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• Introduction to Computer
• Computer Science

What is a Computer?

A computer is an electronic machine that processes raw data and outputs information. An electronic device that takes data as input and transforms it using a set of special instructions known as Programs to produce the desired output. A computer has an internal memory that stores data and instructions that are temporarily awaiting processing, as well as the intermediate result (information) before it is communicated to the recipients via the Output devices

What Does the Computer Require in Order to be Operational?

A Computer requires hardware devices and an operating system in order to be operational.

1. Hardware Devices

Monitor: It is a big television-like screen. It is an output device where you see what is happening on the computer.

Keyboard: It is an input device. It is a way of giving commands to a computer with the help of keys over it.

Central Processing Unit (CPU): It is a processing unit.It is considered the brain of the computer as it can’t perform any activity without CPU.

Mouse: It is an input device. This is the alternate method for cooperating with your PC. Most mice have two buttons — a right and a left button — and a looking over wheel.

Hardware Devices

2. Operating System (OS)

Operating System

PCs without an OS are precisely similar to TVs without a signal. They will turn on, yet you will be checking a clear screen out without any desire to collaborate with it. The most famous working framework is "Microsoft Windows," and it is used by most PC.

The OS acts as the sensory system of the PC, interfacing the computer processor to all the PC programs. The OS permits you to run other programs, work on projects, and do essentially all the other things that PCs are prepared to do.

There are a wide range of renditions of Microsoft Windows, and a new adaptation is delivered every several years.

How to Operate a Computer

There are three states in which a computer is at any given time.

OFF : This is precisely the exact thing it seems like: The PC is off, and no parts are running or working. The screen is dark (no pictures), there is no "humming" sound from the central processor, and the PC is inert to mouse developments or pressing keys on the keyboard. 

ON : When a PC is on, you ought to see pictures on the screen, conceivably hear a "buzzing" commotion coming from the central processor and the pointer on the screen ought to answer when you move the mouse.

Rest Mode : Most PCs have a mode called "Rest," in which the PC is on, yet has expected an energy-productive, insignificant power mode. To "wake" the PC, basically move the mouse around or press the spacebar on the console, and it will "awaken" and return to the identical spot that it was at the point at which it fell asleep.

Signing on Screen

When you turn the PC on, the PC will go through a progression of mechanized undertakings before it is prepared for you to associate with it; this cycle is called "startup." This cycle will endure somewhere in the range of one and two minutes. Assuming the PC is not working accurately, you might see a blunder message during startup.

After you sign on, the PC will show what is known as your work area inside a couple of moments to a couple of moments. Here you will see a computerized portrayal of something almost identical to real-life office space, complete with a work area, documents and record organizers, and a recycling bin.

Features of Computer

Below mentioned are some of the features of a computer..

When executing mathematical computations, a computer works significantly faster and more accurately than a human.

Speed of Computer

Calculations made by computers are always accurate. Data inaccuracy or consistency might lead to errors.

A computer contains internal storage for data called main memory. Data is also stored on removable media like CDs, pen drives, and other types of secondary storage.

Computer Memory

Reliability

When given the same set of data repeatedly, a computer will consistently provide the same output, demonstrating its dependability.

The computer completes every task automatically, that is, without human interaction.

Computer Automation

Drawbacks of Computer

Although using a computer has numerous benefits, there are also risks and drawbacks. If used improperly, computers can cause a number of health problems.

The computer is emotionless.

It can't function alone. It requires somebody to work on it and give it instructions.

The computer must be supplied with each command.

No choice can be made by a computer on its own.

What is a Machine?

A machine is a tool that facilitates our job.

It helps us save time and effort.

Humans are not as productive as machines .

Machine Examples Include the Following:

For enjoyment, people use televisions.

To iron the clothes, use an iron box.

An automobile is used for transportation.

Calling is done on a mobile device.

Mobile Device

Points to Remember 

Computer is an electronic machine.

The main components required for a computer are mouse, monitor and  keyboard.

The CPU is also known as the “Brain” of the computer.

OS stands for operating system.

The first screen you see when it starts is called the desktop.

Learning by Doing

Choose the correct answer:.

1. Which part of the computer contains the computer's brains?

B. Keyboard

D. All of above

Write True or False

1. Windows, Linux, and Android are examples of Operating devices(True/False)

2. Keyboard is an Input device. (True/False)

Sample Questions

1. Choose the correct statement

A. Computer is an electronic machine

B. It performs arithmetic operation

C. Both A) and B)

2.  What is an OS? 

Ans: OS stands for operating system.The OS permits you to run other programs, work on projects, and do essentially all the other things that PCs are prepared to do.

3. List various primary parts of the computer.

1. A Motherboard

2. A CPU i.e. Central Processing Unit’

3. RAM i.e. Random Access Memory

5. Hard drives

6. Computer Mouse

The monitor, CPU, keyboard, mouse, printer, sound system, RAM, hard drive, and many other components make up the computer system's hardware. There are various operating systems in computers such as Microsoft Windows, Linux and so on.

FAQs on Introduction to Computer

1. Which OS does Apple use?

An Apple Computer is called a Macintosh (Mac). Its Operating System is OS X while other PCs use windows.

2. Do computers require the Internet to operate?

A computer does not need to access the Internet in order to run properly. The Internet is a way of connecting to other computer users. You can interface with the web utilizing a telephone line, a link association, or by utilizing a remote interfacing gadget (wi-fi). For most home PC clients, this is a paid help, however you can use the Web for free in a few public areas, similar to the library or a café. A PC will actually want to carry out most normal roles (play music, type records, alter pictures) and run programs without a Web association. Notwithstanding, to see a page or send an email, you will require a Web association. 

3. What “My Computer is Possessed!” means?

“My Computer is Possessed!” It is a common misconception that computers have “a mind of their own.” In spite of the fact that PCs can play out specific assignments significantly more effectively and quicker than people (like counting, performing numerical computations, and so on), they are, eventually, machines and can't have an independent mind. Any reasonable person would agree that the PC can do nothing that you don't advise it to do.

Browse Course Material

Course info, instructors.

• Prof. Eric Grimson
• Prof. John Guttag

Departments

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

As Taught In

• Programming Languages

Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

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Introduction :

A computer is an electronic device that can receive, store, process, and output data. It is a machine that can perform a variety of tasks and operations, ranging from simple calculations to complex simulations and artificial intelligence.

Computers consist of hardware components such as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, input/output devices, and peripherals, as well as software components such as the operating system and applications.

The history of computers can be traced back to the 19th century when mechanical devices such as the Analytical Engine and tabulating machines were developed. However, modern computers as we know them today were developed in the mid-20th century with the invention of the transistor and the development of integrated circuits.

Today, computers are widely used in various industries such as education, finance, healthcare, and entertainment, and they have revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate. They have also given rise to a new era of technology such as the internet, cloud computing, and mobile devices, which have further transformed our daily lives.

Computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful information. It processes the input according to the set of instructions provided to it by the user and gives the desired output quickly. A Computer can perform the following set of functions:

• Accept data
• Process data as desired
• Retrieve the stored data as and when required
• Print the result in desired format.

Data and Information: Data: It is the term used for raw facts and figures fed into the computer and along with the set of instructions which enables the computer to convert this raw data into the refined and useful information. Information: Data represented in useful and meaningful form is information. 

Data and information are related concepts, but they have different meanings. Data refers to raw facts and figures that are unorganized and have no meaning on their own. Information, on the other hand, is data that has been processed, organized, and given context to make it meaningful and useful.

Data can take many forms, such as numbers, words, images, or sounds. For example, a list of sales figures for a company is data. However, this data by itself does not provide any useful information. It needs to be processed and analyzed to be turned into information that can be used for decision-making.

Information is data that has been processed and organized in a meaningful way to convey a message or answer a question. For example, using the sales figures from the earlier example, an analyst could create a graph or chart that shows the sales trends over time, providing meaningful information about the company’s performance.

In summary, data is the raw, unorganized facts and figures, while information is data that has been processed and given context to be meaningful and useful for decision-making.

Classification of Computers: Computers can be classified based on the technology being used and the way they are designed to perform the various tasks. Computers can be categorized into Digital, Analog and Hybrid based on their design and working:

• Digital Computers : These are the modern computers which are capable of processing information in discrete form. In digital technology data which can be in the form of letters, symbols or numbers is represented in binary form i.e. 0s and 1s. The digital computers are used in industrial, business and scientific applications. They are quite suitable for large volume data processing.
• Analog Computers : These computers are used to process data generated by ongoing physical processes. A thermometer is an example of an analog computer since it measures the change in mercury level continuously. Analog computers are well suited to simulating systems. A simulator helps to conduct experiments repeatedly in real time environment. Some of the common examples are simulations in aircrafts, nuclear power plants, hydraulic and electronic networks.
• Hybrid Computers : These use both analog and digital technology. It has the speed of analog computer and the accuracy of a digital computer. It may accept digital or analog signals but an extensive conversion of data from digital to analog and analog to digital has to be done. Hybrid Computers are used as a cost effective means for complex simulations.
• Supercomputers: These are the most powerful and expensive computers that are used for complex scientific calculations, simulations, and research. They are used in fields such as weather forecasting, cryptography, and nuclear research.
• Mainframe Computers: These are large and powerful computers that are used by large organizations such as banks, airlines, and government agencies to process massive amounts of data and handle multiple users simultaneously.
• Mini Computers: These are smaller and less powerful than mainframe computers, but they are still capable of handling multiple users and processing large amounts of data. They are commonly used by small to medium-sized businesses for accounting, inventory management, and other data-intensive tasks.
• Personal Computers: These are small and affordable computers that are designed for individual users. They are commonly used for personal productivity, entertainment, and communication.
• Workstations: These are high-performance computers that are used by professionals such as architects, engineers, and designers to run complex software applications for tasks such as 3D modeling, animation, and scientific visualization.
• Embedded Systems: These are specialized computers that are built into other devices such as cars, appliances, and medical equipment to control their operations and perform specific functions.
• Mobile Devices: These are small and portable computers that are designed for on-the-go use, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops

