PCN1Beast

unit of measure of storage in a computer

2020-06-09T11:37:00.001+05:30

what is the Unit of measure of storage in a computer? I have no doubt you've heard the terms gigabyte, terabyte, and petabyte before, but what does each of these computer memory units mean?

Each of the computer's memory units, such as bytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and petabytes, is used to store information in the digital world but is sometimes confused with phrases such as megabytes and gigabytes.

Knowing exactly what each of these terms means (and how they relate to each other) is especially important when comparing the amount of hardware, tablets, and flash drives that can be stored.

This also applies when you are shopping online and want to compare data transfer rates.

unit of measure of storage in a computer

Byte:

In general, it is the smallest storage unit. Consider that a byte is equivalent to a character. So to save the word ZOOM IT, you will need 6 bytes of space. Because bytes are small units, in the real world, larger units such as kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes are used to measure stored information.

Explanation: Technically, there is a unit smaller than bytes called a bit (b). The unit used to store zero or one digitally is a state of information that can be understood by a computer. A byte is actually a string of eight bits. In other words, a byte is made by placing 8 bits next to it.

The bit unit is usually used to display the data transfer speed over long distances. For example, Bit Per Per Second is used to display Internet speed. In contrast, bytes are mostly used to display the size and volume of data. When it comes to storage space, it's best to use bytes.

Kilobyte

According to the definition, each kilobyte (KB) is equal to 1024 bytes. In different cases, for convenience, each kilobyte is assumed to be equal to 1000 bytes.

Megabyte

By definition, each MB is equivalent to 1024,000 bytes (or 1,024 kilobytes), which is assumed to be one million bytes for convenience.

Gigabyte

According to the definition, each gigabyte (GB) is equivalent to one billion bytes (1024 MB).

Explanation: In addition to GIGABYTE, there is another unit called glblbyte or GiB, which is equivalent to 1,073,741,824 bytes. The JEDEC standard considers one gigabyte to be the equivalent of the same amount of bytes.

This standard is defined by Microsoft and is used by the Windows operating system. In fact, this is the reason for the difference between the nominal volume and the actual size of the memory.

For example, if a 500GB hard drive is formatted by Windows, its size would be 465GB. The actual volume is constant, the difference is only in the definition of the gigabyte unit.

Terabyte: By definition, each terabyte (TB) is equivalent to one thousand billion bytes (or 1024 GB).

Currently, the maximum size of 3.5-inch hard drives (available on desktops) is 4 terabytes. The storage space of most computers is between 120 GB and 2 TB. This space varies between 8 and 120 GB on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Explanation: In general, each photo taken with an iPhone camera is a maximum of 2 MB And a song takes up 5 MB of space. That means a CD with a capacity of 700 MB can hold up to 350 iPhone photos or 140 songs.

The actual size of files may vary depending on various factors, such as the type of compression or format. But according to an obvious and unwritten rule, the higher or longer the quality of the file, the larger the storage will be.

A 10-minute podcast requires between 4 and 10 MB of space. While a 10-minute high-quality video requires a space of a few hundred megabytes or a few gigabytes.

Memory and storage

The two terms "storage and memory" may be used interchangeably in different cases. But the two words are very different.

Storage: In short, storage is about the place where various information such as photos, images, text files, software, etc. are placed. On a computer, the operating system (Windows, Mac, etc.) is also stored in the internal storage (hard disk).

Storage space is volatile. This means that with the shutdown of the host device (computer), the information is still stored in the device and does not disappear, and with the launch of the computer, the information is accessible again. Exactly like a book or notebook that can always be read and written.

Memory: Memory is known by other letters such as RAM, Random Memory Access, and so on. Memory is where software data must be placed to run.

The data in the memory or RAM is volatile. This means that when the device is turned off, the information in it will be erased and the memory will be empty. As if there was no information in it.

This memory is something like the short-term memory of the human mind. Short-term memory processes texts and images during activities such as reading and writing, but immediately after stopping work, the information is erased and the next activity is noticed.

Explanation: When the computer is turned on, much of the boot time is spent transferring the operating system from the internal storage space (for example, the hard disk) to the memory (RAM).

After completing this process, the operating system will be ready to serve and execute user commands. Despite the difference between storage space and memory, there is a strong relationship between the two.

