What is Computer :
Computer is an electronic device that is
designed to work with Information. The term computer is derived from the Latin
term ‘computare’, this means to calculate or programmable machine. Computer can
not do anything without a Program. It represents the decimal numbers through a
string of binary digits. The Word 'Computer' usually refers to the Center
Processor Unit plus Internal memory.
Input (Data):
Input is the raw information entered into a computer from
the input devices. It is the collection of letters, numbers, images etc.
Process:
Process is the operation of data as per given instruction.
It is totally internal process of the computer system.
Output:
Output is the processed data given by computer after data
processing. Output is also called as Result.
We can save these results in the
storage devices for the future use.
Computer Classification: By Size and Power
Computers differ based on their data processing abilities.
They are classified according to purpose, data handling and functionality.
According to functionality, computers are classified as:
• Analog Computer: A computer that represents numbers by
some continuously variable physical quantity, whose variations mimic the
properties of some system being modeled.
• Personal computer: A personal computer is a computer small
and low cost. The term"personal computer" is used to describe desktop
computers (desktops).
• Workstation: A terminal or desktop computer in a network.
In this context, workstation is just a generic term for a user's machine
(client machine) in contrast to a "server" or "mainframe."
• Minicomputer: A minicomputer isn't very mini. At least,
not in the way most of us think of mini. You know how big your personal
computer is and its related family.
• Mainframe: It refers to the kind of large computer that
runs an entire corporation.
• Supercomputer: It is the biggest, fastest, and most
expensive computers on earth.
• Microcomputer: Your personal computer is a microcomputer.
Education :
Getting the right kind of information is a major
challenge as is getting information to make sense. College students spend an
average of 5-6 hours a week on the internet.Research shows that computers can
significantly enhance performance in learning. Students exposed to the internet
say they think the web has helped them improve the quality of their academic
research and of their written work. One revolution in education is the advent
of distance learning. This offers a variety of internet and video-based online
courses.
Health and Medicine :
Computer technology is radically changing the tools of
medicine. All medical information can now be digitized. Software is now able to
computer the risk of a disease. Mental health researchers are using computers
to screen troubled teenagers in need of psychotherapy. A patient paralyzed by a
stroke has received an implant that allows communication between his brain and
a computer; as a result, he can move a cursor across a screen by brainpower and
convey simple messages.
Science :
Scientists have long been users of it. A new adventure among
scientists is the idea of a “collaboratory”, an internet based collaborative
laboratory, in which researchers all over the world can work easily together
even at a distance. An example is space physics where space physicists are
allowed to band together to measure the earth’s ionosphere from instruments on
four parts of the world.
Business :
Business clearly see the interest as a way to enhance
productivity and competitiveness. Some areas of business that are undergoing
rapid changes are sales and marketing, retailing, banking, stock trading, etc.
Sales representatives not only need to be better educated and more
knowledgeable about their customer’s businesses, but also must be comfortable
with computer technology. The internet has become a popular marketing tool. The
world of cybercash has come to banking – not only smart cards but internet banking,
electronic deposit, bill paying, online stock and bond trading, etc.
Recreation and Entertainment:
Our entertainment and pleasure-time have also been affected
by computerization. For example:
• In movies, computer generated graphics give freedom to
designers so that special effects and even imaginary characters can play a part
in making movies, videos, and commercials.
• In sports, computers compile statistics, sell tickets,
create training programs and diets for athletes, and suggest game plan strategies
based on the competitor’s past performance.
• In restaurants, almost every one has eaten food where the
clerk enters an order by indicating choices on a rather unusual looking cash
register; the device directly enters the actual data into a computer, and
calculates the cost and then prints a receipt.
Government:
Various departments of the Government use computer for their
planning, control and law enforcement activities. To name a few – Traffic,
Tourism, Information & Broadcasting, Education, Aviation and many others.
Sports:
In today's technologically growing society, computers are
being used in nearly every activity.
