Introduction & History of

Computers, Their
Applications
Sarhad University of Science & Information
Technology Peshawar

By: Khalid
Khan
 Contents

• What is Computer?
• Who is a User?
• Data & Information
• Information Technology
(IT)
• History of Computers
• Generations
• Types of Computers
• Classification of Computers
What is
Computer
 What is
Definitions:
Computer?
• A computer is normally considered as calculating machine
that can perform arithmetic operation at a very high
speed.

• Computers are electronic devices that is programmed to

• accept data (input),
• (process) that data into useful information,
• produce (output), and then
• (store) for later use.
 Who is a
user?
• Someone that communicates with a
computer
 Data &
Definitions:
Information
• DATA
 A collection of raw facts and figures is called
data.
 It may consist of numbers, characters, symbols
etc

• INFORMATION
 Processed data is called information.
 It is more meaningful than data.
 Information
Technology
• Information is data that is
organized, meaningful, and useful.
• Information technology is the use of systems
(especially computers and telecommunications)
for storing, retrieving, and sending
information..
• Computer is a very important component
of information technology
History of
Computers
 Mechanical computers
(1600-1900)
early designs for
more traditional
computers -
Abacu based on
mechanical
s techniques.

Slide rule
Pascal
Calculator
Electronic computers
(1937-1953)
First Generation - Vacuum
Tubes 1. From 1946 to 1956
•It can perform 2,000 to
16,000 additions per second
•Had main memory 100
bytes to 2 kilobytes
2. Used vacuum tubes
3.Very large machines
•special rooms to house
them with air conditioning
•specially trained technicians
to run & maintain
Second Generation -
Transistors
1. From 1959 to around 1965
2. Smaller, faster, and more reliable
 used transistors
 6,000 to 3,00,000 operations/s
 main memory 6 kilobytes to 1.3
megabytes
3. one-tenth the price of a 1 st Generation
4. become common in larger
businesses and universities
Third Generation - Integrated
Circuits
1. Form 1965 to around 1972
2. Used integrated circuits – many
transistors on one piece of
silicon
3. Smaller, faster, more reliable, and
lower in price
• Size of a stove or refrigerator, some can
fit on desktops
• Can do 100,000 to 400,000,000
operations per second
• Cost about one-tenth the amount of
second
generation computers
4. These Computers become very
common in medium to large
businesses
Fourth Generation -
Microprocessors
1. From 1972 until now
2. Used large scale to very large scale integrated circuits
• Put more than one IC on a silicon chip
• Can do more than one function
3. smaller, faster, more reliable, and lower in price
• Size of a television or much smaller
• Can do 500,000 to 1,000,000,000 operations/second
• Cost one-tenth, or less, the amount of third
generation
4. very common in homes and business
 Types of
Computer
• Analog
computers

• Digital computers
 Analog
Computers
• An analog computer recognizes data as a
continuous measurement of a physical
property.
• It has no state
• Its output is usually displayed on a meter or
graphs.
• Examples are Analog clock, speedo-meter of a
car, thermo-meter etc
 Digital
Computers
• It works with numbers
• They breaks all types of information into tiny units and
use numbers to represent those pieces of information.
• Everything is described in two states i.e. either ON (1) or
OFF (0).
• They are very fast and have big memory
Classification of
Computers
 Basic
Map
Digital
Computers

Super Mainframe Mini Micro

Computers Computers Computers Computers

Desktop
Workstation Computers
s
Computers
Laptop
Servers Computers
Computers
Handheld
Computers
 Supercomputer
• A supercomputer is a computer with a high-level computational
capacity compared to a general-purpose computer.
• It comprised of multiple high performance computers working in
parallel as a single system.
• Super Computers uses thousands of processor at a same time.
• Usedfornuclearweaponweatherforecasting,Scientific
Simulition, oil and gas exploration or in large companies.
 Mainframe
• Mainframes are huge
computers that could fill an
entire room or even a whole
floor!
• mainframes can run multiple
instances of operating systems
at the same time.
• Mainframe are used primarily by
large organizations for critical
applications, bulk data
processing
• It uses for online data storage.
• Mainframe used for transaction
processing in banking, Airlines
 Workstation
• A desktop computer that has a more powerful
processor,
• additional memory (RAM, Hard drive) and
enhanced capabilities for performing a special
group of task, such as 3D Graphics or game
development.
• Multiple users can use single workstation all
together.
 Server
• A computer that has been optimized to provide
services to other computers over a network.
• Servers usually have powerful processors, lots of
memory and large hard drives.
• Multiple CPU’s & Hard drives
 DESKTO
P

• A PC that is not designed for portability.

• you will set the computer up in a permanent location.
• Most desktops offer more power, storage and
versatility for less cost than portable computers.
 Laptop

• Also called notebooks.

• Laptop are portable computers that integrate
the display, keyboard, a pointing device or
trackball, processor, memory and hard drive
all in a battery-operated package.
 Palmtop
• More commonly known as Personal
Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• palmtops are tightly integrated
computers that often use flash memory
instead of a hard drive for storage.
• usually do not have keyboards but rely
on touchscreen technology for user
input.
• A slightly larger and heavier version of
the palmtop is the handheld
computer.