This is the first lecture belonging to the course "Introduction to computers". It covers the following topics:- Computer Definition,Electronic Data Processing, Data and Information definitions,Types of data, Characteristics of computer.

1. Introduction to Computer
Lecture # 1
Course Instructor : Sehrish Rafiq
Govt Girls Degree College Maneri Swabi
Higher Education Department KPK

2. Recommended books
• Computer Fundamentals by PK Sinha
• Fundamental Concepts of Computer System by Asiya
Sultan Ali & Amina Nudrat
• Computer Fundamentals In Brief by Dr. Ahmed Sallam,
Dr. Mohamed Khamiss Hussein, Dr. Mohamed Hamed
Mousa, Dr. Ahmed Eltahawy, Dr. Mahmoud Elgayyar

3. Lecture overview
• Computer Definition
• Electronic Data Processing
• Data and Information
• Types of data
• Characteristics of computer

4. What is a computer?
• The word computer is derived from the Latin word
“computare” which means to compute.
• A computer is an electronic device that can perform
arithmetic operations at high speed.
• A computer is also called an electronic data processor
because it can store process and retrieve data
whenever desired.

5. Electronic Data Processing
(EDP)
• The activity of processing data using a computer is
known as Electronic Data Processing or simply data
processing.
• It is a series of steps, actions or operations that convert
data in to meaningful information.
• EDP transforms input in to output.
• When data entered in to computer is manipulated,
formulated, arranged, sorted or is passed through
mathematical or statistical formulas it is known as EDP.

6. Electronic Data Processing
Input Processing OutputData Information

7. Data Vs. Information
Data
• Data is raw material used as
input.
• Anything in raw form not
necessarily meaningful like
numbers, words and facts are
known as data.
• E.g. Student admission forms
Information
• Information is processed data
obtained as output after data
processing.
• Information is that data which
has been manipulated and
organized in such a form that
it can help people in taking
necessary decisions.
• E.g. Merit list

8. Types of Data
• Three types of data
 Alphabetic data
 Numeric data
 Alphanumeric data

9. Characteristics of a computer
• Automatic
• Reprogrammable
• Data Processor
• Speedy
• Accurate
• Diligent
• Versatile
• Power of remembrance
• No IQ
• No feelings

10. Continued…
• Automatic
 It carries out instructions with minimum human
intervention.
• Reprogrammable
 It stores instructions in the form of programs which can
be changed to perform other tasks.
• Data Processor
 It carries out operations on data to produce information.

11. Continued…
• Speedy
 It can perform its operations at very high speed usually
measured in milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds
and picoseconds.
• Accurate
 Its accuracy is high and its degree of accuracy depends
on its design.
 Computer errors caused by incorrect input or unreliable
programs are often referred to as Garbage-In-Garbage-
Out (GIGO).

12. Continued…
• Diligent
 It is free from monotony, tiredness and lack of
concentration.
 It can continuously work for hours without creating any
error or grumbling.
• Versatile
 It is capable of performing almost any task, if the task
can be reduced to a finite series of logical steps.
• Power of remembrance
 It can store and recall any amount of information
whenever desired.

13. Continued…
 It forgets or loses information only when it is asked to do
that.
• No IQ
 A computer is a dummy device.
 It does only what it is programmed to do.
 It cannot take its own decision in any regard without
programming.
• No feelings
 Computers have no emotions.
 Their judgment is based on the instructions given to
them in the form of programs that are written by human
beings.

14. Enough For Today!!!