COMPUTER STUDIES - SS1 1ST

TERM
Topic
Week Topic
2-3 OVERVIEW OF COMPUTER SYSTEM
· Definition of computer
· Constituents of a computer
· Computer hardware
· Computer software
· Characteristics of a computer
4 DATA AND INFORMATION
· Definition of data and information
· Differences between data and information
· Examples of data and information
5-6 COMPUTING DEVICES 1(Pre-computer age to
19thcentury)
· Features, components and uses of:
Abacus, Slide rule, Napier’s bone, Pascal’s calculator,
Leibniz multiplier, Jacquard’s loom, Charles Babbage
difference and Analytical engine, Hollerith machine `
7-8 COMPUTING DEVICE II (20TH century to date)
· Features, components and uses of:
ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC 1, Desktop PC, Laptop and
Notebook computer, Palmtop computer.

TOPIC ONE: OVERVIEW OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

Definition of a Computer

A computer can be defined as an electronic machine (device) which under

the control of a stored program accepts data, stores the data, processes
the data and brings out the results as information.
 Computer as an IPOS system

Computer performs 4 key operations on data

a. Input b. Processing c. Output d. Storage

Input: data are entered into the computer through the input unit. Data
are raw facts that are to be processed into meaningful form.

Processing: Computer performs certain operations on data entered into

it; the Central Processing Unit (CPU) handles this operation.

Output: The result of what has been processed will be displayed by the
output device such as the monitor.

Storage: Inputted data and processed information are stored in the

memory and permanent storage on the computer.

Constituents/Components of a Computer system

The computer is referred to as a system because it is made up of several

components that work together to enable it function properly. There are
2 main constituents of the computer system, these are:
 The hardware
 The Software

Hardware
 These are the physical components of the computer system. They are the
tangible parts that can be seen and touched. There are two major parts,
namely:

 The system unit

 The peripherals

System unit: The system unit is the rectangular casing that houses
(contains) several important components that controls the operation of
the computer system such as the motherboard, CPU (Microprocessor),
RAM, Sound card, video card, CD drive, Floppy disk drive etc. It also
provides interface for connection of the peripherals.

Peripherals: These are the devices connected to the system unit for the
purpose of input, output and storage operations. Examples of peripheral
devices are keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Printer, Scanner, DVD, CD, USB
flash drive etc.

Software

The software is a term used to describe the collection (or set) of programs
that can be run on a computer system. A program is a set of instructions
that tells the computer what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

There are two types of software, these include:

 System software
 Application software

System software: This software controls the computer hardware and the
internal operations of the computer system. Examples include Windows
OS (Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8,
Windows 10), Linux OS(Redhat, Fedora, Ubuntu etc.), MAC OS etc.

Application software: These are software that enables the user to

perform specific operation or task on the computer. Examples include:

Application software (packages) Functions / Uses

MS Word, WordPad, WordPerfect Used for word processing
 MS Excel, Lotus1-2-3, Quattro Pro Used for spreadsheet, calculation
and analysis
Corel draw, Paint, Photoshop, Used for graphic works
PageMaker, Corel Graphics
Front page, Publisher, For web designing
Dreamweaver, cold fusion
MS Access, Oracle, Postgre sql, For database management
Fox pro, Dbase, Ingress, MySQL
MS outlook, Outlook express, MS For email management
exchange, Sendmail
MS PowerPoint, Impress, Prezi, Used for presentation of seminars
Harvard Graphics and lectures
Maths, MATLAB, SPSS, Mintab Create and edit mathematical
formulae/statistical analysis
Internet explorer, Mozilla firefox, Internet/Web browsing
chrome, Opera mini, UC browser,
Netscape Navigator, Safari
, Mosaic,

Characteristics of a Computer

 Speed: Computer performs its data processing operation at a very

high speed. The speed of the computer is measured in Hertz (Hz). A
computer with speed rating of Mega Hertz (MHz) can perform millions of
cycle of operation per second.

 Accuracy: Computer gives accurate result as long as the correct

data is keyed into it.

 Versatility: computer can be used to perform various kinds of

task e.g. graphic design, word processing, web development etc.

 Reliability/Durability: Computers do not get tired like human;

they can work continuously for days and weeks without any error.

 Memory and storage: Computer can store large amount of data

and information. The capacity of the memory/storage device is measured
in bytes. A byte is a group of eight bits. A kilobyte (KB) is 1024 bytes. A
megabyte (MB) is 1,000,024 bytes.
  Programmable: The computer hardware is useless without the
program that controls it. Thus, all tasks and activities performed by a
computer are made possible by means of a program.

