Word Sanctified High

School
Computer Course

Grade 12
• Introduction to Computer

What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic machine that collects information, stores it,
processes it according to user instructions, and then returns the result.

A computer is a programmable electronic device that performs arithmetic and

logical operations automatically using a set of instructions provided by the user.
This means we have several computers in our
possession daily.
What are some
computers we
carry daily?
 History of Computer
People used sticks, stones, and bones as counting tools before computers were
invented. More computing devices were produced as technology advanced and
the human intellect improved over time. Let us look at a few of the early-age
computing devices used by mankind.

1. Abacus
Abacus was invented by the Chinese around 4000 years ago. It’s a
wooden rack with metal rods with beads attached to them. The abacus
operator moves the beads according to certain guidelines to complete
arithmetic computations.
2. Napier’s Bone
John Napier devised Napier’s Bones, a manually operated calculating
apparatus. For calculating, this instrument used 9 separate ivory strips
(bones) marked with numerals to multiply and divide. It was also the first
machine to calculate using the decimal point system.
 History of Computer
3. Pascaline
Pascaline was invented in 1642 by Biaise Pascal, a French mathematician and philosopher. It
is thought to be the first mechanical and automated calculator. It was a wooden box with
gears and wheels inside.

4. Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz wheel

In 1673, a German mathematician-philosopher named Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz improved
on Pascal’s invention to create this apparatus. It was a digital mechanical calculator known as
the stepped reckoner because it used fluted drums instead of gears.

5. Difference Engine
In the early 1820s, Charles Babbage created the Difference Engine. It was a mechanical
computer that could do basic computations. It was a steam-powered calculating machine
used to solve numerical tables such as logarithmic tables.
 History of Computer
6. Analytical Engine
Charles Babbage created another calculating machine, the Analytical Engine, in 1830. It was a mechanical
computer that took input from punch cards. It was capable of solving any mathematical problem and storing
data in an indefinite memory.

7. Tabulating machine
An American Statistician – Herman Hollerith invented this machine in the year 1890. Tabulating Machine
was a punch card-based mechanical tabulator. It could compute statistics and record or sort data or
information. Hollerith began manufacturing these machines in his company, which ultimately became
International Business Machines (IBM) in 1924.

8. Differential Analyzer
Vannevar Bush introduced the first electrical computer, the Differential Analyzer, in 1930. This machine is made
up of vacuum tubes that switch electrical impulses in order to do calculations. It was capable of performing 25
calculations in a matter of minutes.
 History of Computer
9. Mark I
Howard Aiken planned to build a machine in 1937 that could conduct massive
calculations or calculations using enormous numbers. The Mark I computer was
constructed in 1944 as a collaboration between IBM and Harvard.

History of Computer Generation Computer

The word ‘computer’ has a very interesting origin. It was first used in the 16th century for a
person who used to compute, i.e. do calculations. The word was used in the same sense as a
noun until the 20th century. Women were hired as human computers to carry out all forms
of calculations and computations.
By the last part of the 19th century, the word was also used to describe machines that did
calculations. The modern-day use of the word is generally to describe programmable digital
devices that run on electricity.
 Since the evolution of humans, devices have been used for calculations for thousands of years. One
of the earliest and most well-known devices was an abacus. Then in 1822, the father of
computers, Charles Babbage began developing what would be the first mechanical computer. And
then in 1833 he actually designed an Analytical Engine which was a general-purpose computer. It
contained an ALU, some basic flow chart principles and the concept of integrated memory.,

Then more than a century later in the history of computers, we got our first electronic computer for general
purpose. It was the ENIAC, which stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. The inventors of
this computer were John W. Mauchly and J.Presper Eckert.
And with times technology developed and the computers got smaller and the processing got faster. We got our
first laptop in 1981 and it was introduced by Adam Osborne and EPSON.purposestime
 Generations of
Computers
In the history of computers, we often refer to the advancements of modern
computers as the generation of computers. We are currently in the fifth generation
of computers. So let us look at the important features of these five generations of
computers.

