UNIT-I

TOPICS COVERED

1. Introduction to Computers
1.a. Definition of a computer
1.b. Basic operations of a computer
1.c. Comparison: computer with human being & calculator
1.d. Applications of computers
2. Characteristics of Computers
1.a. History/Evolution
1.b. Generation Of Computers
3. Devices That Comprise A Computer System
4. Primary Components

Prepared By: M.FARHANA SATHATH - MCA/AP, DSEC. 1

 INTRODUCTION
1. INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
▪ The term ‘Computer’, came from Latin word: computare, which means ‘To compute’ / ‘To
calculate’. So it is called as computing device.
▪ Also called as Calculation Machine
1.a Definition:
I. Computer is an electronic Device that is used for arithmetic and logical operations.
(Or)
II. Computer is an electronic Device which converts raw data into meaningful information.
(Or)
III. Computer is an electronic Device, designed in such a way, it automatically ACCEPTS and
STORES input data, PROCESS them and PRODUCE the desired output.

❖ Computer plays a major role in the field of IT, which has spread to every sphere of existence of
modern man from:

⭢ Railway reservation to Medical diagnosis

⭢ TV programmes to satellite launching

⭢ Match-making to criminal catching

Data Vs Information:
Data: raw materials
Informations: processed data

1.b . Basic Operations of a Computer :

▪ Computers can perform four general operations, which comprise the information
processing cycle.
❖ A computer system includes a computer, peripheral devices, and software

❖ Accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output

1. Input : refers to raw data ( i.e ) whatever is sent to a Computer system
2. Process: is the transformation process to convert the input into output
3. Output: result (i.e) outcome of the process
4. Storing: process of saving data / information / instructions to retrieve whenever
required.
5. Controlling: process of directing the manner and sequence in which all the
operations are to be performed.

1.c. Comparison of Computer With Human Being And Calculator:

i. Computer With Human Being
Characteristi Computer Human

Prepared By: M.FARHANA SATHATH - MCA/AP, DSEC. 2

c
Speed Very Fast
Slow
(Computer can perform any arithmetic task at high speed)
Very Good
Accuracy Possible to do errors
(no error)
No restrictions
Limit Restricted by limits
(can
(by program- simply compare/ calculate/manipulate)
think/reason/discover)
Performance Very Good Poor
Instructions Follow perfectly Chances for imperfect
Remember Accurate & exact Inaccurate
Trial &
Makes good Difficult
error
Memory Large Memory Less internal memory
Operation Arithmetic and Logical All operations. But slow
Computer With Calculator:
⭢ Computer is not a calculator, but do more operations

⭢ Which is developed based on some features of calculators

Characteristi
Computer Calculator
c
Very Fast Fast
Speed
(can perform any arithmetic & logical task at high ( perform only arithmetic
speed) task)
Very Good
Accuracy Good
(no error)
Limit Restricted by limits Restricted by limits
(by program- simply compare/ calculate/manipulate)
Good
Very Good
Performance (simple calculations &
(complex problems & non-numeric processing)
numeric processing)
Instructions Follow perfectly Follow perfectly
Remember Accurate & exact Accurate & exact
Trial &
Makes very good Makes good
error
Large Less internal Memory
Memory
(Memory/permanent & temporary storage) No permanent / Only storage
Operation Arithmetic and Logical Arithmetic
Machine Electronic device Electronic device
Computer Vs. Calculator Vs. Human Being
Characteristi
Computer Calculator Human
c
Very Fast Fast Slow
Speed
(Computer can perform any
arithmetic task at high speed)
Very Good
Accuracy Good Possible to do errors
(no error)
Restricted by limits No restrictions
Limit Restricted by limits
(by program- simply compare/ (can
calculate/manipulate) think/reason/discover)
Performance Very Good Good Poor

Prepared By: M.FARHANA SATHATH - MCA/AP, DSEC. 3

Instructions Follow perfectly Follow perfectly Chances for imperfect
Remember Accurate & exact Accurate & exact Inaccurate
Trial &
Makes good Makes good Difficult
error
Memory Large Memory No Less internal memory
Operation Arithmetic and Logical Arithmetic All operations. But slow
Characteristi
Computer Calculator Human
c
Speed Very Fast Fast Slow
(Computer can perform any
arithmetic task at high speed)
Accuracy Very Good
Good Possible to do errors
(no error)
Limit Restricted by limits Restricted by limits No restrictions
(by program- simply compare/ (can
calculate/manipulate) think/reason/discover)
Performance Very Good Good Poor
Instructions Follow perfectly Follow perfectly Chances for imperfect
Remember Accurate & exact Accurate & exact Inaccurate
Trial & Makes good Makes good Difficult
error
Memory Large Memory No Less internal memory
Operation Arithmetic and Logical Arithmetic All operations.
(But slow)

2. APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTERS:
1. In Business:
• For transaction processing with 🡪suppliers / Employees / customers
• Financial analysis from top to down management
Investments / sales /expenses / markets
2. In Industry:
• To design and manufacture the products
• CAD: to design / develop
• CAM: to manufacture / produce
• Also to run ROBOTS, that create, finish assemble and test products and their
components.
3. At Home:
• To view Encyclopedia iformations, movies and animations
• To visit other parts of the world thru’ WWW.
• Exchange Emails, downloading files, play games, ticket reservations, online shopping, E-
banking, etc..
4. At Play:
• To play games with them
• To animate important concepts & use interactivity to involve students in the learning
process.

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 5. In Education:
● Education software available at all levels from elementary schools to universities
● Connects students over a network
● At college, to teach courses
6. In Training:
● Many organizations use computer to teach techniques, to train the people, in order to save
money and to improve performance.
7. In Entertainment:
● To create special effects in big budget movies.
● With the technology (in fils & photography) it becomes impossible to distinguish real &
artificial
8. In Arts:
• In dance, fluid movements of dance brought life through animation
• 3D stereograms: gives three dimensional view of the hidden object inside a single image
• In photostore, phots can be digitized by dropping them off (or) we can digitize our photos

9. In Science And Engineering:

• Super computers: used in the area of chemistry and physics
• In Medical technology: to understand human body to diagnosis the disorders
• Satellite communication: to eliminate the need for wires (ie.) to establish wireless
communications
• Topography technology: to create topographic images, attempt to understand why
Earthquakes occurs by using computer together and plot the data
10. In Mathematics:
• To create simple mathematical functions
• Numerical analysis problems (metrices) can be solved
• Used in statistical calculations
Correlation / regression / analysis of variance
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS
1. High Processing Speed :
❖ Speed is the most important characteristics of computer .Computer having more speed to
perform jobs instantaneously.
❖ Measurements of speed:
o 1 milli sec = 1x10-3 sec
o 1 micro sec = 1x10-6 sec
o 1 nano sec = 1x10-9 sec
o 1 pico sec = 1x10-12 sec
❖ Eg: In analyzing the structure of human genes in GENOME project, the role of
computers has been found to be indispensable.
2. Accuracy:
❖ The computers are perfect, accurate and precise. (i.e) it never makes any mistake.

❖ Accuracy signifies the reliability of the hardware components of computers.

Prepared By: M.FARHANA SATHATH - MCA/AP, DSEC. 5

 ❖ Eg: only an accurate computer can guide a rocket to reach the space in the predetermined
path.
3. Automatic:
❖ A computer works automatically, once programs are stored and data are given to it.

❖ Constant supervision is not required.

❖ Once the program is in the computer memory, the individual instructions are then
transferred one after another to the control unit for execution.
4. Versatility:
❖ A computer can be put to work in various fields.

❖ Eg: Space Exploration, Weather Forecasting, Research, Office Automation,

Teaching, Railways, Medicine, Banking, Etc...
5. Endurance:
❖ A computer works continuously and will not get tired and will not suffer from lack of
concentration.
6. Reduction of cost:
❖ Though initial investment may be high, computer substantially reduces the cost of
transaction.
4. CAPABILITIES OF COMPUTERS
i. Huge Data Storage
ii. Input and Output
iii. Processing
❖Memory is an area of a computer that holds data that is waiting to be processed, stored, or output
o Storage is the area where data can be left on a permanent basis
o Computer output is the result produced by the computer
o An output device displays, prints or transmits the results of processing
❖ Computer
o Performs computations and makes logical decisions
o Millions / billions times faster than human beings
❖ Computer programs
o Set of instructions for which computer processes data
❖ Hardware
o Physical devices of computer system
❖ Software
o Programs that run on computers
7. HISTORY OF COMPUTERS / EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
ABACUS:
● The Chinese invented a calculating device called ABACUS also called as
SOROBAN to perform simple addition and subtraction.

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 ● Consists of wooden frame with two compartments and beads sliding along the steel wires for
counting.
● Uses movable beads stung on wires above and below a cross bar and its operation are based on
the idea of the place value notation.
● The beads of the counter represent digits.

