Information Technology - Key Concepts

Computer
The term “Computer” was derived from a
word “Compute” which means “calculate”.

Basically Computer can be considered as a

calculating machine.

Computer can be defined as “ Fast and

accurate electronic machine that accepts data
and instructions from the user and returns the
required information after processing it “
 Computation Process

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Data Information

Data : Raw collection of figures and facts

Information : Processed data

 Computer System

Hardware

Software User
Hardware
Includes all physical components.
Ex. Monitor, keyboard, etc
Software
Set of Programs

Program is set of instructions given to the

computer to perform certain task.

Instruction is an explicit command given to

the Computer to perform a task.
 Types of Software

System :
General purpose, used to operate the computer
hardware.
Designed to interact with the hardware directly.
Ex. Operating System, device drivers etc.
Application :
Have a specific user application.
Interacts with the hardware with help of an Operating
System.
Ex. Tally
Operating System ?
 An operating system is a software that
acts as an interface between the user and
the computer hardware. It is an
integrated set of specialized programs
used to manage overall resources and
operations of the computer
 Software Licensing
Proprietary
Off the shelf
OEM
Freeware
Open Source
Paper License
SaaS
General Structure of a Computer System
 Working of a Computer System

On – Off States : 1 and 0

Numbers – Binary

Characters – Coding Schemes

Pictures – Grid Overlays

Computer Generations :
First – Vacuum Tubes
Second - Transistors
Third - IC
Fourth - VLSI
Fifth – Artificial Intelligence
Types :
General and Special Purpose
Analog, Digital and Hybrid
Super, Mainframe, Mini and Micro
PDAs, Tablets, Wearable
Racks, Blades etc
 Hardware

CPU Peripherals
Input
Output
Storage
Examples :
Input : Keyboard, Mouse, Barcode, RFID, OMR, OCR, MICR etc.
Output : Monitors, Printers etc

Types of Printers :
Impact – Dot Matrix
Non Impact – Laser, Inkjet
RFID
OMR
OCR
MICR
QR Code
Memory / Storage
RAM
ROM
Cache
Virtual
Secondary storage devices :
Harddisk, CDs , Pendrives, Magnetic Tapes, DAT
drives, SAN etc.

Memory measurement metrics :

bit,byte,KB,MB,GB,TB,PB,EB etc