LESSON 2

Computer System
● It’s made up of the following
− Hardware
− Software
− Human-ware/operators/users
Hardware
● Includes the physical parts of a computer.
● Computer hardware is the collection of all the parts you
can physically touch.
● From the definition hardware can be divided into three:
− Input devices.
− Processing Devices
− Output devices.
Input Devices
Input device is a piece of hardware used to provide data to
a computer used for interaction and control.
It allows input of raw data to the computer for processing.
Examples:
Digital Camera
Keyboard. Typing keys, numerics, function , conrol (home,
end pg up), special enter, shift, space
Mouse
● Joystick ● Touchscreen
● Light pen ● Biometric
● Track ball ● Digitizers
● Scanners ● Microphone
Processing Devices, CPU.
● Its considered to be the brain of the computer.
● It performs all types of data processing.
● Processing devices includes:
− The ALU.
− Control Unit.
− The Register.
The ALU
● Perform arithmetic operations like + - * / % – ++.
● Function of logic section is to perform logic operations
such as comparing, selecting, matching and merging of
data.
Register
● Registers are a type of computer memory used to
− quickly accept,
− store, and
− transfer data and instructions
● that are being used immediately by the CPU
The Control Unit
● It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data and
instructions among other units of a computer.
● It manages and coordinates all the units of the computer.
● It obtains the instructions from the memory, interprets
them and directs the operation of the computer.
● It communicates with Input/Output devices for transfer of
data or results from storage.
Output Devices
● An output device is any piece of computer hardware
equipment which converts information into
human-readable form.
● It can be text, graphics, audio, and video.
● Based on the information needed by users output
devices can be divided into
− Hardcopy Output devices.
− Softcopy Output Devices.
Softcopy Output Devices
● Soft copy devices allow the viewing of information that
can be rearranged, modified or corrected to suit your
needs.
● A softcopy output is an output which is not produced on a
paper or some materials which can not be touched or
carried.
● Some examples of soft copy output devices are
monitors(VDU), projectors, speakers,
Hardcopy Output Devices
● They are output devices which produces tangible output
which can be touched or carried for being shown to
others.
● Example: printers, plotters
Printers
● Printer is the most common output device, which is used
to print information on paper.
● There are two types of printers
− Impact Printers
− Non-Impact Printers
Impact Printers
● The printers that print the characters by striking against
the ribbon and onto the paper.
● Impact printers have a carbon ribbon and characters are
(hammered) onto paper through the carbon ribbon.
● Examples include dot matrix, chain printers, drum
printers, golf ball and daisy wheel printers.
Characteristics of Impact
● Impact printers are very noisy
● There is physical contact between printing head and the
the paper to produce an image
● Slow
● Produces low quality text and graphic output.
Types of Impact Printers
● Impact printers are of two types
− Character printers:

