WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

It is an electronic device that works under the control of stored programs to automatically

accept, store and process data into information. Therefore, a computer has the following

characteristics:

 It is electronic:- can only work when there is electricity

 It is a device: a machine

 Is controlled by programs: Works according to instructions, written in computer

language, given by the user for it to perform a specific tasks.

 Is automatic in operation: Can work with minimum or no human intervention.

 Can accept data: data can be entered into the computer through various means and

the computer accepts it.

 Can store data and programs: Data and programs entered into the computer can

be stored for future use.

 Can process data into information

Data and Information

1. Data: refers to raw facts and figures of an activity. It can just be a list of numbers, names

or a combination of these. Data is meaningless and needs to be processed. Data cannot be

used for decision making purposes as it is meaningless.

2. Information: It is data that has been converted into meaningful form. In general it is

processed data. Information can be understood and therefore can be used for decision

making purposes. Information is meaningful. To get relevant information, data entered into

the computer must be relevant, accurate and up-to-date. If data entered into the computer

is wrong (Garbage In) the results will also be wrong (Garbage Out), and is generally

referred to as Garbage-In Garbage-Out (GIGO). It is a rule stating that the quality of the

output is a function of the quality of the input; put garbage in and you get garbage out.

Therefore the accuracy of the results produced by the computer depends on how accurate

the user enters data, functions, formulae and codes program procedures.

The Data Processing Cycle

Computer Generations

Refers to stages through which computers developed from the 1940s to date. These are as

follows:
1. First Generation Computers (1945 -1955): These are the earliest computers that

used valves in controlling machines, e.g. EDVAC, ACE and UNIVAC machines.

These were very large computers, fitting about the size of an average room. They

were programmed in a language understandable by the machine. Such computers

used a lot of electricity and were very expensive to purchase. Only very large

organisation could afford these computers. Such computers were huge, slow,

expensive and often undependable.

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2. Second Generation Computers (1955 -1965): These are computers that used transistors

instead of valves. They were faster, had reduced size, were more reliable and less

expensive.

Transistor

Second generation computers were: faster,

more reliable, smaller, much cheaper to

build, gave off virtually no heat, conduct

electricity faster

3. Third Generation Computers (1965 – 1980): These used integrated circuits e.g. the

IBM (International Business Machines) computers. The integrated circuit, also referred to

as semiconductor chip, packs a huge number of transistors onto a single wafer of silicon.

These computers have increased the power, lowered cost, carry out instructions in

billionths of a second, and smaller.

4. Fourth Generation Computers (1980-1990): The Fourth Generation Computers that

used microprocessors and concentrated on miniaturisation of high processing components.

Fourth Generation Computers are grouped into mainframe, mini, micro and super

computers, depending on their sizes, capabilities and memory size.

Microprocessor

5. Fifth Generation Computers (1990 to date and beyond): These use natural language

and can flexibly interact with the human being. Such systems are used in medical

diagnosis, mineral prospecting and in geological researches. Such computer systems are
capable of human intelligence and are commonly called expert systems.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

The types of computers are: Micro-computers, mainframe computer, super computer

& mini-computer. They can also be digital or analogue computers.

1. Micro Computers: These are computers with a microprocessor inside them and

occupy a small physical space. They are cheap, small, relatively slow and have limited

memory, often single user, easy to use and have low computing power.

Microcomputers include the following:

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a. Desktop Computers: These are computers with a separate CPU and monitor and fit

on a desk during usage. They are relatively cheap. They are easy to add expansion

cards on them. However, they take up large desk space. They are not portable

b. Personal Computers (PC): - These are microcomputers made for use at home for

general purpose, and includes desktop computers. They are cheap, more powerful and

has good storage capacity disks.

Advantages of desktop/PCs

- Low cost

- Spare parts tend to be standardised

- Faster processors, 2.0 GHz

- Large casing allows good dissipation of any heat build-up

Disadvantages

- Not portable

- Take large desk space

- All devices need to be wired together which might be too complex

c. Palmtops: These are portable microcomputers that can fit in the palm and pocket and

are used as diaries and for other small business applications.

