L1-Introduction To Computers
L1-Introduction To Computers
L1-Introduction To Computers
Text Books:
1. E. Balaguruswamy, “Programming in ANSI C”, Tata McGraw Hill, 6 th
Edition.
2. E. Balaguruswamy, “Object Oriented Programming with C++”, Tata
McGraw Hill, 5th Edition 2012.
References:
1. The Complete Reference – Fourth edition , Herbert Schildt
2. Object Orented Programming in C++ , Robert Lafore , 4 Edition.
Chapter - 1
Introduction to Computers
Objectives
To learn and appreciate the following concepts
6
Various Computing devices
7
What Does A Computer Do?
8
Data and Information
11
Computer peripherals
Mouse
Keyboard
Joystick
Light pen
Trackball
Optical Scanner
Voice input
13
Output devices
An external device connected to the CPU that is
used to display the results.
Monitor
printer
plotter
plasma display panels
LCD displays
voice output
14
System unit
The Central Processing Unit and Memory
Unit are together called as System Unit.
15
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The data and instructions received from the input
device are processed in this unit.
16
Arithmetic and Logical unit
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Control unit
Functions of CU:
Fetches data and instructions to main memory
• Cache memory
19
Memory unit
It is any storage device where the data and
instructions fed by the user are stored.
20
Memory unit
The computer memory is measured in terms of
bits, bytes and words.
21
Main memory / Primary memory
It is the place where the data and instructions of the
program currently being executed are stored.
High speed.
This is a temporary memory because the data
and instructions stored here get erased when
the power goes off.
It is a semiconductor memory and measured in
terms of megabytes and gigabytes.
Eg. RAM and ROM
22
RAM & ROM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory
It is the read and write memory.
Any memory location can be accessed directly without
accessing it sequentially.
Hence it is called as random access memory.
During power failure the information stored in it will be
erased.
It is also called as volatile memory.
23
Classifications of ROM
PROM :Programmable Read Only Memory
It is a variation of ROM.
The contents of this memory are decided by the user
These contents can not be erased once they are written to
it.
24
Secondary Storage Devices
It is made up of magnetic material and stores large
amount of information for long time.
Low speed.
Non volatile memory
Holds programs not currently being executed.
Eg. Magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, compact disks
etc.
25
Cache memory
It is a High speed memory and placed between the
CPU and the main memory.
Users can not access this memory.
It stores the data and instructions currently to be
executed.
More costlier but less capacity than main memory.
26
Computer BUS
• Computer components are connected by a bus.
27
Classifications of software
Software
Application System
Software Software
28
System software
• System software consists of programs that
manages the computer resources.
• Divided into three classes
– Operating System
– Utility software
– System Development software
29
30
Operating system
Operating System is an integrated collection of programs
which make the computer operational and help in
executing user programs.
It acts as interface between the man and machine.
It manages the system resources like memory, processors,
input-output devices and files.
Types:
Single user [DOS] and Multi user OS [Windows XP, Unix],
Real time OS [Windows CE, QNX],
Single-tasking [DOS] and Multi-tasking [Unix],
Distributed OS [Amoeba],
Embedded OS [Windows CE, Symbian OS] etc.
31
An operating system is..
• A program that runs on the “raw” hardware and supports
resource sharing
33
Computer Languages
• Machine Language- The only programming language
available in earlier days
– Consists of only 0’s and 1’s; e.g.:- 10101011
35
Assembly language Vs High level language
36
Language Translators
• Compiler : It translates a high-level language program into
machine language program at a time.
e.g.:- C, C++ compilers.
37
Compiler Vs Interpreter
38
Summary
Introduction to Computers
Block Diagram of Computer
Computer Memory Classification
Software classifications
Overview of Application Software
Overview of System Software
Overview of Operating Systems
Functionality of Assemblers Compilers and
Interpreters
39