SELF INTRODUCTION

 Name : Atta Jillani

 Qualification : Master of Science in Computer and

Information Technology (MSCIT)

 Assistant Professor
[Norton] A Computer is an electronic device that
processes data, converting it into information that
is useful to people
[Wikipedia] A Computer is a programmable device,
usually electronic in nature, that can store, retrieve
and process data
[The American Heritage Dictionary]
1. A device that computes… especially a programmable electronic
machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical
operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise
processes information
2. One who computes
 Data and Information
 Computers process data into information.
 Data is a collection of unprocessed items , which
can include text, numbers, images, audio, and video.

 Data: the collection of facts and figure in raw form is

called data.
 Information: the processed data is called information
 Information conveys meaning and is useful to people.
 For example, computers process several data items to
print information in the form of a cash register receipt.
Advantages of Using Computers
Computers have the advantages of
 Speed, Reliability, Consistency, Storage, and
Communications.
 Speed: When data, instructions, and information flow
along electronic circuits in a computer, they travel at
incredibly fast speeds.
 Many computers process billions or trillions of
operations in a single second.
 Processing involves computing (e.g., adding,
 subtracting), sorting organizing, displaying images,
recording audio, playing music, and showing a movie
or video
 Reliability: The electronic components in modern
computers are dependable and reliable because they
rarely break or fail
 Consistency: Given the same input and processes, a
computer will produce the same results consistently.
 A computing phrase known as garbage in, garbage out
points out that the accuracy of a computer’s output
depends on the accuracy of the input.
 For example, if you do not use the flash on a digital
camera when indoors, the resulting pictures that are
displayed on the computer screen may be unusable
because they are too dark
 Storage: A computer can transfer data quickly from storage
to memory, process it, and then store it again for future
use.
 Many computers store enormous amounts of data and
make this data available for processing anytime it is
needed.
 Communications: Most computers today can
communicate with other computers, often wirelessly
 Computers with this capability can share any of the four
information processing cycle operations — input, process,
output, and storage — with another computer or a user
Disadvantages of Using Computers
 Some disadvantages of computers relate to
 health risks, the violation of privacy, public ,safety, the
impact on the labor force, and the impact on the
environment
 Health Risks: Prolonged or improper computer use can
lead to injuries or disorders of the hands, wrists,
elbows, eyes, neck, and back.
 Computer users can protect themselves from these
health risks through proper workplace design, good
posture while at the computer, and appropriately
spaced work breaks.
 Two behavioral health risks are computer addiction
and technology overload.
 Computer addiction occurs when someone becomes
obsessed with using a computer.
 Individuals suffering from technology overload feel
distressed when deprived of computers and mobile
devices.
 Once recognized, both computer addiction and technology
overload are treatable disorders

 Violation of Privacy:
 Nearly every life event is stored in a computer somewhere
in medical records, credit reports, tax records, etc.
 In many instances, where personal and confidential
records were not protected properly, individuals have
found their privacy violated and identities stolen.
 Public Safety: Adults, teens, and children
 around the world are using computers to share
publicly their photos, videos, journals, music, and
other personal information.
 Some of these unsuspecting, innocent computer users
have fallen victim to crimes committed by dangerous
Strangers
 For example, do not share information that would
allow others to identify or locate you and do not
disclose identification numbers, passwords, or other
personal security details.
 Impact on Labor Force:
 Although computers have improved productivity in
many ways and created an entire industry with
hundreds of thousands of new jobs, the skills of
millions of employees have been replaced by
computers.
 Thus, it is crucial that workers keep their education up-
to-date. A separate impact on the labor force is that
some companies are outsourcing jobs to foreign
countries instead of keeping their homeland labor
force employed.
 Impact on Environment:
 Computer manufacturing processes and computer
waste are depleting natural resources and polluting
the environment. When computers are discarded in
landfills, they can release toxic materials and
potentially dangerous levels of lead, mercury,.
The Five Basic Operations of a Computer System

 Inputting. The process of entering data and

instructions
into the computer system
 Storing. Saving data and instructions to make them
readily available for initial or additional processing
whenever required
 Processing. Performing arithmetic operations (add,
subtract, multiply, divide, etc.) or logical operations
(comparisons like equal to, less than, greater than, etc.)
on data to convert them into useful information
 Outputting. The process of producing useful
information or results for the user such as a printed
report or visual display
 Controlling. Directing the manner and sequence in
which all of the above operations are performed
Basic Organization of a Computer System
Input Unit
 An input unit of a computer system performs the
 following functions:
 1. It accepts (or reads) instructions and data from
outside
 world
 2. It converts these instructions and data in computer
 acceptable form
 3. It supplies the converted instructions and data to the
 computer system for further processing
Output Unit
 output unit of a computer system performs the
 following functions:
 1. It accepts the results produced by the computer,
which
 are in coded form and hence, cannot be easily
 understood by us
 2. It converts these coded results to human acceptable
 (readable) form
 3. It supplies the converted results to outside world
Storage Unit
 The storage unit of a computer system holds (or
stores)
 the following :
 1. Data and instructions required for processing
(received
 from input devices)
 2. Intermediate results of processing
 3. Final results of processing, before they are released
to
 an output device
Two Types of Storage
.Primary storage
 Used to hold running program instructions
 Used to hold data, intermediate results, and results of
ongoing processing of job(s)
 Fast in operation
 Small Capacity
 Expensive
 Volatile (looses data on power dissipation)
 Secondary storage
 Used to hold stored program instructions
 Used to hold data and information of stored jobs
 Slower than primary storage
 Large Capacity
 Lot cheaper that primary storage
 Retains data even without power
 Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU
 Arithmetic Logic Unit of a computer system is the
place where the actual executions of instructions
takes place during processing operation
Control Unit (CU)
 Control Unit of a computer system manages and
coordinates the operations of all other components of
the computer system
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

It is the brain of a computer system

It is responsible for controlling the operations of

all other units of a computer system
Introduction to Computer Software
 Software, also called a program, consists of a series
of related instructions, organized for a common
purpose, that tells the computer what tasks to perform
and how to perform them.
 Program is a sequence of instructions written in a
language that can be understood by a computer
 You interact with a program through its user interface.
 The user interface controls how you enter data and
instructions and how information is displayed on the
screen.
 Software today often has a graphical user interface.
With a graphical user interface (GUI pronounced
gooey),
 Users interact with the software using text, graphics,
and visual images such as icons.
 An icon is a miniature image that represents a
program, an instruction, or some other object.
 The two categories of software are
System software and Application software.
 System Software
 System software consists of the programs that control or
maintain the operations of the computer and its devices.
 Help hardware components work together and provide
 support for the development and execution of
application software
 Programs included in a system software package are
called system programs and programmers who prepare
them are called system programmers
 System software serves as the interface between the
user, the application software, and the computer’s
hardware.
 Examples of system software are operating systems,
programming language translators, utility programs,
and communications software
 Operating System
 An operating system is
a set of programs that coordinates all the activities
among computer hardware devices.
 It provides a means for users to communicate with the
computer and other software.
 Many of today’s computers use Microsoft’s Windows,
or Mac OS, Apple’s operating system.
 When a user starts a computer, portions of the
operating system are copied into memory from the
computer’s hard disk. These parts of the operating
system remain in memory while the computer is on.
 Utility Program
 A utility program allows a user to perform
maintenance-type tasks usually related to managing a
computer, its devices, or its programs.
 For example, you can use a utility program to transfer
digital photos to an optical disc. Most operating
systems include several utility programs for managing
disk drives, printers, and other devices and media.
 You also can buy utility programs that allow you to
perform additional computer management functions.
 Application Software
 Application software consists of programs
designed to make users more productive and/or assist
them with personal tasks.
 Solve a specific problem or do a specific task
 Programs included in an application software package
are called application programs and the programmers
who prepare them are called application
programmers
 Examples of application software
A widely used type of application software related to
communications is a Web browser, which allows users
with an Internet connection to access and view Web
pages or access programs.
Other popular application software includes word
processing software, spreadsheet software, database
software, and presentation software.
 Many other types of application software exist that
enable users to perform a variety of tasks.
 These include personal information management,
note taking, project management, accounting,
document management, computer aided design,
desktop publishing, paint/image editing, photo
editing, audio and video editing, multimedia
authoring
 Broad Classification of
Computer Languages
 Machine language
 Assembly language
 High-level language
 Machine Language
 Only language of a computer understood by it without
using a translation program
 Normally written as strings of binary 1s and 0s
 Written using decimal digits if the circuitry of the
computer being used permits this
 001000000000001100111001
 001100000000010000100001
 011000000000011100101110
 101000111111011100101110
 000000000000000000000000
 Advantages & Limitations of
Machine Language
 Advantage
 Can be executed very fast
 Limitations
 ß Machine Dependent
 ß Difficult to program
 ß Error prone
 ß Difficult to modify
Assembly/Symbolic Language
 Programming language that overcomes the limitations
of machine
 language programming by:
 Using alphanumeric mnemonic codes instead of
numeric codes for the instructions in the instruction
set e.g. using ADD instead of (binary) or (decimal)
 Allowing storage locations to be represented in form
of alphanumeric addresses instead of numeric
addresses e.g. representing memory locations 1000,
1001, and 1002 as FRST, SCND, and ANSR respectively
Advantages of Assembly Language
Over Machine Language

