Part 01 : Introduction to Computer Science

Chapter I : The Basics of Computer Science

I: Basic concepts of Computer Science, hardware and software.

The objective of this part is to define what computing is, the role of the computer and its
components, the definition of the term COMPUTER as well as the HARDWARE part
(input/output devices), and the SOFTWARE part.

References :

www.cs.york.ac.uk.
www.explainthatstuff.com
www.dicofr.com
www.tutorialspoint.com
www.edureka.co/blog/what-is-computer-security/
I.1/ What is computer science:

Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation.

Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of
computation, and information theory) to applied disciplines (including the design
and implementation of hardware and software). Though more often considered an
academic discipline, computer science is closely related to computer programming.
Principal areas of study within Computer Science include artificial intelligence,
computer systems and networks, security, database systems, management system,
human computer interaction, vision and graphics, numerical analysis, programming
languages, and software engineering.
Although knowing how to program is essential to the study of computer science, it
is only one element of the field. Computer scientists design and analyze algorithms
to solve programs and study the performance of computer hardware and software.
The problems that computer scientists encounter range from the abstract--
determining what problems can be solved with computers and the complexity of
the algorithms that solve them – to the tangible – designing applications that
perform well on handheld devices, that are easy to use, and that uphold security
measures .

I.2 / Application area of computer science:

The first electronic computers were used to perform difficult numerical calculations, but
gradually they have come to take on much broader and more complicated roles. They now
perform a diverse array of services and functions and play a major role in most people's
personal and professional lives.
Note that the list below is designed to give examples and is not exhaustive:

Management & Business, Education, Healthcare, Retail and Trade, Government,

Marketing, Science, Publishing, Arts and Entertainment, Communication, Banking
and Finance, Transport, Navigation, Working From Home, Military, Social, Booking
Vacations, Security and Surveillance, Weather Forecasting, Robotics...etc
I.3/ Definition of a Computer.

A computer is an electronic machine that processes information—in other words, an

information processor: it takes in raw information (or data) at one end, stores it until it's
ready to work on it, chews and crunches it for a bit, then spits out the results at the other
end. All these processes have a name. Taking in information is called input, storing
information is better known as memory (or storage), chewing information is also known
as processing, and spitting out results is called output.

A computer works by combining input, storage, processing( Control Unit + Arithmetic &
Logic Unit(ALU)) , and output. All the main parts of a computer system are involved in
one of these four processes.

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

 I.4/ Computer Classification :
Modern digital computers are classified on the basis of their size and capacity.

1. Supercomputers:
The most efficient computers in terms of processing data and performance are
supercomputers. These computers are used for research and exploratory purposes.
Supercomputers are exceedingly large and highly expensive. It can only fit in large,
air-conditioned spaces. Supercomputers are used for a range of tasks, such as space
exploration, seismic research, and the testing of nuclear weapons.

2. Minicomputers:
Minicomputers are used by small businesses and industries. They go by the term
"Midrange Computers." These minicomputers frequently have several users, just as
supercomputers. They are a bit slower than supercomputers.

3. Microcomputers: A microcomputer, sometimes referred to as a personal computer

(PC), is a type of computer that runs on a smaller scale than traditional computers
(Personal Computer). A component that is commonly referred to as a motherboard
houses the central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, memory in the form of
ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), I/O ports, and a bus
system of connecting wires. They are the most affordable.
Features of Microcomputers:
They are extensively employed for personal usage. They are smaller and comparably
less expensive. Multi-user functionality is not supported. It has a limited
computational capacity. They are quite simple to use, we distinguish:
a. Desktop computers, Desktop computers come in a variety of styles ranging
from large vertical tower cases to small models which can be tucked behind or
rest directly beneath (and support) LCD monitors.
b. Laptop or Notebooks: A laptop computer is designed for portability with
"clamshell" design, where the keyboard and computer components are on one
panel, with a hinged second panel containing a flat display screen.
c. Tablet: A tablet uses a touchscreen display, which can be controlled using
either a stylus pen or finger. Some tablets may use a "hybrid" or "convertible"
design, offering a keyboard that can either be removed as an attachment, or a
screen that can be rotated and folded directly over top the keyboard.
d. Smartphone: Smartphones are often similar to tablet computers, the difference
being that smartphones always have cellular integration. They are generally
smaller than tablets, and may not have a slate form factor.

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I.5/ HARDWARE.

I.4.1/ Parts of a computer:

• Input: Your keyboard and mouse, for example, are just input units—ways of
getting information into your computer that it can process. If you use a microphone
and voice recognition software, that's another form of input.
• Memory/storage: Your computer probably stores all your documents and files
on a hard drive: a huge magnetic memory. But smaller, computer-based devices
like digital cameras and cellphones use other kinds of storage such as flash
memory cards.
• Processing: Your computer's processor (sometimes known as the central
processing unit) is a microchip buried deep inside. It works amazingly hard and
gets incredibly hot in the process. That's why your computer has a little fan
blowing away—to stop its brain from overheating!
• Output: Your computer probably has an LCD screen capable of displaying
high-resolution (very detailed) graphics, and probably also stereo loudspeakers.
You may have an inkjet printer on your desk too to make a more permanent form
of output.
I.6/ SOFTWARE
Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute
specific tasks. It is the opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects of a
computer. Software is a generic term used to refer to applications, scripts and programs
that run on a device. It can be thought of as the variable part of a computer, while
hardware is the invariable part.
The two main categories of software are system software and application software:
a/ System software:

These software programs are designed to run a computer's application programs and
hardware. System software coordinates the activities and functions of the hardware and
software. In addition, it controls the operations of the computer hardware and provides an
environment or platform for all the other types of software to work in. The OS (Operating
System) is the best example of system software; it manages all the other computer
programs. System software executes when a computer system boots up and continues
running as long as the system is on. OS examples: UNIX, MS-DOS, WINDOWS,
LINUX, MAC-OS, ANDROID.

b/ Application software:
The most common type of software, application software is a computer software package
that performs a specific function for a user, or in some cases, for another application.
Examples of modern applications include office suites, graphics software, databases
and database management programs, web browsers, word processors, software
development tools, image editors and communication platforms.

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- Software licensing:
A software license is a legally binding document that restricts the use and distribution of
software. Typically, software licenses provide users with the right to one or more copies
of the software without violating copyright. The license outlines the responsibilities of
the parties that enter into the agreement and may place restrictions on how the software
can be used.
Software licensing terms and conditions generally include fair use of the software, the
limitations of liability, warranties, disclaimers and protections if the software or its use
infringes on the intellectual property rights of others.
Licenses typically are for proprietary software, which remains the property of the
organization, group or individual that created it; or for free software, where users can
run, study, change and distribute the software. Open source is a type of software where
the software is developed collaboratively, and the source code is freely available. With
open source software licenses, users can run, copy, share and change the software similar
to free software.
Over the last two decades, software vendors have moved away from selling software
licenses on a one-time basis to a software-as-a-service subscription model. Software
vendors host the software in the cloud and make it available to customers, who pay a
subscription fee and access the software over the internet.

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