Introduction of Computer

Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as an input from the user and processes it under the control of a set of instructions (called program), produces a result (output), and saves it for future use.

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. 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.

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Advantages of Computers

Following are certain advantages of computers.

1. 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 picosecond.
• ·         It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared to man who will spend many months to perform the same task.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Reliability

• ·         A computer is a reliable machine.
• ·         Modern electronic components have long lives.
• ·         Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.

7. 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.

8. 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.

1. 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.

2. Dependency

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

3. Environment

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

4. No Feeling

·         Computers have no feelings or emotions.

·         It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and knowledge unlike humans.

  Parts of Computers

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