FUNDAMENTALS
OF
COMPUTER
Basic Concepts
Information Processing System
DATA
is a collection of independent and unorganized facts.
INFORMATION
is the processed and organized data presented in a
meaningful form.
DATA PROCESSING
is the course of doing things in a sequence of steps.
Information Processing System
COMPUTER
is an electronic machine that follows a set of
instructions in order that it may be able to
accept and gather data and transform these
into information.
Information Processing System
DATA PROCESSING INFORMATION
SYSTEM
Functions of Information Processing
System
It accepts and gather data. (INPUT)
It processes data to become information.
(PROCESSING)
It stores data and information. (STORE)
It presents information. (OUTPUT)
Three Major Components of an
Information Processing System
HARDWARE is the tangible part of a computer
system.
SOFTWARE is the non-tangible part that tells
the computer how to do its job.
PEOPLEWARE refer to people who use and
operate the computer system, write computer
programs, and analyze and design the
information system.
Types of Computers
MAINFRAME are large general purpose
computers.
MINICOMPUTER perform multi-tasking and
allow many terminals to be connected to their
services.
MICROCOMPUTER (Personal Computer) is
most widely used especially at home because
of its affordable price and manageability.
MAINFRAME
COMPUTERS
MINICOMPUTERS
MICROCOMPUTERS/
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
Basic Units of Measurement
BIT
is a unit of information equivalent to the result
of a choice between only 2 possible alternatives
in the binary number system.
BYTE
is a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent
one character of alphanumeric data) processed
as a single unit for information.
Basic Units of Measurement
A byte can be used to represent a single
character, which can be:
◦ A letter
◦ A number
◦ A special character or symbol, or
◦ A space
Basic Units of Measurement
1,024 BYTES = 1 Kilobyte (KB)
1,024 KB = 1 Megabyte (MB)
1,024 MB = 1 Gigabyte (GB)
1,024 GB = 1 Terabyte (TB)
Basic PC Hardware
HARDWARE is the tangible part of a computer
system.
Basic PC Hardware
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Memory Unit
Input Devices
Output Devices
Secondary Storage Devices
1. Central Processing Unit
Brain of the computer.
It directs and controls the entire computer
system and performs all arithmetic and
logical operations.
BACK
2. Memory Unit
Where the programs and data are stored .
READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM) contains
the pre-programmed computer
instructions such as the Basic Input
Output System (BIOS).
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) is
used to store the programs and data
that you will run. Exists only when there is power.
BACK
3. Input Devices
In computing, an input device is a peripheral (piece of
computer hardware equipment) used to provide data
and control signals to an Information Processing
System such as a computer
Keyboard
Mouse
Joystick
Microphone
Webcam
Scanner
Touch Screen LCD/LED Monitor
Image Capturing Devices
Keyboard
Traditional keyboards
Flexible keyboards
Ergonomic keyboards
Wireless keyboards
PDA keyboards
Two Types of Mouse
Mechanical:
a type of computer mouse
that has a rubber or metal
ball on its underside and it
can roll in every direction.
Optical:
This type uses a laser for
detecting the mouse's
movement.
How a Mouse Hooks Up to a PC
PS/2 Mouse
Serial Mouse
USB/Cordless Mouse
Other Pointing Devices
Trackball
Track point
Touch pad
Touch Screen
Joystick – input device for
computer games
Light Pens – light-sensitive
pen like device
Stylus – pen like device
commonly used with tablet
PCs and PDAs.
Scanning Devices
Optical scanners
Card readers
Bar code readers
Character and mark recognition devices
Image Capturing Devices
Digital Cameras
Digital Video Cameras
BACK
4. Output Devices
Media used by the computer in displaying
its responses to our requests and
instructions.
Monitor
Audio Speakers
Printer
Types of Monitor
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Printers
IMPACT PRINTERS uses pressure by physically
striking the paper. Ex. Daisy wheel printers,
line printers, dot matrix printers & band
printers.
NON-IMPACT PRINTER does not apply
pressure on the paper but instead produces
character by using lasers, ink spray,
photography or heat.
