Microcomputer - is any

computer with its arithmeticlogic unit(ALU) and control unit

contained on one integrated
circuit, called microprocessor. It
can also be called a personal
computer (PC) because it is
designed to be used by a single
user at a time.

The Computer System

Hardware the physical component
of the computer system. It consist of
the tangible parts of the computer.
Central Processing Unit- referred to
as the brain of the computer
because all processing takes place in
this part. It consist of the 3 parts, the
ALU, Control Unit and the Memory
Unit (Registers).The CPU may also be
called the Microprocessor.

Inside a CPU

These three sections of

the microprocessor
work together to
control the operations
of the system. They
are connected to the
system bus and handle
the input, output and
storage of data.

Principal Parts of the CPU

1.Arithmetic- logic Unit (ALU)
Performs all arithmetic operations and logical
processes required to solve a computer
problem.
Arithmetic operations which include addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.
All logic operations which involve
comparisons such as less than, greater than,
or equal to.

2. Control Unit- is the little

supervisor of the CPU. It directs
and coordinates the operations of
the entire computer according to
the instructions laid out in the
program, interprets the
instructions , gets the data to be
used in each instructions and relays
the hardware where action is to
take place.

3.Memory Unit or Primary Storage

Holds data or instructions. It is
where the computer programs and
data are stored during the
processing. It is composed of
electronic component called
integrated circuits (ICs). It is
divided into large number of storage
cells that can hold data which are
composed of characters.

Each character( can be a

number, a letter or any symbol ) is
stored as byte, however, bytes are
formed by a group of 8 bits which
is a fundamental unit and is

The unit of measure:

KB Kilobytes
MB - Megabytes
GB Gigabytes
Meaning and value of each symbol:
8 Bits = 1 byte
1 character = 1 byte
1 kilobytes (210) = 1,024 bytes(approx. 1000
bytes)
1 megabyte (220) = 1,048,576 bytes (approx.
1,000,000 bytes)
1 gigabyte (230) = 1,073,741,824 bytes
(approx. 1,000,000,000 bytes

The Memory Unit contains two types of

Memory:

1. Read-Only Memory (ROM) contains all system

programs that are used for starting the operations
of the computer. When purchasing your own unit,
the system have already been installed thus,
making the operation of the computer possible.It
is the portion of a computers memory that does
not lose its contents when you switch off the
power, the system is hardwired so user cannot
change nor delete.

2.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The computers primary working
memory in which program instructions and
data are stored so that they are accessible
directly to the central processing unit
(CPU). RAM is often called read/ write
memory, to distinguish it from ROM.In
RAM, the CPU can write and read data. If
there is a system failure or power
interruption, you lose all work in RAM
that you have not saved.

Parts of the Computer

A computer system refers

to a computer and all the input,
output,and storage devices that
are connected to it. A complete
computer system consists of
the CPU, Monitor, Keyboard,
Mouse, and Speakers.

1. Monitor A device that displays

text and graphics generated by the
computer.

Monitors are categorize by the type

of technology they use:
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Flat- panel Display uses liquid
crystal display (LCD)
http://www.discovercomputers.info/ComputerMonitors/types2.html

2.Chassis It houses the brain of the

computer.

3. CPU It controls the operation of the

computer.
4. Keyboard It is used to type information
into the computer or input information.
5. Mouse Is a device that you roll on a
tabletop to move the cursor on the screen
to make selection.
6. Speaker It emit sounds from the
computer.

Components of the Computer System

A. Hardware the physical component of
the computer system whether internal or
external devices that are tangible in nature.
Types of Hardware Devices:
1. Input Device- brings data into the
system.
ex. Keyboard Microphone
Mouse
Barcode Reader

2. Output Device sends data out of

the system.
ex. Monitor
Printer
Speaker

3. Scanning Device - translates images

of text, drawing,and photos and the like
into forms of data that can be understood
by the computer.
Ex. Fax machine Scanners
4. Processing Device - is used to retrieve
and execute the instructions in the form of
computer programs provided by the

