Basic Applications of Computer and its component

 

Introduction 

The word ‘computer’ has been originated from the Latin word ‘compute’ which means to calculate.

Computer is an electronic device which receives data, processes it and gives meaningful result.

To know the work of computer, some important terms are aas follows.

Data – The word dat has been derived from Latin word ‘datum’ means fact. It is a collection of facts and figures which are not in directly usable form.

Processing – This is an act of performing some actions to convert it into usable form.

Information – It is processed data or final result which is in directly usable form and conveys some meaningful results.

Instruction – It is a type of action to be taken on data.

Basic Operations – Input, storing, processing, outputs, control.

components of a computer

Input unit 

* It accepts data and instructions from the user.

* It converts the accepted instructions into the machine language.

* It gives converted instructions to CPU for processing.

Central Processing Unit

* It performs all processing work of computer.

* It is also known as brain of computer.

* It contain all the parts of computer system CPU has three components

Arithmetic and Logic Unit

It performs all arithmetic and logic operations. It consists of number of small locations, termed as registers. It has two parts

Arithmetic Section – All complex arithmetic expressions are performed by repetitive combination of these operations.

Logic section – It performs all logic operations like comparing, selecting and merging of data.

Control Unit

It gives command to transfer data from the input devices to memory and from memory to arithmetic logic unit. It transfers the results from memory to output unit.

Memory

It temporarily/permanently holds the data received from input device. It holds the data being processed and intermediate results beng generated. It holds the system software and the application software in use. Memory is mainly classified into two types

Random Access Memory (RAM) –  All active programs and dataa are stored in RAM so that they may readily available and easily accessed by the CPU. 

Read only Memory (ROM) – The data stored on ROM cannot be changed. it is non-volatile which means that it cn keep its contents even without a power sources.

            Output Unit

* It accepts processed data from CPU.

* It converts results from machine language into simple languages.

* It displays results to user.

Software 

It is a set of instructions that directs the computer to proces information. It can be classified into three types.

System Software

It coordinates the operation of the various hardware components of the computer, eg,  DOS, Windows 95/98/2000/ME and UNIX.

Application Software

It is a set of program designed for specific uses or applications, eg, MS Word, MS Excel, etc.

Utilities Software

Utility programs are those that are very often requested by many applications programs. It is used to debug the software errors, correct the data through the editor, sort data, etc, eg, Pkzip, Antivirus software, etc.

Types of Computer Based on Uses Computers can be classified based on their uses in following ways:

 Analog computer

It measures pressure, temperature, length, etc, or physical quantities and converts into its numerical values. They are mainly used for scientific and engineering purposes.

Digital Computer

It is used in counting of numbers, words or other special symbols. It is also fuel control automobiles and banking processes.

Hybrid Computer 

It is the combined form of analog and digital computer. In formations are continuously converted into data that are received in the form of input. Output may be in form  of analog and digital. They re used in factories and machines.

Based on Sizes.

Computers can be classified based on their size in following ways.

Micro Computer

It is the smallest computer in which ALU and CPU  are based on the same chip.

Personal Computer 

It is ingle user system used generally in business.

Mini Computer.

It is more powerful than micro computer and can be used by many users at the same time. It processes data very fast.

Mainframe Computer.

They are giant in size and of highly storage capacity. They can process an sample amount of data very rapidly. They are used in the Bank, large organizations and public sectors.

Super Computer.

They are capable of processing the huge amount of data in fraction of seconds. They are used in very complex calculations.

Hardware

All the components of computer, parts and devices that we can touch  are known as Hardware. Computer is composed of several physical parts of the computer hardware on which a number of softwares are installed to do the desired work of operating system and operator. A modern computer has the following hardwares.

Motherborad

Electric Supply

Video Display controller.

Removable Media Devices.

Secondary Storage

Sound Card

Peripherals