Dot matrix
printer
Laser
printer Inkjet printer
BACK
5. Secondary Storage Devices
Attached to the computer system to allow you
to store programs and data permanently for
the purpose of retrieving them for future use.
Hard disk, CD Rom
Hard Disk Drive or Hard Disk
Made of rigid materials unlike floppy disks
Holds a greater amount of data
◦ 10MB in 1980s
◦ 600MB in mid 1990s
◦ 4.3GB in 1999
◦ 180GB in 2001
◦ 400GB - 2004
Optical Discs
A standard part of modern desktop machines,
especially used for multimedia purposes and
preferred in loading applications.
Optical Discs
Compact Disk-CD (0.7-0.9)GB
Digital Versatile Disk-DVD (4.7-17)GB
Blue Ray Disk-BD (25-128)GB
Optical Discs
CD-ROM read CDs
CD-Writer read/write CDs
DVD-Combo read/write CDs, read DVD
DVD Writer read/write CDs, read/write
DVDs
Other Secondary Storage
Solid-State Storage
◦ No moving parts
◦ Flash memory cards
◦ USB flash drives
Assembling a System Unit
Casing or Cover Sound card
Power Supply Floppy disk drive
Motherboard Hard disk drive
Microprocessor CD-ROM drive
Memory Modem
Video Card
Casing or Cover
The box or outer shell
that houses most of the
computer, it is usually
one of the most
overlooked parts of the
PC.
Protects the computer
circuits, cooling and
system organization.
Power Supply
Responsible for powering every device in
your computer.
Parts of a Power supply:
◦ Disk drive connectors
◦ Motherboard connector
◦ Power supply fan
◦ Power switch
◦ Input voltage selector
◦ Cover
◦ Power plugs receptacle
Motherboard
The physical arrangement in a computer
that contains the computer’s basic circuitry
and components.
Components are:
◦ Microprocessor
◦ (Optional) Coprocessors
◦ Memory
◦ Basic Input/output System (BIOS)
◦ Expansion Slot
◦ Interconnecting circuitry
M
O
T
H
E
R
B
O
A
R
D
Expansion Slots
Graphic Cards
Sound Cards
Modem Cards
Network Interface Cards/Network Adapter
Ports
Serial ports – mouse, keyboard, modem
Parallel ports – printers
Universal serial bus (USB) – replacing serial
and parallel
Firewire ports – faster than USB
Software
Instructions that tell the computer how to
process data into the form you want.
Software and programs are interchangeable.
Two major types:
◦ System and Applications
Kinds of Software
1. System Software enables the application software
to interact with the computer hardware.
Operating Systems are programs that coordinate
computer resources, provide an interface between
users and the computer; and run applications.
Utilities perform specific tasks related to managing
computer resources.
Device drivers are specialized programs designed to
allow particular input or output devices to
communicate with the rest of the computer system.
Functions of a System Software
Managing resources (memory, processing,
storage, and devices like printer).
Providing user interface
Running applications
Kinds of Software
Applications Software - provides the real
functionality of a computer. It help you use
your computer to do specific types of work.
Basic Applications, widely used in all career
areas.
Specialized Applications, more narrowly focused
on specific disciplines and occupations.
DOS and GUI Operating System
Disk Operating System
DOS was the first widely installed operating
system for personal computers.
Command-driven
MS-DOS Commands
A COMMAND is the name of a special
program that makes your computer carry out
a task.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Through GUI, users can interact directly with
the operating system.
Microsoft Windows
Icons, Menus, Dialog boxes
FILES
FILE is simply a collection of information that
you store on a disk or diskette.
Must have a unique name
Two parts: the filename and extension
separated by a period.
RECIPE.DOC
EXTENSIONS
Use extension to make your filenames more
descriptive.
◦ FILENAME.DOCX – M.S. Word documents
◦ FILENAME.XLSX – M.S. Excel documents
◦ FILENAME.PPTX – M.S. PowerPoint documents
DIRECTORIES
One way of organizing the files on your
computer Hard Disk
ROOT – one basic directory
Subdirectories