1st Generation: This was from the period of 1940 to 1955. This was when machine
language was developed for the use of computers. They used vacuum tubes for
the circuitry. For the purpose of memory, they used magnetic drums. These
machines were complicated, large, and expensive. They were mostly reliant on
batch operating systems and punch cards. As output and input devices, magnetic
tape and paper tape were implemented. For example, ENIAC, UNIVAC-1, EDVAC,
and so on.
 Generations of
Computers
2nd Generation: The years 1957-1963 were referred to as the “second generation
of computers” at the time. In second-generation computers, COBOL and FORTRAN
are employed as assembly languages and programming languages. Here they
advanced from vacuum tubes to transistors. This made the computers smaller,
faster and more energy-efficient. And they advanced from binary to assembly
languages. For instance, IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600, and so forth.

3rd Generation: The hallmark of this period (1964-1971) was the development of the
integrated circuit. A single integrated circuit (IC) is made up of many transistors,
which increases the power of a computer while simultaneously lowering its cost.
These computers were quicker, smaller, more reliable, and less expensive than their
predecessors. High-level programming languages such as FORTRON-II to IV, COBOL,
and PASCAL PL/1 were utilized. For example, the IBM-360 series, the Honeywell-6000
series, and the IBM-370/168.
 Generations of
Computers
4th Generation: The invention of the microprocessors brought along the fourth
generation of computers. The years 1971-1980 were dominated by fourth-
generation computers. C, C++ and Java were the programming languages utilized
in this generation of computers. For instance, the STAR 1000, PDP 11, CRAY-1,
CRAY-X-MP, and Apple II. This was when we started producing computers for home
use.
5th Generation: These computers have been utilized since 1980 and continue to be
used now. This is the present and the future of the computer world. The defining
aspect of this generation is artificial intelligence. The use of parallel processing and
superconductors are making this a reality and provide a lot of scope for the
future. Fifth-generation computers use ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration)
technology. These are the most recent and sophisticated computers. C, C++,
Java,.Net, and more programming languages are used. For instance, IBM, Pentium,
Desktop, Laptop, Notebook, Ultrabook, and so on.
Why is computer called Information Processing Machine?
Computer is an electronic machine which generates information by providing raw data
according to the prescribed sequence of instructions. It can also store the data and.
information for future use. So, it is called information processing machine.
Mention any four characteristics of computer.
1. High speed
2. Accuracy
3. Diligence
4. Versatility
What are the limitations of a computer
1. It has no intelligence of its own.
2. It can't change its processing steps itself.
3. It has no feelings.

List the abilities that every computer

1. Accept the data and instructions from the user.
2. Process the data according to the given set of instructions.
3. Give the result of its processing for the user.
4. Store the result permanently according to the requirement of the user.
"Garbage - In - Garbage - Out
The result produced by a computer is totally dependent on the data given by the user.
If input data is incorrect then the output will be incorrect or undesirably. In computer
terminology, it is called "Garbage - In - Garbage - Out"

Father of computer science.

Charles Babbage is considered as the father of computer.

Who is known as the first computer programmer & Why?

Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace is known as the first computer programmer because she
suggested Charles Babbage to use binary number system for programs and data to be
fed into the Analytical Engine.
What is computer system?
The computer along with various hardware units and software that makes the
computer work is known as computer

The main unit of computer system are as follows:

1. Input unit
2. Processing unit
3. Output unit
4. Storage unit
 Types of
Computers
•Analog Computers
– Analog computers are
built with various
components such as gears
and levers, with no
electrical components. One
advantage of analogue
computation is that
designing and building an
analogue computer to
tackle a specific problem
can be quite
straightforward.
 Types of Computers

•Digital Computers – Information in digital computers is represented in discrete form,

typically as sequences of 0s and 1s (binary digits, or bits). A digital computer is a system or
gadget that can process any type of information in a matter of seconds. Digital computers
are categorized into many different types. They are as follows:

1. Mainframe computers – It is a
computer that is generally utilized by
large enterprises for mission-critical
activities such as massive data
processing. Mainframe computers were
distinguished by massive storage
capacities, quick components, and
powerful computational capabilities.
Because they were complicated systems,
they were managed by a team of systems
programmers who had sole access to the
computer. These machines are now
 Types of Computers

