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What is a Computer ?
A Computer is an electronic device designed to perform
Arithmetic operations. It can also perform several non-
Arithmetic operations on the alphabetic or numeric data
used.
Computer is a term applied to a group of inter-related
electronic devices that automatically :-
The Arithmetic Storage Unit (ALU) of a computer is the place where the
actual execution of instructions takes place during the processing operation.
All cal-culations are performed and all comparisons are made in the ALU.
Date moves from primary storage to the ALU and back again to storage
several times before processing is over. All ALU’s are designed to perform
four basic arithmetic operations – addition, subtraction, division and
multiplication, and logical ope-rations such as less than equal to and greater
than.
Storage Unit (Main Memory)
The data and instructions
entered into the computer
system through input units
have to be stored inside the
computer before the actual
processing starts. Similarly,
the results produced after
processing must be stored to
be passed onto the output
unit. The Storage Unit is
designed to cater to these
needs. It provides space for
storing the data, instructions,
intermediate and final results.
Memory Organization
Primary Storage
It is a electronic memory, made up of
semiconductor chips. This stores:
The instructions waiting to be obeyed
The instructions currently being obeyed
The data awaiting processing
The data currently being processed
The information awaiting output
Primary Memory : ROM
Primary memory is classified as Random Access
Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) .
A ROM is a storage
memory inside the
computer that
cannot be amended
or erased by the
processor. ROM is
used to hold static
information
necessary for the
computer such as
the Basic
Input/Output
System (BIOS).
Primary Memory : RAM
Random Access Memory
(RAM) is a memory into
which the user can enter
information and instruc-
tions (write) and from
which the user can call up
data (read).
The distinct feature of this
kind of memory is that it is
volatile; the contents of the
memory are lost when
power is switch off. It is
used only to ‘temporarily’
It is also called as – “the write or hold the data,
Read-Write Memory”. instructions or information.
Storage Devices – Secondary Storage
The storage capacity of primary storage is not sufficient to
store large volume of data. As a result, additional memory
called the Auxiliary Memory or Secondary Storage is
used with most computer systems.
Hard Disk
Floppy Disk
Compact Disc`
Input Units
Data instructions must enter the computer system before
any computation can be performed on the supplied data.
The input unit that links the external environment with
the computer system performs this task. All input
devices must provide the computer with data that are
transformed into binary codes that the primary memory
of the computer is designed to accept. Units called input
interfaces accomplish this transformation.
Printers
Impact Printers
Non-Impact Printers
Impact Printers
Impact Printers create characters by striking a
print page with a print hammer (print head).
These are further classified depending on the
method they adapt to print characters. Some of
them can print only one character at a time,
while others can assemble an entire output line a
time.
Line Printer
Dot Matrix Printers
Laser Printers
What is a Software?
Software is a program or a collection of programs
written to enable the computer to perform useful
tasks. A program is made up of special commands
and statements that are obeyed and executed by
the computer.
Types of Software
System Software
Application Software