Classification of Digital Computers

• Micro Computers : These are also known as Personal Computers. These type of digital computer uses a microprocessor (a CPU on a single chip) and include both desktops and laptops. These computers can work on small volume of data, are very versatile and can handle variety of applications. These computers are being used as work stations, CAD, multimedia and advertising applications. Example: portable computers such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and tablets
• Mini Computers : These computers can support multiple users working simultaneously on the same machine. These are mainly used in an organization where computers installed in various departments are interconnected. These computers are useful for small business organizations.
• Main Frames : These computers are large and very powerful computers with very high memory capacity. These can process huge databases such as census at extremely fast rate. They are suitable for big organizations, banks, industries etc. and can support hundreds of users simultaneously on the network.
• Super Computers : These are fastest and very expensive computers. They can execute billions of instructions per second. These are multiprocessor, parallel systems suitable for specialized complex scientific applications involving huge amounts of mathematical applications such as weather forecasting.
• Minicomputers: These are smaller and less powerful than mainframe computers, but they are still capable of handling multiple users and processing large amounts of data. They are commonly used by small to medium-sized businesses for accounting, inventory management, and other data-intensive tasks.
• Microcomputers: These are the most common type of digital computers, also known as personal computers or PCs. They are designed for individual users and are used for personal productivity, entertainment, and communication.
• Mobile Devices: These are small and portable computers that are designed for on-the-go use, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

Peripheral Devices

These devices are used for performing the specific functions and are connected to the computer externally. These peripheral devices enable the computer to operate according to the user requirements by feeding data in and out of the computer. Peripheral devices are as follows:

• Optical/magnetic Scanner
• Touch Screen
• Microphone for voice as input
• Monitor (Visual Display Unit)

Difference between RAM and Hard-disk

RAM	Hard Disk
RAM is an electronic device	Hard-disk is an electromechanical device
Electronic device are faster in speed	Electro-mechanical device has speed slower than Electronic device.
CPU is an electronic device,so it’s speed can match with RAM.Therefore,CPU and RAM have connections and that connections is known as buses	Hard disk is an electro-mechanical device.Therefore,it’s speed cannot be match by CPU and hence there is no connection between hard-disk and CPU.
RAM is much faster than a hard-disk. RAM is a type of volatile memory that can be accessed quickly by the CPU. This allows for fast data processing and multitasking.	Hard-disk is a type of non-volatile storage that is much slower than RAM. It is used for long-term storage of data that needs to be preserved even when the computer is turned off.
RAM is volatile, meaning that its contents are lost when the computer is turned off.	Hard-disk is non-volatile, meaning that its contents are preserved even when the computer is turned off. This makes hard-disk an ideal choice for long-term storage of data.

CPU process the data, and to process that data we need fast speed memory which is known as RAM.

Types of Software

• System Software : These are those software,without which our PC,laptop won’t run, i.e it is must for a device to be operating. For Example: Linux,Unix,Windows,etc.
• Application Software : These are those software,without which our PC,laptop can run, i.e these software are not necessary for a device to be operating. For Example: Facebook,What’s App,Games.

Difference between Hacker and Cracker

• Hacker : They will just warn you something about malicious activity going around in your computer.It will not steal your information.
• Cracker : They will try to steal your Information without informing you.

Basic computer operation :

• Booting up: This is the process of starting up the computer by loading the operating system (OS) into memory. The computer runs a series of checks to ensure all hardware is working correctly before loading the OS.
• Logging in: After booting up, you will need to log in to access your user account. This requires entering your username and password.
• Running programs: Once you have logged in, you can run programs on your computer. Programs can include web browsers, office applications, media players, and more.
• Accessing data: You can access data stored on your computer or other connected devices, such as external hard drives or cloud storage services. This can include files, documents, photos, and other media.
• Connecting to the internet: You can connect to the internet to access websites, download files, and communicate with others online. This typically involves using a web browser to access websites and other online services.
• Communicating with other devices: You can communicate with other devices connected to your computer, such as printers, scanners, or other peripherals. This allows you to print documents, scan images, and perform other tasks.
• Saving and backing up data: It’s important to save and back up your data regularly to avoid data loss. You can save data to your local hard drive, external hard drives, or cloud storage services.
• Shutting down: When you’re finished using your computer, you should shut it down properly. This involves closing all programs and files, saving any changes, and shutting down the OS.
• Troubleshooting: If you experience issues with your computer, you may need to troubleshoot the problem. This can involve diagnosing hardware or software issues, performing updates, or reinstalling drivers.
• Security: It’s important to keep your computer secure by using antivirus software, firewalls, and other security measures. This helps protect your data and prevent unauthorized access to your system.

Issues of basic computers and computer operations :

some common issues that can arise with basic computers and computer operations:

• Slow performance: Computers can become slow and unresponsive due to a variety of factors, such as lack of storage space, outdated hardware, or malware.
• Malware and viruses: Malware and viruses can infect computers and cause a range of problems, including data loss, system crashes, and identity theft.
• Hardware failures: Computer hardware components can fail over time, leading to issues like system crashes, data loss, and display problems.
• Software glitches: Software applications can sometimes malfunction or crash, leading to issues like data loss or unresponsive programs.
• Driver problems: Drivers are software components that enable hardware devices to communicate with the operating system. If drivers become outdated or corrupted, it can lead to issues like hardware failures or system crashes.
• Compatibility issues: Sometimes software applications or hardware components may not be compatible with each other, leading to issues like system crashes or display problems.
• Internet connectivity issues: Problems with internet connectivity can lead to issues like slow loading web pages, interrupted downloads, and difficulty accessing online services.
• User error: Users can sometimes make mistakes or accidentally delete files or programs, leading to issues like data loss or unresponsive programs.

Reference :

 Some references for learning about basic computers and computer operations:

• “Computer Basics” by GCFGlobal: This is a comprehensive guide to learning about computers, including hardware components, software, and basic operations.
• “Computer Science Basics” by Khan Academy: This course covers the fundamentals of computer science, including how computers work, programming basics, and algorithms.
• “Introduction to Computers” by Udemy: This course covers the basics of computer hardware, software, and operations, including topics like file management, computer security, and troubleshooting.
• “Computer Operations” by Techopedia: This article provides an overview of computer operations, including booting up, running programs, and saving and backing up data.
• “How Computers Work” by HowStuffWorks: This website provides a detailed explanation of how computers work, including the role of hardware components, operating systems, and software applications.
• “The Basics of Computer Operations” by The Tech Academy: This guide provides an overview of basic computer operations, including starting up, running programs, and shutting down.
• “Introduction to Computing” by Georgia Tech: This course provides an introduction to computing, including basic computer operations, programming, and algorithms.

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Basics of Computers - Introduction

Being a modern-day kid you must have used, seen, or read about computers. This is because they are an integral part of our everyday existence. Be it school, banks, shops, railway stations, hospital or your own home, computers are present everywhere, making our work easier and faster for us. As they are such integral parts of our lives, we must know what they are and how they function. Let us start with defining the term computer formally.

The literal meaning of computer is a device that can calculate. However, modern computers can do a lot more than calculate. Computer is an electronic device that receives input, stores or processes the input as per user instructions and provides output in desired format.

Input-Process-Output Model

Computer input is called data and the output obtained after processing it, based on user’s instructions is called information . Raw facts and figures which can be processed using arithmetic and logical operations to obtain information are called data .

The processes that can be applied to data are of two types −

Arithmetic operations − Examples include calculations like addition, subtraction, differentials, square root, etc.

• Logical operations − Examples include comparison operations like greater than, less than, equal to, opposite, etc.

The corresponding figure for an actual computer looks something like this −

The basic parts of a computer are as follows −

Input Unit − Devices like keyboard and mouse that are used to input data and instructions to the computer are called input unit.

Output Unit − Devices like printer and visual display unit that are used to provide information to the user in desired format are called output unit.

Control Unit − As the name suggests, this unit controls all the functions of the computer. All devices or parts of computer interact through the control unit.

Arithmetic Logic Unit − This is the brain of the computer where all arithmetic operations and logical operations take place.

Memory − All input data, instructions and data interim to the processes are stored in the memory. Memory is of two types – primary memory and secondary memory . Primary memory resides within the CPU whereas secondary memory is external to it.

Control unit, arithmetic logic unit and memory are together called the central processing unit or CPU . Computer devices like keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. that we can see and touch are the hardware components of a computer. The set of instructions or programs that make the computer function using these hardware parts are called software . We cannot see or touch software. Both hardware and software are necessary for working of a computer.

Characteristics of Computer

To understand why computers are such an important part of our lives, let us look at some of its characteristics −

Speed − Typically, a computer can carry out 3-4 million instructions per second.

Accuracy − Computers exhibit a very high degree of accuracy. Errors that may occur are usually due to inaccurate data, wrong instructions or bug in chips – all human errors.

Reliability − Computers can carry out same type of work repeatedly without throwing up errors due to tiredness or boredom, which are very common among humans.

Versatility − Computers can carry out a wide range of work from data entry and ticket booking to complex mathematical calculations and continuous astronomical observations. If you can input the necessary data with correct instructions, computer will do the processing.

Storage Capacity − Computers can store a very large amount of data at a fraction of cost of traditional storage of files. Also, data is safe from normal wear and tear associated with paper.

Advantages of Using Computer

Now that we know the characteristics of computers, we can see the advantages that computers offer−

Computers can do the same task repetitively with same accuracy.

Computers do not get tired or bored.

Computers can take up routine tasks while releasing human resource for more intelligent functions.

Disadvantages of Using Computer

Despite so many advantages, computers have some disadvantages of their own −

Computers have no intelligence; they follow the instructions blindly without considering the outcome.

Regular electric supply is necessary to make computers work, which could prove difficult everywhere especially in developing nations.

Starting a computer or a computer-embedded device is called booting . Booting takes place in two steps −

• Switching on power supply
• Loading operating system into computer’s main memory
• Keeping all applications in a state of readiness in case needed by the user

The first program or set of instructions that run when the computer is switched on is called BIOS or Basic Input Output System . BIOS is a firmware , i.e. a piece of software permanently programmed into the hardware.

If a system is already running but needs to be restarted, it is called rebooting . Rebooting may be required if a software or hardware has been installed or system is unusually slow.

There are two types of booting −

Cold Booting − When the system is started by switching on the power supply it is called cold booting. The next step in cold booting is loading of BIOS.

Warm Booting − When the system is already running and needs to be restarted or rebooted, it is called warm booting. Warm booting is faster than cold booting because BIOS is not reloaded.

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Computer Basics

If you're new to computers or just want to update your skills, you've come to the right place. New videos coming soon!

Introduction

• 1 About This Tutorial arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn what's covered in this free course.
• 2 What is a Computer? arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn what a computer is and how it functions.

