Chapter 1 - Computer Concepts and Hardware

8/4/2019 Chapter 1 - Computer Concepts and Hardware

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Computer Fundamentals

An Introduction

Salina Mohmad

KDU College

(EIF 1323)


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Why This Course is Relevant?


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Motivation

Computers have moved into every nookand cranny of our daily lives.

Education, Finance, Government, Health Care,

Science, Publishing, Travel and Manufacturing,Home and Entertainment.

Facebook, youtube, e-mail, movies, blogs, games!


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Motivation (cont)

Computers are engineers most importanttool.

Numerical computations, design of digital

systems, writing reports, CAD etc You might be involved in creating exciting

digital devices in the future.

Advanced computer architectures,electronic consumer devices, embeddedsystems.


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In Short

We must have the knowledge andunderstanding of computers and their

uses.

This is known as Computer Literacy.


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Computer Literate


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Course Structure


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Topics Covered

Components

of a computer Software and

theOperating

System

Computer

Networks

Computer

Security

ComputerFundamentals

The Internet


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Course Structure (cont)

Assessment:

Assignment (10%)

Labs (20%)

Mid Term Exam (20%) and

Final Exam (50%)

Text books:- Discovering Computers 2007, Shelly, G.B.,

Cashman, T. J., Vermaat, M. E., Thomson

Course Technology, USA.


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What is a Computer


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So What is a Computer?

An electronic device which operatesunder the control ofinstructions stored

in its own memory (computers brain).

It can accept data, and process the data

according to specific rules, produce

results (information), and store the

results for future use.


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So What is a Computer? (cont)

So, as long as it contains electronicdevices that operates with instructions

stored in its memory, and is able to

accept, process and store data, it is acomputer. Even if it looks like


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Data & Information

Data is a collection of unprocessed items.In computers, data are stored as 1 or

0.

Information conveys meaning, and is

useful to people. E.g., a digital picture.

Instructions are steps to tell thecomputer how to perform a particular

tasks.


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The information processing cycle consistsof the following steps:-

Information Processing Cycle

Text, Numbers,

Images, Audio,Video

Data fed into a

computer (input)

To be processed

by a computer ProducingInformation

(output)

Stored for further use


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Components of a Computer


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Components of a Computer

A computer contains many electrical,electronic, and mechanical devicesknown as hardware.

Hardware can be subdivided into: Input and Output (IO) devices

A System Unit

Storage devices and storage media

Communication devices


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(1) Input and Output Devices

Input devices hardware componentsfor entering data and instructions into a

computer.

E.g., Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone,

Scanner and Digital Camera.

Output devices hardware components

that conveys information to people.

E.g., Printer, Monitor, Speakers.


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Input Devices


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Output Devices


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(2) The System Unit

System unit a case that containselectronic components of a computer

used for processing data.

The components are all

connected a circuit board

known as a Motherboard.

A system unit


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The System Unit (cont)

The two main components connected tothe motherboard are the processor and

memory.

Motherboard Intel Processor Memory


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The System Unit (cont)

Processor A component that interpretsand carries out instructions that operate

the computer. It is also known as the

Central Processing Unit or CPU.

Memory A component that stores data

and also instructions for later execution.

Some data stored in memory arepermanent, while some are temporary.


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The British library holds:-

14 million books (weight about 2000

elephants)

920,000 journals and

newspaper titles

3 million sound

recordings(> 90 years to

finish listening).

Food for Thought

All these info. can be

stored in the portable

drive above


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(3a) Storage Media

Storage media hardware that storesdata, instructions and information for

future use.

E.g., USB flash drives,internal hard disks,

CDs and portable

(external) drives.

USB

Flash Drive

InternalHard Disk

Compact Disc

(CD)


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Storage Media (cont)

USB flash drive a portable storagedevice that is small, lightweight andrewritable. Could store anywherebetween 128 million to 4 billioncharacters.

Hard Disk drive provides greaterstorage space than USB flash drives andis rewritable. In todays standard, onecould store at least 120 billion characters.


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Storage Media (cont)

Compact Disc (CD) a flat, round andportable thin metal disc sandwiched

between 2 plastic coating. Some CDs

could only be written once, and is knownas CD-ROM (ROM = Read Only Memory),

while some are rewritable (CD-RW). A

CD could store around 650 millioncharacters.


