Understanding How A Computer Works-3 Key Concepts

FIRST: The purpose of a computer is to process data into information. DATA consists of the raw facts and figures that are processed into information for example votes for different candidates being elected to student union government office. Information is data that has been summarised or otherwise manipulated for use in decision making for example, the total votes for each candidate, which are used to decide who won.

SECOND: You should know the difference between hardware and software. Hardware consists of all the machinery and equipment in a computer system. The hardware includes, among the other devices, the keyboard , the monitor the printer and the ‘box’ the computer or processing device itself.  Software or program consist of all the instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task.  These instructions come from a software developer in a form (such as a CD, or a compact disk) that will be accepted by the computer. Examples Microsoft windows, DOS (disk operating system), packages, user application programs, etc

THIRD : Regardless of type and size, all computers follow the same four basic operations: (1) input, (2) processing, (3) storage, and (4) output. However, communications operations maybe found in some modern computers.

1.       INPUT OPERATIONS: Input is whatever is fed into a computer system. Input can nearly be any kind of data letters, numbers, symbols, shapes, sounds, colors, pictures, or whatever raw material needs processing.

2.       PROCESSING OPERATIONS: Processing is the manipulation a computer does to transform data into information. When the computer adds 200+120 to get 320 that is the act of processing . the processing is done by the central processing unit frequently called CPU a device consisting of electronic circuitry that executes instructions to process data.

3.       STORAGE OPERATIONS: Storage is of two types temporary storage and permanent storage, or primary storage and secondary storage. PRIMARY STORAGE OR MEMORY is the computer circuitry that temporary holds data waiting to be processed. This circuitry is inside the computer. SECONDARY STORAGE OR SIMPLY CALLED STORAGE is the area in the computer where data or information is held permanently. A floppy disk or hard disk is an example of this kind of storage.

4.       OUTPUT OPERATION: Output is whatever is output from the system, results of processing, usually information. Examples of output numbers or pictures displayed on a screen, word printed out on paper in a printer, or music piped over some loud speakers.

5.       COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS: These days, most (though not all) computers have communications ability, which offers an extension capability in word, it extends the power of the computer.  with wired or wireless communications connections, data may be input from afar, processed in a remote area, stored in several different locations, and output in yet other places.