For example, a Word file you are working on is stored in the device's RAM, but after you save it, a copy of it is copied to the computer's storage space.

When the software is completely closed, only one copy of the file will be available in the storage space, and the copy will not be available in RAM unless you run the software again. All of this means that you don't really experience or see the storage space.

What is provided to you through the display screen or speaker is provided by RAM. but before that, it should be stored from your device's storage space in memory. The more and faster the computer's memory, the sooner the software will be ready for use.

In addition, more work can be done with a computer at any time (multitasking). In general, RAM is much smaller than storage space. Most computers now come with 2 to 8 GB of memory, and you don't need more than that.

Of course, RAM is more expensive than storage space. Remember that memory is only one factor in computer performance. Storage space is another factor that can be a hard drive or SSD.

What is computer memory? - SharifaVnazari

2020-06-08T13:06:00.002+05:30

what is computer memory? - Computer memory is a general term used for different types of computer memory. Each of these memories has its own technology and includes various applications such as RAM or ROM or flash memory.

In simpler terms, Any device that has the ability to keep and store data in such a way that computer components can access its data at any time is called memory.

Computer memory is a place to store and maintain data. Computer memory is very diverse in terms of type, technology, performance, and price, among other computer components, because none of the technologies available in memory construction alone can meet and satisfy all the needs of computer users.

Therefore, each computer system is equipped with a hierarchy of types of memory to optimally respond to all computer processes.

In this article, we will explain in detail what computer memory is and also introduce different types of memory in computers.

Some computer memories are designed to be very fast, meaning that the main processor has access to the information in that memory. Other types of memory are designed for low cost and low speed, so they can store large amounts of data.

Other differences in computer memory include non-volatile types, so they can store a lot of data even if the power is cut off.

Another type of memory is volatile memory, which is generally faster, but all of its data is lost after the power is cut off, and when the device is turned on again, it starts storing data.

A computer system is built to use both types of memory, and an accurate configuration can quickly process data as well as lower the cost of permanently storing data.

Types of computer memory: Primary and secondary

Although there are different types of computer memory, the main difference between them is the main memory and the secondary memory, All of which are commonly referred to as memory. But the main difference is their speed in exchanging information.

primary memory: Includes ROM and RAM that are close to the main processor. A quick reading of information by the processor is done through the main memory. The main memory stores information that the processor uses every moment, so there should be no delay.

Secondary memory: Compared to the main memory, it is physically a separate memory that has different types such as hard drive or dry memory.

These memories can be installed both directly and online on a computer system. The cost of each gigabyte of secondary memory is very cheap, but the speed of reading and writing in these memories is much slower.

Over the past decades, as computer memory has evolved, so has a large number of structures and tasks.

There are two main types of main memory:

RAM: Random Access Memory
ROM: Read Only Memory

Now take a deep look at both types of main memory

1. RAM

As the name implies, this includes data that is stored randomly and accessed randomly.

The important point in this memory is its very high speed in writing as well as in reading, but the data is volatile and in the end, it is an expensive memory that has a higher price compared to all secondary memories. That's why computers use a combination of this memory and secondary memory.

The data required for processing is transferred to AMRAM, which is accessed instantly and quickly, so the processor does not have to wait for the necessary data to reach it.

When data is not needed for processing, it is set aside and stored in secondary memory, leaving RAM space for later use.

Types of RAM

DRAM: The word DRAM stands for Dynamic RAM and is a very common type of RAM used in computers. The oldest type of memory is SDR (Single Data Rate), but newer computers use the newer model of these memories (DDR (Dual Data Rate).

There are also different versions of this model, including DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, DDR5. These versions each have better performance and lower power consumption than the previous version.

Each of the DDR versions is separate, which means you can't have a combination of DDR2 and DDR3 versions. Each DRAM has a transistor and capacitor in each cell.

The word SRAM stands for Static RAM and is a special type of random memory. This memory is faster and more expensive than DRAM and has 6 transistors per cell.

For some reason, this memory is used in the processor as a cache, and its other use is in powerful and fast servers. Even a small amount of memory in the cache improves the speed of CPU processing.

The main difference between DRAM and SRAM is their conversion speed, Normally, SRAM is two or three times faster, but that speed eventually leads to more cost.

