BASIC CONCEPTS OF

COMPUTERS

Unit I

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
A computer:
Is an electronic device
Operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its own memory unit,
That can accept data (input),
Manipulate data (process), and
Produce information (output)
Generally, the term is used to describe a
collection of devices that function together as a
system.

DEVICES THAT COMPRISE A

COMPUTER SYSTEM
Monitor
(output)

Speaker
(output)

System unit
(processor, memory)

Printer
(output)

Scanner
(input)

Keyboard
(input)

Mouse
(input)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,)

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

Speed:

Computer

is very fast and accurate device.

It can process millions and millions of instructions
within seconds.

Accuracy:

Computer

Memory:

results are highly accurate.

Computers

have a large amount of memory to hold a

very large amount of data or information.

Programmed Intelligence:
Computer

themselves as such are dumb terminals.

But they are programmed in such a way that they can
perform those operations which have been fed into
them in the form of executable programs.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

Diligence:

Computer

is free from problems like lack of

concentration, and confusions etc.
Computer may never be confused like humans.

Versatility:
We

can perform many different types of tasks on

computer.
One moment it might be busy in calculating the
statistical data for annual performance evaluation of a
business organization and next moment it might be
working on playing movies.

Power of Remembrance:
Unlike

humans, computer can store things for unlimited

period of time.

WHAT DOES A COMPUTER DO?

Computers can perform five general operations,

which comprise the information processing cycle.
Input

Process
Output
Storage
Control

DATA AND INFORMATION

All computer processing requires data, which is a
collection of raw facts, figures and symbols, such as
numbers, words, images, video and sound, given to
the computer during the input phase.
Computers manipulate data to create information.
Information
is data that is organized,
meaningful, and useful.
During the output Phase, the information that
has been created is put into some form, such as a
printed report.
The information can also be put in computer
storage for future use.

HOW DOES A COMPUTER KNOW

WHAT TO DO?
It must be given a detailed list of instructions,
called a computer program or software, that
tells it exactly what to do.
Before processing a specific job, the computer
program corresponding to that job must be stored
in memory.
Once the program is stored in memory the
computer can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY

COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER ?
Input devices.
Central Processing
Unit (containing the
control unit and the
arithmetic/logic unit).
Memory.
Output devices.
Storage devices.

These are also known as the Functional

Components of a Computer!

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF COMPUTER

SYSTEM
Storage Unit
Progr
am &
Data

Input
Unit

Secondary
Memory
Primary
Memory

Control Unit

Flow of
Control
Flow
of
Data

Arithmetic Logic
Unit

Central

Output
Unit
Resul
ts

FUNCTIONS OF INPUT UNIT

Links the external environment with the computer
system.
Accepts or reads the instructions and data from
the outside world.
Converts these instructions and data into
computer acceptable form (Binary Codes).

This

transformation is accomplished by units called

input interfaces.

Supplies the converted instructions and data to the

computer system for further processing.

FUNCTIONS OF OUTPUT UNIT

Links the computer system with the external
environment
Accepts the result produced by the computer (in
binary codes).
Converts these results into human readable form.

This

transformation is accomplished by units called

output interfaces.

Supplies the converted results to the outside world.

FUNCTIONS OF STORAGE UNIT

Provides space for storing:

Data

and instructions required for processing, and

received from input devices.
Intermediate results of processing.
Final results of processing, before they are released to
an output device.

FUNCTIONS OF ARITHMETIC/LOGIC
UNIT
It is the place where actual execution of instructions
takes place, during the processing operation.
Calculations are performed and all comparisons are
made in the ALU.
The data and instructions stored in the primary
memory, are transferred as and when needed to the
ALU.
Intermediate results generated by the ALU are
temporarily transferred back to the primary memory.
Hence, data may move from primary memory to
ALU, and back again to memory, many times before
processing is over.

FUNCTIONS OF CONTROL UNIT

It does not perform any actual processing of data.
But it acts as a central nervous system for other
components of the computer system.
It manages and coordinates the entire computer
system.
It obtains instructions from the program stored in
main memory, interprets the instructions, and
issues signals.
These signals cause other units of the system to
execute the instructions.

FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL
PROCESSING UNIT
The Control Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit are
jointly known as the Central Processing Unit of the
system.
The CPU is the brain of a computer system.
In a computer system, all major calculations are
performed inside the CPU.
The CPU is responsible for activating and
controlling the operations of other units of the
computer system.