2. Supercomputers – The most powerful

computers to date are commonly referred to as
supercomputers. Supercomputers are enormous
systems that are purpose-built to solve complicated
scientific and industrial problems. Quantum
mechanics, weather forecasting, oil and gas
exploration, molecular modeling, physical
simulations, aerodynamics, nuclear fusion research,
and cryptoanalysis are all done on supercomputers.
 Types of Computers

3. Minicomputers – A minicomputer is a type of

computer that has many of the same features and
capabilities as a larger computer but is smaller in
size. Minicomputers, which were relatively small
and affordable, were often employed in a single
department of an organization and were often
dedicated to a specific task or shared by a small
group.

4. Microcomputers – A microcomputer is a
small computer that is based on a microprocessor
integrated circuit, often known as a chip. A
microcomputer is a system that incorporates at a
minimum a microprocessor, program memory, data
memory, and input-output system (I/O). A
microcomputer is now commonly referred to as a
personal computer (PC).
 Types of Computers

5. Embedded processors – These are miniature

computers that control electrical and mechanical
processes with basic microprocessors. Embedded
processors are often simple in design, have limited
processing capability and I/O capabilities, and need
little power. Ordinary microprocessors and
microcontrollers are the two primary types of
embedded processors. Embedded processors are
employed in systems that do not require the
computing capability of traditional devices such as
desktop computers, laptop computers, or
workstations.
Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
Can you name any
computer part?
 Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
1. The computer case or system unit 2. Motherboard 3. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

This component holds all of the physical The motherboard is the main board The CPU or central processing unit
parts of a computer system. mounted directly inside the computer is basically like the brain of
case. All other cards plug directly into computer systems. It processes all
the motherboard, hence its name. the information on a
computational level.
 Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
4. Random Access Memory (RAM) 5. Graphics Card or Graphics 6. Sound Card
RAM is a data storage device that can Processing Unit (GPU) Most of the time, the sound chip built into
provide fast read and write access. the motherboard is used for audio output.
RAM is volatile memory, meaning it A Graphics card is an output device But, if you are a sound enthusiast or
loses all the stored data when power is that processes the data from the prefer high-quality audio output while
lost. motherboard and sends the playing a game, you might be inclined to
appropriate information to the use a sound card.
computer’s screen for display.
 Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
8. Solid State Drive (SSD)
7. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 9. Power Supply Unit (PSU)
A hard drive is still found in many PCs to this day. A An SSD is also a type of hard drive,
mechanical drive’s purpose is to store all your
information for retrieval at any time. but it doesn’t have any moving A power supply unit mounts inside the
bits. It consists of a bank of flash computer case. It converts the AC mains
Apart from storing information for your computer, memory that can hold a reasonable supply from the power cord from a wall
hard disk drives also function as a boot drive to run
the operating system (OS) from it. You can install
amount of information. socket and supplies the correct DC
operating systems of many different kinds While the capacity of SSDs is voltages to all the parts of a computer.
depending on your needs. increasing, they aren’t cost-
effective for storing large amounts.
A mechanical drive has a cheaper
gigabyte-to-dollar ratio.
 Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
10. Monitor or Visual Display Unit 11. Keyboard
(VDU) 12. Mouse
A monitor is an output device to A keyboard is an input device that
visualize the graphics information sent is one of the ways to communicate A mouse is an input device that allows the
from the computer’s GPU with a computer. Typing a key from user to move a pointer displayed on the
the keyboard sends a small portion monitor and experience a more intuitive
of information to tell it which key interaction with computer systems.
was pressed.
 Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
10. Monitor or Visual Display Unit 11. Keyboard
(VDU) 12. Mouse
A monitor is an output device to A keyboard is an input device that
visualize the graphics information sent is one of the ways to communicate A mouse is an input device that allows the
from the computer’s GPU with a computer. Typing a key from user to move a pointer displayed on the
the keyboard sends a small portion monitor and experience a more intuitive
of information to tell it which key interaction with computer systems.
was pressed.
 Parts Of A Computer And Their
Functions (All Components)
Common peripheral parts for computers
Some common peripherals connect to a computer and extend their
usefulness.