Chapter One

Introduction
Jimma University Technology Institute
Faculty of Computing and Informatics
Muluken Yohannis (MSc)
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 Outline
 Definition of computers
 Characteristics
 Application
 Generation of computers
 Types of computers

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 WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

 Computer is an Electronic data processing device which

is capable of performing Arithmetic and Logical
operations.
 More than that a computer can choose, copy, move,
position and perform other non-arithmetic operations on
the many alphabetic, numeric and other symbols that
humans use to represent things.
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 Cont’d…
It is a collection of hardware and software components.
The hardware parts consist of one or more processing
units, memory units, and input and output devices. It is the
equipment you see and the parts you can touch.
The software is the set of instructions, called a program,
which tells the computer what to do, when and how to do it.

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Cont’d…
 Computer can be defined in terms of its functions. It can
accept data, store data, process data as desired, as and
when required and print the result in desired format.
 Generally, Computer is an electronic device; Operating
under the control of instructions stored in its own memory
unit and that can accept data, process data, produce output
and store the results for future use.
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Characteristics of computers
The increasing popularity of computers has proved that
it is a very powerful tool.
Automatic: once a program is in the computer’s
memory, it continues without the need for human
intervention until completion. Or once started on a job,
they carry on until the job is finished.

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Cont’d…
 Speed: a computer is a very fast device. Units of time are:
 microseconds (10-6 second),
 nanoseconds (10-9 second)
 picoseconds (10-12second).
 A powerful computer is capable of performing several billion
(109) simple arithmetic operations per second.

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 Cont’d…
 Accuracy: The computer’s accuracy is consistently
high. Almost without exception, the errors in
computing are due to human rather than to
technological weakness, that is to in correct
programming, or to inaccurate data or to poorly
designed systems.

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Cont’d…
 Storage capacity: computers help to save space and economy by
storing very large amount of data.
 For example data stored on paper that filled the shelves of a
registrar office can be stored in a single computer with larger
storage capacity.
 This saves space, money to buy paper, ink and shelves.
 This also helps to have backup (copy) of the data and put it
somewhere else for security purpose.
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Cont’d…
 Diligence: unlike human beings, a computer is free from
boredom, tiredness, lack of concentration, etc, and hence can
work for hours without creating any error and without
grumbling.
 Versatility: it is one of the most wonderful things about the
computer. A computer is capable of performing almost any
task provided that the task can be reduced to a series of
logical steps.
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 Cont’d…
 Power of remembering: a computer can store and recall
huge amount of information because of its secondary
storage capability.
 No IQ: a computer not a magical device. It can only
perform tasks that a human being can. The difference is
that it performs these tasks with unthinkable speed and
accuracy. It possesses no intelligence of its own. Its IQ is
zero. It has to be told what to do and in what sequence.
Hence, only the user can determine what tasks a
computer will perform.
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 Cont’d…
 No feeling: computers are devoid of emotion. They have
no feelings and no instincts because they are machines.
Computers can not make judgment on their own. Their
judgment is based on the instructions given to them in
the form of programs that are written by us.
 Reliability: now a day’s computers are used in sensitive
areas that need very high reliability. For example
hospitals are using computers in patient diagnosis,
monitoring patient operations. They are also monitoring
activities in industries that may cause failure or success
of the company. etc.
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 Cont’d…
 Resource sharing: by connecting computers each other
resource sharing is achievable in the computer system.
E.g. printer
 Flexibility: a computer is a versatile machine. It is
difficult to find an area where computers are not being
used. All other machines like television or a typewriter
do the one thing they are designed for. Unlike such
machines, a computer can be used to play music, watch
films, type letters, send faxes, diagnose illness, design
buildings and bridges, etc…
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 Application of computers
 Science: scientists have been using computers to develop
theories, to analysis, and test the date.
E.g. detail study of how earth quakes affect buildings or
population affect weather pattern, satellite based
application.
 Education: computers have also transformed the whole
process of education. Currently, the class room, libraries,
and museums are effectively utilizing computers to make
the education much more interesting.

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 Cont’d…
 Medicine and health care: now doctors are using
computers right from diagnosing the illness to
monitoring a patient’s status during complex
surgery.
 Engineering (architectures): the architects and
engineering are extremely using computers in
designing and drawings. By using the techniques
like virtual reality architects can explore houses
that have been designed.
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 Cont’d…
 Entertainment: computers are used to control the images
and sounds. The special effects, which mesmerize the
audience, would not have been possible without the
computer. In addition, computerized animation and color
full graphics have modernized the film industry.
 Communication: E-mail or electronic mail is one of the
communication media in which computer is used. Though
e-mail the message and report are passed from one person
to one or more person by the aide of computer and the
telephone line. The advantage of this service is that while
transferring the message it save time, avoids wastage of
paper, and so on.
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 Cont’d…
 Business application: There are various concerns for
which computer are used such as in business applications
(like at the sale counter) that requires immediate response
from computer.
 Publishing: computers have created a field known as
DTP (Desk Top Publishing). In DTP, with the help of
computer and laser printer one can perform the
publishing job all by oneself.