Hardware Basics

• 3 Basic Parts of a Computer arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn the basic parts of a computer, including the monitor, computer case, and keyboard.
• 4 Buttons and Ports on a Computer arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn the various ports and buttons on a computer.
• 5 Inside a Computer arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn what's inside a computer.
• 6 Laptop Computers arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn more about laptop computers and how they differ from traditional desktop computers.
• 7 Mobile Devices arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how mobile devices work.

Software Basics

• 8 Understanding Operating Systems arrow_forward_ios ✓ Get a better understanding of operating systems and how they function.
• 9 Understanding Applications arrow_forward_ios ✓ Better understand applications and how they work.

Using a Computer

• 10 Setting Up a Computer arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn know how to set up a computer.
• 11 Getting Started with Your First Computer arrow_forward_ios ✓ Get started with your first computer.
• 12 Getting to Know the OS arrow_forward_ios ✓ Get to know your computer's operating system.

Using the Internet

• 13 Connecting to the Internet arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how to get online and start using the Internet.
• 14 Getting Started with the Internet arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how to get started with and navigate the Internet.
• 15 Understanding the Cloud arrow_forward_ios ✓ Gain a greater understanding of the cloud and how it works.

Safety and Maintenance

• 16 Keeping Your Computer Clean arrow_forward_ios ✓ Use these tips to keep your computer clean.
• 17 Protecting Your Computer arrow_forward_ios ✓ Employ these strategies to keep your computer well protected from threats.
• 18 Creating a Safe Workspace arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn tips for creating a safe space at work.
• 19 Basic Troubleshooting Techniques arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn these basic troubleshooting techniques.
• 20 How to Use Your Computer's Built-in Help arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how to use your computer's built-in help function.
• 21 Learning a New Program arrow_forward_ios ✓ Use these tips for learning a new program, whatever it may be.
• 22 Bringing Your Files with You arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how you can bring your computer files and folders with you wherever you go.
• 23 Using Accessibility Features arrow_forward_ios ✓ Here's how to use your computer's various accessibility functions.
• 24 Computer Basics Quiz arrow_forward_ios ✓ Test your knowledge of computer basics by taking our quiz.

Computer Basics for Absolute Beginners

Computers can be intimidating, especially if you didn't grow up with them. Some tasks that seem simple to experienced users can seem impossible to new users.

We just released a computer and technology basics course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel. This course teaches the basics of computer use and is perfect for beginners and people that want to fill in some gaps on their knowledge.

The Goodwill Community Foundation developed this course. For almost 20 years, their GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century.

In this course you’ll learn more about the types of computers and operating systems in use today. You'll also gain a better understanding of the basic parts of a computer, how applications are used, connecting to the Internet, and more.

This computer basics course is full of animations to help you understand the topics.

Here are the topics covered in this course:

• What Is a Computer?
• Buttons and Ports on a Computer
• Basic Parts of a Computer
• Inside a Computer
• Getting to Know Laptop Computers
• Understanding Operating Systems
• Understanding Applications
• Setting Up a Desktop Computer
• Connecting to the Internet
• What Is the Cloud?
• Cleaning Your Computer
• Protecting Your Computer
• Creating a Safe Workspace
• Internet Safety: Your Browser's Security Features
• Understanding Spam and Phishing
• Understanding Digital Tracking
• Windows Basics: Getting Started with the Desktop
• Mac OS X Basics: Getting Started with the Desktop
• Browser Basics

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Is computer science used in video games, how do i learn computer science.

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What is computer science?

Computer science is the study of computers and computing as well as their theoretical and practical applications. Computer science applies the principles of mathematics , engineering , and logic to a plethora of functions, including algorithm formulation, software and hardware development, and artificial intelligence .

The most influential computer scientists include Alan Turing , the World War II code breaker commonly regarded as the “father of modern computing”; Tim Berners-Lee , inventor of the World Wide Web ; John McCarthy , inventor of the programming language LISP and artificial intelligence pioneer; and Grace Hopper , U.S. Navy officer and a key figure in the development of early computers such as the UNIVAC I as well as the development of the computer language compiler .

What can you do with computer science?

Computer science is applied to a wide range of disciplines that include modeling simulations such as the impacts of climate change and the Ebola virus , creating art and visualization through graphics rendering, and simulating a human interface through artificial intelligence and machine learning .

Video game development is grounded in the principles of computer science and programming . Modern graphics rendering in video games often employs advanced techniques such as ray tracing to provide realistic effects. The development of augmented reality and virtual reality has also expanded the range of possibilities of video game development.

Many universities across the world offer degrees that teach students the basics of computer science theory and the applications of computer programming . Additionally, the prevalence of online resources and courses makes it possible for many people to self-learn the more practical aspects of computer science (such as coding , video game development, and app design).

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computer science , the study of computers and computing, including their theoretical and algorithmic foundations, hardware and software , and their uses for processing information. The discipline of computer science includes the study of algorithms and data structures, computer and network design, modeling data and information processes, and artificial intelligence . Computer science draws some of its foundations from mathematics and engineering and therefore incorporates techniques from areas such as queueing theory, probability and statistics , and electronic circuit design. Computer science also makes heavy use of hypothesis testing and experimentation during the conceptualization, design, measurement, and refinement of new algorithms, information structures, and computer architectures.

Computer science is considered as part of a family of five separate yet interrelated disciplines: computer engineering, computer science, information systems , information technology , and software engineering. This family has come to be known collectively as the discipline of computing. These five disciplines are interrelated in the sense that computing is their object of study, but they are separate since each has its own research perspective and curricular focus. (Since 1991 the Association for Computing Machinery [ACM], the IEEE Computer Society [IEEE-CS], and the Association for Information Systems [AIS] have collaborated to develop and update the taxonomy of these five interrelated disciplines and the guidelines that educational institutions worldwide use for their undergraduate, graduate, and research programs.)

The major subfields of computer science include the traditional study of computer architecture , programming languages , and software development. However, they also include computational science (the use of algorithmic techniques for modeling scientific data), graphics and visualization, human-computer interaction, databases and information systems, networks, and the social and professional issues that are unique to the practice of computer science. As may be evident, some of these subfields overlap in their activities with other modern fields, such as bioinformatics and computational chemistry . These overlaps are the consequence of a tendency among computer scientists to recognize and act upon their field’s many interdisciplinary connections.

Computer science emerged as an independent discipline in the early 1960s, although the electronic digital computer that is the object of its study was invented some two decades earlier. The roots of computer science lie primarily in the related fields of mathematics , electrical engineering, physics , and management information systems.

Mathematics is the source of two key concepts in the development of the computer—the idea that all information can be represented as sequences of zeros and ones and the abstract notion of a “ stored program .” In the binary number system , numbers are represented by a sequence of the binary digits 0 and 1 in the same way that numbers in the familiar decimal system are represented using the digits 0 through 9. The relative ease with which two states (e.g., high and low voltage) can be realized in electrical and electronic devices led naturally to the binary digit , or bit, becoming the basic unit of data storage and transmission in a computer system .

Electrical engineering provides the basics of circuit design—namely, the idea that electrical impulses input to a circuit can be combined using Boolean algebra to produce arbitrary outputs. (The Boolean algebra developed in the 19th century supplied a formalism for designing a circuit with binary input values of zeros and ones [false or true, respectively, in the terminology of logic] to yield any desired combination of zeros and ones as output.) The invention of the transistor and the miniaturization of circuits, along with the invention of electronic, magnetic, and optical media for the storage and transmission of information, resulted from advances in electrical engineering and physics.

Management information systems , originally called data processing systems, provided early ideas from which various computer science concepts such as sorting, searching, databases , information retrieval , and graphical user interfaces evolved. Large corporations housed computers that stored information that was central to the activities of running a business—payroll, accounting, inventory management, production control, shipping, and receiving.

Theoretical work on computability, which began in the 1930s, provided the needed extension of these advances to the design of whole machines; a milestone was the 1936 specification of the Turing machine (a theoretical computational model that carries out instructions represented as a series of zeros and ones) by the British mathematician Alan Turing and his proof of the model’s computational power. Another breakthrough was the concept of the stored-program computer, usually credited to Hungarian American mathematician John von Neumann . These are the origins of the computer science field that later became known as architecture and organization.

In the 1950s, most computer users worked either in scientific research labs or in large corporations. The former group used computers to help them make complex mathematical calculations (e.g., missile trajectories), while the latter group used computers to manage large amounts of corporate data (e.g., payrolls and inventories). Both groups quickly learned that writing programs in the machine language of zeros and ones was not practical or reliable. This discovery led to the development of assembly language in the early 1950s, which allows programmers to use symbols for instructions (e.g., ADD for addition) and variables (e.g., X ). Another program, known as an assembler , translated these symbolic programs into an equivalent binary program whose steps the computer could carry out, or “execute.”

Other system software elements known as linking loaders were developed to combine pieces of assembled code and load them into the computer’s memory, where they could be executed. The concept of linking separate pieces of code was important, since it allowed “libraries” of programs for carrying out common tasks to be reused. This was a first step in the development of the computer science field called software engineering.

Later in the 1950s, assembly language was found to be so cumbersome that the development of high-level languages (closer to natural languages) began to support easier, faster programming. FORTRAN emerged as the main high-level language for scientific programming, while COBOL became the main language for business programming. These languages carried with them the need for different software, called compilers , that translate high-level language programs into machine code. As programming languages became more powerful and abstract, building compilers that create high-quality machine code and that are efficient in terms of execution speed and storage consumption became a challenging computer science problem. The design and implementation of high-level languages is at the heart of the computer science field called programming languages.

Increasing use of computers in the early 1960s provided the impetus for the development of the first operating systems , which consisted of system-resident software that automatically handled input and output and the execution of programs called “jobs.” The demand for better computational techniques led to a resurgence of interest in numerical methods and their analysis, an activity that expanded so widely that it became known as computational science.

The 1970s and ’80s saw the emergence of powerful computer graphics devices, both for scientific modeling and other visual activities. (Computerized graphical devices were introduced in the early 1950s with the display of crude images on paper plots and cathode-ray tube [CRT] screens.) Expensive hardware and the limited availability of software kept the field from growing until the early 1980s, when the computer memory required for bitmap graphics (in which an image is made up of small rectangular pixels) became more affordable. Bitmap technology, together with high-resolution display screens and the development of graphics standards that make software less machine-dependent, has led to the explosive growth of the field. Support for all these activities evolved into the field of computer science known as graphics and visual computing.

