Session1-Computer Overview

Session 1
Computer Overview
Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Areas of Application
Airways Ticket booking

counter
Wake up Alarm Call 24 Hr.Complaint
Registration
Paperless money
(Credit Cards)
Banks Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1
What is a Computer?
Computer is basically a machine

meant for computing, it is made up
of many electronic and electrical
components.
What makes a computer different?
 Speed
 Accuracy
 reliability
 programmability
Understanding computing
Goes in
Data
Processor
Goes out
Information
Example of processing
Strawberry
Crush+Milk
Mixer
Milk Shake
What is a Data ?
 Data is a collection of Facts, Figures, Texts and

Numbers etc. Some typical examples of data are:

Characteristics of Data
 Data is raw, that is, data are not

very meaningful
 Requires processing to be done on
them to suit requirements.
 Gets converted into information
after processing.

What is a Process?
 Hence process can be defined as
the computation done on the data
to generate result. It could be any
arithmetic or logical operation
done on the data.
 Example
• addition
• subtraction
• multiplication
• comparisons using operators
like <,>,=

What is Information?
Hence data generated after
processing of the data is the
information.

Comparative Study Between
Data and Information
Data Information
1. A collection of facts and numbers 1. Organized and arranged data
2. Not of much use 2. Is always useful
3. Gets converted to information 3. Can also get converted to data

How The Computer Process?
The Computer needs processing instructions to

be given to it for performing the computations.
Command: The instruction given is known as a

Command.
Program: Set of Instruction .
NB: Group of many related programs is a software.

A command:
40 + 2 = 42
Data command Information

A Program:
40 + 2 = 42
40 - 2 = 38
40 * 2 = 80
Program
Command
Command, Programs,Software
Software
Program 1 Program 2
Commands Commands Commands

Input Devices
 The devices used for taking the
data from the user are termed as
input devices.
Keyboard
 A flat piece of plastic board with several
buttons arranged on it.
Mouse
 It is an ideal pointing device. It is used for
giving short instructions.

Input Devices [Contd…]
 Other Input Devices
 MICR - Magnetic Ink Character Reader
used in Banks for scanning cheque
numbers
 OCR - Optical Character recognizer or
OMR – Optical Mark Reader. used for
validating application forms for reading
any printed matter.
 Joysticks etc…

The Microprocessor
 PCBs contain no. of semiconductor chips.
Each chip has one or other electronic circuit
etched on to it. One such chip is the
microprocessor.
 The microprocessor is the heart of the
computer .
 The microprocessor is the central processing
unit.

Central Processing Unit
 The microprocessor is alternatively referred to as
a “processor”.
 it is an electronic chip that is responsible for
executing instructions stored in the Computer’s
memory.
 It consist of two basic components namely:
 Arithmetic & Logical Unit.
 Control Unit.

Arithmetic & Logical Unit
 This Component performs all the arithmetic

& logical operations of the system.
 Arithmetic operations include addition,
subtraction, multiplication & division.
 Logical operations involves comparison
operators such as greater than(>), less
than(<), equal to(=) and so on.

Control Unit
 This Component is responsible for controlling
the ALU operations.
 It directly control signals between memory,
input or output devices and the processor,
which activate the ALU to perform the
necessary operations.
 The CU gets program instructions from
memory & execute them one after the other.

Output Devices
 These devices are responsible for giving a

display of the output.
 The output could be on a
 plotter
or printer
 Monitor, VDU (Visual Display Unit.)
 Speaker, Speech synthesizer & coder etc…

Computer Memory
 The capacity of the computer to store data at

an instant and its ability to retrieve the same
data at another point of time is termed as the
computer memory.
 Memory is used to store both data and
information
 Computer‟s memory can be visualised as a
contiguous block of rectangular holes.
Dictionary of Bits and
Bytes
Hey!!! I can
understand only
0s and 1s
 Data given by the user is either decimal numbers

or alphabets. So, a step of conversion is
necessary before the inputs get accepted by the
computer.

Dictionary of Bits and Bytes contd…
Unit Short name Full Name
1 Bit Bit Binary Digit
8 Bits 1 Byte Byte
1024 Bytes 1 KB Kilo Byte
1024 KB 1 MB Mega Byte
1024 MB 1 GB Giga Byte
1024 GB 1 TB Terra Byte
1024 TB 1 PB Peta Byte
1024 PB 1 EB Exa Byte
1024 EB 1 ZB Zetta Byte
1024 ZB 1 YB Yotta Byte
1024 YB 1 Bronto Byte Bronto Byte
1024 Bronto Byte 1 Geop Byte Geop Byte
The Memory Device
 Memory is one of the most important
components of a computer system as it
stores data and instructions.
 Every memory chip contains thousands of
memory locations.
 In the computer, the data is stored in the form
of bits and bytes. A bit is the smallest storage
unit of memory. A nibble is a collection of 4
bits. Eight bits combined together to form a
single byte, which in turn represents a single
character.
The Memory Device
 Memories can be read from or written into.
Memories that can be both read & written into
are called read-write memories. Some
memories have program or data permanently
stored and are called read-only memories.
 Program and data need to be in main
memory in order to be executed or
referenced.
 Program and data not needed immediately
may be kept in off-line secondary storage
until needed.
The Main Memory
(Primary Memory)
 Broadly, the main memory can be divided into
two parts:
 RAM (Random Access Memory)
 ROM (Read Only Memory)

Random Access Memory
 The memory can be accessed from any desired
location randomly. That means without
searching the entire memory, any location can
be accessed in the same amount of time.
 The instructions and data that we input into the
computer are stored in the RAM of the
Computer.
 It is a read/write memory, so data can be both
read from and written to the RAM. It is a volatile
memory and loses its contents when the power
is switched off or interrupted.
 RAM can be broadly classified into two
categories: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and Static
RAM (SRAM).
Static RAM:
 This type of RAM is large in physical size but is
an expensive and faster memory.
 It is faster because it is made up of flip flops to
store data and these flip flops do not require
any refreshing.
 Static RAM is also volatile and is easier to use
as compared to dynamic RAM. These are used
in specialized applications.
 DRAM is used in primary storage areas and is

available in various forms as EDORAM
(Extended Data Output RAM), SDRAM
(Synchronous DRAM) and DDR SDRAM.
Read only memory (ROM)
 ROM is a type of memory that can perform read
operation only.
 The contents of ROM are written by the
manufacturer and come along with the computer.
We cannot change its contents or write something
else on it.
 Data is written on to the ROM at the time of its
manufacture and it cannot be changed thereafter. It
is a non-volatile memory, which means that
contents stored in it are not lost even when the
power to the computer is switched off.
 ROMs are used in applications where the
information once written, need not be altered.
 ROMs are slower as compared to RAMs and are
available in various types –
ROM (Contd…)
Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM):
 Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM): This
type of ROM can be programmed even after its
manufacture using a PROM programmer circuit.
But once a PROM is programmed, it becomes just
like ROM i.e. it cannot be changed.
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) :
 In this type of ROM, the contents can be erased
and the memory can be reprogrammed. To erase
the data, an EPROM is exposed to ultraviolet light
and then it can be reprogrammed using a PROM
programmer circuit. When the EPROM is in use,
then it behaves like a ROM, that means the
information can only be read.
ROM (Contd…)
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
(EEPROM):
 The contents of this type of ROM can be erased
and then reprogrammed using electric signals. This
makes it an excellent back up for RAM whose
contents are lost when the power is switched off.
When the power is returned, the contents of
EEPROM are copied back into the RAM and the
computer continues working without any data loss.
Now a days RAMs and EEPROMs are integrated in
a single chip.
Secondary Storage Media
There are the following main types of storage media.
Floppy Disks (Diskette): A floppy disk is a flexible

material (Mylar) with a magnetic coating on it. It is
packaged inside a protective plastic envelope. These
were one of the oldest type of portable storage devices
that could store up to 1.44 MB of data but now they
are no longer in use.
Hard disk:
A hard disk consists of one or more circular disks
called platters which are mounted on a common
spindle. Each surface of a platter is coated with a
magnetic material.
Both surfaces of each disk are capable of storing data
except the top and bottom disk where only the inner
surface is used. The information is recorded on the
surface of the rotating disk by magnetic read/write
heads. These heads are joined to a common arm
known as access arm. This arm moves over the
surface of the rotating disk
Hard disk:
Information is recorded on each of these disks in the
form of concentric circles called tracks which are
further divided into sectors. Hard drives however, are
not very portable and are primarily used internally in a
computer system. But external hard disks are also
available as a substitute for portable storage. Today
the hard disks have the storage capacity of several
gigabytes to terabytes.
Optical storage media
 On an optical storage media information is stored
and read using a laser beam. The data is stored as
a spiral pattern of pits and ridges denoting binary 0
and binary 1.
Examples of optical media are CDs, DVDs etc.
Compact Disk
 A compact disk or CD can store approximately 650
to 700 megabytes (MB) of data. We must have a
CD drive in our computer to read them.
 To read the data, an infrared laser is beamed
through the CD's polycarbonate substrate. The
wavelength of light that bounces off the mirror-like
reflective backing is then measured.
 A pit scatters the light and the ridge reflects the
light. Since pits and ridges pass different amounts
of light, the fluctuations in the reflected beam are
then translated back into the original ones and
zeros.
Compact Disk (contd…)
 There are three types of CDs:
CD- ROM: It stands for Compact Disk. Read Only
Memory and data is written on these disks at the time of
manufacture. Thereafter this data cannot be changed but
can only be read by a laser beam in the form of a
continuous spiral. CD- ROMs are used for text, audio
and video distribution like games, encyclopedias and
application software.
CD-R: It stands for Compact Disk- Recordable. Data can
be recorded on these disks but only once. So we can
write data on these disks through a read/write CD drive
but after that the disk cannot be erased/modified.
CD-RW: It stands for Compact Disk-Rewritable. It can be
read or written multiple times. But a CD-RW drive needs
to be installed on your computer.
DVD(Digital Versatile Disk)
 It stands for Digital Versatile Disk or Digital Video
Disk.
 It looks just like a CD and use a similar technology as
that of the CDs discussed above but employ a shorter
wavelength red laser that permits a narrower beam.
This allows tracks to be spaced closely enough to
store data that is more than six times the CD's 700MB
capacity.
 DVDs consist of two half thickness (0.6-mm) CD-like
discs glued back-to-back. This protects the delicate
reflective coating as it is on the inside of the disc.
 A DVD holds 4.7 GB to 17 GB of data.
 Like CDs DVDs also come in three varieties –
DVD- ROM, DVD- R, DVD-RW
Pen/Thumb Drives:
 Pen Drives or Thumb drives or Flash drives are the
recently emerged portable storage media.
 It is an EEPROM based flash memory which can
be repeatedly erased and written using electric
signals.
 This memory is coupled with a USB connector
 through which it can be plugged into the computer.
 They have a capacity smaller than a hard disk but
greater than a CD.
Blue Ray Disk:
 This is the latest optical storage media to store high
definition audio and video.
 It looks like a CD or DVD but can store up to 27 GB
of data on a single layer disk and up to 54 GB of data
on a dual layer disk.
 Where CDs or DVDs use red laser beam, the blue
ray disk uses a blue laser to read/write data on a
disk.
 As the wavelength of the blue ray is shorter, more
data per unit area can be stored on the disk. This is
because due to shorter wavelength, it is possible to
focus the laser spot with greater precision.
 Blue-ray Disc (BD) was developed to enable
recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition
video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data.
Input Output Ports and Connections
 Let us look at the back of a CPU. Computer ports are
the points where external devices or peripherals
connect to a computer.
 These ports are available at the rear or front of the
computer
 We connect peripherals to the computer with a cable
that attaches to one of the ports.
 A port‟s main function is to
act as a point of attachment
where the cable from the
peripheral device plugs into
the system unit, allowing
data to flow from the
peripheral device.
Mobile System Organisation
 Modern mobile system are tiny computers in
hand.
 They handle drivers type of applications such

as making calls through radio signals, offering
camera utility, handling touch sensitive screen,
display audio/video/graphical content but having
little battery based power etc.
Block diagram of Mobile System
Mobile Processor (CPU)
 Brian of smart phone.
 The CPU receives commands, make calculations,
play audio/video, store information and sends
signals throughout the device.
 The CPU of mobile system has majorly two sub-
processor type :
 Communication Processing Unit
 Application Processing Unit
Hardware
 Physical and tangible parts of a
computer system.
Example: A Computer consists of five
primary hardware components.
 Input Device
 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
 Memory
 Output Device
 Storage Device
Types of Software
 Software represents the set of programs

that govern the operation of a computer
system and make the hardware run.
 software can be classified broadly into
three categories
• Operating System
• Language Processor
• Application software.
Types of Software [Contd…]
 System Software:
The category of software is concerned with
making a computer work and understand the
user given data and instructions to process
the data to produce the needed information is
system software.

System software contd…
Some of the functions these software

takes care are
• Making the computer ready for the
user to work
• Controlling the flow of instructions
to the machine.

System software contd…
Some of the functions these software

takes care are
• Making the computer ready for the
user to work
• Controlling the flow of instructions
to the machine.

Definition of OS
 OS is a system software which

acts as an interface between the
user and the computer hardware.
 An OS is responsible for
forwarding the inputs to the
processor, get the computation
done, and display the result

Language Processor
 We know that computer understands
instructions in machine code, i.e. in the
form of 0s and 1s. It is difficult for us to
write computer program directly in machine
code. The programs are written mostly in
high-level languages, i.e. BASIC, C++,
Python etc. A program written in any high-
level programming language (or written in
assembly language) is called the Source
Program or Source Code.
Language Processor
The special translator system software that
is used to translate the program written in
high-level language (or Assembly
language) into machine code is called
language processor or translator program.
Example:
 Assembler
 Compiler
 Interpreter

Application Software
 Application Software: The software, which

has been developed for a specific
application, is categorized as an
application software.
Example:
• Word Processors
• Accounting Packages
• Painting Packages
Strengths of a Computer
 Speed of computations.
 Accuracy
 Reliability
 Programmability
 Versatility

weaknesses of a Computer
 Incapability to take decisions on their

own
 They need to be given correct data to
generate the desired information.
Otherwise if Garbage Goes In , Garbage
comes out.(GIGO)
 Hardware requires regular maintenance

Firmware:
 Firmware is a prewritten program
that is permanently stored in read-
only memory.
 BIOS (Basic Input Output Services)
instructions are an example of
Firmware.

Liveware:
 It is the term generally used for the
people associated with and benefited
from the computer system.
 User of the Computer

Evolution of Computers:
 The growth of computer industry started
with the need for performing fast
calculations.
 The journey that started from the first
Calculating device i.e. Abacus has led us
today to extremely high speed calculating
devices.
 Let us first have a look at some early
calculating devices and then we will explore
various generations of computer.

Evolution of Computers Contd…
Abacus :
 Abacus was discovered by the Mesopotamians in around
3000 BC.
An abacus consisted of beads on movable rods divided into
3000 BC two parts.
Addition and multiplication of numbers was done by using
the place value of digits of the numbers and position of beads
in an abacus.
Napier’s Logs and Bones:
The idea of logarithm was developed by John Napier in
1550 to 1617 1617.
These were numbered rods which could perform
multiplication of any number by a number in the range of 2-9.
Blaise Pascal’s Adding Machine:
A machine made up of gears and was used for adding
1642 numbers quickly.
Machine is capable of addition and subtraction along with
carry-transfer Capability.

Leibnitz’s Calculator :
 German mathematician extended the capabilities of the
adding machine invented by Pascal to perform multiplication
1671 and division as well.
The multiplication was done through repeated addition of
numbers using a stepped cylinder each with nine teeth of
varying lengths.
Jacquard’s Loom:
Joseph Jaquard devised punch cards and used them to
1801
control looms in 1801.
The entire operation was under a program‟s control.
Babbage Difference engine :
Charles Babbage, an English mathematician developed a
machine called Difference Engine in 1822.
1822
which could calculate various mathematical functions, do
polynomial evaluation by finite difference and theoretically
could also solve differential equations.

Analytical Engine:
 Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine which later
1833 on proved to be the basis of modern computer.
machine could perform all the four arithmetic operations as
well as comparison.
Ada Byron:
Lady lovelace impressed with the concept of the Analytical
Engine created plans for how the machine could calculate
1834
Bernoulli numbers.
This is regarded as the First “Computer program,” & she is
the first programmer.
Hollerith’s Machine:
Herman Hollerith fabricated what was dream of by Charles
Babbage.
He fabricated the first electrometrical Punched-card
1887
tabulator that used punch cards for input, output & instructions.
Later Hollerith founded a company that became
International Business Machine (IBM) to market the
technology.
First Electronic Computer:
The prototype of first electronic computer was assembled by
John Atansoff & Cliford Barry, which was completed in 1942
1939
using 300 vacuum tubes.
The concept of using binary numbers has started, which is
still in use.
Mark - I:
Howard Aiken in collaboration with IBM constructed an
1943
electromechanical computer named Mark 1 which could
multiply two 10 digit numbers in 5 seconds.
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer):
Developed by Preper Eckert and John Mauchly, ENIAC was
1946
made up of 18000 vacuum tubes and occupied a 30x50 feet
room.
John van Neumann Architecture:
Suggested the pioneer stored program concept that proposed:
1946 Data & instructions are stored in a single read-write memory.
The memory contests are addressable by location
Execution takes place in sequential fashion.
Generation of Computers:
The First Generation (1940-1956)
 Computers were huge, slow, expensive and
often unreliable.
 Used the concept of „stored program‟
 It used vacuum tubes for circuitry.
 UNIVAC 1 was the first electronic computer
of this generation and was used for

business applications.
 Programming was done in machine
language
Example : ENIAC , EDVAC , UNIVAC 1
The Second Generation (1956–1963)
 Computers were characterized by transistors.
 Transistors were smaller, highly reliable,
consumed less electricity and generated less

heat
 Programming in machine language as well as
assembly language and in the later part high

level languages were used.
 Examples: IBM 1401, IBM 1620, UNIVAC 1108

The Third Generation (1964-1971)
 Integrated Circuits or ICs or chips
revolutionized the electronic industry and

started the third generation of computers.
 An IC is a small silicon chip or wafer made up
of extremely purified silicon crystals.

 The size of memories also increased.
 Various mainframe computers and
minicomputers were developed during this

generation.
Examples: IBM 360 series, Honeywell 6000 series
The Fourth Generation (1975 onwards)
Intel created the first microprocessor and the era
of fourth generation computer started.
 Different types of secondary memory with high
storage capacity and fast access developed

 Very reliable, powerful and small in size.
 Portable computers developed.

 Negligible power consumption and heat
generation.
 ICs with Large Scale Integration (LSI) and
Very Large scale integration (VLSI) technology

was used.
Fifth Generation Computers
Fifth Generation computers are still under
development. This generation is based on the
concept of artificial intelligence.
 The principles of parallel processing (many
processors are grouped together) and

superconductivity are being used to develop
devices.
 Salient features of fifth generation computers:
 Parallel Processing
 Superconductivity
 Artificial Intelligence
Evolution of Storage Technology
Machine Readable Herman Hollerith invented a punch card that could be read
Punched Card by a machine
(1890)
Magnetic Drum Invented in Austria, the magnetic drum was an early from
(1932) the computer memory.
Magnetic tape used magnetic pulses to store data over
Magnetic Tape
magnetized tapes. Capacity of storing as many as 10000
(1951)
punch cards.
It is a set of magnetized circular platters that store data as
Hard Disk magnetic dots. Introduced as data storage for IBM
(1958) computers.
They were the most popular data storage devices.
Thin flexible magnetic disk, covered by a protective plastic
Floppy Disk
jacket.
(1969)
Different sizes of the floppy disk: 8”, 5 ½ “, 1.44”

Evolution of Storage Technology (Contd…)
Optical Storage CD (Compact Disk) were created in 1980s by Philips and

Media sony as a replacement of aging floppy disks
(CD-1980s), DVD (Digital Video Disks), created in 1990s, were the next
(DVDs (1990s) evolution of CD.
A flash drive is a solid state memory. It is a inexpensive
Flash Drive
small, compact and mobile storage media that has
(1998)
successfully replaced the floppy disk from storage scene.
The next generation optical disk.
Blue-Ray Disk
Store enormous amount of data in tis storage space of 400
(2000)
nano metres.
The Cloud Similar to how data is stored on the internet. Cloud storage
(21st century) allows data to be stored on multiple servers.

Evolution of Display Technology
CRT (Cathode Ray First developed in 1897,
Tube) Used in TV sets.
1897 Display screen for computers in early days.
LCD (Liquid Suggested In 1963 for display unit.
Crystal Display) First found application in watches & calculators.
1963 Prominently used in computers in 1990s only.
Plasma Monitors First prototype release in 1964.
1964 Long life & wide range of contrast and colours.
Touchscreen Invented in 1965.
Monitors Used as display technology only after Apple released first
1965 iPhone in 2007.
OLED (Organic Invented in 1987.
Light Emitting OLED displays were first introduced in 2009.
Display) Used in Computers, Smartphones, television sets etc…
1987

Evolution of Software
A Software is a stored set of coded instructions.
Evolution of Operating System

Computers were developed mainly for research & scientific
UNIX activities.
(1960s) Operating system was developed at Bell Labs in 1969,
named UNIX
QDOS (Quick & Bill Gates & Paul Allen Designed first operating system for
Dirty Operating personal computer.
System) Later Called MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System)
1980 in 1981.
Linux Linus Tervalds released an operating system Kernel.

(1991) Written on the lines of Unix and released it to public.
Command User Interface: All the above three Operating system Unix, MS-DOS, Linux
used commands as the way interaction.
Graphical User Interface: with the invention of mouse, a new way of human computer
interface was developed.
Microsoft designed its GUI based operating system, known as Windows, starting with
windows-95. Latest in the series is Windows-8 & windows-10.
Evolution of Programming Language
Software are developed through various programming language.
1st Generation Early Programming was done in machine language.

Programming
Language (1GL)
2nd Generation Next programming generation was the Assembly language
Programming programming.
Language (2GL) Also called low level language.
Language were more normal English language.
3rd Generation
Also called High Level Language (HLLs).
Programming
3GLs are ALGOL, COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, C,
Language (3GL)
PASCAL etc…
4th Generation Language are closer to natural language.
Programming Most popular 4GLs is SQL (Structure Query Language)
Language. (4GLs)
5th Generation Language are used mainly in Artificial Intelligence.
Programming Some 5GLs are Prolog. OPS5, Mercury etc…
Language (5GLs)

Evolution of software Application
The fifth generation software applications included
Command Line
compilers, device-drivers etc…, which are mainly
Programs (1980s)
command line programs.
Popularity of graphical interface, GUI based desktop
Desktop
application of multiple types are forms were released:
Application
office application, Audio & Video players, Utility programs,
(1990s)
Browsers etc…
With web availability. Web applications were developed
Web Applications keeping in mind that they can be accessed from any
(21st Century) location over Internet.
Example: Email client & VoIP Programs
Advent of computer technology has resulted into
Mobile
smartphones.
Applications
Popular moblie applications development platforms are :
(21st Century)
iOS, Android, Windows

Type of Computers
Purpose wise
Special Purpose Designed to perform a specific task.
Computers Work efficiently but such computers are not versatile.
Work on different type of program input to it and thus be
General Purpose
used in countless applications.
Computers
Computers are versatile.

Principle of Operation wise.
computer works on continuously changeable aspects of
physical phenomenon such as fluid pressure, mechanical
motion and electrical quantities.
Analog Computers A thermometer is an example of an analog computer.
Some of the common examples are simulations in
aircrafts, nuclear power plants, hydraulic and electronic
networks.
These computers are capable of processing information in
discrete form.
In digital technology data which can be in the form of
letters, symbols or numbers is represented in binary form
i.e. 0s and 1s. Binary digits are easily expressed in a digital
Digital Computers
computer by the presence (1) or absence (0) of current or
voltage.
The digital computers are used in industrial, business and
scientific applications. They are quite suitable for large
volume data processing.
These use both analog and digital technology. It may
accept digital or analog signals.
Hybrid Computers
Hybrid Computers are used as a cost effective means for
complex simulations.
Types of Digital Computers
In the form of tiny chips embedded within the circuitry of
Embedded
appliances, such as televisions, washing machines & wrist
Computers
watches.
Computer whose CPU is a microprocessor.
Normally single microprocessor, single-user systems
Microcomputers/ designed for programming basic operations like
Personal educational, training, small business applications, playing
Computers (PCs) games etc…
Categorized into Mobile/handheld computer, Portable PCs,
Desktop PCs, Workstations.
Also called mid-range servers, are more powerful
computers that microcomputers in terms of processing
Minicomputers power & capabilities.
Possess greater storage capacity & large memories as
compared to microcomputers.

Types of Digital Computers (contd…)
These computers are large and very powerful computers
with very high memory capacity.
Mainframe These can process huge databases such as census at
Computers extremely fast rate. They are suitable for big organizations,
banks, industries etc. and can support hundreds of users
simultaneously on the network.
Fastest and very expensive computers.
Can execute billions of instructions per second.
These are multiprocessor, parallel systems suitable for
Super Computers
specialized complex scientific applications involving huge
amounts of mathematical applications such as weather
forecasting.


Session1-Computer Overview

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Session1-Computer Overview

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Session 1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Airways Ticket booking

Computer is basically a machine

 Data is a collection of Facts, Figures, Texts and

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 Data is raw, that is, data are not

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

The Computer needs processing instructions to

Command: The instruction given is known as a

NB: Group of many related programs is a software.

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Data command Information

Commands Commands Commands

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 This Component performs all the arithmetic

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 These devices are responsible for giving a

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 The capacity of the computer to store data at

 Data given by the user is either decimal numbers

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 RAM (Random Access Memory)

 ROM (Read Only Memory)

 DRAM is used in primary storage areas and is

Floppy Disks (Diskette): A floppy disk is a flexible

 They handle drivers type of applications such

 Software represents the set of programs

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Some of the functions these software

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Some of the functions these software

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 OS is a system software which

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 Application Software: The software, which

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 Incapability to take decisions on their

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

 It used vacuum tubes for circuitry.

 UNIVAC 1 was the first electronic computer

of this generation and was used for

 Transistors were smaller, highly reliable,

consumed less electricity and generated less

assembly language and in the later part high

Nirbhaya Shrivastava; CS/Computer Overview Session -1

revolutionized the electronic industry and

of extremely purified silicon crystals.