Digital Literacy 1 Notes

Ministry of Higher Education Republic of Cameroon
Yaounde International Business School Peace – Work - Fatherland

YIBS – Yaounde
Department of Computer Engineering
TOPIC: DIGITAL LITERACY I

Chapter I : HISTORY OF COMPUTERS
Year : HND 1 (One) By: MVOGO BILEGUE Edouard
In the beginning of civilization, people used fingers and pebbles for computing purposes. In
fact, the word 'digitus' in Latin actually means 'finger' and 'calculus' means 'pebble'. This
gives a clue into the origin of early computing concepts. With the growth of civilization, the
computing needs also grew. The need for a mechanism to perform lengthy calculations led to
the invention of the first calculator and then the computers. This chapter provides a detailed
description of evolution, generations and characteristics of computers along with their
classification and applications.
Learning objectives
After studying this chapter, student should be able to:
 Define the computer and discuss its main characteristics.

 Classify the computers according to certain criteria
 Describe the evolution and generations of computers
 Discuss the use of computer in day to day life
You can contact me for more information via the email address [email protected]
I. DEFINITIONS
Here are some words and expressions related to the concepts of computer and computer
science.
1) Computer: The word “computer” comes from the word “compute”, which means
“to calculate”. A computer is then an electronic device for performing logical and
mathematical operations based on its programs.
2) Program: The set of instructions provided to the computer to solve a certain problem is
called a program, and the one who develops this program is called a programmer.
3) Data: Data is what we feed into the computer. There are raw facts (text, image, sound,)
that still need to be processed (organized and arranged) into a form that can be understood
and used, and later stored. Examples: population statistics, blood samples in a hospital,
pictures;
4) Data processing: Computer data processing is any manipulation that uses a computer
program to enter data and summarize, analyze or otherwise convert data into usable
information.
5) Information: This is meaningful and useful material that is derived from the processing
of data. Information is what comes out as output. Example: Result of laboratory test, the
percentage of success on GCE;
6) Computing: This is the act of developing and using the computer to perform an activity.
It includes the designing and building of hardware and software systems for a wide range
of purposes, processing and managing various kind of information, doing scientific
studies using computers;
7) Computer science: Computer science is a branch of science that studies the principles
and use of computers
8) ICT: This is the application of modern communications, computing and

digital technologies to create, store, exchange and use information in it various forms.
9) Computer user: That is somebody with little or no technical knowledge of

computers, but who can use the computer to create specific documents and to
communicate.
10) Computer Literacy: Computer literacy is defined as the knowledge and ability to
utilize computers and related technology efficiently. It can also refer to the comfort level
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someone has with using computer programs and other applications that are
associated with computers. Another valuable component is understanding how
computers work and operate.
II. CHARACTERISTICS AND LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS
II.1 Characteristics of Computers

Today, much of the world's infrastructure runs on computers and it has profoundly
changed our lives. Some of the characteristics of computers, which make them an essential part
of every emerging technology, are described as follows:
1. Its ability to execute the instructions loaded into it in autonomously manner.

2. High speed processing
3. High precision in getting results
4. Large storage capacity and rapid fetching of needed information.
5. Ability to connect to remote peer machines and exchange information
II.2 Limitations of Computers

Computer has certain limitations also.
 As a machine, it can perform only what it is programmed to do; nothing more and
nothing less.
 In addition, it needs well-defined instructions to perform any operation.
 Therefore, computers are unable to give any conclusion without going through
intermediate steps.
 Besides, the use of a computer is restricted to certain areas where qualitative
considerations are important. For instance, it can make plans based on situations and
information though it cannot foresee whether they will succeed or not.
III. EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
The need for a device to do calculations along with the growth in commerce and other human
activities explain the evolution of computers. Computers were preceded by many devices that
mankind developed for their computing requirements. However, many centuries elapsed before
technology was adequately advanced to develop computers. To understand the recent impact of
computers, it is worthwhile to have a look at the evolution of computers.
III.1 The first Machines
III.1.1 Sand Tables
In ancient times, people used fingers to perform the calculations such as addition and subtraction.
Even today, simple calculations are done on fingers. Soon, mankind realized that it would be
easier to do calculations with pebbles as compared to fingers. Consequently, pebbles were used
to represent numbers, which led to the development of sand tables. They are known to be the
earliest device for computation.
III.1.2. Abacus
The word 'abacus' was derived from the Arabic word 'abaq', which means 'dust'. An abacus
consists of sliding beads arranged on a rack, which has two parts: upper and lower. The upper
part contains two beads and the lower part contains five beads per wire. The numbers are
represented by the position of the beads on the rack. For example, in the upper part of the rack, a
raised bead denotes 0, whereas a lowered bead denotes digit 5. In the lower part, a raised bead
stands for 1 and a lowered bead stands for 0. The arithmetic operations like addition and
subtraction can be performed by positioning the beads appropriately.
III.1.3. Napier Bones
In 1614, John Napier, a Scottish mathematician, made a more sophisticated computing machine
called the Napier bones. This was a small instrument made of 10 rods on which the
multiplication table was engraved. It was made of the strips of ivory bones, and so the name
Napier bones. This device enabled multiplication in a fast manner, if one of the numbers was of
one digit only (for example, 6 × 6745).
III.1.4. Slide Rule
The invention of logarithms influenced the development of another famous invention known as
slide rule. In 1620 AD, the first slide rule came into existence. It was jointly devised by two
British mathematicians, Edmund Gunter and William Oughtred. It was based on the principle
that actual distances from the starting point of the rule is directly proportional to the logarithm of
the numbers printed on the rule.
III.1.5 Pascaline
In 1642 AD, Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, scientist and philosopher, invented the first
functional automatic calculator. It had a complex arrangement of wheels, gears and windows for
displaying numbers. It was operated by a series of dials attached to the wheels with each wheel
having 10 segments (numbered from zero to nine) on its circumference. However, the usage of
this device was limited to addition and subtraction only
III.1.6 Analytical Engine
Analytical engine is considered to be the first general-purpose programmable computer.
Babbage's innovation in the design of the analytical engine made it possible to test the sign of a
computed number and take one course of action if the sign was positive and another if the sign
was negative. Babbage also designed this device to advance or reverse the flow of punched cards
to permit branching to any desired instruction within a program.
III.2 Some Early Computers

Before discussing various generations of computers, let us discuss some well-known computers
of the past, which are considered to be predecessors of modern computers.
III.2.1 MARK-I Computer
From the year 1937 to 1944, Howard Aiken, an American mathematician, under the sponsorship
of IBM, developed MARK-I. It was essentially a serial collection of electromechanical
calculators and had many similarities to Babbage's analytical machine. MARK-I was capable of
performing addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and table reference. However, it was
extremely slow, noisy and bulky (approximately 50 ft long, 8 ft high and weighed 5 tons).
III.2.2 ABC Computer
In 1939, John Vincent Atansoft and Clifford Berry formulated the idea of using the binary
number system to simplify the construction of an electronic calculator. At the end of 1939, they
built the first electronic computer named as ABC (Atansoft Berry Computer). It is considered the
first computing machine, which introduced the idea of binary arithmetic, regenerative memory
and logic circuits. This computer used electronic vacuum tubes and the circuitry was based on
George Boole's Boolean algebra.
III.2.3 Colossus
In 1944, Alan Mathison Turing, a British mathematician, along with some colleagues, created a
computer called the colossus, which comprised 1800 vacuum tubes. It was one of the world's
earliest working programmable electronic digital computers. Colossus was a special-purpose
machine that suited a narrow range of tasks (e.g. it was not capable of performing decimal
multiplications).
III.2.4 ENIAC
In 1946, John Eckert and John Mauchly of the Moore School of Engineering at the University
of Pennsylvania developed Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC). Like the
ABC computer, this computer also used electronic vacuum tubes for its internal parts. It
embodied almost all the components and concepts of today's high-speed, electronic digital
computers. ENIAC consisted of 18,000 vacuum tubes, which required around 160 KW of
electricity and weighed nearly 30 tons. It could compute at a speed 1000 times that of Mark-I,
but had a limited amount of space to store and manipulate information.
III.2.5 EDVAC
John Eckert and John Mauchly also proposed the development of Electronic Discrete
Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC). Although, the conceptual design of EDVAC was
completed by 1946, it came into existence only in 1949. The EDVAC was the first electronic
computer to use the stored program concept introduced by John Von Neumann. EDVAC
contained approximately 4000 vacuum tubes and 10,000 crystal diodes.
III.2.6 EDSAC
The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) was also based on John Von
Neumann's stored program concept. The work began on EDSAC in 1946 at Cambridge
University by a team headed by Maurice Wilkes. In 1949, the first successful program was run
on this machine. It used mercury delay lines for memory and vacuum tubes for logic. It could
carry out only 650 instructions per second. A program was fed into the machine through a
sequence of holes punched into a paper tape. The machine occupied a room, which measured 5
meters by 4 meters.
III.2.7 UNIVAC
The Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) was the first commercially available electronic
computer. It was also the first general-purpose computer, which was designed to handle both
numeric and textual information. It was manufactured by the Eckert-Mauchly Corporation in
1951 and its implementation marked the real beginning of the computer era. Magnetic tapes were
used as input and output media at a speed of around 13,000 characters/s.
IV. GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS
The history of computer development is often discussed with reference to different generations
of computing devices. In computer terminology, the word 'generation' is described as a stage of
technological development or innovation. According to the type of 'processor' installed in a
machine, there are five generations of computers, which are discussed in the next few sections.
IV.1 First Generation (1940–56)—Vacuum Tubes

Computers of the first generation used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for
memory. The input was based on punched cards and paper tape and the output was in the form of
printouts. First-generation computers relied on binary-coded language, which is also known as
the machine language (i.e. language of 0s and 1s), to perform operations and were able to solve
only one problem at a time.
Following are the characteristics of first-generation computers:
• These computers were based on vacuum tube technology.

• These computers were very large and required a lot of space for installation.
• Since thousands of vacuum tubes were used, they generated a large amount of heat.
• These were nonportable and very slow equipments.
• They lacked in versatility and speed.
• They were very expensive to operate and used a large amount of electricity.
• These machines were unreliable and prone to frequent hardware failures.
• Since machine language was used, these computers were difficult to program and use.
• Each individual component had to be assembled manually. Hence, commercial appeal of
these computers was poor.
IV.2 Second Generation (1956–63)—Transistors

Second-generation computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes. A transistor is made up
of semiconductor material like germanium and silicon. Since transistor is a small device, the
physical size of the computer was greatly reduced. Computers became smaller, faster, cheaper,
energy-efficient and more reliable than their predecessors. In second-generation computers,
magnetic cores were used as primary memory and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices.
However, they still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output. One of the major
developments of this generation includes the progress of machine language to assembly
language. Assembly language used mnemonics (abbreviations) for instructions rather than
numbers; for example, ADD for addition and MULT for multiplication. As a result,
programming became less cumbersome. Early high-level programming languages such as
COBOL and FORTRAN also came into existence during this period. Examples: PDP-8, IBM
1401 and IBM 7090.
Characteristics of second-generation computers are as follows:
• These machines were based on transistor technology.

• These were smaller when compared to the first-generation computers.
• The computational time of these computers was reduced to microseconds from
milliseconds.
• These were more reliable and less prone to hardware failure.
• These were more portable and generated less amount of heat.
• Assembly language was used to program computers. Hence, programming became more
time-efficient and less cumbersome.
• Manual assembly of individual components into a functioning unit was still required.
IV.3 Third Generation (1964–Early 1970s)—Integrated Circuits
The development of the integrated circuit was the trait of the third-generation computers. An
integrated circuit, also called IC, consisted of a single chip (usually silicon) with many
components such as transistors and resistors fabricated on it. This development made computers
smaller in size, reliable and efficient. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted
with third-generation computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an
operating system. This allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a
central program that monitored the memory. For the first time, computers became accessible to
majority of common people because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
Examples: NCR 395 and B6500.
Third-generation computers have the following characteristics:
 These computers were based on integrated circuit (IC) technology.

