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Introduction to Computers
Outline
1.1 Introduction

1.2 What Is a Computer?

1.3 What is a Computer System?

1.4 Components of Computer System

1.5 Computer Organization

1.6 Evolution of Operating Systems

1.7 Personal Computing, Distributed Computing and Client/Server

Computing
1.8 Machine Languages, Assembly Languages and High-level
Languages

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What is a Computer?
Computer
Device capable of performing computations and
making logical decisions
Computers process data under the control of sets
of instructions called computer programs
A fast electronic device that accepts data
process it and produce a meaningful result
Hardware
Various devices comprising a computer
Keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CD-
ROM, and processing units
Software
Programs that run on a computer

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Computer Systems

Today, computer systems are found

everywhere. Computers have become
almost as common as televisions. But
what is a computer system?

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Computer Systems
What is a system?
Any organized assembly of resources and procedures united
and regulated by interaction or interdependence to accomplish
a set of specific functions.
A collection of personnel, equipment, and methods organized to
accomplish a set of specific functions.

Computer system made of two major components:

hardware and software.
Topics discussed in this section:
Computer Hardware
Computer Software
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FIGURE 1-1 A Computer System

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Components

1. Hardware

- refers to the physical components of a

computer. These include the equipment
associated with a computer system such as
input and output, the processor the storage
devices. Hardware refers to the tangible
devices that can be seen, touch, and felt.
Hardware accessories that are connected to
the processor are so called peripherals.

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FIGURE 1-2 Basic Hardware Components

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Hardware

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FIGURE 1-3 Types of Software

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Components
2. Software

- also called programs; refers to the

planned, step-by-step instructions that tell the
computer hardware how to perform a task.
- it is needed to accomplish the input,
processing, output, storage, and control
activities of information systems.

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Components

Two categories of Software:

1. System Software
2. Application Software

System Software
~~ programs that manage and support the
resources and operations of a computer system as it
performs various information processing tasks
~~ provides the program that allow us to interact
with computer to operate the disk drives, the printer,
and other devices. It sets the rules on how the
computer, its peripherals and programs should work
together.
~~ consists of programs that allow the computer to
manage its own resources and run basic programs
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Components
3 major functional categories:
System Management Programs
- programs that manage the hardware,
software, and data resources of the computer
system during its execution of the various
information processing jobs of users.
example:
Operating systems Database Management
systems Telecommunications Monitors
Operating environments

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Components
System Support Programs- programs
that support the operations and
management of a computer system by
providing a variety of support services
Major support programs are:
System Utilities/ Utility Software - a
program designed to perform maintenance
work on the system or on the system
components.
e.g. storage backup programs, disk & file
recovery, resource editor, virus scanner,
etc.

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Components

Performance Monitors
Security Monitors
System Development Programs
programs that help users develop
information system programs and
procedures and prepare user programs
for computer processing.

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Computer Organization
Six logical units in every computer:
1. Input unit
Obtains information from input devices (keyboard,
mouse)
2. Output unit
Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control
other devices)
3. Memory unit
Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information
4. Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions
5. Central processing unit (CPU)
Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the
computer
6. Secondary storage unit
Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage
Stores inactive programs
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The Processor and Memory: Data
Manipulation

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Hardware: The Basic Components of a
Computer

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Evolution of Operating Systems

Batch processing
Do only one job or task at a time
Operating systems
Manage transitions between jobs
Increased throughput
Amount of work computers process
Multiprogramming
Computer resources are shared by many jobs or
tasks
Timesharing
Computer runs a small portion of one users job
then moves on to service the next user

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Machine Languages, Assembly Languages,
and High-level Languages
Three types of programming languages
1. Machine languages
Strings of numbers giving machine specific instructions
Example:
+1300042774
+1400593419
+1200274027
2. Assembly languages
English-like abbreviations representing elementary
computer operations (translated via assemblers)
Example:
LOAD BASEPAY
ADD OVERPAY
STORE GROSSPAY

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Machine Languages, Assembly Languages,
and High-level Languages

3. High-level languages
Codes similar to everyday English
Use mathematical notations (translated
via compilers)
Example:

grossPay = basePay + overTimePay

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Other High-level Languages

Other high-level languages

FORTRAN
Used for scientific and engineering
applications
COBOL
Used to manipulate large amounts of data
Pascal
Intended for academic use

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Hardware Trends

Every year or two the following

approximately double:

Amount of memory in which to execute programs

Amount of secondary storage (such as disk storage)
Used to hold programs and data over the longer
term
Processor speeds
The speeds at which computers execute their
programs

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