Introduction to Computer Basics

1. COMPUTER
BASICS
Lecture by
Dr. L.K.Tarun
P.G. Department of Biotechnology
Magadh University
Bodh Gaya

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What is COMPUTER?
A computer is an electronic device used to
receive, store and process data into information.
Charles Babbage (1833)
gave the concept of a programmable computer and considered the
"father of the computer"
Alan Turing (1936)
First to give Principle of the modern computer
Generations of computers were based on
Vacuum Tubes and Digital Electronic Circuits
Transistors
Integrated Circuits
Microprocessor

3. The Role of Computers
• In Business and Industry
• In Publication
• In Education
• In Government Organizations
• In Medical Field
• In Science & Research
• In Entertainment
• In Space & Defense
It plays a major role in our lives. Almost fields require use of computers.

4. Parts of a Computer
1. Input Devices (Keyboard, Mouse, etc.)
2. Output Devices (Monitor, Speakers, etc.)
3. Central Processing Unit (CPU) and memory
4. Motherboard (Circuit Board)
5. Expansion Cards (Video Card, Sound Card, or NIC)
6. Hard Drive Ports and Connections (USB, Firewire, etc.)

5. Parts of a Computer Input Devices
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Microphone
• Scanner
• Webcam

6. Parts of a Computer Output Devices
• Monitor
• Printer
• Speaker/Headphone
output devices to get feedback from a computer after it performs a
task.

7. Parts of a Computer
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• A device that interprets and runs the commands
that you give to the computer.
• Also referred to as the PROCESSOR which is
constructed on a single integrated circuit .
• Two major brands are Intel and AMD.
• Examples:
▫ Intel Core 2 Duo
▫ AMD Turion X2

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Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
 Performs two classes of operations:
 arithmetic and
 logic
 Arithmetic operations include mathematical operations like
addition and subtraction, or might include multiplication, division,
trigonometry functions
 Logic operations involve Boolean logic:
 AND, OR, XOR and NOT.
 These can be useful for creating complicated conditional
statements and processing boolean logic.

9. Parts of a Computer Memory
• Memory is where information is stored and retrieved by the
CPU.
• There are two main types of memory:
▫ Random Access Memory (RAM): It is the main
memory and allows you to temporarily store commands
and data.
▫ Read Only Memory (ROM): It is the memory that
retains its contents even after the computer is turned off.

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1. RAM can be read and written to anytime the CPU commands it,
but ROM is preloaded with data and software that never changes,
therefore the CPU can only read from it.
2. ROM is typically used to store the computer's initial start-up
instructions.
3. Contents of RAM are erased when the power to the computer is
turned off, but ROM retains its data indefinitely.
4. In a PC, the ROM contains a specialized program called the BIOS
that controls loading the computer's operating system from the
hard disk drive into RAM whenever the computer is turned on or
reset.
RAM vs ROM

11. Parts of a Computer
Motherboard
o Is the main circuit board inside the computer.
o Has tiny electronic circuits and other components
on it.
o Connects input, output, and processing devices
together (CPU, Memory, Hard Drive, DVD Drive)
o Tells the CPU how to run.

12. Parts of a Computer
Expansion Cards
• Expansion card : is a circuit board that can be attached
to the motherboard to add features such as video display
and audio capability to your computer.
• Video Card – is connected to the computer monitor and
is used to display information on the monitor.
• Network Interface Card (NIC) – is connected to other
computers so that information can be exchanged between
them.
• Sound Card– converts audio signals (microphone or
audio tape) which can be stored as a computer audio file.

13. Parts of a Computer
Storage Devices
• Hard Disk
• Flash Drive
• CD-ROM
• DVD-ROM

14. Parts of a Computer
Ports and Connections
• Universal Serial Bus (USB) Port
• FireWire (similar to USB but faster)
• Network Port (Ethernet)
• Parallel Port and Serial Port
• Display Adapter
• Power

15. Using a Computer
• To turn on a computer, press the power button on the
system unit.
• Log on to the operating system by your user name and
password.
• Computers allow you to create, modify, and save files.
• To shut down a computer, click Start, and then, at the
bottom of the Start menu, click Shut Down.

