GENERAL

CHARACTERISTIC OF A
COMPUTER
A computer is a machine
that:
Runs on electricity
Can be instructed to
perform certain functions
Processes data quickly and
accurately
Has storage capacity
Can recall stored
information

TYPES of COMPUTER
Microcomputer
Minicomputer
Mainframe Computer

MICROCOMPUTER
Commonly known as personal computers or
PCs. The typical type of computer at home.
Size: Small
Price: Low
Usability: Elementary
Areas of Usage: Personal or Small
Businesses
Power: Low
Applications: Word Processing, Gaming
Example: Desktop Computer

MINICOMPUTER
a computer of medium power, more than
a microcomputer but less than a
mainframe.
Size: Medium
Price: Mid range
Usability: Intermediate
Areas of Usage: Medium sized business or
organisations
Power: High
Applications: Automated Teller Machine
Example: IBM 36

MAINFRAME COMPUTER
A large computer that can carry out
different tasks for different people at the
same time. Can process large amounts of
dataLarge
Size:
Price: High
Usability: Advanced
Areas of Usage: large business or
organization
Power: Very high
Applications: Weather forecasting, oil and gas fields
Example: Cray-2

CAN YOU GUESS THE

FOLLOWING TYPES OF
COMPUTER?

COMPUTER BASICS
A computer system needs
hardware and software to
function.
Peripheral
devices are added to the
system according to the
needs of the user.

HARDWARE
Hardware refers to the physical parts
of the computer that you can see
and touch. The following are some
examples of computer hardware.
Monitor Displays information
System Unit
Process data and
instructions, stores
data

Keyboard
key in data
and instruction

Mouse Point,
click and select
menus and icons

SOFTWARE
In order for a computer to do work, it needs a
set of instructions called a program. Different
programs are used for different purposes.
Computer programs are also known as
software.

Peripheral Devices
Devices which can be connected to the system
unit to enhance its functions. They are part of
the hardware of a computer system. The
following are some examples of peripheral
devices.
Inkjet
Printer

Speakers

Web
Camera

Scanner

Name the components of computer

Basic operations of computer

Collects raw data, processes the data and
displays it as a meaningful operation.

Can you explain the input,

process and output relation?

What Is a Computer?
Data are simply facts
or figures bits of
information.
Information is
processed,
interpreted,
organized,
structured or
presented data
which is
meaningful or
useful.

Fundamentals of Computers - Lecture 1

14

Can you explain the input,

process and output relation?

Can you explain the input,

process and output relation?

Can you explain the input,

process and output relation?

The Components of a
Computer
A computer contains many electric, electronic,
and mechanical components known as
hardware
Allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer
Input
Device
Output Device
System Unit

Hardware component that conveys information to one or

more people
Case that contains the electronic components of the
computer that are used to process data

Storage Device

Holds data, instructions, and information for future use

Communication
s Device

Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions,

and information to and from one or more computers or
mobile devices
Fundamentals of Computers - Lecture 1

18

The Components of a Computer

What is_____
an input device?
Hardware used
to enter data and
intructions.
It is used to give
data for display,
processing and
storage.

Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

19

The Components of a Computer

What is ______
an output device?

Hardware that
conveys information
to user. Devices that
processes a raw
data and
instructions

Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

20

The Components of a Computer

What is the system unit?

Box-like case
containing
electronic
components
used to process
data

Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

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The Components of a Computer

What is storage?

Holds data, instructions, and information

for future use
Storage
Storagemedia
media

Physical
Physicalmaterial
materialon
onwhich
whichdata,
data,instructions,
instructions,
and
andinformation
informationare
arestored
storedExample:
Example:floppy
floppydisks
disks
Optical
Opticaldiscs,
discs,

Storage
Storagedevice
device

Records
Recordsand
andretrieves
retrievesitems
itemstotoand
andfrom
from
aastorage
storagemedium
mediumExample:
Example:internal
internalhard
harddrives,
drives,
External
Externalhard
harddrives,
drives,thumb
thumbdrive
drive

Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

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Storage device
What is a floppy disk?

Thin, circular,
flexible disk
enclosed in rigid
plastic shell

A Zip disk looks

similar but has
much greater
storage capability
(=170 floppy disk)
Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

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The Components of a
Computer
What is a hard disk?
Provides much
greater storage
capacity than a
floppy disk or
Zip disk
Housed inside the
system unit

Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

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Set up your DESKTOP

Fundamentals of Computers Lecture 1

25

Set up your DESKTOP

Set up your DESKTOP

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