1. USING THE PERSONAL COMPUTER
(BHAT JAVID AHMAD)
1. INTRODUCTION
A Computer is a machine that performs tasks, such as simple and complicated scientific calculations,electronic communication, and transactions under the set of instructions called “a program”. These days Computers are used توperform versatile activities with reliability, accuracy and speed.
In Business, computers track inventories with bar codes and scanners, billing of customers, and transfer funds ectronically, track attendance and generate payroll, store records/data in extensive quantities with a never before ease.
At Homes, tiny embedded computers control the indoor temperature, operate home security systems, turn videocassette recorders on and off.
At Homes, tiny embedded computers control the indoor temperature, operate home security systems, turn videocassette recorders on and off.
Computers also Entertain working as a music system, video player gaming zone, etc.
Computers in Automobiles regulate the flow of fuel, thereby increasing gas mileage.
Academicians and Institutions use computers to track grades and prepare notes; with computer-controlled projection units, they can add graphics, sound, and animation to their lectures. Computer based trainings is the futuristic method of training and imparting education. It has reduced the cost of spreading education without compromising on the quality phenomenally.
Computers are used extensively in Scientific Research to solve mathematical problems, display complicated data, or model systems that are too costly or impractical to build, such as testing the air flow around the next generation of space shuttles.
The Military employs computers in sophisticated communications to encode and unscramble messages, and to keep track of personnel and supplies.
In Routine Lives, computers come in usage while booking train & airplane tickets, withdrawing cash from bank, driving cars, traffic lights, watching TV, listening Radio, although their usage cannot be seen or felt, but it completes the requested transaction in the backend.
In Communication, Computers play an intrinsic role in provision of Internet, Email, Mobile, SMS, Telephone services today, the primary means of communications.
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMPUTER
The characteristics of computer are high speed of operations, accuracy, reliability, flexibility and economy coupled with efficiency in storing and processing data.
• SPEED: The speed of a computer is virtually instantaneous. It is measured in terms of microseconds (1/10-6 second), nanoseconds (1/10-9 second) and picosecond (1/10-12 second). An average Personal Computer can conduct 100 million instructions per second
• STORAGE: One of the prime characteristics of a computer is its ability to store information which it can access very quickly.
• ACCURACY: Computers are very accurate. They seldom make mistakes, though they do ocasionally break down.
• VERSATILITY: For all practical purposes, computers can perform any task that can be reduced to a series of logical steps.
• AUTOMATION: Once loaded with a program, No human intervention is required until the process is completed.
• STORAGE: One of the prime characteristics of a computer is its ability to store information which it can access very quickly.
• ACCURACY: Computers are very accurate. They seldom make mistakes, though they do ocasionally break down.
• VERSATILITY: For all practical purposes, computers can perform any task that can be reduced to a series of logical steps.
• AUTOMATION: Once loaded with a program, No human intervention is required until the process is completed.
• DILIGENCE: A computer can work endlessly, without suffering from the human traits of tiredness, boredom and lack of concentration.
3. HOW DOES A COMPUTER WORK ? Before we try to explain the process in technical terms let us try and understand how a computer works in a layman’s terms Assuming a Processor is given a very difficult assignment to solve, for which he requires a Team of People with access to Library for referring Stored Data and preset instructions/logic/ and formulae to draw analysis, solving many problems in sequence in the process to derive the final result of the given assignment, than in a layman’s terms You the user gives an assignment (command) to the Computer, The Professor (The Processor ) directs the Team (RAM)
to fetch information from the Library/ Storage space (Hard Disk) using the help of the Librarian, “The Software”. The Information gathered by “The Team”(RAM) is then compiled using set of instructions (The Program) by The Processor
(The Processor) and the final Output is given to the user. The co-ordinator between different people, i.e. The Professor (The Processor), The Team (RAM), Librarian (Software/Drivers), Library (The Hard Disk/Storage Space) is The Motherboard, which translates each’s work without any problem. The whole stage is the computer, where Monitor Screen shows the input and the output result, Keyboard and Mouse are instrumental in inputting requests only, the rest is done by the CPU, as explained here above.
Generally speaking, once an instruction is given to a computer via an input device such as keyboard, or mouse which is processed by the components of the computer such as processor, motherboard, hard disk, RAM, Software Program, etc and the result is shown via an output device such as a monitor or printer. More information on how it actually works is dealt with in the next chapter
3. HOW DOES A COMPUTER WORK ? Before we try to explain the process in technical terms let us try and understand how a computer works in a layman’s terms Assuming a Processor is given a very difficult assignment to solve, for which he requires a Team of People with access to Library for referring Stored Data and preset instructions/logic/ and formulae to draw analysis, solving many problems in sequence in the process to derive the final result of the given assignment, than in a layman’s terms You the user gives an assignment (command) to the Computer, The Professor (The Processor ) directs the Team (RAM)
to fetch information from the Library/ Storage space (Hard Disk) using the help of the Librarian, “The Software”. The Information gathered by “The Team”(RAM) is then compiled using set of instructions (The Program) by The Processor
(The Processor) and the final Output is given to the user. The co-ordinator between different people, i.e. The Professor (The Processor), The Team (RAM), Librarian (Software/Drivers), Library (The Hard Disk/Storage Space) is The Motherboard, which translates each’s work without any problem. The whole stage is the computer, where Monitor Screen shows the input and the output result, Keyboard and Mouse are instrumental in inputting requests only, the rest is done by the CPU, as explained here above.
Generally speaking, once an instruction is given to a computer via an input device such as keyboard, or mouse which is processed by the components of the computer such as processor, motherboard, hard disk, RAM, Software Program, etc and the result is shown via an output device such as a monitor or printer. More information on how it actually works is dealt with in the next chapter
The Parts of a computer will be DISCUSSED in the next post. INSHAALLAHانشااللہ