 These were able to reduce computational time from microseconds to nanoseconds.
 These were easily portable and more reliable than the second-generation computers.
 These devices consumed less power and generated less heat. In some cases, air
conditioning was still required.
 The size of these computers was smaller as compared to previous-generation computers.
 Since hardware rarely failed, the maintenance cost was quite low.
 Extensive use of high-level languages became possible.
 Commercial production became easier and cheaper.
IV.4 Fourth Generation (Early 1970s–Till Date)—Microprocessors

Fourth generation is an extension of third-generation technology, based on the development of
the microprocessor (circuits containing millions of transistors). Fourth-generation computers led
to an era of large-scale integration (LSI) and very-large-scale integration (VLSI) technology.
LSI technology allowed thousands of transistors to be constructed on one small slice of silicon
material, whereas VLSI squeezed hundreds of thousands of components on to a single chip.
Ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) increased that number to millions. This way the computers
became smaller and cheaper than ever before. Fourth-generation computers became more
powerful, compact, reliable and affordable. As a result, it gave rise to the personal computer
(PC) revolution. During this period, magnetic core memories were substituted by semiconductor
memories, which resulted in faster random access main memories. Moreover, secondary
memories such as hard disks became economical, smaller, and bigger in capacity. The other
significant development of this era was that these computers could be linked together to form
networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. This generation also saw the
development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), mouse and hand-held devices. Examples:
Apple II, Altair 8800 and CRAY-1.
Following are the characteristics of fourth-generation computers:
• Fourth-generation computers are microprocessor-based systems.
• These computers are very small in size.
• These are the cheapest among all the other-generation computers.
• These are portable and quite reliable.
• These machines generate negligible amount of heat, hence,
• Hardware failure is negligible, so minimum maintenance is required.
• GUI and pointing devices enable the users to learn to use the computer quickly.
• Interconnection of computers leads to better communication and resource sharing.
IV.5 Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)—Artificial Intelligence

The dream of creating a human-like computer that would be capable of reasoning and reaching at
a decision through a series of 'what-if-then' analyses has existed since the beginning of computer
technology. Such a computer would learn from its mistakes and possess the skill of experts.
These are the objectives for creating the fifth-generation computers. The starting point of the
fifth-generation computers had been set in the early 1990s. The process of developing fifth
generation computers is still in the development stage. However, the 'expert system' concept is
already in use. The expert system is defined as a computer system that attempts to mimic the
thought process and reasoning of experts in specific areas. Three characteristics can be identified
with the fifth-generation computers. These are as follows:
 Mega Chips: Fifth-generation computers will use super large-scale integrated (SLSI)
chips, which will result in the production of microprocessor having millions of electronic
components on a single chip. Mega chips may enable the computer to approximate the
memory capacity of the human mind.
 Parallel Processing: fifth-generation computer will use multiple processors and perform
parallel processing, thereby accessing several instructions at one time and working on
them at the same time.
 Artificial Intelligence (AI): It refers to a series of related technologies that tries to
simulate and reproduce human behaviour including thinking, speaking and reasoning. AI
comprises a group of related technologies: expert systems (ES), natural language
processing (NLP), speech recognition, vision recognition and robotics.
V. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
Computers can be classified according to physical size, functionality and purpose
V.1- Classification according to physical size
Computers are classified according to their physical size and bulk as shown below:
Description of computers according to physical size
Size Characteristics Uses

Super computers Lardest, fastest, powerful and Used for advanced scientific research
most expensive. They such as nuclear physics
generate a lot of heat
Mainframes Less powerful and less Used to handle all kings of problems
expensive than whether scientific or commercial, i.e.
supercomputers. They also performing complex mathematical
have a large storage capacity calculations. They are mostly found in
banks, hospitals, airport, etc.
Minicomputers Smaller ans less powerful Used in scientific laboratries, research
than the mainframe institution, engineering plants and places
where processing automation is required
Microcomputers Smallest, cheapest, and Used to perform a variety of task
relatively less powerful. Uses including research, communication,
a microprocessor to process banking, learning institutions, libraries,
data. Example: desktop, …
Laptop, Personal disgital
assistant (PDA)
V.2- Classification according to purpose
According to purpose, we can distinguish three types of computers: General purpose

computers, Special purpose computers and dedicated computer
Description of computers according to purpose
Computer Uses Examples
General purpose Designed to perform a variety of PCs, cell phones, notebooks
tasks etc.
Special purpose Designed specifically for one task Calculators, robots, cell
phones, thermometers etc
Dedicated computers Designed as a general purpose but PCs used for learning
dedicated to perform a specific task environment, banking,
communication etc.
According to functionality, there exist three types of computers: digital computers,

analogue computers and hybrid computers.
Description of computers according to physical size

Computer Characteristics Uses
Analogue Process data that is Used by PCs, home appliances, TVs, Microwaves, wall
discrete in nature clocks etc
Digital Process data that is Used in manufacturing process control like monitoring
continuous in nature temperatures, pressures, density etc
Hybrid Designed to process Used on manufacturing process control. And returns a
both analogue and digital value. Examples are:- a digital weighing
digital data machine, digital thermometer etc
VI. BASIC FUNCTIONNING OF A COMPUTER
Computer is made up of two parts: hardware and software
Hardware refers to all the physical devices that make up a computer system, both
those inside the computer “case” and those outside the case, like monitor,
keyboard, and mouse.
- Software refers to the programs the computer executes. For example, the word
processor Microsoft Word, or the computer game “Half-Life,” is software, as is a
program that enables a cell phone display so the user can select a new ring-tone
Every task given to a computer follows an Input- Process- Output Cycle (IPO cycle). It
needs certain data, processes that data and produces the desired information. The input unit
takes the input (data), the central processing unit (CPU) does the processing of data
and the output unit produces the output (information). The memory unit holds the data
and instructions during the processing.
Fig: functioning of a computer.
EXERCISES
1- Define or explain the following words or expressions: computer science, computer,

computer literacy, information, data, data processing, program and ICT.
2- Briefly state, with appropriate examples, the difference between the following concepts:
- Information and data
- Analogue computer and digital computer
- General purpose computer and special purpose computer
- Special purpose computer and dedicated computer
- Supercomputer and mainframe computer.
- Hardware and software.
3- Explain using a diagram how data processing is carrying out inside a computer
CHAPTER 2: COMPUTER HARDWARE SYSTEM
Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer, as distinguished from the

computer software that executes or runs on the hardware. The hardware of a computer is
infrequently changed, while software and data are modified frequently. The term soft refers to
readily created, modified, or erased. These are unlike the physical components within the
computer which are hard.
Learning objectives
At the end of the lesson student should be able to:
 Describe the principle of functioning of a computer

 Describe with appropriate examples different external components of a computer
particularly input devices, output devices and storage devices
I. BLOG DIAGRAM OF A COMPUTER
As you know, computer is an electronic device, it comprises of many

units. These units work in coordination with each other to perform the given
task. Block diagram of computer is shown in figure 1 below.
Fig 1: Blog Diagram of the computer
Refer this figure and note that computer comprises of the following six primary components:
 input devices,
 the processor (control unit and arithmetic/logic unit),
 memory,
 output devices,
 storage devices, and
 communications devices
The processor, memory, and storage devices are housed in a box-like case called the system
unit.
II. INPUT DEVICES
An input device is any a peripheral device that allows you to enter data, programs, and
commands, from the user and translates the information into a form, which the computer can
interpret. It is devices that convert input data from human readable form into machine
readable form
 Human readable form is a kind of language that the user understands i.e. Kiswahili,
English etc.
 Machine readable form this is a language that the computer understands i.e. binary
language, assembly language etc.
Examples of input devices include: Keying, Pointing and Scanning devices, Digitizers, Digital
Camera, Voice input etc.
II.1 Keying devices

These are devices that convert typed numbers, letters and special characters into
machine readable form examples: keyboard and keypad
II.1.1 Keyboard
This is the most commonly used keying method with desktop and laptop computers.
There are different types of keyboard layouts such as QWERTY, QWERTZU and AZERTY. But
the most common used are QWERTY and AZERTY.
II.1.2 Keypad
This is a small keyboard used with hand held devices i.e. cell phones, calculators,
notebooks etc.
II.2 Pointing devices
These are devices used to control the pointer/cursor on the screen. Examples:
mouse, joystick, trackball, light pen etc.
II.2.1 Mouse
It is a small handheld device which is moved across a mat or flat surface to move the
cursor on a computer screen. Usually, a mouse contains two or three buttons, which can be used
to input commands or the data. The mouse may be classified as a mechanical mouse or an optical
mouse, based on the technology it uses.
 A mechanical mouse uses a rubber ball at the bottom surface, which rotates as the mouse
is moved along a flat surface to move the cursor. It is the most common and least
expensive pointing device.
 An optical mouse uses a light beam instead of a rotating ball to detect the movement
across a specially patterned mouse pad. As the user rolls the mouse on a flat surface, the
cursor on the screen also moves in the direction of the movement the mouse.
Mouse terminologies: Some of the common mouse actions are listed as follows:
Action meaning Operation carried out

Moving the mouse pointer to the Identify an object or to execute a
Pointing
designated target on the screen. command
Pressing the left button of the mouse
Clicking Select an object
and releasing it immediately
Double Pressing the left button of the mouse Open a folder
Clicking twice, in quick succession Execute a program
Moving the mouse, with its left Select many objects
Drag and Drop
button pressed Move an object
To press the right button of the Show the contextual menu of an
Right-click
mouse once object
Scrolling Roll up and down the scroll wheel used to move hidden text up and
wheel down the screen of an active window
II.2.2 Track ball
This is just like a mouse whose ball is located at the top. The pointer on the screen is
moved as the user moves the ball with a finger.
II.2.3 Joy stick
Looks like a car gear. When the lever like part is moved, the pointer moves on the
screen. It is mostly used to play games.
II.2.4 Light pen and stylus
A light pen, also called a selector pen, is a computer input device in the form of a light-
sensitive wand used in conjunction with a computer's CRT display. It allows the user to point to
displayed objects or draw on the screening a similar way to a touch screen but with greater
positional accuracy
II.2.5 Trackpad
Also referred to as touchpad is a stationary pointing device that works by sensing

the movement of fingers across a small sensitive surface (1.5 or 2 in.) and translating them into
the pointer movement on the screen. It is generally used in laptops, but can also be connected to
the PC through a cord
II.3 Scanning devices
These are devices that capture data directly into the computer. They can also be defined
as devices that use a magnetic or photo-electric source to scan and convert images into electric
signals that can be processed by an electronic apparatus, such as a computer. Scanning devices
are commonly used to:
- Convert a text document into an electronic file;
- Convert a photograph into an electronic graphic file;
- Sense an image to be sent over a voice frequency
- Circuit, such as a fax machine;
- Reproduce text and images, as with a copier.
Scanners are classified according to technology used to capture data namely: optical and
magnetic scanners.
II.3.1 Optical scanners
These scanners capture data using optical or light technology. Examples of optical
scanners.
SCANNER TECHNOLOGY USES
Optical Mark They capture inked marks on paper by Making multiple
Recognition (OMR) passing infrared light over them choice questions
Optical Bar Used to capture barcodes Supermarkets for
Recognition (OBR) transactions
Optical Character Convert handwritten, typewritten and Schools, library, banks
Recognition (OCR) printed text and images into machine to scan photos and
readable form. E.g. flat bed scanner documents
II.3.2 Magnetic scanners
These scanners use magnetic technology to capture handwritten and magnetic strip data.
Some examples of optical scanners are:
 MICR: These scanners are used to read characters written using magnetic ink as shown
left. Mostly used in banks to read cheques.
 Digitizers: also known as graphic tablet, allows a user to draw an image using a stylus
 Digital camera: Also known as a digicam. Is a camera that takes video or still
photographs by recording images on an electronic image sensor.
 Webcam (short form of web camera) is a portable video camera, which captures live
video or images that may be viewed in real time over the network or the Internet. It is just
a small digital camera that is either in-built in your computer (in most laptops) or can be
connected through a USB port.
II.4 Other input devices
Other input devices of computer include:
 Touch screen: It is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location
of a touch within the display area
 Voice input: also known as speech recognition (SR). Is the translation of spoken words
into text.
 Interactive whiteboard (IWB): This is a large interactive display that connects to a
computer and projector. A projector projects the computer's desktop onto the board's
surface where users control the computer using a pen, finger, stylus, or other device. The
board is typically mounted to a wall or floor stand.
III. OUTPUT DEVICES
An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results
of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) which
converts the electronically generated information into human-readable form. The output
produced by the output devices can be of the following forms
Generally, there are two basic categories of output:
 Hard Copy: The physical form of output is known as hard copy. In general, it refers to the
recorded information copied from a computer onto the paper or some other durable surface such
as microfilm. The principal examples of output are printouts, whether text or graphics from
printers.
 Soft Copy: Softcopy refers to intangible output that can be seen or heard i.e. screen display
or sound. Examples include: monitors, LCD projectors, and speakers.
Some examples of output devices include:
III.1 Printers
A printer prints information and data from the computer onto a paper. Printers are divided
into two basic categories: impact printers and non-impact printers.
III.1.1 Classification according to printing mechanism
 Impact printers use some sort of physical contact with the paper to make a mark
onto it. Example: Dot Matrix Printers, Daisy Wheel Printer, Drum Printers
 Non-impact printers use techniques other than physically striking the page to transfer
ink onto it. Example: Ink-jet Printers, Laser Printers, Hydra Printer
IMPACT PRINTER NON-IMPACT PRINTER

