BCS - 011 COMPUTER BASICS AND PC SOFTWARE

1 Block BASICS OF COMPUTER HARDWARE UNIT 1 COMPUTER their Origin and Applications 5 UNIT 2 Functioning of a COMPUTER 27 UNIT 3 Memory System 43 UNIT 4 Input Output Devices 75 UNIT 5 My Personal COMPUTER 104 School of COMPUTER and Information Sciences BCS - 011 COMPUTER BASICS AND PC SOFTWARE 1 PROGRAMME DESIGN COMMITTEE Prof. Manohar Lal, Director SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Prof. Gupta Dept. of Elect. Engg., IIT, Delhi Prof. Doja, Dept. of CE Jamia Millia, New Delhi Prof. C. Pandurangan Dept. of CSE, IIT, Chennai Prof. I. Ramesh Babu Dept. of CSE Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar (AP) Prof. Gill Dept. of CS, MDU, Rohtak Prof. Arvind Kalia, Dept. of CS HP University, Shimla Prof. Anju Sehgal Gupta SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Prof. Sujatha Verma SOS, IGNOU, New Delhi Prof. V. Sundarapandian IITMK, Trivendrum Prof. Dharamendra Kumar Dept. of CS, GJU, Hissar Prof.

2 Vikram Singh Dept. of CS, CDLU, Sirsa Sh. Shashi Bhushan, Associate. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Sh. Akshay Kumar, Associate Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Dr. Mishra, Associate Prof Dept. of CS, BHU, Varanasi Sh. Suresh, Asst. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Sh. Subrahmanyam, Asst. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Sh. Mishra, Asst. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Dr. Naveen Kumar, Asst. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Dr. Subodh Kesharwani, Asst. Prof. SOMS, IGNOU, New Delhi COURSE CURRICULLUM DESIGN COMMITTEE Prof. Manohar Lal, Director SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Prof. Anju Sehgal Gupta SOH, IGNOU, New Delhi Prof. Jagtar Chawla Dept. of English, Barkatullah University College, Bhopal Prof. Rajinder Singh Chhillar Dept. of CS, MDU, Rohatk (Haryana) Sh. Shashi Bhushan, Associate Pro SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Sh. Akshay Kumar, Associate Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Sh. Milind Mahajani Sr. IT Consultant, New Delhi Dr. Ravi Prakash, Associate Prof. Dept. of Mathematics, Rajdhani College, New Delhi Dr.

3 Vibha Bhatnagar, Associate Prof. Dept. of CS, DU, New Delhi Dr. Devendra Tayal, Associate Prof. IGIT,GGSIP University, New Delhi Sh. Mishra, Asst. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Dr. Naveen kumar, Asst. Prof. SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Asst. Prof. Dept. of CS, BHU, Varanasi COURSE PREPARATION TEAM Sh. Dubey, Asst. Prof., (Unit-1 Writer), Amity University, NOIDA Dr. Vivek Singh, Asst. Prof., (Unit-2 Writer), Dept. of CS, BHU, Varanasi Sh. Jaiswal, Asst. Prof., (Unit-3 Writer), Amity School of CS, NOIDA Sh. Tripathi, Asst. Prof., (Unit-4 Writer), IMS, NOIDA Sh. Mishra, Asst. Prof. and Sh. Sanjeev Kumar, Consultant (Unit-5 Writers) SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi Sh. Milind Mahajani (Editor) Sr. Consultant, New Delhi Dr. Parmod Kumar, Asst. Prof., (Language Editor), SOH, IGNOU, New Delhi COURSE COURSE CO-ORD.: Sh. Akshay Kumar, Associate Prof., BLOCK DEV. CO-ORD.: Sh. Mishra, Asst.

4 Prof., SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi SOCIS, IGNOU, New Delhi PRINT PRODUCTION: Sh. Tilak Raj, (P), SOCIS ISBN: Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing form the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Further information on the Indira Gandhi National Open University courses may be obtained from the University s office at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068. Printed and published on behalf of the Indira Gandhi National Open University by the Director, SOCIS. COURSE INTRODUCTION COMPUTER is a device that has major uses in our lives. You can use COMPUTER for most of your needs. The applications of COMPUTER range from reading current news, reading books, watching games, booking tickets, ordering books and other household products, publishing your views, performing huge number of calculations, filing income tax returns, displaying student results, conducting online entrance examination, electronic learning, electronic commerce, and many more.