They are Handheld Computers that are small enough to be

carried in a pocket and include Personal Digital Assistants

(PDAs) and Cell phones. These are mostly used as diaries,

contacts, etc. PDAs and all palmtops are portable. However,

they are expensive and have limited expansion. They are

even slow to input data using them.

d. Laptops (Notebook computers): - These are portable computers that use an internal

battery for power and can be placed on laps during usage. The keyboard, pointing

device, monitor and processor are all designed as one unit. They have LCD (Liquid

Crystal Display) screens which are not as bright as most Monitors.

Laptop computer

Laptops are small like a briefcase and are portable

and can be used in areas where there is no

electricity. They have light weight and are battery

powered. They consume less electricity. The

processor does produce too much heat. They also

do not have trailing wires as everything is in one

unit. They can take full advantage of WIFI.

However, laptops can easily get stolen, they need

recharging from time to time, some find it difficult

to use the laptop keyboard and inbuilt mouse, and

they are even expensive to buy and to repair. They

also have limited expandability and docking

stations. Laptops are more subject to wear and tear

due to portability. They can also be stolen easily.

e. Netbook Computer: These are smaller versions of laptops, they can almost fit in a

hand and do not have optical devices (CD/DVD drive) on them. Their benefits and

problems are similar to those of laptops. However, they are cheaper and they have a

weakness that they do not have optical devices.

f. Tablet Personal Computers: Type of notebook that accepts input from an

electronic pen

‘O’ Level Computer Studies Notes-ZIMSEC Syllabus

Tablet PCs (a) Slate model (b) Convertible model

For schools and school children, laptops have the following advantages:

- Users can save data in their own storage area wherever they are.

- Users can get any networked software wherever they are.

- School needs fewer printers.

- Users do not need to keep using the same machine.

- Users can access school intranet from anywhere.

- Users can access Internet from anywhere.

- Users do not need to carry CD ROMs.

- It is easier to communicate with.

- Can email work to teachers even from home.

- Staff can monitor students easily.

- Students and teachers can share files and notes easily.

However, the following problems may arise:

- Work can be hacked into more easily.

- If no convenient network point, users cannot work.

- It is expensive to buy many network cards.

- If server goes down users cannot work.

- Students can use Internet inappropriately, for instance watching pornography.

- Viruses can be downloaded easily.

- Costs of updating or replacing server are high.

*NB: - Microprocessor: A small execution chip found on microcomputers and other

devices used to process data and to control other devices. It contains registers, Control unit

and the Arithmetic and Logic Unit.

- Microcomputers perform general purposes like word-processing, processing small

amounts of data, playing music, etc. However, these days, microcomputers can also be

used in large organisations because of improved efficiency in their usage.

2. Mini-Computers: these are in-between mainframe computers and microcomputers

computers. They are bigger than micro-computers. They allow more than one user. Have
more computing power. They are suitable for large business organisations like in banks

where they process client accounts. They are however less powerful than mainframes.

Allows several terminals with multi-tasking, few printers and larger storage location. They

include mid-range server and workstations and process large amounts of data.

3. Mainframe Computers: these are large and powerful computer systems. They are

mostly used in large organisations like banks and where bulk data processing is needed

such as census, industry/consumer statistics, and financial transaction processing. They

have the following features:

- they can have several CPUs,

- have very fast processor speed

- can support multiple operating systems

‘O’ Level Computer Studies Notes-ZIMSEC Syllabus

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- have huge storage capacity

- have huge internal memory

- can operate using time sharing or batch processing

- Allows several users and can accommodate multiple processors.

- They are very large and expensive.

Mainframe computers

These are very big in size

and extremely fast. They

have very large memory

capacity and can be used in

educational designs.

However, because of their

size, they are not portable

and are permanently housed

in a large room. They are

also expensive to maintain

and to operate.
4. Super Computers: These are very powerful computers that are used to perform detailed

calculations and for design purposes, for example, modelling of aircraft wings, testing

bombs, etc. They are the fastest and most expensive computers

Supercomputer

*NB:- The classification of computers as micro, mini, mainframes and super computers

have become blared due to recent technological advancements since a microcomputer can

now perform all functions that were believed to be for mainframes.

Classification of computers can also be made relating to the use of the computer, as

follows:

(a) General Purpose Computers: - these are computers that can be used to perform a

number of functions like playing music, playing games, payroll processing and so on.

(b) Special Purpose Computers: - These are computers that are designed to perform one

task only, for example, to monitor patients in hospital.

(c) Analogue Computers: these handle data in continuously varying form.

(d) Digital Computers: Handle data in discrete values; that is in 0s and 1s