● The value of the digit in each position is determined by adding the values of the beads pressed
against the cross piece.

Napier’s Device:
• John Napier a Scottish mathematician invented
logarithms.
• Contains a set of 11 animal bones, but later replaced
by rods.
How to make your own Napier's Bones from paper:
▪ Draw the bones from table 2 (above 'game of rods)
onto a sheet of paper. Units are in the lower
triangle, tens in the upper. Cut out each column to
make strips.

Pascal calculating machine:

● In 1642, Blaise Pascal (French mathematician,
physicist, philosopher) invented a mechanical calculator called the Pascaline
● It was the first real desktop calculating device that could add and subtract. It consists of a set of
toothed wheels or gears with each wheel or gear having digits 0 to 9 engraved on it. Arithmetic
operation could be performed by tunings these wheels.
● In 1671, Gottfried von Leibniz (German mathematician, philosopher) extended the Pascaline to
do multiplications, divisions, square roots: the Stepped Reckoner

Punched card Machine:

● In 1801, a French weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard invented the first punched card machine.

● In order to control his textile looms, he invented it, which is to make attractive designs on the
fabric.
● The presence and absence of the holes in the card represented two states for raising or lowering of
wrap thread, that encountered a hole in the card could enter the pattern.
Charles Babbage’s Engine:
● In 1822 Charles Babbage (English mathematician, philosopher), sometimes called the “father of
computing” built the Difference Engine
● Machine designed to automate the computation (tabulation) of polynomial functions (which are
known to be good approximations of many useful functions)
● In 1833 Babbage designed the Analytical Engine to do addition, but he died before he could
build it

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 8. GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

1.First Generation (1940-1956) :VACUUM TUBES

Features:
▪ used vacuum tubes

▪ Programmed in Mechanical Language (0’s & 1’s)

▪ No O/s is used

▪ Method: “Stored Program” (to store program instruction & data

in binary form)
▪ Automatically execute the program without human.
Disadvantage:
⭢ Big & Clumsy: taking up entire rooms

⭢ Non portable

⭢ High Electricity Consumption

⭢ Larger AC were needed

⭢ Lot of electricity failure occurred

⭢ No reliability

2.Second Generation (1956-1963) :TRANSISTORS

Features:
▪ Transistors were used

▪ Core Memory was developed

▪ First Operating System was developed

▪ Programming was in Machine & Aseembly Language

▪ Faster than First Generation computers

▪ Magnetic tapes & discs were used

Advantages:
⭢ smaller in size

⭢ better reliability

⭢ better portability

⭢ generate less heat & consumed less electricity

3.Third Generation (1964-1971): INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

Features:
▪ Integrated circuits developed, WHICH IS made of silicon

▪ SSI & MSI Technology was used

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 ▪ High level languages were used
Advantages:
⭢ smaller in size

⭢ better reliability

⭢ better portability

⭢ generate less heat & consumed less electricity

4.Fourth Generation (1971-Present): MICROPROCESSORS

Features:
1. LSI & VLSI Technology used
2. Development of Portable Computers
3. RAID Technology of data storage
4. Used in virtual reality, multimedia, simulation
5. Computers started in use for Data Communication
6. Different types of memories with very high accessing speed & storage
capacity

5.Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond): ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Features:
1. Used in parallel processing
2. Used superconductors
3. Used in speech recognition
4. Used in intelligent robots
5. Used in artificial intelligence
6. Quantum computing
7. Bio computing
8. Nano technology
9. Learning Natural languages
● Source of Knowledge:
The Mother of Information…
“The Internet”
● The World Wide Web

In terms of capacity, price performance, computers can be broadly classified as follows.

● Micro Computers.
● Main Frame Computers.
● Mini Computers.

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 ● Super Computers: As the name "super computer" specifies that these are most powerful computers even
than mainframe. Actually, when we optimize a mainframe computer then we get super computer.

Micro Computers (also termed as miniaturized mini computer):

They can carry input, storage, arithmetic, logic, control and output functions.
They use silicon made micro processor chips which are of a size of 5mm square and 0.1 mm thick, with
layers of etched and printed circuits-containing all elements required to process binary encoded data.
These systems use random access memory and read only memory as primary storage.
They range from single board size to a system containing many circuit boards mounted in a cabinet. They
are light enough to be moved easily and are designed to be used by one person at a time.
A typical microcomputer has a keyboard for input and user diskettes and floppy disk drives to enter data
and programs and to receive processed outputs. They use magnetic tape and floppy discs as secondary
storage devices.