Slow Faster
Use inked ribbons Use thermal, photo and electrostatic principles
Multiple copy production possible Multiple copy production impossible
Cheaper Costly
Noisy Quiet
Examples: Dot Matrix Printers, Examples: Ink-jet Printers, Laser Printers, Hydra
Daisy Wheel Printer, Drum Printers Printer
III.1.2 Classification of printers according to the speed of printing
 Character printers: Provide one character at a time and are hence comparatively slow
and less costly than the line or page printers. Examples: daisy wheel printer, golf ball printer:
 Line printers: Provide one whole line of print at a time. Hence they are more
expensive than the character printers. Examples: Thermal printer, Injek printer,
electrostatic
 Page printers: Page printers provide one whole page of print at a time, hence faster
than both line and character printers, relatively more expensive and produce high quality
printouts. Example: xenographic printer, laser printer, electrostatic printer
III.2 Monitors
The monitor is the most frequently used output device for producing soft copy
output. A monitor or display (also called screen or visual display unit (VDU)) is an
electronic peripheral device used to display information in the form of text, pictures and video,
enabling the user to monitor what is going on in the computer. Monitors are available in various
sizes like 14, 15, 17, 19 and 21 inches.
III.2.1 Terminologies used with screen display
 Pixel- stands for picture elements. These are tiny dots which form images displayed on the
screen.
 Color depth-in computer graphics, color depth or bit depth is the number of bits used to
indicate the color of a single pixel in a bitmapped image or video frame buffer.
 Resolution-this is the number of pixels per inch on the screen usually measured in dots per
inch (dpi) or bits. The higher the resolution, the more the number of pixels per square inch,
hence clearer the images.
 Display size-is the measure in inches as the diagonal length of the screen measured from
top right to bottom left.
 DirectX- This is a software that enhances the multimedia capabilities of your
computer. DirectX provides access to the capabilities of your display and audio cards, which
enables programs to provide realistic three-dimensional (3-D) graphics and immersive music
and audio effects.
III.2.2 Examples of video adaptors include:
 Color Graphic Adaptor(CGA)-display text and images up to 16 colors

 Enhanced Graphic Adaptor (EGA)-an improvement of CGA but also displays in 16
colors
 Video Graphic Array(VGA)-display text, graphics and video using 256 colors
 Super Video Graphic Array(SVGA)-displays text and graphics using more than 16
million colors, has a minimum resolution of 800x 600 pixels
 Extended Graphic Array (XGA)-has a resolution of up to 1024 x 1280 pixels and is
popular with 17 and 19 inch monitors.
 Super Extended Graphic Array (SXGA) has a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and
is popular with 19 and 21 inch monitors.
 Ultra Extended Graphic Array(UXGA)- is the latest and highest standard
III.2.3 Types of monitor
There exist various types of monitor: CRT-cathode ray tube, LCD-liquid crystal display,
GPD- gas plasma display.
a) Cathode Ray Tube Monitors:

CRT was the most used in most computer monitors before the advent of plasma screens,
LCD, DLP, OLED displays, and other technologies. The basic operation of these tubes is
similar to that in television sets.
b) Liquid Crystal Display Monitors:
With the widespread use of smaller computers like PDAs and laptops, a new type of display
liquid crystal display (LCD) has made a big impact on computer market. LCD is a thin, flat
display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light
source or reflector. It uses very small amounts of electric power, and is therefore suitable
for use in battery-powered electronic devices. Example: TFT-thin film transistor
c) Plasma display
A plasma display is an emissive flat panel display where light is created by phosphors,
excited by a plasma discharge between two flat panels of glass. The gas discharge contains no
mercury a mixture of noble gases (neon and xenon) is used instead.
d) Surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED)
SED is a flat-panel, high-resolution display. Some SEDs have a diagonal measurement

exceeding one meter (approximately 40 inches). The SED consists of an array of electron
emitters and a layer of phosphor, separated by a small space from which all the air has been
evacuated.
e) Digital Light Processing (DLP)
DLP is a technology used in projectors and video projectors. In DLP projectors, the image is
created by microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a semiconductor chip, known as
a Digital Micro mirror Device (DMD).
f) Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
This is a thin-film light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive layer is an organic
compound OLED technology is intended primarily as picture elements in practical display
devices. These devices promise to be much less costly to fabricate than traditional LCD
displays.
Differences between LCD and CRT
 Size: An LCD is lightweight and compact, which saves desktop space as compared to
a CRT.
 Resolution: An LCD is designed to work in a single resolution, while CRT is
designed for many resolutions.
 Pixel Density: Pixel density of LCD is generally not as tight as the dot pitch in CRT,
but for most applications, the density is acceptable.
 Brightness: The illuminated phosphor of a CRT is not nearly as bright as what the
LCD can produce with its florescent backlight.
 Power Consumption: An LCD consumes significantly less power than CRT and has a
low emission risk. Typically, the LCD consumes approximately half of the power of a
typical CRT.
 Viewing Angle: A CRT can be viewed at almost any angle, but an LCD is best viewed
'head on'.
 Cost: Prices for LCD screens are quite high but they are coming down. They are still
much more expensive than a CRT.
IV. STORAGE DEVICES
A storage device is any computing hardware that is used for storing, porting and extracting data
files and objects. It can hold and store information both temporarily and permanently, and
can be internal or external to a computer, server or any similar computing device.
There are two different types of storage devices:
 Primary Storage Devices: Generally smaller in size, are designed to hold data
temporarily and are internal to the computer. They have the fastest data access speed,
and include RAM, ROM, Registers and cache memory.
 Secondary Storage Devices: These usually have large storage capacity, and they
store data permanently. They can be both internal and external to the computer.
External storage devices are also called offline devices. There are two main types of
secondary storage: Magnetic (Hard disk and floppy disk) and Optical device (CD,
DVD, USB flash, ...)
IV.1 Hard Disk/HDD
Alternatively referred to as a hard disk drive and abbreviated as HD or HDD, the hard
drive is the computer's main storage media device that permanently stores all data and programs
on the computer. A hard disk, for example, can store anywhere from 10 to more than 100
gigabytes, whereas most floppies have a maximum storage capacity of 1.4 megabytes.
IV.2 Floppy disk
A floppy disk, or diskette, is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and
flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric
that removes dust particles. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive (FDD).
Floppy disk exist in various sizes: 8 inch, 5¼-inch and 3½-inch
IV.3 Compact Disk (CD) / Digital Video Disk (DVD) / Blu-ray Disc (BD)
The Compact Disc, or CD for short, is an optical disc used to store digital data. It can
have a storage capacity of 700MB or 80 minutes of continuous play.
DVD, initially called digital video disk, is a high-capacity data storage medium. A singe layer
DVD can hold only 4.7 GB of data.
A Blu-ray Disc is a high density optical disc storage medium. The single layer Blu-ray disc can
store up to 27 GB data.
Those disks exist in various types:
 CD-ROM / DVD-ROM / BD-ROM: They come with pre-recorded data by the

manufacturer and can be read but cannot be altered.
 CD-R / DVD-R / BD-R: Type of WORM (write once-read many) disk that allows
you to record your own data. Once written, the data on the CD-R can be read but cannot
be altered.
 CD-RW / DVD-RW / BD-RW: Disk is rewritable, which means, it allows writing,
erasing and rewriting of the data several times, using a special peripheral device
known as CD/DVD/BD-writer (or burner).
IV.4 Flash disks
A USB flash drive is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated
Universal (USB) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and
physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g. As of September
2011 drives of 256 gigabytes (GB) are available.
a) Memory card
A memory card or flash card is an electronic flash memory data storage device used for
storing digital information. They are commonly used in many electronic devices, including
digital cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, MP3 players and video game consoles. They
are small, re-recordable, and able to retain data without power. Their storage capacities
range from 32MB up to 2TB (terabytes).
EXERCISES
1- Draw and describe the block diagram of a computer.

2- What do you understand by keyboard layout? Give two examples.
3- State, with appropriate examples, the difference between the following concepts:
- Keyboard and keypad
- Impact printer and non-impact printer
- Mechanical mouse and optical mouse
- Cd and DVD
- DVD-ROM, DVD-R and DVD-RW
- BD and DVD
4- Explain the following mouse actions: pointing, clicking, right-clicking, double-clicking.
5- Give two examples of
- Keying device,
- Pointing device
- Scanning device
6- Explain the following acronym related to input devices: OMR, OBR, OCR, MICR
7- Explain the following acronym related to storage devices: DVD, BD, RAM
8- Explain the following terminologies related to video characteristics: VGA, EGA, CRT, LCD,
LED, SXGA, Pixel, screen resolution.
CHAPTER 3: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Computer hardware is only as effective as the instructions we give it, and those instructions
are contained in software. Software not only directs the computer to manage its internal
resources, but also enables the user to tailor a computer system to provide specific business
value. This chapter aims to:
- Define software and state the main difference between hardware and software
- give the main differences between application software and system software
- Classify the different type of application software by categories with examples in
each category.
I. DEFINITION OF SOFTWARE
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data
that provides the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it.
Software does nothing more than tell the computer how to accept some type of input,
manipulate that input, and spit it back out again in some form that humans find useful.
II. .CLASSIFICATION OF SOFTWARE
Computer software can be organized into categories based on common function, task, or field
of use. We can then categorize software in different ways.
II.1 Classification of software based on task
Based on the kind of task they perform, software can be

divided into two major groups: System software and
application software. A layer structure below shows
where the operating system software and application
software are situated while running on a typical desktop
computer
II.1.1 System software
System software is a type of computer software that

controls the operation of the computer and provides
facilities that extend the general capabilities of the
machine. This provides the basic functions for computer
usage and helps to run the computer hardware and
system. It includes a combination of the
following:
1) Operating system
An operating system is a group of computer programs that coordinates all the activities
among computer hardware devices. This is the most important type of system software in a
computer. A user can’t run an application program on the computer except it is self-booting
without the Operating System. Operating systems are contained in almost all devices
including mobile phones.
Functions of an operating system
An operating system executes many functions to operate computer system efficiently. Among
them, four essential functions are the followings.
 Resource Management: An operating system manages a collection of computer

hardware resources by using a variety of programs. It manages computer system
resources, including its CPU, primary memory, virtual memory, secondary storage
devices, input/output peripherals, and other devices. For example, most operating
systems now are plug and play which means a device such as a printer will
automatically be detected and configured without any user intervention.
 Task Management: The function of the operating system that controls the running of
many tasks. It manages one program or many programs within a computer system
simultaneously.
 File management: This is a function that manages data files. An operating system
contains file management programs that provide the ability to create, delete, enter,
change, and access of files of data. The operating system keeps track of where files
are located on the hard drive through the type of file system. The type two main types
of file system most used are File Allocation table (FAT) or New Technology File
system (NTFS).
 User Interface: It is a function of an operating system that allows users to interact

