INTRODUCTION TO

COMPUTER CONCEPTS
COMPUTER
an electronic device that takes data, process the data
according to a series of instructioncalled program
and produces information.
an electronic device capable of
performing mathematical and logical
operations.
an electronic system designed to
manipulate data.
PROGRAM
• series of instruction that a computer must follow
in order to process data into information.

CAPABILITIES OF COMPUTER
• It has the ability to perform mathematical and
logical operation.
• It has the ability to store or remember a great
amount and variety of information and retrieve or
recall the information needed almostinstantly.
• It has the ability to handle large volume of repetitive
tasks accurately over long period of time.
• It can communicate with its operators and other
machines.
• It has the ability to control error and check itself.

LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTERS

• The computer functions only when input and the

necessary instructions to process the information have
been provided by a humanbeing.
• It can detect but generally cannot correct inaccurate
entry by itself.
• It is subject to occasional breakdown or computer
malfunction because of power failures, computer
failure, humidity, temperature and maintenance time.
 HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

First Generation Computers(1951-1958)

• Component: Employed vacuum tubes in the

electronic circuitry to control internaloperations.
• Size : The sizes were very large and requiring a lot of
space.
• Reliability: Poor reliability due to the components
employed which is frequently overheated and burned
out.
• Storage Capacity :
Memory capacity was approximately 2000 to 3000
characters which is quite small compared with present
daycomputers.
• Cost: Relatively high cost for given capacity.
• Processing Speed: Operating speed was in
• Power Requirements: Required considerable
power to run including special air conditioning to
get rid of tube-generated heat.
• Software Development : Computer instructions
were performed in internal codes of machines,
requiring extensive knowledge of the machine. Low
level/Symbolic languageprogramming.
• Hardware Development : The introduction
of UNIVAC I marked the beginning of the
first generation Computer.
• Others: Magnetic drum as primary internal storage
medium. Punched Card oriented. Dr. Grace Hopper
saw the original bug. A moth caused the operation of
a computer to stop and from then on, any computer
problem or programming mistake was called a bug.
Second Generation Computers (1959 –1964)

• Component: Introduction of transistors as a

machine component replacing vacuumtubes
• Size: The sizes were reduced as compared to the
first generation.
• Reliability: More reliable than predecessor
which greatly reduced heat generated
duringoperations.
• Storage Capacity: Memory capacity was
approximately 30,000 characters.
• Cost: Components used reduced overall cost
of maintaining one binary digit of storage.
• Processing Speed: Operating speed was in
microseconds (one millionth of a second)
• Power Requirements: Power requirement was
further reduced.
• Software Development: Programs made use of symbolic
languages requiring the use of translators. Introduction
and wideacceptanceof high-levellanguagessuchas
FORTRAN and COBOL. Which were machine-
dependent, negate the requirements of a comprehensive
knowledge of computers.
• Hardware Development : The mainframes introduced were
IBM 1400 series and IBM 7000 series, Honeywell 2,200,
CDC 1604, Control Data 3600 and General Electric 635.
• Others: Magnetic core as primary internal storage
medium. Magnetictape oriented. Batch oriented
applications. Introduction of real timeprocessing.
Third Generation Computers (1965-1970)

• Component: Integrated circuits (ICs) replaced the

transistors of the second generation although
microscopic in size contained the equivalent or many
transistors.
• Size: Smaller in size led to the emergence of
minicomputers which had smaller word size, 16 compared
to 32 bits.
• Reliability: Improved reliability and low
voltage requirement.
• Storage Capacity: Storage capacity further increased
to 500,000characters of main storage.
• Cost: Cost of storage further decreased per binary digit.
• Processing Speed: Operating speed was in
anoseconds (one billionth of a second)
• Power Requirements : Power required for operation was
also further reduced.
• Software Development : Availability of operating
systems programs to control I/O and do many tasks
previously handled by human operators; Extensive use
of high level programming languages.
• Hardware Development: Introduction of minicomputers;
Computers of this era were much smaller than their
predecessors but only slightly less capable. (Ex. Are IBM
S/360, NCR 395, and Burroughs B6500)
• Others: Magnetic core as solid state main storage.
Magnetic diskoriented. Remote processing and time
sharing. Beginning of Data Communications
technology.
Fourth Generation Computers (1970 – 1980’s)

