COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
v A Computer is a general purpose
device that can be programmed to carry out a set of arithmetic or logical operations automatically. Since a sequence of operations can be readily
changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem.
v A general
purpose computer has four main components: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), the control unit, the memory, and the input and output devices (collectively termed
I/O).
v The data that is fed into a computer
processor received into the computer by a keyboard or other sources is called Input.
v A computer is an electronic device
that accepts data from the user (input), processes the data by performing calculations and operations on it and generates the desired Output.
v The device which is used with a
computer to display or store data is called Peripherals.
v The mechanical, magnetic, electronic
and electrical components that comprises a computer system such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), monitor, keyboard, etc. is known as Hardware.
v A set of instructions that tells the
computer about the tasks to be performed and how these tasks are to performed, is known as Software.
v An unprocessed collection or representation
of raw facts represented in a manner suitable for communication, interpretation
or processing by humans or by automatic means, is known as Data.