with a computer. The two main types of user interfaces are: command line Interface
(CLI) and a graphical user interface (GUI). With a command line interface, the user
interacts with the operating system by typing commands to perform specific tasks. An
example of a command line interface is DOS (disk operating system). With a
graphical user interface, the user interacts with the operating system by using a mouse
to access windows, icons, and menus. An example of a graphical user interface is
Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Examples of popular modern operating systems include Android, BSD, iOS, Linux
(ubuntu, Knoppix, Dreamlinux, …) OS X, QNX, Microsoft Windows(Windows 95, 2000,
Vista, 7, 8,…), Windows Phone, and IBM z/OS. All these, except Windows, Windows Phone
and z/OS, share roots in UNIX.
2) Utility program
This is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a

computer. A single piece will be called a utility or tool. Some Well-known utility software
include :
 Antivirus programs: They are used to detect and eliminate computer viruses and
related malicious software. Some examples are: avast, AVG, Avira, BitDefender,
Norton
 Backup programs: They help to make copies of all information valuable to a
computer or information system and store it safe. The information can be restored in
the event of disk failure or other accidents that will lead to data loss.
 Data Recovery: As the name implies, data recovery programs are used to recover
data. Since disk drives or other hardware may fail, these utilities are essential to
recover data in such a scenario.
 Data Compression programs: They make the data more compact, reducing the
space occupied by the data.
 Disk cleaner scan find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up
considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide what to delete
when their hard disk is full.
 Cryptographic utilities encrypt and decrypt streams and files.
 Disk defragmenters can detect computer files whose contents are broken across
several locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one location to increase
efficiency.
 The Server: In the context of client-Server architecture, a server is a computer
program running to serve the requests of other programs – “the clients”. The clients
may run on the same systems or through networks.
3) Programming software
It is the type of software that is used for creating other software. Another name for
programming software is Integrated Development Environment (IDE). An IDE normally
consist of a source code editor, a translator (compiler or interpreter) and a debugger.
- Editor: It is a programming tool that is used for creating and modifying application
programs. It helps the computer user to enter, search, delete, replace, copy and insert
text or sections of a text in a desired position.
- Compiler: It is used to convert a complete program written in a high-level language
(such as Pascal and C) into a program in machine language.
- Debugger: It is a program that is used for locating and correcting programming
errors.
4) Device driver
Device drivers are computer programs that allow the Operating System to communicate and
interact with a hardware device. A new device connected to the computer should not work
until its driver is installed.
II.1.2 Application software
Although system software has the vital job of controlling and managing the computer, it
is the application software that lets you carry out the tasks for which the system was purchased.
It enables the end users to accomplish certain specific tasks. Business software, databases and
educational software are some forms of application software. Different word processors, which
are dedicated to specialized tasks to be performed by the user, are other examples of application
software.
a) General purpose software
A general purpose application, sometimes known as ‘off-the-shelf’ is the sort of software that
you use at home and school for different types of tasks
There are several good reasons for using general purpose software:
 It is relatively cheap
 It is easily available from most computer shops
 It will have been thoroughly tested so there won’t be any serious problems or bugs
 There will be lots of user support i.e. books, user guides, online help and discussion
forums on the Internet
Examples of General Purpose Application Software:

 Desktop Publishing Software - Often used to create graphics for point of sale
displays, promotional items, trade show exhibits, retail package designs and outdoor signs. In
very simple words, it could be said that it is a page maker application.
 Word-Processing Software - Used for the production (including composition, editing,
formatting, and possibly printing) of any sort of printable material. This software enables
users to create, format, edit and print electronic documents (Letters, reports, articles, …). The
most popular examples of this type of software are MS- Word, WordPad and Word Perfect,
Libreoffice writter.
 Spreadsheet Software - A spreadsheet is an interactive computer application program
for organization and analysis of data in tabular form. Spreadsheets developed as
computerized simulations of paper accounting worksheets. The program operates on data
represented as cells of an array, organized in rows and columns. Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-
3 Apple Numbers and VisiCalc are some examples of spreadsheet
 Database software: Database is a structured collection of data. A computer database relies
on database software to organize data and enable database users to perform database
operations. Database software allows users to store and retrieve data from databases.
Examples are Oracle, MSAccess, EasyPhp, etc.
 Graphic package Allow you to create pictures and edit photographs. Example software:
CorelDraw. Paint Shop Pro.
 Presentation Software: The software that is used to display information in the form of a
slide show is known as presentation software. This type of software includes three
functions, namely, editing that allows insertion and formatting of text, methods to include
graphics in the text and a functionality of executing slide shows. Microsoft PowerPoint and
Micromedia director are the best example of presentation software Web design application
b) Specific purpose software
They are highly specialized software that are designed to handle specific tasks. They're more
limited in what they can do. They usually do only one thing, but they usually perform much
better than a general purpose program in a specific task.
Some examples of specific software are
 Communications software: Used to send messages and emails Example software: MS
Outlook Express. MS Messenger.
 Desktop publishing programs: Used to combine and control graphics and text in a single
document. Example software: Adobe PageMaker. MS Publisher.
 Web browser: Computer program that enables internet users to access, navigate, and
search World Wide Web sites. It is also called browser. Ex: Mozilla Firefox, Internet
explorer, Opera, Google chrome
 Enterprise Software: It deals with the needs of organization processes and data flow.
Customer relationship management or the financial processes in an organization are carried
out with the help of enterprise software. Ex: Sage Saari.
 Multimedia Software: They allow users to create and play audio and video files. They
are capable of playing media files. Audio converters, audio players, burners, video encoders
and decoders are some forms of multimedia software. Examples of this type of software
include Real Player and Windows Media Player.
c) Bespoke software
Although most organisations use general purpose software, some organisations will find that
it just doesn’t do exactly what they want or it doesn’t work with their current systems. In this
case, they might decide to have the software system they need designed and developed
specifically for them. This is called ‘tailor-made’ or ‘bespoke’ software.
Bespoke application software is tailor made for a specific user and purpose. For example
a factory may require software to run a robot to make cars; however, it is the only factory
making that car in the world, so the software required would have to be specially built for the
task.
II.2 Classification of software based on source
Based on code source, we distinguish two types of software: Open Source Software and
Closed Source Software.
II.2.1 Closed source software
Also called proprietary software, it is software with restricting on using, copying and
modifying the source code as enforced by the proprietor. In other words, computer users do
not have any access to the source code of the proprietary software. Well known examples of
proprietary software include: Windows, RealPlayer, Adobe Photoshop, Mac OS, ...
II.2.2 Open source software
It is the type of software that has no proprietary restriction attached to it, particularly the
restriction about the access to the source code. In other words, open source software is
designed in such a way that computer users can freely access and modify the source code to
suit their individual need. It is also called non-proprietary software. E.g. Linux, Open
Office, VLC player, Dev C++
II.3 Classification of software based on licence
The term licence refers to a legal document or agreement giving someone permission to do
and use something. A software licence comprises the permissions, rights and restriction
imposed on a piece of software. Under a software licence, the Licensee is permitted to use the
licence software in compliance with a specific term on the licence. Based on licence,
computer software may be divided into the following:
. II.3.1 Freeware
This is a Copyrighted software given away for free use and distribution by the author.
Although it is available for free, the author retains the copyright, which means that you
cannot do anything with it that is not expressly allowed by the author. Usually, the author
allows people to use the software, but not sell it.
II.3.2 Shareware
Shareware (also termed trialware or demoware) is proprietary software that is provided freely
to users on a limited duration (regularly 30 days) and only for a certain limited trial basis.
After the 30 days, the user must buy it before being able to use it again.
II.4 Other type of software
Custom Software: Software that is developed for a specific user or organization is custom
software. Since it is built for a specific user, its specifications and features are in accordance
with the user's needs.
Off-the-Shelf Software: As opposed to custom software, off-the-shelf software is standard
software bought off the shelf. It has predefined specifications that may or may not cater to
any specific user's requirements. When you buy it, you agree to its license agreement.
Tailor Made Software: Tailor made software is software that is made to the specifications of
a client. In other words it is custom made, bespoke, or 'tailored' to address a specific need
Retail Software: While shareware is provided as a trial version to users, retail software is
sold to end users.
Firmware: Firmware is a combination of software (generally, system software) permanently

stored in the memory (hardware). As the name suggests, it is a program or data that has been
written onto the read-only memory (ROM). For example, the BIOS (which is installed inside
a computer on a chip) checks different parts of the system before loading the operating
system into the memory.
II.5 Software package and software suite
A software package is an assemblage of files and information about those files. Word
processing, spreadsheets and databases are examples of different types of software packages.
Licensed software such as Microsoft Office, and open source Linux software which is
available for free are also examples off different types of software packages.
A software suite, also known as application suite generally consists of two or more
software programs delivered within a single executable and installable file. So;e example of
software suites are:
- Microsoft office suite (Microsoft word, Microsoft excel, Microsoft access,

Microsoft PowerPoint, …)
- Open office suite
- Google doc suite
- WordPerfect Office X3
EXERCISES
1- Explain the following types of software:

- Application software
- System software
- Bespoke software
- Tailor-made software
- Off-the-shell software
- Operating system
- Utility software
- Firmware
- Liveware
- Custom software
2- What is an Operating System? Give two functions of OS and four examples of OS.
3- Give and describe briefly the types of system software.
4- Give the use of each of the following utility software with an example in each case:
- Disk cleaner
- Antivirus
- Backup program
- Disk defragmenter
5- What is the use of a device driver?
6- Give the difference between the following concepts:
- Application software and system software
- FAT and NTFS
- CLI and GUI
- General purpose software and specific purpose software
- Open source software and proprietary software
- Freeware, shareware, crippleware and nagware
- Software package and software suite
7- Give two examples of:
- Presentation software
- Desktop publishing software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Graphic software
- Web browser
- Open source software
- Closed source software
- Freeware
- Software suite
Chapter 4: Operating system concept
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
This chapter aims:
 To describe the services an operating system provides to users, processes, and other
systems.
 To explain some Operating system concept such as system call, kernel mode, deadlock,
paging, segmentation …
 To discuss the various ways of structuring an operating system.
 To describe in detail some functions of operating systems such as process management,
memory management, device management, …
 To describe some examples of today’s operating systems and contrast Linux and
Windows operating system
I. INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEM
I.1 Definition and objectives
An operating system is a collection of system programs that together controls the operation of a
computer system. Operating system along with hardware, application and other system software,
and users constitute a computer system. It is the most important part of any computer system.
The roles of an OS in a computer systems are many:
 Operating System is a Resource Manager.

