COMPUTER

WHAT IS COMPUTER?

Computer programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are:

It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.

• It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).

Modern computers are electronic and digital. The actual machinery -- wires, transistors, and circuits -- is called hardware; the instructions and data are called software.

All general-purpose computers require the following hardware components:

memory : Enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs.

mass storage device : Allows a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include disk drives and tape drives.

input device : Usually a keyboard and mouse, the input device is the conduit through which data and instructions enter a computer.

output device : A display screen, printer, or other device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.

central processing unit (CPU): The heart of the computer, this is the component that actually executes instructions.

In addition to these components, many others make it possible for the basic components to work together efficiently. For example, every computer requires a bus that transmits data from one part of the computer to another.

Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows, though there is considerable overlap:

personal computer : A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data.

workstation : A powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor.

minicomputer : A multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.

mainframe : A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.

supercomputer : An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

What is Software?

Computer software, or just software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system.

The term includes:

• Application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users.
• Firmware which is software programmed resident to electrically programmable memory devices on board mainboards or other types of integrated hardware carriers.
• Middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.
• System software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary services for application software.
• Software testing is a domain independent of development and programming. It consists of various methods to test and declare a software product fit before it can be launched for use by either an individual or a group. Many tests on functionality, performance and appearance are conducted by modern testers with various tools such as QTP, Load runner, Black box testing etc to edit a checklist of requirements against the developed code. ISTQB is a certification that is in demand for engineers who want to pursue a career in testing.
• Testware which is an umbrella term or container term for all utilities and application software that serve in combination for testing a software package but not necessarily may optionally contribute to operational purposes. As such, testware is not a standing configuration but merely a working environment for application software or subsets thereof.

Software includes websites, programs, video games, etc. that are coded by programming languages like C, C++, etc.

"Software" is sometimes used in a broader context to mean anything which is not hardware but which is used with hardware, such as film, tapes and records.

Relationship to computer hardware:

Computer software is so called to distinguish it from computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is usually written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler.

The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1958. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all computer programs. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem.

Types of software:

Practical computer systems divide software systems into three major classes: system software, programming software and application software, although the distinction is arbitrary, and often blurred.

System software

System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes:

• device drivers,
• operating systems,
• servers,
• utilities,
• windowing systems,

The purpose of systems software is to unburden the applications programmer from the details of the particular computer complex being used, including such accessory devices as communications, printers, readers, displays, keyboards, etc. And also to partition the computer's resources such as memory and processor time in a safe and stable manner.

Programming software

Programming software usually provides tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs, and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include:

• compilers,
• debuggers,
• interpreters,
• linkers,
• text editors,

An Integrated development environment (IDE) is a single application that attempts to manage all these functions.

Application software

Application software allows end users to accomplish one or more specific (not directly computer development related) tasks. Typical applications include:

• industrial automation,
• business software,
• computer games,
• telecommunications, (i.e., the internet and everything that flows on it)
• databases,
• educational software,
• medical software,

What is Hardware?
computer hardware as the electronic, magnetic, and electric devices that carry out the computing functions. Hardware is the physical components of the computer like microprocessor, hard disks, RAM, and motherboard. The peripheral devices such as monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer, and speakers can also be included in the list of hardware parts.

WAP

WHAT IS WAP?
WAP stands for "WIRELESS APPLICATION PROTOCOL". WAP is a standard for mobile communication systems. WAP allows wireless/mobile devices to access and retrieve information from a number of information sources mainly from world wide web.In short we can say that WAP converts mobile phone into a mini web browser.

PARTS OF WAP ENABLED SYSYTEM:
There are three major components of a WAP-enabled communication system:
WAP-gateway
HTTP web server
WAP- device (i.e. mobile phone)

FUNCTION OF WAP:
WAP allows us:
To read internet based Email.
To send internet based Email.
Retrieve informationfrom internet.
M-commerce (mobile commerce).

