Computer Basics : What is computer?

INTRODUCTION

                             Computers have made great inroads in our everyday life and thinking . They are put to use for all sorts of applications ranging from complex calculations in the field or frontline research, engineering simulations down to teaching, printing books and recreational games. The ease with which computers can process data, store and retrieve it painlessly have made them inevitable in office and business environments. The areas of applications of computers are confined only by limitations on human creativity and imagination. In fact, any tasks that can be carried out systematically, can be performed by a computer. Therefore, it is essential for every educated person today to know about a computer, its strengths, its weakness and its internal structure.

What is a Computer?

                            Computer is an electronic device that executes the instructions given in a program and controls the operations that are expressible in numerical or logical terms.

Also, A Computer is an electronic device that can perform a variety of operations in accordance with a set of instruction called program.

• The word "Computer" has been derived from the Latin word “computare” meaning “to calculate” , “to count” , “to sum up”, “to compute”  or  “to think together”.
• Charles Babbage is known as “father of computer”.

Basic Computer Operations

All computer systems perform the following five basic operations, for converting raw input data into information.

1. Input : It is the process of entering data and instructions into the computer system.
2. Store : Saving data and instructions to make them readily available for initial or additional processing, as and when required.
3. Process : Performing arithmetic operations  (add, subtract, multiply, divide etc.) or logical operations (comparisons like equal to, less than, greater than, etc.) on data to convert them into useful information.
4. Output : The process of producing useful information or results for the user, such as a printed report or visual display.
5. Control : Directing the manner and sequence in which all of the above operations are performed. 

Data and Information

Data In terms of computers, Data means raw facts and figures.

for example, 

                      + , 2 , 4 , 6 , = , etc.

Whereas, Information is the meaningful content which is extracted from data i.e., raw facts and figures.

for example,

                     2+4=6 here, 6 is the information.

The process of converting data into information is known as Information Processing Cycle (IPC)

or Input Process Output (IPO) cycle.