– Handles multiple computer resources: CPU, Internal/External memory, Processes,
Tasks, Applications, Users, etc…
– Manages and allocates resources to multiple users or multiple jobs running at the same
time (e.g., processor time, memory space, I/O devices)
– Arranges to use the computer hardware in an efficient manner (maximize throughput,
minimize response time) and in a fair manner.
 It is a Control Program.
– Manages all the components of a complex computer system in an integrated manner.
– Controls the execution of user programs and I/O devices to prevent errors and improper
use of the computer resources.
– Looks over and protects the computer.
 It is an extended/virtual machine
 It is an interface between the user and hardware, for it hides the details of the hardware
from the user (e.g., I/O). Therefore, the end-users are not particularly concerned with the
computer’s architecture, and they view the computer system in terms of an application.
 To programmers, it provides some basic utilities to assist him in creating programs, the
management of files, and the control of I/O devices.
II. OPERATNG SYSTEM STRUCTURES
OS structure deals with how operating systems are structured and organized. Different design
issues and choices are examined and compared, and the basic structure of several popular OS are
presented.
II.1 OS services
An operating system provides an environment for the execution of programs. It provides certain
services to programs and to the users of those programs. The specific services provided, of
course, differ from one operating system to another, but we can identify common classes. One
set of operating-system services provides functions that are helpful to the user.
II.1.1 User Interface

Almost all operating systems have a user interface (UI). This interface can take several forms.
 command-line interface(CLI), which uses text commands and a method for entering
them (say, a program to allow entering and editing of commands). Command Line
Interface (CLI) or command interpreter allows direct command entry
- Sometimes implemented in kernel, sometimes by systems program
- Sometimes multiple flavors implemented – shells
- Primarily fetches a command from user and executes it
 Batch interface, in which commands and directives to
control those commands are entered into files, and those
files are executed.
 A graphical user interface (GUI) is used. Here, the
interface is a window system with a pointing device to
directI/O, choose from menus, and make selections and a
keyboard to enter text.
- A GUI is a User-friendly desktop interface
- It usually uses mouse, keyboard, and monitor
- It provides icons to represent files, programs, actions, etc
- Various mouse buttons over objects in the interface
cause various actions (provide information, options,
execute function, open directory (known as a folder)
Some systems provide two or all three of these variations.
 Microsoft Windows is GUI with CLI “command” shell

 Apple Mac OS X as “Aqua” GUI interface with UNIX kernel underneath and shells
available
 Solaris is CLI with optional GUI interfaces (Java Desktop, KDE)
II.1.2 Program execution.
The system must be able to load a program into memory and to run that program. The program
must be able to end its execution, either normally or abnormally (indicating error).
II.1.3 I/O operations.
A running program may require I/O, which may involve a file or an I/O device. For specific
devices, special functions may be desired (such as recording to a CD or DVD drive or blanking a
CRT screen). For efficiency and protection, users usually cannot control I/O devices directly.
Therefore, the operating system must provide a means to do I/O.
II.1.4 File-system manipulation
The file system is of particular interest. Obviously, programs need to read and write files and
directories. They also need to create and delete them by name, search for a given file, and list file
information. Finally, some programs include permissions management to allow or deny access to
files or directories based on file ownership.
II.1.5 Communication
There are many circumstances in which one process needs to exchange information with another
process. Such communication may occur between processes that are executing on the same
computer or between processes that are executing on different computer systems tied together by
a computer network. Communications may be implemented via shared memory or through
message passing, in which packets of information are moved between processes by the
operating system.
II.1.6 Error detection
OS needs to be constantly aware of possible errors
- May occur in the CPU and memory hardware, in I/O devices, in user program
- For each type of error, OS should take the appropriate action to ensure correct and
consistent computing
- Debugging facilities can greatly enhance the user’s and programmer’s abilities to
efficiently use the system.
II.1.7 Other services
Another set of operating-system functions exists not for helping the user but rather for ensuring
the efficient operation of the system itself. Systems with multiple users can gain efficiency by
sharing the computer resources among the users.
 Resource allocation - When multiple users or multiple jobs running concurrently,

resources must be allocated to each of them. Many types of resources - Some (such as
CPU cycles, main memory, and file storage) may have special allocation code, others
(such as I/O devices) may have general request and release code
 Accounting - To keep track of which users use how much and what kinds of computer
resources
 Protection and security - The owners of information stored in a multiuser or networked
computer system may want to control use of that information, concurrent processes
should not interfere with each other
 Protection involves ensuring that all access to system resources is controlled
 Security of the system from outsiders requires user authentication, extends to
defending external I/O devices from invalid access attempts
Fig: OS services
III. TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
Within the broad family of operating systems, there are generally four types, categorized based
on the types of computers they control and the sort of applications they support. The categories
are:
III.1 Real-time operating system (RTOS)
Abbreviated as RTOS, a real-time operating system or embedded operating system is a

computer operating system designed to handle events as they occur. Real-time operating systems
are commonly found and used in robotics, cameras, complex multimedia animation systems,
communications, and has various military and government uses. Many operating systems such as
Windows and Linux have embedded versions and other examples included Chimera, Lynx,
MTOS, QNX, RTMX, RTX, and VxWorks.
III.2 Single-user, single task
As the name implies, this operating system is designed to manage the computer so that one user
can effectively do one thing at a time. The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers is a good
example of a modern single-user, single-task operating system.
III.3 Single-user, multi-tasking
This is the type of operating system most people use on their desktop and laptop computers
today. Microsoft's Windows and Apple's MacOS platforms are both examples of operating
systems that will let a single user have several programs in operation at the same time.
III.4 Multi-user
A multi-user operating system allows many different users to take advantage of the computer's
resources simultaneously. Unix, VMS and mainframe operating systems, such as MVS, are
examples of multi-user operating systems.
III.5 Multiprocessing OS
Multiprogramming OS have two or more processors for a single running process.

Processing takes place in parallel and is also called parallel processing. Each processor
works on different parts of the same task, or, on two or more different tasks. Linux, UNIX and
Windows 7 are examples of multiprocessing OS.
III.6 Time sharing Operating System:
It allows execution of more than one tasks or processes concurrently. For this, the
processor time is divided amongst different tasks. This division of time is also called
time sharing. The processor switches rapidly between various processes.
III.7 Distributed Operating System:
They are also called Network Operating System (NOS). On a network data is stored and
processed on multiple locations. The Distributed Operating System is used on networks as
it allows shared data/files to be accessed from any machine on the network in a
transparent manner. We can insert and remove the data and can even access all the input and
output devices. The users feel as if all data is available on their workstation itself. Some
example of network operating system are Windows NT, Novell’s Netware etc.
III.8 Multiprocessor Operating System:
A multiprocessor operating system can incorporate more than one processor dedicated to the
running processes. This technique of using more than one processor is often called parallel
processing.
III.9 Embedded Operating System:
An embedded operating system refers to the operating system that is self-contained in the device
and resident in the read-only memory (ROM).
IV. FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM
The main functions of a modern operating system are as follows:

 Process Management: As a process manager, the operating system handles the creation
and deletion of processes, suspension and resumption of processes and scheduling and
synchronization of processes.
 Memory Management: As a memory manager, the operating system handles the
allocation and deallocation of memory space as required by various programs.
 File Management: The operating system is responsible for creation and deletion of files
and directories. It also takes care of other file-related activities such as organizing,
storing, retrieving, naming, and protecting the files.
 Device Management: Operating system provides input/output subsystem between
process and device driver. It handles the device caches, buffers and interrupts. It also
detects the device failures and notifies the same to the user.
 Security Management: The operating system protects system resources and information
against destruction and unauthorized use.
 User Interface: Operating system provides the interface between the user and the
hardware. The user interface is the layer that actually interacts with the computer
operator. The interface consists of a set of commands or menus through which a user
communicates with a program.
V. EXAMPLES OF OS
XI.1 Commonly used OS

Some of the commonly used operating systems are discussed below:
1. DOS (Disk Operating System): MS- DOS was the widely used operating system before the
introduction of the Windows operating system. Even now the MS- DOS commands are used
for carrying out many jobs like copying the files, deleting the files etc. The DOS is a set of
computer programs. The main functions of DOS are to manage files, allocate system
resources according to the requirement. It provides essential features to control hardware
devices such a keyboard, screen, disk drives, printers, modems etc.
2. Windows: Microsoft launched Windows 1.0 operating system in 1985 and since then
Windows has ruled the world’s software market. It is a GUI (Graphic User Interface) and
various versions of Windows have been launched like Windows 95, Windows 98, Win
NT, Windows XP, Windows 7 and the latest being Windows 8.
3. Linux: Linux is a free and open software which means it is freely available for use and since
its source code is also available so anybody can use it, modify it and redistribute it. It can
be downloaded from www.linux.org. It is a very popular operating system used and
supported by many companies. The defining component of this operating system is the Linux
kernel.
4. UNIX: It is a multitasking, multiuser operating system originally developed in 1969 at
Bell Labs. It was one of the first operating systems developed in a high level language,
namely C. Due to its portability, flexibility and power, UNIX is widely being used in a
networked environment. Today, ”UNIX” and "Single UNIX Specification" interface are
owned and trademarked by The Open Group. There are many different varieties of
UNIX, although they share common similarities, the most popular being GNU/Linux and
Mac OS X.
5. Solaris: It is a free Unix based operating system introduced by Sun Microsystems in 1992. It
isnow also known as Oracle Solaris. Solaris is registered as compliant with Single UNIX
Specification. It is quite scalable and is used on virtual machines.
XI.2 Mobile Operating Systems (Mobile OS)
It is the operating system that operates on digital mobile devices like smart phones and tablets. It
extends the features of a normal operating system for personal computers so as to include touch
screen, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS mobile navigation, camera, music player and many more.
The most commonly used mobile operating systems are –Android and Symbian
Android: It is a Linux derived Mobile OS released on 5 th November 2007 and by 2011 it had
more than 50% of the global Smartphone market share. It is Google’s open and free software
that includes an operating system, middleware and some key applications for use on mobile
devices. Android applications are quiet user friendly and even one can easily customize the
Smartphone with Android OS. Various versions of Android OS have been released like 1.0,
1.5, 1.6, 2. x, 3.0 etc.
Symbian: This Mobile OS by Nokia (currently being maintained by Accenture) designed for
smartphones. It offers high level of functional integration between communication and
personal information management. It has an integrated mail box and it completely facilitates the
usage of all Google applications in your smartphone easily. Symbian applications are easy
to shut down as compared to Android applications. Various versions like S60 series, S80
series, S90 series, Symbian Anna etc have been released.
XI.3 Comparison Linux & Windows

Linux Windows
Linux is an example of Open Source Windows is the family of operating
What is it?: software development and Free system (OS) from Microsoft, which is
Operating System (OS). the most famous OS in the world.
Cost: Linux can be freely distributed, For desktop or home use, Windows
downloaded freely, distributed through can be expensive. A single copy can
magazines, Books etc. There are priced cost around $50 to $ 450 depending
Linux Windows
versions for Linux also, but they are
on the version of Windows.
normally cheaper than Windows.
Everyone. From home users to Everyone. From home users to
User: developers and computer enthusiasts developers and computer enthusiasts
alike. alike.
Microsoft created the Windows
Linux kernel is developed by the operating system, but allows other
Manufacturer: community. Linus Torvalds oversees computer manufactures to distribute
things. their own computers with Windows
pre-installed.
Linux can be installed on a wide
variety of computer hardware, ranging
On PC's desktops, laptops, servers
Usage: from mobile phones, tablet computers
and some phones.
and video game consoles, to
mainframes and supercomputers.
Linux is developed by Open Source
Development development i.e. through sharing and
Windows is developed and
and collaboration of code and features
distributed by Microsoft.
Distribution: through forums etc and it is distributed
by various vendors.
Linux typically provides two GUIs, The Windows GUI is an integral
GUI: KDE and Gnome. But Linux GUI is component of the OS and it is mainly
optional. influenced by Mac OS and Xerox.
File system Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, Jfs, ReiserFS, Xfs,
FAT, FAT32, NTFS, exFAT
support: Btrfs, FAT, FAT32, NTFS
Windows uses a command shell and
each version of Windows has a single
BASH (Bourne Again SHell) is the
Text mode command interpreter with dos-like
Linux default shell. It can support
interface: commands, recently there is the
multiple command interpreters.
addition of the optional PowerShell
that uses more Unix-like commands.
According to Dr. Nic Peeling and Dr
Linux has had about 60-100 viruses Julian Satchell's “Analysis of the
Security: listed till date. None of them actively Impact of Open Source Software”
spreading nowadays. there have been more than 60,000
viruses in Windows
Threat detection In case of Linux, threat detection and After detecting a major threat in
and solution: solution is very fast, as Linux is mainly Windows OS, Microsoft generally
Linux Windows
community driven and whenever any releases a patch that can fix the
Linux user posts any kind of threat, problem and it can take more than 2/3
several developers start working on it months. Sometimes sooner, Microsoft
from different parts of the world releases patches and updates weekly.
Very few games available natively. Almost all games are compatible with
Some games can be played through Windows. Some CPU intensive and
Gaming:
Wine, but often not all features are graphics intensive games are
available. exclusive to Windows PC's.
Although there are many GUI
applications, most of the work is done Everything can be controlled through
User experience: through Terminal (a console window), GUI and incompatibility problems are
and if a problem arrises GUI is rarely rare.
usable to fix them.
Because hardware manufacturers, such
Combined with newest DirectX
as NVidia, often does not provide
Graphics versions and full graphics card
documentation for linux developers,
performance: support the performance is almost as
drivers can not use full card
good as it can get.
performance.
CHAPTER 5: FILES AND FOLDERS MANAGEMENT
Learning objectives
After studying this lesson, student should be able to:
 Understand files and folders
 Classify files according to their extension
 Differentiate between relative and absolute file path
I. NOTION OF FILE
I.1 Definition of File
File can be defined as a collection of related information recorded on secondary storage

