Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
Unit 1
Basic Computer Concepts
Topic 1.1: Information Technology Fundamentals
Time Allotment: 10 hours
Learning Objectives
At the end of the session, the students should be able to:
1. Define basic concepts on computer as such computer, data and
information.
2. Relate the development of computing and computing devices.
3. Describe the development of computing devices, their capabilities and
limitations.
4. Explain the different components of computer systems.
5. Describe the role of each component in the functionality of the
computer.
6. Describe basic troubleshooting techniques and proper use of hardware
and software.
Activating Prior Knowledge
1. What is a computer?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. Differentiate data from information.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. What are the four basic functions of the computer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
Presentation of Contents
What is a Computer?
By modern definition, a computer is an electronic device that accepts
(inputs), processes, stores, and outputs data at a high speed according to
programmed instructions. If you look closely at the definition, you can see that
a computer is made up of five basic elements:





Electronic – means all computers are powered by electricity.
Programmable – computers follow set of instructions (called
programs) in order to operate.
Storage – computers are able to store huge amount of data for future
use (electronic cabinet).
Retrieve – computers are able to get back or return whatever it has
stored.
Process – computers are able to transform or manipulate data it has
stored into useful information.
Data and Information
Data is raw, unprocessed facts. It has the potential to become useful
information, but first it has to be manipulated and transformed. And the best
way to do that is to feed the data into the computer. Data is actually what
computers feed on. Meanwhile, information is processed data. It is a data that
has already manipulated and transformed into something useful.
Four Basic Functions of Computer
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


All computers perform the following four basic functions:
Input – the procedure of feeding or entering data into a computer.
Process – the operation of manipulating and transforming data into
something useful. This function is done through programs. Programs
are written instructions that tell the computer on how to manipulate
and transform the data it was given to it.
Output – the result of the processing function.
Storage – computers save data and outputs for later use.
Capabilities and Limitations of a Computer
A computer is a machine that needs to be controlled and instructed to
successfully perform a task. No matter how powerful and sophisticated it is, it
must be directed what to do. Users should follow the principal of GIGO
(Garbage In, Garbage Out) which means that wrong data entered into the
computer will result to wrong information produced.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
Capabilities of a Computer
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

It can process data quickly.
It can perform operations tirelessly.
It can give accurate results depending on the instructions and
commands given.
It can store, recall, and retrieve information.
It can confirm and verify the accuracy of the information.
It can perform multi-tasks.



Limitations of a Computer
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It needs human intervention.
It has a short life span.
It cannot formulate information on its own.
The information or results generated are user dependent.
It can never replace the capabilities of the human brain.
History of Computer
INVENTION
Abacus
INVENTION
Logarithms
Pascaline
Stepped Reckoner
Jacquard Loom
Difference Engine
ANCIENT TIME
DESCRIPTION
The abacus was man’s first recorded adding machine. It
was in 500 B.C when the abacus was invented in
Babylonia, then popularized in China, the abacus is an
ancient computing device constructed of sliding beads
on small wooden rods, strung on a wooden frame.
MECHANICAL ERA
DESCRIPTION
John Napier, Baron of Merchiston, Scotland, invents
logs in 1614. Logs allow multiplication and division
to be reduced to addition and subtraction.
In 1642, a French mathematician named Blaise Pascal
invented a mechanical calculation machine called
Pascaline. It was made out of clock gears and levers,
and could solve basic mathematical problems like
addition and subtraction.
In 1671, Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician,
invented a machine called steeped reckoner that could
multiply 5 digit and 12 digit numbers yielding up to
16 digit number.
In 1801, Joseph-Marie Jacquard developed an
automatic loom that was controlled by punched cards.
In 1822, Charles Babbage, invented the first modern
computer design: a steamed-powered adding machine
called the difference engine to automatically solve
math problems.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
Analytical Engine
Ada
INVENTION
Punched card
Tabulating
machine
Millionaire
INVENTION
Z3
Mark I
ABC(AtanasoffBerry Computer)
Babbage also invented the analytical engine. It was a
mechanical adding machine that took information
from punched cards to solve and print complex
mathematical operations.
