Chapter 1. Introduction To Computer
Chapter 1. Introduction To Computer
Chapter 1: Computer es
History
Introduction to Characteristics
Computer Types
Generations
Applications
Social Impact
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Computer – An Introduction
What is Computer?
• Derived from the Latin word “Computare”, i.e. to compute.
• A programmed device with a set of instructions to perform specific tasks and
generate results at a high speed.
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History of Computer
First Mechanical Computer
• The “Analytical Engine”, proposed by
Charles Babbage in 1837 and built by
Henry Babbage in 1910.
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History of Computer
Turing Machine
• Proposed by Alan Turing in 1936.
• An information processor working
through a series of instructions,
performing read/write and moving to the
next instruction.
Colossus
• Developed by Tommy Flower in 1943.
• The first electric programmable
computer.
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History of Computer
First Digital Computer
• “ABC”, Developed by Atansoff and Cliff
Berry in 1942.
• Used 300 vacuum tubes for
computations.
• “ENIAC”, developed by J. Presper and
John Mauchley in 1946.
• Consisted of 18000 vacuum tubes.
UNIVAC
• The first computer with program
stored in memory.
• Built in 1950.
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History of Computer
Whirlwind Machine
• The first computer with RAM.
• Introduced by MIT in 1955.
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History of Computer
The First Workstation
• Xerox Alto, introduced in 1974.
• Fully functional computer with display, mouse, windows, menus and icons.
• 8088 processor
• 16 KB of memory extendable to 256 KB.
• MS-DOS operating system.
Compaq Portable
• Introduced by Compaq in 1983.
• Compatible with programs developed
for IBM computers.
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History of Computer
Windows 1.0
• Released in 1985.
• The first version of MS windows line.
• 16 bit multi-tasking shell on the top
of MS-DOS
• Overlapping windows in Windows
2.0.
M2500 XL/2
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History of Computer
History, 1990 – onward
• 1990 – HTML was proposed by Tim Berners Lee. Microsoft released windows 3.0
• 1992 – Microsoft released windows 3.1.
• 1994 – PC video games.
• 1995 – Windows 95 which merged MS-DOS and windows platforms.
• 1996 – Google Search Engine.
• 1998 – Windows 98, a graphical operating system.
• 1999 – Wireless internet.
• 2001 – Mac OS X, a Unix based operating system used in apple computers.
• 2003 – The first 64 bit processor, “Athlon 64.
• 2004 – Mozilla Firefox was released and Facebook was founded.
• 2005 – YouTube was founded.
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History of Computer
History, 1990 – onward (continued)
• 2006 – Apple introduced MacBook pro, the first dual core laptop computer.
• 2007 – Steve Jobs launched iPhone.
• 2009 – Microsoft released windows 7.
• 2010 – Apple introduced iPad, a multi touch screen computer.
• 2011 – Google introduced ChromeBook which runs Google chrome OS.
• 2015 – Microsoft released windows 10. Apple introduced the Apple Watch.
• 2016 – China’s Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer became the world’s most
powerful computer.
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Characteristics of Computer
Accuracy
• Every calculation should be
performed with the same accuracy.
Speed
• Modern computers run millions and
billions of instructions in a second.
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Characteristics of Computer
Reliability
• High speed.
• Provided accurate data, it should output correct data.
• Results should be reliable.
Automation
• To be able to schedule tasks to be performed without human intervention.
• Procedures that are executed one after another in an automated manner.
Diligence
• Free from tiredness.
• No fatigue.
• No lack of concentration.
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Characteristics of Computer
Versatility
• Should be able to be used in multiple areas:
Scientific research
Medicine
Multimedia
Astronomy
Agriculture and many more.
Memory
• Stores huge amounts of data, from GBs to hundreds of TBs
Personal Computer
• Also called PC or desktop computer.
• Screen separated from the case containing mother
board and power supply.
• Mouse, keyboard and other external peripherals.
• Several categories including:
Tower model
Desktop model
Laptop and Notebook
Tablet
Hybrid computer
Personal digital assistant (PDA) and more.
