INTRODUCTION TO MICRO-COMPUTERS AND WINDOWS

DEFINITION OF A COMPUTER.

A computer is an electronic device that accepts data, processes it and gives the results to the user.

What is a data?

Data is raw fact and figures

What is processing?

Processing is the act of converting data into information

APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTERS

HOSPITALS

·  Connected to machines that can detect the status of the patient e.g., dialysis machines.
·  Keep records of patients
·  Keep records of government institutions, population census, car registration
·  Program used to diagnose diseases

EDUCATION

·  Keep records of students in school
·  Assist in the learning process
·  Templates that can be used to enter students marks
·  Distance learning instead of correspondence by post

BANKS

·  ATMs (automated teller machine) can be used to withdraw and even deposit money at various points instead of using the banking hall.

HOMES

·  Security purposes-gadgets connected to computers can be used to detect what goes on in the environs.
·  Household appliances-Microchips connected to devices like microwaves, washing machines etc.
·  Teleworking
·  Leisure and e-commerce-games, online shopping etc.

INDUSTRIES

·  Computer aided manufacture e.g., breweries, milk industries and car-assembling industries.
·  Computer aided designs (CAD)-used by architects to make design of buildings, bridges etc.
·  Telecommunications industry relies on computer to switch incoming and outgoing calls
·  Airline industry for reservation purpose and scene monitoring

GOVERNMENT

Help in criminal investigations-computers keep databases on fingerprints that are automatically analyzed by computers

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be classified into various categories depending on their sizes, speed, cost and functionality.

Supercomputer

Big in size and used for scientific research- weather forecasting

Very expensive
Very fast

Mainframes

Powerful computer that can support over 100 users

Used by large companies and organizations for data storage

They are quite fast

Less expensive than supercomputers

Minicomputers

have a powerful processor and high quality monitor

can support about 50 users

less expensive and slower than the mainframes

used in smaller organizations like banks

The computer system is made up of three components:

• Hardware
• software
• liveware

COMPUTER HARDWARE

All physical components of the computer are referred to as hardware. hardware is categorized into:

• Input devices
• output devices
• storage devices 
• central processing unit

Input devices

These devices accepts data and convert it into a form that the computer can understand e.g. keyboard, mouse, scanners, and touchpad.

Output devices

These are devices that the computer uses to display the results to the user e.g. monitor(VDU), speakers and printers.

Storage devices

These are the devices that store information that the computer has processed.

Floppy disks, optical disks (CDs, DVDs) and Hard disk (Fixed disk)

Central processing unit

This is the brain of the computer. It processes the information that is input into the computer