SRAM memory with megabytes of capacity and DRAM with gigabit capacity is currently on sale.

DRAM consumes more energy than SRAM because DRAM needs to update its information more often.

ROM

The word ROM stands for Read-Only Memory, As the name implies, it can only read the information inside it. Information cannot be written in this memory.

This memory has a high speed that is installed on the motherboard and next to the processor.

The ROM is a non-volatile type, and the information inside it remains after the power is cut off. For example, when the computer is turned off, the data inside it does not disappear.

It is very similar to secondary memory and can be used to store data for a long time. When the computer is turned on, the data is read from the ROM. This is done by the processor without the intervention of complex software and instructions.

The ROM contains the bootstrap code, which is the basic instructions needed to boot the operating system from the secondary memory to the main memory so that the system can be used.

ROMs are also used to store the firmware of electronic devices so that they can be used as soon as they are turned on.

Types of ROM

ROMs are also made in several different models, including PROM, EPROM, EEPROM.

PROM: The word PROM stands for Programmable ROM and is different from ROM, meaning that its structure is different from ROM memory written on it when the program was created, so PROM is a blank memory and is later filled by the PROM programmer...

EPROM: The word EPROM stands for Erasable PROM, and as its name suggests, the data stored in it can be deleted and can be rewritten.

There is a unique way to clear this memory so that to erase its data, this memory must be opened from the computer and placed under ultraviolet light so that it can be programmed again.

EEPROM: The word EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM, and its advantage over EPROM and PROM is the ability to clear and rewrite data on the system on which it is installed.

In this case, EEPROM is not just readable memory, and in most cases, the writing process is very slow, and in practice, they are only used to update program codes such as BIOS and firmware. Flash memory is also EEPROM.

Types of secondary memory

It includes a large number of storage media that are directly connected to the computer system.

These memories include:

Hard disk drive or HDD
Dry SSD memory
DVD or CD or BlueRay optical drives
Cassette
Floppy

Secondary memories also include:

3DNAND array memory that connects to the network via SAN.
A memory that is connected through a conventional network is Also known as NAS

Difference between ROM and RAM

ROM:

Non-volatile
Fast reading
You can't write data on it fast
Used to hold boot and firmware codes
It is more expensive than RAM

RAM:

Volatile
Fast in reading and writing
It is cheaper than ROM memory but more expensive than secondary memory.

In recent years, a new type of memory has been created, the 3D XPoint type, which has slightly distorted the equations in different types of memory.

This memory is more expensive, but it is faster than secondary memory and slower than RAM, and it is also a non-volatile type.

This means that it can sometimes be used as intermittent RAM in a system that requires a large amount of RAM, but building such a system using RAM will be very costly, as will database hosting systems.

At the end of the diagram, you will see the types of memory.

There are two other types of memory in a computer system: buffer memory and CMOS.

Buffer memory: This memory is used to interact with the processor with peripherals such as the printer because the print speed is very slow, so the information is first stored in the buffer and then printed by the printer, respectively.

CMOS Memory: This word stands for Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor,

It has 64 bytes of memory used to store system BIOS information.

Information such as the date and system settings are stored on this chip. The chip is powered by a connected battery. The battery lasts for about 10 years and then needs to be replaced.

What is a computer network?

2020-05-22T18:17:00.000+05:30

In general, computer networks are distinguished by their geographical scope.

A network can be as small as a distance between a mobile phone and its Bluetooth headphones, or as large as the Internet, which covers all parts of the globe.

A network is a group of people or objects that can share information and communicate with each other.

What is a computer network?

A computer network is a set of connected computers. Computers on a network are called nodes.

The connection between computers can be done via cabling, most commonly the Ethernet cable, or wirelessly through radio waves.

Connected computers can share resources, like access to the internet, printers, file servers, and others. A network is a multipurpose connection which allows a single computer to do more.

Types of computer networks

There are many different types of networks, which can be used for different purposes and by different types of people and organizations.

PAN (Personal area network)

PAN is the smallest and most basic type of network. This network is also part of computer networks that are limited to one person for communication between different computer devices (including telephone, personal digital assistant).

These devices may or may not belong to the intended person. Access to PAN is generally limited to a few meters.

