FUNDAMENTALS OF

COMPUTER AND PC
TOOLS
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3 HOURS A WEEK
Characteristics of Computers
Characteristics of Computers
• Speed
• A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared
to humans while performing mathematical calculations. Computers
can process millions (1,000,000) of instructions per second.
• The time taken by computers for their operations is microseconds
and nanoseconds.
• Accuracy
• Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy. Errors may
occur due to data inconsistency or inaccuracy.
• Diligence
• A computer can perform millions of tasks or calculations with the
same consistency and accuracy. It doesn’t feel any fatigue or lack of
concentration. Its memory also makes it superior to that of human
beings.
Characteristics of Computers
• Versatility
• 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 i.e., if we give same set of input any number of times, we will
get the same result.
• Automation
• Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks
without manual intervention.
• Memory
• A computer has built-in memory called primary memory where it
stores data. Secondary storage are removable devices such as
CDs, pen drives, etc., which are also used to store data.
History of Computers
• The first counting device was used by the primitive people.
• They used sticks, stones and bones as counting tools. As human
mind and technology improved with time more computing devices
were developed.
• Some of the popular computing devices starting with the first to
recent ones are described below;
• Abacus
• Napier's Bones
• Pascaline
• Stepped Reckoner or Leibnitz wheel
• Difference Engine
• Analytical Engine
• Tabulating Machine
• Differential Analyzer
• Mark I
 Abacus
• The history of computer begins with the
birth of abacus which is believed to be
the first computer.
• It is said that Chinese invented Abacus
around 4,000 years ago.
• It was a wooden rack which has metal
rods with beads mounted on them.
• The beads were moved by the abacus
operator according to some rules to
perform arithmetic calculations.
• Abacus is still used in some countries
like China, Russia and Japan.
Napier's Bones
• It was a manually-operated
calculating device which
was invented by John
Napier (1550-1617) of
Merchiston.
• In this calculating tool, he
used 9 different ivory strips
or bones marked with
numbers to multiply and
divide.
• So, the tool became known
as "Napier's Bones. It was
also the first machine to
use the decimal point.
 Pascaline
• Pascaline is also known as Arithmetic
Machine or Adding Machine.
• It was invented between 1642 and 1644
by a French mathematician-philosopher
Biaise Pascal.
• It is believed that it was the first
mechanical and automatic calculator.
• Pascal invented this machine to help his
father, a tax accountant.
• It could only perform addition and
subtraction.
• It was a wooden box with a series of
gears and wheels. When a wheel is
rotated one revolution, it rotates the
neighboring wheel. A series of windows
is given on the top of the wheels to read
the totals.
Stepped Reckoner or Leibnitz wheel
• It was developed by a
German mathematician-
philosopher Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibnitz in 1673.
• He improved Pascal's
invention to develop this
machine.
• It was a digital mechanical
calculator which was called
the stepped reckoner as
instead of gears it was
made of fluted drums.
Difference Engine
• In the early 1820s, it was
designed by Charles Babbage
who is known as "Father of
Modern Computer".
• It was a mechanical computer
which could perform simple
calculations.
• It was a steam driven
calculating machine designed
to solve tables of numbers like
logarithm tables.
Analytical Engine
• This calculating machine
was also developed by
Charles Babbage in 1830.
• It was a mechanical
computer that used punch-
cards as input. It was
capable of solving any
mathematical problem and
storing information as a
permanent memory.
Tabulating Machine
• It was invented in 1890, by
Herman Hollerith, an American
statistician.
• It was a mechanical tabulator
based on punch cards.
• It could tabulate statistics and
record or sort data or information.
• This machine was used in the
1890 U.S. Census.
• Hollerith also started the
Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine
Company which later became
International Business Machine
(IBM) in 1924.
 Differential Analyzer
• It was the first electronic
computer introduced in the
United States in 1930.
• It was an analog device
invented by Vannevar
Bush.
• This machine has vacuum
tubes to switch electrical
signals to perform
calculations. It could do 25
calculations in few
minutes.
Mark I
• The next major changes in
the history of computer
began in 1937 when
Howard Aiken planned to
develop a machine that
could perform calculations
involving large numbers.
• In 1944, Mark I computer
was built as a partnership
between IBM and Harvard.
It was the first
programmable digital
computer.
T h a n k
Y o u