The Computer System

Computers are very useful because they can process data faster and more accurate compared to people. Data processing done by a computer is called electronic data processing or EDP. To understand the processing of data, think of yourself as one who is going to bake a chiffon cake. All ingredients such as egg, flour, sugar and milk are like the data being mixed together. The number letters are manipulated to form the needed operation. Similarly, the mixed ingredients are baked and the output is a delicious chiffon cake. The output produced by processing the data on the computer is the information needed by the user. All data processing follow one basic flow pattern as follows: InputProcessingOutput

There are important terms relative to the use of a computer such as the following: 1. Input Data gathered are entered into the computer in a form acceptable to the computer. There are three steps involved in the input stage. The first step is the gathering of data from various sources. The second step is the checking of data for accuracy and completeness. The third step is coding, which involves converting the data into machine-readable form, so they can be entered into the data processing system. 2. Processing This is the stage involved in the manipulation of data or the performance of operations on the entered data, according to program or a list of instructions. There are several steps involved in data processing as follows: a. The first step is classification of data. Data are grouped according to specific characteristic such as age, sex and level when data are about students. b. The next step is sorting the data. Data are arranged into a predetermined sequence, alphabetical or numerical, to facilitate processing.

c. Calculation is the next step. Data are arithmetically or logically calculated. This involves addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. d. The next step consists of the summary. Data are reduced into concise form to facilitate understanding of the user. e. The final step is storage. Data resulting from calculating and summarizing are documented and stored in medium disks or types. 3. Output The product of the processing stage is the output. There are four steps involved to avail of processed outputs as follows: a. The retrieval, which is the exposure of the stored information. b. The conversion, through which information from the computer is changed into a form that can be easily understood. c. Communication which refers to the actual user by the recipient of the information transmitted to him. d. The final stage is the reproduction of information so other people may use their purpose.

System of Sorting and Storing Data The computer is structured into the following units: 1. Bit- the smallest unit through which data are represented, which is 0 or 1. 2. Byte- a group of bits, usually 8 bits long, the smallest unit that a computer can process and the basic unit held in storage. 3. Field- a combination of bytes; a single item of information about something, such as name, age, or sex. 4. Record- a collection of fields that relate to a single entity such as students record which includes his name, age, sex, and citizenship, among others. 5. File- a collection of related records, for example, record of all students in a class. 6. Database or databank- a collection of logically related files composed of all data which the computer has for a particular manipulation. When these computer is used for record management in a school, its data base is composed of all personal information about the students, including their grades.