PANs can be used to communicate between multiple devices (interpersonal communication) or to connect to a higher-end network and the Internet.

PANs maybe connected to a computer's BUS via wire, such as USB and Firewire. Wireless PANs can be set up through wireless technologies such as IrDA and Bluetooth.

LAN (local area network)

Most likely, you have already heard the name of this type of network. LANs are one of the most widely used networks, and they are one of the main and simplest types of networks. Ethernet and Wi-Fi are two common technologies on local networks.

A local area network is a computer network that covers a small geographical area, such as a house, an office, or a group of buildings.

Compared to broadband networks (WANs), the defined specifications of local area networks are their much higher speed (transmission rate), smaller geographical area, and no need for telecommunication leased lines.

Features of LANs

Features of this type of network include high speed and efficiency and short distances (maximum several hundred meters). In these networks, the number of customers is limited and the network is limited to one organization and one or more buildings next to each other.

Some of the topologies related to the local area, networks are as follows: Linear Topology (BUS), Ring Topology, and Star Topology.

WLAN (wireless local area network)

(WLAN) is a wireless computer network that connects two or more devices using a wireless connection, To create a local area network (LAN) in a limited area such as home, school, computer lab, university, office building, etc.

These networks perform similarly to LANs, except that they use wireless networking technology such as Wi-Fi.

The use of these networks is usually the same as the local networks. The only difference is that in this type of network, devices do not depend on physical cables to connect to the network.

TAN (Tutorial assistance network)

A TAN is a network that is formed of very small networks, such as two, three, or four nodes. For example, the TAN network is more common in homes.

With the help of this type of network, family members can share their resources such as printers, modems and files among children, parents' computers, and perhaps the quality computer of one of the parents in the office.

CAN (Campus area network)

These networks are larger than LAN networks but smaller than urban networks (MAN described below). They are commonly used in universities, schools, or small businesses.

These networks can spread across several buildings that are somewhat close to each other; So that users can share their resources.

MAN (metropolitan area network)

A MAN, or urban network it is a network designed for a city and it can be said that the city network or MAN covers a city.

The best example of an urban network is a cable television network that exists in many cities.

This system is due to the growth of anti-primary systems that have been used for areas where it was difficult to receive television programs

In these early systems, a large antenna was installed on top of a hill, and signals were sent to subscribers' homes. MANs cover more areas than LANs but are smaller than WANs.

MAN network features

More complexity than local area networks
Ability to send audio and video
Ability to make connections between computer networks

WAN (wide area network)

WAN stands for (wide area network), It is a communication network that covers a wide geographical area such as a city, province, or country.

These types of computer networks have their own unique characteristics that distinguish them from a local network.

A WAN consists of a series of interconnected LANs scattered over different geographical areas and a device called the Router Establishes a connection between these LANs.

In TCP / IP-based computer networks, routers store addresses in the LAN and WAN.

Benefits of WAN

The coverage area of these computer networks is large and provides communication between countries.
The volume of information exchanged on these computer networks is high.
It can accept MAN and LAN networks as subnets.

Internetwork

A network of networks is commonly referred to as the Internet or internetwork, which is the largest network on earth.

The Internet connects all WANs and it can also connect to local and home networks.

The Internet uses the TCP / IP protocol package and uses IP as the addressing protocol. Today, the Internet makes extensive use of IPv4, but due to the lack of address space created, it is migrating from IPv4 to IPv6.

The Internet enables users to share or access large amounts of information around the world.

It also uses various services such as www, file transfer protocol (FTP), email, audio and video playback, and so on. At a higher level, the Internet works as a client-server model.

The Internet uses very high-speed fiber-optic infrastructure. To communicate between different continents, fibers are pulled under the sea, known as submarine communication cables.

The Internet is widely deployed on global web services () using HTML-linked pages and is accessible through user-friendly software known as web browsers.

When a user requests a page (using a web browser available on some web servers anywhere in the world), the webserver responds with a suitable HTML page and the communication delay is very low.

The Internet offers many services and is involved in many aspects of life. Some of them are:

Websites
E-mail
Immediate messages
blogging
social media
Marketing
Network
Resource sharing
Audio and video streams

What is a Computer? - All you need to know as a beginner

2020-05-07T17:51:00.000+05:30

If anybody asks you; what is a computer? what would be your answer?

