What is a computer?
- A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data.
- It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.
Data
Data is unprocessed facts and figures without any added interpretation or analysis.
Information
Information is data that has been interpreted so that it has meaning for the user.
Advantages of Computers
- Speed
- Storage
- Reliability
- Consistency
- Communication
Components of a Computer
- It consists of both hardware, the information
- will be stored on hardware. Information stored
- on computer hardware is often called software.
- Hardware components of a computer system are the electronic and mechanical parts.
- Software components of a computer system are the data and the computer programs.
Software
Consists of a series of instructions that tells the computer what to do and how to do it, is also called a program.
Types of software:
- System Software
- Application Software
System Software
System software (systems software) is computer software designed to operate and control the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software. System software can be separated into two different categories, operating systems and utility software.
Application Software
Application software (an application) is a set of computer programs designed to permit the user to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities. Application software cannot run on itself but is dependent on system software to execute.
- Memory Types
- Memory can be classified as:
- Volatile requires power to maintain stored
- information
- Non-Volatile does not require a maintained
- Power supply
- Secondary Memory Devices
- Secondary Memories are non-volatile in nature
- Data can be accessed in any order from anywhere on the device
- Example: Hard disk, Pen drive, DVD, CD-ROM