Lecture 1: Definitions, Components of a computer system

1.1 Introduction
Welcome to our first lesson in this module. Perhaps you have heard someone ask whata computer can do. Before we
answer this question, perhaps we should begin by asking ourselves what we can do without computers. Our daily
activities such as payment of bills, buying groceries, banking, entertainment or communicating with friends can be
done with a computer. It is important therefore not only to know how to use a computer, but also to understand the
components of a computer and what they do. In this lesson, we explore basic terminologies as used in computers,
various components of the computer as well as functions of computers.

1.2 Lecture objectives

By the end of this lecture you should be able to:
1.2.1 Define common terms as used in computer applications software
1.2.2 Explain functions of computers
1.2.3 Identify and describe various components of a computer system
1.3 Lecture outline
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Lecture objectives
2.3. Lecture outline
2.4. Definitions
2.5. Functions of computers
2.6. Components of a computer system
2.7. Revision questions
2.8. Summary
2.9. Suggested reading
1.4 Definitions
There are a number of terminologies that we will encounter in this module and in future related to
computers and are therefore worth being defined at this time. Such terminologies include:
• Data
• Information
• Process
• Computer
• System
• Information system
• Software
• Hardware
• Computer system
Data: Raw facts about an entity e.g. Person is an entity but data can be name, height, gender,
nationality, qualification e.g.
 Information: A collection of facts organized in such a way that they have additional
value beyond the value of facts themselves. Simplify put, information is a processed
data.
Process: A set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined outcome.
Computer: A computer is an electronic device used to capture, store and process data,
according to instructions given.
System: A set of components that work together to achieve a common objective.
Information system: A set of interrelated elements or components that collect (input),
manipulate and store (process), disseminate (output) data and information, and
provide a feedback mechanism to meet an objective.
Software: A set of instructions that a computer can execute and constitutes a computer
system.
Hardware: This is a collection of physical electronic components that constitute a
computer system.
Computer system: Refer to a set of components that constitute a computer.

1.5 Functions of computers

The functions of a computer can be placed into four categories:
1.5.1 Input: Involves getting data into the computer for storage or processing.
1.5.2 Output: Involves displaying information from the computer.
1.5.3 Process: Involves calculating or manipulating the input data/values e.g. the square
root of a number, sorting a list of names.
1.5.4 Store: Involves saving or writing results of after processing in a computer e.g.
Archiving digital pictures.

1.6 Components of a computer systems

The computer system can be broken down into two major components: The hardware and
software components.
[a]. Hardware components
The hardware components are the tangible electronic parts of a computer system and
includes: System unit, CPU, CD-ROM, CD-R,CD-RW, Keyboard e.t.c.
Tower/Chassis/System unit: The box or case that holds the parts that make up a computer:
CPU, hard disk drive, floppy drive, memory chips, power supply, interface cards.

CPU: Central Processing Unit. This component does the actual processing of the data.
It consists of three components: Arithmetic Logic Unit(ALU), Control Unit(CU) and
registers.
Monitor: This is an output device that displays information in visual form, using text
and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the
screen. Like a television screen, a computer screen can show still or moving pictures.

Disk drive: A device that reads data from (input) or records data onto a disk for
storage (output).

Hard drive: This is a storage device that a computer uses to store information. Most
computers come with a hard drive, called drive C, located inside the computer case.

CD: A compact disc is a small, portable, round medium made of molded polymer used
for recording, storing, and playing back audio, video, text, and other information in
digital format. There are several variations of CDs: CD-ROM, CD-R,CD-
RW,DVD,VCD e.t.c.
CD-ROM: Acronym for Compact Disk Read-Only-Memory. This device is a standard
compact disc containing data to be read by a digital device, such as a CD player or PC
CDROM drive. Computer can only read information this device but cannot save. CD-
ROMs are popularly used to distribute computer software, including video games and
multimedia applications, though any data can be stored (up to the capacity limit of a
disc).

CD-R: A CD-Recordable drive can store data onto a disk in just one session, and then
it is closed - one burn only – This means you can't add more data to it after you create
it/burnt.

CD-RW: A CD-ReWritable drive can be written onto more than once. It is therefore
similar to a floppy or hard disk.
DVD-ROM: Digital Versatile Disk - Read-Only Memory. A DVD-ROM is a
highcapacity optical disc that can store much more information. It is used to store
fulllength movies, large programs, etc.

Remark: The CD's, CD-R's, CD-RW's, and DVD's all look the same. You must read
the label to determine what type of media it is. Both CDs and DVDs are optical
storage media. Optical technology uses a laser or light beam to process information.
USB Flash Drive: This is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an
integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. These devices can store documents,
pictures, and music. Some flash drives are also MP3 players.

Mouse: This is a hand-held electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor
on the computer screen as you move it around on a pad. When you move the mouse,
the mouse pointer on the screen moves in the same direction. The mouse has left
button and right buttons for clicking and may have a wheel for scrolling.

Speakers: Output device that produces sound and music when connected to the
computer. Speakers come in different shapes and may even be in the monitor's case.
Light Pen: This is a pointing device which is similar to a pen. It is used to select a
displayed menu item or draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of a photocell
and an optical system placed in a small tube. When light pen's tip is moved over the
monitor screen and pen button is pressed, its photocell sensing element detects the
screen location and sends the corresponding signal to the CPU.

JoyStick: An input device used to move cursor position on a monitor screen. It is a

stick having a spherical ball at its both lower and upper ends. The lower spherical ball
moves in a socket. The Joystick can be moved in all four directions. It is mainly used
in Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and playing computer games.

Head phones: Output device for listening that is held over the ears by a band worn on
the head.

