Fundamentals of Computer > Introduction to Computer & Computer System > Basic Elements of a Computer

Basic Elements of a Computer

Basically a computer system consists of 3 types of components. These are-

• Input Device
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Output Device

CPU comprises of 3 parts:

[a] Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

[b] Control Unit

[c] Memory

The above three components of the CPU along with the input and output devices form the five important components of any computer system.

 Functional Block Diagram of a Typical Computer

There are several types of computer systems, but each can be broken down into the same functional units. Each unit performs specific functions.

                  Figure-1: Functional block diagram of a typical computer

Figure shows the functional block diagram of a digital computer. The solid lines with arrows represent the flow of information and the dashed lines with arrows represent the flow of timing and control signals.

Input Device: Common Functions of an input device are:

• An input device accepts data and instructions in human understandable format form the outside world.
• It converts these data and instructions into a computer acceptable form.
• It supplies the converted instructions and data to the memory unit of the computer or register unit of CPU for further processing.

Example of Some Input Devices:

Keyboard, Mouse, Trackball, Trackpad, Joystick, Microphone, Web Camera, Punch Card, Scanner, Optical Mark Reader (OMR), Barcode Reader etc.

 Output Device: Common Functions of an input device are:

• An output device accepts the results produced by the computer which are in coded form, and hence, cannot be easily understood by human.
• It converts these coded results to human acceptable form.
• Finally it supplies the converted results to the user.

       Example of Some Output Devices:

       Monitor, Printer, Plotter, Speaker, Multimedia Projector etc.

CPU: Common Functions of the CPU are:

• The CPU accepts data and instructions from the input device (or from the software stored in its memory).
• It processes the data according to the given instructions.
• Finally it stores the results of the operations in its memory or displays it in a suitable output media such as monitor, printer etc.
• The CPU also controls the flow of data and information throughout the system.

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Computer System

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