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Types of Computer
Wearable Computer
• Computer devices strapped to human body, e.g.
Smart watches
Devices used for augmented memory
Devices used for immediate access to important
data.
Devices used to take notes.
Microcomputer
• A standard personal computer
• Consists of CPU, RAM, Modem, sound card
and video card etc.
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Types of Computer
Server Computer
• Run server software to respond to clients.
• Powerful, capable of responding to several clients.
Mainframe Computer
• Powerful computers
• Multiple user interfaces
• Reliability, availability, serviceability.
• Applied where processes are to be done
with no downtime.
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Types of Computer
Mini Computer
• Mid range computers.
• Small computers with most of the features of large
computers.
• Smaller than mainframe and larger than
microcomputers.
• Mostly used as server computers.
PDP-8, a minicomputer from the 1960s
Workstation
• Comparatively powerful computer for
individual use.
• More capable and faster than PC.
• Used for processor and memory
extensive tasks.
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Types of Computer
Super Computer
• A very powerful computer or a collection of several computers acting as a single
computer.
• Very powerful.
• Used to solve problems where the primary constraint is processing speed.
• Used in nuclear research, weather forecasting, Bitcoin mining and more.
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Generations of Computer
A new release of computer hardware because of advancement in technology is
referred to as “Generation”. Since 1946, there have been five known generations of
computers, Generation 1 through 5.
First Generation: 1946 – 1959
• Vacuum tubes were used for memory and circuitry for CPU
• Very expensive.
• Batch processing operating systems.
• Used punch cards, paper tape and magnetic tape.
• Machine language.
• Slow and Unreliable.
• Very large size.
• Power intensive
• Examples:
ENIAC
EDVAC
IBM-650 IBM-650
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Generations of Computer
Second Generation: 1959 – 1965
• Transistors were used instead of vacuum tubes.
• Comparatively reliable.
• Comparatively lesser power intensive.
• Faster than first generation computers.
• Machine and assembly languages.
• Examples include IBM 1620, CDC 1604 and UNIVAC 1108.
IBM-1620
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Generations of Computer
Third Generation: 1965 – 1971
• Transistors were replaced by IC’s (integrated circuits).
• An IC has several transistors, resistors and capacitors integrated together.
• More reliable and faster.
• Generated lesser heat.
• Expensive
• Lesser power consumption.
• High level languages like FORTRAN and COBOL.
• Examples:
IBM-370/168
TDC-316
IBM-360
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Generations of Computer
Fourth Generation: 1971 – 1980
• VLSI (very large scale integrated) circuits based computers.
• Smaller in size.
• Faster and reliable.
• Advanced networking.
• Easily available.
• Comparatively less expensive.
• Examples:
DEC 10
PDP 11
CRAY-1
PDP 11
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Generations of Computer
Firth Generation: 1980 – onward
• ULSI (ultra large scale integrated) circuits.
• Microprocessor chips with up to ten million electronic elements.
• Artificial intelligence.
• Natural language processing.
• Parallel processing.
• User friendly interfaces.
• Multimedia support.
• Low price.
• Powerful.
• Smaller in size and lesser heat generation.
• Examples: Modern day PC’s, laptops, smartphones, mainframe and super
computers.
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Applications of Computer
Computer has evolved as a mean of solving various problems in human society.
From the earliest form of computer to modern day supercomputer, it has affected
the society in several ways. Computer is in use in various fields that include:
Management
Banking
Industry
Engineering
Satellite
Astronomy
Travelling
Traffic control
Medicine
Research
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Social Impact of Computer Age
Positive Impacts
• Very Fast and efficient data processing in small time.
• Large storage within a small place.
• Multi-tasking and multi-processing.
• Easy access to data.
• Security and privacy to sensitive data.
• Results with no or less errors.
Negative Impacts
• Highly expensive hardware and software.
• Highly skillful individuals required to operate a system.
• Data piracy.
• Rise in unemployment.
• Damage to storage devices causes huge data loss.
• Several threats to data security.
• Rapidly changing technology.
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References