When you click inside the Internet Explorer window the OS tells the program, allowing it to then calculate what it should do next. When the program makes changes it then asks the OS to show these changes on the screen. This is introduced very simply at KS1 level through a series of tasks that will have your child perform basic functions on the computer, such as loading programs and using menus. At KS2 this learning will be taken further and the concept of the OS being a translator will be introduced more thoroughly.
An example of an OS learning activity at KS2 would be to have students stand up at the front of the class and be given a role. For example, one student could draw a picture, one student could provide pieces of paper, one student could be a communicator and one student could be a middleman for the other three. They communicate with all the other members of the team components of the computer and deal with all requests and communication.
In a computer they could be the mouse, receiving a request to start drawing on the screen. In a computer this could be the screen. When the middleman asks whether there is paper available this could be the OS checking that there is nothing else on screen. This handles the input from the user and produces an output to the screen. Year 1 The basic parts of a computer are introduced and a definition of software is given.
Year 2 The difference between input and output devices are learned and the OS is explained graphically. Year 4 Processing devices will be linked to using the OS and students will learn about how parts of the computer communicate. Year 5 The concept of software will be revised through discussion and practice of programming techniques.
Year 6 Students will tie their understanding together to be able to describe parts of a computer, what they do and how they communicate.
Need help? How to videos Why join? What are hardware, software and Operating Systems? Hardware the physical parts of a computer , software the programs that can be run on a computer and the Operating System that allows software and hardware to communicate: TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi explains what your child learns in KS1 and KS2 computing and how you can develop their understanding at home.
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See: testing, branch. IEEE A data flow, data structure, or other diagram in which entities are depicted with circles [bubbles] and relationships are represented by links drawn between the circles. See: block diagram, box diagram, flowchart, graph, input-process-output chart, structure chart. A device or storage area [memory] used to store data temporarily to compensate for differences in rates of data flow, time of occurrence of events, or amounts of data that can be handled by the devices or processes involved in the transfer or use of the data.
A fault in a program which causes the program to perform in an unintended or unanticipated manner. See: anomaly, defect, error, exception, fault. A common pathway along which data and control signals travel between different hardware devices within a computer system. A When bus architecture is used in a computer, the CPU, memory and peripheral equipment are interconnected through the bus.
B When bus architecture is used in a network, all terminals and computers are connected to a common channel that is made of twisted wire pairs, coaxial cable, or optical fibers. Ethernet is a common LAN architecture using a bus topology. A general purpose high-level programming language. Created for use in the development of computer operating systems software. It strives to combine the power of assembly language with the ease of a high-level language.
Ensuring continuous adequate performance of sensing, measurement, and actuating equipment with regard to specified accuracy and precision requirements. See: accuracy, bias, precision. IEEE A diagram that identifies the modules in a system or computer program and shows which modules call one another.
Note: The result is not necessarily the same as that shown in a structure chart. Syn: call tree, tier chart. Contrast with structure chart.
See: control flow diagram, data flow diagram, data structure diagram, state diagram. Myers A Boolean graph linking causes and effects. The graph is actually a digital-logic circuit a combinatorial logic network using a simpler notation than standard electronics notation. The input and output domains are partitioned into classes and analysis is performed to determine which input classes cause which effect.
A minimal set of inputs is chosen which will cover the entire effect set. See: testing, functional. The unit of a computer that includes the circuits controlling the interpretation of program instructions and their execution. The CPU controls the entire computer. It receives and sends data through input-output channels, retrieves data and programs from memory, and conducts mathematical and logical functions of a program.
ANSI In computer systems, a technical evaluation, made as part of and in support of the accreditation process, that establishes the extent to which a particular computer system or network design and implementation meet a prespecified set of requirements. Change control is a vital subset of the Quality Assurance [QA] program within an establishment and should be clearly described in the establishment's SOPs. See: configuration control.