5. Storage Device Holds data that

are not currently being used by the
CPU
Ex.
Floppy Disk
Hard Disk
Compact Disk USB Flash Drive
6. Communication Device Performs
both input and output, allowing
computer to share information.
Ex. Modem

5. The Keyboard

a) Modifier Key:

Control Key
Shift Key
Alt Key
Windows Key
b) Lock Key
Scroll Lock
Num Lock
Caps Lock

c) Navigation Keys
_ Arrow Keys
_ Page Scroll Keys
(Page up/Page down)
_ Home Key/ End Key
d) Edit Keys
_ Return Key/Enter Key
_ Backspace
_ Insert Key
_ Delete Key
_ Tab Key

e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)

SysRq / Print Screen

Break Key / Pause
Escape Key
Menu Key
Space Bar
Numeric Keypad

Keys of the Keyboard

Escape Key- The Escape key, which is
marked ESC on most keyboards, is
basically used to exit or escape from
programs and tasks.
Tab Key- This key is used to move the
cursor over to the right to a pre-set point.
Backspace Key- This key is used to
erase the character on the left of the cursor.
Caps Lock- this key is used to change
lower case letters into capital letters.

 Shift Key-

this key is used to combine

with alphanumeric keys to get upper
case character. It can also be combined
Enter
Keykey iskeys
usedtotochange
enter a
with Alt
andthis
Control
command
or other
to go keys.
down a line in a
the effect of
document. It can also be used in place of
a mouse click with buttons and drop
down menus.

 Control Key- this Ctrl key is used in

conjunction with another key. Holding it

down while pressing another key will initiate a
certain action.
Delete Keys- this key is used to erase the
character just to the right of the cursor.
Home Key- this is a navigation key and is
used to move the cursor to the beginning of
the current line.
End Key- This is a navigation key and is
used to move the cursor to the end of the
current line.

 Page Up- This is a navigation key

which will move the cursor up the
displayed area one screens worth.
Page Down- This is a navigation key
which will move down the the
displayed area one screens worth.
Function Keys- These are
programmable keys.
Space Bar- This key is used to enter
blank spaces in text.

 Num Lock Key- When this key is ON,

the numeric keypad responds with the
numbers as in adding machine but
when this key is OFF, this key respond as
Numeric Keys- When the Num Lock
a navigation keys using the alternate
Key
is
on,
these
keys
are
used
to
enter
markings on the keys.
numbers

 Pause/Break
This key was previously
used in programming and
debugging applications. In
Scroll Lock- is a toggle key that
most current
programs, it is
changes the effect of the cursor
non-functioning

movement keys.

The Windows key can be found on

some, but not all, keyboards that are
used with Windows computers. The
Windows key is marked with a small
Microsoft W indows symbol and is
usually found on the bottom row of the
keyboard. There may be two Windows
keyson each side of the space bar.
Pressing the Windows key will bring up
the Start menu.

 Print Screen (PrtScrn)

In the old DOS days, the Print Screen
key on a PC keyboard performed just as
you would expect. When the Print
Screen key is pressed, a paper copy of
whatever on the screen is copied.

Arrow Keys
These keys are used to move the
cursor on the screen.
The up arrow key is used to move the
cursor one line up.
The down arrow key is used to move the
cursor one line down.
The left arrow key is used to move the
cursor one character to the left.
The right arrow key is used to move the
cursor to the right.

SOFTWARE

It is a set of electronic instructions

that tells the computer how to do
certain tasks.
It consists of both Programs and
Data. Programs are organized set of
instructions for controlling the
computers while Data can be any
information that a program needs.

1. System Software- keeps

all the hardware and
software running together
smoothly.
Example:
o Operating System tells the
computer how to interact with
the user and its own devices.

2. Application Software- tells the

computer how to accomplish tasks the user
requires, such as creating a document or
Database
Managementa graphic image.
editing
E
X
A
M
P
L
E
S

Graphics Programs
Web Design Tools
Spreadsheet Software
Desktop Publishing Software
Word processing Programs
Multimedia Authoring

Integrated Circuit (ICs)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Holonyak_Jr.

Nick_Holonyak_Jr

Father of the light-emitting diode".

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