This document provides an overview of computers, including their components and how they work. It defines a computer as a device that accepts digital data as input and manipulates it according to programmed instructions. Computers are categorized based on their size and intended users, ranging from desktops for individuals to mainframes for large organizations. The document describes the basic anatomy of a computer including hardware components like the CPU, memory, storage devices, and input/output devices. It also discusses software and different types like operating systems and application programs.

1. Name: Rushabh Sheth
Subject: Information Technology (IT)
Topic: Software & Hardware

2. WHAT IS A COMPUTER ?
• A COMPUTER IS A DEVICE THAT ACCEPTS
INFORMATION (IN THE FORM OF DIGITALIZED DATA)
AND MANIPULATES IT FOR SOME RESULT BASED ON A
PROGRAM OR SEQUENCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW
THE DATA IS TO BE PROCESSED.
• COMPLEX COMPUTERS ALSO INCLUDE THE MEANS
FOR STORING DATA (INCLUDING THE PROGRAM,
WHICH IS ALSO A FORM OF DATA) FOR SOME
NECESSARY DURATION.

3. COMPUTER CATEGORIES
1. Desktop computer
2. Minicomputer - designed to meet
the computing needs of several
people simultaneously in a small to
medium-size business
environment
3. Notebook computer:
a fully functional computer
designed to be carried around

4. • Mainframe computer -
designed to meet the
computing needs of hundreds
of people in a large business
environment
• Supercomputers - the fastest,
most powerful, and most
expensive type of computer

5. ANATOMY OF COMPUTER AND ITS
WORKING
•Hardware
•Software

6. ANATOMY OF COMPUTER AND ITS
WORKING
•Hardware – physical aspects of computers,
telecommunications, and other information
technology devices
• Example: Keyboard, Monitor
•Software -a general term for the various kinds of
programs used to operate computers and related
devices
• Example: Microsoft Excel

7. SIX CATEGORIES OF HARDWARE
• Input Device
• Output device
• Storage device
• Central processing unit (CPU)
• Telecommunications device
• Connecting device

8. COMMON INPUT DEVICES
Input device is a tool used to capture information and
commands
• Keyboard
• Point-of-sale (POS)
• Microphone
• Mouse
• Pointing stick

9. COMMON INPUT DEVICES

10. COMMON OUTPUT DEVICES
Output device is equipment used to see, hear, or otherwise accept the
results of information processing
• Monitors
Cathode-ray tubes (CRTs)
Flat-panel displays
Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors
Gas plasma displays

11. COMMON OUTPUT DEVICES
• Printer
Inkjet printers - make images by forcing ink droplets
through nozzles
Laser printers - form images using an electrostatic process,
the same way a photocopier works
Multifunction printers - scan, copy, and fax, as well as print

12. 12
COMMON STORAGE DEVICES
• High-capacity floppy disk
• Hard disk
• CD-ROM (compact disc -
read-only memory)
• CD-R (compact disc-
recordable)
• CD-RW (compact disc-
rewritable)
• DVD-ROM
• DVD-R
• DVD-RW
• Flash memory device
• Memory card

13. 13
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)
•RAM - temporary storage
that holds the current
information, the application
software currently being
used, and the operating
system software

14. •Memory
• A large collection of circuits, each capable of storing bit
• Cells (words): manageable units; typical size is 8 bits (1
byte), some machines are 16 bits (2 bytes) and some are 32
bits or 64 bits
• Byte (8 bits), KB (kilobyte, 103  210 bytes), MB (Megabyte, 106  220
bytes), GB (Gigabyte, 109  230 bytes). Note: k ≠ K because 1000 ≠
1024.

15. 15
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
• CPU - the actual hardware that interprets and executes the program
instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work
together.
• Control unit - interprets software instructions and tells the other
hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions
• Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) - performs all arithmetic operations
and all logic operations
• CPU Speed
• Megahertz (MHz) - the number of millions of CPU cycles per
second
• Gigahertz (GHz) - the number of billions of CPU cycles per
second

16. 16
COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE
• Connectivity software
• enables a computer to “dial up” or connect to another computer
• Web browser software
• enables a computer to surf the Web
• E-mail software
• enables electronic communication with other people by sending and receiving e-
mail

17. 17
CONNECTING DEVICES
• Connecting devices enable the hardware to communicate
with each other
• A parallel connector is used to plug a printer into a system box
• Parallel connector interfaces with a parallel port that is connected
to an expansion card

18. COMPUTER SOFTWARE

19. TYPES OF SOFTWARE
• System Software :
System software is a term referring to any computer software
which manages and controls the hardware so that application software
can perform a task. Ex : Operating Systems, Compiler, Loader, Linker,
Interpreter.
• Application Software :
Application Software includes programs that do real work for
user. Ex: Payroll systems, Inventory Control, Manage student database,
Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Database Management System etc.

20. PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
• Proprietary software (also called non-free software) is software with
restrictions on using, copying and modifying as enforced by the
proprietor. Restrictions on use, modification and copying is achieved
by either legal or technical means and sometimes both.
• Proponents of proprietary software are Microsoft.
• Ex: CAD, Nortan Antivirus etc.,