An Introduction To Computers

 Definition of Computer System

 Components of Computer System
 Evolution of Computers
 What is a Computer?

DEFINIATION

• A computer is an electronic device

capable of processing information to
produce a desired result.

• Also known as Programmable

Machine and Data Processor.
 What is a Computer?

 A computer is an electronic device

that accepts data (input), manipulate or
process the data, produce results
(information), and store the results.

PROCESSING

INPUT COMPUTER OUTPUT

(data) SYSTEM (information)

(Programs)
 Data and Information
Data

• Raw facts, figures and symbols

• Data can be anything like marks obtained

by students in various subjects when used
for preparing results.

Information

• Organized, meaningful, and more useful (to people)

Characteristics of Computer
 Automatic : but it has to be instructed
 Speed: fast device works in nano or pico seconds
 Accuracy: if input data is correct & program is
reliable then it will produce accurate results
 Diligence: free from tiredness
 Power of Remembering: can store info
 No IQ: posses no intelligence of its own
 No Feelings
 Components of Computer
Storage Unit
Secondary
Program and Memory
Data INPUT OUTPUT
Unit Unit
Primary
Memory

Control
Unit

Indicates flow of Arithmetic Logic

instruction and data Unit
indicates the control Central Processing Unit
exercised by control unit
 Input Unit
Provides data to the computer
(that data is in human readable form)

Data must be transformed into binary codes(which is acceptable by computer)

This transformation is done by “Input Interfaces”

In short, Input Unit –

• Accepts list of instructions and data from user

• Convert these instructions and data in computer acceptable form

• It supplies the converted instructions and data to computer system for

processing
 Output Unit
Provides results to the User

computer provides result in binary codes (which must be converted into

human understandable form)

This transformation is done by “Output Interfaces”

In short, Input Unit –

• Accepts results from the computer

• Convert the binary codes to human understandable form

• It supplies the converted result to outside world

 Storage Unit

Specific functions of storage unit are:

 Data + Instruction required for processing (received from

input devices)
 Intermediate results of processing

 Final results of processing before given to output device

Two types of storage:

 Primary storage ie RAM (volatile, expensive, limited capacity)

 Secondary storage (non-volatile, cheaper, permanent storage)

 Central Processing Unit
 The C.U and A.L.U of computer system are jointly
known as Central Processing Unit (CPU)
 CPU is brain of Computer System
 It does:
 All calculation & comparisions are done inside CPU

 Also responsible for activating and controlling

operation of other units of computer system

About Computers
COMPUTER SYSTEM
Computer Languages
- Machine language
- Assembly language
- High level language

Hardware Software

the physical parts of

the computer

Application System
Software Software
Generations Of Computer

“Generation” in computer term is -

“A step in Technology”
Before First Generation
 A “Brief History”

• Abacus considered first

mechanical computing device

• Used beads and rods to

count numbers
Mechanical Calculators
• 1612 – John Napier used floating point arithmetic and
invented the logarithm

• 1622 – William Oughtred created the slide rule based on

Napier’s logarithms. This was the primary calculator used by
engineers until the 1960’s.

• 1642 – Blaise Pascal created a machine that could add and

subtract, automatically carrying numbers

• 1673 – Gottfried von Leibniz(German mathematician)

extended pascaline to do multiplication, division, square roots.

Note:- None of these machines had memory and they require

human intervention at each step.
Napier’s Bones
Schickard’s Calculator
Slide Rule
The Pascaline
 Early Calculators

1822 – Charles Babbage called the “FATHER OF

COMPUTERS” .

• Build the Difference Engine

• Machine designed to automate the computation of
polynomial functions
• Implements some storage- all internal, the user doesn’t
store anything.

1833 – Designed the Analytical Engine that had the basic

components used in a modern computer
Babbage’s “Difference Engine”
Generation 0: Babbage
 This analytical engine can perform “any”
mathematical operation.
 This is really the first machine that resembles
our computers
 An arithemetic processing unit

 A memory(the store)

 Input/output devices(punched metal cards)

 Conditional branching
World’s First Programmer,Ada

• Added notes and documentation

to Charles Babbage’s Analytical
Engine

• She wrote the first program

• Has a Programming Language

Named After Her
 Herman Hollerith

• 1890 Hollerith developed

data processing equipment
for the US

• Founded Hollerith
Tabulating Company which
became IBM in 1924
FIRST GENERATION (1939-1955)
Vacuum Tube
 1906
 Forms the basis for
generating first generation
computers.
 But high energy
consumption, high heat,
large
First Generation computers
 1939 – 1959

 Use vacuum tubes and wire circuits

 1939 - John Vincent and John Berry built ABC computer

for solving linear systems in physics.
 Introduced ALU and rewriting memory.
 It uses punch cards for secondary memory

 1946 - ENIAC was designed.