Closely related to this field is the design and analysis of systems that interact directly with users who are carrying out various computational tasks. These systems came into wide use during the 1980s and ’90s, when line-edited interactions with users were replaced by graphical user interfaces (GUIs). GUI design, which was pioneered by Xerox and was later picked up by Apple (Macintosh) and finally by Microsoft ( Windows ), is important because it constitutes what people see and do when they interact with a computing device. The design of appropriate user interfaces for all types of users has evolved into the computer science field known as human-computer interaction (HCI).

The field of computer architecture and organization has also evolved dramatically since the first stored-program computers were developed in the 1950s. So called time-sharing systems emerged in the 1960s to allow several users to run programs at the same time from different terminals that were hard-wired to the computer. The 1970s saw the development of the first wide-area computer networks ( WANs ) and protocols for transferring information at high speeds between computers separated by large distances. As these activities evolved, they coalesced into the computer science field called networking and communications. A major accomplishment of this field was the development of the Internet .

The idea that instructions, as well as data, could be stored in a computer’s memory was critical to fundamental discoveries about the theoretical behaviour of algorithms . That is, questions such as, “What can/cannot be computed?” have been formally addressed using these abstract ideas. These discoveries were the origin of the computer science field known as algorithms and complexity. A key part of this field is the study and application of data structures that are appropriate to different applications. Data structures , along with the development of optimal algorithms for inserting, deleting, and locating data in such structures, are a major concern of computer scientists because they are so heavily used in computer software, most notably in compilers, operating systems, file systems, and search engines .

In the 1960s the invention of magnetic disk storage provided rapid access to data located at an arbitrary place on the disk. This invention led not only to more cleverly designed file systems but also to the development of database and information retrieval systems, which later became essential for storing, retrieving, and transmitting large amounts and wide varieties of data across the Internet. This field of computer science is known as information management.

Another long-term goal of computer science research is the creation of computing machines and robotic devices that can carry out tasks that are typically thought of as requiring human intelligence . Such tasks include moving, seeing, hearing, speaking, understanding natural language, thinking, and even exhibiting human emotions. The computer science field of intelligent systems, originally known as artificial intelligence (AI), actually predates the first electronic computers in the 1940s, although the term artificial intelligence was not coined until 1956.

Three developments in computing in the early part of the 21st century—mobile computing, client-server computing , and computer hacking—contributed to the emergence of three new fields in computer science: platform-based development, parallel and distributed computing , and security and information assurance . Platform-based development is the study of the special needs of mobile devices, their operating systems, and their applications. Parallel and distributed computing concerns the development of architectures and programming languages that support the development of algorithms whose components can run simultaneously and asynchronously (rather than sequentially), in order to make better use of time and space. Security and information assurance deals with the design of computing systems and software that protects the integrity and security of data, as well as the privacy of individuals who are characterized by that data.

Finally, a particular concern of computer science throughout its history is the unique societal impact that accompanies computer science research and technological advancements. With the emergence of the Internet in the 1980s, for example, software developers needed to address important issues related to information security, personal privacy, and system reliability. In addition, the question of whether computer software constitutes intellectual property and the related question “Who owns it?” gave rise to a whole new legal area of licensing and licensing standards that applied to software and related artifacts . These concerns and others form the basis of social and professional issues of computer science, and they appear in almost all the other fields identified above.

So, to summarize, the discipline of computer science has evolved into the following 15 distinct fields:

Computer science continues to have strong mathematical and engineering roots. Computer science bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs are routinely offered by postsecondary academic institutions, and these programs require students to complete appropriate mathematics and engineering courses, depending on their area of focus. For example, all undergraduate computer science majors must study discrete mathematics (logic, combinatorics , and elementary graph theory ). Many programs also require students to complete courses in calculus , statistics , numerical analysis , physics, and principles of engineering early in their studies.

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Computer Science

• Sample Assignments

In addition to the flexibility which comes from the breadth of the computer science discipline, the computer scientist has a wide range of career options. Generally, careers that focus on the development of applications and specialized software for business and scientific areas require the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. With either degree, students are prepared for employment immediately after graduation. Students with an interest in the development of computer systems, including hardware and major software, will find that the Bachelor of Science degree provides a firm foundation for a career that may require a Master of Science degree and result in employment by a major computer manufacturer. A student hoping to perform advanced computing research or to be a university professor will find that the Ph.D. degree is essential.

The depth, breadth and flexibility of the computer science program includes the ability to apply classroom knowledge to real world projects as part of independent study, directed projects and regular classroom requirements. The following are a sampling of the recent projects students have been involved with

Video Game Creation

Students worked in groups for their final project to create a video game using Java Swing libraries. The project allowed them to apply their knowledge of data storage and organization to a real world software project, and produce readable documentation for a developer. Below are a couple of the projects: Snake, BlackJack and Pong:

Interactive Graphical User Interface

In a recent independent study, a senior computer science major developed an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) for molecular dynamics simulations. His GUI could visualize a molecule using three views while stepping through a simulation and checking results. The GUI was built with the TKInter libraries for Python, while the simulation was executed by the open source MDLab (mdlab.sourceforge.net) software.

Biology and the Game of Life

This course offered students a hands-on atmosphere for applied computing in the biological sciences and mathematics. By running simulations of biological cells using Conway’s Game of Life and the Cellular Potts Model (CPM), students study how the application of simple mathematical rules to behavioral entities result in patterns similar to those observed in nature. In the screenshots below, student projects captured foam bubble dispersion, cell sorting analogous to those in the eye, and the slime mould Dictyostelium Discoideum using CompuCell3D which runs the CPM:

Computer Architecture

Students explored the internal hardware of a computer and for their final project create a machine which can add two numbers using (shown below) breadboards, logic gates and LEDs. The LEDs illuminate to show the result of the addition.

Graphical User Interface Design

Students explored the various design issues which affect the appearance of a graphical user interface and provide the means by which a user may communicate with the underlying applications software, realizing that good design facilitates effective communication. Graphical user interface features such as mouse interaction, menus, dialog boxes, tool bars, error messaging and direct manipulation are evaluated and implemented.

In this particular assignment, students were asked to create simple word processing application in Java, using traditional GUI components, such as menus, dialog boxes, sliders, etc., from the Java Swing GUI widget toolkit.

Computer Graphics

Students were introduced to the theory and programming issues involved in rendering graphic images. Theory includes the physics of light and surfaces, surface illumination equations, and algorithms for rendering scenes using ray tracing. Visual surface algorithms, 3D viewing transformations and projections, anti-aliasing, 3D model transformation, illumination models, texture mapping, animation, and interactive graphic techniques are also presented.

In this assignment, students were asked to create an animation using a number of graphic objects, with one object demonstrating an attempt to model a real world object as accurately as possible. Object shape and surface properties, such as reflectance and texture, were chosen to realistically model the object. Another object had its surface appearance based at least partially upon the use of a two dimensional “texture” map. The project also demonstrates an object based animation as well as a camera based animation.

Evolutionary Computation

Students were encouraged to envision and implement projects in evolutionary computation that are of research level quality. Here is a sample student project, which after additional research and review led to a peer-reviewed publication at a major conference.

Project Title: Communication as a Model for Crossover in Genetic Algorithms

Abstract: We have created an evolutionary model of multiple ant colonies searching for a resource using swarm intelligence and a modified genetic algorithm. In place of the standard crossover we have employed a modified crossover which models communication; we call this a communicative GA (CGA). The communicative crossover operation sums up the moves of the most fit and least fit chromosome. The most frequent high move and low move are selected for altering. For each chromosome, the lowest move is changed into the highest fit chromosome’s most frequent allele. Statistics were recorded in each generation, including; max fitness, min fitness, the average fitness, the average number of generations it took to reach the resource, and the percent of variation of fitness. The statistics were compared to the same model implemented using a standard GA with a crossover.

Our model simulates N different ant colonies competing for one resource. We used N=4 colonies for our experiment. For illustrative purposes we have created a square shaped habitat. The ants’ path towards the resource originates from the colony and the ants may not go off the edge as seen in Figure 1. Six circular tiers were placed radiating outward from the resource representing some indicating factor from the resource. These tiers are used to calculate the fitness of each individual.

Creation of an Expert System

Students use an expert system shell to create expert systems in an area of their choice. Some of the most remarkable Expert Systems created include:

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• What to do when a hurricane approaches
• Restaurant recommendation system
• Recommendation system for computer games
• Football head coach
• Academic Adviser
• Automobile troubleshooting system
• Recommendation system for music studio equipment
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Dr. Kelly Debure Professor of Computer Science MPC 208 [email protected] 727-864-7749

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What is Computer? Definition, Characteristics and Classification

A computer is an electronic device that can store, manipulate, and process data according to a set of instructions. Know more about the Computer and its Classification, Characteristics, Functionality.

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What is a Computer?

In the modern world, computers have become an integral part of our daily lives, revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. From desktops to laptops, tablets to smartphones, computers come in various forms, yet many people are still unfamiliar with their inner workings and potential. In this article, we will discuss everything about the Computer Definition, Characteristics, Components, Functionality, and Classification .

Definition of Computer

A computer is an electronic device wherein we need to input raw data to be processed with a set of programs to produce a desirable output . Computers have the ability to store, process, and manipulate data. The term “computer” is derived from the Latin word “computare,” which means “to calculate.” A computer is made to run programs and apps by using both hardware and software. It also has a memory to store data, programs, and what they produce.

10 Different Definitions of a Computer

• Electronic device: A computer in generally termed as an electronic device that transmits data using electronic facilities and software programs
• Data processor: The computer processes data using arithmetic, logical and input/output operations
• Information machine: By processing multiple algorithms and computations, a computer gets up a meaningful definition to what we have searched
• Digital device: A computer manipulates, stores, and retrieves data represented in binary form to present it can understanding manner for humans
• Universal machine: A computer is also known as a universal machine as it can solve problems of people by understanding their program and not by any other factor
• Communication tool: Computer is a universal communication tool as it provides the facility to connect, collaborate or transfer of messages through a network and the internet
• Problem solver: Computers are designed to solve problems that can affect or slow down daily human tasks, therefore, it is a problem solver
• Multifunctional device: Multifunctionality is the power of a computer as it can perform more than 1 task at a time and that too with utmost perfection
• Information processor: Computers are fitted with processors that process raw data into organized and meaningful outputs
• Automation tool: Computers have the functionality to automate the repetitive tasks and enhance productive by saving time

Characteristics of Computer

Computers are now an integral part of our daily lives, from managing student records in schools to handling patient records in hospitals. They have significantly simplified our tasks. Now, we can quickly access stored data and solve complex problems in just seconds. Some of the characteristics of Computers are listed below-

• Saves Time: A computer saves time by completing tasks quicker and more efficiently. For example, it can solve big complex problems within seconds which can save many minutes of ours.
• Internet: Computers connect us to the internet which can help us to know important information from around the world, it can connect us with people from around the world through social networking sites, etc.
• Storage: The computer gives us enough storage space that can be used to store a large amount of data including your projects, ebooks, documents, movies, pictures, songs, etc.
• Entertainment: Computers are also a big source of entertainment as you can play games, listen to songs, watch movies, and can also use social networking sites.
• Organized Data: It not only stores the data for you for also organizes the data for you. You can create different folders for different types of data and can easily access them when required.
• Helps the physically challenged: Computers are a big boon for the physically challenged people as Stephen Hawking, who was not able to speak used the computer to speak. It also can be used to help blind people by installing special software to read what is on the screen.

