lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
ICS 2174: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
COURSE OUTLINE
Objectives
• Enable the student understand the general overview and fundamental components of a
computer system.
• Equip the student with the necessary skills to operate the computer.
No. Topic Sub-topic
1. Introduction to Computer Fundamentals Computers Classification of
Computers
• Generation of computers
2. Software Application software; customized, general purpose
• System software; operating systems, utilities
3. Hardware Input devices; Output devices; Storage devices
4. Assessment 1 Revision and Continuous Assessment Test 1
5. Computer Processing Central Processing Unit
• Components of the CPU
• Role of the CPU
6. Operating Systems Functions of Operating Systems
• Categories of Operating Systems
7. Data Representation Data Representation; Bits, Bytes, Character codes
• Number systems, binary, octal, decimal, etc,
8. Assessment 2 Revision and Continuous Assessment Test 2
9. Introduction to Computer Types of networks: -Advantages/ disadvantages of
Networks networks
Network topologies
10. Introduction to the World Wide Web (WWW)
Internet Web browsers
11. Application Software Word Processing:- Ms Word Packages Spreadsheets:-Ms
Excel Presentations:- Ms PowerPoint
12. Assessment 3 Assignment and Revision
Assessment:
• Continuous Assessment Tests 20%
• Assignments 10%
• End of Semester Exam 70%
Total 100%
References:
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
1 Norton P (2006) Introduction to Computers (5thEdition); New York, USA McGraw Technology
Education
2. Caplon H (2004) Computers: Tools for an Information Age (8th Edition); Addisson Wesley
3. Shelly Cashman Series, Discovering Computers 2010, Living in a Digital World
4. Shelly G. B., Cashman T. J. & Vermaat M. E. (2002). Microsoft Office . Shelly Cashman Series.
1.0 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
Preview
Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions, or
programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that
required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early machines, today's computers are
amazing. Not only are they thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, in your lap, or even in
your pocket.
Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware refers to the parts
of a computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most
important piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central
processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor. It's the "brain" of the computer—the part that translates
instructions and performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse,
printer, and other items are often called hardware devices.
Software refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. A word
processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of software. The
operating system (OS) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected to it. Two
well-known operating systems are Windows and Macintosh operating system. Your computer most
likely uses the Windows operating system.
Computers Fundamentals
Computer can basically be defined as an electronic device that receives (raw) data,
transforms (processes) that data and produces (meaningful) output as information with the
capability of storing the data/information for future retrieval.
Data can be anything like marks obtained by you in various subjects. It can also be name, age,
sex, weight, height, etc. of all the students in your class or income, savings, investments, etc.
Thus, a computer of any type irrespective of their size and make perform basically four major
operations or functions. These are
1) it accepts data or instructions by way of input,
2) it stores data,
3) it processes data as required by the user, and4) it gives results in form of output.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
This can be illustrated by the figure below
INPUTS PROCESS OUTPUT
Main Memory STORAGE
Secondary
Memory
1. Input: This is the process of entering data and programs in to the computer system. You should
know that computer is an electronic machine like any other machine which takes as inputs raw data
and performs some processing giving out processed data (information). Therefore, the input unit takes
data from us to the computer in an organized manner for processing.
2. Storage: The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as storage. Data
has to be fed into the system before the actual processing starts. It is because the processing speed of
Central Processing Unit (CPU) is so fast that the data has to be provided to CPU with the same speed.
Therefore the data is first stored in the storage unit for faster access and processing. This storage unit
or the primary storage of the computer system is designed to do the above functionality. It provides
space for storing data and instructions.
The storage unit performs the following major functions:
All data and instructions are stored here before and after processing.
Intermediate results of processing are also stored here.
3. Processing: The task of performing operations like arithmetic and logical operations is called
processing. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) takes data and instructions from the storage unit and
makes all sorts of calculations based on the instructions given and the type of data provided. It is then
sent back to the storage unit.
4. Output: This is the process of producing results from the data for getting useful information.
Similarly the output produced by the computer after processing must also be kept somewhere inside
the computer before being given to you in human readable form. Again the output is also stored inside
the computer for further processing.
5. Control: This is the procedure on how instructions are executed and the above operations are
performed. Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output are performed by control
unit. It takes care of step by step processing of all operations inside the computer.
lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
ICS 2174: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
COURSE OUTLINE
Objectives
• Enable the student understand the general overview and fundamental components of a
computer system.