ABC Atanasoff-Berry Computer
 Electronic Numerical Integrator
And Computer

• In 1946
• Used 17,468 vacuum tubes
• 1,800 sq ft
• 30 tons
• 174 kilowatt of power
• Punched cards
• Programmed by plugging
cables and setting switches
• From 1 hour to 1 day to
program
First Generation Computers
 Key hardware technologies
 Vacuum tubes
 Punch cards for secondary storage
 Key software Technologies
 Machine and assembly languages
 Stored program concept
 Mostly scientific applications
 Key characteristics
 Bulky in size
 Highly unreliable
 Difficult to use
 Commercial production was difficult and Costly
 Von Neumann Computer
 1944 – John von Neumann joined
 The von Neumann architecture is a
design model for a stored-program
digital computer.
 Three hardware systems:-
 Central Processing System(CPU)
 Memory
 Input/output
 1945 – von Neumann proposed a stored
program computer called EDVAC
 Computers today are still very close to
this basic architecture.
SECOND GENERATION(1955-1964)
Transistors
First Transistor
 1947
 Bell laboratories invent
the transistor
 Smaller, cheaper, more
reliable, less heat
Second Generation Computers
 1955 - 1964
 Based on transistors and printed circuits
 Much smaller and less power consumption
Second Generation Computers
 Key hardware technologies
 Transistor
 Secondary storage- Magnetic disk and tapes
 Key software Technologies
 High level languages
 Batch Operating System
 Scientific and Commercial applications
 Key characteristics
 Faster
 Smaller
 More reliable
 Easier to program than previous generation systems
 Commercial production was still difficult and Costly
THIRD GENERATION(1964-1972)
Integrated Circuit
 1958
 Invented by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments
 Integrates the functions of many transistors
into one physical component
First Integrated Circuit
 Third Generation Computers
 1964 - 1972
 Based on integrated circuits
 Powerful than 2nd Generation computers
 smaller in size than the computers of 2nd
Generation
Third Generation Computers
 Key hardware technologies
 Integrated Circuits
 Larger capacity secondary storage - Magnetic disk
and tapes
 Key software Technologies
 Timesharing Operating System
 Unbundling of software from hardware
 Key characteristics
 Faster, Smaller
 Easier and cheaper to produce commercially
 Scientific, Commercial and iproduction was still
difficult and Costly
FOURTH GENERATION(1972-1989)
 Microprocessors
 1971

 Intel released first microprocessor, the 4004

 Equivalent to 2,300 transistors, 4 bit data

path

 Microprocessors are complex integrated

circuits, capable of many different functions
Intel 4004 Processor
Intel 8088 circuitry
Fourth Generation Computers
 1972
 Based on microprocessors
 Utilize LSI (Large Scale Integration), and VLSI
(Very Large Scale Integration)
 Smaller, faster, and more complex than 3rd
Generation
Fourth Generation Computers
 Key hardware technologies
 Microprocessors
 Larger capacity Hard disks and tapes for
secondary storage
 Key software Technologies
 Operating systems for PC’s;GUI;Windows;Unix
 Key characteristics
 Small
 Affordable
 Reliable
 Easier to production commercially
 First “Portable” Computer

 Released in 1981
 5” Screen
PDAs

• First PDA released in 1983

• Had 8K of RAM

• Cost $199.95 (US)

Apple Macintosh

• 1984 – Macintosh
introduced, based on Xerox
Alto.

• “Point-and-click” with mouse

became the main tool for
interacting with computers
FIFTH GENERATION(1989-present)
Fifth Generation Computers
 ????
 Will be much smaller and faster than 4th
Generation
 Greatly increased data storage capability
 Will most likely have light, easily
transportable display capabilities
 May be built into clothing
 Fifth Generation - Present and Beyond: Artificial
Intelligence

 Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial

intelligence, are still in development, though there are
some applications such as voice recognition, that are
being used today.

 The use of parallel processing and superconductors is

helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.

 The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop

devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.
Fifth Generation Computers
 Key hardware technologies
 Microprocessors
 Larger capacity Hard disks and tapes for
secondary storage
 Key software Technologies
 Operating systems for PC’s;GUI;Windows;Unix
 Key characteristics
 Small
 Affordable
 Reliable
 Easier to production commercially