Babbage’s difference and analytical engine are
regarded as the first “thinking machines”. These
inventions earned him the title “Father of Computers”
The first program was written by Ada Augusta
Lovelace for Babbage’s difference engine. Thus, Ada
Lovelace is credited with being “the first computer
programmer”. The programming ada is named in her
honor.
ELECTROMECHANICAL ERA
DESCRIPTION
In 1890, the first person to successfully use punched
cards specifically for census taking was Herman
Hollerith. The punched card was adapted for use in early
computers and provided computer programmers with a
new way to put information into their machines.
Hollerith later went on to found the Tabulating Machine
Company, which later became the Computer Tabulating
Recording Company. He retired in 1921, but his
company went on to become the
International Business Machines Corporation. We know
it today as IBM.
The Millionaire, the first efficient four-function
calculator, is invented by Otto Shweiger, a Swiss
Engineer in 1893.
ELECTRONIC ERA
DESCRIPTION
In 1941, Konrad Zuse, built the first programmable
computer called Z3. It was the first fully functional,
program controlled computer of the world. The Z3 was
presented on May 12, 1941 to an audience of scientist
in Berlin. The demonstration was a success.
Howard Aiken, a Ph.D. student at Harvard University
built Mark I “The first Stored-Program Computer”. 8
feet tall, 51 feet long, 2 feet thick, weighed 5 tons, used
750,000 parts, 500 miles of wires, 3-5 seconds per
calculation.
In 1942, John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry completed
the first all-electronic computer called ABC (AtanasoffBerry Computer). It was the first computer to use
electricity in the form of vacuum tubes. It was used for
solving complex systems equations.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
The Five Generations of Digital Computing
The First-Generation Computers (1951-1958)
 First-generation computers had vacuum tubes, resistors, and welded
metal joints. They were large, slow, expensive, and produced a lot of
heat. In addition, first-generation computers often broke down because
of burned-out vacuum tubes.
 In 1945, Presper Eckert and John Mauchly developed the first
operational electronic digital computer, called ENIAC, for the US
Army. ENIAC had more than 18,000 vacuum tubes, and took up to
1,800 square feet of space. Today, ENIAC’s technology could fit in a
modern wristwatch.
 In 1951, the UNIVAC-1 became the first commercially available
electronic computer. This computer was designed by Eckert and
Mauchly and built by the Remington Rand Corporation.
 IBM 701 was the IBM’s first electronic computer built in 1953.
The Second Generation Computers (1959-1963)
 Instead of vacuum tubes, the second-generation computers used
transistors an exciting new invention at the time. John Barden, Walter
Brattain, and William Shockley of Bell Telephone Laboratories
invented the transistor.
 Magnetic tapes and disk began to replace punched cards as external
storage devices.
 Magnetic cores (very small donut-shaped magnets that could be
popularized in one of two directions to represent data) strung on wire
within the computer became the primary internal storage technology.
 In 1961, Grace Hopper, the woman that found the first computer bug,
finishes developing COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language).
 The Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) founded by Ken Olsen,
released the first minicomputer, the PDP-8 in 1964.
 In 1965, Thomas Kurtz and john Kemeny of Dartmouth College
developed BASIC (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code)
as a computer language to help teach people how to program.
The Third-Generation Computers (1963-1974)
 Computers in the third-generation computers relied on a new
technology called integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is a single
wafer or chip that can hold many transistors and electronic circuits.
 Magnetic tape and disks completely replace punched cards as external
storage devices.
 Magnetic core internal memories began to give way to a new form,
metal oxide semi-conductor (MOS) memory, which, like integrated
circuits, used silicon-backed chips.
 In 1958 Jack Kilby invented the monolithic integrated circuit, which is
still widely used in electronic systems.