Features OF Computer

We have discussed a few points that will highlight the different features of computers. These features collectively contribute to the versatility and functionality of computers.

• Processing Power: Computers can execute instructions and perform calculations quickly.
• Storage Capacity: They can store vast amounts of data, from documents to multimedia files.
• Memory (RAM): Temporary storage used for actively running programs and processes.
• Input Devices: Keyboards, mouse, and other peripherals allow users to input data.
• Output Data: Monitors, printers, and speakers display or produce results.
• Upgradability: Components like RAM, storage, and graphics cards can be upgraded.
• Portability: Laptops and tablets offer mobility compared to desktop computers.
• User Interface: Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) or command-line interfaces for interaction.
• Security Features: Passwords, firewalls, and antivirus tools protect against unauthorized access.
• Power Management: Features to optimize energy consumption.

History of Computer

To understand the development of computers, and how they evolved from simple mechanical devices to the complex electronic machines that we use today. The knowledge can help to appreciate the challenges that computer scientists have faced over the years and the ingenuity they have shown in overcoming them.

Studying the history of computers can help to anticipate future developments in the field. The history of computers can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who used the abacus to perform simple calculations. In the 17th century, Blaise Pascal invented the mechanical calculator, which could perform more complex calculations. In the 19th century, Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine, which is considered to be the first general-purpose computer. By understanding the history of computers that have shaped the development in the past.

Classification of Computers

Computers come in various types, primarily categorized by their data handling capacity and physical size. Based on the size, computers are 5 types namely, Micro Computer, Mini Computer, Mainframe Computer, Super Computer and Work stations. Whereas, based on data handling capacity, there are 3 types of computers namely analogue computers, digital computers, and hybrid computers. All the different types of computers perform different tasks and have been designed differently. For your reference, we have discussed all the types of computers and you can scroll through the page to read them all.

Based on Size

There are various types of computers available in the markets which are of different sizes. These computers are different from each other with respect to the amount of work they can do or the amount of data they can hold. Here we have classified the main 5 types of computers based on their size and have also provided the details regarding the same.

	Microcomputers are small, affordable computers for personal use. Examples include desktops and laptops. They handle everyday tasks like browsing, word processing, and entertainment.
	Minicomputers are mid-sized computers, more powerful than personal computers but smaller than mainframes. They handle complex tasks for businesses and institutions, offering moderate processing capabilities.
	Mainframe computers are powerful computers used by large organizations for critical applications and data processing.
	Supercomputers are high-performance machines used for complex calculations, simulations, and scientific research.
	Workstations are advanced computers used for graphics, engineering, and scientific applications.

1. Micro Computer:

Micro Computers are mainly single-user computers and have comparatively lesser storage and speed than other computers. The first microcomputer was built with 8-bit microprocessor chips as these computers use microprocessors as CPU. Laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, etc. are all examples of microcomputers. These computers are made for everyday tasks like browsing the web and using programs like Microsoft Office MS Word etc..

2. Mini Computer:

Midrange computers or Mini-computers are multi-user computers designed in a way so as to entertain multiple users simultaneously. Small businesses and firms use these computers for their specific purposes. For example- a company or organization may use mini computers to look after the employee directory which may handle the payment history of its employees and any schools may use them to keep records of the students or for admission purposes.

3. Mainframe Computer:

Mainframe Computers are also not designed for single users, rather it is a multi-user computer that can handle thousands of users all at once. Large industries and government organizations utilize these computers to facilitate their business operations by storing substantial volumes of data. Banks and insurance companies use these computers to store the data of their customers, their policies, etc.

4. Super Computer:

Super Computer is the fastest type of computer amongst all and is also the most expensive. They can store a large number of data and can perform the most complex tasks within seconds. They can also execute millions of instructions per second. These computers are designed specifically to handle specific tasks such as weather forecasting, space research, and more. Supercomputers are also used by NASA for their Satellite launching.

5. Work Stations:

Workstations are single-user computers and have more powerful microprocessors than a microcomputer. When it comes to speed and storage capacity, it comes between a personal computer and a mini-computer. The most common uses of a workstation are desktop publishing, engineering designs, etc.

Based on Data Handling Capacity

Computers can be divided into 3 types based on their data handling capacity namely, analog, digital, and hybrid computers. These are different from each other with respect to the type of work they can do and the amount of data they can handle. We have discussed these types of computers in detail below.

	Analog computers use continuous physical quantities to represent data and perform calculations. They operate with signals like voltage and are distinct from digital computers.
	Digital computers process information using discrete elements (bits) represented as 0s and 1s. They perform calculations through logical operations, enabling versatile tasks and precise results.
	Hybrid computers combine features of both analog and digital computers. They use analog for continuous data and digital for precise calculations, offering versatility across various applications.

Analog Computer:

The main function of Analog Computers is to process analog data. The data that changes frequently and does not have discrete values are called data and the analog computers are used at places where we have approximate values e.g., speed, temperature, pressure, etc. These computers can pick data from the devices without converting it into machine language. Some common examples of analog computers are speedometers, thermometers, etc.

Digital Computer:

Digital Computers are designed in a way so that they can perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. These computers input raw data and with the help of the programs stored in their memory, it gives the final output. Digital computers can only understand binary language i.e., 0 and 1 hence, the raw data to be given as input is converted into 0 and 1 and then it is processed. Examples are laptops, desktops, smartphones, etc.

Hybrid Computer:

Hybrid, as the name suggests is a mixture of both analog and digital computers. Hybrid computers are as fast as analog computers and also have accuracy like that of digital computers. These computers can process both continuous and discrete data as they accept analog signals and then convert them into digital signals before processing. Some common uses of Hybrid computers are in airplanes, hospitals, etc.

Components of a Computer

A computer mainly has two components i.e. hardware and software wherein the components of the computers having a physical structure such as wires, transistors, circuits, and hard disk make up the hardware whereas the programs and data make up the software. Some other important components of a Computer are discussed below.

	The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of a computer, executing instructions and performing calculations to run software and process data for overall system functionality.
	Computer memory stores data for the computer to use. RAM (Random Access Memory) is for temporary storage, and storage devices like hard drives store data permanently.
	The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a computer performs mathematical and logical operations, like addition and comparison, enabling the CPU to execute tasks and make decisions.
	Common computer input devices include keyboards for trying, mice for pointing and clicking, touchscreens for direct interaction, and microphones for voice input.
	Common computer output devices include monitors for displaying information, printers for producing hard copies, speakers for audio output, and projectors for larger visual displays.
	The motherboard is a computer’s main circuit board, connecting and facilitating communication between components like CPU, RAM, and Peripherals. It provides the foundation for the system to foundation for the system to function.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Often referred to as the “brain” of the computer, the CPU is responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. It interprets and carries out the commands from software and hardware components.

Computer Memory

Computers have different types of memory for temporary and permanent data storage. Random Access Memory (RAM) provides fast but volatile storage, while the hard drive or Solid-State Drive (SSD) offers non-volatile, long-term storage for programs and files.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is a key component of a computer’s central processor unit. The ALU is part of a central processing unit (CPU) and performs all arithmetic and logic operations that must be performed on instruction words. The ALU is split into two parts in some microprocessor architectures: the AU and the LU.

Input Devices of Computer

Input Devices of the Computer enable users to interact with the computer. These are tools used to provide information and commands to the computer. Examples include keyboards, mice, touchscreens, scanners, and microphones. They allow us to input commands, data, and instructions for the computer to process. Keyboards and mouse allow users to input text, navigate interfaces, and interact with software. Tochpads offer similar functions on laptops and touch-enabled devices. Microphones capture audio input, enabling voice commands, voice recordings, and communication in applications like voice chat and video conferencing.

Output Devices of Computer

Output Devices of Computers display or transmit processed information to users. These are tools that display or produce information from the computer. Common examples include monitors, printers, speakers, and headphones. They present the results of computations, provide visual feedback, or produce audio output. Monitors show visual data like tests and images, while printers create physical copies of documents. Speakers and headphones produce sound output, allowing us to hear audio from videos, music, or other multimedia on our computer.

Motherboard

The motherboard acts as the central hub connecting all the computer’s components. It houses the CPU, memory modules, expansion slots, and connectors, facilitating communication and data transfer between different parts of the system.

Functionality of a Computer

Computers possess remarkable versatility and can perform a multitude of tasks. Some basic Functionalities and uses of a Computer are discussed below.

• Data Processing: Computers excel at processing vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. They can manipulate numbers, perform complex calculations, analyze patterns, and generate reports.
• Information Storage: With their vast storage capacities, computers can store massive amounts of information, from personal files to entire databases. They enable quick retrieval and organization of data for efficient access and analysis.
• Communication: Computers facilitate seamless communication through various means, such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and social media. They enable global connectivity and information sharing on an unprecedented scale.
• Multimedia and Entertainment: Computers serve as multimedia powerhouses, allowing users to watch movies, listen to music, view images, play games, and edit videos. They provide immersive experiences and entertainment options for users of all ages

Finally, a computer is a remarkable electronic device that processes data, performs calculations, and executes tasks based on programmed instructions. It comprises various components working together to facilitate the input, processing, and output of information. From their ability to process data at incredible speeds to their role in communication, entertainment, and information storage, computers have revolutionized every aspect of our lives. The Computer was invented by Charles Babbage.  So he is known as the father of computers .