A technique for error detection to ensure that data or program files have been accurately copied or transferred. Basically, a redundant check in which groups of digits; e. Contrast with cyclic redundancy check [CRC], parity check. See: checksum. IEEE A sum obtained by adding the digits in a numeral, or group of numerals [a file], usually without regard to meaning, position, or significance. See: check summation. A term used in a broad sense to describe the relationship between the receiver and the provider of a service.
In the world of microcomputers, the term client-server describes a networked system where front-end applications, as the client, make service requests upon another networked system. Client-server relationships are defined primarily by software. In a local area network [LAN], the workstation is the client and the file server is the server.
However, client-server systems are inherently more complex than file server systems. Two disparate programs must work in tandem, and there are many more decisions to make about separating data and processing between the client workstations and the database server.
The database server encapsulates database files and indexes, restricts access, enforces security, and provides applications with a consistent interface to data via a data dictionary. ISO A device that generates periodic, accurately spaced signals used for such purposes as timing, regulation of the operations of a processor, or generation of interrupts. High-capacity cable used in communications and video transmissions.
Provides a much higher bandwidth than twisted wire pair. A high-level programming language intended for use in the solution of problems in business data processing. IEEE An independent review of source code by a person, team, or tool to verify compliance with software design documentation and programming standards. Correctness and efficiency may also be evaluated. Contrast with code inspection, code review, code walkthrough. See: static analysis.
A software tool which examines source code for adherence to coding and documentation conventions. Contrast with code audit, code review, code walkthrough. This technique can also be applied to other software and configuration items. Syn: Fagan Inspection. IEEE A meeting at which software code is presented to project personnel, managers, users, customers, or other interested parties for comment or approval.
Contrast with code audit, code inspection, code walkthrough. Contrast with code audit, code inspection, code review. IEEE 1 In software engineering, the process of expressing a computer program in a programming language. See: implementation. Written procedures describing coding [programming] style conventions specifying rules governing the use of individual constructs provided by the programming language, and naming, formatting, and documentation requirements which prevent programming errors, control complexity and promote understandability of the source code.
Syn: development standards, programming standards. A compact disk used for the permanent storage of text, graphic or sound information. Digital data is represented very compactly by tiny holes that can be read by lasers attached to high resolution sensors. Capable of storing up to MB of data, equivalent to , pages of text, or 20, medium resolution images.
This storage media is often used for archival purposes. Syn: optical disk, write-once read-many times disk. IEEE A software tool that compares two computer programs, files, or sets of data to identify commonalities or differences. Typical objects of comparison are similar versions of source code, object code, data base files, or test results. ANSI The capability of a functional unit to meet the requirements of a specified interface.
NIST Translating a program expressed in a problem-oriented language or a procedure oriented language into object code. Contrast with assembling, interpret. See: compiler. See: assembler, interpreter, cross-assembler, cross-compiler. A type of integrated circuit widely used for processors and memories. It is a combination of transistors on a single chip connected to complementary digital circuits. NIST The property that all necessary parts of the entity are included. Completeness of a product is often used to express the fact that all requirements have been met by the product.
See: traceability analysis. Traditional computer architecture that operates with large sets of possible instructions. Most computers are in this category, including the IBM compatible microcomputers. As computing technology evolved, instruction sets expanded to include newer instructions which are complex in nature and require several to many execution cycles and, therefore, more time to complete.
Computers which operate with system software based on these instruction sets have been referred to as complex instruction set computers. Contrast with reduced instruction set computer [RISC]. IEEE 1 The degree to which a system or component has a design or implementation that is difficult to understand and verify.
IEEE 1 A functional unit that can perform substantial computations, including numerous arithmetic operations, or logic operations, without human intervention during a run. The use of computers to design products. CAD systems are high speed workstations or personal computers using CAD software and input devices such as graphic tablets and scanners to model and simulate the use of proposed products.
