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Fundamentals of Computer: Introduction, Characteristics, and Development

This book provides an introduction to computers, covering their characteristics, development, and classification. It explores the evolution of computing technology and the different generations of computers. Suitable for undergraduate courses in commerce and management.

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Fundamentals of Computer: Introduction, Characteristics, and Development

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  1. Fundamentals of Computer: For undergraduate courses in commerce and managementAuthor: ITL Education Solutions LimitedISBN:9788131733349 Available through: Parama Publishers & Distributors Ltd.Momtaz Plaza (3rd Floor) House 7 Road 4 Dhanmondi Dhaka 1205 BangladeshT +88 02 9611971-5 9661141 9662282

  2. Introduction

  3. Introduction • A computer is • an electronic machine • devised for performing calculations and controlling operations that can be expressed either in logical or numerical terms. • Development of civilization • Fingers and pebbles for computing • computing needs also grew • Harnessing the power of computers

  4. Characteristics Of Computers • Speed • Millions of instructions per second. 1 MHz (Megahertz) is one million instructions per second. • Accuracy • Capable of doing only what it is instructed to do • faulty instructions~ GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) • Diligence • No tiredness and/or lack of concentration • Reliability • Some predetermined standard for operation without any failure • Hardware level- built-in diagnostic capabilities

  5. Characteristics Of Computers … • Storage Capability • Store large amounts of data • Recall almost instantaneously • The main memory~ relatively small • The secondary storage devices • such as magnetic tape or disks. • brought into the main memory for processing • Versatility • Perform multiple tasks simultaneously • Play music and print a document and ...

  6. Characteristics Of Computers … • Resource Sharing • Not isolated machines! • Computers today have the capability to connect with each other • Apart from device sharing, data and information can also be shared among groups of computers, thus creating a large information and knowledge base.

  7. Development Of Computers • Chronology • Fingers • Pebbles • Sand Tables • Abacus • Napier Bones • Slide Rule • Pascaline • Stepped Reckoner • Punch Card System • Difference Engine • Analytical Engine • Hollerith's Tabulator • Other related dev. • vacuum tube • differential analyzer Growth in commerce and other human activities

  8. Some Early Computers • MARK-I Computer 1937+ • IBM Sponsored • ABC Computer 1939 • Binary arithmetic, regenerative memory, logic • Colossus 1944 • 1800 vacuum tubes, programmable • ENIAC 1946 • 18000 vacuum tubes, 160 KW, 30 tons • EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC • Different technology

  9. Generations Of Computers • First Generation (1940–56): Vacuum Tubes • Memory- magnetic drums (data, programs) • Input- punched cards and paper tape • Output was displayed in the form of printouts • Large size, expensive to operate, unreliable, lack of standard in programming • ENIAC, EDVAC, and UNIVAC. • Second Generation (1956–63): Transistors • More portable. Still required air conditioning • Much smaller than vacuum tubes • Assembly language- used mnemonics • Computational time of these computers was reduced to microseconds from milliseconds

  10. Generations Of Computers … • Third Generation (1964–early 1970s): IC • Integrated circuit (IC) technology • Faster- microseconds to nanoseconds • More portable and reliable • Cheaper- less power and generated less heat, maintenance cost was quite low • Commercial production- easier and cheaper • Fourth Generation (Early 1970+): Microprocessors • Size? AC Required? Portability? Reliability? • Cost?- production? maintenance? • Interconnection of computers- resource sharing • Internet

  11. Generations Of Computers … • Fifth Generation (Present And Beyond): Artificial Intelligence • Mega Chips- Super Large Scale Integrated (SLSI) • Millions of electronic components on a single chip • approximate the memory capacity of the human mind • Parallel Processing • multiple central processing units • Artificial Intelligence (AI) • simulate and reproduce human behavior • including thinking, speaking and reasoning • AI comprises a group of related technologies • expert systems (ES), natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, vision recognition, and robotics.

  12. Classification Of Computers

  13. Classification Of Computers- Purpose • General-purpose Computers • Perform a range of tasks, Store numerous programs • Generally lack speed and efficiency • Used in your schools and homes • Specific-purpose Computers • Designed to handle a specific problem or to perform a single specific task • Instructions (specific task) built into the machine • Circuits are redesigned for another type of task • Lacks versatility • Fast and efficient • Airline reservations, satellite tracking, air traffic control.