Nowadays, computers are an integral part of our lives. They are used for various purposes like reservation of tickets in airplanes and railway, payment of telephone and electricity bills, in banks, in weather forecasting, diagnosis of diseases, searching for information on the internet, and etc.

They are extensively used in schools, colleges, and universities, movie & music industry, scientific research, fashion industry, etc.

If you have made the decision to enter the massive world of technology and to learn everything you must regarding what a computer is, then you have taken a great and golden decision because nowadays computers have become one of the most important parts of our day to day life as I have mentioned it above as well.

If you look at around the world, there would be fewer people who are unfamiliar with computers and don't know what are computers because of some reason, but there would be the biggest number of people having access and are familiar with computers worldwide.

What is a computer?

The term "Computer" is derived from the word 'Compute'. The word compute means to calculate.

what is a computer - In the short term, a computer is an electronic machine that stores data (information) to work with and gives out the result. It can store, retrieve, and process data.

A computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful information. Data can be anything like marks obtained by you in various subjects. it can also be a name, age, sex, weight, height, etc. of all the students in a class.

Computers can also be defined in terms of functions it can perform. A computer can:

. Accept data
. Store data
. Process data as desired
. Retrieve the stored data as and when required
. And print the result in the desired format.

Characteristics of a computer

The Major Characteristics of a computer are high speed, accuracy, diligence, versatility, and storage.

Speed

The computer is a very fast device. It can process data at the rate of millions of instructions per second. Some calculations require hours and days to complete but the computer can complete in a few seconds.

Accuracy

The computer is an accurate device. It can process large amounts of data and generate error-free results.

Storage

A large volume of data can be stored in the computer and retrieved whenever required. We can store any type of data on a computer. A limited amount of data can be stored temporarily in the primary memory.

Versatility

The computer is versatile in nature. it can perform different types of work within the same ease. For example, at one moment, we can use a computer to prepare a letter and at the next moment, we can play music or print a document.

Diligence

The computer does not get tired when used for a longer period. It can perform long and complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy.

Now that you have got some basic idea of what a computer is, are you ready to move a step further and discover more and most knowledge you have gotta learn besides knowing what is a computer?

History of computer

Until the development of the 1St generation computers based on vacuum tubes, there had been several developments in the computing technology related to mechanical computing devices. The key developments that took place are as follows:

Calculating Machine

ABACUS was the first mechanical calculating device for counting large numbers. It is a calculating board consisting of bars with beads in a horizontal position.

Napier's bones

Napier's bone was a mechanical device built for the purpose of multiplication in 1617 AD by an English mathematician John Napier.

Slide Rule

was developed by an English mathematician Edmund Gunter in the 16th century. using slide rule one could perform operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. it was used extensively till the late 1970s.

Punch Card System

Was developed by Jacquard to control the power loom in 1801. he invented the punch card render that could recognize the presence of a hole in the punched card as binary one and absence of hole as binary zero. The 0's and 1's are the basis of modern digital computers.

Babbage Analytical Machine

An English man Charles Babbage built a mechanical to do complex calculations in the year 1823. The machine was called a different machine. Charles Babbage is also known as "Father of Computers".

The developments discussed above resulted in the development of the first computers in 1940.

Generations of computer

First Generation (1940 - 1956) Vaccum Tubes

The first generation used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and was often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.

First-generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. The input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.

UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.

Second generation (1956 - 1963) Transistors

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s.

The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient, and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors.

Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output.

Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.

These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology. the first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry.

Third generation (1964 - 1971) Integrated Circuits

The development of an integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors which drastically the speed and efficiency of computers.

Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.

Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.

Fourth generation (1971 - Present) Microprocessor

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip, Which in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand.

The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer - from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls - on a single chip.

In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Machintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors.

As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse, and handheld devices.

Fifth-Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence

Fifth-generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today.

The uses of parallel processing and superconductors are helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come.

The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.

Classification of computers

Computers differ based on their data processing abilities. They are classified according to purpose, data handling, and functionality. Based on the size, computers are classified as the following:

Super Computers

The fastest and most powerful type of computer is the supercomputer. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations.

For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers include animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration.

