Introduction to

Computer
Risala Tasin Khan
Learning

► Is best done by doing.

► DO NOT let your friends help you. You WILL fail your lab if you do.
► If you help someone, NEVER take over the keyboard. Try to give the smallest
of hints.
Course Structure
Weekly
► General lectures from
► Theory Lecture Computer Fundamentals and ICT
(Tuesday & Thursday) ► M. Lutfar Rahman
► M. Shamim Kaiser
► M. Arifur Rahman
► M. Alamgir Hossain
Grading
► Homework will be assigned but not
graded. ► Attendance 10%
► Quizzes will be announced/ ► Quiz 30%
unannounced. ► Final 60%
Other Policies and Information

► Coming Late to Lectures

Teachers reserve the right to not allow late comers
► Missed Quizzes, Exams, Petitions
NO MAKE-UP QUIZ WILL BE HELD……
► A word about Plagiarism
DON’T CHEAT! Consequences can be grave
Common Examples
► Not keeping your eyes on your own answer sheet during a Quiz or an Exam
► Submitting identical homework
► Copying a paragraph from the internet and including it in your homework under your own
name
► Taking someone else’s code, changing variable
names in it and submitting it as your own
 Lecture 1.1
Introduction to
Computers

Risala Tasin Khan

Assistant Professor
IIT,JU
Computer System

► Is a collection of related
components that have all been
designed to work together
smoothly.

Computer System.ppt
Components of Computer

Hardware - the physical components of the

computer, including the computer itself
and matched peripherals.
Software - the programs that run the computer.

Data - are facts, or unorganized raw materials,

which can be made up of words, numbers,
images, or sounds.
Humanware – User of computer.
Computer System.ppt
HARDWARE
Computer System Components

► Input - getting data into the computer

Input Devices
– enable users to get
data into the
computer for
processing

Computer System.ppt
Computer System Components

► Processing - transforming data into information

Microprocessor is
simply a small
processor
fabricated on a chip
of silicon

Computer System.ppt
Computer System Components

► Output – displaying the information

Output devices – enable

users to see and/or
produce processed
informations

Computer System.ppt
Computer System.ppt
What is a Software?

► Software – refers to any program that tells the computer system what to do.

Computer System.ppt
Categories of Software

► System Software – programs that take control of the PC on start-up, and then
play a central role in everything that happens within a computer system by
managing, maintaining, and controlling computer resources.
► Application Software – designed and created to perform specific personal,
business, scientific processing tasks.

Computer System.ppt
System Software

Operating System (OS)

Monitors and controls all input / output and processing
activities within a computer system. It is a program that
controls the PC hardware and the operation of all other
programs

Computer System.ppt
PC Platforms

Platform is defined by a processor and an operating

system.

Software created to run a specific platform

won’t run on other platforms.

Most personal computer users choose the

Wintel platform, which combines one of the
Microsoft Windows operating system with an
Intel-compatible processor.
Computer System.ppt
Application Software

► Word Processing
– a text editing program, which allows the user to
type, compose and correct manuscripts without
the need to re-type, when errors changed.

Computer System.ppt
Application Software

Types of Word Processors

► WordStar
► Word perfect
► Microsoft Word

Computer System.ppt
Application Software

► Electronic Spreadsheet
– is a program replacing the traditional
financial modeling tools that offer modern
improvements in ease of creating, editing, and
using of financial models and graphical
representations.

Computer System.ppt
Application Software

Kinds of Electronic Spreadsheet

► Lotus 1-2-3
► MS EXCEL
► QUATTRO
► FRAMEWORK

Computer System.ppt
HUmanware

► Without user interaction, most computers would be useless

machines.
► Humanware always refers to the people who develop or use
computer system
► A system analyst
❑ A system Analyst is the humanware who selects and configures
computer systems for an organization or business.
❑ His/her job typically begins with determining the intended
purpose of the computers.
❑ This means the analyst must understand the general objectives
of the business as well as what each individual user’s job requires
Humanware (cont….)

► A programmer:
► A programmer requires a comprehensive knowledge of
programming languages.
► This position doesn’t require the broader understanding of the
structure and inner working of an application.
► A Computer Operator:
► A computer operator is an individual who generally performs a
series of well-defined tasks to keep computer operating at
maximum efficiency.
► The efficiency of a computer installation depends on the quality
and ability of the operational staff.
 Characteristics of Computers

► Speed: The computer processes data at an extremely fast rate, at

millions of instructions per second. The speed of a computer is
measured in MHz (Megahertz),that means one million instruction
per second
► Accuracy: The computers are very accurate. The level of accuracy
depends of instructions and the types of machine being used.
► Diligence: Computer, being a machine, does not suffer from the
human traits of tiredness and lack of concentration.
► Reliability: Generally reliability is the measurement of the
performance of a computer, which is measured against some
predetermined standard for operation without any failure.
Characteristics of Computers(Cont.)

