Chapter1 Introduction to Computers

What are computers?

Computers are electronic devices that can follow instructions to accept input, process the input and then produce information. It is a machine that manipulates data according to a set of instructions.

Look inside the computer

SOFTWARE

HARDWARE

Computers are made of

1. HARDWARE 2. SOFTWARE

Hardware

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)

Hardware 1. 2. 3. 4. Central Processing Unit (CPU) Input units Output units Memory (Main or Primary Memory & Secondary or Auxiliary Memory)
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Components of a Computer System

Data Central Processing Unit (CPU) control unit (CU)

Input units

Arithmetic logic Unit (ALU)

Memory RAM ROM

output units

Auxiliary Memory

Information 9 /Knowledge

Input Devices ...

Hardware Organization
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)

2. Mouse 3. Scanner 4. Pre-storage Devise 5. Optical mark recognition (Light Pin , Bar code scanners) 6. Microphone 7. Joystick .
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ATM: automatic teller machine

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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)Mother-Board (or Main Board

CPU

RAM
ROM

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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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Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This is CPU Only:
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Control Unit (CU) Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

Registers

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The Control Unit (CU) : 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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Hardware Organization
CPU

memory

motherboard hard drive

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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: 1.RAM 2.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 25 other cells.

Main Memory
Address
1 2 3

Memory locations
Memory Cell

n
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Main Memory

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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

Q: Mention some examples of ROM? A: (PROM & EPROM )

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Other Kind of Memory

PROM: Programmable Read Only Memory. EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory Cache Memory Registers: not part of the main memory. Q : Registers are part of ?
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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

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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

Hard drive

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Hardware Organization
CPU

memory

motherboard hard drive

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Common Secondary Media Optical Laser Discs

CD ROM & DVDs
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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DVD: Digital Video Disk

Common Secondary Media

Disk size Amount of storage Approximate printed 8.5 x 11 inch pages 180 pages 360 pages 600 pages 720 pages a small library a feature length movie
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5.25 low density 3.5 low density 5.25 high density 3.5 high density CD DVD

360 Kb 720 Kb 1.2 Mb 1.44 Mb 700 MB 8.5 GB

Common Secondary Media

tapes Panasonic's LS120 3.5 inch diskettes Iomega's Zip & Jazz disks VCR tape (Video Cassette Recorder ) Flash USB disks MMC (Multi Media Card ) SD
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The benefits of secondary storage can be summarized as follows:

Capacity. Organizations may store the equivalent of a roomful of data on sets of disks that take up less space Reliability. Data in secondary storage is basically safe, since secondary storage is physically reliable.
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 Convenience. With the help of a computer, authorized people can locate and access data quickly. Cost. It is less expensive to store data on tape or disk (the principal means of secondary storage) than to buy and house filing cabinets.
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Hardware Organization
CPU

memory

hard drive
Output

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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
System Software
The most important
is the

Operating System
Examples of operating systems: Windows XP, DOS, Apple, UNIX

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System Software
The software that controls everything that happens in a computer. Background software, manages the computers internal resources

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Resources examples : CPU, RAM , I/O devices,

All hardware and software are under the control of the operating system. Among other things, the operating system:
1. 2. 3. 4. Determines how valuable RAM is allotted to programs. Performs tasks related to file management. Sets priorities for handling tasks. Manages the flow of instructions, data and information to and from the processor (CPU).

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Examples of Microcomputer Operating System Software

DOS - original standard for IBM compatibles Windows - a graphical operating environment Windows VISTA, XP, millennium, 2000, 98, and 95 Continue

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Examples of Microcomputer Operating System Software Cont.

Windows NT - for powerful workstations & networks OS/2 - competitor to Windows 2000 Macintosh Operating System Unix - originally for minicomputers, now used on microcomputers and Internet servers
Question: List some examples of operating systems ?
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Application Software
Packaged Custom

Packaged - off the shelf, pre-written programs ( General purpose) Custom - written for an organizations specific purpose (Special purpose)
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Application Software Basic Tools

Word processors example: Microsoft word Spreadsheets-- example: Microsoft Excel Database managers-- example: Microsoft Access Graphics-- example: Photoshop
Spreadsheets: Computer software that allows the user to enter columns and rows of numbers in a accounting book like format.
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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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Comparison between the previous kinds of computers may made based on :

Price Processing Speed Storage Capacity Powerful Single-user or Multi-user Supporting hundreds (or thousands) of users simultaneously Computer Size Companies size 54

 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.
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Desktop Computer
Small enough for a desktop, but not easily portable Personal computers (PCs) run general purpose software and are employed by a wide spectrum of users

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Desktop Computers Cont.

