FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTERS, SEVENTH EDITION

RAJARAMAN, V. · ADABALA, NEEHARIKA

Aug 2025 · PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

About this ebook

The seventh edition of the highly acclaimed “Fundamentals of Computers” lucidly presents how computer systems function. Both hardware and software aspects of computers are covered. The book begins with how numeric and character data are represented in a computer, how various input and output units function, how different types of memory units are organized, and how data is processed by the processor. The interconnection and communication between the I/O units, the memory, and the processor is explained clearly and concisely. Software concepts such as programming languages, operating systems, and communication protocols are discussed. With growing use of wireless to access computer networks, 4G and 5G cellular wireless communication systems, Wi-Fi (Wireless high fidelity), and WiMAX have become important. Thus it has now become part of “fundamental knowledge” of computers and has been included in this edition. Besides this, use of computers in multimedia processing has become commonplace and is explained. With the increase in speed of networks and consequently the Internet, new computing environments such as peer to peer, grid, and cloud computing have emerged. Hence a chapter on this topic has been included. Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising computing. It has now become fundamental knowledge every student should know. A new chapter on the ‘Basics of AI’ has been included in this edition.

This book is an ideal text for undergraduate and postgraduate students of engineering and computer science who study fundamentals of computers as a core course, students of computer applications (BCA and MCA), and undergraduate students of management who should all know the basics of computer hardware and software. It is ideally suited for working professionals who want to update their knowledge of fundamentals of computers.

KEY FEATURES

• Fully updated retaining the style and all contents of the previous editions.

• In-depth discussion of both wired and wireless computer networks.

• Extensive discussion of analog and digital communications.

• Advanced topics such as multiprogramming, virtual memory, DMA, RISC, DSP, RFID, Smart Cards, WiGig, 4G, 5G, novel I/O devices, and multimedia compression (Mp3, MPEG) are described from first principles.

• A new chapter on the ‘Basics of AI’ has been added for the first time in an entry level book.

• Each chapter begins with learning goals and ends with a summary to aid self-study.

• Includes an updated glossary of over 350 technical terms used in the book.

TARGET AUDIENCE

• First course in computers in diploma courses

• As a core course in computers for engineering students (B.Tech/B.E.)

• BCA/MCA

• B.Sc. (Computer Science)

• Management students for whom the basics of computer science form a fundamental requirement

For any reader/professional with an inclination for a study of computers.

About the author

V. RAJARAMAN, Ph.D. (Wisconsin), is an Emeritus Professor in the Supercomputer Education and Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Earlier Prof. Rajaraman was a Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at IIT Kanpur (1963–1982), Professor of Computer Science, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1982–1994), and IBM Professor of Information Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (1994–2001). A pioneer in Computer Science education and research in India, Prof. Rajaraman was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1976. He is also the recipient of the Homi Bhabha Prize by UGC, Om Prakash Bhasin Award, ISTE Award for excellence in teaching computer engineering, Rustom Choksi Award, the Zaheer Medal by the Indian National Science Academy, and Padma Bhushan by President of India in 1998. Indian National Academy of Engineering conferred upon him the Lifetime Contribution Award in Engineering in 2005. An author of several well established and highly successful computer books, Prof. Rajaraman has published many research papers in national and international journals.

NEEHARIKA ADABALA, Ph.D. (IISc), works on applying information visualization techniques and cognition theory to develop solutions that enable learning and education. She had co-founded Lifetape Inc. She was previously a researcher at Microsoft Research India, where she worked on effective visualization of and interaction with information, as well as on use of semantics to improve user-computer interaction. She has worked in MIRALab at the University of Geneva and also in University of Central Florida. She has published papers in the areas of fluid simulation, realistic and abstract rendering techniques, and information visualization.