2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Evolution of the digital computer
* The Mechanical Era
* The Electronic Era
• Computer Motherboard
• Peripheral Devices
* What is a peripheral device?
* Peripheral Devices – Pros and Cons
* Peripheral Devices – Pros and Cons of Certain Devices
• Diagnosing and Troubleshooting
* Troubleshooting Steps
• Representation of a computer
• Afro-American in Business
* Biography of Garrett Morgan
3. EVOLUTION OF THE DIGITAL COMPUTER
A computer is a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of
arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the
computer can solve more than one kind of problem. The first electronic digital computers were
developed between 1940 and 1945 in the United States and the United Kingdom. Originally
they were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern
personal computers (PCs). Conventionally, a computer consists of at least one processing
element, typically a central processing unit and some form of memory. The processing
element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that
can change the order of operations based on stored information. Peripheral devices allow
information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result of operations saved and
retrieved. There were two eras of the evolution of digital computers; the mechanical era and
the electronic era.
4. MECHANICAL ERA
• There were many attempts to create a m/c that could help to perform various
calculations. In 1823, Charles Babbage tried to build a mechanical as computing
m/c capable of performing automatic mathematical calculations. This was
designed to compute tables of functions such as logs functions etc. In 1830’s
Babbage made a more powerful mechanical computer. This m/c was designed to
perform any mathematical calculation automatically.
• It could perform addition etc. It had a memory unit. Its capacity was 1000
numbers, each no. consisting of 50 digits. The m/c was a programmable m/c. It
had mechanism for enabling a program to change the sequence of its operations
automatically. In the late 19th century punched cards were commercially used.
Soon IBM was formed in 1924. Konand Zuse developed a mechanical
computer, the Z1, in 1938 in Germany.
5. ELECTRONIC ERA
• The first electronic computer using. Valves were developed by John V. Atanas off in the
late 1930’s. It contained add/subtract unit. It was relatively a small computer and used
about 300 valves. Its memory unit consisted of capacitors mounted on a rotating drum. It
used a no. of I/O devices including a card punch and a card reader. The first popular
general electronic digital computer was the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Interpreter and
calculator). John von Neumann was the consultant of the ENIAC project.
• The ENIAC used a high speed memory to store both programs as well as data during
program execution. Neumann and his colleagues designed and build the IAS Computers.
It used RAM consisting of a cathode ray tube. The transistors were invented in 1948 at
AT&T bell laboratories. Slowly they replaced Vacuum tubes. IC’s were first
introduced, ie, designed and fabricated in 1958-59. The examples of computers using IC’s
are-: IBM – 370 & PDP-8. In 1970 LSI chips were introduced is form of memory units.
Computers built in 1970’s & onwards used micro process and other LSI, VLSI and ULSI
components.
6. COMPUTER MOTHERBOARD
A computer motherboard is the main printed circuit board found in computers and other
expandable systems. It holds many of the crucial electronic components of the system, such
as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and it also provides connectors for other
peripheral devices. Motherboard specifically refers to a PCB with expansion capability - the
board is the "mother" of all components attached to it, which often include sound card, video
cards, network cards, hard drives or other forms of persistent storage, TV tuner cards, cards
providing extra USB or Firewire slots, and a variety of other custom components. I can point
out that motherboards are usually intended for building new computers compatible with the
exemplars, many motherboards offered additional performance or other features and were
used to upgrade the manufacturer's original equipment.
7. WHAT IS A PERIPHERAL DEVICE?
• A peripheral is generally defined as any auxiliary device such as a computer
mouse, keyboard, hard drive, etc. That connects to and works with the computer in some
way. Other examples of peripherals are expansion cards, graphic cards, computer
printers, image scanners, tape drives, microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital
cameras. RAM – random access memory - straddles the line between peripheral and
primary component; it is technically a storage peripheral, but is required for every major
function of a modern computer and removing the RAM will effectively disable any modern
machine. Many new devices such as smartphones and tablet computers have interfaces
which allow them to be used as a peripheral by a full computer, though they are not host -
dependent as other peripheral devices are. According to the most technical definition, the
only pieces of a computer NOT considered to be peripherals are the central processing
unit, power supply, motherboard, and computer case.
8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES - PROS AND CONS
Pros Cons
• You may chat with another person on • Takes up a USB/other port
the same network • Can add up in price
• Good for internet browsing • Multiples of the same peripheral
• Very Portable devices may cross paths if settings are
not set up correctly (Confused user)
• Ability to enter information into • If wireless, there may be very slight
databases quickly, easily and neatly interference on some rare frequency
using keyboard or typewriter-style channels
software (Microsoft word, Notepad)
• If not wireless, Can add wires to a bulk
• Can enable shortcuts of other wires which make the area
messy
9. PERIPHERAL DEVICES-PROS AND CONS OF DEVICES
• Digital Cameras
• Digital cameras are wonderful tools. They capture a moment and save time by recording footage that doesn't need
to be processed. Images are easily transferred from the camera to the computer or another storage device. Imaging
software used with digital photos can also introduce a variety of special effects. A downside is that memory space
can be easily used up. You may need to purchase memory cards or additional memory space to replace memory
used up by your photos.
• Scanners
• A scanner uses a lighting system to capture images and documents. Scanners can capture clear and concise
images, with better defined pixels than a digital camera. On the other hand, scanners also use a huge amount of
memory space. And though scanners capture a detailed image, it is not always at the right angle or position, which
in turn calls for more review and editing.
