Unit One:

Fundamentals of ICT

By:Be’emnet T.(MPH/HI, Asst. Professor)

lakechmam787@gmail.com
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 Session Objectives

Define terms (like ICT, Computer … )

Explain history of computer generation

Describe characteristics of computer

Mention types of computers

Explain components of computer

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 Definition of ICT

There is no universally accepted definition for
ICT.

It is defined as "the study, design, development,

implementation, support or management of
computer-based information systems, particularly
software applications and computer hardware."
(AAIT)

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 

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 Data vs. Information

Data are a collection of raw facts that represent
features or details about people, objects, places,
ideas or events.

Information is a collection of meaningful facts

and figures that can be used as a base for
guidance and decision making.

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 History of Computer

The history of computer development is in
terms of size, speed, cost, technology.

Computer history is broadly classified into five

generations.

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 First Generation -1940-1956:
Vacuum Tubes:

Vacuum tubes (size of light bulb) for circuitry and
magnetic drums for memory & were often enormous.

UNIVAC is the first commercial computer delivered to

a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.

Tubes were subject to frequent burn-out.

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They could only solve one problem at a time.
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 Second-Generation -
1956-1963: Transistors

Transistors replaced the vacuum tubes.

Transistors were far superior to the vacuum tube,

allowing computers to become smaller, faster,
cheaper, more energy-efficient.

The 1st computers that stored their instructions in

their memory.
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 Third Generation -1964-
1971: Integrated Circuits

Integrated circuit was developed.

Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon

chips, called semiconductors, which drastically
increased the speed and efficiency of computers.

Users interacted with third generation computers

through keyboards & monitors & interfaced with an
operating system (run d/t applications at one time)
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 Fourth Generation - 1971-
Present: Microprocessors

Marked by the use of microprocessor, a silicon chip
that contains the CPU (part of the computer where
all processing takes place).

Fourth generation computers also include the

development of the mouse and handheld devices.

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Fifth Generation - Present and
Beyond: Artificial Intelligence:

These devices are still in development though there
are some applications such as voice recognition,
that are being used today.

Its goal is to develop devices that respond to

natural language input & are capable of learning &
self-organization.

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Characteristics of Computer

Speed: is increasing from time to time and
computers can calculate at very high speed.

Accuracy: is very high provided that the data and

the program given to it are accurate.

Error in computer data processing is mostly

human factor.
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 Characteristics of
Computer …

Storage: Computers can store large amount of
data using their memory unit and storage media.

Versatility: use of computer for d/t purposes.

Diligence: computer’s ability to do the same

thing repeatedly without saying “I am tired or I
am bored”.
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 
Components
of
Computer
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 

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 Hardware

Any visible part of a computer that can be seen
and touched.

Involves all material technologies that the

computer uses to input process and produce
output data/information.

Computer hardware is also broadly classified as

input devices, output devices, processing device
and storage devices.
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 Input Devices

“How to tell it what to do”

Allow the computer to capture and input any form of data

like character, text, image, voice and video.
 Mouse
 Touchpad (also track pad)
 Light Pen
 Keyboard
 Scanner
 Microphones
 Digital Cameras
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 Output Devices

“How it shows you what it is doing”
Devices used to display information:
Monitor
Printer
 Laser printers
 Inkjet printers
 Dot Matrix printers
Plotters
Speakers
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 Central Processing Unit

CPU/microprocessor is the "brains" of the
computer system. The CPU:

Carries out instructions and tells the rest of the

computer system what to do.

Performs arithmetic and logical calculations and

data manipulation.

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 Holds data & instructions which are in current use.
 Computer Memory
A

device that is used to store data/programs
temporarily.

RAM is the main 'working' memory used by the

computer. RAM is a volatile type of memory.

ROM is a special type of memory chip which

holds software/BIOS instruction. It is a non-
volatile memory area.
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Computer Storage Devices
Any type of hardware that stores data permanently

Hard Disks: used for permanent storage of data and
programs.

CDs & DVDs: CDs hold 700MB & DVDs (DVD-

std can store 4.7 GB & DVD-10 std hold 9.4GB).

Removable Storage devices: are great for dat

backup and moving files from place to place.
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 Software

A set of instruction that derives the computer to
operate.

There are many types of software, or programs.

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 Computer Software

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 System software

Operating System: an interface b/n hardware & user.

Utility Software: designed to help manage & adjust

the hardware & software by performing required
tasks.

Programming software: provides tools to assist a

programmer in writing computer programs &
software
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using d/t programming languages in a more
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convenient way.
 Application software

Allows end users to accomplish one or more specific
tasks.

General Purpose application software: MS-Word,

MS-Excel, MS-Access

Special Purpose application software: application

programs that are designed particular to specialized
business and professions. E.g. SmartCare, Peachtree.
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 Types of Computers

Computers come in a variety of types designed
for d/t purposes, with d/t capabilities, power &
costs.

Commonly they are categorized into five groups.

Microcomputers, Workstation, Minicomputers,

Mainframes and Supercomputers.
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 I. Microcomputer

The smallest computer that has a microprocessor
chip as its CPU.

Microcomputers include:

Personal computers (PC): can access the Internet;

do document processing, spreadsheet calculations,
database management, photograph editing, and
playing music or games.
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 
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): is a handheld
microcomputer with very small size and minimal
power and a greater portability.

Palmtop Computer: uses very minimal power with

high portability and having with a flip-up screen
and small keyboard.
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 Workstations/Servers

Workstations contain ≥1 microprocessor & they may
be used by a single-user for applications requiring
higher processing capacity than a typical PC.

May be used as server computers that provide files

to client computers over a network.

Can also be used to handle the processing for many

users simultaneously.
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 Minicomputers

 A class of multi-user computer that is less
powerful than a mainframe computer but larger
than microcomputers.

They have been referred as midrange computers.

They are becoming obsolete nowadays.

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 Mainframe Computers

A large, powerful computer that handles the
processing of d/t applications for many users
simultaneously (up to several hundred users).

They are very expensive & are widely used in

situations where a company needs a high processing
power & large data storage in a centralized location.
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 Supercomputers

The most powerful computer that has been
optimized for exceptionally high speed and
processing power.

They are used for extremely calculation intensive

tasks such as quantum mechanical physics,
simulating nuclear bomb detonations, weather
forecasting and climate research.

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 How Computer
Memory is Measured?

Units of computer memory measurements
 1 Bit = Binary Digit  1024 TB = 1 Peta Byte (PB)

 8 Bits = 1 Byte  1024 PB = 1 Exa Byte (EB)

 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilo Byte (KB)  1024 EB = 1 Zetta Byte (ZB)

 1024 KB = 1 Mega Byte (MB)  1024 ZB = 1 Yotta Byte (YB)

 1024 MB = 1 Giga Byte (GB)  1024 YB = 1 Bronto Byte (BB)
 1024 GB = 1 Terra Byte (TB)  1024 BB = 1 Geop Byte
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Geop Byte is the Highest Memory