What is Computer ? Write its characteristics.

What is Computer ?

The Word Computer comes from the word "Compute" which means "to calculate". Hence, People usually consider a computer to be a calculating device that can perform arithmetic operation at high speed.

 

A computer is an electronic device that is use to perform arithmetic and logical operation. Computer receive the data from input device, process them, and show result on output device. A Computer can store, process, and retrieve data as and when desired. The fact that computer process data is so fundamental that many people have started calling it a data processor. A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. Modern computers are electronic computer hardware. They do mathematical arithmetic very quickly but computers do not really "think". They only follow the instructions in their software programs. The software uses the hardware when the user gives it instructions, and gives useful output.

Modern computers are very different from early computers. They can do billions of calculations per second. Most people have used a personal computer in their home or at work. Computers do many different jobs where automation is useful. Some examples are controlling traffic lights, vehicle computers, security systems, washing machines and digital televisions.
A computer user can control it by a user interface. Input devices include keyboard, mouse, buttons, and touch screens. Some very sophisticated computers can also be controlled with voice commands or hand gestures or even brain signals through electrodes implanted in the brain or along nerves.
Computers can be designed to do almost anything with information. Computers are used to control large and small machines which in the past were controlled by humans. They are also in homes, where they are used for things such as listening to music, reading the news and writing.

A computer is a machine (mostly electronic) that is able to take information (input), and process it to make new information (output). Computers have existed for much of human history. Examples of early computers are the astrolabe and the abacus. There are four main processing steps in a computer, and they are: inputting, storage, outputting and processing.

Full Form Of Computer

C – Commonly

O – Operation

M – Machine

P –  Particularly

U – Used for

T – Technical

E – Educational

R – Research

Simple Model of Computer 

Simple Model of a Computer

Input Unit:- Data and instruction must be enter to a computer system before the computer can perform any arithmetic operation supplied data. the input unit that links a computer with its external environment perform this task. Data and instruction enter to computer through an input unit in a form that depends upon the input device used.

ALU:- ALU stands fro Arithmetic Logic Unit. ALU of a computer is the place where actual execution take place during processing operation. To be more precise calculating are perormed and all compression are made in ALU. Data and instructions are stored in primary memory before processing are transferred as and when needed to the ALU when processing take place.

CU:-  CU stands for Control Unit. It is the most complex unit and works as a traffic police. It generates the decisions and control signals for performing various micro operations in the supervision of the Control Unit.

      

Memory Unit:- Data and Instruction enter to input device have to be stored inside computer before processing start similarly , result produced by a computer after processing have to be kept somewhere inside the computer system before being passed to an output unit.

More ever, Computer  must also preserve intermediate result for ongoing processing. Memory Unit(Storage) of a computer system provide all these needs.  

Characteristics of Computer 

• SPEED : In general, no human being can compete to solving the complex computation, faster than computer.

• ACCURACY : Since Computer is programmed, so what ever input we give it gives result with accuratly.

• STORAGE : Computer can store mass storage of data with appropriate formate.

• DILIGENCE : Computer can work for hours without any break and creating error.

• VERSATILITY : We can use computer to perform completely different type of work at the same time. 
• Efficiency: The computer processed data in nano second which is beyond of human capacity.

• POWER OF REMEMBERING : It can remember data for us.

• NO IQ : Computer does not work without instruction. 
• Artificial Intelligence: The fifth generation computer which recognizes voice is based on artificial intelligence. The AI is applied in gaming software, and robotics from many years, but operating system based on AI is also in process which can recognize not only voice, but read mood of users also. It gives suggestion and decision on complex problems.

• NO FEELING : Computer does not have emotions, knowledge, experience, feeling. 
• Decision Making: The computer has capability to perform task and managing processing schedules when there are many jobs available and Waiting own turns. The Operating system has capability to manage files, executing utilities software and many others.
• Reliability: The computer is a reliable electronic multipurpose and multiprocessing machine. It processes data with high accuracy without any mistakes.