 The C programming language is developed at AT & T bell Labs by
Brian Kerninghan and Dennis Ritchie.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
 The Unix Operating system, also written at Bell Labs, is rewritten
using C. This later makes UNIX one of the most portable operating
systems.
The Fourth-Generation Computers (1971-Present)
 The fourth-generation is just an extension of the third-generation
technology. This next technological development is to put more power
and capabilities in one chip called microprocessor which has made
computers the fastest and most powerful they have ever been.
 In 1975, the Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems or MITS
produced the first Personal Computer. They named the computer
“Altair 8080”. This was the first easily available micro-computer. It
had256 bytes of memory and ran a version of BASIC written by Bill
Gates.
 Apple’s widely successful PC was the Apple II personal computer.
Apple II was the first personal computer to come in a plastic case and
include color graphics.
 In 1978, VisiCalc was released. It is the first spreadsheet program and
it made microcomputers useful to businesses.
 In 1993, Intel Pentium introduced Pentium Processor, a microprocessor
with 3.1 million transistors.
The Fifth-Generation Computers (1982 - Onward)
 The Fifth Generation Computer Systems was an initiative by
Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry, begun in
1982, to create computers using massively parallel computing and
logic programming. It was to be the result of a massive
government/industry research project in Japan during the 1980s.
 This generation’s focus is more on connectivity. This is to permit
computer users to connect their computers to other computers.
Classifications of Computer
1) According to size and processing speed:
a) Supercomputers
 The fastest type of computer.
 They are very expensive and employed for specialized
applications that require immense amounts of mathematical
calculations.
 They are mainly used for:
o weather forecasting
o animated graphics
o fluid dynamic calculations
o nuclear energy research
o petroleum exploration
 Examples,
o NEC Earth Simulator
o IBM ASCI White
o TERASCALE Computing System
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
o TERA Supercomputer
o NERSC IBM SP RS/600
b) Mainframe computers
 A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting
hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously.
 They are slower and less than supercomputers.
 They support hundreds or thousands of users at a time.
 They are used as e-commerce and web servers and in large
organizations, banks, universities and airlines as databases.
 Examples,
o IBM 3090
o Andhal 5890
c) Minicomputers
 A midsized computer.
 In size and power, microcomputers lies between workstations
and mainframes.
 In general, a minicomputer is a multi-processing system
capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users
simultaneously.
 They are also known as midrange computers.
 They are used in medium size business, education and
government departments and are also used as servers on the
network environment.
 Examples,
o IBM’s AS/400e
d) Microcomputers (Personal Computers)
 Is generally a synonym for the more common term, Personal
Computer or PC, a computer designed for an individual.
 It uses microprocessor technology to input, manipulate, store
and output data.
 Business use personal computers for word processing,
accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet
and database management applications.
 Examples,
o Apple II (introduced by Apple Computer in 1977)
o IBM PC(IBM’s first personal computer)
Two Classifications of Microcomputers
1. Personal Computer or PC
 It is widely popular with people of all lifestyle
because they are powerful, affordable and easy to use.
2.
Portable Computer
 Include laptops or notebooks, sub-notebook, tablet
computer and personal digital assistants.
 They are small enough to move easily from one place
to another and they can operate on batteries.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
 They are popular with people who travel and need
computing power on the go.
a. Laptop/Notebook Computer
 A small portable computer. Small
enough that it can sit on your lap.
 Use a variety of techniques, known as
flat-panel technologies, to produce a
lightweight and non-bulky display c.
screen.
b. Subnotebook Computer
 Slightly lighter and smaller than a fullsized notebook computer.
 Have smaller keyboard and screen, but
are otherwise equivalent to notebook
computers.
c.
PDA or Personal Digital Assistant
 A handheld device that combines
computing, telephone/fax, and
networking features.
 It can function as a cellular phone, fax
sender, and personal organizer.
