required. 3. Processing: perform arithmetic and logical operations on data to produce information. 4. Output: Present information in human readable form. 5. Controlling: Directing the manner or sequence in which all operations are performed. The architectural designs are different on different types of computers (like of Intel, Macintosh etc) but the organization of all computers is generally similar. There are five units: 1. Input Unit: Convert data from human readable form to machine readable form. It is done by input interface. 2. Output Unit: is conversion from binary (machine readable) to human readable form. It is done by the output interface. 3. Memory Unit: This unit works for the storage of data. It is responsible for storing all data to be processed and the instructions to be executed. It also stores intermediate results and the final results before sending them to the output device. 4. Arithmetic and Logical Unit: All the arithmetic and logical operations are performed Page 2 of 23 Comp.211{R} Computer Application 5. Control Unit: Control unit coordinates and controls all the operations that are performed by the computer. It doesn’t perform any actual processing. It acts as the central nervous system. ALU + CU = Central Processing Unit System Concept: