ICT 7 LECTURE

What is computer?

A computer is an electronic device, which can do the following:

 accepts and stores data input;

 processes the data input; and
 generates the output in a required format

A computer is an automatic machine that has the ability to perform a given task automatically. Once
a program is given to the machine and stored in its memory, the program and instruction can control
its execution without human interaction.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER

Computer has become a part of human lives. Some people wake up in the morning with the
sound of their alarm clock; some people preheat their breakfast with the use of microwave, and some
people drive their car going to work. These situations prove that computer is in every aspect of our daily
life, whether you are a student, a businessperson, or a professional. It has helped people do their tasks in
a more convenient, easier, faster, and more efficient way.

ADVANTAGES OF USING A COMPUTER

Here are some of the advantages of using a computer.

1. Faster Communication
2. Information Explosion
3. Accessible Entertainment
4. Creative and Innovative
5. Efficient and Productive
6. Handiness in Education
7. Improves the Health Sector

DISADVANTAGES OF USING A COMPUTER

1. Increased Dependency
2. Estrangement
3. Deadly Weapons
4. High Rate of Unemployment

THE FOUR GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

First Generation: Vacuum Tubes (1940-1956)

The first computer systems used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory,
and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. These computers were very expensive to operate and
in addition to using a great deal of electricity, the first computers generated a lot of heat, which was often
the cause of malfunctions.
 First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language
understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. It
would take operators days or even weeks to set-up a new problem. Input was based on punched cards
and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.
The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UNIVAC
was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.

Second Generation: Transistors  (1956-1963)

The world would see transistors replace vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers.
The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the
late 1950s. 
The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster,
cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Though the
transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast
improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input
and printouts for output.

From Binary to Assembly

Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic,
or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level
programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions
of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their
memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.
The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry.

Third Generation: Integrated Circuits (1964-1971)

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.
Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically
increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers
through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to
run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.
Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper
than their predecessors.

Fourth Generation:  Microprocessors (1971-Present)

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated
circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now
fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the
computer—from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.
In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the
Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of
life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors.
As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which
eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the
development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

Different Machines and Inventors

ABACUS
  also called a COUNTING FRAME
 a calculating tool used primarily in parts of Asia for performing arithmetic processes
 the first computing device developed by the Chinese
 made up of beads or pebbles arranged in rows that represent values to facilitate calculation

NAPIER BONES
 also called RABDOLOGY
 invented by JOHN NAPIER - a scottish mathematician and astronomer
 it can perform multiplication and division
 the mechanical aid to multiplication

Oughtred’s Slide Rule

 developed by WILLIAM OUGHTRED
 it consists of two movable rulers placed side by side
 sliding the rulers can do multiplication and division

PASCALINE
 also known as Rotating Wheel Calculator
 the first mechanical adding and subtracting machine
 invented by Blaise Pascal, a french mathematician

LEIBNIZ CALCULATOR
 more advanced than Pascaline because it is capable of performing the four basic arithmetic
operations
 it can also calculate square roots
 also known as STEP WHEEL MACHINE
 1nvented by Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz, a german mathematician and philosopher

JACQUARDS LOOM
 It is made of utilized metal plates with punched holes to control weaving patterns
 It is a mechanical loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard

DIFFERENCE ENGINE
 it is an automatic, mechanical calculator designed to tabulate polynomial functions
 it was designed by Charles Babbage for us in the production of mathematical tables
ANALYTICAL ENGINE
 Designed by Charles Babbage and intended to be the first general-purpose computer.
 The design provided for a storage unit and program control including branching and looping

CENSUS TABULATOR
 A device designed by Herman Hollerith that punched data into cards and tabulated the collected
data
 Earliest known device to use electrical power
 Employed a new encoding scheme called Hollerith Code to record data in the form of punched
holes

MARK 1 COMPUTER/ASCC ( Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator)

 It was the first large scale automatic digital computer in USA
 It was constructed by Howard H. Aiken

ABC (Atanasoff Berry Computer)

 First electronic digital computer, but it was not programmable
 Designed by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry

ENIAC ( Electronic, Numerical Integrator and Computer)

 It was the first general purpose and programmable electronic computer
 Designed by John Presper Eckert, an electrical engineer and John Mauchly, a physicist
EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic
Calculator
 It was an early British computer
 Designed by John Von Neumann

EDVAC ( Electronic Discrete Variable

Automatic Computer
 It was one of the earliest electronic computer

UNIVAC
 Universal Automatic Computer

IBM
 International Business Machine

BASIC
 Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code

BASIC PARTS OF COMPUTER

1. Speaker is a device that is connected to the sound card of the
computer. Its main purpose is to create audio sound that can
be heard by the listener.

