You are on page 1of 20

Introduction to Computing

Unit 1: Introduction to Computer Systems Lecture : 1


www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com 1

A Computer
Computer: An electronic device that processes data according to a set of stored instructions.

Electronic machine Processes data Programmable (follows stored instructions) Usually multi-purpose (but not all are)
www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com 2

Hardware
Physical devices you can see and touch Examples:
Screens Keyboards Printers

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Hardware
Physical components
such as memory, network cards, wires

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Software
computer programs, procedures, rules, and possibly associated documentation and data pertaining to the operation of a computer system.

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Software
Software = Computer Instructions
A set of instructions that the computer carries out Usually these are carried out one after another The software is stored in primary memory when it is run

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Software
Computer software can be divided into two categories: system software, which manages the operation of the computer itself; application programs, which solve problems for their users.

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Data
We use computers to process data. Data = facts Data comes in many sorts
text numbers images music

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Data
To a computer, all data is the same 00010100101010111101010101010 - a collection of bits

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

Bits
A bit is the smallest unit of data

It can be only one of two things:


0 or 1

Bits can easily be represented in a computer by switches or transistors They are either on or off A collection of bits can represent any data

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

10

system
System: a set of connected things that form a whole or work together A system must have an objective. In order to meet its objective a system will produce an output, as a result of carrying out some process on a set of inputs.

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

11

A system
A collection of parts Acting together For some defined purpose A system has a boundary Each system is composed of sub-systems, which are themselves made up of other subsystems
www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com 12

A System
processing

Input

System
sub system system boundary

Output

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

13

Examples of Systems
Digestive system Banking system Transport system

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

14

Computer Systems
The hardware, software and data needed to solve a real-world problem The components depend on the problem being solved

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

15

Hardware
Hardware is any part of a computer system that you can see and touch.
keyboard RAM router

processor
cables ports

printer
network card hub

sensor
loudspeaker motor

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

16

Hardware
Hardware is often classified into:
Input devices Output devices

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

17

Hardware
But there are other ways of looking at it:
Communications

Storage
Processing

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

18

Hardware

Input Peripherals Output Peripherals

Input device

Output device

Input device
Input device

Processor

Output device
Output device

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

19

Input Devices
Computers can only work with digital data 0 or 1 Much of the world is analogue Most input devices change analogue data into digital data

www.thisisreza.wikispaces.com

20

You might also like