• Equip the student with the necessary skills to operate the computer.
No. Topic Sub-topic
1. Introduction to Computer Fundamentals Computers Classification of
Computers
• Generation of computers
2. Software Application software; customized, general purpose
• System software; operating systems, utilities
3. Hardware Input devices; Output devices; Storage devices
4. Assessment 1 Revision and Continuous Assessment Test 1
5. Computer Processing Central Processing Unit
• Components of the CPU
• Role of the CPU
6. Operating Systems Functions of Operating Systems
• Categories of Operating Systems
7. Data Representation Data Representation; Bits, Bytes, Character codes
• Number systems, binary, octal, decimal, etc,
8. Assessment 2 Revision and Continuous Assessment Test 2
9. Introduction to Computer Types of networks: -Advantages/ disadvantages of
Networks networks
Network topologies
10. Introduction to the World Wide Web (WWW)
Internet Web browsers
11. Application Software Word Processing:- Ms Word Packages Spreadsheets:-Ms
Excel Presentations:- Ms PowerPoint
12. Assessment 3 Assignment and Revision
Assessment:
• Continuous Assessment Tests 20%
• Assignments 10%
• End of Semester Exam 70%
Total 100%
References:
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
1 Norton P (2006) Introduction to Computers (5thEdition); New York, USA McGraw Technology
Education
2. Caplon H (2004) Computers: Tools for an Information Age (8th Edition); Addisson Wesley
3. Shelly Cashman Series, Discovering Computers 2010, Living in a Digital World
4. Shelly G. B., Cashman T. J. & Vermaat M. E. (2002). Microsoft Office . Shelly Cashman Series.
1.0 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
Preview
Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions, or
programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that
required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early machines, today's computers are
amazing. Not only are they thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, in your lap, or even in
your pocket.
Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware refers to the parts
of a computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most
important piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central
processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor. It's the "brain" of the computer—the part that translates
instructions and performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse,
printer, and other items are often called hardware devices.
Software refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. A word
processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of software. The
operating system (OS) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected to it. Two
well-known operating systems are Windows and Macintosh operating system. Your computer most
likely uses the Windows operating system.
Computers Fundamentals
Computer can basically be defined as an electronic device that receives (raw) data,
transforms (processes) that data and produces (meaningful) output as information with the
capability of storing the data/information for future retrieval.
Data can be anything like marks obtained by you in various subjects. It can also be name, age,
sex, weight, height, etc. of all the students in your class or income, savings, investments, etc.
Thus, a computer of any type irrespective of their size and make perform basically four major
operations or functions. These are
1) it accepts data or instructions by way of input,
2) it stores data,
3) it processes data as required by the user, and4) it gives results in form of output.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 47802020
This can be illustrated by the figure below
INPUTS PROCESS OUTPUT
Main Memory STORAGE
Secondary
Memory
1. Input: This is the process of entering data and programs in to the computer system. You should
know that computer is an electronic machine like any other machine which takes as inputs raw data
and performs some processing giving out processed data (information). Therefore, the input unit takes
data from us to the computer in an organized manner for processing.
2. Storage: The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as storage. Data
has to be fed into the system before the actual processing starts. It is because the processing speed of
Central Processing Unit (CPU) is so fast that the data has to be provided to CPU with the same speed.
Therefore the data is first stored in the storage unit for faster access and processing. This storage unit
or the primary storage of the computer system is designed to do the above functionality. It provides
space for storing data and instructions.
The storage unit performs the following major functions:
All data and instructions are stored here before and after processing.
Intermediate results of processing are also stored here.
3. Processing: The task of performing operations like arithmetic and logical operations is called
processing. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) takes data and instructions from the storage unit and
makes all sorts of calculations based on the instructions given and the type of data provided. It is then
sent back to the storage unit.
4. Output: This is the process of producing results from the data for getting useful information.
Similarly the output produced by the computer after processing must also be kept somewhere inside
the computer before being given to you in human readable form. Again the output is also stored inside
the computer for further processing.
5. Control: This is the procedure on how instructions are executed and the above operations are
performed. Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output are performed by control
unit. It takes care of step by step processing of all operations inside the computer.