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 Cont’d…
 Banking: in the field of banking and insurance
computers are extensively used. People can use
the ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) services 24
hours of the day in order to deposit and withdraw
cash.
 Industries: - it is used for designing products,
assisting labors, controlling the work of the
machineries in factory e.t.c.

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 Limitation of computers
There are activities that computers can’t perform:
Computers can’t decide how to be programmed. It is
always persons or humans that are responsible for
programming the computers.
Computers can only perform what it is programmed to
do, nothing more and nothing less.
Computers don’t provide their own inputs unless
people provide it with the inputs.
Interpretation of data and implementation of decisions
is always left for humans.
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Generation of computers
There is a rapid change in Generation of computer.
All modern computers can be categorized in to five
generation based on the following five
dimensions:-
Basic electronic component used by the computer
Secondary storage device used
Operating system
Access time of the computer
Computer language used.
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Cont’d…
The most common improvements which are
made from one generation to next.
Enhanced power in terms of speed
processing data, storage
More Convenient to use
Better reliability
Reduced physical size &loss Expensive

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 Cont’d… First generation
This generation of computer is characterized by:-
It uses vacuum tubes as main component
It is very big ,expensive & slow
It required extensive air condition
It generates large heat
It uses magnetic drums for memory
It is very expensive to operate.
It uses machine language to perform operation.
It uses punched cards and paper tape for input
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purpose. And Output was displayed on printouts.

 Cont’d… Second generation
 It uses transistor instead of vacuum tubes
 It uses Transistors replaced vacuum tubes
 B/c of the transistors, the computer becomes
smaller in size, fast in speed &more reliable than
1st generation.
 It uses punched cards for input and printouts for
output
 It controls by Assembly programming language
 Magnetic tape is introduced for store data.
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 Cont’d… Third generation
 Integrated circuits(IC) called chips are replaced to transistor. IC
is a collection transistor. Transistors were placed on silicon
chips called Semiconductors. Because of IC, Computers
became:-
 Smaller in size &power requirement
 Very fast &more reliable
 Magnetic disk is replaced to magnetic tape storage device.
 It uses keyboard instead of punched cards.
 It uses monitors instead of printout.
 It uses operating system which allows the computer to run many
applications at one time with a central program that monitored
the memory.
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 Cont’d… Fourth generation
This generation of computer is Characterized
by:-
It uses Microprocessor replaces Integrated
Circuit. Thousands of Integrated Circuits are
built onto a single silicon Chip.
Cheaper in price
More powerful
Efficient &reliable
It uses Graphical user interface and mouse.
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 Cont’d… Fifth generation
Characterized by:-
It uses an artificial intelligence & interact
with the natural language
The main is to narrow the gap b\n human
being and computer.

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 Types of computers
Classification
of computers
Based on
Functionality, size,
cost and speed
Based on Data handling
Based on (processing)
Purpose
Micro computer
General
Mini Computer
Analog Digital
Specific Mainframe
Hybrid
Computer
Super Computer
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Classification – By Purpose(Application)
General-purpose computers can be used for different
purposes. We need only have appropriate software to use a
general-purpose computer to perform a particular task. For
example, the personal computers (PCs) currently in wide
use are general-purpose computers.
Special-purpose computers are specifically designed to
perform a single specific task built into the machine. They
lacked versatility. These computers are used for airline
reservation, satellite tracking, and air traffic control.

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Classification – By Type of Data
 Based on the type of data they process,
computers can be classified into three types:
1. Analog Computers
 Computers that use analog signals for calculating

and transmitting data are called analog computers.