CAD software is available for generic design or specialized uses such as architectural, electrical, and mechanical design. CAD software may also be highly specialized for creating products such as printed circuits and integrated circuits.
The automation of manufacturing systems and techniques, including the use of computers to communicate work instructions to automate machinery for the handling of the processing [numerical control, process control, robotics, material requirements planning] needed to produce a workpiece.
An automated system for the support of software development including an integrated tool set, i. ANSI A complete set of the operators of the instructions of a computer together with a description of the types of meanings that can be attributed to their operands.
Syn: machine instruction set. IEEE A language designed to enable humans to communicate with computers. See: programming language. ISO The branch of science and technology that is concerned with methods and techniques relating to data processing performed by automatic means.
ANSI a functional unit, consisting of one or more computers and associated peripheral input and output devices, and associated software, that uses common storage for all or part of a program and also for all or part of the data necessary for the execution of the program; executes user-written or user-designated programs; performs user-designated data manipulation, including arithmetic operations and logic operations; and that can execute programs that modify themselves during their execution.
A computer system may be a stand-alone unit or may consist of several interconnected units. See: computer, computerized system. ISO An examination of the procedures used in a computer system to evaluate their effectiveness and correctness and to recommend improvements.
See: software audit. IEEE The protection of computer hardware and software from accidental or malicious access, use, modification, destruction, or disclosure. Security also pertains to personnel, data, communications, and the physical protection of computer installations.
See: bomb, trojan horse, virus, worm. A sequence of bits or characters that is stored, addressed, transmitted, and operated on as a unit within a given computer.
Typically one to four bytes long, depending on the make of computer. Includes hardware, software, peripheral devices, personnel, and documentation; e. See: computer, computer system. IEEE The initial phase of a software development project, in which user needs are described and evaluated through documentation; e. Myers A test coverage criteria requiring enough test cases such that each condition in a decision takes on all possible outcomes at least once, and each point of entry to a program or subroutine is invoked at least once.
Contrast with branch coverage, decision coverage, multiple condition coverage, path coverage, statement coverage. Application software, sometimes general purpose, written for a variety of industries or users in a manner that permits users to modify the program to meet their individual needs. IEEE 1 The arrangement of a computer system or component as defined by the number, nature, and interconnections of its constituent parts.
IEEE An element of configuration management, consisting of the evaluation, coordination, approval or disapproval, and implementation of changes to configuration items after formal establishment of their configuration identification. See: change control. IEEE An element of configuration management, consisting of selecting the configuration items for a system and recording their functional and physical characteristics in technical documentation.
IEEE An aggregation of hardware, software, or both that is designated for configuration management and treated as a single entity in the configuration management process. See: software element. IEEE A discipline applying technical and administrative direction and surveillance to identify and document the functional and physical characteristics of a configuration item, control changes to those characteristics, record and report change processing and implementation status, and verifying compliance with specified requirements.
See: configuration control, change control, software engineering. IEEE The degree of uniformity, standardization, and freedom from contradiction among the documents or parts of a system or component. See: traceability. A software tool used to test requirements in design specifications for both consistency and completeness. A value that does not change during processing. Contrast with variable. IEEE 1 Evaluation of the safety of restrictions imposed on the selected design by the requirements and by real world restrictions.
The impacts of the environment on this analysis can include such items as the location and relation of clocks to circuit cards, the timing of a bus latch when using the longest safety-related timing to fetch data from the most remote circuit card, interrupts going unsatisfied due to a data flood at an input, and human reaction time.
Constraint analysis is designed to identify these limitations to ensure that the program operates within them, and to ensure that all interfaces have been considered for out-of-sequence and erroneous inputs. Consultive Committee for International Telephony and Telegraphy.
ANSI A bus carrying the signals that regulate system operations. See: bus. ISO In programming languages, an abstraction of all possible paths that an execution sequence may take through a program. IEEE A diagram that depicts the set of all possible sequences in which operations may be performed during the execution of a system or program.
