2. LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, learners must be able to:
 Define a computer and be able to explain the information processing cycle and the devices.
 Know the different types of computers.
 Know the hardware and software of computers.
 Explain the advantages, disadvantages and roles of computers.
 Know the difference between data and information.

3. GETTING TO KNOW A COMPUTER
Which one is a computer?

4. WHAT IS A
COMPUTER?
 A computer is ANY electronic device that accepts and
processes data, stores information and data, and
outputs either information for people to use or data for
other computers to use.
 A computer is also called a data processor because it can
store, process and retrieve data whenever desired.
 A computer comprises of hardware and software.
 Data is raw unprocessed facts it doesn’t mean anything
on its own. It includes numbers, words, sound, images,
etc.
 Information originates when data is processed into
something meaningful and becomes useful in making
decisions.

5. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
A computer is composed of hardware and software, and both are essential parts of a computer system.
 Hardware- any parts of the computer that can be seen and touched (Physical/ tangible parts of a
computer)
 Software- parts of the computer that can be seen but cannot be touched. They activate the physical
parts of a computer. (Sets of instructions that tell the computer what to do).
Here are some examples of hardware and software.

6. Hardware can be divided into three parts namely:
 Input devices
 Output devices
 Storage devices
Software is divided into two categories namely:
 System software
 Application software

7. TYPES OF COMPUTERS
1. Desktop computers
2. Servers
3. Dedicated computer
4. Tablet computers
5. Laptop computers

8. THE INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE
There are five stages in the information processing namely:
1. Input
2. Process
3. Output
4. Storage
5. Communication
All computers, whether they are the smartphone in your hand or large, powerful servers, operate on
the same five basic stages.

9. THE INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

10. INPUT DEVICES
Hardware devices that are used to send data to the computer.

11. PROCESSING
Performing operations on the data.

12. OUTPUT DEVICES
Hardware equipment's which converts information into human readable form.

13. STORAGE DEVICES
Devices that are used to store information/ data permanently or
temporary.

14. COMMUNICATION DEVICES
Transmit data, data and information between a sending device and a receiving
device.

15. ROLES OF
COMPUTERS
 Computers in our homes are commonplace and are used for
tasks such as household budgets, schoolwork, research,
entertainment and communication.
 Computers in banking and business are not new, but people
can now: withdraw or deposit money at ATMs , use cell
phone or Internet banking, buy goods and services over the
Internet.
 Computers are used in education, both at schools and at
home.
 Computers in the health sector play a vital role in
complicated medical operations and can assist medical
researchers in their quest for new knowledge.
 Computers have enabled new forms of communication such
as: short message service (SMS), e-mail messages social
networks on the Internet that are designed to allow people
to socialise and communicate.

16. ADVANTAGES
OF COMPUTERS
 Computers never gets tired: it is able to do lots of boring,
repeating tasks for hours on end.
 Computers are very fast.
 Computers don’t make mistakes, provided that the
programmer of the program did not make any mistakes.
 Computers are mostly reliable – they don’t fail without reason.
 One can use one computer for a lot of different tasks.
 Dangerous operations, e.g. training of pilots or risky
experiments, can be simulated by computers. *
 Data can be transferred via networks from one computer to
another in ‘n very short period of time even at the other end
of the world, e.g. SMS, e-mail, etc.

17. DISADVANTAGES
OF COMPUTERS
 Health risks – long periods of computer use with the body in
an incorrect posture may result in repetitive strain injuries and
could cause damage to the eyes.
 No face-to-face interaction with other people could result in
anti-social behaviour.
 Violation of privacy – criminals are able to access your
computer via the internet unless you take appropriate
precautions.
 Public safety – criminals involved in industrial espionage may
use computers to access trade secrets or other private
information.
 Impact on employment – some people may lose their jobs
when companies automate certain procedures and tasks.
 Impact on the environment – the manufacturing process and
the irresponsible disposal of computers affects the
environment negatively.

18. REFERENCES
 Ancheta, M. (2017) Roles and Functions of Computers. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/MyleneAncheta?utm_campaign=profiletracking&utm_medium=sssite&utm_source=sss
lideview (Accessed 10 August 2022).
 Bagui, G. (2016) Information processing. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/joygracebagui/information-processing-67449640?qid=c3c8b54a-cf9a-487e-9383-
04b3067c73d7&v=&b=&from_search=12 (Accessed 10 August 2022).
 Johnstone, B.E, Llewellyn, E.L, Mathibela, S.1, Oelofsen, S.M, Rennie, B.G, Van and Kampen, A.A. Via Afrika. Computer
Applications Technology.
 Khanwani, P. (2020) Basics of computer. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/PreetiKhanwani/basics-of-computer-227546517 (Accessed 10 August 2022).
 Obero, A. (2017) Roles and Functions of Computer. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/AnnelynObero/roles-and-functions-of-computer (Accessed 10 August 2022).
 Rahim, A. (2016) Basics of the Computer System. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/AhsanRahim1/basics-of-the-computer-system-64301597 (Accessed 10 August 2022).
 Sahu, S. (2012) Introduction to computers. Available from Slideshare
at https://www.slideshare.net/SaumyaranjanSahu/computer-fundamentals-15258375?qid=e46c6154-1bc5-494e-
9f6d-0628fb16cbca&v=&b=&from_search=2 (Accessed 10 August 2022).