Tutorial: Computer Education - First Step

Computer Fundamentals

What is Computer? 

Computer is an advanced electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program. 

A computer has five functions: 

• Input which accept data.
•  Storage which stores results.
• Processing which processes data.
• Output which produces output in required format.
• Control all of the above four steps. 

Input (Accept Data)

Input is the raw data or information entered into a computer from the input devices. Keyboard, Mouse, Touch Pad, Scanner etc. are input device which accept data. These data will be letter, numbers, images etc.   

Storage (Stores Result):

In a computer, storage is the place where data is held in an electromagnetic or optical form for access by a computer processor. There are two general usages.

1) Storage is frequently used to mean the devices and data connected to the computer through input/output operations - that is, hard disk and tape systems and other forms of storage that don't include computer memory and other in-computer storage. For the enterprise, the options for this kind of storage are of much greater variety and expense than that related to memory. This meaning is probably more common in the IT industry than meaning 2.

2) In a more formal usage, storage has been divided into: (1) primary storage, which holds data in memory (sometimes called random access memory or RAM) and other "built-in" devices such as the processor's L1 cache, and (2) secondary storage, which holds data on hard disks, tapes, and other devices requiring input/output operations.

Process (Processes Data):

Process is the operation of data as per given instruction which functioned by CPU. It is totally internal process of the computer system.

Output (Produces Output):
Output is the processed data given by computer after data processing. Output is an also called as Result. Monitor, Printers is output device.

Input Device

Different type of input device as bellows:

1. Mouse- A pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons.

2. Keyboard- A typewriter-style device, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches.

3. Scanner- A device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image.

4. Digital Camera- A camera that takes video or still photographs by recording images on an electronic image sensor.

5. Web Camera- Take pictures online with your webcam using over 70 free fun effects.

6. Joysticks- A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling.

7. Track Ball- A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down mouse with an exposed protruding ball.

8. Touch Pad/ Screen- A touchpad is a pointing device featuring a tactile sensor, a specialized surface that can translate the motion and position of a user's fingers to a relative position on screen. Touchpads are a common feature of laptop computers, and are also used as a substitute for a mouse where desk space is scarce.

9. Light Pen- A light pen is a computer input device in the form of a light-sensitive wand used in conjunction with a computer's CRT display.

10. Bar Code Reader- A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes.

11. Microphone- A microphone (colloquially called a mic or mike; both pronounced /ˈmaɪk/)[1] is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal.

12. Graphic Tablets- A graphics tablet or digitizer is a computer input device that enables a user to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way a person draws images with a pencil and paper. These tablets may also be used to capture data or handwritten signatures.

13. Magnetic Ink Reader- This ink is magnetised and commonly called 'magnetic ink'. It can be read by a special machine called a Magnetic Ink Character reader (MICR).

14. Optical Mark Reader- Optical Mark reading (OMR) is a method of entering data into a computer system. Optical Mark Readers reads pencil or pen marks made in pre-defined positions on paper forms as responses to questions or tick list prompts. Used for Answer sheet Marking purpose.

15. Magnetic Card Reader- A magnetic stripe card is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on the card. The magnetic stripe, sometimes called swipe card or magstripe, is read by swiping past a magnetic reading head. Used in Shops, Colleges, Stations etc.

16. Biometric Devices- Biometrics allow people to be identified based on unique characteristics. Examples include fingerprint scans, iris scans, and voice recognition.

17. Bluetooth- Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2400–2480 MHz) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security.

Continuing .... Next ........ Second Step