Subject: Computer Studies

Topic: Evolution of Computers

Grade: VI

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 L E A N
R
Early Calculating Devices
Development of Computers
Characteristics of Computers
Limitations of Computers

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 What are the
different calculating
devices used earlier?
DISCUSS

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 Abacus
• It is also called a counting frame.
• It consist of a rectangular wooden frame on which vertical rods
are fixed.
• It consist of two sections:
heaven – upper deck
earth - lower deck
• The heaven and earth deck are divided at mid-bar.
• Each rod contains:
two beads on heaven
five beads on earth

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 Napier’s bones
• Invented by Scottish mathematician John Napier.
• World’s first calculator to multiply, divide and find square root
of a number.
• It consisted of nine different strips or bones with numbers
written on them.
• Helped to perform multiplication and division of large numbers
easily.
• It was also called as Napier’s rods.

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 Pascaline calculator
• It was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642.
• It was the first mechanical calculating machine with numerical
wheels.
• The user rotated numerical wheels for mathematical
calculations.
Pros:
It could perform addition and subtraction.
Cons:
It could not add big numbers.

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 Difference engine

• It was invented by Charles Babbage.

• It was an automatic mechanical calculator.

• It consists of two parts:

 The calculating mechanism

 The printing and control mechanism

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 Analytical engine
• It was the first general purpose computer.
• Invented by Charles Babbage
• It consisted of five components:
 Input
 Output
 Mill
 Store
 Control

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 Development of Computers
• Used vacuum tubes as the main electronic
component.

• Large in size and expensive.

First gene
rat • Used a lot of electricity and generated a lot of heat
(1940-195 ion
6)
• Speed was about 10,000 instructions per second.

• Used magnetic drums for memory.

• For example: Electronic Numerical Integrator and

Computer( ENIAC) Universal Automatic
Computer(UNIVAC)

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 Development of Computers
• Vacuum tubes were replaced with Transistors.

• Transistors were small in size and light in weight,.

Second • Used magnetic core memory which was faster and

generatio less expensive.
n
(1956-196
3) • Used high-level programming language like
FORTRAN and COBOL.

• Smaller in size compared to the first generation

computers.

• Produced less heat and consumed less power.

• Operating speed was comparatively high.

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 Development of Computers

• Integrated Circuits(ICs) were used in this

generation.
Third
generatio • Faster and more efficient.
n
(1964-197
1)
• Comparatively smaller and less expensive.

• Used a keyboard for input and monitor for

output.

• Speed of processing was 5 million per second.

• Used high-level programming language like

BASIC.

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 Development of Computers

• Very Large Scale Integrated circuits (VLSI) were used

Fourth in this generation.
generatio
n
(1972-201 • It could fit thousands of integrated circuits onto a chip.
0)
• More powerful, smaller in size, reliable and affordable.
• Processed millions of instructions in a fraction of a
second.
• Many computers could be connected together to form a
computer network.
• Operating systems like MS-DOS, Windows and Unix
were developed in this generation.

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 Development of Computers

• The VLSI technology developed into Ultra

Fifth gene Large Scale Integration (ULSI) technology.

ra
(present a tion • The ULSI allowed placing more than a
nd
beyond)
million circuit elements on a single chip.
• Based on the use of Parallel Processing
and Artificial Intelligence technology.
• For example: The humanoid robot named
ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative
Mobility developed by Honda.

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 What are the different
characteristics of
computers?

DISCUSS

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 Characteristics of Computers
Speed
Can perform thousands of mathematical operations in a fraction of a second.
The speed of computer is measured in MIPS(Million Instructions Per Second).
Accuracy
Works on the principle of GIGO (Garbage in Garbage out)
Provides the desired result only if correct and instructions are entered.
Reliability
Very reliable to carry out different tasks.
The result from a computer is always correct unless the user doesn’t provide the wrong data.
Versatility
Multi purpose machine that can perform different types of jobs.
Storage capacity
Can store huge amount of data in its memory and it remains there for future use.

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 What are the limitations
of computers?

DISCUSS

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 Limitations of computers
• Computers cannot think and perform task on their own like humans.

• Incapable of decision making as they do not possess the knowledge,

information, wisdom and intelligence required to take a decision.

• Cannot express their own ideas.

• Can store information but not use or implement it without instructions from
humans.

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 Thank You
Question?
Comments?

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