Types include box diagram, flowchart, input-process-output chart, state diagram. Contrast with data flow diagram. See: call graph, structure chart. Control Program for Microcomputers. An operating system. A registered trademark of Digital Research. Hardware that controls peripheral devices such as a disk or display screen. It performs the physical data transfers between main memory and the peripheral device. IEEE Pertaining to a interactive system or mode of operation in which the interaction between the user and the system resembles a human dialog.
Contrast with batch. See: interactive, on-line, real time. IEEE A routine that begins execution at the point at which operation was last suspended, and that is not required to return control to the program or subprogram that called it. Contrast with subroutine. IEEE Maintenance performed to correct faults in hardware or software. Contrast with adaptive maintenance, perfective maintenance. IEEE The degree to which software is free from faults in its specification, design and coding.
The degree to which software, documentation and other items meet specified requirements. The degree to which software, documentation and other items meet user needs and expectations, whether specified or not. NIST Determining and assessing measures associated with the invocation of program structural elements to determine the adequacy of a test run. Coverage analysis is useful when attempting to execute each statement, branch, path, or iterative structure in a program.
Tools that capture this data and provide reports summarizing relevant information have this feature. See: testing, branch; testing, path; testing, statement. IEEE The sudden and complete failure of a computer system or component. QA A function or an area in a manufacturing process or procedure, the failure of which, or loss of control over, may have an adverse affect on the quality of the finished product and may result in a unacceptable health risk.
IEEE A review conducted to verify that the detailed design of one or more configuration items satisfy specified requirements; to establish the compatibility among the configuration items and other items of equipment, facilities, software, and personnel; to assess risk areas for each configuration item; and, as applicable, to assess the results of producibility analyses, review preliminary hardware product specifications, evaluate preliminary test planning, and evaluate the adequacy of preliminary operation and support documents.
See: preliminary design review, system design review. IEEE The degree of impact that a requirement, module, error, fault, failure, or other item has on the development or operation of a system. Syn: severity. IEEE Analysis which identifies all software requirements that have safety implications, and assigns a criticality level to each safety-critical requirement based upon the estimated risk. IEEE An assembler that executes on one computer but generates object code for a different computer.
IEEE A compiler that executes on one computer but generates assembly code or object code for a different computer. ANSI A movable, visible mark used to indicate a position of interest on a display surface. A technique for error detection in data communications used to assure a program or data file has been accurately transferred.
The CRC is the result of a calculation on the set of transmitted bits by the transmitter which is appended to the data. At the receiver the calculation is repeated and the results compared to the encoded value. The calculations are chosen to optimize error detection. Contrast with check summation, parity check. Representations of facts, concepts, or instructions in a manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by humans or by automated means.
IEEE 1 Evaluation of the description and intended use of each data item in the software design to ensure the structure and intended use will not result in a hazard. Data structures are assessed for data dependencies that circumvent isolation, partitioning, data aliasing, and fault containment issues affecting safety, and the control or mitigation of hazards. Usually performed in conjunction with logic analysis.
ANSI A bus used to communicate data internally and externally to and from a processing unit or a storage device. IEEE 1 A collection of the names of all data items used in a software system, together with relevant properties of those items; e. IEEE An exception that occurs when a program attempts to use or access data incorrectly.
IEEE A diagram that depicts data sources, data sinks, data storage, and processes performed on data as nodes, and logical flow of data as links between the nodes. Syn: data flowchart, data flow graph. IEEE The degree to which a collection of data is complete, consistent, and accurate.
Syn: data quality. ANSI A named component of a data element. Usually the smallest component. IEEE A physical or logical relationship among data elements, designed to support specific data manipulation functions. A structured software design technique wherein the architecture of a system is derived from analysis of the structure of the data sets with which the system must deal.