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A storage device can record (write) andretrieve (read) data to and from astorage media respectively.

E.g., a CD rewrite capabledrive (a storage device),could accept CDs (astorage media) to

retrieve andwrite new dataon blank CDs.

(3b) Storage Device


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Communication Devices

Communication device a hardware thatenables computers to send (transmit)and receive data, instructions andinformation from one or morecomputers.

Data can be transmitted via telephonelines or fibre optic links (physical links), orvia mobile radio networks (wirelesslinks).


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A Fibre Optic Cable


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Communication Devices (cont)

A widely used communication device is amodem. It has several ports to connect

cables to link computers.

Most modemsnowadays are capable

of linking computers

wirelessly usingradio waves.


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Pros and Cons of using Computers


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Advantages of using Computers

Speed Capable of processing millions toeven trillions ofoperations a second.

Basic operations include addition,

subtraction, multiplication and division;encoding and decoding data; data

comparison; and counting.

Reliable Modern, well built computersrarely break or fail.


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Food for Thought: Deep Blue

A computer developed to beat man atthe game of chess.

Defeated world

champion,

Gary Kasparov on

11 May, 1997.


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Food for Thought: Deep Blue (cont)

It could compute 200 million moves persecond.

Thats back in 1997. It is 2010 now. Deep

blues technology can be considered

antique. Supercomputers now are much

more powerful, and could easily compute

up to 1x109 moves per second. (1000million moves/second)


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Advantages of using Computers

Consistency Once correctinstructionsare given, results generated will alwaysconform to certain rules and are errorfree.

Storage Data amounting to an entirelibrary could be stored or transferred in afew minutes.

Communication You could link tocomputers around the globe!


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Disadvantages of using Computers

Environmental impact many toxicmaterials are used for producing

computers. Improper disposal of

computers will lead to environmentalpollution. It is also resource hungry, as

resources needed for producing a

personal computer (PC) equals to that ofa small car!


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Disadvantages of using Computers

Health risk the adoption ofinappropriate postures while using a

computer will lead to injuries to hands,

wrists, neck and the back.


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Computer Network and the Internet


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Computer Network

Computer network is a collection ofcomputers and devices connectedtogether via communication devices.

It allows computers to share resources,such as hardware, software, data andinformation (this saves time andmoney!).

When a computer is connected to anetwork, it is considered online.


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Computer Network (cont)

Access to resources on a network iscontrolled by computers called servers,while computers using networkresources are called clients orworkstations.

Compared to other computers, servershave more computing power, storagespace and extended communicationcapabilities.


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Computer Networks (cont)


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Computer Network (cont)

Networks can be formed at: Home, school or small businesses (small

sized networks, usually connected

wirelessly) Large corporations and universities

(medium sized or widespread, usually

connected across city, country or even theglobe).


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The Internet


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The Internet

The Internet is the worlds largest network; itconnects millions of computers used by

businesses, government agencies, educational

institutions, and individuals.

> 1 billion people uses the internet to:

communicate with other people, access

information, shop for goods and services,

perform banking and investment activities and

for entertainment (games, videos, books).


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The Internet!!


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The Internet (cont)

Not all contents in the Internet isaccessible to the public (e.g., governmentnetworks and research institutions). Theones that are, are grouped under aservice called the world wide web (theWeb for short).

The Web contains billions of documentscalled web pages. A web page cancontain texts, graphics, audio and video.


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Categories of a Computer


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Categories of a Computer

Category Physical Size No. ofusers

Price range

Personal

Computer

Fits on a desk Usually 1 < RM 10k

MobileComputers

Fits on your lapor hands

Usually 1 < RM 10k

Game Consoles A small box or

hand held

1-8


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Categories of a Computer (cont)

Category Physical Size No. of users Price range

Mainframes A small room

to a large

room

Hundreds to

thousands

Several million

RM

Supercomputers A large room Hundreds to

thousands

Several million

to several

billion RM

Embeddedcomputers

Miniature Usually 1 Embedded inthe price of

the product


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Personal Computers

Personal computers (PC) can perform allinputs, processing, outputs, and storageactivities by itself.

It contains, among many other components, a

processor, memory, several input and output(IO) devices, and also storage devices.

