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Pre grade

computer book
5 -7
Introduction to
computers.
book Vol ume . 1
THE OUTMATE SMALL BOOK WITH MASSIVE
INFORMATION!
AUTHOR:ANDSEN MIKE AND MWANZA JASON

WHAT IS A
COMPUTER
Computers in depth
This is the study of computer junior
secondary schools. In order for us to understand
this, we should first look at the term
“computer”, its definition and what it’s capable
of. As a starting point, we can look at these two
definitions of the term “computer”; people can
define it in different ways such as;
• A computer is an electronic programmable
device, which takes raw data as input,
processes it under the control/system unit
and then gives the results to the user as
output.
• A computer is an electronic machine which
is used for storing, finding and organizing
data such as pictures, sounds, videos
numbers for doing calculations and words
for controlling or manipulating other
electronic machines. If you ask a grade
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one about what a computer is he/she can
give you an answer like this one; “a
computer is an electronic device/machine
which processes data”. Yes! All these
explanations are true, take note that “data”
is the most critical word used in the above
statements. We shall talk a little more about
data later.

DATA AND INFORMATION


Data is a collection of raw and unprocessed facts
that do not have meaning of its own, Data can
be in a programmed language that can only be
understood by an I.T technician, programmers
or a computer itself. A good example of data is a
back-code, it stores information such as expiry
and manufactured dates, type of product, etc.
you can only be able to view such information
from a back-code after scanning it with a
backcode scanner. Raw data. Also known as
unprocessed data, the reason why it’s given this
name is because the word “raw” means “not
organized, analysed or evaluated”. Therefore,
raw data are facts that have been collected, but
not yet been studied in detail. Data circle. This is
the sequence of inputting data, processing it and
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outputting information. After data circle has
taken place, then the name of the word data
which was used to describe the converted huge
number of sound, videos and graphics that were
in form of mixed numbers, letters and symbols
now becomes information as output.
Information is processed data that conveys
meaning and can be useful to the user in
decision making

TYPES AND GROUPS OF COMPUTERS


Groups of computers.
There are two main groups of computers, these
are General-purpose computers and Special
purpose computers.

A general-purpose computer is designed to do


many kinds jobs and they are usually cheaper.
Examples of such computers are:
Desktop and laptops used at home.

A special-purpose computer is designed to do a


specific job and they are usually expensive.

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Good examples of such computers are:
Automatic teller machine (ATM) in banks, Traffic
lights system, control MRT train, appliances with
embedded chips etc.

Types of computers

The three main types of computers are;


Microcomputer, Minicomputer and Mainframe
computers.
A micro-computer is a small, single-user and slow
(though not all of them) computer. Examples of
microcomputers include; Desktop, Laptops,
Notebooks, Personal digital assistance (PDA) and
Laptops.

Mini-computers are multi-user computers,


bigger in size and faster in speed.

Mainframes also called supercomputers, are


multi-user, larger and faster than
microcomputers. They are mostly used in oil
exploration, Ticket reservation, Weather
forecasting etc.
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Differences between desktop and laptops

Desktop; are not portable. And always have to


be plugged into an AC power outlet.

Laptop; are portable and always equipped with a


rechargeable battery.

PARTS OF THE COMPUTER HARDWARE,


INPUT AND OUTPUT

Hardware; the physical parts of the computer


are called hardware, therefore hardware is the
physical part of the computer that you can see
and touch. Examples of hardware are: keyboard,
monitor, central processing unit (C.P. U), printer,
mouse, speakers’ etc.

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Input: these are devices that we use to tell the
computer what to do. In other words, they are
devices that we use to input data into the
computer examples of inputs are; keyboard,
mouse, trackballs, web cam, digital camera
scanner, etc.

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Output: These are devices which gives you
visual information and show you what the
computer is doing. Examples of outputs are;
monitor, projector, printer, speakers, etc. the
full computer system is shown below.

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COMMON INPUT AND OUTPUT FUNCTIONS

Keyboard:

The main input device used to key in and enter


data or instructions into a computer. Mostly
keyboards contains about 101 to 105 keys that
have a standard QWERTY layout which is located
on the first six letters on the keyboard. A
keyboard contains special purpose keys (about
21) alphabetic keys (A-Z), function keys (F1 –
F12) and numeric keys (0-9).

