INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER

Characteristics of computers

Evolution of computers

Computer generation

 First Generation (1942-1955)

 Second Generation (1955-1964)
 Third Generation (1964-1975)
 Fourth Generation (1975-1989)
 Fifth Generation (1989-Present)
INTRODUCTION

The word “computer” comes from word “compute” which means to “calculate”. Hence, people
usually consider a computer to be a calculating device that can perform the arithmetic operations at
high speed. A computer is often referred to as a data processor (converts data into information)
because it can store, process, and retrieve data whenever desired.

Data (raw material) Computer (Data processor) Information (finished)

Figure1.1. A computer (also known as Data processor) converts data into information.

CHARACTERSTICS OF COMPUTERS

Increasing popularity of computer has proved that it is a very powerful and useful tool. The power
and usefulness of this popular tool are mainly due to its following characteristics:

1. Automatic: It carries out a job a normally without any human intervention.

2. Speed: A computer works very fast. It can perform several billion (10 9), even trillion (1012),
simple arithmetic operations per second.
3. Accuracy: It performs every calculation with the same accuracy. (errors are mainly due to
human rather than technological weaknesses, imprecise thinking of programmer, incorrect
input data or unreliable programs as garbage-in-garbage-out (GIGO)).
4. Diligence: It is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration.
5. Versatility: It can perform variety of tasks. (at same time)
6. Memory: It can store huge amount of information and recall any piece of this information
whenever is required.
7. No I.Q.: It cannot make judgements based on feelings and instincts.
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER

Necessity is the mother of invention. Researchers invented computers because of man’s search
for fast and accurate calculating devices.

 Blaise pascal invented the first mechanical adding machine in 1642.

 Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz of Germany invented the first calculator for
multiplication.
 Keyboard machines originated in the United States around 1880 and we use them even
today.
 Around the same period, Herman Hollerith came up with the concept of punched cards
that computer used extensively as input medium even in late 1970s.
 Business machines and calculators made their appearance in Europe and America
towards the end of the nineteenth century.
 Charles Babbage, a nineteenth century professor at Cambridge University, considered
the father of modern digital programmable computers. Babbage designed a
“DIFFERENCE ENGINE” in the year 1822 that could produce reliable tables
(mathematical and statistical tables).
 In 1842, Babbage came out with his new idea of a completely automatic Analytical
Engine for performing basic arithmetic functions for any mathematical problem at an
average speed of 60 additions per minutes.
 Unfortunately, he was unable to produce a working model of this machine because the
precision engineering required to manufacture the machine was not available during
that period. However, his efforts established a number of principles that are
fundamental to the design of any digital programmable computer.
 A major drawback of the early automatic calculating machines was that their
COMPUTER GENERATIONS

FIRST GENERATION (1942-1955)

KEY HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
Vacuum tubes; electronic relay memory;
Punched cards secondary storage.
KEY SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
Machine and assembly language;
Stored program concept;
Mostly scientific applications.
KEY CHARACTERSTICS:
1. Bulky in size
2. Highly unreliable
3. Limited commercial use
4. Commercial production difficult and costly
5. Difficult to use.
SOME REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEMS:

SECOND GENERATION (1955-1964)

KEY HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY CHARACTERSTICS:
SOME REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEMS:

THIRD GENERATION (1964-1975)

KEY HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY CHARACTERSTICS:
SOME REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEMS:

FOURTH GENERATION (1975-1989)

KEY HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY CHARACTERSTICS:
SOME REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEMS:

FIFTH GENERATION (1989-PRESENT)

KEY HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES:
KEY CHARACTERSTICS:
SOME REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEMS:
 programs were on boards that made it difficult to change programs.
 In 1940s, Dr john von Neumann introduced the ‘stored program’ concept that helped in
overcoming hand-wired program problem. The basic idea behind this concept is the
sequence of instruction and data can be stored in the memory of a computer
automatically directing flow of operations. This feature considerably influenced
development of modern digital computer for automatically directing flow of operations.
This program can be loaded and executed on a single computer. Due to this feature, we
often refer to modern digital computer as stored program digital computers.