Glossary

Glossary

(Chapter-11)

Algorithm

A series of instructions or procedural steps for the solution of a specific problem.


Algorithm Code
A system of coding data by the use of combination of letters to represent item of information.


Alphanumeric Code
Pertaining to character set or field of data in which the coded characters may represent numerals or letters of the alphabets.


Analog Computers
Analog computers are machines designed to perform arithmetical functions upon numbers where the numbers are represented by some physical quantity.

Introduction to Windows Operating System

Introduction to Windows Operating System

(Chapter-10)

Windows Desktop
Windows “Desktop” is like a working surface of a desk. Desktop is where your applications, folders and shortcuts are located. Desktop contains the following items.
1. Icons
2. Taskbar
3. Start Button
The function of these desktop items is given below:


1. Icon
An icon is a small colourful graphical picture that represents an object like a file, folder, program or any hardware components of the computer. Every icon has a lable, which identifies it. The labels can be changed.

Computer Software

Computer Software

(Chapter-9)

Machine Language
Machine language is the only language that a compute understands directly without any translation, it is the binary language. It is the language of 0’s and 1’s . It consists of strings of binary numbers.
The binary codes are very difficult to memorize for human beings that is why a machine language is cumbersome for a user.


Difference Between a High-Level Language and Low-Level Language
High-Level Languages
High-Level language are more suitable for human use than machine languages and enable the programmer to write instructions easily using English words and familiar mathematical symbols. These symbolic languages are called High-Level languages. These high-level languages consist of simple English sentences, which are very easy to understand and memorize for human being.

Boolean Algebra

Boolean Algebra

(Chapter-8)

Boolean Algebra
The Boolean algebra was developed by the English mathematician George Boole; it deals with statements in mathematical logic, and puts them in the form of algebraic equations. The Boolean algebra was further developed by the modern American mathematician Claude Shannon, in order to apply it to computers. The basic techniques described by Shannon were adopted almost universally for the design and analysis of switching circuits. Because of the analogous relationship between the actions of relays, and of modern electronic circuits, the same techniques which were developed for the design of relay circuits are still being used in the design of modern high speed computers. Thus the Boolean algebra founds its applications in modern computers after almost one hundred years of its discovery.
Boolean algebra provides an economical and straightforward approach to the design of relay and other types of switching circuits. Just as an ordinary algebraic expression may be simplified by means of the basic theorems, the expression describing a given switching circuit network may also be reduced or simplified using Boolean algebra.

Data Representation

Data Representation 

(Chapter-7)

Data
The word data is derived from Latin language. It is plural of Datum (But Data is usually used as a singular term.) Datum (singular) – Data (plural). Data is any collection of facts of figures. The data is the raw material to be processed by a computer.
Example
Names of students, marks obtained in the examination, designation of employees, addresses, quantity, rate, sales figures or anything that is input to the computer is data. Even pictures, photographs, drawings, charts and maps can be treated as data. Computer processes the data and produces the output or result.

Storage Devices

Storage Devices 

(Chapter-6)

Primary Storage Devices

The names of some computer’s primary storage devices are as follows:
1. Random Access Memory (RAM)

• DRAM
• SRAM

2. Read Only Memory (ROM)

• EPROM
• PROM

3. Memory
4. Cache Memory

Computer Components

Computer Components

(Chapter - 5)

Central Processing Unit – CPU

The central processing unit (CPU), also called the microprocessor, the processor or central processor is the brains of the computer. The CPU is housed on a tiny silicon chip. This chip contains millions of switches and pathways that help your computer make important decisions. The switches control the flow of the electricity as it travels across the miles of pathways. The CPU knows which switches to turn on and which to turn off because it receives its instructions from computer programs. Programs are a set of special instructions written by programmers that control the activities of the computer. Programs are also known as software.

Programming and Basics

Programming and Basics

(Chapter-4)

LOOP

While writing a program it is necessary to repeat a part of a program for a number of times. The best solution for this is to use a loop it is a method which executes a part of the program repeatedly as specified by the programmer.

TYPES OF LOOPS

a) Pre-Test Loop
b) Post-Test Loop

Input and Output Devices

Input and Output Devices

(Chapter-3)

Printer
A computer peripheral that puts text or a computer generated image on paper or on another medium, such as a transparency. Printer can be categorized in several ways the most common distinction is IMPACT and NON-IMPACT.


Impact Printing
Is the method used by the conventional type writers. In some type of impact printing a metal “hammer” embossed with a character strikes a print ribbon, which presses the characters image into paper. In other types the hammer strikes the paper and presses it into the ribbon characters created through impact printing can be formed by either a solid font or dot matrix printing mechanism.

Data Processing

Data Processing

(Chapter-2)

Data Processing
Data processing often referred as D.P is a process of collecting the data together and converting the data into information. The method used for collecting the data may be manual, mechanical or electronic.
Data processing is a term mostly associated with business and commercial work. Since computers are being used in the processing of data the term “electronic data processing” may also be used.


Electronic Data Processing
Data processing means transformation of data into more meaningful results for carrying out scientific, business activities. The result of data processing is called “information”. The transformation of data consist of a sequence of operations. The sequence is called “procedure”.
Input -> Processing -> Output

Introduction to Computers

Introduction to Computers

(Chapter-1)

Computer
A Computer is an automatic electronic, calculating device which can process a given input in a prescribed manner to produce a desired output, at a very high speed with remarkable accuracy. It can also perform all arithmetic and logical functions according to instructions given in a systematic order to solve any problem and produce processed information.


Advantages of Computers


Speed
Since Computer is an electronic machine and electrical pulses travel at the rate of passage of electric current. This speed enables the computer to perform millions of calculations per second.


Storage
A computer has too much storage capacity. Once recorded, a piece of information can never be forgotten.