Recording Information
Official statistics keepers and some scouts use computers to
record statistics, take notes and chat online while attending and working at a
sports event.
Analyzing Movements
The best athletes pay close attention to detail. Computers
can slow recorded video and allow people to study their specific movements to
try to improve their tendencies and repair poor habits.
Writers
Many sportswriters attend several sporting events a week,
and they take their computers with them to write during the game or shortly
after while their thoughts are fresh in their mind.
Scoreboard
While some scoreboards are manually updated, most
professional sports venues have very modern scoreboards that are programmed to
update statistics and information immediately after the information is entered
into the computer.
Safety
Computers have aided in the design of safety equipment in
sports such as football helmets to shoes to mouth guards
Block Diagram of Computer and Explain its Various Components
A computer can process data, pictures, sound and graphics.
They can solve highly complicated problems quickly and accurately. A computer
as shown in Fig. performs basically five
major computer operations or functions irrespective of their size and make.
These are
1) it accepts data or instructions by way of input,
2) it stores data,
3) it can process data as required by the user,
4) it gives results in the form of output, and
5) it controls all operations inside a computer.
We discuss below each of these Computer operation
Block Diagram of
Computer and Explain its Various Components
1. Input: This is the process of entering data and programs
in to the computer system. You should know that computer is an electronic machine
like any other machine which takes as inputs raw data and performs some
processing giving out processed data. Therefore, the input unit takes data from
us to the computer in an organized manner for processing.
2. Storage: The process of saving data and instructions
permanently is known as storage. Data has to be fed into the system before the
actual processing starts. It is because the processing speed of Central
Processing Unit (CPU) is so fast that the data has to be provided to CPU with
the same speed. Therefore the data is first stored in the storage unit for
faster access and processing. This storage unit or the primary storage of the
computer system is designed to do the above functionality. It provides space
for storing data and instructions.
The storage unit performs the following major functions:
• All data and instructions are stored here before and after
processing.
• Intermediate results of processing are also stored here.
3. Processing: The task of performing operations like arithmetic
and logical operations is called processing. The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
takes data and instructions from the storage unit and makes all sorts of
calculations based on the instructions given and the type of data provided. It
is then sent back to the storage unit.
4. Output: This is the process of producing results from the
data for getting useful information. Similarly the output produced by the
computer after processing must also be kept somewhere inside the computer
before being given to you in human readable form. Again the output is also
stored inside the computer for further processing.
5. Control: The manner how instructions are executed and the
above operations are performed. Controlling of all operations like input,
processing and output are performed by control unit. It takes care of step by
step processing of all operations inside the computer.
FUNCTIONAL UNITS
In order to carry out the operations mentioned in the
previous section the computer allocates the task between its various functional
units. The computer system is divided into three separate units for its
operation. They are
Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU)
Logical Unit :After you enter data through the input device
it is stored in the primary storage unit. The actual processing of the data and
instruction are performed by Arithmetic Logical Unit. The major operations
performed by the ALU are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, logic
and comparison. Data is transferred to ALU from storage unit when required.
After processing the output is returned back to storage unit for further
processing or getting stored.
Control Unit (CU)
The next component of computer is the Control Unit, which
acts like the supervisor seeing that things are done in proper fashion. Control
Unit is responsible for co ordinating various operations using time
signal. The control unit determines the sequence in which computer programs and
instructions are executed. Things like processing of programs stored in the
main memory, interpretation of the instructions and issuing of signals for
other units of the computer to execute them. It also acts as a switch board
operator when several users access the computer simultaneously. Thereby it
coordinates the activities of computer’s peripheral equipment as they perform
the input and output.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The ALU and the CU of a computer system are jointly known as
the central processing unit. You may call CPU as the brain of any computer
system. It is just like brain that takes all major decisions, makes all sorts
of calculations and directs different parts of the computer functions by
activating and controlling the operations.
0 Comments