• Keyboard
• Keyboards are the most effective way to enter information on the computer screen. Since a keyboard inputs
information based on an individual binary code, it efficiently inputs words and numbers. A keyboard is generally part
of a computer purchase, whether in desktop or laptop form. Keyboards can be ergonomically unsafe, however, and
can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Mouse
• The mouse is an input device that allows the user to pinpoint and input items with a cursor. The right and left buttons
also allow the user to click and select items on the computer screen. A more high -tech mouse can be maneuvered
without the ball and has a sensor laser to detect motion. A disadvantage of the mouse is that the repeated back and
forth motion over time also may cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
10. DIAGNOSING AND TROUBLESHOOTING
• Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many
different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine
the cause and effect relationships. In systems engineering and computer science, diagnosis is
typically used to determine the causes of symptoms, mitigations for problems and solutions to
issues.
• Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or
processes. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem so that it can be
solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again. Troubleshooting is
needed to develop and maintain complex systems where the symptoms of a problem can have
many possible causes. Troubleshooting is used in many fields such as engineering, system
administration, electronics, automotive repair, and diagnostic medicine. Troubleshooting
requires identification of the malfunction(s) or symptoms within a system. Then, experience is
commonly used to generate possible causes of the symptoms. Determining which cause is
most likely is often a process of elimination - eliminating potential causes of a problem.
Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process
to its working state.
11. TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS
1. Identify the problem
2. Establish a theory
3. Divide and conquer
4. Repair the problem
5. Test the solution
6. Provide feedback to the user
The most important step when troubleshooting a computer is to “Divide and Conquer”.
This step is critical, and I'm glad that Schmidt was able to explain them. You need to
separate the problem into logical areas to isolate it. Doing so can take quite a bit of
discipline and logic. For example, ask yourself, is this problem a software issue, or a
hardware issue? This question alone begins to isolate the problem and divide between the
two primary issues that cause a PC or mobile device to fail. Once you determine which
side the problem lies on, you can then start focusing on specific solutions.
12. REPRESENTATION OF A COMPUTER
• A computer is an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary
form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program. Computers range from the very
small to the very large. Some are capable of doing millions of calculations in a single
second, while others may take long periods of time to do even the most simple calculations. But
theoretically, anything one computer is capable of doing, another will also be able to do. Given
the right instructions, and sufficient memory, a computer found in a wristwatch should be able to
accomplish anything a supercomputer can — although it might take thousands of years for the
wristwatch to complete the operation. Computers can be generally classified by size and power
as follows, though there is considerable overlap: personal computer; workstation; minicomputer;
mainframe; and supercomputer. At one time, computers were extremely large, and required
enormous amounts of power. This made them useful only for a small amount of tasks —
computing trajectories for astronomical or military applications, for example, or code breaking.
Over time, with technological advances, they were scaled down and their energy requirements
lowered immensely. This allowed the power to be harnessed for a staggering array of uses. The
computer is one of the most powerful innovations in human history. With their use, people are
suddenly able to perform a staggering amount of computations at dazzling speeds. Information
can be crunched, organized, and displayed in the blink of an eye. As technology continues to
advance, the computer will no doubt become even more pervasive — and in many cases, likely
even less recognizable.
13. AFRO-AMERICAN IN BUSINESS
• The African-American in business that I chose is Garrett Morgan. Garrett Morgan relates
to the topic of computers because he invented the traffic signal which uses sophisticated
computerized control and coordination systems that self adjust to minimize delay to
people using the road. So it basically uses computers for a different reason; to ensure that
traffic moves as smoothly as possible and that pedestrians are protected when they cross
the roads. Garrett Morgan has made many contribution to business and technology
throughout his life. Garrett Morgan was constantly experimenting to develop new
concepts. Though the traffic signal came at the height of his career and became one of
his most renowned inventions, it was just one of several innovations he
developed, manufactured, and sold over the years. He invented the gas mask, traffic
signal, a zig-zag stitching attachment for manually operated sewing machines, hair dying
ointments, and the curved-tooth pressing comb. As word of Garrett Morgan's life-saving
inventions spread across North America and England, demand for these products grew.
He was frequently invited to conventions and public exhibitions to demonstrate how his
inventions worked.
14. BIOGRAPHY OF GARRETT MORGAN
The son of former slaves, Garrett Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky on March 4, 1877. His
early childhood was spent attending school and working on the family farm with his brothers
and sisters. While still a teenager, he left Kentucky and moved north to Cincinnati, Ohio in
search of opportunity, Although Garrett Morgan's formal education never took him beyond
elementary school, he hired a tutor while living in Cincinnati and continued his studies in
English grammar. In 1895, Morgan moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he went to work as a
sewing machine repair man for a clothing manufacturer. News of his proficiency for fixing
things and experimenting traveled fast and led to numerous job offers from various
manufacturing firms in the Cleveland area. In 1907, the inventor opened his own sewing
equipment and repair shop. It was the first of several businesses he would establish. In
1909, he expanded the enterprise to include a tailoring shop that employed 32 employees.
The new company turned out coats, suits and dresses, all sewn with equipment that Garrett
Morgan himself had made. In 1920, Garrett Morgan moved into the newspaper business when
he established the Cleveland Call. As the years went on, he became a prosperous and widely
respected business man, and he was able to purchase a home and an automobile. Indeed it
was Morgan's experience while driving along the streets of Cleveland that inspired him to
invent an improvement to traffic signals.
