DEFINITION OF COMPUTER

DEFINITION OF COMPUTER:

The word computer can be defined in so many ways. It is an electronic “Machine”.

 Electronic is any device that is having or using many small parts, such as microchips, that controls and directs a small electric current (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary). Electronics work with the presence of electricity. Electronic machines cannot work where there is no flow of electricity.

MACHINE: A machine is any device that can be used to solve human problems. It is an equipment or tool designed to do a particular job. You can also say that a machine is any device which enable us to overcome resistance at least energy expenditure. Hence, Computer can be defined as an electronic machine or device that is capable of accepting data, processing data and storing data following the instructions (program) to produce an accurate and efficient result or output known as information at a very fast speed. In other words, computer is an electronic device which under the control of instructions stored in its memory, has the ability to accept input, produce required output and store information for future use.

     You can still say that it is an electronic machine that accept data, process data and give out reliable information known as output at a very fast speed (processing speed).

DEFINITION OF TERMS

DATA: Data are symbols from a language or culture to convey or express facts, truths or ideas. Data are created wherever someone uses communication symbols such as words, numbers, graphics, images etc. They are raw facts or an unprocessed fact that are yet to be processed into the computer system.

INFORMATION: Information the idea or knowledge that someone is able to understand from words, numbers or images. It is an already processed data that comes meaningful and useful to the user.

INPUT: They are data that have been entered into the computer system using the input devices. In other words it is the act of entering data into the computer system using the input devices

OUTPUT: Output is the information brought out from the computer system using the output devices.

INSTRUCTIONS: These are list of programs that tells the computer what to do. These programs are called software.

PROCESSING: It is the act of carrying out the instruction by the computer system in other to produce an accurate result.

PARTS OF COMPUTER

     There are different parts that make up a computer system. These different parts can be called hardware resources. We have the monitor, keyboard, system unit (C. P. U) and mouse as the basic parts of the computer, other parts that can be attached to the computer are: The printer, scanner, speakers, joy stick, light pen, plotters etc.

MONITOR: It displays all the works done in the computer system.

KEYBOARD: It is used for entering data into the computer system.

SYSTEM UNIT: It is capable of processing information in the computer system.

MOUSE: It is used to move the cursor around the computer screen for execution of commands.

SPEAKERS: It produces sound from the computer system.

JOYSTICK: It is used for playing computer games.

LIGHT PEN: It is used for writing or making drawings on the computer screen.

PLOTERS: It is used for drawing graphs and output bigger drawings. It is mainly used by the Engineers.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

     Computer has many features that make it different from other electronic machines; some of the characteristics of computer are as follows.

1.       STORAGE CAPABILITY

 Computer has the ability to store large amount of data which can be retrieved at any point in time. It has a very large memory capacity that can accommodate large data. Because of these, it can be used for documentation in the offices.

2.       SPEED OF OPERATION

 Computer operates at a very fast speed while processing data or information. Thus, computer speed is measured in NANO-SECOND (one billion in a second) and PICO-SECOND (one trillion in a second).

3.       ACCURACY OF RESULT

 Computer has the ability to produce an accurate and efficient result during processing. It operates and produces correct results. The computer operational jargon is derived from the accuracy of computer and is called Garbage-in-Garbage-out (GIGO). This means that what you give to the computer is what will get. If a correct data is sent to the computer, computer will produce correct information. But when a wrong data is sent to the computer, it will also produce wrong information to the user.

4.       VERSATILITY

 Computer is versatile because it has the quality of being used to do many things. It has the ability to do anything one can think of. There is a computer designed to do everything a human being can do without getting tired (ROBOT). For this reason, computer is considered being versatile because it can adapt to perform any task with the help of software.

5.       CALCULATION

 Computer performs calculations such as Arithmetic, statistics, simplification etc. There is a unit in the computer called Arithmetical and logical unit (ALU). This unit enables the computer to perform Arithmetic and logical operations.

6.       COMMUNICATION

Computer can communicate with other systems through networking. Communication is seen as a binding wire to every profession, therefore it is the most important attribute of computer. With computer, one can communicate with friends and relations through mails chat messages and some other social networks made available by the computer.

7.       AUTOMATION

 The operations of the computer are automatic. They require little or no human intervention for its operation. Therefore computer is an automatic machine for processing information.

8.       It makes logical rules for its own internal use.

9.       It obeys sequence of program instruction

10.   Security and protection etc.