− Line printers: a high-speed computer printer that prints an

entire line at a time, rather than single characters
Character Printers
● A printer that prints one character at a time.
● Example
● Dot matrix: Each character printed is in form of pattern.
● Advantages: Cheap, widely used
● Disadvantages: slow, noisy
Daisy Wheel.
● The printer uses a metal or plastic disk containing each
of the letters, numbers, and other characters it supports.
● When printing, the printer rotates the disk to each
character and then using a hammer strike each character
into an ink ribbon to create the character on paper.
Cont...
● Advantages:
− More reliable than Dot Matrix Printers.
− Better quality
● Disadvantage
− have a low quality of print,
− are very slow,
− Noisy
Line Printers
● Line printers are printers which print one line at a time.
● These are of further two types
− Drum Printer
− Chain Printer
Non-Impact Printers
● Non-impact printers are now most common, as
− they are faster and
− quieter than impact printers.
● Non-impact printers form characters and images without
direct physical contact between the printing mechanism
and the paper.
 Types
● Characteristics ● They are of two types:
− Fast. − Inkjet
− Noisy. − Laser.
− High quality output.
− Support many fonts and
different character size.
Laser
● They use laser lights to produces the dots needed to
form the characters to be printed on a page.
● Advantages
● Very high speed.
● Very high quality output.
● Give good graphics quality.
● Support many fonts and different character size.
● Disadvantage
● Expensive.
Inkject Printers
● They print characters by spraying small drops of ink onto
paper.
● Inkjet printers produce high quality output with
presentable features.
● Advantages
● High quality printing
● More reliable
● Disadvantages
● Cost
● Slow as compare to laser printer
The
End
Lesson 3
Computer Memory
● It is used to store data and instruction.
● Computer memory is the storage space in computer
where data to be processed and instructions required for
processing are stored.
● Information in memory is stored in cells which has unique
address
Types of Memory
● Cache Memory
● Primary/Main Memory.
● Secondary Memory.
Cache Memory
● Cache memory is placed between the CPU and the main
memory.
● It acts as a buffer between the CPU and main memory.
● It is used to hold those parts of data and program which
are most frequently used by CPU.
● Cache memory is used to reduce the average time to
access data from the Main memory.
● The cache is a smaller and faster memory which stores
copies of the data from frequently used main memory
locations.
Merits and Demerits
● ADVANTAGE:
− Cache memory is faster than main memory.
− It consumes less access time as compared to main memory.
− It stores the program that can be executed within a short
period of time.
− It stores data for temporary use.
● DISADVANTAGE:
− Cache memory has limited capacity.
Primary/Main Memory
● Primary memory holds only those data and instructions
on which computer is currently working.
● Key characteristics:
− It has limited capacity.
− Volatile: data get lost when power is switched off.
● Main Memory is divided into RAM and ROM.
Characteristics of Main Mem
● These are semiconductor memories.
● Usually volatile memory: Data is lost in case power is
switch off.
● Faster than secondary memories.
● A computer cannot run without primary memory
Random Access Memory
● Are the internal memory of the CPU for storing data,
program and program result
● They are usually volatile.
● RAM is further classified as Static and Dynamic.
 Static RAM:
● Volatile: Retains data as long as power remains applied.
● The static RAM is easy to use and takes less time
performing read and write operations as compared to
dynamic RAM.
Characteristic of the Static
RAM
● It has long data lifetime
● There is no need to refresh
● Faster
● Used as cache memory
● Large size
● Expensive
● High power consumption
Dynamic RAM
● The dynamic RAM exhibits the binary information in the
form of electric charges that are applied to capacitors.
● The dynamic RAM consumes less power and provides
large storage capacity in a single memory chip.
● They must be continually refreshed to maintain the data.
● DRAM is used for most system memory because it is
cheap and small.
Characteristic of the Dynamic
RAM
● It has short data lifetime
● Need to refresh continuously
● Slower as compared to SRAM
● lesser in size
● Less expensive
● Less power consumption.
Read Only Memory.
● The memory from which we can only read but cannot
write on it.
● This type of memory is non-volatile.
● Example memory in Microwave and washing machines
● Types of ROM:
● PROM, Programmable ROM.
● EPROM: Erasable PROM
● EEPROM: Electrically Erasable PROM.
PROM
● PROM is read-only memory that can be modified only
once by a user.
● It can be programmed only once and is not erasable.
EPROM
● It is programmable read-only memory (programmable
ROM) that can be erased and re-used.
● The data can be erased and reprogrammed by using
ultraviolet (UV) light.
EEPROM
● Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only
Memory
● It can be erased and reprogrammed many times.
Advantages of ROM
● Non-volatile in nature: data stored can not be changed
● Cheaper than RAMs
● Easy to test
● More Reliable than RAMs
● These are static and do not require refreshing
Secondary Memory
● Also known as external memory.
● Are usually non-volatile Are used to store information
permanently.
● Are not used directly by the CPU but first their content is
transferred to main memory for CPU to access it.
● Examples:
− Magnetic Media: Hard disk,
− Optical Media: CD-ROM.
− Solid State Memory: Flash, Mem Cards.
Characteristic of Secondary
Mem
● These are magnetic and optical memories.
● They are also known as backup memory.
● It is non-volatile memory i.e. data is permanently stored
even if power is switched off.
● It is used for storage of the data in the computer.
● Computer may run without secondary memory.
● Slower than primary memories.
Terms used
● Seek time: refers to how long it takes the read/ write
head on a hard disk to move from one track to another to
locate a specific piece of stored data.
● Average Seek time: The SEEK TIME of a disk drive
averaged over many different inter-track distances, which
gives a good estimate of the typical time taken to locate
a single piece of data.
Cont…
● Capacity - The amount of data it is possible to store on a
media
● Access type - Whether a device is Random Access or
Serial Access
● Write type - Whether it is read only, write only or readable
and writable
● Cost - how much does it cost per megabyte