(e.g., disks). Almost all information stored in a computer must be in a file. Every file has the
following details:
1. Size, date, and time the file was created or modified

2. A unique name and an optional extension. The name and extension are separated by a period
(.) e.g. filename.exe.
I.2 File extension
A file extension is the ending of a file that helps identify the type of file in operating systems
such as Microsoft Windows. The file extension is a period that is often followed by three
characters, but may also be one, two, or four characters long. For example, the filename
"myfile.txt" has an extension of ".txt", which is a file extension associated with text files.
I.3 Files attributes
File attributes are settings associated with computer files that grant or deny certain rights to how
a user or the operating system can access that file. For example, IBM compatible
computers running MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows have capabilities of having read, archive,
system, and hidden attributes.
 Read - Only allows a file to be read, but nothing can be written to the file.
 Archive - Tells Windows Backup to backup the file.
 System - System file.
 Hidden - File will not be shown when doing a regular dir from DOS.
As new versions of Windows came out, Microsoft has added to the inventory of available
attributes on the NTFS file system, including but not limited to:
 Compressed: When set, Windows compresses the hosting file upon storage. For
more information,
 Encrypted: When set, Windows encrypts the hosting file upon storage to prevent
unauthorized access. For more information,
 Indexed: When set, Indexing Service or Windows Search do not include the hosting
file in their indexing operation.
I.4 File operations
The most basic operations that programs can perform on a file are:
 Create a new file: You create a file any time you use an application program like
MicroSoft Word, or PowerPoint.
 Change the access permissions and attributes of a file
 Open a file, which makes the file contents available to the program
 Read data from a file
 Write data to a file
 Close a file, terminating the association between it and the program
I.5 File type and File format
A file type is a name given to a specific kind of file. For example, a Microsoft Word
document and an Adobe Photoshop document are two different file types. While these file types
are associated with individual applications, other file types, such as rich text RTF files and MP3
audio files are standard file types that can be opened by multiple programs.
Computer file types can be characterized in a few major groups:
 System File - is a computer file important to the operating system.
 Application File –hold programs and are executable
 Data Files – contain user’s specific data. Some examples of data files are: text file,
image file, audio file, video file, ...
A file format is a standard way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file. It is
the specific structure or arrangement of data code stored as a computer file. A file format tells
the computer how to display, print, and process, and save the data. Each file format is associated
to an extension.
The terms "file type" and "file format" are often used interchangeably. However, a file format
technically describes the structure and content of a file. For example, the file format of an
image file “Bitmap” or JPEG.
The table below describe the file type, file format and corresponding programs.
File Extension Signification Associated program

type
Txt Plaint text file Bloc note, Wordpad
Text Files
Doc, docx Microsoft Word Document Microsoft office word

.pdf Portable Document Format.
.rtf Rich Text Format File Wordpas, Ms Word
.dat Data File
Data Files
.pps PowerPoint Slide Show Microsoft Power point

.xls, .xlsx Excel file Microsoft excel 2007
.tar Consolidated Unix File Archive
.wma Windows Media Audio File Windows MediaPlayer
.wav WAVE Audio File VLC player
Audio
.mp3 MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3. AIMP player

Files
.m3u Media Playlist File

.3gp 3GPP Multimedia File Windows MediaPlayer
.avi Audio Video Interleave File VLC player
.flv Flash Video File
Video Files
.mp4 MPEG-4 Video File

.MPG, .MPE, Moving Picture Experts Group.
.MPEG
.bmp Bitmap Image File Paint
.gif Graphical Interchange Format File Office Picture Manager
Image Files
.jpg, .jpeg JPEG Image Windows Photo Viewer

.tiff Tagged Image File Format
.png Portable Network Graphic
Execu .exe Windows Executable File
table .jar Java ARchive
Files
Web .htm, .html Hypertext Markup Language File Any browser
Files .css Cascading Style Sheet Notepad
.js JavaScript File Block note
.lnk Windows File Shortcut
Compresse System .sys Windows System File
.dll Dynamic Link Library
Files
.ico Icon File

.7z 7-Zip Compressed File Winrar, Winzip
.rar WinRAR Compressed Archive Winrar
d Files
.zip Zipped File Winzip

.tar.gz Compressed Tarball File
I.6 Notion of file system
(FS, or "filesystem") 1. A system for organizing directories and files, generally in terms of
how it is implemented in the disk operating system. Some example of file systems are:
1. FAT8, FAT16, FAT32

2. NTFS
3. EXT2, EXT3, EXT4, ...
4. HFS (Hierarchical File System.) used in Macintosh computers
II. FILE MANANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORY
A directory is a location for storing files on your computer. In a Graphical User Interface
(GUI), it referred to as a Folder. A directory that is located within another directory is
called a subdirectory. In the way the term subfolder is used to describe a folder beneath
another folder in a graphical user interface (GUI). Unlike files, directories and folders
have no extension. Below are some additional directory related terminologies.
 Root directory: The root is also the highest level in a directory hierarchy.
For example, in MS-DOS, the root or root directory of the primary hard drive would
C:\.
 Current directory: Alternatively referred to as the working directory, the
current directory is the directory or folder that is currently open.
 Parent directory, this refers to a directory that contains the current directory.
For example, the MS-DOS path
 A child directory is a sub process of the main parent process. It is common for
the parent process to remain active or open until the child process is completed.
Example: "C:\Windows\System32" contains the directories 'Windows' and 'System32',

the
'Windows' directory is the parent directory of the 'System32' directory and C:\ is the root
directory.
III. FILE AND FOLDER MANAGEMENT
File management refers to the ability to read and modify files on storage devices and to
create and delete files. In a computer file system that is organized as a hierarchy or tree, the
root directory is the directory that includes all other directories.
On most computers (C:) is your primary storage for all of the programs, folders and files on
your system. But we can also have a second hard drive (D:), which is used as a recovery area
and DVD-ROM drive (E:).
Folders hierarchy
Most file systems are based on a hierarchical model in which files are grouped into
directories, and directories are organized in a hierarchy. This organization is called a
directory tree. At the top of the hierarchy is the “root” directory. The figure below shows
two examples of representations of the same file hierarchy.
Figure: A directory tree
The above hierarchy is made up by four folders (C:, Mike, BackUp and New) and five files
(movie.dat, Program.exe, X0.xml, X1.xml and X2.xml)
a) C: is the file root directory, it contains one folder (Mike) and two files (Movie.dat and
Program.exe)
b) The folder “movie” has two subfolder “BackUp” and “New”. We can also say that
“Movie” is the parent directory of “Backup” and “New”.
IV. FILE PATH
Alternatively referred to as the pathname, the path is the complete location or name of
where a computer, file, web, or other object is located. When working with a MS-DOS,
Windows, or Windows command line path the drives, directories, and files are all separated by
a backslash (\) whereas in Linux they are separated by a slash (/). The URL path uses also
slash to separate folders and files both in Linux and Windows. Here below are two examples of
path both in Linux and in Windows OS.
 In Windows : C:\Windows\calc.exe
 In Linux : /home/users/c/computerhope/path.htm
 A URL path : http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/p/path.htm
Absolute path
Alternatively referred to as the file path or full path, the absolute path is a path that
contains the root directory and all other subdirectories that contain a file or folder.
Examples: 1) All the file paths given previously are absolute file.
2) In the directory tree above, the absolute path of the file “X1.xml” is
C:\Mike\BackUp\X1.xml
Relative path
Alternatively referred to as a partial path or non absolute path, a relative path is only a
portion of the full path. Relative paths make use of two special symbols, a dot (.) and a
double-dot (..), which translate into the current directory and the parent directory. Double
dots are used for moving up in the hierarchy. A single dot represents the current directory itself.
Examples. In the directory tree above,
c) If the current directory is “Mike”, then the relative path of the file “X1.xml is
..\BackUp\X1.xml.
d) If the current directory is “New”, then the relative path of the file “X1.xml is
..\BackUp\X1.xml.
APPLICATION EXERCISES
Exercise 1:
1- Define the following: File, directory, file extension, file attribute, file path
2- List and explain four operations an operating system can perform on a file
3- Explain the following acronyms: WMA, GIF, HTML, FLV, MPEG, TIFF, JPEG, DLL
4- What is an encrypted file?
5- What is a file system? Give three examples
6- Explain the following: Root directory, current directory, Parent directory
7- Give the difference between the following
a) File type and file extension
b) File type and File format
c) Folder and directory
d) File system and system file
e) Absolute path and relative path
Exercise 2: Let’s consider the following folders

hierarchy. Observe it carefully and answer the questions
below.
1. What is the root directory?

2. Name the parent directory of the directory called
“Maps” and one child directory of the directory
called “Shapefiles”
3. Give the absolute path of the following directories:
Data, Poster and Infrastructure
4. Give the relative path of the folder “Soils”
in each of the following cases:
a) The current folder is “Data”
b) The current folder is “Maps”
c) The current folder is “Final”
d) The current folder is “Base”
5. Add the following folders on the tree given their paths below
a) The absolute path is: C:\Maps\Card
b) The absolute path is: C:\data\Final\Exam
c) The relative path from the “Soils” folder is ..\Drawing.
Exercise 3
1- Name the directories and the files present in this
arborescence
2- Let’s consider the files “list.xlsx” and
“Note.docs”.
a) Give the absolute path of each. b) What is the
file type of each?
c) Suggest a program to use to open each of the
file.
3- The folder “Images” contain a subfolder called
“picture”, which in turn contain a file named
“logo.jpg”.
a) What is the path of the file “logo.jpg”
b) Suggest a program used to open “logo.jpg”
Exercise 4
The diagram below shows part of a directory structure
displayed by an operating system.
1- State any two root directories.
−1
2- Name two sub-directories of 3 floppy(A)
2
Chapter 6: COMPUTER NETWORK
Today computer is available in many offices and homes and therefore there is a need to share
data and programs among various computers. With the advancement of data communication
facilities the communication between computers has increased and thus it has extended the
power of computer beyond the computer room. Now a user sitting at one place can communicate
with computers of any remote site through communication channel. The aim of this lesson is to
introduce you the various aspects of computer network and data communication.
Learning objectives
It is expected that after going through this lesson, you would be able to
- Understand basics of the various types network technologies in the area of computers,
Local Area Network (LAN) and different components of computer network
- explain the features and the use of computer network and data communication
- describe the OSI model and its 7 layers
- Give some network security problems and eventual solutions
I. BASIC NETWORKING CONCEPTS
I.1- Definition and Network Basics
Networking is the concept of sharing resources and services. A network is a set of

interconnected objects (roads, computers, …) with something to share. A computer network
is therefore a group of interconnected systems sharing resources and interacting using a
shared communications link. All networks must have the following:
- A resource to share (resource)

- A pathway to transfer data (transmission medium)
- A set of rules governing how to communicate (protocols)
Having a transmission pathway does not always guarantee communication. When two entities
communicate, they do not merely exchange information; rather, they must understand the
information they receive from each other. The goal of computer networking, therefore, is not
simply to exchange data but to understand and use data received from other entities on the
network.
I.2- BENEFITS OF COMPUTER NETWORK

One of the main reasons to build computer network is to share things. Specifically, networks
are about sharing three things: information, resources, and applications.
 Sharing information: networks allow users to communicate with each other in

various ways: email, chat, forums, etc.
 Sharing resources: Certain computer resources, such as printers or hard drives, can
be set up so that network users can share them. Sharing hard drives involves also
sharing of files and folders. A network can be used to share an Internet connection.
 Sharing applications: One of the most common reasons for networking in many
businesses is so that several users can work together on a single business application.
For example, an accounting department
Apart from sharing, other benefits of a computer network are:
 Flexible Access: Networks allow their users to access files from computers throughout
the network.
 Reducing of cost: Instead of buying a printer for each computer of a big network, a
single printer can be shared, and then cost is considerably reduced
I.3- DOWNSIDES (SHORTCOMMINGS) OF NETWORKING

Although networks are one of the best things that ever happened to computers, not everything
about networks is rosy. The following sections describe some disadvantages of using a
network:
 Viruses: If a virus is introduced to the network, either intentionally or
unintentionally, it will rapidly spread around all of the workstations and could start
to cause havoc to peoples' files or to the efficient working of the network.
 Network failure: If the file server fails then no-one on the network can access any
files or folders. This means that nobody can do any work. For an organization, this
would be extremely costly and disruptive.
 Slow service: As more users log onto the network and request files, send things to
be printed and open more software applications, the network can start to slow down.
 Cost: Building a network isn't cheap.
I.4- Networking hardware

Networking hardware includes all computers, peripherals, interface cards and other
equipment needed to perform data-processing and communications within the network. Some
examples of networking hardware are: File Servers, Workstations, Network Interface Cards,
Hubs, Switches, Repeaters, Bridges, and Routers:
 Workstations: Each user computers connected to a network is called workstations.