IEEE A diagram that depicts a set of data elements, their attributes, and the logical relationships among them. See: entity-relationship diagram. The process may include format checks, completeness checks, check key tests, reasonableness checks and limit checks. ANSI A collection of interrelated data, often with controlled redundancy, organized according to a schema to serve one or more applications. The data are stored so that they can be used by different programs without concern for the data structure or organization.
A common approach is used to add new data and to modify and retrieve existing data. See: archival database. The degree to which a database is protected from exposure to accidental or malicious alteration or destruction. Program code statements which can never execute during program operation. Such code can result from poor coding style, or can be an artifact of previous versions or debugging efforts. Dead code can be confusing, and is a potential source of erroneous software changes.
See: infeasible path. Myers Determining the exact nature and location of a program error, and fixing the error. Myers A test coverage criteria requiring enough test cases such that each decision has a true and false result at least once, and that each statement is executed at least once.
Syn: branch coverage. IEEE A table used to show sets of conditions and the actions resulting from them. ANSI Pertaining to an attribute, value, or option that is assumed when none is explicitly specified. A standard setting or state to be taken by the program if no alternate setting or state is initiated by the system or the user.
A value assigned automatically if one is not given by the user. ANSI A character used to indicate the beginning or the end of a character string.
Syn: separator. Retrieve the information content from a modulated carrier wave; the reverse of modulate. Contrast with modulate. Converting signals from a wave form [analog] to pulse form [digital]. Contrast with modulation. A facet of reliability that relates to the degree of certainty that a system or component will operate correctly.
IEEE The process of defining the architecture, components, interfaces, and other characteristics of a system or component. See: architectural design, preliminary design, detailed design. IEEE A document that describes the design of a system or component. Syn: design document. Contrast with specification, requirements.
See: software design description. IEEE The design decomposition of the software item; e. A methodology for planning experiments so that data appropriate for [statistical] analysis will be collected.
IEEE The period of time in the software life cycle during which the designs for architecture, software components, interfaces, and data are created, documented, and verified to satisfy requirements. IEEE A requirement that specifies or constrains the design of a system or system component. IEEE A process or meeting during which a system, hardware, or software design is presented to project personnel, managers, users, customers, or other interested parties for comment or approval.
Types include critical design review, preliminary design review, system design review. IEEE Standards that describe the characteristics of a design or a design description of data or program components. The application of code audit, inspection, review and walkthrough techniques to source code and other software documents usually by an individual [often by the person who generated them] and usually done informally. IEEE 1 The process of refining and expanding the preliminary design of a system or component to the extent that the design is sufficiently complete to be implemented.
See: software development process. ANSI A systematic approach to software creation that defines development phases and specifies the activities, products, verification procedures, and completion criteria for each phase. See: incremental development, rapid prototyping, spiral model, waterfall model. IEEE Pertaining to the detection and isolation of faults or failures. For example, a diagnostic message, a diagnostic manual. IEEE Analysis of the allocation of software requirements to separate computer systems to reduce integration and interface errors related to safety.
Performed when more than one software system is being integrated. See: testing, compatibility. Contrast with analog. Output related devices which translate a computer's digital outputs to the corresponding analog signals needed by an output device such as an actuator.
Specialized circuitry or a dedicated microprocessor that transfers data from memory to memory without using the CPU. IEEE A graph in which direction is implied in the internode connections. Syn: digraph. Circular rotating magnetic storage hardware. Disks can be hard [fixed] or flexible [removable] and different sizes.
An operating system program; e. ANSI The aids provided for the understanding of the structure and intended uses of an information system or its components, such as flowcharts, textual material, and user manuals. NIST A description of required documentation indicating its scope, content, format, and quality. Selection of the level may be based on project cost, intended usage, extent of effort, or other factors; e. NIST A management document describing the approach to a documentation effort.
The plan typically describes what documentation types are to be prepared, what their contents are to be, when this is to be done and by whom, how it is to be done, and what are the available resources and external factors affecting the results.
