Introduction

Introduction

Background
Computers are showing up everywhere you look, and even in places you can't see. Computers check out your groceries, pump your gas, dispense money at the ATM, turn the heat on and off, control the way your car runs. They're everywhere! They're everywhere!
In fact, the computer is rapidly becoming, if it hasn't already gotten there, as tightly woven into the fabric of our lives as the automobile. The analogy runs quite deep.
When automobiles were new, many people said "Those smelly, loud, complicated things will never replace the horse!" And "Those things break down in just a few miles, while my faithful horse goes on and on and repairs itself!" Nowadays it's hard to imagine the world without all the variety of four-wheeled, internal combustion vehicles. How many can you name? Sedans, pickup trucks, fire engines, front-end loaders, 4-wheelers, golf carts, bulldozers, cranes, vans, dump trucks... We have an "automobile" for every purpose under heaven - and in different models and colors, too.

So it is with computers. There are different kinds of computers for different purposes. They are just as varied in size, expense, and ability as our more familiar 4-wheeled vehicles are.
Working with computer make life easy, its now possible to carry 10000+ Files & folders in your pocket. It’s easy to maintain filing system using computer no cupboard required to store you files.

What is computer?
A computer is an electronic device that executes the instructions in a program.
Computer is a human created machine. And it can be called logical machine. We have to produce a command to executes e.g. in calculator you can only execute digits with multiplication division add and subtract commands like 44+44 = 88. Idea is same in Computer but we not only deal with digits. We can do a lot using this computer machine as a BASE Station, Scientific research, Designing, Keeping Record (Database), and as a best communication device using internet. Most recent research on computer and its benefits made this easy to realize that computer make life more easy for those who use this machine as a Machine. A computer has four functions:



Input
Processing
Output
Store results


Input
To communicate with computer we need to type or click any available command to process called Input.

Processing
All computers are based on Micro Chip Processor, process of executing the command is performed by processor for e.g. calculation, if you type any number to get the required result typing the digits for further action is called input, when computer process your query using the processor, called processing. Result (Output) is based on the available processor speed.

Output
Output is the result of the input command we made for further processing action.

Store Results.
Compute have a built-in storage media we called Hard Disk, to store you processed documents, we can use this computer to create a documents, save the documents and store this documents using Computer filing system.

Following is the

The Information Processing Cycle

Mouse & Keyboard
Normally we use keyboard and mouse to communicate with computer. We call these devices Input devices.
Left Key to perform a task/query. Right Key is to get more details.
The movement of curser between the Computer screens is possible with mouse/mouse pad. Scrolling the pointer from one to another place with speed is only possible with mose.
Keyboard can be divided into 3 main categories:
1 NUM Pad
2 Alphabets
3 Function Keys
On a laptops keyboard normally 86 to 88 keys are available.

Programs & Documents
Programs are designed for different work fields as per the requirements e.g. MS Office is a program to perform office Usage. It handle writing to creating data base.
Documents are the files we create using Different programs, normally we cant open a document without the appropriate Program. Following are few examples;

Document Application Program
Text files (Report) MS WORD MS Office
Text with Numbers MS EXCEL MS Officer
Picture View/Edit MS Picture Manager MS Officer

We will learn more about Applications & Programs in next training module.