► Storage Capability: Computer can store large amount

of data and can recall the required information almost
instantaneously.
► Versatility: Computers are quite versatile in nature. It
can perform multiple tasks simultaneously with equal
ease.
► Resource Sharing: In the initial stages of development,
computers used to be isolated machine. With the
tremendous growth in computer technologies, computers
today have the capability to connect with each other.
Classification of Computers
(based on purpose)
► Server:
► A computer on a network that manages network resources.
► Different types server, for example:
► File Server: A computer dedicatedly used to store files.
► Print Server: A computer that manages one or more printers
► Network Server: a computer that manages network traffic.
► Database Server: A computer that processes database queries.
► Workstations:
► Workstations are computers that are intended to serve one or more
users.
Classification of Computers
(based on Generation)
► In computer terminology, the word generation is described as a stage of
technological development or innovation.
► A major technological development that fundamentally changed the way
computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful
and more efficient and reliable devices characterize each generation of
computer.
► According to the type of “processor” installed in a machine, there are five
generations of computers.
First Generation (1940-56)

► Characteristics:
These computers were based on vacuum tube technology
These were the fastest computing devices of their time
These computers were very large, and require a lot of space for installation
Since thousand of vacuum tubes were used, they generated a large amount of heat.
Therefore ac was essential
Non-portable and very slow equipments
They were very expensive to operate and used a large amount of electricity
Unreliable and prone to frequent h/w failure
Machine language was used.These computers were difficult to program and use
Example:
ENIAC, EDVAC and UNIVAC
First generation ALU module
Second Generation (1956-63)

► Characteristics:
These machine were based on transistor technology
These were smaller as compared to first generation computers
The computational time of these computers was reduced to microseconds to
milliseconds
More reliable and less prone to h/w failure
More portable and generated less amount of heat
Assembly language was used to program computers. Hence, programming became
more time-efficient and less cumbersome
Still required air conditioning
Example:
PDP-8, IBM 1401 and IBM 7090
 The first Transistor

Revolutionary replacement for electronic vacuum valves

 Ferrite Memory

1024 bit
(128 bytes)
2 μS

Fast, low cost technology for central memories

Third Generation (1964-early 1970s)

► Characteristics:
These computers were based on integrated circuit (IC) technology.
Easily portable and more reliable than the second generation
Able to reduced computational time from microsecond to nanoseconds
These devices consumed less power and generate less heat.
Size of these computers were smaller as compared to previous computers.
Since h/w rarely failed, the maintenance cost was quite low
Extensive use of high level languages became possible
Commercial production became easier and cheaper.
Manual assembling of individual components was not required, so it reduced the large requirement
of labor and cost
Example:
NCR 395 and B6500
Fourth Generation (Early 1970s-till date)

► Characteristics:
Fourth generation computers are microprocessor based systems
These computers are very small
Fourth generation computers are cheapest among all the other generations
They are portable and quite reliable
Generates negligible amount of heat, they do not require ac
H/w failure is negligible, so minimum maintenance is required
Production cost is very low
GUI and pointing devices enable users to learn to use the computer quickly
Interconnection of computers leads to better communication and resource sharing
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond): AI

► The dream of creating a human-like computer that would be capable of reasoning

and reaching a decision through a series of “what-if-then” analyses has existed
since the beginning of computer technology. These are the objective of creating
the fifth generation computers.
► Three characteristics can be identified with the fifth generation computers:
Mega Chips: Fifth generation computers will use Super Large Scale Integrated (SLSI) chips,
which will result in the production of microprocessor having millions of electronic
components on a single chip. Mega chips may enable computer to approximate the memory
capacity of human mind.
Parallel Processing: A computer using parallel processing accesses several instructions
at once and works on them at the same time through use of multiple central processing
units.
Artificial Intelligence: It refers to a series of related technologies that tries to simulate
and reproduce human behavior, including thinking, speaking and reasoning.
Classification of Computers
(based on Size)
► Mainframe Computers:
► These computers are very large, often filling an entire room.
► They can store enormous information, can perform many task at
the same time, can communicate with many users at the same
time and are very expensive.
► Mainframe computers usually have many terminals connected to
them.
► These terminals look like small computers but they are only
devices used to send and receive information from the actual
computer.
Cont…

► Minicomputer:
► These are minimized computers.
► In size and power, minicomputers lie between workstations and
mainframes.
► Minicomputers are multiprocessing system capable of supporting
many users simultaneously.
► Medium and small businesses typically use these computers.
Cont…

► Microcomputers:
► These are the most common type of computers used today..
► The term “microcomputer” was introduced with the advent of
single chip microprocessors.
► Microcomputer includes:
► Desktop computer
► Game console
► Note-book computer.
► Tablet computer.
► Smart phone
► Programmable calculator.
Cont…

► Supercomputer:
► These are the fastest type of computers.
► They are very expensive and are employed for specialized
applications that require immense amount of mathematical
calculations. For example: weather forecasting requires
super computers.
► The main difference between super computer and
mainframe computer is that a super computer channels all
its power into executing a few programs as fast as possible
whereas a mainframe computer uses its power to execute
many programs concurrently.