NIST Technical data or information, including computer listings and printouts, in human readable form, that describe or specify the design or details, explain the capabilities, or provide operating instructions for using the software to obtain desired results from a software system. See: specification; specification, requirements; specification. ISO The unwanted change of the value of an output signal of a device over a period of time when the values of all input signals to the device are kept constant.
A program that links a peripheral device or internal function to the operating system, and providing for activation of all device functions. Syn: device driver. Contrast with test driver. ISO Data transmission in both directions at the same time. NBS Analysis that is performed by executing the program code.
Contrast with static analysis. See: testing. NIST Modifying the content of the input by inserting, deleting, or moving characters, numbers, or data. This means this IC does not necessarily have to be removed from the circuit in which it is mounted in order to erase and reprogram the memory.
Low frequency electromagnetic waves that emanate from electromechanical devices. An electromagnetic disturbance caused by such radiating and transmitting sources as heavy duty motors and power lines can induce unwanted voltages in electronic circuits, damage components and cause malfunctions. See: radiofrequency interference. Hardware intended to store binary data; e. The movement of static electricity, e. Static electricity can build on paper, plastic or other non-conductors and can be discharged by human skin, e.
It can also be generated by scuffing shoes on a carpet or by brushing a non-conductor. A device which has its own computing power dedicated to specific functions, usually consisting of a microprocessor and firmware.
The computer becomes an integral part of the device as opposed to devices which are controlled by an independent, stand-alone computer.
It implies software that integrates operating system and application functions. IEEE Software that is part of a larger system and performs some of the requirements of that system; e.
Such software does not provide an interface with the user. See: firmware. IEEE A model that accepts the same inputs and produces the same outputs as a given system. To imitate one system with another. Contrast with simulation. IEEE A device, computer program, or system that accepts the same inputs and produces the same outputs as a given system. Contrast with simulator. IEEE A software development technique that consists of isolating a system function or a set of data and the operations on those data within a module and providing precise specifications for the module.
See: abstraction, information hiding, software engineering. ANSI 1 A person, device, program, or computer system that uses an information system for the purpose of data processing in information exchange. See: user.
A standard interface for hard disks introduced in which provides for faster data transfer compared to ST IEEE A diagram that depicts a set of real-world entities and the logical relationships among them. See: data structure diagram. ANSI 1 Everything that supports a system or the performance of a function. Myers Partitioning the input domain of a program into a finite number of classes [sets], to identify a minimal set of well selected test cases to represent these classes.
There are two types of input equivalence classes, valid and invalid. Chips which may be programmed by using a PROM programming device. Before programming each bit is set to the same logical state, either 1 or 0. Each bit location may be thought of as a small capacitor capable of storing an electrical charge. The logical state is established by charging, via an electrical current, all bits whose states are to be changed from the default state.
EPROMs may be erased and reprogrammed because the electrical charge at the bit locations can be bled off [i. After programming, the IC's window must be covered to prevent exposure to UV light until it is desired to reprogram the chip. ISO A discrepancy between a computed, observed, or measured value or condition and the true, specified, or theoretically correct value or condition. See: anomaly, bug, defect, exception, fault.
Techniques used to identify errors in data transfers. See: check summation, cyclic redundancy check [CRC], parity check, longitudinal redundancy. NBS Test data selection technique. The selection criterion is to pick values that seem likely to cause errors.
See: special test data; testing, special case. IEEE The process of intentionally adding known faults to those already in a computer program for the purpose of monitoring the rate of detection and removal, and estimating the number of faults remaining in the program. Contrast with mutation analysis. A table which lists events and the corresponding specified effect[s] of or reaction[s] to each event. IEEE An event that causes suspension of normal program execution. Types include addressing exception, data exception, operation exception, overflow exception, protection exception, underflow exception.
IEEE A record of the sequence of instructions executed during the execution of a computer program. Often takes the form of a list of code labels encountered as the program executes. Syn: code trace, control flow trace. See: retrospective trace, subroutine trace, symbolic trace, variable trace. IEEE An event that causes suspension of normal program operation.
