Digitalization of Data – SS1 Data Processing Lesson Note (First Term)

Digitalization is the process of converting information into digital format. This information may represent an object, image, sound, document or signal (usually an analogue signal) organised into a discrete set of points or samples. This is the binary data that computers and many devices with computing capacity (such as digital cameras and digital hearing aids) can process.

Digitalization can also be defined as the integration of digital technologies into everyday life. The digital system uses a binary numeric system in which electronic pulses are represented by either 0 for a low pulse or 1 for a high pulse. Digital systems can represent symbols such as alphanumeric characters, which stand for real-world data, more easily than analogue systems.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define digitalization and state its benefits;
• list the types of digital computer;
• describe the tools and purposes of each information age;
• describe early counting devices and state their disadvantages;
• name the three components of a computer system;
• state the functions of the control unit and the arithmetic and logic unit.

What are the benefits of digitalization?

1. Long-term preservation of documents
2. Orderly archiving of documents
3. Easy and customised access to information
4. Easy information dissemination through images and text, CD-ROM, Internet, intranets and extranets

What are the types of digital computer?

1. Microcomputers
2. Mini computers
3. Mainframe computers
4. Supercomputers

Technology of different information ages

The ages are:

1. Stone age
2. Iron age
3. Middle age
4. Industrial age
5. Electronic age

What were the early counting devices?

In the early days of man’s existence on earth, counting and simple arithmetic were performed using different parts of the body and some other counting aids. The following are devices used by people of ancient times:

1. Fingers and toes
2. Stone
3. Sticks
4. Pebbles
5. Cowries

Some early counting devices

1. Fingers and toes

In ancient times, calculations were done by the use of fingers and toes. Fingers were used for simple addition, and toes were used together with fingers to count up to twenty. The following problems were faced when using fingers and toes to count:

• They could not be used conveniently to count numbers more than twenty.
• The result obtained from counting with fingers could not be easily remembered.

2. Stones and pebbles

Stones were introduced for counting because of the limitations of counting with fingers and toes. Counting with stones involves building a pile of stones where each represents a quantity. The following were problems faced using stones as counting devices:

• Large numbers of stones were too heavy to carry from one place to another.
• It was cumbersome to count if the counting process involved large numbers.

3. Grains

The use of grains was introduced because of the heaviness of stones. Grains include kernels, beans, rice and corn. Grains were used in the same way as stones.

4. Sticks

Sticks are small pieces of wood used for counting in place of stones and grains. Children in nursery and primary schools use match sticks for counting.

5. Marks on the wall

This involves the use of sharp objects to draw lines on the wall for counting. Continuous marks make the wall dirty.

What are the disadvantages of early counting devices?

1. They are difficult to carry about.
2. Counting and calculation take a lot of time.
3. They are prone to mistakes.
4. They cannot be used to count or calculate large numbers.
5. Their results cannot be easily remembered.
6. They have no storage facilities.

What are the components of a computer system?

A computer system consists of three main parts, also called components:

1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Peopleware

Hardware component

Computer hardware is the physical parts of the computer that we see, feel and handle. It consists of devices for input, processing, storage, output and communications.

Hardware can be divided into two sections:

1. System unit (CPU)
2. The peripherals

System unit (CPU)

The CPU is the brain of the computer system. It can be subdivided into:

• Control unit
• Arithmetic and logic unit
• Memory unit

Control unit

This is the unit of the computer system that fetches instructions from the main storage, interprets them and issues all the necessary signals to the components making up the system.

Arithmetic and logic unit

This part of the CPU is where all arithmetic operations are carried out in the computer. The unit is also involved in decision-making. Logic functions such as less than (<), equal to (=) and greater than (>) are operations of comparison used for decision-making.

Memory unit

The memory, or primary storage unit, is the place in the computer where the program and the data are stored. The computer memory is divided into two types:

• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)

Peripherals

The peripherals are devices outside the CPU that function under the control of the CPU, for example the mouse, keyboard and printer.

Peripherals are in three categories:

1. Input devices
2. Output devices
3. Auxiliary storage devices

Software component

Software is the set of instructions used to direct the computer hardware to perform its tasks. It allows users to do work and allows the computer to operate.

Another name for software is program. A program is a sequence of instructions given to a computer to solve a given problem or accomplish a given task. There are two main classes of software:

1. System software
2. Application software

System software

These are programs written by the manufacturer to control the smooth running of the computer.

Application software

These are programs written by programmers to instruct the computer to perform a particular task.

Peopleware

Peopleware means the people who make and use the computer. They range from professional users to operational users. A user is anyone who makes use of a computer. Without people, the computer cannot work. There are two main classes of people:

1. Computer professionals
2. Computer users

Evaluation

1. Define digitalization.
2. State three benefits of digitalization.
3. List the types of digital computer.
4. State four disadvantages of early counting devices.
5. Name the three components of a computer system and the two classes of software.

Assignment

1. List the five information ages and state one tool used in each.
2. Explain the functions of the control unit and the arithmetic and logic unit.
3. Explain why stones and grains were introduced as counting devices, and state one problem with each.