 It is electronic in nature

TOPIC TWO: DATA AND INFORMATION

Data

Data are raw facts and figures without any added interpretation. Data
can be defined as a representation of facts or concepts in a formalized
manner which should be suited for interpretation or processing by
human or electronic machine. Examples of data include:

 Symbols: $, @, &, /, # etc.

 Figures/Numbers: 1, 2, 34, 0.12 2 etc.
 Alphabets: A-Z or a-z
 Words: Tunde, Facts, Ibadan etc.

Information

Information is an organized or classified data which has some

meaningful values for the receiver. It can also be defined as the
processed data on which decisions are based. Examples of information
include:

 Computer is a representation of modern life

 2 x 7 = 14
 10% of N1000 = N 100

Sources of data and information

Sources of data
 Data are used for information generation and this can be obtained from
different sources. Some of the sources of data include:

 Observations
 Questionnaires
 Interviews, survey and fieldwork
 Registrations
 Experiments
 Form filling

Sources of information

Information can come from virtually anywhere — media, blogs, personal

experiences, books, journal and magazine articles, expert opinions,
encyclopedias, database, television, newspapers and web pages — and
the type of information you need will change depending on the question
you are trying to answer.

Differences between data and information

Data Information
Data is used as input for the Information is the output of data.
computer system.
Data is unprocessed facts and figures. Information is processed data.
Data doesn’t depend on Information Information depends on data.
Data is not specific. Information is specific.
Data doesn’t carry a meaning Information must carry a logical
meaning.
Data is the raw material. Information is the product.
Data cannot be used for decision Information is used for decision
making. making

Qualities of good information

 Relevance: It must be suitable for the purpose it is required for.

 Accurate: It be free from errors
 Availability: It should be easy to obtain or access
 Timely: It should be available at the right time
 Comprehensive/Completeness: It should contain all necessary details
 Reliability: It should come from a reliable source.

TOPIC 3: COMPUTING DEVICES I

Abacus

Features and components

Abacus was invented around 500 BC. It was made up of strings or wires,
frames and beads. Modern Abacus uses sliding beads in columns that
are divided into two by a center bar. The upper part is called the heaven
and each of the two beads (representing the two hands) is worth 5 when
moved to the center. The lower part is called the “earth”, where each of
the 5 beads (representing the 5 fingers) is worth 1 when moved towards
the center. The Abacus is really just a representation of the human
fingers.

Use
For addition and subtraction

Napier’s Bone
Features and components
John Napier in 1617 invented the Napier’s bone. The device involves a
collection of moveable numbered rods and a board.

Use
Used to perform multiplication

Slide rule

Features and components

William Oughtred invented the slide in 1632. The Slide rule is a
mechanical analog computer. In its most basic form, the slide rule uses
two logarithmic scales to allow rapid multiplication and division of
numbers.

Uses
The slide rule is used mainly for multiplication and division, and also for
"scientific" functions such as roots, logarithms and trigonometry, but
usually not for addition or subtraction.

Pascal’s calculator

Features and components

Blaise Pascal invented the Pascal’s calculator otherwise called
PASCALINE in 1642. It is a gear or dial driven (just as that on analogue
telephone) calculating device.

Use
It could only be used for addition and subtraction operations. It’s use is
evident in odometer and electricity meter.

Leibniz multiplier
Features and components
Leibniz multiplier or (Stepped Reckoner) was invented by Gottfried
William Leibniz in 1671. It was an improvement on the PASCALINE. It
contains a special kind of gear called “Leibniz wheel”.

Uses
It could add, subtract, multiply and divide.

Jacquard’s loom
Features and components
In 1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard invented the Jacquard’s loom. This
machine was controlled by a number of punched cards, put together into
a continuous sequence.

Use
Used for producing fabrics with beautiful patterns

Difference engine

Features and components

In 1822, An English mathematics professor called Charles Babbage
invented the Difference engine. It was composed of 25000 parts, weighed
15 tons and stood 8 feet (2.4m) high.

Use
Used for calculating differential equations.

Analytical engine
Features and components
In 1832, Charles Babbage designed another machine called Analytical
engine which was deemed to be the first mechanical computer. The
machine was steam-powered, though never completed, outlined the basic
elements of a modern day general purpose computer. It contains input in
the form of punched card containing operating instructions and a "store"
for memory of 1,000 numbers of up to 50 decimal digits long. It also
contained a "mill" with a control unit that allowed processing
instructions in any sequence, and output devices to produce printed
results. Augusta Ada, Countess of Lovelace (1815-1842) created the
instruction routines to be fed into the computer, making her the first
female computer programmer.

