Digitalization of computer

Digitalization is the process of converting information into digital format. This information may represent an object, image, sound, document or a signal (usually an analog signal) organized into discrete set of its points or samples. This is the binary data that computers and many devices with computing capacity (such as digital camera and digital hearing aids) can process.

Digitalization can also be defined as the integration of digital technologies into everyday life. Digital system uses a binary numeric system in which electronic pulses are represented by either 0 for a Low pulse or 1 for a High pulse. Digital can more easily represent symbols such as alphanumeric characters that represent real world data than the analog system.

BENEFITS OF DIGITALIZATION

1. Long term preservation of documents
2. Orderly archiving of documents
3. Easy and customized access to information
4. Easy information dissemination through images and text, CD-ROM, Internet, Intranet and extranets.

TYPES OF DIGITAL COMPUTER

1. Micro computers
2. Mini computers
3. Mainframe computers
4. Super computers

TECHNOLOGY OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION AGE

The ages are:

1. Stone age
2. Iron age
3. Middle age
4. Industrial age
5. Electronic age

Information age	Tools used	Purpose	Time period	Examples of tools in that age
Stone age	Stone	Sewing, cutting, counting, defence, transaction, storage, pottery exhibitions.	Below 12th century	Basalt, sandstone flint etc.
Iron age	Iron	Defence, Agric	12thcentury	Hoes and cutlass
Middle age	Writing materials	Knowledge transfer, education	12th and 13th century	Pen feather etc
Industrial age	Coals	Power development, faster movement	Late 18th and early 19th century	Cars, Ships etc
Electronic age	Computer	Storage, accuracy, soeed. Timeliness	Late 19th century and above	Circuit, Processor.

EVALUATION

1. State the different information ages.
2. State the tools used in each age.

EARLY COUNTING DEVICES

1. Fingers and Toes
2. Stone
3. Sticks
4. Pebbles
5. Cowries

In the early days of man’s existence on earth, counting and simple arithmetic were performed using different parts of the body and some other counting aids. The following are devices used by people of ancient times.

FINGERS AND TOES

In ancient times, calculations were done by the use of fingers and toes. Fingers were usedfor simple addition and toes were used together with fingers in order to count up to twenty. The following problems were faced using fingers and toes to count:

1. They could not be used conveniently to count numbers more than twenty.
2. The result obtained from counting with fingers could not be easily remembered.

STONES AND PEBBLES

Stones were introduced for counting because of the limitations of counting with fingers       and toes. Counting with stones involves building a pile of stones where each represents a quantity. The following were problems faced using stones as counting devices:

1. Large numbers of stones were too heavy to carry from one place to other.
2. It was cumbersome to count if the counting process involved large numbers.

GRAINS

The use of grains was introduced because of the heaviness of stones. Grains can be kernel, beans, rice, corn etc. Grains were used the same way as stones.

STICKS

These are small pieces of wood that are used for counting in place of stones and grains. Children in nursery and primary schools use match sticks for counting.

MARKS ON THE WALL

This involves the use of sharp objects in drawing line on the wall for the purpose of counting.

Continuous marks on walls will make a wall dirty.

DISADVANTAGES OF EARLY COUNTING DEVICES

1. They are difficult to carry about.
2. Counting and calculation takes a lot of time.
3. They are prone to mistakes.
4. They cannot be used to count or calculate large numbers.
5. Their results cannot be easily remembered.
6. They have no storage facilities.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Mention types of computer according to sizes.
2. Which of the size is used for weather forecast?
3. Another name for mainframe computer is ……
4. List any two examples of mini computers.
5. Mention the four categories of computers.

READING ASSIGNMENT

A Handbook on computer studies for schools, pgs 1-3, by NiyiAdekolegan.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. The ancient man began counting by using ……A.  fingers   B.  slide rule   C.  abacus D. none
2. The following are examples of early counting methods except ……A.  calculator  B.   pebbles   C.  grains D. none
3. In using fingers and toes, you can only count up to …….A.  20   B.  40   C.  50 D. 100
4. The following can be used for counting in the ancient times except…..A.  fingers B.  computer   C.  stones D. none
5. The stages of development of the computer machine are known as……..A.  computer age   B.   computer history   C.   computer generation   D. all

THEORY

1. Mention any THREE early counting devices.
2. List any TWO disadvantages of early counting devices.

COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

A computer system consists of three main parts otherwise called components. They are :

1. Hardware
2. Software
3. People ware

HARDWARE COMPONENT

The computer hardware could be defined as the physical parts of the computer that we see, feel and handle. It consists of device for input, processing, storage, output and communications.

Hardware can be divided into two sections:

1. System Unit
2. The peripherals

HARDWARE

Hardware is the physical parts of the computer system that you can see and touch. They are the components that make up the visible computer. It consists of devices for input, processing, storage, output and communications.

The basic parts of computer hardware can be divided into:

1. System Unit
2. Peripherals

CPU/SYSTEM UNIT

The CPU is the brain of computer system and it can subdivided into:

1. Control Unit
2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit
3. Memory Unit

CONTROL UNIT

This is the unit of the computer system that fetches instructions from the main storage, interpret them and issue all the necessary signals to the components making up the system.

ARITHMETIC AND LOGIC UNIT

This part of the CPU is where all arithmetic operations are carried out  in the computer. This unit is also involved in decision making. Logic functions such as less than (<), equal (=), greater than (>) etc which are operations of comparisons are used for decision making.

MEMORY UNIT

The memory or primary storage unit is the place in the computer where the program and  the data are stored. The computer memory is divided into two namely:

1. Random Access Memory (RAM)
2. Read Only Memory (ROM)

PERIPHERALS

The peripherals are devices outside the CPU but function under the control of the CPU e.g mouse, keyboard, printer etc.

EVALUATION

1. What are the components of the computer system?
2. What are the classes of hardware?

SOFTWARE

Software is the set of instructions that is used to direct the computer hardware to perform its tasks. That is, it is a set of instructions that makes the users to do work and allow the computer to operate. Software is basically programs i.e another name for software is program.Program is the sequence of instructions given to computer to solve a given problems or accomplish a given task. There are two main classes of software which are:

1. System software
2. Application software

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

These are programs written by the manufacturer to control the smooth running of the computer.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

These are programs written by programmers to instruct the computer to perform a particular task.

EVALUATION

1. What is software?
2. What is the difference between system and application software?

PEOPLE WARE

These are people who make and use the computer. They range from professional users to operational users. A user could also be anyone who makes use of computer. Without people, the computer cannot work. There two main classes of people ware:

1. Computer professionals.
2. Computer users.

EVALUATION

1. Can the computer system work without people?
2. Software is subdivided into…………and ………
3. What are the three components of the system unit?
4. Explain the function of each component of the CPU.

PERIPHERALS

Peripherals are in three categories:

1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
3. Auxiliary Storage Devices

EVALUATION

1. What is the difference between input and  output device?
2. Give four examples of auxiliary device.

MICRO COMPUTER

Sizes of Microcomputer are:laptop, palmtop, handtop, desktop, tower etc.

PARTS OF MICROCOMPUTER

1. SYSTEM UNIT
2. MONITOR (VDU)
3. KEYBOARD
4. MOUSE

THE MICROCOMPUTER

A computer is an electronic machine which accepts data as input, processes the data and gives out information under the control of stored programs. The information which the computergives out is called OUTPUT.

There are three keywords to note in the definition:

1. COMPUTER AS A MACHINE

This is the physical aspect of a computer known as computer hardware. It consists of electronic and electro-mechanical parts working together to process data.

2. COMPUTER PROCESSES DATA
3. It accepts data (input).
4. It processes data (processing).
5. It supplies information (output).
6. A COMPUTER IS CONTROLLED BY A STORED PROGRAM

A program is a set of instructions which tells the computer to perform a given task. A computer does not understand English or any of the Nigerian languages. Rather it has its own language called PROGRAM.

MAIN PARTS OF A MICRO COMPUTER

The microcomputer is divided into three main parts namely:

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Monitor
3. Keyboard

CONCLUSION

We have learnt the definition of a computer, that is, computer is an electronic machine which accepts data as input, processes the data and gives out information under the control of stored programs. We also learnt that the computer is divided into three main parts which are Central Processing Unit, Monitor and Keyboard.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Mention the three main parts of microcomputer.
2. List the four types of computers according to size.
3. What is microcomputer?
4. State the difference between CPU and system unit.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Hiit @ Schools For Senior Secondary Education, Data Processing, By HiitPlc, Pgs 13-15

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. ……..is an electronic machine which accepts data as input, processes data and gives out information.  A. Television    B.  Computer   C.    Photocopier D.  None
2. A computer accepts data as……..A.  input  B.  output   C.  processing  D. store
3. The microcomputer is divided into ……..parts.  A.  3   B.   4    C.  5 D.  9
4. The information which the computer gives is called ……..   A. input   B.  output   C.   processing   D. None
5. The language the computer understands is called……..  A.   English    B.  programs    C.  French   D.  all languages

THEORY

1. What is a program?
2. Mention the main parts of a computer.