See: anomaly, bug, defect, error, fault. An eight bit code used to represent specific data characters in some computers; e. NBS Test data that is at the extreme or boundary of the domain of an input variable or which produces results at the boundary of an output domain. IEEE A system or component that automatically places itself in a safe operational mode in the event of a failure.
IEEE The inability of a system or component to perform its required functions within specified performance requirements. See: bug, crash, exception, fault. Determining the exact nature and location of a program error in order to fix the error, to identify and fix other similar errors, and to initiate corrective action to prevent future occurrences of this type of error. Contrast with debugging.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. IEC A method of reliability analysis intended to identify failures, at the basic component level, which have significant consequences affecting the system performance in the application considered. Failure Modes and Effects Criticality Analysis. An incorrect step, process, or data definition in a computer program which causes the program to perform in an unintended or unanticipated manner. See: anomaly, bug, defect, error, exception. Fault Tree Analysis. IEC The identification and analysis of conditions and factors which cause or contribute to the occurrence of a defined undesirable event, usually one which significantly affects system performance, economy, safety or other required characteristics.
Analysis of the known or anticipated need for a product, system, or component to assess the degree to which the requirements, designs, or plans can be implemented. Federal Information Processing Standards. Standards published by U. These standards are intended to be binding only upon federal agencies. Communications systems that use optical fibers for transmission. See: optical fiber. This conversion is called program compilation.
The computer system interprets these program instructions and then performs the desired operations. The CPU executes the program instructions one by one.
What Is Computer Program? The Computer Systems are versatile machines and can be used to perform number of operations. For example , a company might use the computer system for managing employee database , customer database , inventory management , billing , record keeping , payroll processing , accounting and many such applications. The computer system is also used to process the raw data and produce the information that can be used for some meaningful purpose.
The information can be used for some meaningful work such as decision making within an organization. The Computer is a digital electronic machine. That means , computer can understand and execute instructions on in binary which consist of only two numbers that is 0 and 1.
The binary code is also referred as machine code or machine language. The computers central processing unit CPU is the brain of the computer system. The CPU is responsible to perform both arithmetical and logical operations.
However , the computers micro-processor CPU can understand and execute instructions only in machine code in Binary. And therefore, all programs in high level are converted into low level machine instructions that can be directly executed by the microprocessor. The conversion process to translate the high level program into low level machine code is called program compilation.
The computers are extensively being used for automatic operations. The computer once programmed to perform some task can continue without any human intervention. The artificial intelligence has further enhanced this capability for the computers. The computer can repetitively perform many operations in the automatic mode.
The modern computers are armed with the latest microprocessor can execute billions of instructions within a fraction of a second. That gives huge processing power to the computer. And therefore, the computer can be effectively used for performing complex operations with very high operating speed. The computer can perform millions of complex calculations and take logical decisions as per the program instructions with remarkable accuracy. However , the accuracy also depends upon the accuracy of the program instructions.
The computer will produce wrong result if there are any mistakes into the program instructions. The computer is a truly versatile machine that can be used for many applications.
The use of computer is now an essential part of every industry and profession we can possibly think of. Apart from its applications in academics , the computers are everywhere. The computers are used by the students , teachers , musicians , doctors , engineers , accountants , police , armed forces and architects. Both large scale and small scale companies are dependent upon the computers to manage their business operations.
The computers are the most reliable machines to perform multiple tasks without any mistake with the lightening speed. And therefore , the computerized operations are the backbone of all top business corporations , global ecommerce giants such as Amazon , Reliance and for other companies. The computer system can also be programmed to enforce set of rules to ensure safety of the user and data security. There are many business corporations and manufacturing companies that work day and night without any break.