 Analog data is calculated using the concept of

“measuring values” like magnitude in terms of

voltage, length, current, etc. The analog data is
transmitted in a continuous form that closely
reassembles the information it represents.
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Cont’d…
 Electrical signals on a telephone line are
nothing but analog data representing the
original voice.
 e.g. Slide Rule, Thermometer, Hydrodynamics,
Speedometer, Voltmeter.
2. Digital Computers
The computers that use digital signals to calculate and
transmit data are called digital computers. The word
digital is derived from the word “digit”. The word
digit simply means numeral. The digital signal has
only two states in which it can be represented.
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Cont’d…
 They are ON and OFF or HIGH and LOW or 1 and 0.
Digital data is calculated using the concept of “counting
values”. The result obtained from the digital computer is
more accurate when compared to the analog computers.
These computers manipulate digital data and perform
arithmetic and logical operations on these data.
 Desk & pocket computers
 The general purpose computers
 Digital computers have very high accuracy and speed
than the analog once.
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Cont’d…
3.Hybrid Computers
The best features of analog and digital
computers can be combined into a single device
to form a hybrid computer. It processes the
information by collecting input data with analog
method, converts it into digital quantities,
processes the digital values and converts the
output from digital to analog form.

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Classification – Capacity and size of
Microprocessor (Functionality)
 Now let us discuss the varieties of
computers that we see today. Although
they belong to the fifth generation they
can be divided into different categories
depending upon the size, efficiency,
memory and number of users. Broadly
they can be divided into the following
four categories.
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 1.Microcomputer
 Microcomputer (often called personal
computers or PCs for short) are the smallest
but most important and most frequently
used of computer particularly for end users.
 They are relatively small or compact in size
and are often found on a tabletop or desktop

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Cont’d…
 Microcomputers come in a variety of sizes and shapes for a
variety of purposes. Basically they can be grouped into three:
Laptop. Palmtop and Desktop computers.
 Laptop: laptop computers are smaller versions of
microcomputers about the size of a briefcase designed for
portability. People can easily carry these personal computers
with them in their car, on airplane, or when walking from one
location to another.
 Unlike desktop PCs that have mostly detachable components,
laptops include all their components (except their printer) in a
single unit.
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 Cont’d…
 Palmtop: Palmtop computer is the smallest
microcomputer that is about the same size as a pocket
calculator. It is the most portable computer and is
growing in popularity among the latest entries in the
microcomputer market.
 Palmtops are typically used from a limited number of
functions, such as maintaining personal calendar, name
and address files, or electronic worksheets.
 Desktop: Desktop computer is the most widely used
type of personal computer (microcomputers).
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Cont’d…In general, microcomputers are used for
 Word processing
 Computerized worksheet analysis and modeling.
 Graphics in the generation of charts and other graphic
images.
 Engineering activities.
 Personal and home use. Entertainment, home
management, personal finances, education, and other
activities can easily supported by the use of personal
computers.
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Cont’d..

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 2. Mini Computer
 Minicomputers are midrange computers that are larger and
more powerful than most microcomputers but are smaller
and less powerful than mainframe computer systems.
 The minicomputers size prevents it from being easily
portable although it can be moved more easily than a
mainframe computer.
 Minicomputers cost less to buy and maintain than
mainframe computers. Most minicomputers can function
in ordinary operating environments, as they do not need
special air conditioning or electrical wiring.
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Cont’d…
 Minicomputers are being used for a large number of
business and scientific applications.
 They are popularly used in scientific laboratories,
research centers, universities and colleges, engineering
firms, industrial process monitoring and control etc.

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Cont’d…

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 3.Mainframes
 Mainframe computers are large, powerful computers
that are physically larger than micros and minis and
usually have processors with faster instruction
processing speeds.
 For example, they may be able to process from 10 to
200 million instructions per second (MIP).
 A mainframe computer is generally found in a special
computer room where environmental factors such as
temperature, humidity, dust and air conditions are
closely monitored.
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Cont’d…
 Because of the computer’s cost and the value of the
information stored there, the rooms in which mainframes
are located have security systems allowing only authorized
personnel to enter.
 Mainframe computers are designed to handle the
information processing need of organization with many
employees and customers or with complex computational
problems.
 They are also used as the center of computer networking.
These computers are used by organizations that have
enormous and complex data processing assignments.
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Cont’d…

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 4. Supercomputer
The term supercomputer has been coined to describe a
category of extremely powerful computer designed for high-
speed processing. A supercomputer is generally
characterized as being the fastest, most powerful, and most
expensive computer.
As many as sixty miles of wiring are closely packed inside
supercomputers, and tremendous amounts of heat are
generated. Because of this, supercomputers demand special
cooling requirement and the room itself should be air-
conditioned.
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 Cont’d…
 Some supercomputers require extra floor support to hold the
extreme weight of the complete system that includes storage
units.
 In addition, highly trained data processing professionals are
required to operate supercomputers. These computers can
take inputs from over 10,000 individual computers and
users at the same time.
 Super computers are largely used by research organizations,
military defense systems, national weather for casting
agencies, large corporations, aircraft manufacturer, etc.
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 Super Computers

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Question & Answer

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 Thank you!

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