A visual display unit and/or character printer is used to prepare output in a human readable form.
All micro computers are byte addressable machines. They use micro processor chips viz.

Features of Micro Computers:

They use very little power, require little air conditioning and does not require special wiring, raised
floors.
They are stable and reliable.

Mini Computers:

These are the smaller versions of the mainframe. They offer same computing power as their bigger
counterparts but a small/number of peripherals can be attached to the mini computer. It is comparatively
cheaper in cost, small in size, very rugged and reliable. It does not require air conditioning and can be
operated at room temperature. In business environment a mini system can be ‘tailor made’ for job
specification.

Characteristics:

 They can accept and transfer data from I/O devices at the maximum speed of 4 million bytes per
second.
 Can support up to a maximum of 20 terminals.
 They usually employ microprocessors in the CPU for data storage and data manipulation.
 They have faster processing speed.
 In most mini computers, data and instructions are stored in fixed word locations.
They have main memory ranging from 256kb to 12 Mb and word length of 16/32 bits and are designed
for 4 to 8 users in time sharing models.

Mini Computers can be sub classified in to

 Mini minis
 Midi minis
 Maxi minis(super minis)

Main Frame Computers:

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They are most expensive of all the computers, are very big in size and offer maximum computing power.
A large number of peripherals can be attached to them. They are generally used in large networks and the
mainframe works as central computer or node. All other smaller terminals are connected to central
computer or server through satellite link.
A typical example is the air line reservation system. The main frame computer is placed at the head
office, where all the information about all flights is stored and small computers are placed at various
branches and are attached to the central data bank so that up to date information of all flights is always
available.
The structural configuration of mainframe consists of

 Data communication equipment.

 Interface equipment.
 Primary storage.
 Secondary storage.
 Central processors with multiprogramming facilities.

Characteristics:

 These are large general purpose computers capable of handling all kinds of problems whether
scientific or commercial.
 Can accept and transfer data from I/O devices at the rate of million bytes per second.
 Can accept all type of high level languages.
 Can support large number of terminals say up to 100 or more?
 They have flexibility to operate automatically.
 They have high on line secondary storage capacity and can support a number of peripheral devices
like magnetic tape drives, hard disk drives, visual display units etc.
 They have high cache memory, to process applications faster than mini or micro computers.

Super Computers: As the name "super computer" specifies that these are most powerful computers even than
mainframe. Actually, when we optimize a mainframe computer then we get super computer.

Personal Computers:

They are the one of the latest type of micro computers. They are called so because they are designed for
personal use of individuals or small business units, office automation units or professionals.
Personal computers can be used for basic programming, fun and games, business and professional
applications, tele communications; data base management, accounting, and word processing.

DEVICES THAT COMPRISE A COMPUTER SYSTEM

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What are the Primary Components?

1.Input devices.

⮚ Keyboard.

• The most commonly used input device is the keyboard on

which data is entered by manually keying in or typing certain
keys.
• A keyboard typically has 101 or 105 keys.

⮚ Mouse

• Is a pointing device which is used to control the movement of a

mouse pointer on the screen to make selections from the
screen.
• A mouse has one to five buttons.
• The bottom of the mouse is flat and contains a mechanism that detects movement of the
mouse.
2.Central Processing Unit (containing the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit).

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 • It is considered the “brain” of the computer.
• The central processing unit (CPU) contains electronic
circuits that cause processing to occur.
• The CPU interprets instructions to the computer,
performs the logical and arithmetic processing
operations, and causes the input and output operations
to occur.
3.Memory
• Memory also called Random Access Memory
or RAM (temporary memory) is the main
memory of the computer.
• It consists of electronic components that store
data including numbers, letters of the
alphabet, graphics and sound.
• Any information stored in RAM is lost when
the computer is turned off.
• Read Only Memory or ROM is memory that is etched on a chip that has start-up directions for
your computer. It is permanent memory.
4.Output devices
• Output devices make the information resulting from the processing available for use.
• The two output devices more commonly used are:

Printer computer screen/Monitor

• The printer produces a hard copy of your
output, and the computer screen produces
a soft copy of your output.

5.Storage devices.A storage device is necessary

for recording data.
● The data stored is stores in digital forms.
● There are three types of data storage:
i. Primary
Data
Storage,
ii. Secondary
Storage
Devices
iii. Tertiary
Storage
Devices.

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 ● Characteristics of Storage Devices

✔ Speed

✔ Volatility

✔ Access method

✔ Portability

✔ Cost and capacity

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