Basic Computer Application

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 Instructor: Joseph C. Pengo
Phone: +255 756 429 847
Email: [email protected]
Course Content
1. Introduction to Computer
2. Computer Hardware and Software
3. Office Automation
a) Microsoft Word
b) Microsoft Excel
c) Microsoft PowerPoint
4. Internet
5. Computer Security
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 What Is A Computer?
 A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its own memory unit,
that can accept data (input), manipulate
data (process), and produce information
(output) in a required format
 Generally, the term is used to describe a
collection of devices that function together
as a system

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Devices that comprise a computer system
Monitor
Speaker
(output)
(output) System unit
(processor, memory…)

Printer
(output)

Storage devices
(CD-RW, Floppy,
Hard disk, zip,…)
Mouse
(input)
Scanner
Keyboard
(input)
(input)

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 Functionalities of a Computer
In a very broad sense, any digital computer carries out the
following five functions −
 Step 1 − Takes data as input

 Step 2 − Stores the data/instructions in its memory and

uses them as required

 Step 3 − Processes the data and converts it into useful

information
 Step 4 − Generates the output

 Step 5 − Controls all the above four steps

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 Components of Computer ?
 Input devices
 Central Processing
Unit (containing the
control unit and the
arithmetic/logic unit)
 Memory
 Output devices
 Storage devices

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Understanding computing
Goes in
Data

Processor

Goes out

Information
 What is a Data?
 Data is a representation of facts, concepts, or
instructions in a formalized manner
 suitable for communication, interpretation, or
processing by human or electronic machine
 represented with the help of characters
 What is Information?
 Information is organized or classified data, which has
some meaningful values for the receiver
 Information is the processed data on which decisions and
actions are based
 For the decision to be meaningful, the processed data
must qualify for the following characteristics −
 Timely − Information should be available when required
 Accuracy − Information should be accurate
 Completeness − Information should be complete
 Data Processing Cycle
 Data processing is the re-structuring or re-ordering of data
by people or machine to increase their usefulness and add
values for a particular purpose
 Process can be computation done on the data to generate
information
 It could be arithmetic or logical operation done on the
data
Compare
 How The Computer Process?
 The Computer needs “processing” instructions to be
given to it for performing the computations
 Command: Instruction
 Program: Set of instructions (commands)
 Software: Group of many related programs
Command

40 + 2 = 42

Data command Information

Program

40 + 2 = 42
40 - 2 = 38
40 * 2 = 80
Program
Command
Software: A calculator can be considered
as a software where different
programs are joined

9088

= sqr C +
1 2 3 -
4 5 6 *
7 8 9 /
0 .
Command, Programs,Software

Software

Program 1 Program 2

Commands Commands Commands

Why Is A Computer So Powerful?

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Advantages of Computers
 High Speed
• It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data
 Accuracy
• Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that the
input is correct
 Storage Capability
• A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings
 Reliability
• Modern electronic components have long lives
• Computers are designed to make maintenance easy
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Advantages of Computers
 Diligence
• Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness,
and lack of concentration
• It can work continuously without any error and boredom
• It can perform repeated tasks with the same speed and accuracy
 Versatility
• A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done
• This machine can be used to solve the problems related to various
fields
• At one instance, it may be solving a complex scientific problem and
the very next moment it may be playing a card game 20
 Advantages of Computers
 Automation
• Automation is the ability to perform a given task automatically
• Once the program is stored in the computer memory, then the program
and instruction can control the program execution without human
interaction
 Reduction in Paper Work and Cost
• The reduction in paper work, results in speeding up the process
• As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required, the
problem of maintenance of large number of paper files gets reduced
• Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high, it
substantially reduces the cost of each of its transaction
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 Disadvantages of a Computer
 No I.Q
• A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any
task
• Each instruction has to be given to the computer
• A computer cannot take any decision on its own
 Dependency
• It functions as per the user’s instruction, thus it is fully dependent
on humans
• G.I.G.O
 Disadvantages of a Computer
 Environment
• The operating environment of the computer should be clean and
suitable
• Natural disaster
 No Feeling
• Computers have no feelings or emotions
• It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and
knowledge unlike humans
 Application of Computers
 Business
 Banking
 Insurance
 Marketing
 Education
 Healthcare
 Engineering design
 Military
 Communication
 Government 24
How Does a Computer Know what to do?
 It must be given a detailed list of instructions,
called a compute program or software,
that tells it exactly what to do
 Before processing a specific job, the
computer program corresponding to that job
must be stored in memory
 Once the program is stored in memory the
compute can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other
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 Need for Memory
Which money
Archie, please Tom,
return My $1000 I can’t
remember!!!
 Computer Memory
 The capacity of the computer to store data at an instant
and its ability to retrieve the same data at another point of
time is termed as the computer memory
 Memory is used to store both data and information
 Computer’s memory can be visualized as a contiguous block
of rectangular holes
 Visualisation of Computer Memory

