Function of a Computer | Components of Computer | Computer Usage | Computer Fundamentals

Computer Fundamentals

A computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from users and processes it under a set of (program) control, produces results, and saves it for future use.

Today's world is an information world and it has become very important for everyone to know about computers. A computer is an electronic data processing device that accepts data input, processes data input, and produces output in a required format.


Function of a Computer 

A computer is an electronic device that accepts data, processes data and generates output and stores this data.

The concept of a computer is to generate output information from input data.

Understand the input-process-output concept of a computer as follows-

Input:

The computer accepts input data from input devices such as keyboards. The input data can be character, word, text, sound, image, document, etc.

Process:

The computer processes the input data. For this, the user performs some action on the data using the given instruction or program.

This action can be arithmetic or logical calculation, editing, modifying the document, etc.

During processing, data, instruction and output are stored in the computer's main memory.

Output:

Only the results generated after processing the data are output. This can be in the form of output text, sound, image, document etc.

Output is displayed on a computer monitor, where it goes to softcopy, printers are taken from the printer, where is it called hardcopy.

Storage:

Input data, instruction and output are stored permanently in secondary storage devices such as disks or tapes. This store data can be retrieved later, whenever necessary.

Components of Computer Hardware 

Computer system hardware consists of three main components -

  • Input / Output (I / O) Unit
  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Memory unit

Input / Output Unit

The user interacts with the computer through the I / O unit. The input unit accepts the data from the user and receives the processed data as output devices which are information for the users.

The computer understands the language of binary (0 and 1), which we cannot understand. Therefore, the computer can understand the data received from the input unit users by converting such forms. Similarly, the output unit converts the output into a form that the user can understand.

Common input devices are keyboard and mouse while common output devices have monitors and printers.

Central Processing Unit


The Central Processing Unit (CPU) controls, coordinates and supervises the operation of the computer. It is responsible for the processing of input data. The CPU consists of Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU).

ALU performs all arithmetic and logic operations on the input data.

The CU controls the overall operation of the computer, ie it checks the execution frequency of the instruction, and controls and coordinates the overall function of the computer unit.

In addition, the memory unit stores the results of data, instruction, address, and calculation in the CPU during data processing. This memory is also known as the computer's main memory or primary memory.

Input data is brought into this main memory before processing. The instruction required for data processing and any intermediate results are also stored in the main memory. Output is stored in memory before being transferred to the output device.

The CPU can work with store information in main memory. Another type of storage unit is also known as the secondary memory of a computer. Data, programs and outputs are stored permanently in the storage unit of the computer. Secondary storage consists of hard disk, optical disc and magnet tape.

Computer Usage:

Due to high speed, diligence, accuracy, reliability and versatility in computers, it has become an integrated part of business organization along with our lives.

Computers have become an essential part of modern human life. Since the invention of computer, their computing power increased and size decreased.

Due to the widespread use of computers in every field, life without computers would be unimaginable in today's world. They have made human life better and happier. Computer use in various fields of work are numerous. Engineers, architects, jewelers and filmmakers all use computers to design.

Teachers, writers and most of the office workers use computers for research, word processing and emailing. Small businesses can use computers as point-of-sale and for general record keeping.

1) Use of Computer in Education:

Schools and colleges around the world have used computer technologies to digitally and creatively teach students with digitization. In the classroom, computers are used to increase creativity and imagination in the minds of students.

Drawing tools, spreadsheets, audio, video lectures and power point presentations, etc., are very beneficial for students to get to know the subject more deeply and accurately.

As you know education is most important in our life. Computers rebuilt the education system. Universities, colleges and almost all types of education institutes are using computers. Many colleges and universities are also running online degree programs for college students.

2) Use of Computer in Business:

Using a computer with an Internet connection we can start a business, run a business and manage the business, and we can develop a business using a computer.

Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, Alibaba etc. are all websites made using computer and internet.

Without the use of computer technologies, we cannot imagine a daily business operation around the world. In the early days when the first mechanical computer invented by Charles Babbage was used only to control the business system and it extended the business process correctly. But today everything is controlled and managed by computer

Businesses and companies use computers to create marketing and business plans, they use computers to record customer data, they use computers to manage products and services, and more.

A computer with an internet connection is really important for the business. Now they can do internet marketing, they can sell products and services online. They can manage; Employees around the world can hire using computers and the Internet.

Using computers in business is helping companies grow their customer base rapidly.

The use of computers is also challenging for companies and small business owners. As customers have many options to choose the best product or services using the Internet.

Today a person can start his business from home. Freelancing is a great example of this. Freelancers are working away from home using computers and the Internet.

Making money using a computer is not so difficult now, but for this you just need to become a master in some application or programming language.

3) Use of computers in hospitals:

The use of computers in hospitals provides many benefits for doctors and patients. Hospitals can create a database of medical records, records of treatment of their patients.

Doctors are using a computer to detect patients' illnesses. They are taking help of various medical applications of computer and hardware devices. The computer and its applications are used for conducting research on disease, blood test, and urin test, brain test, and body scanning, etc.

4) Use of computer in banking sector:

Banks are using daily computers to fast and accrue customer demand. Banks are using computers to deposit money in their customer's account. The cashier enters the customers' account numbers in their banking application, they first confirm the account number and customer details and then enter the deposit amount into the banking application using the keyboard. This process is fast and accurate.

Banks are also providing ATMs to withdraw cash and deposit cash for their customers, making 24-hour banking possible.

Computer machines are also now used to print check books. Almost the entire banking process is now done by computer.

Internet banking has ended the queue of customers. Because customers can now do all their banking work on the Internet online and this saves their time as well.

Mobile banking has revolutionized this sector. Customers are now transferring money, monthly bills or shopping from their smartphones.

Apart from this, customers can get knowledge about various bank loan schemes, such as business loans, home loans and car loans by computer.

Customers can now check their eligibility for loans online and apply for the loan online. 

5) Use of computers in government offices:

In the past it took too much time to do government work or official work. But today with the advent of computers, it has become easier to fasten this work.

6) Computer use at home:

Many users now depend on computers or laptops at their home. They can do a lot of their work while sitting at home. They can fill home bills online and with this they can run their business from home.

While some people use computers at home to listen to songs and watch movies.

You can communicate with people all over the world using a computer. You can learn new skills.

7) Use of computer in marketing:

The use of computers with the Internet is creating new ways of marketing online products and services. Digital marketing services, products, websites and businesses are growing. You can use a computer to publish content marketing articles on business websites and social media. They can sell products on their portals like Amazon.

8) Travel:

Now you can book online airline or railway tickets by sitting in your home or office.
Along with this, you can also book your travel planning and hotel online.

9) Telecommunication:

The software is widely used here. Apart from this, all mobile phones have software embedded to maintain the details of the customers and also send messages, audio and video through the mobile software. Now internet is available on mobile phones only.

10) Defense:

Almost every weapon has embedded software. The software is used to control flight and target ballistic missiles. The software is used to control and access the atomic bomb.
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