Computer Science XI

Chapter 1
What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the

ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use
a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web.
You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.

Information technology
IT is generally associated with the application of technology to deal with business
issues. As such, the IT workforce is oriented toward developed technologies such as
hardware systems, OSes and application software. Proficiency in IT is required to
identify the hardware and software components that should be used to enhance a
specific business process. IT pros work with a variety of technologies, such as server
OSes, communications devices and software, and applications.

Information technology vs. computer science

When researching careers in IT, you're likely to come across the term computer
science. While there is overlap between IT and computer science, the two are distinct
disciplines with different courses of study to prepare for careers in either area.

Components of Computer
Computer is an electronic device that accepts data as input, processes the input data
by performing mathematical and logical operations on it, and gives the desired
output. The computer system consists of four parts - Hardware, Software, Data, and
Users.

Hardware
Hardware consists of the mechanical parts that make up the computer as a machine.
The hardware consists of physical devices of the computer. The devices are required
for input, output, storage and processing of the data. Keyboard, monitor, hard disk

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Computer Science XI

drive, floppy disk drive, printer, processor and motherboard are some of the
hardware devices.

Software
Software is a set of instructions that tells the computer about the tasks to be
performed and how these tasks are to be performed. Program is a set of instructions,
written in a language understood by the computer, to perform a specific task. A set
of programs and documents are collectively called software. The hardware of the
computer system cannot perform any task on its own. The hardware needs to be
instructed about the task to be performed. Software instructs the computer about the
task to be performed. The hardware carries out these tasks. Different software can
be loaded on the same hardware to perform different kinds of tasks.

Data
Data are isolated values or raw facts, which by themselves have no much
significance. For example, the data like 29, January, and 1994 just represent values.
The data is provided as input to the computer, which is processed to generate some
meaningful information. For example, 29, January and 1994 are processed by the
computer to give the date of birth of a person.

Users
Users are people who write computer programs or interact with the computer. They
are also known as skinware, liveware, humanware or peopleware. Programmers,
data entry operators, system analyst and computer hardware engineers fall into this
category.

What are the different types of computers?

Teacher: Imran Rajper

Computer Science XI

When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal
computer such as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes
and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you
withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're
using a type of computer.

Other types of computers

Many of today's electronics are basically specialized computers, though we don't

always think of them that way. Here are a few common examples.

 Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers can

do, including browsing the Internet and playing games. They are often
called smartphones.
 Wearables: Wearable technology is a general term for a group of
devices—including fitness trackers and smartwatches—that are
designed to be worn throughout the day. These devices are often
called wearables for short.
 Game consoles: A game console is a specialized type of computer that
is used for playing video games on your TV.
 TVs: Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that let you
access various types of online content. For example, you can stream
video from the Internet directly onto your TV.

PCs and Macs

Personal computers come in two main styles: PC and Mac. Both are fully
functional, but they have a different look and feel, and many people prefer one or
the other.

This type of computer began with the original IBM PC that was introduced in 1981.
Other companies began creating similar computers, which were called IBM PC
Compatible (often shortened to PC). Today, this is the most common type of
personal computer, and it typically includes the Microsoft Windows operating
system.

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Computer Science XI

The Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984, and it was the first widely sold
personal computer with a graphical user interface, or GUI (pronounced gooey). All
Macs are made by one company (Apple), and they almost always use the Mac OS
X operating system.

Input output devices

Input and Output devices are a major part of the computer. They are a type of
hardware device that makes up the computer system. These allow the system to
function properly with external help. They both deal with data but in different ways.
The input allows the user to send data while the output completes the task related to
the data. These all are auxiliary devices that connect to the device and complete all
the tasks accordingly. Keyboards, mouse, scanners, etc are some of the input devices
while printers, monitors, headphones, etc are some of the output devices.

Input Devices of Computer

As mentioned above the input devices allow the users to send signals to the computer
to perform a certain task. The receiver at this end is the Central Processing Unit
(CPU) which then sends the signal to the output devices. Input devices further

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Computer Science XI

classify according to modality like visual or audio, discrete or continuous, and is it

direct or indirect.
Some of the classifications are –
1. Keyboard Devices
 Keyboard
 Lighted Program Function Keyboard (LPFK)
2. Pointing Devices
 A mouse sitting on a desk.
 A computer mouse
 3D mice
 Joysticks
 Pointing sticks
3. Composite Devices
 Wii Remote
 Wii Remote with attached strap
4. Game controller
 Gamepad (or joypad)
 Paddle (game controller)
 Jog dial/shuttle (or knob)
 Wii Remote

Output Devices of Computer

The output devices take care of displaying the result after data processing by the
input device. It may be in image, graphic, textual or audio form. These devices show
the visual elements on the display. The information on the screen is soft copy and
some of the important output devices are –

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Computer Science XI

Monitors

Printers

What is an Operating System?

An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between computer
hardware components and the user. Every computer system must have at least one
operating system to run other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS Office,
Notepad Games, etc., need some environment to run and perform its tasks.
The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak
the computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use any computer or mobile
device without having an operating system.

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Computer Science XI

Examples of Operating System with Market Share

Types of Operating System (OS)

Following are the popular types of OS (Operating System):

 Batch Operating System

 Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
 Multiprocessing OS

Batch Operating System

Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the
same process, a job with a similar type of needs are batched together and run as a
group.

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Computer Science XI

The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In
this type of OS, every user prepares his or her job on an offline device like a punch
card and submit it to the computer operator.

Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems

Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal(shell)
to use a single computer system at the same time. The processor time (CPU) which
is shared among multiple users is termed as time sharing.

Difference between CLI and GUI

CLI is the word form used for Command Line Interface. CLI permits users to
put in writing commands associate degree exceedingly in terminal or console
window to interact with an operating system. CLI is a platform or medium
wherever users answer a visible prompt by writing a command and get the
response from the system, for this users have to be compelled to kind command
or train of command for performing the task. CLI is suitable for pricey computing
wherever input exactitude is the priority.
GUI stands for Graphical User Interface. GUI permits users to use the graphics
to interact with an operating system. In the graphical user interface, menus are
provided such as windows, scrollbars, buttons, wizards, painting pictures,
alternative icons, etc. It’s intuitive, simple to find out, and reduces psychological
feature load. In GUI, the information is shown or presented to the user in any
form such as: plain text, videos, images, etc.

Teacher: Imran Rajper

Computer Science XI

Let’s see the difference between GUI and CLI:

S.NO CLI GUI

1. CLI is difficult to use. Whereas it is easy to use.

2. It consumes low memory. While consuming more memory.

In CLI we can obtain high

While in it, low precision is obtained.
3. precision.

4. CLI is faster than GUI. The speed of GUI is slower than CLI.

In CLI, the information is shown While in GUI, the information is shown or

or presented to the user in plain presented to the user in any form such as:
5. text and files. plain text, videos, images, etc.

In CLI, there are no menus

While in GUI, menus are provided.
6. provided.

7. There are no graphics in CLI. While in GUI, graphics are used.

What is Program, Programming & Coding.

Teacher: Imran Rajper

Computer Science XI

Most of the development in the world is all because of technology. Technology has
grown much faster than everything else. All the technology is developed because of
coding and programming. Coding and programming hold a vital role in
development. It also includes developments from small projects to big projects. So
you will understand some of the differences between coding and programming in
the tutorial about "Coding Vs Programming."
A Program
A computer program is a set of instructions for a computer to follow saved in a file.
It can be a single pass of instructions or, more commonly, an instruction set that
loops back on itself and does work until stopped. In contrast, computer programming
is the act of writing a computer program.

What Is Coding

Coding is a computer programming language that helps to communicate with a

computer. Computers do not understand human languages. Coding allows humans
to communicate with the computer. Code instructs the computer which tasks to be
performed and what things to do. Learning code also helps develop applications,
websites, and many other things that are ruling the world at present.

What Is Programming?

Programming is passing the instructions and information to the computer that

describes how a program should be carried out. Programming helps computers to
perform certain actions. Various types of programming languages available in the
market, like C, C++, Java, Python, etc., help develop new and creative technology.

Benefits of Learning Coding and Programming

By learning coding and programming, there are many benefits. Now, have a look
at some.
Teacher: Imran Rajper
Computer Science XI

 By learning coding and programming, you can improve your skills that help to
implement new and creative ideas in a personality.
 Once you get experience in coding and programming, it is pretty easy for you to
get a job in IT.
 Coding and programming also help you build logic-building skills, which
greatly benefit building a promising career.
 By learning coding and programming, you can develop new and creative
software which can reduce the effort and burden in every sector for humans.

Programming Translators
A program written in high-level language is called as source code. To convert the
source code into machine code, translators are needed.
A translator takes a program written in source language as input and converts it into
a program in target language as output.
It also detects and reports the error during translation.

Roles of translator are:

• Translating the high-level language program input into an equivalent machine
language program.

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Computer Science XI

• Providing diagnostic messages wherever the programmer violates specification of

the high-level language program.
Compiler
Compiler is a translator which is used to convert programs in high-level language
to low-level language. It translates the entire program and also reports the errors in
source program encountered during the translation.

Interpreter
Interpreter is a translator which is used to convert programs in high-level language
to low-level language. Interpreter translates line by line and reports the error once
it encountered during the translation process.
It directly executes the operations specified in the source program when the input
is given by the user.
It gives better error diagnostics than a compiler.

Data and Information

Usually, the terms “data” and “information” are used interchangeably. However,
there is a subtle difference between the two.

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Computer Science XI

In a nutshell, data can be a number, symbol, character, word, codes, graphs, etc.
On the other hand, information is data put into context. Information is utilised by
humans in some significant way (such as to make decisions, forecasts etc).

A basic example of information would be a computer. A computer uses

programming scripts, formulas, or software applications to turn data into
information.

Data Information

Data is unorganised and unrefined facts Information comprises processed, organised data
presented in a meaningful context

Data is an individual unit that contains raw materials Information is a group of data that collectively
which do not carry any specific meaning. carries a logical meaning.

Data doesn’t depend on information. Information depends on data.

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Computer Science XI

Raw data alone is insufficient for decision making Information is sufficient for decision making

An example of data is a student’s test score The average score of a class is the information
derived from the given data.

What is Data?
Data is a collection of raw, unorganised facts and details like text, observations,
figures, symbols and descriptions of things etc. In other words, data does not carry
any specific purpose and has no significance by itself. Moreover, data is measured
in terms of bits and bytes – which are basic units of information in the context of
computer storage and processing.

What is Information?
Information is processed, organised and structured data. It provides context for data
and enables decision making. For example, a single customer’s sale at a restaurant
is data – this becomes information when the business is able to identify the most
popular or least popular dish.

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