Mainframe Computer

It is a very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously.

These computers are used in large companies, factories, organizations, etc. in these computers 150 users can work on one CPU. The mainframes can process 1 to 8 bits at a time.

Mini Computer

Minicomputer is a midsized computer. In size and power, minicomputers lie between workstations and mainframes.

They are versatile that they can be fitted where ever they are needed. But in general, a minicomputer is a multiprocessing system capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 users simultaneously.

Microcomputer or Personal computer

These are the smallest range of computers. They were introduced in the early 70s having less storing space and processing speed. The term "microcomputer" was introduced with the advent of the single-chip microprocessors.

These computers include:

. Desktop computer: a personal or micro-mini computer sufficient to fit on a desk.

. Laptop Computer: a portable computer complete with an integrated screen and keyboard. It is generally smaller in size than a desktop computer and larger than a notebook computer.

. Palmtop Computer/Digital Diary/Notebook/PDAs: a hand-sized computer. Palmtops have no keyboard but the screen serves both as an input and output device.

Basic parts of a computer

Monitor
Keyboard
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Mouse
Speaker
Printer

Before we transition into defining these devices it is important to know some other devices that can be connected to a computer

Input devices

input devices are the devices that we connect to the computer to input data. It can send data to another device but it cannot receive data from the other device. Such as:

Keyboard and mouse - accepts input from a user and sends that data (input) to the computer, but can not accept or reproduce the information (output) from the computer.

Keyboard

A keyboard is basically a board of keys. Along with the mouse, the keyboard is one of the primary input devices used with a computer.

This keyboard layout is known as QWERTY design, which gets its name from the first six letters across in the upper-left-hand corner of the keyboard.

Mouse

A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on your computer screen. It is small oblong and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail. Some mice are wireless.

A mouse usually has 2 buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button (usually the right button).

Many mice also have a wheel between the two buttons, which allows you to scroll smoothly through screens of information.

Scanner

A scanner is a device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazines, pages, etc and converts it into digital format.

They are typically scanned as images (like pictures) and stored in TIFF, GIF, or JPG format. It can also be scanned into the portable document format (PDF)

Processing device

When a computer receives data from an input (e.g. Keyboard), The data goes through an intermediate stage before it is sent to an output device (e.g. Monitor). A device that helps a computer to do so is called the processing device. The processing device in a computer is known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit).

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

Stands for "Central Processing Unit", and acts as the brain of a computer. The CPU is the primary component of a computer that processes instructions.

It runs the operating system and applications, constantly receiving input from the user or active software programs. It processes the data and produces output, which may be stored by an application or displayed on the screen.

Output devices

Output devices are those that give us information from the computer such as;

Monitor - Receives data from a computer (output) and displays that information as text and images for users to view. It cannot accept data from a user and send that data to another device.

Printer, Speaker, Projector, etc are examples of output devices.

Monitor

A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the Screen. A computer screen can show still or moving pictures.

Types of monitors

There are 2 basic types of monitors: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much lighter and thinner. CRT monitors, however, are generally more affordable.

Printer

A printer is a peripheral device, which is attached to the computer to produce written material or graphics on paper or other print material. Printers are one of the most used peripherals on computers used to print text, images, and photos.

Types of printers

. Dot Matrix Printer

. Inkjet Printer

. Laser Printer

. Thermal Printer

. Line Printer

Speaker

Speakers are one of the most common output devices used with a computer system. Speakers are transducers that convert electromagnetic waves into sound waves. Regardless of their design, the purpose fo printers are to produce audio output that can be heard by the listener.

Storage devices

A storage device refers to computing hardware used to store information permanently or temporarily. The device can be external or internal to a computer, server, and other computing systems.

Let's get to know some of the storage devices of a computer

Remember that there are two types of storage devices: Primary Storage devices and Secondary storage devices.

primary Storage device: Is a storage device that loses its contents when the computer or hardware device loses power. Such as; RAM, Cache memory, etc

Secondary Storage device: Is a storage device that keeps its contents even if the power is lost. Such as; Hard disk, Compact Disk Drive, USB storage device

Hard drive

An internal hard drive is the main storage device on a computer. An external hard drive is also known as a removable hard drive. It is used to store portable data and backups.