• Component: Made use of medium scale integration

(MSI) and large scale integrated circuits (LSI). Hundreds
of circuits were placed in a chip size of a pinhead.
Circuitry density in IC’s is referred to by level of
integration. Complete circuits were reduced to virtually
microscopic sizes.
• Size : Smaller in size led to the emergence of
minicomputers which had smaller word size, 16 compared
to 32 bits.
• Reliability: Further improvement inreliability.
• Storage Capacity: Further increase in storage capacity.
• Cost: Further reduction in cost, internal storage costs
decreasing per binary digit. Reduction in extensive
site preparation cost and space requirements needed
for computer systems.
• Processing Speed: Since computers were reduced in size,
the distance for the power to travel were reduced a
hundred times shorter.
• Power Requirements: Decrease in power utilization.
• Software Development: Availability of sophisticated
programs for special applications like the Computer-
Aided Instruction (CAI) and the mathematical modeling
and simulation.
• Hardware Development: Introduction of
microprocessors, microcomputers (APPLE) and home
computers. Due to utilization of microscopic sized
elements, computers of this generation were of desk
top size. Ex. IBM 3033, HP 3000.
• Others: Greater versatility of I/O devices. Modular
design and compatibility between hardware equipment
provided by different manufacturers (customers are no
longer tied to one vendor)
 FIFTH GENERATION
COMPUTERS
•not yet been formally defined
•make use of technologies such as Very Large Integration(VSI),
Grand Scale Integration (GSI), optical devices, parallel processing,
magnetic bubble memories and Josephson junctions ( a switching
component)
•Supercomputers were envisioned as ultra fast, ultra small
with minimal electricity requirements and will exhibit some
measure of artificial intelligence.
 o Artificial intelligence includes:
o Games Playing: programming computers to play games such as
chess and checkers
o Expert Systems: programming computers to make decisions in
real- life situations (forexample, some expert systems help doctors
diagnose diseases based on symptoms)
o Natural Language: programming computers to understand
natural human languages.
PARTS OF A
COMPUTER
System unit
• The system unit is the core of a computer system.
Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath
your desk. Inside this box are many electronic
components that process information. The most
important of these components is the central
processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which
acts as the "brain" of your computer. Another component
is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily
stores information that the CPU uses while the computer
is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when the
computer is turned off.
• Almost every other part of your computer connects to the
system unit using cables. The cables plug into
specific ports(openings), typically on the back of the
system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system unit is
sometimes called a peripheral device or device.
STO
RAG
E
Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices
that store information on a metal or plastic disk. The
disk preserves the information even when your
computer is turnedoff.
Hard disk drive
• Your computer's hard disk drive stores information on
a hard disk, a rigid platter or stack of platters with a
magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive
amounts of information, they usually serve as your
computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all
of your programs and files. The hard disk drive is
normally located inside the system unit.
CD and DVDdrives
Nearly all computers today come equipped with a CD
or DVD drive, usually located on the front of the
system unit. CD drives use lasers to read (retrieve)
data from a CD, and many CD drives can also write
(record) data onto CDs. If you have a recordable disk
drive, you can store copies of your files on blank CDs.
You can also use a CD drive to play music CDs on
your computer.
Floppy disk drive
• Floppy disk drives store information on floppy disks,
also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs
and DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small
amount of data. They also retrieve information more
slowly and are more prone to damage. For these
reasons, floppy disk drives are less popular than they
used to be, although some computers still include
them.
Floppy disk
* Why are floppy disks "floppy"? Even though the
outside is made of hard plastic, that's just the sleeve.
The disk inside is made of a thin, flexible vinyl
material.
MO
USE
A mouse is a small device used to point to and select
items on your computer screen. Although mice
come in many shapes, the typical mouse does look
a bit like an actual mouse. It's small, oblong, and
connected to the system unit by a long wire that
resembles a tail.
Some newer mice arewireless.
Keyboard
• A keyboard is used mainly for typing text into
your computer. Like the keyboard on a
typewriter, it has keys for letters and numbers,
but it also has special keys:
• The function keys, found on the top row, perform
different functions depending on where they are
used.
• The numeric keypad, located on the right side of
most keyboards, allows you to enter numbers
quickly.
• The navigation keys, such as the arrow keys,
allow you to move your position within a
document or webpage.
Monitor
• A monitor displays information in visual form, using
text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that
displays the information is called the screen. Like a
television screen, a computer screen can show still or
moving pictures.
• There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode
ray tube) monitors and LCD (liquid crystal display)
monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD
monitors have the advantage of being much thinner
and lighter. CRT monitors, however, are generally
more affordable.
Printer
• A printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. You
don't need a printer to use your computer, but having one
allows you to print e-mail, cards, invitations,
announcements, and other materials. Many people also
like being able to print their own photos at home.
• The two main types of printers are inkjet
printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are the most
popular printers for the home. They can print in black and
white or in full color and can produce high-quality
photographs when used with special paper. Laser printers
are faster and generally better able to handle heavy use.
Speakers
• Speakers are used to play sound. They may be built
into the system unit or connected with cables.
Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear
sound effects from your computer.
Modem
• To connect your computer to the Internet, you
need a modem. A modem is a device that sends
and
receives computer information over a telephone
line or
high-speed cable. Modems are sometimes built into
the system unit, but higher-speed modems are
usually separate components.
 COMPUTERS
THE BENEFITS OF
COMPUTERS ARE
POSSIBLE BECAUSE
COMPUTERS HAVE
THE ADVANTAGES OF
SPEED, RELIABILITY,
Speed
CONSISTENCY,
Computer operations occur through electronic
circuit. WhenSTORAGE
data, instructions,AND
and information
flow along these circuits, they travel at incredibly fast
COMMUNICATIONS.
speeds. Many computers process billions or trillions
of
OPERATIONS IN
A SINGLE
SECOND.
 Reliability
The electronic components in modern computers
are dependable and reliable because they rarely break
or fail.
Consistency
Given the same input and processes, a computer
will produce the same results – consistently. Computers
generate error-free results, provided the input is correct
and the instructionswork.
 Storage
Computers store enormous amounts of data and
make this data available for processing anytime it is
needed.

Communications
Most computers today can communicate with
other computers, often wirelessly. Computers allow
users to communicate with one another.
 Disadvantages of Using Computers
Some disadvantages of computers relate to the
violation of privacy, the impact on the labor force, health
risks, and the impact on the environment.

Violation of Privacy
It is crucial that personal and confidential records
stored computer in computers be protected properly. In
many instances, where these records were not properly
protected individuals have found their privacy violated and
identifies stolen.
 Im pact on Labor Force
Although computers have improved productivity and
created an entire industry with hundreds of thousands of
new jobs, the skills of millions of employees have been
replaced by computers.

Health Risks
Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to
health injuries or disorders. Computer users can protect
themselves from health risks through proper work place
design, good posture while at the computer, and
appropriately spaced workbreaks.
 IMPACT ON
ENVIRONMEN
T
Computer manufacturing processes and computer
waste are depleting natural resources and polluting the
environment.