Introduction to Computer

In today's world, we use computers for all our tasks. Our day-to-day activities: paying bills, buying groceries, using social media, seeking entertainment, working from home, communicating with a friend, etc., can all be done using a computer. So it is important not only to know how to use a computer, but also to understand the components of a computer and what they do.

This topic explains all concepts related to computer in detail, from origin to end. The idea of computer literacy is also discussed, which includes the definition and functions of a computer. You learn about the components of a computer, the concept of hardware and software, representation of data/information, the concept of data processing and applications of IECT.

What is a Computer?

A computer is an electronic device that accepts data from the user, processes it, produces results, displays them to the users, and stores the results for future usage.

Data is a collection of unorganized facts & figures and does not provide any further information regarding patterns, context, etc. Hence data means "unstructured facts and figures".

Information is a structured data i.e. organized meaningful and processed data. To process the data and convert into information, a computer is used.

Functions of Computers

A computer performs the following functions −

Receiving Input

Data is fed into computer through various input devices like keyboard, mouse, digital pens, etc. Input can also be fed through devices like CD-ROM, pen drive, scanner, etc.

Processing the information

Operations on the input data are carried out based on the instructions provided in the programs.

Storing the information

After processing, the information gets stored in the primary or secondary storage area.

Producing output

The processed information and other details are communicated to the outside world through output devices like monitor, printer, etc.

Summary

In this chapter, we discussed different components of a computer, and familiarized ourselves with concept of hardware and software, representation of data/information, concept of data processing, and applications of IECT.