FUNDAMENTALS OF

COMPUTER

By – Sarthak Mishra
Definition of computer
• The term computer is derived from the word compute , which means to calculate.

• A computer is programmable machine.

• It repond to a specific set of instructions in a well defined manner.

• It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions (a programe).

• A computer is an electronic machine devised for performing calculation and controlling operations that can be
expressed either in logical or in numerical terms .

• A computer is an electronic device that perform diverse operations with the help of instructions to process the data in
order to achieve desired results.

• The application domain of computer depends totally on human creativity & imagination .
 Characteristics of Computer
• Computers are faster than humans in • Beside the efficiency,
calculation . computer are very
accurate also .

Speed Accuracy

Reliability Diligence

• It is the measurement of a computer , • Being a machine , it does

which is measured against some not suffer from the human
predetermined standard of without any traits of tiredness and lack
failure. of concentration .
• It can store large amount of data • Computer can
& recall the required information perform multiple task
almost instantaneously . simultaneously with
equal ease .

Storage
Versatality
capability

Resource
No IQ
Sharing

• Computer have the capability to • Computer have no IQ

connect with each other it work on given set of
instructions .
 Lack of
intelligence

Computer’s use is
limited in areas
Need of special
where qualitative
language
consideration are
important

Limitations of in
Computer

Needs well –
Need for
defined
environment for
instructions to
smooth
perform any
functioning
operations

Computer can only

perform what it is
performed to do
 Types Of Computer

Micro Mini Computer Mainframe Super Computer

Computer Computer
 Micro Computer
• A small , low cost digital computer.

• Usually consist of a microprocessor , a storage unit, and input , channel , & an output channel .

• Microcomputers are defined for individual users only .

• The micro computers are widely used & the fastest growing computer .

• These computers are the cheapest among the other 3 types of computer .

• The micro computers are specially designed for general usage like entertainment , education , workspace .

• Example – Apple , Dell , Lenovo , Sony , Toshiba etc.

• Include desktop, laptop, palmtop etc.

 Mini Computer
• A small digital computer , also know as mid range computer .

• It is able to process & store less data than a mainframe but more than a micro computer .

• It does processing less rapidly than mainframe but more rapidly than a micro computer .

• It is designed to meet the computing needs of several people simultaneously in a small to medium sized
business environment .

• It is capable of sharing from 4 to about 200 simultaneously users .

• Mini computers are usually multiuser systems . So these are used in interactive app’s in industries, research
organization & insurance policy holders .
 Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe computer is an ultra high performance computer made for high volume processor intensive
computing .

• It is able to process & store data than a minicomputer & far more than micro computer.

• Although mainframe are not so powerful as super computer .

• Many large firms & government organization uses mainframe to run their business operations .

• The mainframe computer can be accommodate in large air – conditioned rooms because of its size .

• Super – computers are the fastest computers with large data storage capacity . Mainframes can also process &
store large amount of data .

• Bank educational institutions & insurance company use mainframe computers to store data about their customers .
 Super computer
• Most powerful computers in terms of performance & data processing .

• Designed to maximize the number of floating point operations per second (F L O P S) .

• One giga flope per second is not considered as supercomputer .

• Specialized & task specific computers .

• Used for research & exploration purposes .

• Like NASA uses for launching space shuttles .

• Very expensive & very large in size .

• Accommodate in large air – conditioned room .

• Span an entire building .

• In 2003 , India developed the PARAM Padma Supercomputer . It perform 1 trillion processors per second .
 Generation Of Computer
• The generation of computer refers to the phases of improvement made to different computing devices .

• The word generation is described as a stage of technological development or innovation .

• A major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate , resulting in
increasingly smaller , cheaper, more powerful & reliable devices characteristics of each generation of computer.

• According to type of processor installed in a machine , there are 5 generations of computer :-

1. First generation computer ( 1940 to 1956 ) : Vacuum Tubes
2. Second generation computer ( 1956 to 1963 ) : Transistors
3. Third generation computer (1964 to early 1970s ) : Integrated circuits
4. Fourth generation computer ( early 1970s to till date ) : Microprocessors
5. fifth generation computer ( present to beyond ) : Artificial Inteligence