Describe the various elements of a computer system and explain the distinctive features of a computer system and manual system.
Describe the various elements of a computer system and explain the distinctive features of a computer system and manual system.
A computer system is a combination of six elements
(i) Hardware: Hardware of computer consists of physical components such as keyboard, mouse monitor and processor.
(ii) Software: A set of programmes, which is used to work with such hardware, is called its software, A coded set of instructions stored in the form of circuits is called firmware.
There are six types of software as follws.
(a) Operating System
(b) Utility Programmes
(c) Application Software
(d) Language Processors
(e) System Software
(f) Connectivity Software
(iii) People: People interacting with the computers are also called live-ware of the computer system. They constitute the most important part of the computer system such as System Analysts, Programmers and Operators.
(iv) Procedures: The procedure means a series of operations in a certain order or manner to achieve desired results.
There are three types of procedures which constitute part of computer system:hardware-oriented, software-oriented and internal procedure.
(v) Data: These are facts and may consist of numbers, text, etc.These are gathered and entered into a computer system.
(vi) Connectivity: The manner in which a particular computer system is connected to others says through telephone lines, microwave transmission, satellite link, etc., is the element of connectivity.
Distinct Features of Computer System and Manual System-
A computer system has some special features which a manual system fails to maintain. Some of them are as follows:
(i) Speed: Speed of computer makes it special. Normally, human beings take into account a second or minute as unit of time. But computers have such a fast operating capability that the relevant unit of measurement is Million Instructions per
Second (MIPS).
(ii) Accuracy: It refers to the degree of exactness with which computations are made and operations are performed. Through manual system one might spend years in detecting errors in computer calculations or updating a wrong record. Most of the errors in Computer Based Information Systems (CBIS) occur because of bad programming, erroneous data and deviation from procedures. These errors are caused by human beings.
(iii) Reliability: It refers to the ability with which the computers remain funcional to serve the user. Computer systems are well-adapted to performing repetitive operations. They are immune to tiredness, boredom or fatigue. Therefore, they are more reliable than human beings. On the other hand manual system cannot be reliable upto that extent.
(iv) Versatility: It refers to the ability of computers to perform a variety of tasks : simple as well as complex. Computers are usually versatile unless designed for a specific application. A general purpose computer is capable of being used in any area of application : business, industry, scientific, statistical, technological, communications and so on. A general purpose computer, when installed in an organisation, can take over the jobs of several specialists because of its versatility.
(v) Storage: The computer systems, besides having instant access to data, have huge capacity to store such data in a very small physical space. On the other hand a human brain have some limitations to remember all the events.
It is clear from the above discussion that computer capabilities outperform the human capabilities. As a result, a computer, when used properly, will inprove the efficiency of an organisation.
A computer system is a combination of six elements
(i) Hardware: Hardware of computer consists of physical components such as keyboard, mouse monitor and processor.
(ii) Software: A set of programmes, which is used to work with such hardware, is called its software, A coded set of instructions stored in the form of circuits is called firmware.
There are six types of software as follws.
(a) Operating System
(b) Utility Programmes
(c) Application Software
(d) Language Processors
(e) System Software
(f) Connectivity Software
(iii) People: People interacting with the computers are also called live-ware of the computer system. They constitute the most important part of the computer system such as System Analysts, Programmers and Operators.
(iv) Procedures: The procedure means a series of operations in a certain order or manner to achieve desired results.
There are three types of procedures which constitute part of computer system:hardware-oriented, software-oriented and internal procedure.
(v) Data: These are facts and may consist of numbers, text, etc.These are gathered and entered into a computer system.
(vi) Connectivity: The manner in which a particular computer system is connected to others says through telephone lines, microwave transmission, satellite link, etc., is the element of connectivity.
Distinct Features of Computer System and Manual System-
A computer system has some special features which a manual system fails to maintain. Some of them are as follows:
(i) Speed: Speed of computer makes it special. Normally, human beings take into account a second or minute as unit of time. But computers have such a fast operating capability that the relevant unit of measurement is Million Instructions per
Second (MIPS).
(ii) Accuracy: It refers to the degree of exactness with which computations are made and operations are performed. Through manual system one might spend years in detecting errors in computer calculations or updating a wrong record. Most of the errors in Computer Based Information Systems (CBIS) occur because of bad programming, erroneous data and deviation from procedures. These errors are caused by human beings.
(iii) Reliability: It refers to the ability with which the computers remain funcional to serve the user. Computer systems are well-adapted to performing repetitive operations. They are immune to tiredness, boredom or fatigue. Therefore, they are more reliable than human beings. On the other hand manual system cannot be reliable upto that extent.
(iv) Versatility: It refers to the ability of computers to perform a variety of tasks : simple as well as complex. Computers are usually versatile unless designed for a specific application. A general purpose computer is capable of being used in any area of application : business, industry, scientific, statistical, technological, communications and so on. A general purpose computer, when installed in an organisation, can take over the jobs of several specialists because of its versatility.
(v) Storage: The computer systems, besides having instant access to data, have huge capacity to store such data in a very small physical space. On the other hand a human brain have some limitations to remember all the events.
It is clear from the above discussion that computer capabilities outperform the human capabilities. As a result, a computer, when used properly, will inprove the efficiency of an organisation.