2. Monitor displays video and graphical information.

It controls brightness, contrast, and position, among others.
This is also known as video display unit (VDU).

3. Optical drive is sometimes called as CD/DVD drive.

It uses laser lights that can read and write data from discs.
It is also considered as one of the types of a computer
disk drive

4. Central Processing Unit (CPU) is considered as

the brain of the computer and performs all types
of data processing.

5. Printer creates a hard copy of the data from the

 Computer.

6. Card reader is a device that can read

and write data through the use of memory
card. It has a single or multiple card slots

7. Universal Serial Bus (USB) port is now being

preferred to be used for the connection of the computerwith other electronic devices such as flash
drives and the
like. It serves as a bridge to transfer data from computer
to other devices

8. Mouse lets the user give a command by manipulating the pointer

on the screen

9. Keyboard is used to input data or instruction through

pressing the keys.

10. Microphone is also known as mic. Its purpose is

to capture audio signals which can either be analog
or digital. Microphones can be used in variety of ways.
For some, it can be utilized for recording, while for
others, they use it for podcasting and conferencing

OPTIONAL PARTS OF COMPUTER

1. Web Camera can feed an actual image through a computer.
2. Headset lets the user listen privately to audio by plugging it into the computer
3. DVD can store amounts of data on one disc that has a similar size with the compact disc (CD)
4. Flash drive is a small portables storage device that is usually connected with the USB plug.
5. External hard drive sits outside the computer and is connected through a plug in cable. It is
somewhat similar with a flash drive but can store data ranging from 500 GB 2 TB.

SPEED UP

Personal Computer
The term Personal Computer (PC) was introduced in 1981. PC means a desktop microcomputer
compatible with IBM. It is called IBM because it was designed and created by International Business
Machine Company. It has the brand name IBM PC and it includes the Microsoft Windows operating
system. It is based on the microprocessor technology wherein a CPU is placed on one chip. PC is
commonly used in businesses for desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheet, data management,
and games.
The evolution of PC shows that personal computers are getting miniaturized. There is
integration between mobile phone and personal computer platform, do you notice that mobile phones
becoming like desktop computers? Mobiles are now categorized as MID (Mobile Internet Devices)
Programs called apps (applications) are also developed to makes smartphones more useful.

TYPES OF COMPUTER

 Desktop Computers can be used at home, work, school, or the library.

They have different sizes, intended to be used at a single location.
It is easy to upgrade and expand by adding new parts and accessories.
It is affordable and can be assembled easily.

 Laptop computers are compact with rechargeable batteries.

It is portable and can be carried and used in different locations.
It is also called the all-in-one computer because all its parts are
integrated in one component.

 Notebook is light, low power notebook computer. It differs from

laptop through its size, price and specifications. It has a smaller size,
cheaper price and has less processing power than a full-sized laptop.
It is also called “small form” computer.

 Tablet Computer is also known as tab or pad. It is a computer

with display, circuitry and battery in one component.
It has a touch-sensitive screen, camera, microphone, virtual pop-up keyboard,
speaker, power ports, and other features. A finger or stylus gesture can
create instructions, making computing hand held, fast and easy to use.

 Smartphones / mobile phones. These are mobile phones with advanced

computing features than a regular phone. Smartphones are built with a mobile operating system
with digital camera, media player, calendar, Wi-Fi, web browsing, reminders, and GPS
navigation.It is loaded with 3rd-party applications that enable users to browse information,
communicate, and enjoy variety of entertainment tools.

OTHER TYPES OF COMPUTERS

 Server is a computer system that is used as the central provider of data in a network. It “serves
up” information to other computers. It looks like a regular desktop but it is designed

 Game Consoles are type of computer used for playing games. It is a device programmed to
output audio and video signal to display an interactive game. It can also contain different
features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, downloadable applications, sensor movement detection and
web browsing.