1DCA1 – Computers Fundamentals Notes

UNIT-I

Brief history of development of computers, Computer System Concepts, Computer System Characteristics, Basic Components of a computer system – Control unit, ALU, Input/Output, semiconductor Memory functions and characteristics, Memory – RAM, ROM, EPROM, PROM and other Types of Memory, Capabilities and limitations, Generations of computers, Analog & Digital & Hybrid Computers, General & Special Purpose Computers, Types of Computers – Micro, Mini, Mainframe and Supercomputers, Characteristics and area of Uses.

Personal Computer (PCs – evolution of PCs, configurations of PCs, Pentium and Newer, PCs specifications and main characteristics, Types of PCs- Desktop, Laptop, Notebook, Palmtop, PDA etc. 

UNIT-II

Input Devices: Keyboard, Mouse, Trackball, Joystick, Scanners, Digitizing tablet, Digital Camera, MICR, OCR, OMR, Light pen, Barcode & Barcode Reader, Quick Response Code (QR Code), Voice Recognition, Touch Screen.

Output Devices: Monitors- Characteristics and types of monitor, Size, Digital, Analog, Resolution, Refresh Rate, Interlaced/Non-Interlaced, Dot Pitch, Video Standard- VGA, SVGA, XGA etc. Printers and its Types Impact and Non-Impact printer, Dot Matrix, Inkjet, Laser, Plotter, 3D Printers, Sound Card and Speakers.

UNIT-III

Storage Fundamentals – Primary Vs Secondary Data Storage and Retrieval Methods – Sequential, Direct and Index Sequential, Various Storage Device – Magnetic Disks, Hard Disk Drives, Floppy, Disks, Zip Drive, Optical Disks, CD, VCD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-RW, Video Disk, Blue Ray Disc, flash drives SD/MMC Memory cards, Solid-State Drive (SSD), Physical structure of floppy & hard disk, drive naming conventions in PC.

UNIT-IV

Software and Its Need, Types of Software- System Software, Application Software, System Software- Operating System- definition & function, Device Drivers & Utility Programs, Introduction & Features of DOS, Windows. Programming Languages- Machine, Assembly, High Level, 4GL, their Merits and Demerits, Uses of Assemblers, Compilers and Interpreter.

Application Software and its Types- Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Graphics, Data Base Management, Desktop Publishing, communication, Educational, Graphics & Multimedia, Business Accounting, MIS, Gaming and ERP Software etc.

Computer coding system-ASCII, ISCII and Unicode, Number system of computer Binary, Octal, Decimal, Hexadecimal their conversion.

UNIT-V

Use of communication and IT, Communication Process, Process, Component of communication- sender, receiver, transmission medium & protocol, Communication types Simplex, Half Duplex, Full Duplex. Communication Channels- Twisted, Coaxial, Fiber Optic, Modem – Working and characteristics. Types of network- client/server and peer-to-peer networks, Types of connections- Dialup, Leased Lines, ISDN, DSL, RF, Broad band uses, advantages & disadvantages. Types of Network- LAN, WAN, MAN, Internet, VPN etc., Topologies of LAN- Ring, Bus, Star, Mesh and Tree topologies- structure, uses, advantages & disadvantages. Components of LAN- Media, NIC, NOS, Network devices Bridges, HUB, Routers, Repeater, Gateways uses, advantages & disadvantages.