Introduction to Computer

A device that processes input and

generates output
 Definition
• A computer is a programmable machine.
• A computer is a device that accepts
information (in the form of digitalized data)
and manipulates it for some result based on a
program or sequence of instructions on how
the data is to be processed.
 History
• Vacuum Tubes (1950s) – 1st Generation
• Size to high
• More power consumption
• Storage low
• Less process
• No GUI
• Cooling Required
• No OS
• Was very Expensive
• Non technical person can not used
Transistors (1950s and 1960s) – 2nd Generation

• Vacuum tube replaced by transistor

• Low space
• Low Heat
• More storage space
• No OS
• No GUI
• Magnetic taps
 Integrated Circuits (1960s and 70s) – 3rd
Generation

• Some GUI concepts and OS

• Size to small
• Lower price
• High storage capacity
• Floppy disk
 Silicon computer chips (1970s and on) – 4th
Generation

• Low Size
• Low cost
• Easy to Use
• OS and GUI
• High Storage capacity
• High processing capacity
 Types of Computer
• Personal Computer: a small, single-user computer based on a
microprocessor. In addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer
has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information,
and a storage device for saving data.
• Workstation: a powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a
personal computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a
higher-quality monitor.
• Minicomputer: a multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to
hundreds of users simultaneously.
• Mainframe: a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting
many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
• Supercomputer: an extremely fast computer that can perform
hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
 Hardware & Software
• Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer. The
hardware is infrequently changed, while software and data are
frequently changed.
• Hardware refers to the physical elements of a computer.
• This also sometimes called the machinery or the equipment of the
computer.
• Examples of hardware in a computer are the keyboard, monitor,
mouse, and the processing unit.
• A computer's hardware is comprised of many different parts, but
perhaps the most important one is the Motherboard.
• Hardware is limited to specifically designed tasks that are, taken
independently and very simple.
 Software
• Software, commonly known as programs, consist of all the
electronic instructions that tell the hardware how to
perform the task.
• These instructions come from a software developer in the
form that will be accepted by the platform that they are
based on.
• The software is capable of many tasks as opposed to the
hardware which only perform mechanically tasks that they
are designed for.
• Software is the electronic instructions that tells the
computer to perform a task.
 Types of Software
• 1) System Software:
• System Softwares are responsible for controlling,
integrating and managing the individual hardware
components of a computer system.
• They also act as an interface between hardware
and software.
• Generally, these consists of and Operating System
and some fundamental utilities.
• Examples: Windows OS, Linux, Unix etc..
 Types of Software
• 2) Application Softwares:
• Application Softwares are used to accomplish
specific task other than just running the
computer system.
• Example: VLC Player, Web Browser, Photoshop
etc…
• Application software may consists of single
program or a collection of program.
 Primary Storage Devices
• Random Access Memory
• Stores program data and instructions
temporarily.
• It is volatile.
• Directly accessible to CPU.
• Faster than Secondary storage devices.
 Secondary Storage Devices
• Memory that is capable of holding data and
having that data read from the chip but not
written to.
• Non-volatile.
• Data stored in this chip is either unchangeable
or requires a special operation to change.
 Applications
• Banking
• Insurance
• Education
• Marketing
• Health Care
• Engineering Design
• Military
• Communication
• Government