5 Any COMPUTER consists of several physical components which are called the COMPUTER hardware. However, the basic hardware of COMPUTER has no use if it does not have SOFTWARE . A COMPUTER having hardware and SOFTWARE has some usage, however, what made COMPUTER really useful is COMPUTER networking. This course introduces you to the basic concepts of COMPUTER hardware, COMPUTER SOFTWARE and COMPUTER networks. The course is divided into three blocks. Block 1 covers the BASICS of COMPUTER Hardware details. This block traces the history of COMPUTER , highlighting some of the milestones on the way. It highlights the importance of role of computers in current applications. COMPUTER consists of many important components. Each component has a specific function to perform. The most important components of the COMPUTER system are the CPU, Memory and the Input Output devices. This Block provides a comprehensive discussion of these three components. Some of the topics covered in the block include concept of instruction, Components of CPU and their roles, memory characteristics and memory hierarchy, and characteristics of devices.

6 This block also provides basic details relating to the configuration of a personal COMPUTER . Block 2 focuses on BASICS of COMPUTER SOFTWARE . This block first traces the evolution of COMPUTER SOFTWARE . It also describes the purpose and use of various types of SOFTWARE System SOFTWARE , application SOFTWARE and other types of SOFTWARE . This block also introduces you the features and types of open source SOFTWARE . The block describes the features of Operating system. It also details various types of Operating systems - Batch, Multi-programming, real time, Network and distributed OS and many more. Knowledge of a programming language is essential for a student of COMPUTER science. This Block introduces you to basic programming language constructs. It also introduces you to various tools that are used for programming compiler, editor, assembler and interpreter. As far as application SOFTWARE is concerned this block introduces you to Office Management SOFTWARE - Word processor, spreadsheet, database management system and Project Management SOFTWARE .

7 The third Block of this course is devoted to Networking and Internet Technologies. This block introduces you to some of the basic networking terminologies that you should be familiar with while dealing with Internet data transmission, topology, protocol, networking media and devices, LAN, WAN, TCP/IP, and so on. It also introduces you to some of the key concepts related to Internet like IP addresses, DNS, URL, browser etc. Internet applications have grown at a very rapid rate in the past decade. The prime reason for this is the advent of interactive internet experiences. This block discusses some of the traditional Internet applications - browsing, searching, emailing, and chatting. This block also briefly highlights some of the newer Internet application such as e-learning, educational resources on web, collaboration, blogging and social networking. As the technology is advancing every day, you are advised to read some COMPUTER magazines and keep visiting some good web sites on the Internet that may help you keep pace with latest developments in COMPUTER hardware, SOFTWARE and networking.

8 BLOCK INTRODUCTION In last more than two decades, manual data processing has shifted to computerized data processing. Also, computers are used for effective and efficient communication. Now, COMPUTER applications are being used in many areas such as Education, Banking, Agriculture, Railways, Judiciary, and Health etc, which are directly affecting the common people. Today, basic knowledge of computers and its application has become the necessity of one and all, with help of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) effective and management of data of big organizations such as Banks, Railways etc., is now possible. The proper use of information technology requires a paramount knowledge of working of ICT, which need appropriate education in the field of COMPUTER Science & Information Technology (IT) area and relevant field experience. Without which proper utilization of IT is not possible. The first block of first course on COMPUTER science in BCA Programme, this block is aiming to introduce to you about historical perspective of COMPUTER developments, BASICS of Personal COMPUTER (PC) and its different components, requirements of memory and different I/O devices in PC.

9 This block also introduce to you about different types of PC. This block is of total five units. Unit 1: COMPUTER their Origin and Applications : In this unit COMPUTER is defined and its different generations are explained. Also different areas of COMPUTER Applications are briefly introduced. Unit 2: Functioning of a COMPUTER : This unit will be introducing to you about the components of a digital COMPUTER and their roles. Also the binary number system, decimal numbers, ASCII and Unicode code systems are introduced briefly. Unit 3: Memory System : This unit basically outlines the storage organization, storage devices of different types of memory systems and the importance of the memory hierarchy. In this unit, the memory system is categorized according to access time, storage capacity and cost-per-bit of storage. In this unit, you will be introduced to the various types of storage devices used by the COMPUTER system. A cost effective technique for the design of large COMPUTER systems is the use of a hierarchy of memory technologies.

10 Unit 4: I/O Devices and their Functions : This unit is about Input/output devices, the devices that connect you to your COMPUTER . Input devices let you input data and other information into your COMPUTER and they also let you give your COMPUTER special instructions so that it will know what to do. For example, you can type in data by using a keyboard, or you can input data in picture form by using a scanner. On the other hand, output devices display the results of your COMPUTER s computations. Examples of these would be your COMPUTER s monitor, which displays all of the programs you re running, as well as the printer, which will print out a hard copy of the information. Unit 5: My Personal COMPUTER : This unit explains about the personal COMPUTER (PC), a general-purpose COMPUTER , used for day to day activities in different areas including education, business, administration and health. This unit have discussed about various types of personal COMPUTER such as Desktop COMPUTER , Laptop, Work Station, Netbook, Tablet PC etc, along with the configuration of these computers.