Some Interesting Facts About Computer

Below we have discussed a few interesting Facts about computers:

• The first computer programmer was Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace, who wrote the first algorithm for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine in the 1840s.
• The word “Bug” in the context of computer glickes originated in 1947 when a moth caused a malfunction in the Harvard Mark II computer.
• The world’s first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964 and was made of wood.
• The term “Byte” was coined by Dr. Werner Buchholz in 1956 while working on IBM’s Stretch computer.
• The first electronic computer, ENIAC, weighed around 30 tons and used more than 17,000 vacuum tubes.
• The Apollo 11 guidance computer, which landed humans on the moon in 1969, had less processing power than a modern smartphone.

Generation of Computer (1st to 5th)- Read Now

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Q1. What is computer?

Ans. A computer is an electronic device wherein we need to input raw data to be processed with a set of programs to produce a desirable output. Computers also have the capacity to store, process and manipulate the data.

Q2. What are Super Computers?

Ans. Super Computers is the fastest type of computer amongst all and is also the most expensive. They can store a large number of data and can perform the most complex task within seconds. They can also execute millions of instructions per second.

Q3. How many types of Computers are there?

Ans. The computers can classified on the basis of their size and their data handling capacity. There are 5 types of computers based on the size whereas there are 3 types of computers based on their data handling capacity.

Q4. What are Hybrid Computers?

Ans. Hybrid computers are fast as an analog computer and also has accuracy like that of digital computers. These computers can process both continuous and discrete data as it accepts analog signal and then converts them into digital signals before processing. Some common uses of Hybrid computers are in airplanes, hospitals, etc.

Q5. What is the full form of COMPUTER?

Ans. The full form of COMPUTER is Common Operating Machine Purposely Used for Technological and Educational Research.

What are the 4 types of computer?

Ans. Four types of computer are Supercomputers. Mainframe computers. Minicomputers. Personal computers (PCs) or microcomputers.

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Notes for Computer Applications: summaries, handouts, exercises

• History of Computers

When we study the many aspects of computing and computers, it is important to know about the history of computers. Charles Babbage designed an Analytical Engine which was a general computer   It helps us understand the growth and progress of technology through the times. It is also an important topic for competitive and banking exams.

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What is a computer.

A computer is an electronic machine that collects information, stores it, processes it according to user instructions, and then returns the result.

A computer is a programmable electronic device that performs arithmetic and logical operations automatically using a set of instructions provided by the user.

Early Computing Devices

People used sticks, stones, and bones as counting tools before computers were invented. More computing devices were produced as technology advanced and the human intellect improved over time. Let us look at a few of the early-age computing devices used by mankind.

Abacus was invented by the Chinese around 4000 years ago. It’s a wooden rack with metal rods with beads attached to them. The abacus operator moves the beads according to certain guidelines to complete arithmetic computations.

• Napier’s Bone

John Napier devised Napier’s Bones, a manually operated calculating apparatus. For calculating, this instrument used 9 separate ivory strips (bones) marked with numerals to multiply and divide. It was also the first machine to calculate using the decimal point system.

Pascaline was invented in 1642 by Biaise Pascal, a French mathematician and philosopher. It is thought to be the first mechanical and automated calculator. It was a wooden box with gears and wheels inside.

• Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz wheel

In 1673, a German mathematician-philosopher named Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz improved on Pascal’s invention to create this apparatus. It was a digital mechanical calculator known as the stepped reckoner because it used fluted drums instead of gears.

• Difference Engine

In the early 1820s, Charles Babbage created the Difference Engine. It was a mechanical computer that could do basic computations. It was a steam-powered calculating machine used to solve numerical tables such as logarithmic tables.

• Analytical Engine 

Charles Babbage created another calculating machine, the Analytical Engine, in 1830. It was a mechanical computer that took input from punch cards. It was capable of solving any mathematical problem and storing data in an indefinite memory.

• Tabulating machine 

An American Statistician – Herman Hollerith invented this machine in the year 1890. Tabulating Machine was a punch card-based mechanical tabulator. It could compute statistics and record or sort data or information. Hollerith began manufacturing these machines in his company, which ultimately became International Business Machines (IBM) in 1924.

• Differential Analyzer 

Vannevar Bush introduced the first electrical computer, the Differential Analyzer, in 1930. This machine is made up of vacuum tubes that switch electrical impulses in order to do calculations. It was capable of performing 25 calculations in a matter of minutes.

Howard Aiken planned to build a machine in 1937 that could conduct massive calculations or calculations using enormous numbers. The Mark I computer was constructed in 1944 as a collaboration between IBM and Harvard.

History of Computers Generation

The word ‘computer’ has a very interesting origin. It was first used in the 16th century for a person who used to compute, i.e. do calculations. The word was used in the same sense as a noun until the 20th century. Women were hired as human computers to carry out all forms of calculations and computations.

By the last part of the 19th century, the word was also used to describe machines that did calculations. The modern-day use of the word is generally to describe programmable digital devices that run on electricity.

Early History of Computer

Since the evolution of humans, devices have been used for calculations for thousands of years. One of the earliest and most well-known devices was an abacus. Then in 1822, the father of computers, Charles Babbage began developing what would be the first mechanical computer. And then in 1833 he actually designed an Analytical Engine which was a general-purpose computer. It contained an ALU, some basic flow chart principles and the concept of integrated memory.

Then more than a century later in the history of computers, we got our first electronic computer for general purpose. It was the ENIAC, which stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. The inventors of this computer were John W. Mauchly and J.Presper Eckert.

And with times the technology developed and the computers got smaller and the processing got faster. We got our first laptop in 1981 and it was introduced by Adam Osborne and EPSON.

Browse more Topics under Basics Of Computers

• Number Systems
• Number System Conversions

Generations of Computers

• Computer Organisation
• Computer Memory
• Computers Abbreviations
• Basic Computer Terminology
• Computer Languages
• Basic Internet Knowledge and Protocols
• Hardware and Software
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• I/O Devices
• Practice Problems On Basics Of Computers

In the history of computers, we often refer to the advancements of modern computers as the generation of computers . We are currently on the fifth generation of computers. So let us look at the important features of these five generations of computers.

• 1st Generation: This was from the period of 1940 to 1955. This was when machine language was developed for the use of computers. They used vacuum tubes for the circuitry. For the purpose of memory, they used magnetic drums. These machines were complicated, large, and expensive. They were mostly reliant on batch operating systems and punch cards. As output and input devices, magnetic tape and paper tape were implemented. For example, ENIAC, UNIVAC-1, EDVAC, and so on.
• 2nd Generation:  The years 1957-1963 were referred to as the “second generation of computers” at the time. In second-generation computers, COBOL and FORTRAN are employed as assembly languages and programming languages. Here they advanced from vacuum tubes to transistors. This made the computers smaller, faster and more energy-efficient. And they advanced from binary to assembly languages. For instance, IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600, and so forth.
• 3rd Generation: The hallmark of this period (1964-1971) was the development of the integrated circuit.  A single integrated circuit (IC) is made up of many transistors, which increases the power of a computer while simultaneously lowering its cost. These computers were quicker, smaller, more reliable, and less expensive than their predecessors. High-level programming languages such as FORTRON-II to IV, COBOL, and PASCAL PL/1 were utilized. For example, the IBM-360 series, the Honeywell-6000 series, and the IBM-370/168.
• 4th Generation: The invention of the microprocessors brought along the fourth generation of computers. The years 1971-1980 were dominated by fourth generation computers. C, C++ and Java were the programming languages utilized in this generation of computers. For instance, the STAR 1000, PDP 11, CRAY-1, CRAY-X-MP, and Apple II. This was when we started producing computers for home use.
• 5th Generation:  These computers have been utilized since 1980 and continue to be used now. This is the present and the future of the computer world. The defining aspect of this generation is artificial intelligence. The use of parallel processing and superconductors are making this a reality and provide a lot of scope for the future. Fifth-generation computers use ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology. These are the most recent and sophisticated computers. C, C++, Java,.Net, and more programming languages are used. For instance, IBM, Pentium, Desktop, Laptop, Notebook, Ultrabook, and so on.

Brief History of Computers

The naive understanding of computation had to be overcome before the true power of computing could be realized. The inventors who worked tirelessly to bring the computer into the world had to realize that what they were creating was more than just a number cruncher or a calculator. They had to address all of the difficulties associated with inventing such a machine, implementing the design, and actually building the thing. The history of the computer is the history of these difficulties being solved.

19 th Century

1801 – Joseph Marie Jacquard, a weaver and businessman from France, devised a loom that employed punched wooden cards to automatically weave cloth designs.

1822 – Charles Babbage, a mathematician, invented the steam-powered calculating machine capable of calculating number tables. The “Difference Engine” idea failed owing to a lack of technology at the time.

1848 – The world’s first computer program was written by Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician. Lovelace also includes a step-by-step tutorial on how to compute Bernoulli numbers using Babbage’s machine.

1890 – Herman Hollerith, an inventor, creates the punch card technique used to calculate the 1880 U.S. census. He would go on to start the corporation that would become IBM.

Early 20 th Century

1930 – Differential Analyzer was the first large-scale automatic general-purpose mechanical analogue computer invented and built by Vannevar Bush.

1936 – Alan Turing had an idea for a universal machine, which he called the Turing machine, that could compute anything that could be computed.

1939 – Hewlett-Packard was discovered in a garage in Palo Alto, California by Bill Hewlett and David Packard.

1941 – Konrad Zuse, a German inventor and engineer, completed his Z3 machine, the world’s first digital computer. However, the machine was destroyed during a World War II bombing strike on Berlin.

1941 – J.V. Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford Berry devise a computer capable of solving 29 equations at the same time. The first time a computer can store data in its primary memory.

1945 – University of Pennsylvania academics John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert create an Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). It was Turing-complete and capable of solving “a vast class of numerical problems” by reprogramming, earning it the title of “Grandfather of computers.”

1946 – The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer) was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer designed in the United States for corporate applications.

1949 – The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC), developed by a team at the University of Cambridge, is the “first practical stored-program computer.”

1950 – The Standards Eastern Automatic Computer (SEAC) was built in Washington, DC, and it was the first stored-program computer completed in the United States.

Late 20 th Century

1953 – Grace Hopper, a computer scientist, creates the first computer language, which becomes known as COBOL, which stands for CO mmon, B usiness- O riented L anguage. It allowed a computer user to offer the computer instructions in English-like words rather than numbers.

1954 – John Backus and a team of IBM programmers created the FORTRAN programming language, an acronym for FOR mula TRAN slation. In addition, IBM developed the 650.

1958 – The integrated circuit, sometimes known as the computer chip, was created by Jack Kirby and Robert Noyce.

1962 – Atlas, the computer, makes its appearance. It was the fastest computer in the world at the time, and it pioneered the concept of “virtual memory.”

