The document defines computers and outlines their history, characteristics, capabilities, limitations, and classifications. It discusses how computers have evolved from early mechanical devices through each generation of electronic computers. Computers are defined as programmable machines that can store, retrieve, and process data according to programmed instructions. The document outlines the key developments in computer technology from early mechanical counting devices through modern personal computers and supercomputers.

1. COMPUTERS
AND
COMMUNICATIONS

2. OBJECTIVES:
• Define what is computer.
• Identify different characteristics of computer
• Recognize the history of computer
• Classify the limitations and capabilities of computer
• Differentiate the classifications of computer

3. DEFINITION OF COMPUTER
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu3R5it4cQs

4. DEFINITION OF COMPUTER
Computer is a programmable machine.
Computer is an electronic device that
manipulates information, or data. It has the
ability to store, retrieve, and process data.
Computer is a machine that manipulates
data according to a list of instructions
(program).
Computer is any device which aids humans
in performing various kinds of computations
or calculations.

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER
• SPEED : In general, no human being can compete to solving the complex computation, faster
than computer.
• ACCURACY : Since Computer is programmed, so what ever input we give it gives result with
accurately.
• STORAGE : Computer can store mass storage of data with appropriate formate.
• DILIGENCE : Computer can work for hours without any break and creating error.
• VERSATILITY : We can use computer to perform completely different type of work at the same
time.
• POWER OF REMEMBERING : It can remember data for us.
• NO IQ : Computer does not work without instruction.
• NO FEELING : Computer does not have emotions, knowledge, experience, feeling.

6. HISTORY OF COMPUTER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqg6LxGCz44

7. HISTORY OF COMPUTER
1. Tally sticks
 A tally stick was an ancient memory aid
device to record and document
numbers, quantities, or even messages.
2. Abacus
 is a mechanical device used to aid an
individual in performing mathematical
calculations.
3. Napier’s Bones
 Allowed the operator to multiply, divide
and calculate square and cube roots by
moving the rods around and placing them
in specially constructed boards.
4. Slide Rule
 Used primarily for – multiplication – division – roots
– logarithms – Trigonometry
 Not normally used for addition or subtraction.
5. Pascaline
 It was its limitation to addition and subtraction.
6. Stepped Reckoner
 The machine that can add, subtract, multiply and
divide automatically.

8. HISTORY OF COMPUTER
7. Jacquard Loom
 It is an automatic loom controlled by
punched cards.
8. Arithmometer
 The machine could perform the four
basic mathematic functions.
 The first mass-produced calculating
machine.
9. Difference Engine and Analytical
Engine
 It an automatic, mechanical calculator
designed to tabulate polynomial
functions.
10.First Computer Programmer
 In 1840, Augusta Ada Byron suggests to
Babbage that he use the binary system.
 She writes programs for the Analytical
Engine.
11.Scheutzian Calculation Engine
 The first printing calculator
12.Tabulating Machine
 To assist in summarizing information and
accounting.

9. HISTORY OF COMPUTER
13.Harvard Mark 1
 The first electro-mechanical
computer
14.Z1
 The first programmable computer
15.Atanasoff-Berry Computer
(ABC)
 It was the first electronic digital
computing device
16.ENIAC
 It was the first electronic general-
purpose computer.
17.UNIVAC 1
 The UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer
1) was the first commercial computer.
18.EDVAC
 The First Stored Program Computer
19.The First Portable Computer
 Osborne 1 – the first portable computer.
20.The First Computer Company
 The first computer company was the Electronic
Controls Company.

10. THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRST
GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (1940S-1950S)
• Main electronic component – vacuum tube
• Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
• Programming language – machine language
• Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat.
• Speed and size – very slow and very large in size (often taking up entire room).
• Input/output devices – punched cards and paper tape.
• Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM 701, etc.
• Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum tube computers produced between
1942 and1963.

11. THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SECOND
GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (1950S-1960S)
• Main electronic component – transistor
• Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
• Programming language – assembly language
• Power and size – low power consumption, generated less heat, and
smaller in size (in comparison with the first generation computers).
• Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with
the first generation computers).
• Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
• Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, etc.

12. THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THIRD
GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (1960S-1970S)
• Main electronic component – integrated circuits (ICs)
• Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
• Programming language – high level language (FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL,
C, etc.)
• Size – smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second generation computers
(they were called minicomputers).
• Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the second
generation computers).
• Input / output devices – magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.
• Examples – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.

13. THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF FOURTH
GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (1970S-PRESENT)
• Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor.
• VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
• Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
• RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element) used in computers that temporary
stores of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the computer is turned off).
• ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in computers that permanently stores data and
programs (non-volatile: its contents are retained even when the computer is turned off).
• Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.).
• A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
• Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
• Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the third generation
computers).
• Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
• Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
• Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc.

14. THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF FIFTH GENERATION OF
COMPUTERS (THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE)
• Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses the
Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) technology and parallel
processing method.
• ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
• Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks
simultaneously.
• Language – understand natural language (human language).
• Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
• Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability
(in comparison with the fourth generation computers).
• Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
• Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or
touchpad), touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice /
speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
• Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.

15. WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF A
COMPUTER?
🥴 Lack of common-sense
0️⃣ Zero IQ
😶 No Feeling
😵 Computers can’t Decide
💡 Computers can’t Express their Ideas
🏃 Computers can’t Implement
🥴 Computers can’t Think
📥 Depend on the user input.
👨💻 An expert user can work on a computer

16. WHAT ARE THE CAPABILITIES OF A
COMPUTER SYSTEM?
🚗 Speed
🎯 Accuracy
🔘 Automation
🃏 Versatility
🚀 Diligence
⚖️ Reliability
⚡ Quick Decision
💾 Storage Capacity
🥴 Multitasking
🥴 Power of Remembering

17. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
• PC (Personal Computer) or Micro-Computers
It is a single user computer system having a moderately
powerful microprocessor. It is termed as a computer that
is equipped microprocessor as its CPU.
• Workstation
It is also a single user computer system, similar to the
personal computer, however, has a more powerful
microprocessor.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/classification-of-
computers

18. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
• Mini-Computer
It is a multi-user computer system, capable of
supporting hundreds of users simultaneously.
• Main Frame
It is a multi-user computer system, capable of
supporting hundreds of users simultaneously.
Software technology is different from
minicomputer.
• Super-Computer
It is an extremely fast computer, which can execute
hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/classification-of-
computers

19. REFERENCES
• http://oer.nios.ac.in/wiki/index.php/CHARACTERISTICS_OF_COMPUTERS
• https://opentextbc.ca/computerstudies/chapter/classification-of-generations-of-
computers/
• https://quicklearncomputer.com/what-are-the-limitations-of-computer/
• https://quicklearncomputer.com/what-are-the-capabilities-of-a-computer/
• https://www.tutorialspoint.com/classification-of-computers