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Mouse:

An input device used to point to or click on a


certain area of the video display unit (VDU) or
screen. It contains three main keys, left and right
click, and a scroll or wheel button. There are two
main types of mouse these are, an optical mouse
which sprit into a laser mouse and wheel or ball
mouse, uses light technology to detect
movements and a wireless (cordless) mouse
which is a battery operated mouse and uses
wireless technology such as infrared light waves to
transmit data. Its operation depends on a battery
power.

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Printer:
This is an output device which produces hardcopy
of text and graphics. Printers are in two
categories, and these are impact printers which
produces a copy mechanism that hits against an
inked ribbon, which in turn strikes the paper and
nonimpact printers unlike impact printer
nonimpact printers produce a copy without
physically striking the paper instead they shine a
laser to the drum to produce an image. Three
common types of printers known are

Laser printers; a non-impact printer that


operates by shining a laser beam to produce an
image on a drum. It outputs high quality text and
graphics.

Inkjet printers: this is a non-impact printer in


which tiny drops of ink are spread onto the page
to create an image. It is also called Office Jet,
Bubble Jet or Desk Jet. Last but not least are
bigger.
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Multifunction Printers; it’s an all in one device,
it is a single device which offers a combination
of functions such as, copying, printing, faxing
and scanning. A big disadvantage is that all its
functions are lost when it malfunctions.

NOTE: a monochrome printer print out in


(black and white) while an inkjet or laser
printer prints out the color of the image or text.
Monitor
It is a visual display unit (VDU) that displays text,
graphics and videos to the user.

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THE SYSTEM UNIT AND ITS COMPONENTS

A system unit it’s a container that houses most


of the electrical components that make up a
computer system. It contains disk drives, bus
lines, power supply unit and the motherboard
(system board)

COMPONENTS
The system board (motherboard). This is the
communication medium for the entire computer
system, because every component of the system
unit connects to the system board.

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In other words we can also say, it’s a large flat
circuit board covered with a variety of different
electronic components

Connecting line called bus lines provide


pathways that support communication among
the various electronic components that are
either located on the system board or attached
to the system board.

The microprocessor this is also called central


processing unit (CPU), it is the brains|| of the
computer. It controls operations, performs
arithmetic and logical operations.
Microprocessor cartridges are the largest chips
on the motherboard plugged into a special slot.

Memory, this is a holding area for data,


instructions and information. There are three
main types of memory chips, these are
Random Access Memory (RAM),
Read Only Memory (ROM) and
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor

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(CMOS). Though we will only talk of the RAM
and ROM at this level.
RAM: (Random Access Memory), this is
temporal memory that holds the program
sequence of instructions and data that the CPU
is presently processing, it is the main
(temporary, or primary) memory, its volatile
that its data is lost when the computer is logged
of or shutdown.

ROM: (Read Only Memory), these are nonedible


chips, permanently and non-volatile memory,
they have programs built into them at the
factory to perform computer operations with or
without the user intervention.

Note:
A hard copy is a printed copy of
information from a computer.

A soft copy is an electronic copy of some


type of data, such as a file viewed on a
computer's display or transmitted as an
e-mail attachment.

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The above numbered parts of the computer system
are listed below.

• 1 : monitor(output)
• 2
• 3 : System Unit(C.U)
• 4 : mouse(input)
• 5 : speaker(output)
• 6 : printer(output)
• 7 : keyboard (main input)

Note: The 'brain' of the computer is called a


processor. Modern small processors are called
microprocessors (microchips).
Microchips are made from silicon.

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SOFTWARE
1. A software is a set of instructions or programs
that operate the computer.
Two types of software are; System Software or
Operating System (OS) and Application software
Functions of System Software or Operating System
(OS):
• An Operating System Controls the
hardware, manages the information on
the disk and runs computer programs.
This is what makes the computer to start
or boot in the first place
Examples of System Software:
• Windows 10, Windows8,

Windows8.1Windows 7, Windows Vista,


Windows XP, Linux, Unix, Mac OS, etc.,
Examples of Application Software: Microsoft
Word (Word Processor), Microsoft
Excel (Spreadsheet), Microsoft PowerPoint

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(Graphic and presentation), Microsoft Access
(Data Base Management System), Adobe
Photoshop, etc.

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BUY VOLUME
2 OF THIS
BOOK NOW,
AND OBTAIN
INIFINITY
SKILLS AND
KNOWLEDGE
IN
COMPUTING
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