Computer basics

What is a Computer?
•A computer is an electronic device
that operates under the control of a
set of instructions that is stored in its
memory unit. A computer accepts
data from an input device and
processes it into useful information
which it displays on its output device.
ICT1101/FND1120–
FundamentalsofComputing
2

How Computer Works?
Input Process
Store
Output
ICT/FND1101-Fundamentalsof
Computing
3

Basic Functions of a
Computer
• Input – Data and instruction fed into the
computer
• Process – Converting data or the
comparisons and calculations
made on data
• Output – result from the process (Information)
• Storage – store the results for later retrieval
Computing
4

Basic Parts of Computer
Computer
Hardware
Input
Devices
Processing
Output
Devices
Storage
Software Live ware
Computing
5

Terminology
• Data – Data is raw facts and figures. It can be text, numbers,
pictures or symbols. Data is often meaningless or in
disorganized form.
• Eg: - Consider the number 19800706. What do you think it is?
Computing
6
Employee
number ID/
Registratio
n number
A password
or secret
code

• Information – Information is processed data which has a
meaning.
• Process - the collection and manipulation of items of data to
produce meaningful information.
• Instruction - an instruction is a segment of code that contains
steps that need to be executed by the computer processor. For
example, if you were to ask the computer to draw a square it
would need a set of instruction in order to complete the task.
• Programme - A set of instructions that a computer system uses
to process data.
• Peripheral devices - A computer device, such as a CD-ROM drive
or printer, that is not part of the essential computer, i.e., the
memory and microprocessor. Peripheral devices can be external
-- such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor or scanner -- or
internal, such as a CD-ROM drive, CD-R drive or internal modem.
Internal peripheral devices are often referred to as integrated
peripherals.
Computing
7

Characteristics Of Computer
• Speed
• Accuracy
• Diligence
• Versatility
• Power of Remembering
• No IQ
• No Feeling
Computing
8

…CharacteristicsofComputer…
Speed…
• Fast device
• Work done at enormous speed as compare
to human beings
• Speed of computer is measured in terms of
microseconds (10-6), nanoseconds(10-9)
and even picoseconds (10-12)
• Shortly 3 to 4 million simple arithmetic
operations per seconds
Computing
9

Accuracy…
• Works with the highest Accuracy
• Accuracy depends upon the “Design of
Computer”
• Errors occurred are mostly “Human Errors”
rather than “Technological Errors”
• Human Errors are like wrong command,
inaccurate data input etc
Computing
10

Diligence…
• Free from “Monotony”
• Free from “Tiredness”
• Free from lack of “Concentration”
• Speed and Accuracy of first calculation
will be the same as millionth calculation
in a row
Computing
11

Versatility…
• Can perform all kind of job simultaneously
• Can do diverse nature of works like
calculation, graphic work, searching etc at
the same time
Computing
12

Power of Remembering…
• Unlike human being Computer can store
tremendous/huge amount of data
• Can recall required data even stored years
before in no time
• Doesn't differentiate “Important” & “Not
Important”
• Loss or Deletion of data is done by User
Computing
13

No IQ…
• Not a thinking machine
• Not Intelligent
• Never does a task at its own
• Follow human Instructions
Computing
14

No Feeling…
• Follow human/programmer
Instructions
• Never decides at its own will
• No taste
• No knowledge
• No emotion
Computing
15

History Of Computers
• ABACUS was invented in china (3000 BC )
Adding Machine was
invented by Blaise Pascal in
1642
Computing
16

• Analytical Engine was invented by Charles
Babbage (Farther of Computer) in 1833
The logical structure of the modern
computer is considered to have
come from this invention.
Computing
17

• FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS (1940 – 1956)
1)First generation computers were based on
vacuum tubes.
2)The operating systems of the first
generation computers were very slow
3) They were very large in size.
4) Production of the heat was in large
amount in first generation computers.
5) Machine language was used for
programming.
6) First generation computers were
unreliable.
7) They were difficult to program and use.
Eg: UNIVAC, EDVAC, EDSAC
AND ENIAC
Computing
18

SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS (1956 - 1963 )
1)Vacuum tubes replaced with
Transistors .
2) smaller than the first generation
3) faster in comparison with the first
generation computers.
4) generated less heat and were less
prone to failure.
5) less computational time.
6) Assembly language was used for
programming.
7) faster input/output devices.
Eg: IBM 7000, NCR 304, IBM
650, IBM 1401, ATLAS and Mark
III
Computing
19

THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS (1964 -1971)
1)IC was used instead of transistors
2) smaller in size and cheaper than
second generation computers.
3) fast and more reliable.
4) High level language was developed.
5) Magnetic core and solid states as
main storage.
6) reduced computational time and had
low maintenance cost.
7) Input/Output devices became more
sophisticated.
Eg: PDP-8, PDP-11,
ICL 2900, IBM 360
and IBM 370
Computing
20

FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS (After 1971 – present)
1)microprocessor-based systems.
2) cheapest among all the computer
generation.
3) Improved speed, accuracy and
reliability
4) Many high-level languages were
developed in the fourth generation
such as COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC,
PASCAL and C language.
5)A Further refinement of
input/output devices was developed.
6) Networking between the systems
was developed.
Eg: IBM 4341, DEC 10,
STAR 1000, PUP 11 and
APPLE II
Computing
21

1) The fifth generation computers use super large
scale integrated chips.
2) They will have artificial intelligence.
3) They will be able to recognize image and graphs.
4) Fifth generation computer aims to be able to
solve highly complex problem including decision
making, logical reasoning.
5) They will be able to use more than one CPU for
faster processing speed.
6) Fifth generation computers are intended to work
with natural language.
FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS (After 1971 – present)
Computing
22

Types Of Computers
• The size and the capabilities of computers are used as the
main criterion to classify computers into following types.
1. Super computer
• The fastest and most expensive computers.
• cost over a hundred million pounds to build
and very few organizations can afford to
purchase one.
• They are mainly used by large universities
who do a lot of research projects such as
scientific research, weather modeling etc and
by large organizations such as
pharmaceutical companies for drug research
or by the military for weapons research.
Computing
23

2. Mainframe Computers
.
• large, powerful computers that
can carry out many different
tasks
• They are slower than a
supercomputer but they are far
less expensive.
• Mainframes can execute billions
of instructions per second and
can process large amounts of
data simultaneously.
• They are used by large companies such as:
Utility companies e.g. gas and electricity suppliers to
calculate customer bills, Bank, Airlines, Police
Computing
24

3. Server
• A computer that has
been optimized to
provide services to
other computers over a
network.
• Servers usually have
powerful processors,
lots of memory and
large hard drives
Computing
25

4. Personal Computers
• The desktop PC has a central processing unit
housed in a metal or plastic case (often called a
tower unit). A keyboard and mouse are usually
used to input data and a monitor to output the
data.
• Modern PCs are quite powerful. They can carry out
millions of calculations per second.
Running office applications such as word processors,
spreadsheets and databases
For CAD design such as designing kitchens
Editing videos Creating and playing music
Accessing the Internet for research, work
and entertainment
Computing
26

5. Laptops
• A portable computer that
includes a battery to
provide power for some
specific period of time
Computing
27

6. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
• developed as an electronic organizer.
They aimed to replace diaries,
'to do‘ lists and address books.
• Many PDAs can now also access the
Internet and can be used to research
web pages, send emails or even play
games. Some even double up as
phones.
• Palmtops are very similar to PDAs in
their use. The main difference is that
Palmtops have a built in keyboard.
Computing
28

7. Embedded Computers
• An embedded computer is a
single chip that contains all of
the elements that are essential
for any computer i.e. RAM,
ROM, CPU, Input, Output and
Clock
•Another term often used for an
embedded computer is a 'micro
controller'. This is because the
main purpose of an embedded
computer is to control something.
All of the following contain an embedded computer:
Telephones, televisions, cameras, washing machines,
microwave cookers, dishwashers,cars
Computing
29

Thank You
Computing
30

Computer basics

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (17)

Similar to Computer basics

Similar to Computer basics (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Computer basics