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The history of computer started about 2000 years ago with the invention of the abacus.
Merchants used it as a form of computing sales. In 1642, Pascaline was invented by
Blaise Pascal— a device used to perform simple addition. A German mathematician-
philosopher named Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz made an improved version of the
Pascaline. In 1673, he made a device called the Stepped Reckoner. Around 1820 to
1830, Charles Babbage designed the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine. He
was later known as the “Father of Modern Computer”. Come 1840, Herman Hollerith
invented a new system called Tabulating Machine. This system was used to process
information that has been punched into a punched card. The first electronic computer
was introduced in the United States in 1930 by Vannevar Bush—The Differential
Analyzer. Vacuum tubes are used in this device for it to perform calculations. IBM and
Harvard created a partnership to build the first programmable computer in 1944—The
Mark 1. The idea for this computer was developed by Howard Aiken in 1937. The first
generation computers made its way in 1946 to 1959. These computers used vacuum
tubes as the basic component. Then, second generation computers came along in 1959
to1965. This generation is also known as the era of transistor computers as it used
transistors as its main component. Next, the computers made in 1965 to 1971 used
integrated circuits instead of transistors; this was the start of the third generation
computers. After that, in 1971 to 1980, the fourth generation computers emanated.
These computers used very large scale integrated circuits “VLSI”; a chip containing
millions of transistors and other circuit elements. Programming languages like C, C++
were used in this generation. The computers known today, and the computers that were
created around 1980, are the fifth generation computers. The VLSI technology was
replaced by ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration”, allowing the production of
microprocessor chips with ten million electronic components.
What is a Computer?
A computer is a machine that can gather, process, output, and store data and
information. It also performs calculations and operations by inputting instructions on a
software or hardware program.
In basic definition, a computer system is the complete, working computer. It includes the
hardware, software, and other peripheral devices needed in order to have a fully
functional computer.
Classifications of Computer
Input Unit – Used by the user to transfer data into the information processing
system. Input devices data are transformed into binary codes. Examples are
mouse, keyboard, etc.
Memory or Storage Unit – Used for storing data during, before, and after
processing.
Output Unit – It is responsible for the data projected in screens or speakers. A
common output device is a monitor.
Central Processing Unit – The main chip of a computer. Can also be defined as
the main brain of the computer system.
Input – The process of transforming data that the computer can understand.
Associated with recording data and making it available for processing.
Processing – Involves different operations and manipulation techniques that
convert data into information.
Output – The process of converting information into a form that human can
comprehend.
Storage – Area that contains the processed data and instructions needed to
perform the data processing.