Basics of Computer

Now a days we can find the word computer common. But its look before some decade was totally complex. Well let it to be defined by its name, however, the word computer is derived from Latin word (Computare) means to count or calculate.
Today we define computer as an electronic machine which can accept data from users and process the input data into a meaningful result by showing it with the help of output devices. It has the ability to store the processed data as information into storage devices which can be attached within the Computer system.

Besides all of the mentioned above the electronic computer need to be programed and need the instruction by software to perform a particular task. Simply I mean to say that the computer hardware are not themselves capable to do a work or run but with the help of computer software they can function as they are instructed by set of codes. The software works as the soul of computer hardware.

Main components of a computer system

Input Devices:

The devices which are attached to computer system and which help the user to feed something into computer or we can also say that input devices are those device through which computer gets data. Examples:
Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner, Mic, Finger printer, Bar Code Reader, Joysticks and X-box etc.

Processing Device:

When input take place into computer the processor make itself responsible to calculate the input data and process it into a result which was instructed.

Output devices:

While input is accepted by computer and processed the data into meaningful information then the time comes for the output devices to show the expected result. Example: Monitor, Printer, Speaker, Projector etc. These all are used for the output but computer check for the output nature, means what kind of output result is and send the output to that output device.

Storage Devices:

It is need of everyone to store/save the events so, the computer also likes to store the processed data into storage devices whenever they are needed by the user to be easily accessed. There are many types of storage devices as  example of Hard Disk Drive, Floppy Disk or CD disc.

Software

Software is basically set of codes or instructions which can maintain the computer hardware and user interface. But also responsible for all running system. Basically Software come up with two types System Software and Application Software.

Types of Software

System Software: Combination of software which control the all hardware parts of computer and provide an environment to user to operate the system. As example of Operating System and hardware Drivers.

           OS (Operating System): Combination of programs which create a link between Computer hardware, User and Application software. operating system provide user interface (UI) to the user how to interact with the computer. And also take the request of user to the Applications, and take the request of Application to the Hardware. for example when a user wants to run the word processing program then the Operating System make space available in the computer system memory. After that when user want to print a file then the Operating System Take the print request to the Printer. Hence Operating System runs in two modes Kernel Mode and User Mode. Kernel mode interaction with computer memory, processor, Hard disk and with other hardware but in User mode the Operating System interacts with the user, what user wants how the user gets interface with the system.

            Drivers: Drivers are the software which make the hardware more useful. if the drivers of some devices are not installed then they might not work properly. such as Sound Card driver is not installed then your computer might not be able to play sounds.

Application Software: All kind of software which user use for general purpose to do a particular task. such as for documentation purpose you use word processing application software.