 Easier to understand and use

 Easier to locate and correct errors
 Easier to modify
 No worry about addresses
 Easily reloadable
 Efficiency of machine language
Limitations of Assembly Language
 Machine dependent
 Knowledge of hardware required
 Machine level coding
High-Level Languages

 Machine independent
 Do not require programmers to know anything about
the internal structure of computer on which high-level
language programs will be executed
 Deal with high-level coding, enabling the
programmers to write instructions using English
words and familiar mathematical symbols and
expressions
Advantages of High-Level Languages

 Machine independent
 Easier to learn and use
 Fewer errors during program development
 Lower program preparation cost
 Better documentation
 Easier to maintain
Limitations of High-Level Languages
 Lower execution efficiency
 Less flexibility to control the computer’s CPU, memory
and registers
 Computer Hardware
Any part of the computer you can
touch.
• Processor
• Memory
• Input and Output Devices
• Storage Devices
The Components of a Computer
 The hardware of a computer consists of four main
components:
 1. input devices
 2. output devices
 3. system unit (processor and memory)
 4. storage devices.
What is an input device?
 A computer system can consist of many electro-
mechanical components,
 known as hardware, that work together. These devices
are frequently
 classified by how they normally fit into the processing
cycle or by their primary
 function. We have some devices that are input devices.
Their primary function
 is getting data and instructions into the computer. We
can find some common
 PC camera for entry of video.
 2. Scanner allows entry of images from hard copy
documents
 3. Digital camera allows direct entry of images
 4. Microphone allows audio data to be entered
 5. Keyboard allows you to enter data or instructions
using keys
 6. Mouse allows you to control a pointer on the screen
so it is called a
 pointing device
What is an output device?
 For getting things out of a computer, we have output
devices.
 In the picture, we have some of these devices:
 1. Monitor screen for displaying text, graphics, or video
 2. Speakers so you can output sounds
 3. Printer produces hard copy documents
What is the system unit?
 The processing itself generally takes place in a case.
This case is generally, but not always, shaped like a box
and it protects the components that are inside. This
case is sometimes called a chassis or system unit. The
system unit houses a variety of electronic components
and electro mechanical devices.
 These are generally connected to the main circuit
board which is called the motherboard or system
board.
What are two main components on
the motherboard?
 Two components that are required in all computers are
the processor or CPU,
 central processing unit, and memory. The processor
executes or carries out
 instructions. The instructions and data that the
processor uses must be located
 in memory which is a temporary holding place. These
two components are
 connected to the main electronic card of the system
called the motherboard.
What is storage
 Unfortunately, when you turn a computer off, the data
and instructions that are
 in memory are lost. Storage holds this for future use.
Storage consists of two
 parts. The first is where all of this is actually stored and
that is the storage
 media. The storage device records data and
information on the storage
 medium and retrieves it
Information Processing Cycle
Compiler

 Translator program (software) that translates a high-

 level language program into its equivalent machine
 language program
 ß Compiles a set of machine language instructions for
 every program instruction in a high-level language
Interpreter

 Interpreter is a high-level language translator

 ß Takes one statement of a high-level language
 program, translates it into machine language
 instructions
 ß Immediately executes the resulting machine language
 instructions
 ß Compiler simply translates the entire source program
 into an object program and is not involved in its
 execution
 RAM Vs ROM
 Every time a user turns on his or her computer, a set of
operating instructions is copied from the hard disk
into RAM
 These instructions, which help control basic computer
functions, remain in RAM until the computer is
turned off volatile, As soon as the power is turned off,
whatever data was in RAM disappears
 A computer can both write data into
 RAM and read data from RAM.
 capacity of RAM is measured in megabytes (MB).
 ROM (read only memory): unlike RAM, ROM is non-
volatile and only permits the user to read data.
 Computers almost always contain a small amount of
read-only memory that holds instructions for starting
up the computer.
 Types of ROM
 PROM (programmable read-only memory): a PROM is
a memory chip on which you can store a program.
 Once the PROM has been used, you cannot wipe it
clean and use it to store something else.
 Like ROMs, PROMs are non-volatile.
 PROM (programmable read-only memory): a PROM is a
memory chip on which you can store a program.
 Once the PROM has been used, you cannot wipe it clean
and use it to store something else.
 Like ROMs, PROMs are non-volatile.
 EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory):
an EPROM is a special type of PROM that can be erased
by exposing it to ultraviolet light
 EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only
memory): an EEPROM is a special type of PROM that
can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge
Registers