Scanner: An input device which works more like a photocopy machine. It is used
when some information is available on a paper and it is to be transferred to the hard
disc of the computer for further manipulation. It therefore captures images from the
source which are then converted into the digital form that can be stored on the disc.
These images can be edited before they are printed.
Microphone: Input device in which sound energy is changed into electrical energy for
the sending or recording sound (your voice).

Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR): An input device used to read codes usually on a
cheque that have a special type of ink which contains particles of magnetic material
that are machine can read. This reading process is called Magnetic Ink Character
Recognition (MICR).

Optical Character Reader (OCR): This is an input device used to read a printed text. It
scans text optically character by character, converts them into a machine readable code
and stores the text on the system memory.

Projector: Output device for displaying onto a large surface (projection screen) what
appears on the computer monitor.
Bar code Readers (BCR): This is a device used for reading bar coded data (data in
form of light and dark lines). Bar coded data is generally used in labelling goods,
numbering the books etc.
It may be a hand held scanner or may be embedded in a stationary scanner.
Bar Code Reader scans a bar code image, converts it into an alphanumeric value which
is then fed to the computer to which bar code reader is connected.

Printer: A device that produces a paper copy of the information on the screen.
Examples Ink Jet Printer and Laser Printer.

Modem: A device that allows computers to communicate with each other over
telephone lines (Internet).

Keyboard: Input device that allows user to choose letters, symbols, and actions by
pressing keys.
 Optical Mark Reader (OMR)
This is a special type of optical scanner used to recognize the type of mark made by
pen or pencil. It is used where one out of a few alternatives is to be selected and
marked. It is specially used for checking the answer sheets of examinations having
multiple choice questions.

Memory card
This device is used to store any data or instructions that are to be processed by the
CPU .This device is also called primary storage.

Random Access Memory (RAM): This is the part of the computer that temporarily stores the
instructions that the computer is running, and the data it is processing. RAM is a
volatile storage device. This means that if the computer’s power is turned off the contents
of RAM disappear and are lost. RAM, like the CPU, also plugs in to sockets on the
motherboard. When a computer is in use, its RAM will contain:
1.6.1 The operating system software
1.6.2 The application software currently being used
1.6.3 Any data that is being processed
Read-Only Memory (ROM): This memory is used in most computers to hold a small, special piece of
software: the boot up program. This software runs when the computer is switched on or boots up. The
software checks the computer’s hardware and then loads the operating system. ROM is non-volatile
storage. This means that the data it contains is never lost, even if the power is switched off.
Remark: These components can be classified into the following categories:
[b]. The software part
This includes set of instructions that the computer can execute. Unlike hardware
components, the software is intangible. The software can be classified into two major
types:
1.6.4 System software: A software designed to operate the computer
hardware and to provide a platform for running application
software e.g. operating system
1.6.5 Application software: A software designed to help the user to
perform specific tasks e.g. word processors, spreadsheets
1.7 Reflection questions, activity, exercises/quizzes
1. Describe how computers are used in the following areas:
[i]. Banking
[ii]. Engineering design
[iii]. Military
[iv]. Communication
[v]. Government applications
[vi]. Health care
[vii]. Marketing
[viii]. Education
2. You have been requested to make a presentation to members of staff in your
local primary school to advice them on why they need to train class one pupils
on the use of laptops. Give 5 reasons to support this venture.

3. Outline the major functions of a computer system

4. List and describe the hardware components of a computer system
5. List and describe the software components of a computer system
6. Identify tasks that you can accomplish using a computer

7. Discuss the hardware components of a computer system under the following

subtopics:
[i]. Input
[ii]. Output
[iii]. Storage
[iv]. Processing
8. Giving examples, discuss the two major types of computer software
9. Compare and contrast the following:
[i]. Soft copy and hard copy
[ii]. Hardware and software
[iii]. Data and information
[iv]. Read Only memory(ROM) and Random Access Memory(RAM)
[v]. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit(CU)
[vi]. CD-R and CD-RW
1.8 Summary
In this lesson we began by looking at some common terms used in computers. We then
discussed the key functions of a computer. Finally we discussed components of a
computer system. In particular, we divided the components of a computer into two major
components: the software and hardware components (see the diagram below).
Computer
system

Hardware Software

The both components can be summarized as

follows: a) Hardware components:
1.8.1 Input devices: Devices that pass data into the computer. e.g. keyboard, mouse,
scanner, Optical character reader (OCR), optical mark reader(OMR), magnetic ink
reader(MICR), JoyStick, Scanner, webcam e.t.c.
1.8.2 Output devices: Devices that take data from the computer e.g. monitor, printer,
speakers, projectors e.t.c.
1.8.3 Memory: Device that is used to store data and instructions to be processed by the
CPU e.g. Random Access Memory(RAM) and Read Only Memory(ROM).
1.8.4 Central processing unit (CPU) that consists of control unit(CU) and arithmetic logic unit.
b) The software part

This includes set of instructions that the computer can execute. Unlike hardware
components, the software is intangible. The software can be classified into two major
types:
• System software: A software designed to operate the computer hardware and
to provide a platform for running application software e.g. operating system
• Application software: A software designed to help the user to perform specific
tasks e.g. word processors, spreadsheets.
 1.9 Suggestions for further reading.

1. Pradeep, KS.2007. Computer Fundamentals: Concepts, Systems and Applications

.4th edition. New Delhi: BPB Publications.
2. Balagurusamy, E. 2009. Fundamentals of Computers. New Delhi: Tata
McGrawHill.
3. Rajaranan, V.2003. Fundamentals of Computers. 3rd edition .New Delhi: Prentice
Hall.
4. Sarojini, K.2009. Fundamentals of Computers. New Delhi: Global Research
Foundation.