LIMITATION OF WAP:
Yes, it is the size of the screen of your mobile phone that is the greatest hurdle in the way of WAP.You know very well that your mobile phone is a pocket sized device with very small screen, therefore, it is not possible to view high resolution eye catching images and heavy text at a time.WAP supports only grey scale images in ".wbmp" format.

HOW WAP WORKS?
WAP source files are located on the web server and these files are transported by using HTTP to WAP gateway.Gateway behaves as a compiler for source code and converts it into byte code and finally send it to your mobile phone via WAP.

Internet

How to use Internet

BACKGROUND

· The Internet as we know it today began around 1969 with ARPANet, a network created by the United States Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

· Originally connecting four universities, the network allowed scientists across the country to share information and resources through their computers.

· In 1983, ARPANet decides to use TCP/IP as a standard protocol for all computers connected to the network to talk to each other.

· In 1993, the World Wide Web (www) came into being.

· World Wide Web uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext links that change the way information can be organized, presented and accessed on the Internet.

WHAT IS THE INTERNET?

· The Internet also referred to as the Net, Information Superhighway, or Cyberspace, is the largest electronic network which enables computers connected to the network to share data and resources

· The Internet is not owned by any one organization but rather made up of individual networks which own their own servers (to hold the data) and routers and switches (to allow users to access the data).

WHAT IS A URL?

· Just like every house has a unique address, each web page has a unique address, called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

· The first part of the address indicates what protocol to use, and the second part specifies the IP address or the domain name where the resource is located.

· The remaining information identifies specific directories or files within the domain.

· You can display a web page by simply typing its URL into the address line of your web browser (a program or application that uses internet).

· The most popular domain extension is .com for commercial websites. Other extensions include .org for non-profit organizations, .edu for educational institutions, or .gov for governmental sites.

WHAT IS A HTML?

· HTML is short for Hyper Text Markup Language, the language used to write or create documents on the World Wide Web.

· HTML defines the structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes.

WHAT IS A BROWSER?

· The term browser is short for Web browser, a software application used to locate and display Web pages. The most popular browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer.

THE ISP (Internet Service Provider)

· Your ISP is the gateway (or middleman) that provides connection to the Internet.

· An ISP provides cables, fiber optic, and telephone lines along which data can travel between computers.

· In Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Limited (PTCL) is the biggest ISP.

OPENING THE INTERNET BROWSER

To open your browser and see all that the World Wide Web has to offer:

· Double-click the Internet Explorer Icon on your desktop

OR

· Choose Start > Programs > Internet Explorer

FEATURES OF A BROWSER WINDOW

TITLE BAR

· It displays the name of the program (Internet Explorer), and the name of the web page.

MENU BAR

· As in all windows-based programs, click a word on the menu bar to display a menu of additional program commands.

STANDARD BUTTONS

· Navigational buttons that aid in viewing, searching, saving and printing web pages.

ADDRESS BAR

· Display the current web page’s URL.

· You can also type a URL into the Address bar and press Enter/Return to view the URL.

PAGE AREA

· The portion of the window that displays web pages

LINKS BAR

· You can use it to add web pages that you visit often.

STATUS BAR

· The status bar has two uses: first it notifies you of the status of loading web pages, and second, the status bar displays the security level

VIEWING TOOLBARS

To display or hide toolbars, choose View > Toolbars and make your selection.

OTHER BROWSER CHARACTERISTICS

· To change the text size, choose View > Text Size and select an option from the submenu

· To change the default font or colors, choose Tools > Internet Options and click the Font or colors buttons on the General tab. Click OK to save the changes.

· To change all fonts and colors, choose Tools > Internet Options and click the Accessibility button. Click OK to save the changes.

Browser standard buttons

· Click the Back button to move to the previously viewed web page Or

· Click the arrow next to the icon to choose any of the previously viewed web pages.

· Refresh button is used to refresh a web page

· Home button is used to go to home page (your default web page)

· Stop button is used to cancel the action of downloading or opening a web page.

