Unit 1

Basics of Computer
 1.1 Basics of Computer
• The term generation refers to the period of development
of the the computer.
• Computer generation is change happened in the
development of computers.
• The evolution of computer is divided into generations.
Initially, the term generation is used distinguish hardware
technology.
Nowadays, generation includes the changes in hardware
and software.
 Cont…
• There are five computer generations. These are:
A. First generation D. Fourth generation
B. Second generation E. Fifth generation
C. third generation
1.1.1. The First Generation (1940-1956)

• The earliest generation of computer is the first generation.

• The first generation of computer used a vacuum tube for
electric circuit.
• The vacuum tube was a basic component of the first
generations of computer.
• The first generation was large and very expensive.
• It needs high power of electricity and generates a lot of heat.
 Cont….
•The first generation of computers used
vacuum tube as a core of technology.
•Vacuum tube is an electronic device that
controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum.
B. Second generation
•The second generation of computer used
transistor as the basic component.
•The transistor, as shown in Figure 1.4
below, was invented in 1947 but was not
seen widely spread to be used in
computers until the late 1950s.
The main features of the second generation computers were as follows:
• 1. They used transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
• 2. They were smaller in size as compared to the first generation
computers.
• 3. They generated lesser heat.
• 4. They were more reliable and faster than the first generation
computers.
• 5. They used core memories, magnetic tapes and disks.
• 6. They used lesser electricity.
• 7. They could be programmed by using machine as well as
assembly
• la nguage.
 C. The Third Generation (1964-1971)
•The third generation of computer
is a computer that emerged due
to the development of the
integrated circuit (IC).
•The development of the IC was the
characteristic of the third
generation of computers.
•An IC refers to a small electronic
device developed from
semiconductor materials.
•An integrated circuit is the core
of technology that is used in the
third generation of computer,
The main features of the third generation computers were as
follows:
1. They used integrated circuits
2. They had a small size as compared to the second
generation computers.
3. They consumed less electricity.
4. They were faster and reliable than the second
generation computers.
5. They supported high level language.
D. The Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

•The fourth generation of computer used very

large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit.
•VLSI is the current level of computer
microchip containing hundreds of thousands
of transistors.
•It is more powerful, compact sized, reliable,
and affordable generation of computer.
• Figure 1.7. The Fourth Generation of Computer

• Figure 1.7. The Fourth Generation of Computer

• Very large scale integrated circuit is the current level
of computer microchip containing hundreds of
thousands of transistors.
The main features of the fourth generation
computers are:
1. They contain high-speed microprocessors.
2. They contain huge storage volumes in the
form of magnetic and optical storage.
3. They contain main memories up to GBs
(Gigabytes).
4. They are companied by great developments
in the fields of networks.
 C. The Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)

•The fifth-generation of computer uses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications such as
robotics, game playing and natural language
processing.
•The goal of the fifth generation of computer
is to create machines that can learn and
organize themselves.
•The development of the fifth
generation of computer is
intended to solve complex
problems.
•Artificial intelligence refers intelligence in
machines that humans and mimic their
actions.
• Fifth Generation of computer
The main features of the Fifth generation computers are:

• have chips or CPU

• Decreasing cost of software
• Decreasing cost of hardware
• Artificial Intelligence
• Multi point input-output
• Large storage facility
• Auto decision
• High speed
 1.2. Functions of Computer

There are four basic functions of computer. These are:

• Input
• Process
• Output
• Storage
 1.2.1. Input
• Input is a process of inserting data into a computer.
• A computer takes data from the user in order to
process and store it.
• For example, to find the product of numbers, the
computer first takes the numbers as an input from a
user.
• The data can be entered into computer maybe by
typing from keyboard, taking picture, using cameras
and recording audios.
 1.2.2. Processing
• Processing is making some operations on the entered data.
• For example, a computer can take two numbers and calculate
their sum.
• You can also take photo editing as an example. You can make
change
• in colors, borders and brightness of your photo to make it
more beautiful.
• Computer can take the students’ marks as input and calculate
the average, select top students as well as total marks.
 1.2.3. Output
• Output is displaying the result obtained from
processing to the users.
• The output can be displayed through monitor, speaker
and printer.
• For example, the printer can print the output of roster
processing on paper.
 1.2.4. Storage
• Computer is used to store data. The storage can
be a computer’s internal or external storage.
• Storage usually occurs on a hard drive, flash drive,
and a compact disk (CD).
• For example, you can save your photo on your
mobile memory, videos on CD, and your roster on
computer hard drive.
1.3. Types of Computer
 1. Microcomputer
•Microcomputer is a small sized computer used
for general purpose.
•Microcomputers are the most widely used type
of computers.
•They are small and fit on desktops, have varying
capacity and easy to handle.
•Microcomputers are referred to as Personal
Computers (PC).
•They have video display unit for output
purpose.
•Data can be entered through the
keyboard and stored on different
storage devices such as removable disk,
compact Disk (CD) and external hard
disk.
• Personal computers (PCs) are the popular form of
such computers used by different individuals as
well as organizations.
• The PCs are classified as:
A. Desktops: These are the computers whose
case sits on a desk with its keyboard in front of
it and its monitor often on top.
There are also desktop computers, which do not
have separate system unit and monitor. Both sys-
tem unit and monitor are integrated in one device
 B. Portables:
•These PCs are so small that they can be
placed in a handbag.
The difference between portables and
desktops is that:
• portables can be carried while traveling
unlike desktops.
 The portables are also
classified as:
i. Laptops: These small sized computers having
the same power as a desktop.
 They are small enough to carry and designed
for use outside an office
ii. Notebooks: These are smaller than a laptop and
designed to overcome the drawbacks of a laptop.
 They have the size of a notebook but they are
as powerful as a desktop,
iii. Tablet: is a portable personal computer with a
touch screen.
• A tablet is typically smaller than a notebook
computer, but larger than a smartphone.
• A smartphone is a portable device that combines
mobile telephone and computing functions into
one unit.
• The touch screen display operates by a finger
instead of the mouse, touchpad, and keyboard of
larger computers.
2. Minicomputer
Minicomputers are larger and more powerful
than most microcomputers, but smaller and less
powerful than mainframe computers.
They are small and general-purpose computers.
They are used for processing data and analyzing
results of experiments.
They are also used for controlling and
monitoring production processes.
3. Mainframe Computer
Mainframe computers are large and
powerful computers that are
physically larger than microcomputer and
minicomputer.
These computers have processors with
faster instruction processing speeds.
Mainframe computers process data at
very high rates of speed, measured in
millions of instructions per second.
Mainframes are designed for many
users and can be used at a time and
process vast amounts of data quickly.
For example,
banks, insurance companies, manufacturers,
and airlines are typical users of these
computers
2.
4. Supercomputer
Supercomputer is a high-speed processing
computer.
A supercomputer is characterized by
fastest speed, and most powerful
capacity.
This computer is capable of processing
trillions of instructions per second.
Supercomputers are largely used by
research organizations, military
defense systems, national weather
forecasting agencies, large corporations,
and aircraft manufacturers.
2.
2.
II. Types of computer based on their
methods of operation
Based on methods of operation, this category of computers
has three
types:
1. Analog Computer
2. Digital Computer and
3. Hybrid Computer
A. Analog Computer
Analog computer is a type of computer that
was used to process continuous data.
 Analog computer was used in the 1950s and
1960s.
It has limited memory and store less amount of
data.
It works with continuous data rather than
discrete values.
For example, analog computers used to
process continuous values such as
speed, temperature, pressure and
current.
Analog computers directly accept the data from
the measuring device without first converting it
into numbers and codes.
Speedometer and mercury thermometer are
examples of analog computers.
2.
B. Digital Computer
Digital computer was designed to perform
calculations and logical operations at high
speed.
Digital computers transmit the data on a
discrete value.
It accepts the raw data as an input in the
form of digits and processes it with programs
stored in its memory to produce the output.
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C. Hybrid Computer
Hybrid computer has characteristics of both
analog and digital computer.
 It is fast like analog computer and accurate like
digital computers.
 It can process both continuous and discrete
data.
It accepts analog signals and converts them into
digital form before processing.
A processor used in a petrol pump that converts
the measurements of fuel flow into quantity and
price is an example of hybrid computer.
Similarly , it is also used in airplanes, hospitals,
and scientific applications.
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III. Types of computer based on their
purpose of application
Computers can be used for
different purposes.
Based on their application, they
are classified as special purpose or
general-purpose computers.
A. Special Purpose Computers
Special purpose computers are
designed to solve a single
problem.
Examples:
The public telephone box
Road Traffic control and safety system
Ticket machines (for example in grocery
and super market.)
Pocket-calculators and
Counters.
B. General Purpose Computers
General-purpose computers are
designed to solve a variety of problems.
They are programs or set of
instructions designed to solve a
problem.
General-purpose computers are more
flexible and versatile.
Examples include:
Microcomputers
Minicomputers
Supercomputers.
1.4. Characteristics of Computers
Characteristics of computer indicate
the qualities, limitations and
features of a computer.
Major characteristics of computer are:
Speed : A computer works very fast and at high
speed.
Accuracy: Computers perform calculations with
100% accuracy.
Diligence: A computer is free from tiredness.
Versatility : refers to the capability of a computer
to perform different kinds of works with same
accuracy and efficiency.
Reliability : A computer is reliable as it gives
consistent result for similar set of data.
Automatic: Computer performs all the tasks
automatically.
Power of remembering: Computer has the power
of storing any amount of information or data.
No IQ: Computer cannot do any work without
instruction from the user. IQ (Intelligence Qua -
tient).
No Feeling: Computer does not have feelings
and emotions. Although it has memory, it
cannot work like a human brain.
Storage: Computer has a capacity to store a large
amount of data.
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