16. Using a Keyboard

17. Using a Mouse
• A mouse is a small device that you can use to move,
select, and open items displayed on your monitor.
• Most mouse devices have at least two buttons, left and
right.
• Mouse’s action:
o Point
o Double Click
o Left Click
o Right Click
o Click-and-Drag or
o Drag-and-Drop
Different types of mouse
devices available in the market:
o Regular mouse
o Trackball mouse
o Optical mouse

18. Hardware
• Refers to all the physical components of a computer.
• Includes all input devices, processing devices,
storage devices, and output devices.
• Examples of hardware are:
o Keyboard
o Mouse
o Motherboard
o Monitor
o Hard Disk
o Cables
o Printer

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Software
 Software is any set of machine-readable instructions
 It directs a computer's processor to perform specific operations.
Types of software
1. System software
1. Operating system
2. Device drivers
2. Application software

20. Operating Systems
System s/w
• Is the most important software on the computer
• Controls and manages the hardware connected to your
computer
• Provides an interface that helps you to interact with the
computer
• Ensures that your computer is functioning properly
• Examples
▫ Windows OS like 98, 2000, 2007, 2010, XP
▫ Linux
▫ DOS
▫ Mac OS.

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Application software
1. A set of computer programs designed to permit the
user to perform a group of coordinated functions,
tasks, or activities.
2. They cannot run on itself but is dependent on
system software to execute.
3. Examples of an application include
1. Word processor,
2. A spreadsheet design and management system,
3. An aeronautical flight simulator,
4. A console game,
5. A drawing, painting, and illustrating system, or
6. A library management system.

22. Programs
o The hardware and the operating system together are
referred to as a platform.
o Programs, also called applications, use this platform to
perform tasks.
o There are many types of programs:
 Some programs allow you to perform tasks such as
writing letters, doing calculations, or sending e-mail
messages.
 Other programs allow you to create illustrations,
play games, watch movies, or communicate with
other computer users.

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Languages
1. A computer language is a formal constructed language designed to
communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer.
2. These languages can be used to create programs to control the
behavior of a machine or to express algorithms.
1. High-level Programming Languages
2. Low-level Programming Languages
3. Programming Languages
4. Assembly Languages

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High-level programming language
 Intended to make
complex programming
simpler.
 Easier to write, learn
and use
 Use English and
mathematical symbols
 Use compiler to
convert to machine
codes
 Commands are compiled and then executed to machine code
 Syntax obeyed, Error is less, debugging is easier.
 Example: Python, Visual Basic, Perl, PHP, COBOL,
FORTRAN, PASCAL, C, C++, JAVA, NET.

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Low-level programming language
 LLPL described as being "close to the hardware” as it is close to
the hardware architecture programs.
 Comprises of Machine Language and Assembly Language.
 Directly understood by the computer.
 Machine code written in O and 1.
 Convert to machine code without a
compiler or interpreter.
 Low-level languages are simple, but considered difficult to use,
due to numerous technical details that the programmer must
remember.
 Machine dependent language.
 Easier to use for machine but difficult for programmer.
 Difficult to debug.

26. Data
o Programs process data that you provide as input to your
computer.
o Data can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
depending on the type of program.
o Program processes the data and displays the output on
the screen.
o You can save this output in a file.
o The file can be an audio file, a text file, a graphics file, or
a video file.
Data is a collection of facts
Information in raw or unorganized form

27. Networks
• Is a group of computers and associated devices that
are linked together to facilitate sharing information.
• Can also be used to share data and devices such as
printers.
• A typical network has the following three components:
o Server
o Workstation
o Communication channel

28. Networks
LAN
• Connects devices within a limited area (home or a
small group of offices)
• Commonly includes computers and shared resources
(printers and scanners)

29. Networks
WAN
• Is a network that connects devices in geographically
separated areas.
• Is used to connect networks across different countries.
• The Internet is an example of a WAN.

30. Internet
• Internet is a worldwide collection of public
networks that are linked to each other for information
exchange.
• Internet offers a range of services to its users (file
transfers between Internet users and electronic mail)
• The World Wide Web (WWW), or the Web, is another
service that the Internet provides.
• An intranet is similar to the Web but is accessible only to
authorized users of the organization.