  14. Data handling- Analog Computers • Works on the principle of measuring • measurements obtained are translated into desired data • Electrical parameters, such as voltages, resistances or currents, to represent the data • Does not deal directly with the numbers. • measure continuous physical magnitudes (such as temperature, pressure, and voltage), which are analogous to the numbers under consideration. • Petrol pump may have an analog computer that converts the flow of pumped petrol into two measurements – the quantity of petrol and the price for that quantity. • They give approximate results • Very fast in operation as all the calculations are done in ‘parallel mode • The accuracy of analog computers is less

  15. Data handling- Digital Computers • Data represented in a digital form • process data (including text, sound, graphics, and video) into a digital value (in 0s and 1s) • Analog quantities must be converted into digital quantity before processing • Output is digital • The digital output has to be converted into analog quantity if required. • Higher accuracy at a faster rate • The desktop PC at your home is a classic example of digital computer.

  16. Data handling- Hybrid Computers • Measuring feature of an analog computer plus the counting feature of a digital computer • Computational purposes- analog components • Storage- digital memories • Uses analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters • Broadly used for scientific applications, various fields of engineering and in industrial control processes.

  17. Functionality- Micro Computers • Small, low cost digital computer • Consists of a microprocessor, a storage unit, an input channel, and an output channel • all of which may be on one chip inserted into one or several PC boards • Requires a power supply and connecting cables, appropriate peripherals (keyboard, monitor, printer, disk drives, etc.), an operating system and other software programs can make a complete system • Originally designed for individual users only • Now powerful to support businesses functions • Networked together- serve multiple user

  18. Functionality- Micro Computers … • Desktop Computer • Most common micro computer • Intended for stand-alone use by an individual. • Typically consist of a system unit, a display monitor, a keyboard, internal hard disk storage, and other peripheral devices • Laptop • Portable computer- travelling, built in battery • Also known as notebooks • Smaller computers enclosing all the basic features of a normal desktop computer • Expensive as compared to desktop computers

  19. Functionality- Micro Computers … • Hand-held Computers • Also called Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) • Also known as palmtop computers • Stored in a pocket, used by the user is holding it • Uses a pen or electronic stylus vs. keyboard • Can be connected to printer or a disk drive to generate output or store data • Limited memory and are less powerful

  20. Functionality- Mini Computers • Also called a mid-range computer • Higher performance than micro computers- process and store less data than a mainframe • Often connected to a mainframe in order to perform the auxiliary operations. • Size~ of a two-drawer filing cabinet • Designed to meet the computing needs for several people simultaneously in a small to medium size business environment. • Multi-user systems - capable of supporting from 4 to about 200 simultaneous users • Centralized storehouse for a cluster of workstations or as a network server. • These are also used for real-time controls and engineering design work. High-performance workstations with graphics requirement.

  21. Functionality- Mainframe Computers • Mainframes are the second largest (in capability and size) of the computer family • high-volume, processor-intensive computing • Centralization- It consists of a high-end computer processor, with related peripheral devices, capable of supporting large volumes of data processing, high performance on-line transaction processing systems, and extensive data storage and retrieval. • However, a mainframe can usually execute many programs simultaneously at a high speed, whereas super computers are designed for single processes.

  22. Functionality- Super Computers • Special purpose machines, which are specially designed to maximise the numbers of FLOPS (Floating Point Operation Per Second) • More than one gigaflop/sec is considered a super computer • Range of 400–10,000 MFLOPS • For solving scientific and engineering problems • Contains a number of CPUs that operate in parallel to make it faster. • Super computers help in many applications such as information retrieval computer-aided design. • Can resolve complex mathematical equations

  23. The Computer System • Input Unit • Central Processing Unit (CPU) • Output Unit • Memory/Storage Unit Intelligent thinking machine?

  24. The Computer System … • Control unit and the registers

  25. Types Of Input Devices • Keyboard • Pointing Devices • Mouse, Trackball, Joystick,touch-screen, digitizer pen • Camera • Scanners- different types • OCR software (Optical Character Recognition) • OMR software (Optical Mark Recognition) • MICR (Mag. Ink Character Reader) • Bar code reader- multiple types

  26. Types Of Output Devices • Hard copy Vs. Soft copy • Printers- • Dot matrix, daisy wheel, drum, ink-jet, laser • Plotters- pen based (Slow, high res.) • flat, drum • Monitor • Resolution, DPI, Refresh rate • LCD and CRT and …

  27. Types Of Memory • Primary Memory • RAM, ROM • Secondary memory • Floppy/USB • Hard disk • Magnetic tape

  28. Applications Of Computer • Science • Education • Medicine and Health Care • Engineering/Architecture/Manufacturing • Entertainment • Communication • Business Application • Publishing • Banking

  29. Assignments IOA, IA, GA, Case !@#$

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