A typical workstation is a computer that is configured with a network interface card,
networking software, and the appropriate cables.
 Network Interface Cards(NIC): It is an internal device that provides the physical
connection between the network and the computer workstation.
 Hub: In general, a hub refers to a hardware device that enables multiple devices or
connections to be connected to a computer. It is the most basic networking device that
connects multiple computers or other network devices together.
 Switch: It is a hardware device that filters and forwards packets through the network,
but often not capable of much more. The first network device that was added to the
Internet was a switch called the IMP. Switches (or concentrators) work the same way
as hubs, but they can identify the intended destination of the information that they
receive, so they send that information to only the computers that are supposed to
receive it.
 Repeaters: Since a signal loses strength as it passes along a cable, it is often
necessary to boost the signal with a device called a repeater. The repeater electrically
amplifies the signal it receives and rebroadcasts it.
 Bridges: A bridge is a device that allows you to segment a large network into two
smaller, more efficient networks. The bridge manages the traffic to maintain optimum
performance on both sides of the network. Bridges can be used to connect different
types of cabling, or physical topologies. They must, however, be used between
networks with the same protocol.
 Routers: A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer
networks, creating an overlay internetwork. A router has a lot more capabilities than
other network devices such as a hub or a switch that are only able to perform basic
network functions.
 Gateway: A gateway is a network point that acts as an entrance to another network.
On the Internet, a node or stopping point can be either a gateway node or a host (end-
point) node. When a computer server serves as a Gateway node, the gateway node
also operates as a firewall and a proxy server.
 Firewall: A software utility or hardware device that limits outside network access to
a computer or local network by blocking or restricting ports. Firewalls are a great step
for helping prevent un-authorized access to a company or home network.
 Modem: The Modem is a hardware device that enables a computer to send and
receive information over telephone lines by converting the digital data used by your
computer into an analog signal used on phone lines and then converting it back once
received on the other end.
 Proxy: A proxy is a computer server or software program that is part of the gateway
server or another computer that separates a local network from outside networks. A
proxy server will cache all pages accessed through the network allowing users who
may wish to visit that same page to load it faster and reduce the networks bandwidth.
Programs and devices that connect to the Internet may ask for a proxy, proxy address,
or proxy server.
II. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER NETWORK
Computer networks can be classify in different ways: according to the geographical area
covered, the strategy used or type of connection
II.1 ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF CONNECTION
According to the type of connection, there exist two types of connections. Wired connection
and wireless connection
II.1.1 Wired connection
A wired home network is when you physically connect your computer or other compatible
device to your Super Hub with an Ethernet cable. The best thing about a wired connection is
the reliability and speed it gives you (wired is faster than wireless). This makes it ideal for
things that use a lot of bandwidth, like playing online games on your Xbox.
Advantages and disadvantages of wired network
Here are the advantages and the disadvantages of a computer network.

Pros Cons
 Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are very  Need to run cables in difficult
inexpensive. environments through walls,
 Some connection sharing software floors and ceilings.
packages, like ICS, are free.
 Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are  Cables need to be run from
extremely reliable. computer to computer and switch
 Wired LANs offer superior performance. to switch. Process can be time
 Broadband routers offer equivalent firewall consuming.
capability built into the device,
configurable through its own software.  Loose cables likely remain the
 Wired connections can reach networking single most common and
speeds of up to 1000 Mbps with Gigabit annoying source of failure in a
Ethernet networking equipment, necessary wired network.
for bandwidth hungry.
II.1.2 Wireless connection
A wireless network, as its name would suggest, is a network of computers and computer
peripherals that are connected to each other without wires.
Advantages
 It is easier to add or move workstations.

 It is easier to provide connectivity in areas where it is difficult to lay cable.
 Installation is fast and easy, and it can eliminate the need to pull cable through
walls and ceilings.
 Access to the network can be from anywhere within range of an access point.
 Portable or semi-permanent buildings can be connected using a WLAN.
 Although the initial investment required for WLAN hardware can be similar to the
cost of wired LAN hardware, installation expenses can be significantly lower.
Disadvantages
 As the number of computers using the network increases, the data transfer rate to
each computer will decrease accordingly.
 As standards change, it may be necessary to replace wireless cards and/or access
points.
 Security is more difficult to guarantee and requires configuration.
 Devices will only operate at a limited distance from an access point.
II.2 ACCORDING TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA COVERED
According to the geographical area covered, there exist three main types of network: LAN,
MAN and WAN
II.2.1 Local Area Network (LAN)
A LAN is a computer network that spans only a small geographical area such as an office,
home or building. A like is useful to share resources like files, printers, games and other
application. The infrastructure in a LAN is private. The distance between computer in a LAN
cannot be more than 15 Km. Ex: A school network
II.2.2 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A MAN is a network of computers spread over a city or closed cities. It may be a single
network such as a cable television network, or it may be many LANS connected together. A
MAN may be operated by one organization (a cooperate with several offices in one city) or be
shared and used by several organizations in the same city. It can be either a private network or
a public network
Ex: A network of all the agencies of CAMCCUL in Bamenda
II.2.3 Wide Area Network (WAN)
A WAN is a system of interconnecting many computer over a large geographical area such as
states, countries or even the whole world.These kind of networks use telephone lines, satellite
link and other long-range communication technologies to connect. Such networks are design
to serve an area of hundreds kilometres such as national telephone network. For instance a
company like Express Union with agencies at Fundong, Bamenda, Douala, Bafoussam,
Yaoundé use a WAN to connect all its agencies. Although a WAN may be owned or rented
by private business, it is usually a public network, designed to connect LANs or MANs
together. The most known and the most largest WAN is Internet.
II.2.4- Other types of network
 VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPN uses a technique known as tunneling to

transfer data securely on the Internet to a remote access server on your workplace
network. Using a VPN helps you save money by using the public Internet instead of
making long–distance phone calls to connect securely with your private network.
There are two ways to create a VPN connection, by dialing an Internet service
provider (ISP), or connecting directly to Internet.
 A valued-added network (VAN) is a private network, provided by a third party, for
exchanging information through a high-capacity connection.
II.3 ACCORDING TO THE STRATEGY USED
According to the strategy used there exist two main types of network: Client/Server network
and Peer to Peer (P2P) network:
II.3.1 Client/server networks
Computers that perform a service on behalf of other network devices are called servers. There
are several types of servers. For example, a computer that provides other network nodes with
access to network storage devices is called a file server. Print servers provide other network
nodes with access to network printers.
Computers that use the services of a server are called clients. Networks in which servers
control access to network storage and other network resources are called client/server
networks.
In a Client/server network, the role of the server is to provide services demanded by client
computers
II.3.2 Peer-to-peer networks
Computers that perform similar functions on a network are called peers. Networks in which
no single, centralized computer controls network functions are called peer-to-peer networks.
The idea of peer-to-peer networking is that each computer on the network can be both a server
and a client. Since any computer on the network can share a resource for other to use. Users
can configure their computers so that they can share directories or printers with other users on
the network. All computers are considered to have equal, or peer, status.
II.3.3 Comparison between Peer to Peer network and Client/Server

network
Strategy Advantages Disadvantages
Client/Server · Heavy processing power can be localized · Administrative tasks not

when needed. entirely centralized.
· Overall installation costs are less than a · Expensive to add nodes.

hierarchical network.
· Servers provide clients with access to

shared printers, network storage (including
shared
applications), network security features, and

other network resources.
P2P · Relatively inexpensive to implement, can · Decentralized

often be implemented on existing equipment. administration.
· Potentially, all resources can be made · Security can be difficult

available over a network. to
· Processing power can be localized to the control

point of need.
III. NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
Network topology is the layout pattern of interconnections of the various elements (links,
nodes, etc.) of a computer network. Network topologies may be physical or logical. Physical
topology means the physical design of a network including the devices, location and cable
installation. Logical topology refers to how data is actually transferred in a network as
opposed to its physical design. Topology can be considered as a virtual shape or structure of a
network. This shape does not correspond to the actual physical design of the devices on the
computer network. The computers on a home network can be arranged in a circle but it does
not necessarily mean that it represents a ring topology.
In general, physical topology relates to a core network whereas logical topology relates to
basic network.
The main types of physical topologies are: Bus Topology, Star Topology, Ring Topology,
Mesh Topology, Tree Topology, Hybrid Topology
III.1 Physical Topology

It is the physical configuration of a network that determines how the network's computers are
connected. Common configurations include the bus topology, mesh topology, ring topology,
star topology, tree topology and hybrid topology.
III.1.1- Bus Topology

Bus Topology is the simplest of network
topologies. In this type of topology, all the
nodes (computers as well as servers) are
connected to the single cable (called bus), by
the help of interface connectors. This central
cable is the backbone of the network and is
known as Bus (thus the name). Every
workstation communicates with the other device
through this Bus. A signal from the source is broadcasted and it travels to all workstations
connected to bus cable. Although the message is broadcasted but only the intended recipient,
whose MAC address or IP address matches, accepts it. A terminator is added at ends of the
central cable, to prevent bouncing of signals. A barrel connector can be used to extend it.
Advantages (benefits) of Linear Bus Topology
1) It is easy to set-up and extend bus network.

2) Cable length required for this topology is the least compared to other networks.
3) Bus topology costs very less.
4) Linear Bus network is mostly used in small networks. Good for LAN.
Disadvantages (Drawbacks) of Linear Bus Topology
1) There is a limit on central cable length and number of nodes that can be connected.
2) Dependency on central cable in this topology has its disadvantages. If the main cable
(i.e. bus) encounters some problem, whole network breaks down.
3) It is difficult to detect and troubleshoot fault at individual station.
4) Maintenance costs can get higher with time.
5) Efficiency of Bus network reduces, as the number of devices connected to it increases.
6) It is not suitable for networks with heavy traffic.
7) Security is very low because all the computers receive the sent signal from the source.
III.2- Ring Topology

In Ring Topology, all the nodes are connected to each-other in
such a way that they make a closed loop. Each workstation is
connected to two other components on either side, and it
communicates with these two adjacent neighbors. Data travels
around the network, in one direction. Sending and receiving of
data takes place by the help of TOKEN. Token contains a piece
of information which along with data is sent by the source
computer.
Advantages of Ring Topology
1) This type of network topology is very organized. Each node gets to send the data when
it receives an empty token. This helps to reduces chances of collision.
2) Even when the load on the network increases, its performance is better than that of
Bus topology.
3) There is no need for network server to control the connectivity between workstations.
4) Additional components do not affect the performance of network.
5) Each computer has equal access to resources.
Disadvantages of Ring Topology
1) Each packet of data must pass through all the computers between source and destination.
This makes it slower than Star topology.
2) If one workstation or port goes down, the entire network gets affected.
3) Network is highly dependent on the wire which connects different components.
III.3- Star Topology

In Star topology, all the components of network are
connected to the central device which may be a hub, a
router or a switch. Here all the workstations are
connected to central device with a point-to-point
connection. So it can be said that every computer is
indirectly connected to every other node by the help of
the central device. All the data on the star topology
passes through the central device before reaching the
intended destination. This later acts as a junction to connect different nodes present in Star
Network, and at the same time it manages and controls whole of the network.
Advantages of Star Topology

1) As compared to Bus topology it gives far much better performance, signals don’t
necessarily get transmitted to all the workstations. Performance of the network is dependent
on the capacity of central hub.
2) Easy to connect new nodes or devices. In star topology new nodes can be added easily
without affecting rest of the network. Similarly components can also be removed easily.
3) Centralized management. It helps in monitoring the network.
4) Failure of one node or link doesn’t affect the rest of network. At the same time its easy to
detect the failure and troubleshoot it.
Disadvantages of Star Topology
1) Too much dependency on central device has its own drawbacks. If it fails whole network
goes down.
2) The use of hub, a router or a switch as central device increases the overall cost of the
network.
3) Performance and as well number of nodes which can be added in such topology is
depended on capacity of central device.
III.4- Tree Topology

Tree Topology integrates the characteristics of Star and Bus
Topology. In Tree Topology, the number of Star networks are
connected using Bus. This main cable seems like a main stem of
a tree, and other star networks as the branches. It is also called
Expanded Star Topology. Ethernet protocol is commonly used
in this type of topology. The diagram below will make it clear.
Advantages of Tree Topology
1. Expansion of Network is possible and easy.

