WHY CALL A COMPUTER A SYSTEM

WHY CALL A COMPUTER A “SYSTEM”

It is observed that in most cases people tend to call a computer “system”. Well this is not strange to hear that a computer can be called a system, but my reason for making this write up is because most people who mention the name
“system” do not understand the meaning of system and the reason why computer is called or being referred to as a system.

Let me start by giving the definitions of a system. A system could be defined as a combination of

Inter- related machines, devices, parts, procedures or objects that functions as a whole.

In other words a system is the assembly of units or components where the units or components

Are organized or arranged in an inter-related, interacting and inter-independent manner.

We are familiar with a good number of systems particularly the human system created by the

Almighty God.

The manual system which are as old as creation it’s self and scientist-invented systems, which includes mechanical systems, electro-mechanical systems. Natural systems are everywhere around us too, one of such system is the solar system.

Manual System: Manual systems are systems that are put to work using bare hands or physical skills. For examples, the manuscript of a book was manually produced using pen, paper, ruler and pencil as the constituent parts of the manual system.

Mechanical System: Mechanical systems are systems that are put to work using machines or tools. An example of mechanical system includes; motor car, motorcycle, bicycle etc.

Electro-Mechanical Systems: These are systems whose mechanical parts are driven by electricity. An example of electro-mechanical systems includes; Key punching machine, saw milling machine.

Electronic system: These are systems whose physical parts are constructed        or working by principles of electronics. One good example of electronic system is the computer system.

Human systems: Human systems could be explained using human Anatomy. We could understand the human system better by considering the anatomy of human being. The human anatomy Is a kind of complex system because it has a number of sub-systems within one major system.

In human anatomy, we could talk of digestive system, sensory system, nervous system etc.

At this level, let us define the term computer before we can proceed.

A computer is an electronic machine or device that is capable of accepting, processing data and storing data following the instructions (program) to produce an accurate and efficient result or output known as information at a very high speed.

For a computer to accept data there must be presence of input units/ devices (keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera etc). It will also process data with the help of the system unit (C.P.U) usually referred to as the brain of computer. And display all the results or outputs known as information with the help of output units/ devices (monitor, printer, speaker etc) All working together as a single unit and at a very fast speed.

Digestive System: The digestive System is the system that makes food absorbable into the body. They include the alimentary canal and all the organs and glands associated with the digestion and assimilation of food in animals. We have the mouth, the stomach, the end anal end, the genital organ and the skin.

The mouth: Here the mouth serves as the input unit. It accepts all the food and water taken by a person and delivers them to the stomach.

The stomach: The stomach is the processing unit of the digestive system. It has storage where it keeps the food and water to extract the useful parts.

The anal end; Genital organ and skin: The digestive system has a number of output units they are the anal end, the genitals organ and the skin. After the stomach has processed the foods and water the wastes products is set out of the body system as excrete via the anal end. The water wastes as urine and sweat via the genitals organ and skin respectively.

The Sensory System: The sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. They transmit impulses from the sensory cell or receptor towards the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain).

In the sensory system, we have the eye, ears, nose, brain, legs, and mouth etc.The sensory system uses a number of input units. Whatever that is seen, heard, smell or felt goes into the brain. The brain has storage where it keeps all the inputs are from the eye, nose and ears. These different inputs are processed and the output of the processing will activate the output units. The mouth will be activated to talk or make decisions, the hands to write or perform action or the legs to walk.

The ear will hear sounds and send to the brain, then the brain will process the information or sound heard by the ears and activates the hands, legs or mouth to perform actions.

Other examples of human systems are the reproductive system, the respiratory system, the nervous system, the transport system (circulatory system), excretory system, supporting system and ecosystem.

Computer system: Computer as a system.

In this unit we shall provide you with ideas, proofs and reasons why computer is called a system. We have previously given the definition of a computer as well as the definitions of a system. Now, you will understand the reason why we call a computer “SYSTEM”.

The computer is called a system because it is made up of a inter-related parts that are all stand-alone parts (monitor, keyboard, mouse, system units­).These different parts are connected together via cables to make them work as a unit. For example, the parts that supplies input to the computer does it independently of the other parts, then parts that processes the supplied input does that on its own too and the same goes for the parts that produces the output of the processed data.

Recalling to the second definition of a system given previously, it says that a system is an assembly of units or components where the units or components are organized or arranged in an inter-related, interacting and inter-independent manner. This means that any parts that will make up a particular system must be related to each other; they must be interacting together and working independently of each other in order to produce a good result or to achieve a common purpose.

Family system: let us also use the family system as an example. In the family, we have father, mother and their children. For a family to be successful must be related to each other (All must be a human being created by God).

They must be interacting together (Having a common languages to perform the various                                                                                                                                   deaf or dumb) and finally, they must work independently of each other according to their duties assigned to them.i.e, the functions of the father will not be the function of the mother. The function of the mother will be different from the function of the father in the family and also the function of the children will be different too. Example, the function of the father as the head of the family is to work and get money to provide for the family. The function of the mother is to cook food and take good care of the children while the children are to perform their own different functions such as fetching water, fetching firewood, sweeping, watching, playing, going to school for learning etc.

All these activities are applied in every family in other to earn a living. Therefore the father, the

Mother and their children make up a family and it is believed to be called “Family System”

These illustrations given in the digestive system, sensory system and family system are exactly

Equivalent to what happens in the computer system.