Class-XI

Informatics Practices
Chapter - 1
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEM
A computer is an electronic device that processes input data and produces result (output) according to a set of
instructions called program.
A computer performs basically five major functions irrespective of its size and make.
✓ It accepts data or instructions by way of input
✓ It stores data
✓ It processes data as required by the user
✓ It controls operations of a computer
✓ It gives results in the form of output
A computer receives data and instructions through "Input Devices" which get processed in Central Processing
Unit, "CPU" and the result is shown through "Output Devices". The "Main / Primary Memory" and
"Secondary / Auxiliary Memory" are used to store data.

INPUT DEVICES
1. Keyboard- This is the most common input device which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys.

2. Mouse - A mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to
its supporting surface.

3. Light Pen- It is a light sensitive stylus attached to a video terminal to draw pictures or to select menu
options.

4. Touch Screen - This device allows to interact with the computer without any intermediate device.

5. Graphics Tablet - This device is used to enter data using a stylus. Most commonly it is used to enter
digital signatures.

6. Joystick - It is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and translates its angle or
direction as data.

7. Microphone - It is used to input audio data into the computer. It is mainly used for sound recording.

8. OCR (Optical Character Reader) - It is used to convert images of text into machine editable text.

9. Scanner - It is a device that optically scans images, printed text or an object and converts it to a digital
image.

10. Smart card reader - It is used to access the microprocessor of a smart card.

11. Bar Code Reader- This device read the bar code as input data.

12. Biometric Sensors- It is used to recognize individuals based on physical or behavioral traits.

13. Web Camera- This captures video as data for computer with reasonably good quality. It is commonly
used for Web Chats.

CPU
It is responsible for processing the data and instructions. It is based on one or more microchips called
Integrated Circuit. This unit can be divided into three sections:
✓ Control Unit
✓ Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU)
✓ Memory Unit
Control Unit - This unit coordinates various operations of the computer like:
▪ It directs the flow of data and instructions in the computer system
▪ It interprets the instructions of a program in storage unit and produces signals
▪ It executes the instructions

Arithmetic and Logical Unit- This unit is responsible for performing various arithmetic operations and
relational operations

Memory Unit: This unit is responsible for storing data.

The smallest unit of measuring the computer memory is a bit. A group of 4 bits is called a nibble and a
group of 8 bits is called a byte. One byte is the minimum space required to store one character.
Other units of memory are:
1 KB(Kilo Byte) = 210 bytes = 1024 bytes
1 MB(Mega Byte) = 210 KB = 1024 KB
1 GB(Giga Byte) = 210 MB = 1024 MB
1 TB(Tera Byte) = 210 GB = 1024 GB
1 PB(Peta Byte) = 210 TB = 1024 TB

Computer Memory is of two types: Primary Memory and Secondary Memory.

Primary Memory Unit

The main or primary memory stores information (instructions and data). The memory unit is divided into:
Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).

RAM (Random Access Memory) is used for primary storage in computers to hold active information of data
and instructions.

ROM (Read Only Memory) is used to store the instructions provided by the manufacturer, which holds the
instructions to check basic hardware interconnected and to load operating system from appropriate storage
device.

Secondary Memory- If we want to save data for future reference and retrieval then it needs to be saved in
secondary memory, or auxiliary memory. There are many secondary storage devices that are used for
storing data permanently.

Hard disk-This is a high capacity storage device ranging from 1 GB to Tera Bytes nowadays. Generally, hard
disks are sealed units fixed in the cabinet.

Compact Disk-Capacity of standard CD is 700MB. It is a thin optical disk which is commonly used to store
audio and video data.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc)- This is an optical disc storage device. It can be recorded
on single side or on double side. Its capacity may range from 4.7 GB to 8.5 GB

Memory Cards- This is small, portable memory, which can be plugged into a computer with USB Port. They
have capacity lesser than hard disk. They are more reliable. They are also called pen drives or flash drives.

OUTPUT DEVICES
These are used to display results on video display or are used to print the result. These can also be used to
store the result for further use.

Monitor or VDU- It is the most common output device. It looks like a TV. Its display may be CRT, LCD,
Plasma or touch sensitive.

Speakers- These are used to listen to the audio output of computer.

Printers- These are used to produce hard copy of output as text or graphics.

Dot Matrix Printer- This printer prints characters by striking an ink-soaked ribbon against the paper.
Inkjet/Deskjet/Bubble jet printers- These all are low cost printers which use a controlled stream of ink for
printing.

Laser Printers- These printers use laser technology to produce printed documents. These are very fast
printers and are used for high quality prints.

Plotters- These are used to print graphics. It is mainly used in computer aided designing.

USB- It stands for Universal Serial Bus, used for short distance digital data communications. This port allows
data transfer between devices with little electric power.

E-Waste- It refers to the discarded electronic devices such as old version computers, office electronic
equipment, mobile phones, TVs and refrigerators.

E-waste disposable mechanism- E-waste contains metallic and non-metallic components, alloys and
compounds like Copper, Aluminum, Gold, Silver etc. E-waste management involves proper recycling and
recovery of the disposed material.

SOFTWARE CONCEPTS
An ordered set of instructions given to the computer is known as a program and a set of such programs that
governs the operation of a computer system is known as Software.

Types of Software
Software can be divided into different types depending upon their uses and application- System Software &
Application Software.

System Software
Software required for running and maintaining basic components of computer system are called System
Software.

Some common examples of System Software are as follows:

1. BIOS- The basic input/output system (BIOS) is also commonly known as the System BIOS. The BIOS is
boot firmware, a small program that controls various electronic devices attached to the main computer
system.

2. Operating System- Operating system is a set of system programs that controls and coordinates the
operations of a computer system. It provides a software platform to run other application programs.

Types of Operating System

• Single User: Allows one user to operate the computer and run different programs on the computer.
MS DOS is a common example of single user operating system.

• Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time on a single computer
system.Unix, Linux, Windows, Android, Ubuntu are common examples of multi user operating system.

• Real time: Responds to input instantly. Real-time operating systems are commonly found and used in
robotics, complex multimedia and animation, communications and has various military and government
uses.LYNX and Windows CE are examples of real time operating systems.

3. Device Driver - A device driver is a system software that acts like an interface between the Device and
the user or the Operating System.

4. Language Processor- These high- level programming languages can easily be translated into machine
language using Language Processors.
 Types of Language Processors
• Assembler - Assembler is a language processor, which translates a program written in assembly
language into machine language.

• Compiler - A compiler is a language processor which converts (or translates) the entire program
written in high level language into machine language in one go.

• Interpreter-This language processor converts a high- level language program into machine language
line by line as well as executes it.

Application Software
Application software is a set of programs to carry out a specific task like word processor, spreadsheet,
presentation tools, library management software, railway reservation, antivirus software, etc.

Application Software can be divided into different categories depending upon their uses as follows:
• Utility Software
• General Purpose Application Software
• Specific Purpose Application Software
• Developer Tools