Look at
the Shelf
Tom,

Cell

Contents(Data or Block of
Information) Memory
 Dictionary of Bits and Bytes

Hey!!! I can
understand only
0s and 1s

 Data given by the user is either decimal numbers

or alphabets.
 So, a step of conversion is necessary before the
inputs get accepted by the computer.
 Dictionary of Bits and Bytes cont…

Numbers and
alphabets get
converted into
2
binary numbers
0 1 0

Conversion program

Bit(Binary Digit)
 Units of Measurements
 Bit (Binary Digit)(takes two values: 1 or 0)
 Byte = 8 bits

 KB (Kilo-byte) = 1024 bytes

 MB (mega-byte) = 1024 KB
 GB (giga-byte) = 1024 MB
 TB (Tera-byte) = 1024 GB

Remark: 1024=210

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Types of Computers

Types of
Computers

Microcomputer Minicomputer Mainframe Supercomputer

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Microcomputer classification
Can be classified into:
 Desktop PCs
 sits on desks, rarely moved, large and bulky.
 Memory capacity, graphics capacity and software availability vary
from one computer to another Used both for business and home
applications

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 Microcomputer classification
Mobile/ Portable Micro-computers
 Mobile computers are the systems, which are physically not
remain connected to specific place rather these are mobile in
nature, as one can carry anywhere anytime
 The mobile computer technology carries battery back; therefore,
it does not require consistent electric power
 Likewise, it is portable, self-powered (because of inbuilt battery),
and infused with wireless technology computing device

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 Types of Mobile Computing Device
 Laptop
 A laptop is a portable version of desktop computer. It is equally
competent to do any computing work
 Notebook
 It is a light weight portable personal computer
 Tablet
 It is comparatively handier slate-shaped mobile computer
 Smart Phone
 A smart phone is a fully equipped cell phone with most of the computing
features
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 Types of Mobile Computing Device
 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
 It is a computer device more popular as pocket computer
 It is largely used in calculation, accessing the Internet, sending and
receiving E-mails, scanning bar codes, use as a radio or stereo, playing
computer games, video recording, typewriting and word processing use
as an address book, making and writing on spreadsheets, Global
Positioning System (GPS), as a clock and calendar, etc
 Portable Data Terminal (PDT)
 It is a computer device, which is largely used to enter or retrieve data
through wireless transmission (i.e., WLAN or WWAN)
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 Types of Mobile Computing Device
 Mobile Data Terminal(MDT)
 It is a computer device, which is used in police cars, taxi-cabs, military
logistics, service trucks, commercial trucking fleets, courier vehicles,
fishing fleets, etc.
 Ultra-mobile Personal Computer (UMPC)
 It is small form of tablet PC

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 Microcomputer Model
Desktop Laptop Notebook

Subnotebook
Palmtop

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Microcomputer Model

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Microcomputer – Work station

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Uses of Microcomputer
 Word Processing
 Home entertainment
 Home banking
 Printing
 Surfing the internet
 etc

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Minicomputer
 It is a midsize multi-processing system capable
of supporting up to 250 users simultaneously
 Also called the minis
 e.g. IBM36, HP9000, etc
 Computing power lies between microcomputer
and mainframe computer

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 Mini Computer
Characteristics
 Bigger size than PCs
 Expensive than PCs
 Multi-User
 More computing power than PCs
 Used by medium sized business organizations, colleges,
libraries and banks

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Uses of Minicomputer
 Control of Automated Teller Machine (ATMs)
 Payroll
 Hospital patients registration
 Inventory Control for supermarket
 Insurance claims processing
 Small bank accounting and customer details tracking

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Minicomputer

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 Mainframe
 Known as enterprise servers
 Used for centralized computing
 Mainframe is very large in size and is an expensive computer
capable of supporting hundreds or even thousands of users
simultaneously
 Mainframe executes many programs concurrently and supports
many simultaneous execution of programs
 Mainframes are computers used by organizations like banks,
airlines and railways to handle millions and trillions of online
transactions per second
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Main Frame
 Large, fast and expensive computer
 Characteristics:
 Bigger in size than minicomputers
 Very expensive
 Support a few hundred users simultaneously
(Multi-Users)
 Difficult to use
 More computing power than minicomputers
 Have to be kept in a special air-conditioned room
 Used in big business organizations and
government departments
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Main Frame
Important features of mainframes are −
 Big in size

 Hundreds times Faster than servers, typically hundred

megabytes per second

 Very expensive

 Use proprietary OS provided by the manufacturers

 In-built hardware, software and firmware security features

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Areas where mainframes are used
 Airline reservation
 Big banks with hundreds of branches located all over
the world
 Big universities with thousands of enrollment
 Animated Cartoon
 Some mainframes are designed to be extremely fast
and called super computers. It is used for space
launching, monitoring and controlling.

