Computer Fundamentals

 Today’s world is an information-rich world and it has become a necessity for everyone to

know about computers. A computer is an electronic data processing device, which accepts

and stores data input, processes the data input, and generates the output in a required

format.

The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you to Computers and its fundamentals.

Functionalities of a Computer

If we look at it in a very broad sense, any digital computer carries out the following five

functions:

Step 1 - Takes data as input.

Step 2 - Stores the data/instructions in its memory and uses them as required.

Step 3 - Processes the data and converts it into useful information.

Step 4 - Generates the output.

Step 5 - Controls all the above four steps.

Advantages of Computers

Following are certain advantages of computers.

High Speed

 Computer is a very fast device.

 It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data.

 The computer has units of speed in microsecond, nanosecond, and even the

pico second.

 It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared to man who

will spend many months to perform the same task.

Accuracy

 In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.

 The calculations are 100% error free.

 Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that the input is correct.

Storage Capability

 Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.

 A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings.

 It can store large amount of data.

 It can store any type of data such as images, videos, text, audio, etc.

Diligence

 Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of

concentration.

 It can work continuously without any error and boredom.

 It can perform repeated tasks with the same speed and accuracy.

Versatility

 A computer is a very versatile machine.

 A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done.

 This machine can be used to solve the problems related to various fields.

 At one instance, it may be solving a complex scientific problem and the very next

moment it may be playing a card game.

Reliability

 A computer is a reliable machine.

 Modern electronic components have long lives.

 Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.

Automation

 Computer is an automatic machine.

 Automation is the ability to perform a given task automatically. Once the computer

receives a program i.e., the program is stored in the computer memory, then the

program and instruction can control the program execution without human

interaction.

Reduction in Paper Work and Cost

 The use of computers for data processing in an organization leads to reduction in

paper work and results in speeding up the process.

 As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required, the problem of

maintenance of large number of paper files gets reduced.

 Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high, it substantially

reduces the cost of each of its transaction.

Disadvantages of Computers

Following are certain disadvantages of computers.

No I.Q.

 A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any task.

 Each instruction has to be given to the computer.

 A computer cannot take any decision on its own.

Dependency

 It functions as per the user’s instruction, thus it is fully dependent on humans.

Environment

 The operating environment of the computer should be dust free and suitable.

No Feeling

 Computers have no feelings or emotions.

 It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and knowledge unlike

humans.