· The Search button is used to enter appropriate information and search for it.

· Click the Favorites button to display your list of favorites. You can organize, edit, delete, or view your favorite web pages

· Click History button to get a list of dates and pages viewed on those dates. Click a page and it should appear in the page area.

Other actions for Internet Web Browser include:

· SETTING THE HOME PAGE

· ADDING FAVORITES

· VIEWING A FAVORITE

· ORGANIZING FAVORITES

· SEARCHING OVER THE INTERNET

KEYWORDS

· Most recent browser versions allow you to type keywords into the Address bar, press Enter and the browser itself acts as a search engine.

INTENET EMAIL USING YAHOO

· Yahoo is a facility to open and maintain an E-Mail Account in Internet without paying additional charges.

· The cost is covered within Internet usage charges.

· Yahoo is a web site. To access Yahoo, you must have an Internet connection.

HOW TO OPEN YAHOO ACCOUNT

· Open Internet Explorer Type www.Yahoo.com (in Address Bar) and press Enter

· Click Sign UP now! After some moments, you will see terms and conditions. This is a long page. At the end of the page, click I Accept

YAHOO MAIL REGISTRATION FORM

· You will see a registration form. Follow the instructions of your trainer and fill up carefully. Do not leave any column blank.

· Make sure to remember your Username and Password as these are the two you will use in future to open your email account.

HOW TO ACCESS YAHOO ACCOUNT

· Open Internet Explorer and type www.Yahoo.com (in Address Bar) and press Enter.

· On the yahoo web page, click on Mail using your mouse.

· Type Yahoo ID or Username and Password in the specified boxes and click Sign In or press Enter

· Now click Continue (at the end of the page) that appears when you have signed in for the first time.

· Yahoo will take you to your Inbox. You will see a message from Yahoo Staff. Click Yahoo Staff

HOW TO SEE IN-COMING MAIL

· When you are given access to your Yahoo Account, you are in your Inbox. You can see the list of in-coming messages.

· To read the message, click on relevant message under the heading FROM

HOW TO PREPARE NEW MESSAGE

· To prepare new message: Click New / Compose

· Type E-Mail Address (correct and complete address of the person to whom you want to send mail).

· Click in Subject box Type Subject (Do not leave TO box and Subject box blank) Click in the main box.

· Type the message. Type your name at the end of the message

HOW TO SEND E-MAIL MESSAGE

· After preparing E-Mail message: Click Send from Toolbar above. You will have the following message:

Sent Message Confirmation

Your message has been sent to the following recipients:

emailaddress@yahoo.com

· Click OK

· You will come back to your Inbox

HOW TO SEE SENT MESSAGE

· While you are in Inbox: Click Folders Sent Messages You can also see Drafts (if you have clicked Save Draft in Compose Window).

HOW TO ATTACH A FILE WITH E-MAIL MESSAGE

· You can attach a file (available in your computer) with your E-Mail-mail message. After typing the message:

· Click Attachments and then click Browse. (Select folder .and double click the relevant file)

· Attach to Message and then click DONE

· The file will be attached with your message. Now: Click SEND.

OPEN A FILE ATTACHED TO A MESSAGE IN YOUR INBOX

· Once you open the email, click on the file name that is attached to the message.

· Click Download Attachment

· Click Open or Save to take necessary action for the concerned file.

HOW TO DELETE MESSAGE FROM INBOX

· When the Inbox is open, click in the small box on left of the message(s), which you want to delete. Now: Click Delete.

HOW TO SEE DELETED MESSAGES

· Deleted Messages are stored in Trash Can automatically. To see deleted messages:

· Click Trash Can.

HOW TO MAINTAIN ADDRESS BOOK

· You can maintain address book in Yahoo. This will save your time in typing addresses in Compose Window.

· For this: Click Addresses and Create New.

· Type particulars of the addressee carefully (you can leave some columns blank)

· Click OK In future, when you want to send E-Mail to any person from Address Book: Click Addresses, Click -on the relevant address, under the heading Mail to: Compose Window (with address typed) will open automatically. T

· To delete an address: Click Delete in front of the address (and wait for some moments) Click Delete again

HOW TO CHANGE PASSWORD

· Click Options and then Password. In relevant boxes: Type Old Password and then type New Password. Then type New Password again. You will have the following message:

PASSWORD CONFIRMATION

Your Password has been successfully changed. Please remember your new Password.

HOW TO CLOSE YAHOO

· Click x at top right comer. Internet Explorer will also be closed.

HOW TO SIGN OUT

· At top of Window, click Sign Out Message.

10 Essential Health Tips

(The Basics to Practice Every Day)
1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

To Increase the ability of push ups

To increase your ability to do push ups and to increase your strength, you will need to vary your workouts. With any exercise, whether you're using your own body weight, free weights or machines, if the resistance doesn't increase, your muscles won't be overloaded and the stimulus these fibers need to grow in size will be missing. Think about it: if you work up to three or four sets of 25 push-ups, how hard can each repetition be? You'd build local muscular endurance, but you wouldn't be any stronger. Say a person doing bicep curls can do three sets of 20 reps with 15 pounds: wouldn't you think they could probably do one set of 10 reps with 20 pounds? That's what they would need to do to make their biceps grow stronger and bigger. However, there are a few ways you can increase the resistance of your push-ups.

One way to increase the resistance is to elevate your feet while doing push-ups. Start with your feet on a step at the bottom of a stair or a low step stool. Raising your feet higher will make you work against gravity, thereby increasing the resistance. Work up to the point where you can do your push-ups with your feet on a chair. Note: The higher your feet, the more you'll work your shoulders, so mix in some flat push-ups to make sure your chest gets a workout, too.

Push-ups must be practiced three to five times per week to ensure progress. If they are practiced more often, the muscles may not have enough time to recuperate and become stronger. Below are some variations that will help you improve your strength and muscular endurance.

Push Up Tips
Tips: Kneel down on the floor and place your hands flat on the floor and slightly wider than shoulder width apart. With your shoulders directly over your hands, straighten your arms. Move your feet back, placing your toes on the floor, so that your knees are off the floor and your legs are straight. At this point, your body should form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Your body should remain straight throughout this exercise. Keep your head and neck in line with your body so that your are looking down toward the floor. This is the starting position. In a controlled fashion, lower your body down toward the floor, bending your elbows, until your body is nearly touching the floor. Now, push your body up away from the floor, straightening your arms, until you have returned to the starting position. If you need to reduce the intensity of this exercise you can perform the pushup from your knees.

Hints For Push-Ups
Training only on push-ups and/or bench presses can lead to a strength imbalance. Pull-ups or some type of rowing work should be done with resistance or training partner.

When training, pay attention to proper form. Keep your body straight and rigid. Lower yourself or the weight in a controlled manner so that you can gain a training effect. During the test itself, however, to conserve energy and improve your performance, you should work at a much more rapid pace. When being tested, try to do as many repetitions as possible during the first 45 to 60 seconds.

Place your hands at shoulder width with your fingers pointing forward and slightly outward. Keep your heels and toes together. Do not forget to breathe during both training and testing. Change position of hands to a narrower or wider position after you are tired, then try to do some more push-ups.

For normal push-ups, the start position begins with the hands shoulder width apart, elbows fully extended, BODY straight and the feet together or up to 12 inches apart.

To complete a repetition, the trainee lowers his/her BODY , maintaining a straight back, until the upper arm is parallel with the ground, then returns to the start position. Once the two-minute push-up period has started, trainees may not lift their arms or legs off the ground. They may rest in the "start" position. They may also bend at the waist and the knees to relax the back, always maintaining 4-point contact with the ground. Before resuming push-ups, they must return to the start position.