 Most PDA’s began as pen-based, using
stylus rather than a keyboard for input.
d. Tablet PC
 Provides the full power and functionality
of today’s notebook PC’s
 Design for a fully equipped personal
computer that allows a user to take notes
using natural handwriting on a stylus or
digital pen.
2) According to Data Handled
a) Analog computers
 Analog computers operate on mathematical variables in the
form of physical quantities that are continuously varying.
For example temperature, pressure, voltages, etc.
 Famous examples of analog computers are the Planimeter,
the nomogram, operational amplifiers, mechanical
integrators, slide rules, tide predictors, electric integrators
that solve partial differential equations, electronic machines
that solve ordinary differential equations, machines to solve
algebraic equations, the Norden bomb sight, and neural
networks.
b. Digital computers
 Digital computers deal with mathematical variables in form of
numbers that represent discrete values of physical quantities.
The advantages of digital computers are that they are versatile,
reprogrammable, accurate, and less affected by outside
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
disturbances. In contrast to analog computers, digital machines
work on numbers. Each variable is converted into numbers and
each number into binary form, i.e. 0 and 1. It is this
combination of 0 and 1 that does all the calculations.
 All modern computers, laptops, and calculators are all digital
computers.
c. Hybrid computers
 A hybrid is a combination of digital and analog computers. It
combines the best features of both types of computers. It has
the speed of analog computer and the memory and accuracy
of digital computer. Hybrid computers are used mainly in
specialized applications where both kinds of data need to be
processed.
 Computer used in hospitals to measure the heartbeat of the
patient. Devices used in petrol pump. In scientific applications
or in controlling industrial processes.
3. According to Purpose
a. General-purpose computers
 It is capable of dealing to a variety of different problems
and are able to respond to programs created to meet
different needs.
 It is capable of storing different programs of
instructions thus they can perform a variety of
operations.
 Example is a Desktop Computer
b. Special purpose computers (Dedicated computers)
 It is designed to perform one specific task.
 The programs are built into permanently in the machine
and given task are performed very quick and efficient.
 Examples are computers used in monitoring nuclear
reactions, outer space missions, oil explorations
Components of a Computer System
I. HARDWARE is the physical equipment associated with a computer
system. This is the tangible components of the computer system.
Four Primary Components of a Computer Hardware System
A. Input Devices - any hardware component that allows the user to enter
data, execute commands and user responses into the computer. Basically,
input devices are used for data entry.
1. Keyboard – The set of typewriter keys that enables you to enter data
in a computer.
2. Mouse – invented by Douglas Engelbert of Stanford Research
Center in 1963, and pioneered by Zerox in 1970s, the mouse is a
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on a
display screen.
Joystick – a device consisting of a hand held stick that pivots about
one end and transmits its angle in two dimensions to a computer. It
often used to control games, and usually have one or more pushbuttons whose state can also be read by the computer.
Light pen - A small, photosensitive device connected to a computer
and moved by hand over an output display in order to manipulate
information in the computer. Used in Personal Digital Assistant and
Smart Board.
Microphone – allows the computer to receive and record sound.
Necessary for voice recognition software and any software that
needs to record sound.
Digital camera – takes pictures without film, and stores your
snapshots as digital files in its memory. Later, you can transfer your
picture files to your PC through cable.
Barcode reader - An optical scanning device that reads texts which
have been converted into a special bar code or zebra stripes.
Webcam - A digital camera capable of capturing images to a
computer for transmission over the Internet or other network.
Drawing Tablet - is similar to a white board, except you use a
special pen to write on it and it's connected to the computer. Then
the word or image you draw can be saved on the computer.
10. Scanner – An input device that takes in an optical image and
digitizes it into an electronic image. This can be used to create a
computerized version of a photo or illustration.
4 Kinds of Scanner
 Flatbed scanner - A scanner that provides a flat, glass
surface to hold pages of paper, books and other objects
for scanning. The scan head is moved under the glass
across the page.