1964 – Douglas Engelbart proposes a modern computer prototype that combines a mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI).

1969 – Bell Labs developers, led by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, revealed UNIX, an operating system developed in the C programming language that addressed program compatibility difficulties.

1970 – The Intel 1103, the first Dynamic Access Memory (DRAM) chip, is unveiled by Intel.

1971 – The floppy disc was invented by Alan Shugart and a team of IBM engineers. In the same year, Xerox developed the first laser printer, which not only produced billions of dollars but also heralded the beginning of a new age in computer printing.

1973 – Robert Metcalfe, a member of Xerox’s research department, created Ethernet, which is used to connect many computers and other gear.

1974 – Personal computers were introduced into the market. The first were the Altair Scelbi & Mark-8, IBM 5100, and Radio Shack’s TRS-80.

1975 – Popular Electronics magazine touted the Altair 8800 as the world’s first minicomputer kit in January. Paul Allen and Bill Gates offer to build software in the BASIC language for the Altair.

1976 – Apple Computers is founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, who expose the world to the Apple I, the first computer with a single-circuit board.

1977 – At the first West Coast Computer Faire, Jobs and Wozniak announce the Apple II. It has colour graphics and a cassette drive for storing music.

1978 – The first computerized spreadsheet program, VisiCalc, is introduced.

1979 – WordStar, a word processing tool from MicroPro International, is released.

1981 – IBM unveils the Acorn, their first personal computer, which has an Intel CPU, two floppy drives, and a colour display. The MS-DOS operating system from Microsoft is used by Acorn.

1983 – The CD-ROM, which could carry 550 megabytes of pre-recorded data, hit the market. This year also saw the release of the Gavilan SC, the first portable computer with a flip-form design and the first to be offered as a “laptop.”

1984 – Apple launched Macintosh during the Superbowl XVIII commercial. It was priced at $2,500

1985 – Microsoft introduces Windows, which enables multitasking via a graphical user interface. In addition, the programming language C++ has been released.

1990 – Tim Berners-Lee, an English programmer and scientist, creates HyperText Markup Language, widely known as HTML. He also coined the term “WorldWideWeb.” It includes the first browser, a server, HTML, and URLs.

1993 – The Pentium CPU improves the usage of graphics and music on personal computers.

1995 – Microsoft’s Windows 95 operating system was released. A $300 million promotional campaign was launched to get the news out. Sun Microsystems introduces Java 1.0, followed by Netscape Communications’ JavaScript.

1996 – At Stanford University, Sergey Brin and Larry Page created the Google search engine.

1998 – Apple introduces the iMac, an all-in-one Macintosh desktop computer. These PCs cost $1,300 and came with a 4GB hard drive, 32MB RAM, a CD-ROM, and a 15-inch monitor.

1999 – Wi-Fi, an abbreviation for “wireless fidelity,” is created, originally covering a range of up to 300 feet.

21 st Century

2000 – The USB flash drive is first introduced in 2000. They were speedier and had more storage space than other storage media options when used for data storage.

2001 – Apple releases Mac OS X, later renamed OS X and eventually simply macOS, as the successor to its conventional Mac Operating System.

2003 – Customers could purchase AMD’s Athlon 64, the first 64-bit CPU for consumer computers.

2004 – Facebook began as a social networking website.

2005 – Google acquires Android, a mobile phone OS based on Linux.

2006 – Apple’s MacBook Pro was available. The Pro was the company’s first dual-core, Intel-based mobile computer.

Amazon Web Services, including Amazon Elastic Cloud 2 (EC2) and Amazon Simple Storage Service, were also launched (S3)

2007 – The first iPhone was produced by Apple, bringing many computer operations into the palm of our hands. Amazon also released the Kindle, one of the first electronic reading systems, in 2007.

2009 – Microsoft released Windows 7.

2011 – Google introduces the Chromebook, which runs Google Chrome OS.

2014 – The University of Michigan Micro Mote (M3), the world’s smallest computer, was constructed.

2015 – Apple introduces the Apple Watch. Windows 10 was also released by Microsoft.

2016 – The world’s first reprogrammable quantum computer is built.

Types of Computers

• Analog Computers –  Analog computers are built with various components such as gears and levers, with no electrical components. One advantage of analogue computation is that designing and building an analogue computer to tackle a specific problem can be quite straightforward.
• Mainframe computers –  It is a computer that is generally utilized by large enterprises for mission-critical activities such as massive data processing. Mainframe computers were distinguished by massive storage capacities, quick components, and powerful computational capabilities. Because they were complicated systems, they were managed by a team of systems programmers who had sole access to the computer. These machines are now referred to as servers rather than mainframes.
• Supercomputers –  The most powerful computers to date are commonly referred to as supercomputers. Supercomputers are enormous systems that are purpose-built to solve complicated scientific and industrial problems. Quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, oil and gas exploration, molecular modelling, physical simulations, aerodynamics, nuclear fusion research, and cryptoanalysis are all done on supercomputers.
• Minicomputers –  A minicomputer is a type of computer that has many of the same features and capabilities as a larger computer but is smaller in size. Minicomputers, which were relatively small and affordable, were often employed in a single department of an organization and were often dedicated to a specific task or shared by a small group.
• Microcomputers –  A microcomputer is a small computer that is based on a microprocessor integrated circuit, often known as a chip. A microcomputer is a system that incorporates at a minimum a microprocessor, program memory, data memory, and input-output system (I/O). A microcomputer is now commonly referred to as a personal computer (PC).
• Embedded processors –  These are miniature computers that control electrical and mechanical processes with basic microprocessors. Embedded processors are often simple in design, have limited processing capability and I/O capabilities, and need little power. Ordinary microprocessors and microcontrollers are the two primary types of embedded processors. Embedded processors are employed in systems that do not require the computing capability of traditional devices such as desktop computers, laptop computers, or workstations.

FAQs on History of Computers

Q: The principle of modern computers was proposed by ____

• Adam Osborne
• Alan Turing
• Charles Babbage

Ans: The correct answer is C.

Q: Who introduced the first computer from home use in 1981?

• Sun Technology

Ans: Answer is A. IBM made the first home-use personal computer.

Q: Third generation computers used which programming language ?

• Machine language

Ans: The correct option is C.

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Basics of Computers

• Computer Abbreviations
• Basic Computer Knowledge – Practice Problems
• Computer Organization
• Input and Output (I/O) Devices

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Assignment on Computer Systems

Introduction

The Assignment on Computer Systems will focus upon to understand the function of computer systems and to be able to design a computer system. The study will focus on building and be configuring a   computer systems   to meet as per the design specification.

Task 1: Understanding the Functions of a Computer System

P 1.3 comparison of types of computer systems     .

Computers are classified into 4 types depending on the shape, size and processing capabilities. The preference of a computer is based on several factors namely, the type of CPU and processing speeds, memory and storage volume, a number of user interactions and costs. Supercomputers are known to be the most powerful which can handle millions of data and needs an exclusive environment. Next to this are the mainframe computers which also need a specific surrounding. The uniqueness of a mainframe computer is that it can be used by hundreds and thousands of people and it is very powerful that failure is close to impossible. Minicomputers are also mainframe computers but the speed and performance are comparatively less. These computers are used in smaller companies where there is a lesser number of users that interact with the system. Microcomputers are also called the personal and professional computers are the most familiar type of computer. From laptops to workstations all the computers fall into this category and it comes in different shapes and sizes. A visual representation of the cost differences and respective performances between each type of a computer is provided below. It is very clearly seen that the cost is directly proportional to the performance of the computer system.

Super Computers	Most expensive. Ranging up to £ 11.7 million
Mainframe computers	Second most expensive. Ranging up to £ 5.8 million
Mini computers	Quite cheaper. £ 6000 to £ 50,000
Micro	Cheapest. £800 to £5000

Get assignment help from full time dedicated experts of Locus assignments.

Task 2: Designing a Computer System

P2.1 system design for smith solicitor.

The client for this task is Smith Solicitor a law firm from London with 20 staffs including Mr. Smith. A computer is to be designed to accomplish the required functions. The requirements stated are; handling payment, record staffs in and out, client information (DBS), have a connection with the clients and staffs (Network), multimedia works (Multimedia application) and have the data confidential (Security). It is quite advisable to have a separate system for managing data along with a secure network so that the server system performs the best at what it is doing. It also needs a secure connection with the other staff computers in order to maintain the data confidential. In this case a single IP method in LAN connection with strong password is good enough. To make the connection even more secure, any network and shared document that is bound with the internet networks should be unbound. A wired printer is the best choice as wireless printers are more vulnerable to hackers. A complete specification of a computer system that is to be designed for Smith Solicitor is given below in the table. For each system the price comes up to £ 676.67 . As there are 20 staffs and 1 DBS server, the total will be 20x676.67 = £ 13533.40 (PRACTICALLY NETWORKED, 2014)

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

P2.2 Evaluation of suitability of the system design

Smith solicitor is composed of few people and hence the requirement of higher grade system is not necessary. The above mentioned specification will be good enough to meet the everyday tasks. An additional power source can be used to avoid problems during power failures. Having a server with cloud computing, data bases are easily managed and stored and during an unlikely situation of a system failure, the data can always be retrieved from the server. As the server is connected to a secure Local Area Networking Technologies , the possibility of hacking/data robbing becomes close to impossible. While the basic requirements are met, the right application to do a specific task is needed. As the requirement says the firm needs data presentation software and an antivirus and firewall. Hence the following programs and operating system are best chosen;

• Windows 7 Professional – Provides access to the high graphics user-interface. This platform is chosen because it is more ideal for Smith Solicitor.

PRICE: £107.15 Source: Custom PC

• Bitdefender Total Security – Sometimes the hackers use virus programs to obtain the system information or to destroy the entire work. This top rated anti-virus program that prevents any form of virus/malware infecting the system and also provides a firewall for the entire system. This firewall prevents intruders. This is available for 3 PCs and it is supposed to be renewed annually.

Price : £24.48 Source: Custom PC

• Microsoft Office Professional 2013 – A software package which has text editor, spreadsheet editor, presentation maker, Data base manager etc. and fulfils all the company’s needs.

PRICE: £ 264.19 Source: Custom PC (PRACTICALLY NETWORKED, 2014)

Task 3: Configuration of Computer System

P 3.1 configuring the system.

Configuration is the arrangement of hardware or setting up of software. There are 3 basic steps to configure a computer system namely installation of parts, booting and driver and application software installation.

