COMPUTER FUNDAMENTAL

What is computer?
Computer is a high speed electronic device which receives data
from user through input device , then process the data using processing device and
gives result to the user through output device .

What is data?
Data is a collection of alphabets and numbers which are given to a
computer.
What is process?
Work done on the data is called process.

What is information?
Result of data is called information.

Characteristics of computer.
Computer has following characteristics.

Those are .
SPEED: As you know computer can work very fast. It takes only few seconds for
calculations that we take hours to complete. You will be surprised to know that
 computer can perform millions (1,000,000) of instructions and even more per
second.

Accuracy:- irrespective of complexity of task, computer never makes any

mistakes. That means computer maintains its accuracy.
Diligence: - A computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration,
fatigue, etc. It can work for hours without creating any error. If millions of
calculations are to be performed, a computer will perform every calculation
with the same accuracy. Due to this capability it overpowers human being in
routine type of work.

Versatility: - It means the capacity to perform completely different type of

work. You may use your computer to prepare payroll slips. Next moment you
may use it for inventory management or to prepare electric bills.
Storage: - Memory is a very important characteristic of computers. A
computer has much more storage capacity than human beings. It can store
large amount of data. It can store any type of data such as images, videos,
text, audio and many others.
Power of Remembering: - Computer has the power of storing any
amount of information or data. Any information can be stored and recalled as
long as you require it, for any numbers of years. It depends entirely upon you
how much data you want to store in a computer and when to lose or retrieve
these data.

No IQ: - Computer is a dumb machine and it cannot do any work without

instruction from the user. It performs the instructions at tremendous speed and with
accuracy. It is you to decide what you want to do and in what sequence. So a computer
cannot take its own decision as you can.
Short form

Advantages
High Speed
1. Computer is a very fast device.
2. It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data.
3. The computer has units of speed in microsecond, nanosecond, and
even the picosecond.
4. It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared
to man who will spend many months for doing the same task.

Accuracy
1. In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.
2. The calculations are 100% error free.
3. Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that correct
input has been given.

Storage Capability
1. Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.
2. A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings.
3. It can store large amount of data.
4. It can store any type of data such as images, videos, text, audio and
many others.
Diligence
1. Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness and lack
of concentration.
2. It can work continuously without any error and boredom.
 3. It can do repeated work with same speed and accuracy.
Versatility
1. A computer is a very versatile machine.
2. A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done
3. This machine can be used to solve the problems related to various
fields.

Automation
1. Computer is an automatic machine.
2. Automation means ability to perform the given task automatically.
3. Once a program is given to computer i.e. stored in computer memory,
the program and instruction can control the program execution
without human interaction.

Disadvantages
No I.Q
1. A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any task.
2. Each instruction has to be given to computer.
3. A computer cannot take any decision on its own.

Dependency
It functions as per a user’s instruction, so it is fully dependent on
human being

No Feeling
1. Computers have no feelings or emotions.
2. It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and
knowledge unlike a human being
 HISTORY OF COMPUTER

1. Abacus (500BC): This is a hand- held device made of beads stung on rods in a
frame. The rods correspond to positions of the digits while the beads correspond
to the digits.

2. Napierís Bone (500BC): This was invented by John Napierís (1550 - 1617).
This consists of small rods with appropriate markings on them. It is a mechanical
aid to computation that consists of nine such rods (called bones) with one for each
digit 1 through 9. He also invented logarithms which made possible to do division
and multiplication by performing addition and subtraction.

3. Pascal mechanical calculator (1600) or Numerical wheel calculator:-

Blaise Pascal (1623 -1664) in 1642 invented the first adding machine called
Pascaline. The brass rectangular box used eight moveable dials to add and sum up
of eight figures long using base 10. It can perform all the four arithmetic operation
with previous unheard speed.

4. Leibniz mechanical multiplier (1600): In 1694 Gottfried Wilhem Von

Leibniz (1646 -1716) improved upon the pascaline by creating a machine that can
also multiply using a system of dials and gear.

5. Punched-Card machine (Jacquardís loom) (1801): Joseph Marie Jacquard.

6. Charles Babbage (1791-1871) Father of the computer. Difference engine

powered by steam and large as locomotive the machine has a stored program and
could perform calculations and print the result automatically. We also have
Analytical engine credited to him.
 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF COMPUTER

Input Unit
1. This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data into
computer. This unit makes link between user and computer.
2. The input devices translate the information into the form
understandable by computer.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

1. CPU is considered as the brain of the computer.
2. CPU performs all types of data processing operations.
3. It stores data, intermediate results and instructions(program).It
controls the operation of all parts of computer.
CPU itself has following three components
1. ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)
2. Memory Unit
3. Control Unit

Output Unit
1. Output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the
information from computer.
2. This unit is a link between computer and users.
3. Output devices translate the computer's output into the form
understandable by users.

ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)

This unit consists of two subsections namely
1. Arithmetic section
2. Logic Section

Arithmetic Section
1. Function of arithmetic section is to perform arithmetic operations like
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
2. All complex operations are done by making repetitive use of above
operations.

Logic Section
Function of logic section is to perform logic operations such as
comparing, selecting, matching and merging of data.
GENERATION OF COMPUTER