CD-R and CD-RW disc – CD-R

It is a recordable disc that can be written to once, while CD-RW is a rewritable disc that can be written multiple times.

USB flash drive, jump drive, or thumb drive

It is a small, portable storage device connected through the USB port.

Hardware and Software

Hardware refers to the different parts of the computer. The hardware consists of both input and output devices. It is the parts of the computer that we can see and touch such as:
Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Printer, CPU, Hard disk, RAM, ROM, Speaker and etc.

Hardware Parts

Components

The hardware parts of the computer which are connected to the motherboard directly without the help of any wire are called components such as; Bios ROM, Processor, RAM, and...

Peripheral

Peripheral devices are connected to the computer externally. These devices are used for performing some specific functions. Peripheral devices are as follow:

1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
3. Other peripherals

Software

Software is a set of programs or instructions given to a computer to perform a specific task. It is mainly of two types: System Software and Application Software.

System Software

The system software is a program that manages and supports the operation of a computer system. It executes various tasks, such as processing data and information, controlling hardware components, and allowing users to use application software.

Windows, Unix, AIX, HP-Unix, Solaris, Macintosh, Linux, Windows Explorer, Windows Media Player, Anti-Virus Utilities, Disk Fragmentation, Disk-clean, Back up, Win-Zip, etc are examples of System Software.

Application Software

Application Software is a computer program designed to help the user to perform different tasks. It includes programs such as, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, presentation, E-mail, Web Browsing, etc.

Computer Virus

A virus is a program that is loaded onto a computer without the user’s knowledge. It self-replicates and infects a computer.

A virus corrupts or deletes data on the computer and spreads itself to other computers. It may even erase everything on the hard disk.

Types of computer viruses

Malicious

Malicious is any software that enters into a computer and damages it without the knowledge of the user.

Spyware

Spyware is a type of malware that is installed on computers and collects information about users without their knowledge.

Worm

A worm is a special type of virus that makes copies over and over and uses memory but cannot add itself to other programs.

Trojan Horse

Trojan horse is a simple program that pretends to be a useful application while it always does something destructive. It is not self-replicating. A Trojan can spread only when it is copied to another system.

Classification of computer viruses

A virus can be broadly classified into three categories: boot virus, program file virus, and macro virus.

Boot virus affects the boot sector of both hard disks and floppy disks.
Program file viruses infect executable program files.
The macro virus affects macros in Word documents.

How to protect your computer from viruses

A virus can cause problems in a computer in many ways such as: deleting or damaging files, frequent hanging of the system, etc. If the computer is behaving strangely, it could be infected or have malware installed.

Use an antivirus app

Antivirus software is a computer program that detects, prevents, and takes action to disarm or remove malicious software programs, such as viruses and worms. to prevent viruses from getting into your computer, you have to install an antivirus app on your computer.

Antivirus apps scan for viruses, spyware, and other malware trying to get into your email, operating system, or files. New threats can appear daily, so check the antimalware manufacturer's website frequently for updates.

you can either buy antivirus online from google play store, you can get them free as well, or you can buy one from a computer shop or other places. But be very careful, you cannot trust every and any type of antiviruses, especially if you install one from google play store for free.

If you are installing a free online antivirus from google play store, there's often the possibility of letting the virus into your computer yourself. Before buying any type of antivirus, you should do some researches about the product you are going to buy or install.

Don't open email messages from unfamiliar senders, or email attachments that you don't recognize

Many viruses are attached to email messages and will spread as soon as you open the attachment. It's best not to open any attachment unless it's something you're expecting.

Avoid suspicious websites

A lot of times websites will notify you if you are about to enter a website that attempts to install or run a program on your computer but not always. Avoid websites such as those.

Minimize downloads

Make sure your Web browser’s security settings are high enough to detect unauthorized downloads. For Internet Explorer, the medium-security setting is the minimum level to use.

Conclusion

I hope that I could have given you the exact and detailed information on what is a computer and every other topic related to a computer that every beginner must know before they jump into an advanced level.

As you may or may not know that the scope of computers is not that small and we can't say that these much of information you have gained on the topic of what is a computer, is enough and everything.

There are still many other things you require to study and learn once you have made up your mind not to skip it until you become a master of it and create a huge and remarkable change in it.