 Special memory units, called registers, are used to

hold information on a temporary basis as the
instructions are interpreted and executed by the CPU
 Registers are part of the CPU (not main memory) of a
computer
 The length of a register, sometimes called its word
 size, equals the number of bits it can store
 With all other parameters being the same, a CPU with
 32-bit registers can process data twice larger than one
with 16-bit registers
Processor Speed
 Computer has a built-in system clock that emits
millions of regularly spaced electric pulses per second
(known as clock cycles)
 It takes one cycle to perform a basic operation, such as
moving a byte of data from one memory location to
another
 Normally, several clock cycles are required to fetch,
decode, and execute a single program instruction
 Hence, shorter the clock cycle, faster the processor
 Clock speed (number of clock cycles per second) is
measured in Megahertz (106 cycles/sec) or Gigahertz
(109cycles/sec)
Cache Memory

 It is commonly used for minimizing the memory-

processor speed mismatch.
 It is an extremely fast, small memory between CPU
and main memory whose access time is closer to the
processing speed of the CPU.
 It is used to temporarily store very active data and
instructions during processing.
 Cache is pronounced as “cash”
Secondary storage
 Reason
 Limited capacity because the cost per bit of storage is
high
 Volatile -data stored in it is lost when the electric
 power is turned off or interrupted
 Used in a computer system to overcome the limitations
of primary storage
 Has virtually unlimited capacity because the cost per
bit of storage is very low
 Used to store large volumes of data on a permanent
basis
 Also known as auxiliary memory
Classification of storage
Sequential-access Storage Devices
 Arrival at the desired storage location may be preceded
by sequencing through other locations
 Data can only be retrieved in the same sequence in
which it is stored
 Access time varies according to the storage location of
the information being accessed
 Suitable for sequential processing applications where
most, if not all, of the data records need to be
processed one after another
 Magnetic tape is a typical example of such a storage
device
Direct-access Storage Devices
 Devices where any storage location may be selected
and accessed at random
 Permits access to individual information in a more
direct or immediate manner
 Approximately equal access time is required for
accessing information from any storage location
 Suitable for direct processing applications such as on-
line ticket booking systems, on-line banking systems
 Magnetic, optical, and magneto-optical disks are
typical examples of such a storage device
Magnetic Tape Basics
 Commonly used sequential-access secondary storage
device
 Physically, the tape medium is a plastic ribbon, which
is usually ½inch or ¼inch wide and 50 to 2400 feet
long
 Data are recorded on the tape in the form of tiny
invisible magnetized and non-magnetized spots
(representing 1s and 0s) on its coated surface
 Tape ribbon is stored in reels or a small cartridge or
cassette
Advantages of Magnetic Tapes

 Storage capacity is virtually unlimited because as many

tapes as required can be used for storing very large
 data sets
 Cost per bit of storage is very low for magnetic tapes.
 Tapes can be erased and reused many times
 Easy to handle and store.
 Very large amount of data can be stored in a small
storage space
Limitations of Magnetic Tapes
 Due to their sequential access nature, they are not
suitable for storage of those data that frequently
require to be accessed randomly
 Must be stored in a dust-free environment because
specks of dust can cause tape-reading errors
 Must be stored in an environment with properly
controlled temperature and humidity levels
 Tape ribbon may get twisted due to warping, resulting
in loss of stored data
 Should be properly labeled so that some useful data
stored on a particular tape is not erased by mistake
Magnetic Disk -Basics

 Commonly used direct-access secondary storage device.

 Physically, a magnetic disk is a thin, circular plate/platter
made of metal or plastic
 Data are recorded on the disk in the form of tiny
 invisible magnetized and non-magnetized spots
 (representing 1s and 0s) on the coated surfaces of the
 disk
 The disk is stored in a specially designed protective
envelope or cartridge, or several of them are stacked
together in a sealed, contamination-free container
Types of Magnetic Disks

 Floppy Disks
 Round, flat piece of flexible plastic disks coated with
magnetic oxide So called because they are made of flexible
plastic plates which can bend
 Also known as floppies or diskettes
 Plastic disk is encased in a square plastic or vinyl jacket
cover that gives handling protection to the disk surface
 5¼-inch diskette, whose diameter is 5¼-inch. It is encased
in a square, flexible jacket
 3½-inch diskette, whose diameter is 3½-inch


Hard Disks
 Round, flat piece of rigid metal (frequently aluminium)
disks coated with magnetic oxide
 Come in many sizes, ranging from 1 to 14-inch diameter.
 Depending on how they are packaged, hard disks are of
Advantages of Magnetic Disks
 More suitable than magnetic tapes for a wider range of
applications because they support direct access of data
 Random access property enables them to be used
simultaneously by multiple users as a shared device.
 A tape is not suitable for such type of usage due to its
sequential-access property
 Suitable for both on-line and off-line storage of data
 Due to their low cost and high data recording densities, the
cost per bit of storage is low for magnetic disks.
 An additional cost benefit is that magnetic disks can be
erased and reused many times
Limitations of Magnetic Disks

 More difficult to maintain the security of information

stored on shared, on-line secondary storage devices, as
compared to magnetic tapes or other types of
magnetic disks