Configuring a system for Smith Solicitor

The required parts for the firm are listed above and these parts are used in the configuration process. The installation process needs quite some knowledge about how and what the devices look like. Similarly for booting process, the user must know how to boot the operating system from the CD/DVD/USB and from there the installation screen will guide through help texts whereas verification and testing can be done by anyone who knows what a computer is. Anyways it is advisable to make use of the help of a computer technician to avoid mistakes and delay. There is a greater risk of short circuiting with a wrongly build system while powering up.

• Installation of parts - The person who is going to install the parts in the cabinet must first take a precautionary step of grounding his/her body with the cabinet till the installation is over as there are chances of electric shocks.
• Motherboard – The unpacked motherboard has a conducting outer part so it is not advisable to keep it on the silver/black covers it come with as it is an anti-static material. These bags has a conductive outer cover and if there are any charges in it, might affect the motherboard. Before installing the motherboard in the cabinet, few components have to be installed on it. The processors are installed in the CPU housing. After being removed carefully from the packing, the processor should be oriented with the female pins on the CPU. The processor usually sits in the sockets smoothly and only if it’s a misfit/wrongly aligned, it looks like it needs some pressure (PC WORLD, 2014). Tampering of any sort/pressure on the processor will damage the processor legs. Once it is installed properly start mounting the heat sink on the processor. Most of the heat sinks these days come with a thermal paste so there wouldn’t be a need to apply heat sink manually on the processor. RAMs have two apertures on the same side with which the handles on the motherboard will lock the RAM into its place correctly. In Smith Solicitor firm all the motherboards bought support only DDR3 and hence DDR3 RAM is purchased and installed. Once all these components are installed in a motherboard, the motherboard will be ready to be fitted in the cabinet. Remove the I/O cover and put the motherboard in its place using sandoffs. These sandoffs are used to raise the motherboard from the cabinet and to hold it in place. The motherboard should be fitted in such a way that the ports on the motherboard should be in integration with the holes on the I/O cover plate. A completely assembled motherboard with all the components will look like the picture below

ASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 2

• Hard Drives and Optical Drives – These are placed in the 3.5 inch oriel and connected with a SATA data analysis and design cables with the motherboard. The oriel/bay has screws and holes to secure the hard disk in its place (PC PRO, 2013). Similarly the disk drives are installed in its oriel by removing the cover from the front. The optical drives are also connected to the motherboard using SATA cables. There are no specific directions for the wire ends as both the drive and motherboard connectors are the same.
• Wiring the computer – The motherboard consists of an 8 pin made of 4 pin which says EPS is the place where the power supply is to be given (PC PRO, 2013). PCI and PCIe which has 6 pins connect the graphic processing unit (GPU). The 15 pin SATA connects the drives. The cooling fan with a 4 pin connector connects to the motherboard for power.
• Boot Up:  Once the installation of components is finished, the next step will be installing the operating system in the computer. In order to this, either a bootable CD/DVD/USB with OS is used. The easiest is to use a CD/DVD. Once the disc is loaded, the BIOS setting is modified and is setup to boot the operating system from the optical drive. An operating system setup is initiated and Windows 7 Professional is installed. During the installation process, there will be few critical places that need user intervention. Disk portioning helps the computer to use all the space from the hard disk and during implausible situations like OS crash, protects the data in the partitions other than the one in which the operating system is installed. After the Windows is completely installed, the date, time, region and language is selected after which the desktop will be configured by the OS.
• Drivers Installation:  Though the computer has all the necessary components are hardware, it needs something called the driver to drive the component using the operating system. Drivers are available in the CD that is usually provided along with the motherboard. Few components that are integrated with Windows 7 do not need driver as it comes with preinstalled drivers. During the case of no drivers provided in CD or preinstalled, the motherboard manufacturer’s website will have download links that can be downloaded and installed or used for later needs. The audio-visuals, graphics and certain other basic devices get activated. Smith Solicitor ’s tasks will need the installation of Microsoft Word Professional 2013. This will take only few minutes to install and it’s usually easy. The CD/DVD is opened and the setup application is clicked which opens an installer. The installer will ask the user to agree to a policy statement, select the folder where the application software is to be installed and whether or not a shortcut is to be created in the desktop/start menu/quick start or all. Similarly the Bitdefender total security anti-virus is installed before connecting the computers to any network. Ethernet wires/Wi-Fi can be used for high speed network connection later (SUTHERLAND, Randall, 2014).

P 3.2 Test documents for Smith Solicitor’s computer system

Comparing a standard office system and the system specified for Smith Solicitor’s firm, it is evident that he processor speed is above the standard speed required. When buying a business desktop, look for a system with an Intel Core i3 CPU or AMD A4 Series APU (RAGAZA, Laarni Almendrala, 2014). The chosen processor is Intel Core i5 4590 with clock speed of 3.3 GHz which proves to be above average than a normal business computer. It's also good to have at least 4GB of memory (RAM) and a minimum 300GB of hard drive space but 500GB would be ideal for most companies (RAGAZA, Laarni Almendrala, 2014). Smith Solicitor’s firm uses 8GB of memory (RAM) and has been prescribed to use 1TB HDD which once again proves the excellence.

Task 4: Carrying out Maintenance on a Computer System

P 4.1 maintaining the computer systems in smith solicitor’s firm.

Computer systems serve as long as they are maintained properly. Maintenances are done in two levels namely; hardware maintenance and software maintenance focus on different benefits. Though smith solicitor has only few staffs, the requirement of maintenance doesn’t depend on the quantity of the system but the predicaments vary relatively. Lesser the quantity of systems used lesser the difficulty.

• Cleaning the cabinet – When dust settles in the cooling fan or the vents, the heat exchanging process slows down leading to over-heating of the system. Cleaning the vents and cooling fans is very important. Few vents might get tricky to clean. Blowers are best used to blow the dust and the sensible way of doing it will be blowing from the inside out.
• Cleaning the keyboard and monitor – Monitors just need a wipe or a blow with compressed air. Brushing the vents can also be done. That should clean almost all the dust in and around the monitor vents. Keyboard is very vulnerable to collect all the dust as it is kept open most of the time. Any food particle or dust that is collected in the keys of the keyboard will make the keys sticky and inconvenient to use. Sometimes food also attracts ants and similar insects. Blowing air might help get rid of all the dust and food crumble. Placing the cabinet in a place where there is a less possibility of catching dust is wise. This reduces the frequency of maintenance.
• Cleaning the optical drives – The optical drives might get dirty sometimes and their casing can be cleaned by wiping with a soft moisture cloth. There are lens cleaners available that helps clean the optical lens in the drive.
• Cleaning Junk – Windows has tool called the Disk Cleanup which cleans up all the junk and temporary files saved in the disk drives. This is important because when junk keeps accumulating, the disk space reduces which brings down the performance of the system. If the inbuilt application is not preferred, free applications like the famous System Mechanic Pro, CCleaner and Fix-it utilities pro can be used and these tools are the best for boosting the speeds (Welling, M., 2014).
• Uninstalling unimportant applications – Windows has an easy access to the control panel which has a program uninstaller. Any programs that are of no use to Smith Solicitor’s firm should be removed freeing up space for important use. The firm might as well use any specialized uninstalled programs like
• Trouble shooting – Windows has a very good support which works 24x7 and in case of any intricate problems, windows trouble shoot can be launched which gives an access to communicate with Microsoft and rectify errors.

P 4.2 Upgrading software and hardware in Smith Solicitor’s computer system

Smith Solicitor’s firm has computer systems that have a lifetime of not more than 5 years. Not only the firm’s computer but any computer for that matter has a lifetime of 3-5 years. Though the mother board and the CPU works for many years, the other components tend to fail over the years. This situation calls in for a replacement of the faulty component. Almost all the hardware is manufactured keeping replacement situations in mind and hence come up with easy to replace models. Even the software might need an upgrade due to the quicker evolution of the products. Few of the components that might need a replacement in the near future are;

• Memory and Video cards – The need of performance level might not be the same as it is now. As the Smith Solicitor firm expands, along with the addition of new computer systems with better memory, the current systems will also be updated as replacement of an entire system just for graphics and memory will lead to a greater expense.
• Drives and I/O devices – Expansion of the firm means amplification in the data which are worked on and the DBS is also expanded. As all the drives are connected to the motherboard using SATA cable connection, it is easy to replace the existing HDD with a better one in the future. There might be some difficulty in transferring the data and the platform from one HDD to another but with the help of someone experienced in this, entire HDD replacement is not going to take a longer time. There is no specific time for a change in the I/O devices. It can be changed when the device gets worn out/fails or when something better is required.
• Software – System and application software can be updated over-the-air or using an update patch/service packs.

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The uses of computer systems in various environments were analysed and knowledge of different hardware and software development was obtained. A system design generated for Smith Solicitor was configured, evaluated on its suitability and discussed how the maintenance and upgrading tasks are performed. The data access must be through a secure protocol which will enhance the security. Adding to this, the firm must keep upgrading in terms of both hardware and software which will cut down the expenses of buying new ones.

CROWDER, C.D. 2014. Uses for Computers in Business . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/uses-computers-business-56844.html> FISHER, Tim. 2014. Hardware (Computer Hardware) . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://pcsupport.about.com/od/termshm/g/hardware.htm> MUDDASSAR, S. 2011. Uses of Computers in different Fields . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://it-elahi.blogspot.in/2011/11/uses-of-computers-in-different-fields.html> OPEN PROJECTS. (n.d.). Computer Software Definition . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.openprojects.org/software-definition.htm> PC PRO. 2013. How to build a PC: a step-by-step guide . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/379330/how-to-build-a-pc-a-step-by-step-guide> PC WORLD. 2014. home . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/index.html> PRACTICALLY NETWORKED. 2014. securing your Lan . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/securnet.htm> RAGAZA, Laarni Almendrala. 2014. The 10 Best Business Desktops . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385217,00.asp> STEERS, Kirk. 2004. Hardware Tips: Complete PC Preventive Maintenance Guide . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.pcworld.com/article/116583/article.html> SUTHERLAND, Randall. 2014. BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE REVIEW . [online]. [Accessed 19 june 2014]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/>

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Thanks to past contributors to course material: Keenan Crane, Kayvon Fatahalian, Stelian Coros, Nancy Pollard, Michael Choquette, Se-Joon Chung, Sky Gao, Qiuyi Jia, Zach Shearer, Bryce Summers, Nick Sharp, Maxwell Slater, Oscar Dadfar.