Post By: Hanan Mannan
Contact Number: Pak (+92)-321-59-95-634
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Computer - Overview

Today's world is an information-rich world and it has become a necessity for everyone to know about computers. Purpose of this tutorial is to introduce you about computer systems and its fundamentals.

Functionalities of a computer

Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross terms:

• Takes data as input.
• Stores the data/instructions in its memory and can use them when required.
• Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
• Outputs the information.
• Controls all the above four steps.

Definition

Computer System is an electronic data processing device, which does the following:

• Accept and store an input data.
• Process the data input.
• And output the processed data in required format.

Advantages

Following list demonstrates the advantages of Computers in today's arena.

HIGH SPEED

• Computer is a very fast device.
• It is capable of performing addition of very big 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 can spend many months for doing the same task.

ACCURACY

• In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.
• The computer has performed calculations 100% error-free.
• Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy.

STORAGE CAPABILITY

• Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.
• The 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 and any other type.

DILIGENCE

• Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness and lack of concentration.
• It can work continuously without creating any error and boredom.
• It can do repeated work with same speed and accuracy.

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 relating to various different fields.
• At one instant, it may be solving a complex scientific problem and the very next moment it may be playing a card game.

RELIABILITY

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

AUTOMATION

• Computer is an automatic machine.
• Automation means ability to perform the task automatically.
• Once a program is given to computer, i.e., stored in computer memory, the program and instructions can control the program execution without human interaction.

REDUCTION IN PAPER WORK

• The use of computers for data processing in an organization leads to reduction in paper work and speeds up the process.
• As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required, the problem of maintenance of large number of files gets reduced.

REDUCTION IN COST

• Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high but it substantially reduces the cost of each of its transaction.

Disadvantages

Following list demonstrates the disadvantages of Computers in today's arena.

NO IQ

• A computer is a machine and has no intelligence of its own to perform any task.
• Each and every instruction has to be given to the computer.
• A computer can not take any decision on its own.

DEPENDENCY

• It can perform function as instructed by user, so it is fully dependent on human being.

ENVIRONMENT

• The operating environment of computer should be dust-free and suitable to it.

NO FEELING

• Computer has no feeling or emotions.
• It cannot make judgement based on feeling, taste, experience and knowledge unlike a human being.