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Filename extension
1. A filename extension is an identifier.
2. It indicates file format or type of usage of a computer file.
3. It is specified as a suffix to the name by syntax, often separated
from the base filename
4. They are commonly used to imply information about the
way data might be stored in the file and standardize them.
5. Examples
1. .png , .jpeg , .exe , .mp4 and .txt
2. Under Microsoft's DOS and Windows, extensions such as
EXE, COM or BAT indicate that a file is a program
executable.

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Common File Types
Text Files
.DOC Microsoft Word Document
.DOCX
Microsoft Word Open XML
Document
.LOG Log File
.MSG Outlook Mail Message
.TXT Plain Text File
Data Files
.DAT Data File
.PPS PowerPoint Slide Show
.PPT PowerPoint Presentation
.PPTX
PowerPoint Open
XML Presentation
.XML XML File
.PDF
Portable Document
Format File
Audio Files
.M3U Media Playlist File
.M4A MPEG-4 Audio File
.MP3 MP3 Audio File
.MPA MPEG-2 Audio File
.RA Real Audio File
Video Files
.3GP 3GPP Multimedia File
.AVI Audio Video Interleave File
.FLV Flash Video File
.M4V iTunes Video File
.MOV Apple QuickTime Movie
.MP4 MPEG-4 Video File
.MPG MPEG Video File

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Executable Files
.APK Android Package File
.APP Mac OS X Application
.BAT DOS Batch File
.COM DOS Command File
.EXE Windows Executable File
Web Files
.ASPX Active Server Page Extended File
.CER Internet Security Certificate
.HTM/.HT
ML Hypertext Markup Language File
.PHP PHP Source Code File
.RSS Rich Site Summary
.XHTML
Extensible Hypertext
Markup Language File
Disk Image Files
.BIN Binary Disc Image
.TMP Temporary File
Backup Files
Developer Files
.C C/C++ Source Code File
.JAVA Java Source Code File

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Flowchart Symbols and their usage

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Flowchart Symbols and their usage
Terminal / Terminator
The terminator is used to show where your flow
begins or ends.
use words like 'Start', 'Begin', 'End' inside the
terminator object to make things more obvious.
Process / Rectangle
used to illustrate a process, action or an
operation. These are represented by
rectangles; and the text in the rectangle
mostly includes a verb. Examples include
'Edit video', 'Try Again', 'Choose your Plan'.
Data (I/O)
The Data object, often referred to as
the I/O Shape shows the Inputs to and
Outputs from a process. This takes the
shape of a parallelogram.

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Decision / Conditional
Decision object is represented as a
Diamond. This object is always used in a
process flow to as a question. And, the
answer to the question determines the
arrows coming out of the Diamond.
Document
Document object is a rectangle
with a wave-like base. This
shape is used to represent a
Document or Report in a
process flow.
Manual Input
represented by rectangle with the top
sloping up from left to right. The Manual
Input object signifies an action where the
user is prompted for information that
must be manually input into a system.

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Stored Data
This is a general data storage
object used in the process flow as
opposed to data which could be
also stored on a hard drive,
magnetic tape, memory card, of
any other storage device.
Direct Data
Direct Data object in a process
flow represents information
stored which can be accessed
directly. This object represents a
computer's hard drive.
Sequential Access
This object takes the shape of a reel of
tape. It represents information stored in
a sequence, such as data on a magnetic
tape.

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Subroutine / Predefined
Process
This shape takes two names -
'Subroutine' or 'Predefined Process'.
Its called a subroutine if you use this
object in flowcharting a software
program. This allows you to write
one subroutine and call it as often as
you like from anywhere in the code.
Internal Storage
This is an object which is commonly
found in programming flowcharts to
illustrate the information stored in
memory, as opposed to on a file. This
shape is often referred to as the
magnetic core memory of early
computers; or the random access
memory (RAM) as we call it today.

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Microsoft Office
Its an office suite of applications, servers
and services.
Desktop components/applications
•Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
•Access,
•Outlook
•Onenote
Server applications
•Microsoft SharePoint:
•Excel Services
•InfoPath Forms Services
•Microsoft Project Server
•Microsoft Search Server
Web services
•Microsoft Office 365
•Microsoft Update
•Microsoft Office Online
•Microsoft Office website

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To be continued…