Workstations are powerful machines, running more advanced software, for technical, scientific, or dataintensive tasks These distinctions, however, are blurring

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Portable Computers
Easily transported from one place to another

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Portable Computers
Four categories
1. Laptops 2. Notebooks 3. Sub-notebooks 4. Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) Q: list all portable computer categories?

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PDA

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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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 OMITTED

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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

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 OMITTED

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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

Computer

Information Knowledge

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 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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Data
Data: are details of various types of transactions and details relating to specific situations, which are input to a data processing system (e.g. computer) for processing in a prescribed way. Examples of data relating to students are student-number, student-name and grades.
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 e. g. -2 4 0 -3 10 (data) || sort \ / -3 -2 0 4 10 (information)

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Data
Document files
Worksheet files Database files

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Information
Information: the result of processing data.
Information: Must serve a useful purpose Must be of an acceptable level of accuracy Must be available at the right time Must be relevant to the enterprise, person, etc.

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Knowledge
Putting a number of information with the same type or same topic would be a knowledge.

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Processing data produces information, and processing information produces knowledge.

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Computer Viruses

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Computer Viruses
A computer virus
are small software programs that are designed to spread from one computer to another and to interfere with computer operation.

A virus might corrupt or delete data on your computer, use your e-mail program to spread itself to other computers, or even erase everything on your hard disk.
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Examples of Viruses
Win32/Conficker
INF/Autorun Win32/PSW.OnLineGames n32/Agent

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Viruses and Virus Protection

A virus program
Infects programs, documents, databases and more It is man-made It can hide and reproduce It can lay dormant (inactive) and then activate
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Anti-virus programs can h

Types of Computer Viruses

Macro Viruses A macro virus, often scripted into common application programs such as Word or Excel, is spread by infecting documents. Network Viruses rapidly spreads through a Local Network Area (LAN), and sometimes throughout the internet. Trojan Horses The Trojan virus once on your computer, doesn't reproduce, but instead makes your computer susceptible to malicious intruders by allowing them to access and read your files. Making this type of virus extremely dangerous to your computer's security and your personal privacy.
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Types of Computer Viruses

Logic Bombs a piece of code that are inputted into a software system. When a certain and specific condition is met, such as clicking on an internet browser or opening a particular file, the logic bomb virus is set off. Companion Viruses takes advantage of MS-DOS. This virus creates a new file with typically the .COM extensions, but sometimes the .EXD extension as well.

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Types of Computer Viruses

Boot Sector Viruses generally hide in the boot sector, either in the bootable disk or the hard drive. Unlike most viruses, this virus does not harm the files in the hard disk, but harm the hard disk itself.
Multipartite Viruses spreaded through infected media and usually hides in the memory. Gradually, the virus moves to the boot sector of the hard drive and infects executable files on the hard drive and later across the computer system.

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Sources of Computer Viruses

Three primary sources
The Internet
Via downloads and exchanges

Diskettes
Exchanging disks

Computer networks
Can spread from one network to another
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How do you know if you have a virus?

Lack of storage capability Decrease in the speed of executing programs Unexpected error messages Halting the system

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Virus Protection
The software package distributed with new PCs always includes an antiviral program. The best way to cope with viruses is to recognize their existence and use an antiviral, or antivirus program.

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Some tips that will help minimize your vulnerability to viruses:

1. Delete e-mails from unknown or suspicious, untrustworthy (unreliable) sources, especially those with files attached to an e-mail. 2. Never open a file attached to an e-mail unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend. 3. Download files from the Internet only from legitimate and reputable sources. 4. Update your antivirus software at least every two weeks as over 200 viruses are discovered each month. 5. Backup your files periodically 6. Traditionally virus protection has been at the PC or client level. However, this may change as companies look to network and Internet service providers for more services. 89