Today, you can find computer almost everywhere, including microwave ovens and wristwatches also contain computer chips. In fact, computers are so common in modern society that everyone is affected by them to some extent.

Computer

A computer is an electronic device that processes data and converts it into information. Computers run programs which process data and perform tasks based on the instruction contained in the program.

Because a computer program can evaluate data and then based on those evaluation, results are generated which can be used for large number of applications. Computer can process data with little or no assistance.

Components of computers:

A computer is a device that accepts data and processes it for some result based on a sequence of instructions. The sequence of instruction given to computer for manipulating data is known as program.

They are two basic components of a computer system:

  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer Software

Computer Hardware

The physical parts of the computer system that you can touch, and feel are known as Computer Hardware. Computer hardware is divided into following parts:

  • Input Unit
  • Output
  • System Unit

Input Unit

Input unit of a system consists of input devices. Different types of input devices are used to input data in different forms e.g.:

  • Keyboard is used to entre textual data.
  • Mouse is used as a pointing device and to trigger different commands in different applications.
  • Microphone is used to entre voice data

Output Unit

Output unit of a computer system consist of output devices. As data presented to the user in different forms, therefore different output devices are needed e.g.

  • Monitor is used to display text and image on a screen
  • Printer is used to get output on paper
  • Speaker is used to receive voice output

System unit

System unit contains a number of other components which are enclosed in a casting. Casting available into two forms:

  • Vertical shape (tower casing)
  • Horizontal shape (desktop casing)

System unit have motherboard, RAM, hard disk drive, floppy disk, microprocessor etc

Computer Software

Computer software or program is a term used for organized collections of computer data and instructions. It is a set of instructions given to the computer to solve a particular problem. It divided into two major types

  • System software
  • Application software

System software

System software refers to the program that is responsible for controlling and managing the actual operations of the computer hardware. It consists of an operating system and some fundamental utilities such as disk formatters, file managers, display managers and user authentication (login)

Application Software

Application software is used to perform tasks specified by the user. Application software consists of a single program, such as an image viewer or a collection of programs(called software package) that work together to perform a task .e.g. word processor, spreadsheet, database  etc

Types of computers:

Computers play an important role in our daily routine, and they are also available in different shapes and sizes, like when you take money out from an ATM, in stores when you scan your bill for groceries, use calculator, you’re interacting with computers in one form or another.

Desktop computers:

A desktop computer is a personal computer that is designed to be used frequently on a table due to its power requirements and size. The most common configurations include enclosures with power supplies, motherboards (circuit boards containing microprocessors, such as central processing units, memory, buses, certain peripherals, and other electronic components), disk storage (usually one or more hard drives) solid-state drives, optical drives, and floppy disk drives in earlier models, Keyboards and mice for input; and computer monitors, speakers, and usually printers for output. The drawers can be placed horizontally or vertically, and can be placed under, beside or on the table.

Laptop computer:

Laptop computers are a type of computer that you can take with you everywhere because of their compact size. Laptops come with a thin screen that’s why they are light in weight. Laptops are also referred as a notebook because of small in size. Laptops can run on a battery that may last anywhere between 3 to 8 hours in one charge.

Handheld computers:

Handheld computers are also used with their special pens that’s why they’re also known as PDAs (personal digital assistant). They have touch screen which we can use with fingers and stylus. They are mostly used in restaurants for orders, playing games and storing addresses.

Operating system can be a program with the following parameters:

  • The associated operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the software and PC hardware.
  • Is a collection of built-in dedicated programs widely used to manage shared computer resources and operations.
  • It is special software used to control and monitor the execution of all alternative programs, applications and other system software on the computer.

Operating systems act as an intermediary between the device and its users, providing users with opportunities to access and use alternative resources. They also satisfy resource needs and handle conflicting requests from different programs and users. To ensure fair and cheap resource exchange between users and programs, operating system is very crucial. (1)

These are some of the most important functions of the operating system:

Memory management keeps track of the first memory, which is used by who, which part is not used, etc., and whenever a method allocates memory, or the program needs it.

Processor management Allocate processors (CPUs) to processes that are no longer needed and release methods.(2)

Device Management Monitor It can also be called an I/O controller. By the way, it determines which process the device receives, when and for a long time.

File management: allocate and release resources and decide who gets them.

Operator interaction You can interact with command types from the PC console. The software recognizes this, initiates appropriate measures and reports the process on the screen.

References:

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/what-is-a-computer/1/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system