Programming Fundamentals
CSC102
Lecture 2: Fundamentals of Computer
Concepts
Types of Computers
1. Supercomputers
2. Mainframes
3. Minicomputers
4. Microcontrollers
2
Supercomputer
Most powerful computers
Physically largest in size
Hundreds of thousands of processors that can process huge amounts of
data
Perform over 1 quadrillion calculations per second. e.g. IBM ASCI
White, Cray
Ideal for handling large and highly complex problems that require
extreme calculating power
Usage: quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, oil and gas exploration, molecular modeling, physical simulations,
aerodynamics, nuclear fusion research and cryptoanalysis.
Summit – 200 petaflops Sunway TaihuLight 3
Mainframe
Mainly used by large organizations for critical
applications, typically bulk data processing
◦ Banks, Airlines, Insurance Companies
Measured in millions of integer operations per
second (MIPS)
Vary in size from small, to medium, to large,
depending on their use.
Terminals are connected to these main frames.
Processing is done by Main Frames.
4
Minicomputers
• Class of multi-user computers that lies in between mainframe
computers (multi user) and microcomputers or personal
computers (single user)
• Minicomputers are used by small businesses & firms.
• Minicomputers are also called as “Midrange Computers”.
• Midrange computer, such as the higher-end SPARC, POWER
and Itanium-based systems from Sun Microsystems, IBM and
Hewlett-Packard.
5
Computers for individuals -PCs
Desktop computers, laptops, personal digital assistant (PDA),
tablets & smartphones are all types of microcomputers.
Microcomputers
– Workstation
– Desktop computers
– Notebook computers
– Tablet computers
– Handheld computers
– Smart phones
6
Microcontroller
Embedded computers are small in size, specialized
microprocessors
Designed for small or dedicated applications
Installed in "smart" appliances from automobiles to washing
machines
7
What is IT?
Base of the Computer is:
digital signal;
Base of Communication devices
was analog signal transferred to digital signal
The day Communication changed its base from analog to digital;
There was natural merger of the two technologies
Computer and Communication
The following industries also joined : Mass storage, Consumer
Electronics, Entertainment, Multimedia
The Name given to the family
Information Technology : IT
8
Practice Quiz
1. What is the difference between data and Information?
2. What is the difference between volatile and non-volatile
memory?
3. Memory is used for?
4. What does computer do in i-time and e-time?
5. How CPU synchronizes with its other components?
6. Name a device which is both input and output?
7. Give few examples of utility software.
8. Name at least two operating systems (OS).
9. What is the use of embedded systems?
10. What is Information Technology?
9
Computer Generations
Following are the main five generations of computers
First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes
Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors
Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits
Fourth Generation (1972-2010) Microprocessors
Fifth Generation (2010 - present) – Use of Artificial
Intelligence
10
1943/1944 – Colossus Mark I & II
The Colossus Mark I & II are widely acknowledged as the first
programmable electric computers, and were used at Bletchley Park
to decode German codes encrypted by the Lorenz SZ40/42.
11
1974/1975 – Personal Computers
Scelbi Mark-8 Altair and
IBM 5100 computers are
first marketed to
individuals (as opposed to
corporations). They are
followed by the Apple I,II,
TRS-80, and Commodore
Pet computers by 1977.
12
1981 – IBM PC
The IBM PC is introduced
running the Microsoft Disk
Operating System (MS-DOS)
along with CP/M-86. The IBM
PC's open architecture made it the
de-facto standard platform, and it
was eventually replaced by
inexpensive clones.
CPU: Intel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz
RAM: 16 kB ~ 640 kB
Price: $5,000 - $20,000
13
1984 – Apple Macintosh
Apple introduces the first
successful consumer
computer with a WIMP user
interface (Windows Icons
Mouse & Pointer), modelled
after the unsuccessful Xerox
Alto computer.
Motorola 68000 @8Mhz
128KB Ram
US$1,995 to US$2,495
14
Programming Language Generations
Generations of programming languages are categorized into
5 categories
First Generation of programming Language or 1GL
◦ low-level languages
◦ string of 0s and 1s (Machine Code)
Second Generation of programming Language or 2GL
◦ also low-level languages
◦ requires an Assembler (translates assembly code to machine code)
◦ sometimes called Assembly language
e.g. ADD 12, 8
◦ An assembler converts the assembly language statements into
machine language.
15
Programming Language Generations
Third Generation of Programming Language or 3GL
◦ Called High-Level programming languages such as C/C++, Pascal
or Java etc
◦ requires a Compiler or an Interpreter
◦ Near to English
◦ Compiled type languages i.e. C/C++, Pascal, COBOL and Fortran
etc
◦ Interpreter based languages i.e. QBasic, GW-Basic and Visual
Basic etc are 3GL.
16
Programming Language Generations
Fourth Generation of Programming Language or 4GL
◦ designed to be closer to natural language than a 3GL
◦ consist of statements similar to statements in a human language
◦ for accessing databases are often described as 4GLs
e.g.
SELECT NAME FROM EMPLOYEES WHERE SALARY > $7000
Fifth Generation of Programming Language or 5GL
◦ use a visual or graphical development interface to create source
language
◦ IBM, Microsoft, Borland etc
◦ Visual [Link], JBuilder, NetBeans etc.
17
Compiler vs. Interpreter
Differences between compiler and interpreter:
18
Computer Program
A computer program is a collection of
instructions that performs a specific task
when executed by a computer
19
Computer Programming
Programming is the process of taking an
algorithm and encoding it into a notation,
a programming language, so that it can be
executed by a computer.
20
Programming Language
A programming language is a vocabulary
and set of grammatical rules for
instructing a computer or computing
device to perform specific tasks.
21
Programmer
A computer programmer is a person who
creates computer software.
22