The majority of PCs uses processors with verysimilar architectures. Examples include

computers produced by Dell, HP and Applewhich uses the so called x86 compatibleprocessors by Intel and AMD.


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Personal Computers (cont)

There are broadly two types of PCs:desktops and notebooks.

A desktop is designed with its system

unit, inputs and outputs, and otherdevices to fit on or under a desk.

A more powerful version of a desktop is

called a workstation. It is intended forgraphics and/or computational intensivetasks.


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Desktops

PC and compatiblesuse the Windows

operating system

Apple Macintosh

uses the Macintosh

operating system

(Mac OS)


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Mobile Computers

A mobile computer is a PC that is small enoughto be carried around. Its system unit, IOs

(including its monitor) and other peripherals

are all packaged as a single unit.

Examples of mobile computers include:

Notebooks, Tablet PCs, and Smart Phones.

Notebooks (or laptops), have comparable

performance to an average desktop, but they

are more expensive.


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Mobile Computers (cont)

A tablet PC comes in all form of shapes andsizes. It differs from notebooks due to its touch

sensitive monitor, which allows users to write

and draw on screen, or interface with

programs using a digital pen and/or using their

hands.

Nowadays, even notebooks have touch screen

capabilities, which blurs the boundarybetween notebooks and tablet PCs.


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Tablet and Notebook

Notebook Tablet


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Mobile Computers (cont)

Smart phones and hand held computersare other examples of computers that

come in small form factors, but are

capable of audio and video playbacks,simple document editing, capturing

digital photographs, accessing the Web,

and other less demanding computingtasks. Examples include the iPhone 4

smart phone and Sonys micro PC.

l


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Game Consoles

A well known mobile computer segmentdesigned for video games (e.g., SonyPlaystation 3). Its inputs device include handheld controllers (aka game pads) and motion

sensitive devices for user interface (e.g.,Nintendo Wii Nunchuck).

Game consoles can also communicate withother consoles via the internet (online

gaming), and be used for watching movies andfor accessing the web.


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Servers

Servers controls access to hardware, softwareand other resources on a network (including itsown resources). It also provides centralizedstorage for programs, data and information.

Servers can support up to several thousandcomputers connected to it simultaneously.Users can also use a terminal to access servers.A terminal is a device with a monitor, memoryand a keyboard.

Servers also access information, data andprograms from other servers.


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A Server

M i f


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Mainframes

A mainframe is a large, expensive andpowerful computer capable of handling

thousands of connected users simultaneously.

Mainframes store tremendous amount ofdata, instructions and information. This is why

major corporations use mainframes for

business activities such as:

Billing millions of customers, prepare payroll for

thousands of employees, and manage millions of

items it their inventory.

M i f ( )


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Mainframes (cont)

Mainframes are also used as servers.They can be accessed by servers and

other mainframes for resource sharing

(data, information and programexecution). Like a server, mainframes

can also be accessed by PCs and

terminals.

A M i f


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A Mainframe

S t


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Supercomputer

Supercomputers are the most powerfulcomputers in the planet. Some of the fastestare capable of processing > 100 trillioninstructions a second.

Weighing more than 100,000 KGs, they areused for solving complex and repetitivemathematical computations. Large scalesimulation software used in medicine,

aerospace and weather forecasting are someareas requiring the use of supercomputers.

A S t


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A Supercomputer

E b dd d C t


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Embedded Computers

An embedded computer (EC) is anelectronic component found in a largerproduct. They can be found everywhereincluding:

The fridge, microwave oven and thewashing machine,

Digital TV and cameras, mobile phones,

Car engine control module, airbag controllerand antilock brakes just to name a few.

E b dd d C t ( t)


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Embedded Computers (cont)

They are usually small and have limitedhardware.

These computers perform various

functions for products they wereintended for. For example, an EC in aprinter serve to monitor the amount ofpaper in respective trays, check toner

level, prompt users if a paper jam hasoccurred, and so on.

El t f I f ti S t


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Elements of an Information System

An information system combines hardware,software, data, people and procedures toproduce timely and useful information.

People working in the information technology

(IT) sector, develop procedures for processingdata, which in turn determines how usersenter data into a computer using varioushardware and software.

Software processes the data and directs thecomputer hardware to store changes in astorage media, and/or produce information forusers via output devices.

Chapter 1 - Computer Concepts and Hardware

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