 Sheet-fed scanner - A scanner that allows only paper to
be scanned rather than books or other thick objects. It
moves the paper across a stationary scan head.
 Handheld scanner - A scanner that is moved across the
image to be scanned by hand. Handheld scanners are
small and less expensive than their desktop
counterparts, but rely on the dexterity of the user to
move the unit across the paper.
 Drum scanner - A type of scanner used to capture the
highest resolution from an image. Photographs and
transparencies are taped, clamped or fitted into a clear
cylinder. A light source that focuses on one pixel is
beamed onto the drum and moves down the drum a line
at a time.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
B. OUTPUT DEVICES- Any hardware component that presents, displays,
alters, or record output after it has left a computer’s system unit.
1. Monitor – it is the most popular output device. It receive signals from
video card inside of the computer and gives the user a graphical or
textual display.
2. Speakers – are used to produce sounds, listen to music, play music
and watch movies.
3. Printer-create images on paper, plastic, cloth and other print media
using technologies like ink transfer, heat transfer, chemical reactions
and physical force.
Types of Printers
 Laser Printer-uses toner and an internal laser to print.
 Inkjet or Bubble Jet Printers-uses ink to print. Usually
available in color.
 Dot-Matrix Printer-creates characters by striking pins
against an ink ribbon. Each pin makes a dot, and
combinations of dots form characters and illustrations.
C. Storage Devices- these are important for keeping a document for later
retrieval and use.
Two Classifications of Storage Devices:
1. Primary Storage- is the main memory. In this memory, the
data used from processing and the programs to be read are
stored.
 ROM (Read Only Memory) - is a permanent
memory. The instructions stored can be changed
and will not get lost even if the power is switched
off.
 RAM (Random Access Memory) - is a temporary
memory. The information stored in it will get lost
once the computer is switched off or the power is
cut off.
2. Secondary Storage-is also called an external memory.
Most common examples of external secondary storage devices are
the following.
a) Hard Disk- it is a magnetic disk in the system unit of a
personal computer and is an external hard disk device.
b) CD-ROM- is an optical disk format used to hold texts,
graphics and sounds that are pre-recorded. It is small, flat
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
metal-coated plastic disc, about 4.75 inches in diameter. It
stores information by using a laser which creates pits on disc,
and is read by using another laser to read the light reflected
from the pins.
c) Flash Drives – is a type of compact USB memory drive that
acts like a portable hard drive, letting you to store and
transport computer data.
D. System Unit- part of the computer which is responsible for accepting
and processing the data brought in by the input devices, passing
resulting information to the users via the output devices.
Components of System Unit:
1. Main Circuit Board- central nervous system. Also called
motherboard.
2. Port- is a connection from the main circuit board to a
peripheral device such as keyboard, printer or a video
monitor by means of a special cable. Also called interface.
3. Expansion Slots- they are used to connect expansion cards
to the main circuit board. An expansion card is a printed
circuit card with circuitry that gives the computer
additional capabilities.
4. Central Processing Unit (CPU)- is the computer’s
processing, control and internal storage circuitry.
Bytes- unit of measurement in measuring memory
Hertz- unit of measurement in measuring speed
Bit- stands for binary digits. It is the basic unit of data
recognized by the computer.
1 Byte= 8 bits
1 Kilobytes (KB) = 1024 bytes
1 Megabytes (MB) = one million bytes
1 Gigabytes (GB) = one billion bytes
1 Terabytes (TB) = one trillion bytes
II. SOFTWARE – is the programs and data that a computer uses. The
software provides the commands that tell the hardware what task to perform,
what to read and write, how to send the end result (the output) to a monitor
and/or printer.
Kinds of Software
1. Application Software – these are programs that people use to get their
work done.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
Examples of Application Software
 Word Processor - is a computer application used for the production
(including composition, editing, formatting, and possibly printing) of
any sort of printable material.
Examples: MS-Word, MS-Publisher, PageMaker
 Spreadsheet Software – Presents business data in a grid of rows and
columns.