Such operations and production lines can be very well managed by the use of computers. Depending upon the use, the computer hardware is specially tailor made to handle such prolonged operations. The computer system has both short term and long term memory. The business corporations that generate large volumes of data needs to be stored into the permanent storage devices for the future use. The computer system with front end application software , a database management system DBMS and the database is essential to manage such large volumes of data.
For example , tech giants like Google , Facebook handle large volumes of data related to the millions of users across the globe. The computer is often said to be a dumb machine without any IQ. And therefore , the computer needs a set of instructions called a program. A computer program is an essential component of every computer system.
Each task and operation performed by the computer is completed as per the program. The computer is not going to perform any task on its own unless it is directed by the computer program.
The Computer system consist of four basic components Or Units. In terms of functionality , the computer system can be grouped in to four units. The input data is operated and processed by the Central Processing Unit CPU as per the program and sent to the output unit for further action. This output is then sent to the output device such as monitor , printer , speaker to provide desired output to the user. The output can also be stored on any storage device for future use. The memory unit is an essential part of every computer system.
The computer system needs memory to store the program instructions and the data before and after the processing. The computer system memory unit consist of both temporary and permanent memory. The temporary memory RAM can store the data till the time the system is powered on. Whereas, the permanent memory disk memory can store the data even after the the system power is switched off. The computer system makes the use of different types of memories organized in a hierarchical manner and together they are referred as memory unit.
The arrangement of different types of memories is referred as memory hierarchy. The computer memory unit consist of different types of memories which differ in capacity , access speed , physical size and the cost of the memory. Each of the memory is optimally used in the computer system depending upon its access speed , size and proximity to the CPU. The computer system makes use of different types memory depending upon the functional requirements.
The computer memory is mainly divided in to two types based on the data retention by the computer memory when power is switched off to the computer system. The computer memories can be grouped into two basic types depending upon the data retention by memory when system power supply is switched off.
If the memory retains the data without power supply, then it is referred as permanent memory. For example hard disk , pen drive are permanent memory Also referred as secondary memory. The RAM is a temporary memory because it retains the data only till the time , the system power supply is on.
The data in the RAM is lost once the system is switched off. And therefore main memory RAM is referred as temporary memory also referred as primary memory. The program execution is the main function of the computer system. The computer system makes use of its hardware and software components to execute the program.
Various components such as memory RAM , CPU , input devices , output devices performs different functions together during the program execution. The computer system operates on the data as per the program instructions.
The computer accepts the data through different types of input devices such as mouse , keyboard scanner and other input devices. The computer stores the data and the program into its main memory RAM. The program is stored into the memory as set of instructions. The CPU starts the program execution by fetching the data and instructions from the memory.
The CPU sends the processed data back to the memory for the output devices. The computers are extensively used for data processing jobs. The process converting the raw data into useful information is defined as data processing. The data is processed as per the program instructions. For example , the monthly attendance data is converted into salary statements at the end of the month by using a payroll application software. The output devices are used to send the result that can used by the user.
The program output can either be sent to the monitor , printer , storage disks or any other output device. The computer system controls the operations of the software and hardware components. The control unit of the CPU central processing unit controls the operations of the entire computer system. In computer engineering, the computer system architecture is the conceptual design and fundamental operational structure of a computer system. It is the technical drawings and functional description of all design components and requirements.
The system architecture defines the system performance parameters such as speed and interconnections. The System architecture can also be defined as the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computer system that meet functional , performance and cost goals.
And therefore , better system architecture will produce a better design and system performance. In terms of functionality , the computer system can be grouped in to four basic units. The computer system mainly consist of hardware components and the software components. The hardware components inside the computer cabinet are referred as internal components such as motherboard. The external hardware components attached to the computer system are also referred as peripheral devices such as keyboard , mouse , monitor.
The motherboard is the main printed circuit board PCB that is mounted inside a computer cabinet. The motherboard is a junction for connecting some important internal components. The components that are directly placed on the motherboard include microprocessor CPU , main memory RAM , Graphic card , sound card , north bridge and south bridge.
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