CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION
TTS2233:
Information Technology Skills & Application
 OBJECTIVES

• Define the term, computer

• Discuss the history & evolution of computer
• Describe the categories of computers
• Identify the components, types and functions of a
computer
• Distinguish between system software and
application software
 WHAT IS COMPUTER?

• An electronic device or machine working under a

set of instruction, to accept data, process it into
meaningful information and store it for future use
HISTORY AND EVOLUTION
OF COMPUTER
Difference and Analytical Engine (Babbage and The
Countess)
• Most histories of the modern computer begin with the
Analytical Engine envisioned by Charles Babbage.
• Babbage's assistant and collaborator, Ada Lovelace,
introduced the ideas of program loops and subroutines
Tabulating Machine (Herman Hollerith)
• Invented in 1890 by Herman Hollerith
• The machine uses electrical power rather than mechanical
to drive the device.
• Founded the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896
• The successor to this company merged with two other
companies to form International Business Machines
Corporation (IBM) in 1924
The Modern Era
• During late 1930s, Dr John V Atanasoff and his assistant,
Clifford Berry built the first digital computer that worked
electronically; the ‘ABC’ for Atanasoff Berry Computer.
• In 1924 the world first general purpose electronic digital
computer was built by John Mauchly and his assistant J.
Presper Eckert.
• Their invention was the ENIAC – Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer which able to multiply a pair of
numbers in about three milliseconds.
• Modern computers inherently follow the ideas of the
stored program laid out by John von Neumann in 1945.
• Essentially, the program is read by the computer one
instruction at a time, an operation is performed, and the
computer then reads in the next instruction, and so on.
 Charles
1890 1930s 1924 1945
Babbage
Herman Dr John V John Mauchly John von
Difference
Hollerith Atanasoff & & J. Presper Neumann
and -
-Tabulating Clifford Berry Eckert -Modern
Analytical
Machine -ABC -ENIAC Computer
Engine
 Per
com sonal
put
ers

Mo
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dev nd
ices

Ga
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ns o
les

Ser
ver
s

Ma
infr
am
COMPUTERS

es
CATEGORIES OF

Sup
com er
put
ers

Em
com bedd
put ed
ers
 Personal Computer (PC)

• A personal computer can perform all of its input,

processing, output, and storage activities by itself
• Two popular architectures: the PC and the Apple
• Desktop computer
 Mobile Computers and Mobile
Devices
Mobile Computer Mobile Device

• Personal computer you • Computing device small

can carry from place to enough to hold in your
place hand
• Examples include • Examples include smart
notebook computers, phones, PDAs,
laptop computers, handheld computers,
netbooks, ultra-thins, portable media
and Tablet PCs players, and digital
cameras
Notebook
Tablet PC
computer

Smart
PDA
phone
 Portable media
Handheld computer Digital camera
player
 Game Consoles

• A game console is a mobile

computing device designed
for single-player or
multiplayer video games
 Server

• A server controls access to

the hardware, software,
and other resources on a
network
• Provides a centralized
storage area for programs,
data, and information
 Mainframes

• A mainframe is a large,
expensive, powerful
computer that can handle
hundreds or thousands of
connected users
simultaneously
 Supercomputers

• A supercomputer is the
fastest, most powerful
computer
• Fastest supercomputers
are capable of
processing more than
one quadrillion
instructions in a single
second
 Embedded Computers

Consumer Home Automation

Automobiles
Electronics Devices
• Mobile and • Thermostats • Antilock brakes
digital telephones • Sprinkling • Engine control
• Digital systems modules
televisions • Security • Airbag controller
• Cameras monitoring • Cruise control
• Video recorders systems
• DVD players and • Appliances
recorders • Lights
• Answering
machines
 Computer Devices
Process Controllers
and Office
and Robotics
Machines
• Remote • Keyboards
monitoring • Printers
systems • Faxes
• Power monitors • Copiers
• Machine
controllers
• Medical devices
 CORE COMPONENT, TYPES AND
COMPUTER FUNCTIONS COMPONENTS

System Unit

Storage
Output Device
Device

Communicatio
Input Device Component n Device
 • Allows you to enter data and instructions into a
Input devices computer

• Hardware component that conveys information to

Output devices one or more people

• Case that contains the electronic components of the

System unit computer that are used to process data

• Holds data, instructions, and information for future

Storage devices use

Communication • Enables a computer to send and receive data,

instructions, and information to and from one or
devices more computers or mobile devices
 Uses arithmetic and
logical operations
Analog
Type of Computer Ex: computer used in
flight centres to measure
pressure and temperature

Operations are on
electrical input.
Digital
Ex; ON=1 OFF=0 used in
your personal computers

Combine both operations

in analog and digital
computers
Hybrid
Ex; computer used in
hospital to measure
patient’s heartbeat
Information Processing Cycle
 Computer Function

• All computers must be able to:

• Gather data
• Process data
• Store data
• Disseminate data
• Display data
 CONCEPT OF HARDWARE
AND SOFTWARE
• Hardware
• The mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical
components making up a computer system.
Hardware Component
 Input devices • mouse, keyboard, scanner, microphone, etc

Output devices • screen, speaker, printer, etc

• consist of processor, memory, expansion

System unit cards, etc.

• diskette drive, hard disk, CD-ROM or

Storage devices DVD-ROM drive, USB flash drive,
memory card

Communication • modem, router, hub, NIC, etc

devices
 Software

Applicatio
n Software
System
Software
Type of Software
 Systems Software
Type:
• Operating System (OS)
• A set of programs that
Programs that control or coordinates all activities
maintain the operations of among computer hardware
the computer and its devices
• Utility Programs
devices
• Allow the user to perform
maintenance-type tasks to
managing a computer, its
devices or its programs
Application Software
Types:
Programs • Word Processing,
designed to • Spreadsheet,
make users • Database,
more productive • Presentation
• Graphics