Example: MS-Excel
 Graphics and Presentation - is a computer software package used to
display information, normally in the form of a slide show.
Example: MS-PowerPoint
 Database Software – a software that helps a user organize data in a
way that allows fast and easy access to the data.
Example: MS-Access, Oracle, MySQL
 Games - involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual
feedback on a video device.
Example: Mario, Solitaire, FreeCell, Minesweeper, DOTA (Defense of
the ancient)
 Internet Browser - a software application that enables a user to display
and interact with text, images, and other information typically located
on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area
network.
Ex: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera Mini, Google Chrome
2. System Software – The system software includes all programs used to
operate and maintain the computer system. It controls all input/output
functions and coordinates the flow of operations during processing.
 Operating System - a set of computer programs that manage the
hardware and software resources of a computer.
Example: DOS, Windows, Linux, Mac
 Programming Languages – A software used to write or create other
programs or software.
Example: FORTRAN (Formula Translator), COBOL, Pascal, C/C++,
Java, Visual Basic
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
3. Utility Software (also known as service program, service routine, tool, or
utility routine) It is specifically designed to help manage and tune the
computer hardware, operating system or application software, and perform a
single task or a small range of tasks.
Example: Disk
Defragmenters, System Profilers, Virus
Scanners (Disk doctors – fix disks, Antivirus – “kill”
viruses)
III. PEOPLEWARE are the users of the computer, they may be the system
analysts, programmers, Web Developer, students, administrators, encoders or
just a common personnel who in a way works with the computer.
Application
Identify the different parts of the computer and describe the role of each in the
functionality of the computer.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
Feedback
I. Identification: Write your answer on the space provided.
______________________1. It is an electronic device that accepts (inputs),
processes, stores, and outputs data at a high speeds according to programmed
instructions
______________________2. These are written instructions that tell the
computer on how to manipulate and transform the data it was given to it.
______________________3. It is first recorded adding machine invented in
Babylonia, then popularized in China. It is an ancient computing device
constructed of sliding beads on small wooden rods, strung on a wooden frame.
______________________4. A device invented by Blaise Pascal. It was made
out of clock gears and levers, and could solve basic mathematical problems
like addition and subtraction.
______________________5. It is the first modern computer design invented
by Charles Babbage. It is a steamed-powered adding machine called the
difference engine to automatically solve math problems.
______________________6. Who was the “first computer programmer”?
______________________7. It was the first efficient four-function calculator,
is invented by Otto Shweiger, a Swiss Engineer in 1893.
______________________8. It was referred to as “The first Stored-Program
Computer” developed by Howard Aiken.
______________________9. It is the fastest type of computer. They are very
expensive and employed for specialized applications that require immense
amounts of mathematical calculations.
______________________10. These computers operate on mathematical
variables in the form of physical quantities that are continuously varying. For
example temperature, pressure, voltages, etc.
______________________11. It is the physical equipment associated with a
computer system. This is the tangible components of the computer system.
______________________12. Usually refers to any hardware component that
allows the user to enter data, execute commands and user responses into the
computer.
______________________13. It is the most popular output device. It receive
signals from video card inside of the computer and gives the user a graphical
or textual display.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
______________________14. A part of the computer which is responsible for
accepting and processing the data brought in by the input devices, passing
resulting information to the users via the output devices.
______________________15. These are programs and data that a computer
uses. The software provides the commands that tell the hardware what task to
perform, what to read and write, how to send the end result (the output) to a
monitor and/or printer.
II. Enumeration
1. What are the capabilities of a computer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2. What are the limitations of a computer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Unit 1: Basic Computer Concepts
III. Classify each of the following hardware component as input or output
devices. Write I for input, and write O for output. Use the space provided for
your answers.
______1. Mouse
______2. Webcam
______3. Barcode Reader
______4. Monitor
______5. Digital Camera
______6. Scanner
______7. Microphone
______8. Speaker
______9. Keyboard
______10. Printer
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