2. Here, we divide the whole network into segments (star
networks), which can be easily managed and maintained.
3. Error detection and correction is easy.
4. Each segment is provided with dedicated point-to-point wiring to the central hub.
5. If one segment is damaged, other segments are not affected.
Disadvantages of Tree Topology
1. Because of its basic structure, tree topology, relies heavily on the main bus cable, if it
breaks whole network is crippled.
2. As more and more nodes and segments are added, the maintenance becomes difficult.
3. Scalability of the network depends on the type of cable used.
III.5- Mesh topology

In a mesh network topology, each of the network node, computer
and other devices, are interconnected with one another. Every node
not only sends its own signals but also relays data from other nodes. In fact a true mesh
topology is the one where every node is connected to every other node in the network.
Advantages of Mesh topology
1) Data can be transmitted from different devices simultaneously. This topology can
withstand high traffic.
2) Even if one of the components fails there is always an alternative present. So data transfer
doesn’t get affected.
3) Expansion and modification in topology can be done without disrupting other nodes.
Disadvantages of Mesh topology
1) There are high chances of redundancy in many of the network connections.

2) Overall cost of this network is way too high as compared to other network topologies.
3) Set-up and maintenance of this topology is very difficult. Even administration of the
network is tough.
III.6 Hybrid topology

Hybrid, as the name suggests, is mixture of two or
more than two different things. Similarly in this type of
topology we integrate two or more different topologies
to form a resultant topology which has good points(as
well as weaknesses) of all the constituent basic
topologies rather than having characteristics of one
specific topology.
Advantages of Hybrid Network Topology
1) Reliable : Unlike other networks, fault detection and troubleshooting is easy in this type of
topology.
2) Scalable: It’s easy to increase the size of network by adding new components, without
disturbing existing architecture.
3) Flexible: Hybrid Network can be designed according to the requirements of the
organization and by optimizing the available resources.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Topology
1) Complexity of Design: It’s not easy to design this type of architecture and it’s a tough job
for designers. Configuration and installation process needs to be very efficient.
2) Costly Hub: The hubs used to connect two distinct networks, are very expensive. These
hubs are different from usual hubs as they need to be intelligent enough to work with different
architectures and should be function even if a part of network is down.
3) Costly Infrastructure: As hybrid architectures are usually larger in scale, they require a
lot of cables; cooling systems, sophisticate network devices, etc.
III.2 Logical topology
The logical topology defines how the systems communicate across the physical topologies.
Logical topologies are bound to network protocols and describe how data is moved across the
network. Different network access existing are: CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA and Token Passing
IV. NETWORK PROTOCOLS
A communication protocol is a set of rules that coordinates the exchange of information. If

one computer is sending information to another and they both follow the same protocol, the
message gets through; regardless of what types of machines they are and on what operating
systems they are running. As long as the machines have software that can manage the
protocol, communication is possible.
A protocol defines what is communicated, how it is communicated, and when it is

communicated. The key elements of a protocol are syntax, semantics, and timing.
 Syntax: Syntax refers to the structure or format of the data, meaning the order in
which they are presented.
 Semantics: Semantics refers to the meaning of each section of bits. How is a
particular pattern to be interpreted, and what action is to be taken based on that
interpretation.
 Timing: Timing refers to two characteristics: when data should be sent and how fast
they can be sent.
Some important protocols are:
Protocol Full meaning Its job
FTP File Transfer Protocol Allows file transfer between two computers
HTTP Hyper Text Transfer Protocol used in the web service

Protocol
TCP Transmission Control A reliable connection oriented protocol used to

Protocol control the management of application level
services between computers.
IP Internet Protocol identifier of each computer or communication

devices on the network and internet.
ARP Address resolution enables the packaging of IP data into ethernet

protocol package
ICMP Internet control message provides management and error reporting to help
protocol manage the process of sending data between
computers.
SMTP Simple Mail Transfer An Internet protocol for transferring e-mail.

Protocol
POP post office protocol Transfert of e-mail, used to synchronize messages
Telnet Telephone Network A method of opening a user session on a remote

host.
PPP Point-to-Point Protocol Data transfer using modem
UDP User Datagram Protocol An unreliable connection less protocol used to

control the management of application level
services between computers.
DHCP Dynamic host is a method of assigning and controlling the IP

configuration protocol addresses of computers on a given network
V. NETWORK ADRESSING
XI.1- What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier for a node or host connection on an

IP network. An IP address version 4 (IPv4) is a 32 bit binary number usually represented as 4
decimal values, each representing 8 bits, in the range 0 to 255 (known as octets) separated by
decimal points. This is known as "dotted decimal" notation. Example: 140.179.220.200
It is sometimes useful to view the values in their binary form. 140.179.220.200 becomes
10001100.10110011.11011100.11001000
Every IP address consists of two parts, one identifying the network and one identifying the
node. The Class of the address and the subnet mask determine which part belongs to the
network address and which part belongs to the node address.
XI.2- Address Classes
The Internet community originally defined five address classes to accommodate networks of
varying sizes. Microsoft TCP/IP supports class A, B, and C addresses assigned to hosts. The
class of address defines which bits are used for the network ID and which bits are used for the
host ID. It also defines the possible number of networks and the number of hosts per network.
Class 1st Octet 1st Octet Network/Host Default Subnet Number of Hosts per Network
Decimal High ID Mask Networks (Usable Addresses)
Range Order (N=Network,
Bits H=Host)
A 1 – 126 0 N.H.H.H 255.0.0.0 126 (27 – 2) 16,777,214 (224 – 2)

B 128 – 191 10 N.N.H.H 255.255.0.0 16,382 (214 – 65,534 (216 – 2)
2)
C 192 – 223 110 N.N.N.H 255.255.255.0 2,097,150 (221 254 (28 – 2)

– 2)
D 224 – 239 1110 Reserved for Multicasting
E 240 – 254 1111 Experimental used for research
Note:
→ Class A addresses 127.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255 cannot be used and is reserved for
loopback and diagnostic functions.
→ Class D addresses are reserved for IP multicast addresses. The four high-order bits in
a class D address are always set to binary 1110. The remaining bits are for the address
that interested hosts recognize.
→ Class E is an experimental address that is reserved for future use. The high-order bits in
a class E address are set to 1111.
→ All bits within the network ID cannot be set to 1. All 1's in the network ID are reserved
for use as an IP broadcast address.
→ All bits within the network ID cannot be set to 0. All 0's in the network ID are used to
denote a specific host on the local network and are not routed.
Private IP Addresses
There are addresses used in the private networks
Class Private Networks Subnet Mask Address Range

A 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
B 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.0.0 255.240.0.0 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
C 192.168.0.0 255.255.0.0 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255
VI. NETWORK SECURITY
Network security deals with the security of information during its transmission from user on
one computer network to another.
IX.1 Network Security Problems

Network security problems can be divided roughly into four intertwined areas: secrecy,
authentication, nonrepudiation and integrity control.
1. Secrecy: This is also called confidentiality, and has to do with keeping information out of
the hands of unauthorized users.
2. Authentication: this deal with determining whom you are talking to before revealing
sensitive information or entering into a business deal.
3. Nonrepudiation: This deals with signatures: How does amazon.ca prove that Kartik
indeed placed an order for a book, which Kartik claims he never placed?
4. Integrity of service: How does one ensure that the message received was really the one
sent, and not something that a malicious adversary modified in transit or concocted?
IX.2 Types of attacks over a network

We will also classify the attacks that compromise network security as passive attacks and
active attacks.
a) Passive Attacks: These attacks are in the nature of eavesdropping on, or monitoring of,
transmissions. The goal of the opponent is to obtain information that is being
transmitted. Passive attacks are very difficult to detect since they do not involve the
alteration of the data. Two types of passive attacks are:
 release of message contents where an eavesdropper tries to learn the contents of what
is being transmitted. This can be prevented by encryption
 traffic analysis: where the opponent tries to observe the pattern, frequency and length
of messages being exchanged which could be used in guessing the nature of the
communication that is taking place.
b) Active Attacks: Active attacks involve some modification of the data stream or the
creation of a false stream. It is difficult to prevent active attacks absolutely because to do
so would require physical protection of all communications facilities and paths at all
times. Instead, the goal is to detect them and to recover from any disruption or delays
caused by them.
EXPOSE ON DIGITAL LITERACY
 Mobiles devices
 Cloud computing
 Criteria of a secure computer system

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Ministry of Higher Education Republic of Cameroon

Yaounde International Business School Peace – Work - Fatherland

TOPIC: DIGITAL LITERACY I

After studying this chapter, student should be able to:

 Define the computer and discuss its main characteristics.

8) ICT: This is the application of modern communications, computing and

9) Computer user: That is somebody with little or no technical knowledge of

II. CHARACTERISTICS AND LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS

II.1 Characteristics of Computers

1. Its ability to execute the instructions loaded into it in autonomously manner.

II.2 Limitations of Computers

III. EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS

III.1 The first Machines

III.1.3. Napier Bones

III.1.4. Slide Rule

III.1.6 Analytical Engine

III.2 Some Early Computers

III.2.1 MARK-I Computer

III.2.2 ABC Computer

IV. GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

IV.1 First Generation (1940–56)—Vacuum Tubes

• These computers were based on vacuum tube technology.

IV.2 Second Generation (1956–63)—Transistors

Characteristics of second-generation computers are as follows:

• These machines were based on transistor technology.

IV.3 Third Generation (1964–Early 1970s)—Integrated Circuits

Third-generation computers have the following characteristics:

 These computers were based on integrated circuit (IC) technology.

IV.4 Fourth Generation (Early 1970s–Till Date)—Microprocessors

Following are the characteristics of fourth-generation computers:

IV.5 Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)—Artificial Intelligence

Computers can be classified according to physical size, functionality and purpose

V.1- Classification according to physical size

Size Characteristics Uses

V.2- Classification according to purpose

According to purpose, we can distinguish three types of computers: General purpose

Description of computers according to purpose

Computer Uses Examples

According to functionality, there exist three types of computers: digital computers,

Description of computers according to physical size

VI. BASIC FUNCTIONNING OF A COMPUTER

Computer is made up of two parts: hardware and software

Fig: functioning of a computer.

1- Define or explain the following words or expressions: computer science, computer,

Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer, as distinguished from the

At the end of the lesson student should be able to:

 Describe the principle of functioning of a computer

I. BLOG DIAGRAM OF A COMPUTER

As you know, computer is an electronic device, it comprises of many

II. INPUT DEVICES

II.1 Keying devices

II.2 Pointing devices

Action meaning Operation carried out

II.2.2 Track ball

II.2.3 Joy stick

II.2.4 Light pen and stylus

Also referred to as touchpad is a stationary pointing device that works by sensing

II.3 Scanning devices

II.3.2 Magnetic scanners

II.4 Other input devices