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50
 Supercomputer
 Supercomputers are the fastest computers on Earth
 They are used for carrying out complex, fast and time
intensive calculations for scientific and engineering
applications
 Supercomputer speed or performance is measured in
teraflops, i.e. 1012 floating point operations per second

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 Super Computer
Most common uses of supercomputers include −
 Molecular mapping and research

 Weather forecasting

 Environmental research

 Oil and gas exploration

Example: Chinese supercomputer Sunway TaihuLight is the

world’s fastest supercomputer with a rating of 93 petaflops per
second, i.e. 93 quadrillion floating point operations per second

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Supercomputers

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 HISTORY OF COMPUTER


Referred to in reference to the different generations of
computing devices

A generation refers to the state of improvement in the
product development process

There are five generations of computer
 First Generation (1940-1956)
Vacuum Tubes

The computers of first generation used vacuum tubes as the basic
components for memory and circuitry for CPU (Central Processing
Unit)

These tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat and the
installations used to fuse frequently

Therefore, they were very expensive and only large organizations
were able to afford it

Punch cards, paper tape, and magnetic tape was used as input and
output devices. The computers in this generation used machine
code as the programming language. 55
 First Generation (1940-1956)
Vacuum Tubes
The main features of the first generation are −

Vacuum tube technology

Unreliable

Supported machine language only

Very costly

Generated a lot of heat

Slow input and output devices

Huge size

Need of AC

Non-portable

Consumed a lot of electricity 56
 First Generation (1940-1959)

Some computers of this generation were −


ENIAC

EDVAC

UNIVAC

IBM-701

IBM-650

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First Generation (1940-1959)

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 Second Generation (1959-1965)
Transistors

 Transistors were used that were cheaper, consumed less

power, more compact in size, more reliable and faster than
the first generation machines made of vacuum tubes
 In this generation, magnetic cores were used as the primary
memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary
storage devices
 In this generation, assembly language and high-level
programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were used
 The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming
operating system
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 Second Generation (1959-1965)
Transistors

The main features of second generation are −

 Use of transistors
 Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
 Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
 Generated less heat as compared to first generation computers
 Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers
 Faster than first generation computers
 Still very costly
 AC required
 Supported machine and assembly languages
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 Second Generation (1959-1965)
Transistors

Some computers of this generation were −

 IBM 1620
 IBM 7094
 CDC 1604
 CDC 3600
 UNIVAC 1108

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Second Generation (1959-1965)
Transistors

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 Third Generation (1965-1971)
Integrated Circuits

The computers of third generation used Integrated Circuits (ICs)
in place of transistors

A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors along
with the associated circuitry

The IC was invented by Jack Kilby

This development made computers smaller in size, reliable, and
efficient

In this generation remote processing, time-sharing,
multiprogramming operating system were used

High-level languages (FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1,
BASIC, ALGOL-68 etc.) were used during this generation63
 Third Generation (1965-1971)
Integrated Circuits
The main features of third generation are −

IC used

More reliable in comparison to previous two generations

Smaller size

Generated less heat

Faster

Lesser maintenance

Costly

AC required

Consumed lesser electricity

Supported high-level language 64
 Third Generation (1965-1971)
Integrated Circuits

Some computers of this generation were −


IBM-360 series

Honeywell-6000 series

PDP (Personal Data Processor)

IBM-370/168

TDC-316
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Third Generation (1965-1971)
Integrated Circuits

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 Fourth Generation (1971-1980)
Microprocessors
 Computers of fourth generation used Very Large Scale Integrated
(VLSI) circuits
 VLSI circuits having about 5000 transistors and other circuit
elements with their associated circuits on a single chip made it
possible to have microcomputers of fourth generation
 Fourth generation computers became more powerful, compact,
reliable, and affordable
 As a result, it gave rise to Personal Computer (PC) revolution
 In this generation, time sharing, real time networks, distributed
operating system were used
 All the high-level languages like C, C++, DBASE etc., were used in
this generation 67
Fourth Generation (1971-1980)
Microprocessors
The main features of fourth generation are −
 VLSI technology used
 Very cheap
 Portable and reliable
 Use of PCs
 Very small size
 Pipeline processing
 No AC required
 Concept of internet was introduced
 Great developments in the fields of networks
 Computers became easily available
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Fourth Generation (1971-1980)
Microprocessors
Some computers of this generation were −


DEC 10

STAR 1000

PDP 11

CRAY-1(Super Computer)

CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)

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 Fifth Generation (1980-till date)
Artificial Intelligence

 VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration)

technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips
having ten million electronic components
 This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI
(Artificial Intelligence) software
 AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets
the means and method of making computers think like human
beings
 All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are
used in this generation (Object Oriented Language)
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 Fifth Generation (1980-till date)
Artificial Intelligence

AI includes −
 Robotics
 Neural Networks
 Game Playing
 Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life
situations
 Natural language understanding and generation

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 Fifth Generation (1980-till date)
Artificial Intelligence

The main features of fifth generation are −

 ULSI technology
 Development of true artificial intelligence
 Development of Natural language processing
 Advancement in Parallel Processing
 Advancement in Superconductor technology
 More user-friendly interfaces with multimedia features
 Availability of very powerful and compact computers at
cheaper rates

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