What are computers?

Computers are electronic devices

that can follow instructions to
accept input, process the input and
then produce information.

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 Look inside the computer

HARDWARE
SOFTWARE

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Hardware

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 Hardware
The parts of computer itself (tangible objects )
including :
• CPU (or Processor) and Primary memory (or
Main Memory)
• Input devices i.e. the keyboard and mouse
• Output devices
• Storage devices

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The Case (System Unit or System Cabinet)

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 Hardware

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

2. Input units
3. Output units
4. Memory (Main or Primary Memory
& Secondary or Auxiliary Memory)

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Components of a Computer System
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Data
control unit (CU)

Memory output
Arithmetic
logic RAM units
Input
Unit (ALU)
units ROM

Auxiliary Information
Memory /Knowledge
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 Hardware Organization
Input Devices ...

CPU

memory

motherboard

hard drive
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 Input Devices

• Translate data from form that humans

understand to one that the computer can
work with
• Most common are keyboard and mouse

Selector Buttons

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 Examples of Input Devices
1. Keyboard (QWERTY keyboard, ATMs keyboard)
ATM: automatic teller machine
2. Mouse
3. Scanner
4. Pre-storage Devise (Disk, CD’s, … etc.)
5. Optical mark recognition (Light Pin, Bar code
scanners)
6. Microphone
7. Joystick.

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Examples of Input Devices(2)
8. Point and Draw devices
9. Trackball
10. Touchpad
11. Touch screen
12. Magnetic stripes and smart cars.
13. Digital Cameras

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Hardware Organization
CPU

memory

hard drive
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Hardware Organization

CPU

memory

motherboard

hard drive
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 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• A specific chip or the processor

a CPU's performance is determined
by the rest of the computers
circuitry and chips.
• The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
performs the actual processing of
data
• The speed (clock speed) of CPU
measured by Hertz (MHz)
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The CPU consists of :

• Control Unit (CU)

• Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU)
• Some Registers

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 The Control Unit (CU)
This coordinates all activities of the
computer by:
• Determining which operations to perform and
in what order to carry them out.

• The CU transmits coordinating control signals

to other computer components.

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The ALU :
consists of electronic circuitry to
perform:

• Arithmetic operations (addition,

subtraction, multiplication and division)
• Logical operations (and, or, not, …) and
to make some comparisons (less-than,
equal, … etc.)

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Primary Memory

• Memory (fast, expensive, short-term

memory): Enables a computer to store,
at least temporarily, data, programs,
and intermediate results.

• Two general parts:

• RAM
• ROM

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 RAM (Main Memory)
• its a primary storage or random access memory (RAM).
• it temporarily holds data and programs for use during
processing (volatile)
• Any information stored in RAM is lost when the
computer is turned off.
• RAM is the memory that the computer uses to
temporarily store the information as it is being
processed. The more information being processed the
more RAM the computer needs.
• RAM consists of locations or cells. Each cell has a
unique address which distinguishes it from other cells.
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 ROM: Read Only Memory
ROM is part of memory
 Programmed at manufacturing
time.
 Its contents cannot be changed
by users.
 It is a permanent store.

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 Secondary Storage
 Stores data and programs
permanently: its retained after the
power is turned off
 Examples
• Hard Drive (Hard Disk)
Located outside the CPU, but most often
contained in the system cabinet
• Floppy Disk
• Optical Laser Discs
CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD 23
Kinds of Disk Drives

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 Common Secondary Media
• Diskettes
– Data represented as magnetic spots on removable
flexible plastic disks
– Most common size is 3 1/2 inches, in a rigid plastic
case
– Disk drive holds the diskette, reads or retrieves
the data and writes or stores data

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 Common Secondary Media
• Hard drive
– Data is represented magnetically as with
diskettes
– Normally more than one rigid platter in a
sealed unit
– These disks are not removable
– Significantly more capacity and faster
operating than diskettes

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 Common Secondary Media
 Optical Laser Discs
• CD ROM & DVD’s
• Data is represented as pits and lands
• Some kinds are read only (CD-ROM) and some
Kinds are rewritable (CD-RW)
• Significantly more capacity and faster operating
than diskettes

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CPU
Output Devices

Pieces of equipment that translate the

processed information from the CPU into a
form that humans can understand.

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 Output Devices
 Monitors
 Printers
 Dot matrix printers
 Ink jet printers
 Laser printers
 Sound Blasters (Sound Card By Creative Lab)
 Controlling other devices

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 Software
The instructions that tell the computer
what to do
1. Application Software - helps end-users
perform general purpose tasks
2. System Software - enables application
software to interact with the computer

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 System Software
The most common System
Software is the Operating
system.
Examples are:
Windows 95, 97, XP, DOS,
Linux etc.

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 System Software

• The software that controls

everything that happens in a
computer.
• Background software, manages
the computer’s internal
resources

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Resources examples : CPU, RAM , I/O devices, …
 Application Software – Basic Tools
• Word processors–Microsoft word
• Spreadsheets-- Microsoft Excel
• Database managers-- Microsoft Access
• Graphics-- Photoshop

Spreadsheets: Computer software that allows the user to enter

columns and rows of numbers in a accounting book like format. 33
 Units of Measurements
 Bit (Binary Digit)(takes two values: 1 or 0)
 Byte = 8 bits

 KB (Kilo-byte) = 1024 bytes

 MB (mega-byte) = 1024 KB
 GB (giga-byte) = 1024 MB
 TB (Tera-byte) = 1024 GB

Remark: 1024=210

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 Four Kinds of Computers
1. Microcomputers 2. Minicomputers

3. Mainframe computers 4. Supercomputers

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• Microcomputer =>Personal
Computer => PC
• There are 3 types of the
Microcomputers :
1.Laptop
2.Desktop
3.Workstation

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• Personal Computer: A small, single-user
computer based on a microprocessor.
• Workstation: A powerful, single-user computer.
A workstation is like a personal computer, but it
has :
 a more powerful microprocessor and,
 in general, a higher-quality monitor.

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 Minicomputer, Mainframe, and
Supercomputer
• Minicomputer: A multi-user computer
capable of supporting up to hundreds of users
simultaneously.

• Mainframe: A powerful multi-user computer

capable of supporting many hundreds or
thousands of users simultaneously.

• Supercomputer: An extremely fast computer

that can perform hundreds of millions of
instructions per second. 38
 Minicomputers
• Desk-sized
• More processing speed and
storage capacity than
microcomputers
• General data processing needs
at small companies
• Larger companies use them
for specific purposes

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Mainframe Computers
• Larger machines with
special wiring and
environmental controls

• Faster processing and

greater storage than
minicomputers

• Typical machine in large

organizations
 Supercomputers
• The most powerful of the four categories
• Used by very large organizations, particularly
for very math-intensive types of tasks

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Supercomputers

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Characteristics of Computers
1- Store a large amount of data and
information for a long period of
time.
2- process data and information in
high accuracy level .
3- Speed in processing data
information.
4- Sharing of information / network.
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 Understanding the difference between
Data, Information and Knowledge:

Data Information
Computer
Knowledge
Data: is the name given to basic facts such as names
and numbers.
 Information: is data that has been converted into a more
useful or intelligible form.
 Knowledge: arrangement of information and classifying
information of the same type or the same topic.
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• e. g.

-2 4 0 -3 10 (data)
|| sorted
\ /
-3 -2 0 4 10 (information)

Processing data produces information,

and processing information produces
knowledge.
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