COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS

Paper Code: 
CSC 111
Credits: 
03
Periods/week: 
03
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

To acquaint the students with the basics of computer system. It covers introductory aspects of various hardware and software.

9.00

Definition of Computer, Features, Parts of Computer System: (Input, Output, Storage unit, ALU, CU, CPU), Hardware, Software, Data, Information processing cycle. Computer Generations, Computer languages, Compilers, Interpreters.

Memory Devices (RAM, ROM & its types)

Input Devices: Keyboard and Mouse: The Standard Keyboard Layout, Using Mouse, Other Data Input Devices: Pen, Touch Screens, Bar Code Readers, OCR

9.00

Output Devices: CRT Monitors, Printers: Dot Matrix, Ink Jet, Laser Printers.

Number Systems (Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal), Computer Arithmetic (‘+’, ‘-‘, ‘*’, ‘/), Conversions (Octal to Binary, Binary to Octal, Binary to Hexadecimal, Hexadecimal to Binary). Computer codes: BCD, EBCDIC, ASCII, Unicode.

9.00

Data Processing: Factors Affecting Processing Speed, Bus, Cache Memory.

RISC Processors, Ports: Standard Computer Ports, Serial and Parallel

Ports Specialized Expansion Ports: SCSI, USB, FireWire, MIDI, Expansion Slots and Boards, PC Cards, Plug and Play.

Secondary Storage Devices: Magnetic Tapes, Magnetic Disks, Optical Disks (Basic Principles of operation, Types, Advantages, Limitations)

9.00

Software: System and Application Software

Operating System: Purpose of Operating Systems, Types of Operating System, Popular Operating System, And Managing Hardware: Processing Interrupts, Working with Device Drivers, Utility Software, Backup Utilities, and Screen Savers.

9.00

Productivity Software: Commercial Software, Freeware and Public Domain Software, Open-Source Software.

Understanding the Need for Security Measures: Overview, Need for Computer Security, Basic security concepts, Threats to users, hacking.

Protective Measures: keeping system safe, avoiding Identity Theft; keeping data secure (Limiting Physical access, Firewall), Managing cookies, spyware & other bugs.

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 
  1. Norton Peter, “Introduction to Computers”, 6th Ed., TMH, 2006.
  2.  P. K. Sinha & Priti Sinha, “Foundations of Computing”, 1st ed., BPB Publications, 2003.
REFERENCES: 
  1. V. Raja Raman, “Introduction to Computers”, 4th ed., PHI,
  2. Alex Leon & Mathews Leon, “Introduction to Computers”, Vikas Publishing House, 1999.
  3. Vikas Gupta, “Complete Computer Kit”, Wiley Dreamtech, Delhi, 2004
Academic Year: