Preface Now-a-days Computer Applications has been recognized as an important component of the Indian education and technology. Computer applications are gaining importance in recent times with the growth and development of electronic, communication, information technology and computer industry. In India, it has brought a revolutionary progress in our life style as well as in education. Identifying need of the coming generation to be well-appointed to work in the information technology, all the major educational institutes in the country have included computer education as one of the mandatory components of their course curriculum. The book is designed in such a way that it not only serves as comprehensive knowledge base, but also helps the readers in understanding the fundamentals of computer applications. The book also explains data analysis using Ms-Excel which gives opportunity to the students to analyze their statistical research data. Starting with an introductory chapter, the book goes to cover all topics of computers as well as use of statistical tools in solving the problems. First chapter gives an introduction to computers. This chapter provides an overview of anatomy, generation and classification of computers. In addition to this, it discusses about the personal computers, booting and viruses. Second chapter entitled “Operating Systems” describes about disk operating system and its commands. Chapter three discusses working in windows. Chapter four describes word processing and creating, saving, opening and editing a document. Besides, formatting options has also been described in chapter four. Introduction to Ms-Excel and creating, editing and saving a document are explained in chapter five and chapter six. Chapter seven describes mathematical and statistical functions and their use in excel. The various features of data analysis using excel which deals with data analysis tools, parametric tests, non parametric tests, graphs and ANOVA along with illustrated examples are described in chapter eight and nine. The tenth chapter introduces the reader with Ms-Access database. Chapter number eleven gives the basic concepts of internet. Chapter number twelve discusses with pictures flow chart and algorithm. All the concepts in the book are illustrated with suitable examples where required. This will enable the readers to use the book effectively for self-study.

1.1 Introduction The word ‘computer’comes from the word ‘compute’, which means to calculate or perform a sequence of operations. Hence, a computer is normally considered to be a calculating device, which can perform arithmetic operations at enormous speed. In other words, a computer takes information (or input), processes it according to a set of instructions (or process), and gives back a result (or output). In this respect, it is very similar to a calculator, but obviously somewhat more complex. A computer is a multi-function platform. The same machine can perform many different tasks by using different programs. The programs (also termed as applications) are written to do everything imaginable. In other words, we can say that a program is a set of instructions issued to a computer in order to get the desired output. Definition A Computer can defined as an electronic device that takes input from its user, stores, processes data and generates the required output as per the processing instructions given to it by the user.

2.1 Definition and Concept An operating system (abbreviated as ‘OS’) is the program that, manages all the other programs in a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system. It provides support for the loading and execution of other programs which are known as Application Programs.

Windows is an operating system with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). GUI displays graphical objects called icons, which represents the items you use. Also it is a menu driven interface, where you have menus and submenus to perform even the most basic tasks such as File open, Copy, and Help etc. The user need not know the computer commands, he just need to know simple English language to operate windows. This feature of windows made it a widely accepted operating system. Also windows allow multiprocessing environment, where we can perform more than one task simultaneously. For example, if you need to take a print out of a very long report which may take a couple of hours, you may give the command, and leave it at the background, and then you can keep working on the other applications. Windows supports a very useful pointing device called a mouse. With the mouse you can go anywhere on the screen and click where ever you want and pass instructions.

There are manyreasons for using computerstoday. Word processing is area which has proved computers to be powerful than ever. There are many different kinds of word processors availabletoday, however, most share the same basic functions and do not require advanced computeror typing skills to use. These basicfunctions include typing, savingdocuments,openingdocuments, copying, pasting, cutting printing, checking spelling, etc. The commonly used word processors include Microsoft Word, ClarisWorks, Word Perfect, Word Pad, Apple Works, etc. 4.1 Microsoft Word 4.1.1 Introduction Microsoft Word, or Word as it is commonly known, is a software application that allows the user to perform word processing. The word processing means the creation, input, editing, and production of documents and texts by means of computers systems. Microsoft Word allowthe user to format text with attributes such as bold, italics, font size, and margins. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite of applications and is a highly popular programme for the workplace. Microsoft Word was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Versions were later writtenfor several other platformsincluding IBS PCs running DOS in 1983,the Apple Macintosh in 1984 and Microsoft Windows in 1989. The latest release is Word 2010.

5.1 Introduction According to Croxton and Cowden, “Either for one’s own use or for the use of other, the data must be presented in some suitable form”. Now – a – days everybody uses tables in one form or another, and accountants use them quite often. The work become tedious, especially if you had to do for 12 columns for the 12 months of the year, and more so if there were some modification to be done after having set up the entire table. The Americans have a special name for such tables- spreadsheet which makes life easy. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak two young Americans in 1976 AD developed the first desktop computer – The Apple which was not user friendly and needed programming for useful work. Dan Bricklin, Robert Frankston and Dan Fylstra proposed a program to turn the computer’s memory into a giant virtual spreadsheet where necessary corrections and modifications could be done fairly, quickly and easily and marketed the program in 1978 under the trade name VisiCalc. VisiCalc was soon succeeded by Sugercal and other computer programs which were more user friendly. The Lotus 1-2-3 designed and developed by Larry Kaplan put further step, which set the standard for many applications under the IBM, Now a days Microsoft under the leadership of Bill Gates had been working on the sidelines perfecting graphical user Interface (GUI) packages for the PC range of computers that would widen its reach. Now Microsoft office program Suite the integrated word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and data base management. The spreadsheet package in Microsoft office is called Excel – our basic software, or program for this manual.

Now we have to learn how to enter numbers and text, how to edit any erroneous entry and then how to do simple calculations. Open empty excel spread sheet by clicking on the start menu in the window tool bars, click on Programs and then click on the Excel menu item. 6.1 Entering Numbers Numeric entries are constant, can be integers, decimal fractions, integer fractions and scientific nations which can be entered by typing the number in the active cell [cell which can be made active by clicking the mouse on the cell.

7.1 The Formula Palette By clicking on the equals sign in the formula bar a drop – down panel called the formula palette appeared. Consider an example, type number 25 in cell A1 and move the cell pointer to cell B2. type or click the equal sign in the formulabar. Adrop – down panel will display formula result = and wait for further inputs. Enter sqrt result to 5 at B2. The dialog box divides into parts as (a) Name of the function at the top left of the argument entry box. (b) Below of this there is the definition or description of the function. (c) Next, there is an entry explanation. (d) Formula result. Things to remember: Any statistical or mathematical function can be activated with = (equal to) sign.

Some basic and most common analysis tools used in research are summary statistics. These can be analyzed in Ms-Excel through the following ways. 8.1 Summary Statistics The following data are the yield (q/ha) of 60 varieties of paddy maintained in a research station for breeding trails: 53 ,74, 89, 65, 88, 65, 45, 70, 25, 80, 75, 85, 47, 63, 78, 44, 42, 51, 59, 86, 76, 48, 30, 38, 67, 78, 74, 68, 58, 59, 36, 76, 89, 48, 67, 69, 35, 46, 89, 75, 79, 56, 42, 41, 60, 65, 68, 69, 61, 63, 95, 94, 85, 83, 76, 71, 68, 62, 64, 62. Calculate the summary statistics for the study of the data. Solution: The summary statistics of the data using MS – excel can be obtained / analyzed through following steps: Step 1: Open Excel sheet and feed the data as given in Fig. 8.1. Step 2: Go to data menu and select Data Analysis. Sometimes this menu is not available in the data, it can be added through add in → check in, analysis tool pack → go. It will appear as the way showing in Fig. 8.1.

Solution: Steps used for plotting the bar graph are as: Step 1: Open Excel sheet and feed the above data as given in figure. 9.1. Step 2: Select data and go to insert menu and select column chart. (figure 9.2) Step 3: Select 2-D column, option first from dialog Box (figure 9.3). Step 4: The desired output will be as shown (figure 9.4). Remark The data labels, axis name, title of the graph etc. can be inserted through selecting option formatting chart area and add data labels by right clicking on the graph output (figure 9.5).

MS-ACCESS is a very powerful RDBMS (Data Base Management System) which manages data in term of special table called relation. Using MS-ACCESS you can manage all your information from a single database file. Database files are stored with extension. MDB. ACCESS stores information in the form of tables and you build your database on its basis. Each row in a table holds all information’s & for a particular person it is called a record. And each column contains different pieces of information regarding that person, like Roll No, Name, Class, Address etc. Same as MSACCESS involves. In ACCESS, you have few things known as Forms, Reports and Queries. They allow you to check and get desired information as and when required.

11.1 Concept of Internet The internet is not a computer network. It is a network of networks, linking computer to computers. Each runs software to provide access and view information. In other words, internet is the connection of two or more networks so that a computer on one network can communicate with a computer on another network. The communication between two computers takes place such that the user does not have to worry about the technology used by the networks. The router, also called gateway, acts as an interface between two networks. The internet covers the entire globe and includes large, international networks as well as many smaller, local area networks (LANs). A user can access data, graphics, sound, software, text and people through a variety of services and tools for communication and data exchange. To get, provide and compile information, internet is the cheapest and fastest medium. Some of the popular tools and services available for communication and data exchange are as follows:

12.1 Meaning and Definition A flow chart is a graphical or symbolic representation of a process. Each step in the process is represented by a different symbol and contains a short description of the process step. The flow chart symbols are linked together with arrows showing the process flow direction. This diagrammatic representation can give a step-by-step solution to a given problem. Flowcharts are used in analyzing, designing, documenting or managing a process or program in various fields.

References Curtis D. Frye. 2010. Microsoft® Excel® 2010 Step by Step. Data and Computer Communications, Pearson Education India, 01-Sep-2007 - 852 pages Goel, Anita. Computer Fundamentals. 2010. Pearson Education India. 592. IGNOU, 2000. Microsoft Office. School of Computer and Information Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi. Jain, Satish. 1999. Information Technology. First Edition, BPB Publications, NewDelhi. John Walkenbach, Excel 2010 Bible. Kritika Gupta, SunilChauhan,Akash Saxena. 2008. Fundamentals of Computer. Madan, Sushila. 2009. Computer Fundamentals. Michael R. Groh, Access 2010Bible. Wiley 1stedition, Amazon Digital Services, Inc. Rajaraman, 2003. Fundamentals of Computers. Prentice Hall India Pvt., Limited PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Ramesh Bangia. 2008. Computer Fundamentals and Information Technology, First Edition. Ramez Elmasri, 2008. Fundamentals of Database Systems, Pearson EducationIndia, 1168 pages Sinha, P. K. Computer Fundamentals 6th edition. Soni,Arun and Soni,S. 2002. The Brain Game (Learning Computers). Navdeep Publications, New Delhi. Sunil Chauhan, Akash Saxena, Kratika Gupta, 2006. Fundamentals of Computer, Firewall Media, 242 pages Uptron ACL. 1992. Programming Techniques and System Concepts. Uptron Academy of Computer Learning, Lucknow.