Use
It could store 1000 numbers of up to 50 decimal digits long. It was
programmable.

Herman Hollerith machine

Features and components
Herman Hollerith invented the Herman Hollerith machine which used
punch card to store information which he fed into the machine to
compile the results mechanically.
Use
It was used for collating, sorting and summing the data gotten from 1890
US census.

Burrough’s Machine

In 1885, William Seward Burroughs from American Arithmometer

company invented this mechanical adding machine. the early Burroughs
models were large machines characterized by having glass panels in the
sides, so the mechanism could be seen. Common components of the
Burroughs machine: keypads, Levers, Registers, and Printer.

TOPIC FOUR: COMPUTING DEVICES II

ENIAC

In 1946, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert completed the

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical integrator and Computer). It was the first
general purpose computer. ENIAC contained 18,000 vacuum tubes,
weighed 30 tons, occupied 1800 square feet of floor space and required
160 kilowatts of electrical power. The ENIAC used punched card for input
and output. ENIAC was used by US for hydrogen bomb project and
programming.

EDVAC

Features and components

The EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) is the
successor of the ENIAC and was made by the same designers: John
Mauchly and Presper Eckert in 1949.
Unlike its predecessor the ENIAC, it was binary rather than decimal. It
was the first designed stored program computer with memory capacity of
1000 words (later set to 1,024 words, thus giving a memory, in modern
terms, of 5.5 kilobytes). It contains 6,000 vacuum tubes and consumed 56
KW of power and covered 490 square feet of floor space.

UNIVAC 1

Features and components

The UNIVAC 1 (Universal Automatic Computer 1) was invented by John
Mauchly and Presper Eckert in 1951. The machine was 25 feet by 50 feet
in length, contained 5,600 tubes, 18,000 crystal diodes, and 300 relays
and had an internal storage capacity 1,000 words or 12,000 characters.
It utilized a Mercury delay line, magnetic tape, and typewriter
 output. Magnetic tape was still used for input and output. It was the first
commercial computer.

Assignment
State the features and components of the following devices
· Desktop Personal Computers
· Laptop and Notebook Computers
· Palmtop computers

TOPIC 5: INPUT DEVICES

These are the hardware devices that are used for entering data and
instructions into the computer system. The input devices allow human to
interact with the computer system. The following are some examples of
Input devices:

Keyboard: Most important input device. The keyboard is very much like
a typewriter keyboard with a few additional keys. The keys when pressed
send an input signal into the computer.

Mouse: A mouse is a small object you can roll along a hard or flat
surface. It controls the movement of the cursor on a display screen.

Light pen: An input device that utilizes a light-sensitive detector to

select, create and modify object on a display screen.

Touchpad: A touchpad is used for pointing on a computer display

screen. It works by sensing the user’s finger movement and downward
pressure. It is often rectangular in shape and found mostly on laptops. It
is an alternative to mouse.
Touch screen: It allows the user to operate / make selections by simply
touching the display screen. The display screen is sensitive to touch of a
finger or stylus. Widely used on ATM machines and most mobile phones.

Microphone: A device that is used to capture and record sound.

Bar code reader: These are photoelectric scanners that read bar codes
printed on product containers. They are generally used in super markets.

Scanner: Scanner reads texts, images or illustrations printed on paper

and translate the information into a form that the computer can use. It
works by digitizing an image.

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR): MICR can identify

character printed with a special ink that contains particles of magnetic
material. This device is widely used in banking industry.

Optical Mark Recognition (OMR): Also called mark sense reader is a

technology where an OMR device senses the presence or absence of a
mark, such as pencil mark. OMR is widely used in tests such as aptitude
test.

Joystick: Is an input and pointing device used in computer games.

Digital camera: An input device used to capture images and moving

pictures.

Differences between Mouse and Keyboard

Keyboard Mouse
Used to enter instructions Used to point and select
Keys are pressed Buttons are clicked
 Combination of keys can be Left or right button is clicked
pressed
Cannot drag and drop text Drags and drops text
It has keys It has buttons
Requires no mouse pad Requires a mouse pad

Assignment

List and briefly explain ALL set of keys on the keyboard. Hint: Alphabet
key