Chapter 1: Computer

Technology
Part 1
Comprehend to Desktop Computer

Prepared by: Mohd Helmi bin Mat Lazim

Department of IT & Communication
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Polytechnic

Topics that will covered on this chapter:

Evolution of computers
Differences between firmware, software and hardware.
Identifying different classes of computer
Role of server, workstation and server
Computer chassis form:
- Mini/ Full tower
- AT case
- ATX case
Display units
- CRT monitor
- TFT monitor

Definition: Computer
Computer is an electronic device operating
under the control of instructions stored in its
memory unit.
It can accept data (input), process data
arithmetically and logically, produce results
(output) from the processing and store the
Processes data into information
results for future use.
Accepts data

Raw facts, figures, and

symbols

Produces and stores results

Data that is organized,

meaningful, and useful

Evolution of Computers
The history of computer development is
often referred to in reference to the different
generations of computing devices .
A generation refers to the state of
improvement in the development of a
product.
With each new generation, the circuitry has
gotten smaller and more advanced than the
previous generation before it.

Evolution of Computers: First Generation

1940 1956 (Vacuum Tubes)
Used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic
drums for memory.
Often enormous, taking up entire rooms.
Very expensive to operate
Used great deal of electricity
Generated a lot of heat, which was often the
cause of malfunctions.
Relied on machine language to perform
operations, and they could only solve one problem at
a time.
UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of
first-generation computing devices.
The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer
delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau
in 1951.

Evolution of Computers: First Generation

1940 1956 (Vacuum Tubes)

Example of Vacuum Tubes

Evolution of Computers: Second

Generation
1956 1963 ( Transistors)
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes.
Transistor is a device composed of semiconductor
material that amplifies a signal or opens or closes a
circuit.
Allowed computers to become smaller, faster,
cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable
than their first-generation predecessors.
Relied on punched cards for input and printouts
for output.
Used assembly languages, which allowed
programmers to specify instructions in words.
High-level programming languages were also

Evolution of Computers: Second

Generation
1956 1963 (Transistors)

Example of Transistors

Evolution of Computers: Third

Generation
1964 1971 ( Intergrated Circuit)
The development of the integrated circuit was the
hallmark of the third generation of computers.
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 and monitors and interfaced
with an operating system, which allowed the
device to run many different applications at one time
with a central program that monitored the memory
Computers for the first time became
accessible to a mass audience because they

Evolution of Computers: Third

Generation
1964 1971 (Intergrated Circuit)

Example of an Integrated
Circuit

Evolution of Computers: Fourth

Generation
1971 - Present ( Microprocessor)
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of
computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were
built onto a single silicon chip.
1971 - The Intel 4004 chip was developed. Contain
all the components of the computer - from the central
processing unit and memory to input/output controls on a single chip.
1981 - IBM introduced its first computer for the
home user.
1984 - Apple introduced the Macintosh.

Evolution of Computers: Fourth

Generation
1971 - present (Microprocessor)

Example of microprocessor

Evolution of Computers: Fifth Generation

Present - beyond ( Artificial Intelligence)
Artificial Intelligence is the branch of computer
science concerned with making computers behave
like humans.
- John McCarthyat the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 1956
Artificial intelligence includes:
1)Games Playing: programming computers to play
games such as chess and checkers
- In May, 1997, an IBM super-computer called
Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Gary
Kasparov in a chess match.
2) Expert Systems: programming computers to
make decisions in real-life situations (for example,
some expert systems help doctors diagnose diseases

Evolution of Computers: Fifth Generation

Present - beyond ( Artificial Intelligence)
3) Natural Language: programming computers to
understand natural human languages.
4) Neural Networks: Systems that simulate
intelligence by attempting to reproduce the types of
physical connections that occur in animal brains.
-Proving successful in a number of disciplines such as
voice recognition and natural-language processing.
5)Robotics: programming computers to see and hear
and react to other sensory stimulation.
- Robots still have great difficulty identifying
objects based on appearance or feel, and they still
move and handle objects clumsily.

Evolution of Computers: Fifth Generation

Present beyond (Artificial Intelligence)

Example of a robot build using AI

technology

Definition: Firmware
Term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather
small, programs and data structures that internally
control various electronic devices.
Simple firmware typically resides in ROM or PROM,
while more complex firmware often employs flash
memory to allow for updates.
Common reasons for updating firmware include
fixing bugs or adding features to the device.
Examples of firmware include:
1)Timing and control systems for washing machines
2)The BIOS found in IBM-compatible personal
computers
3)A typical firmware-controlled device, a television
remote control

Definition: Software
General term for the various kinds of programs used
to operate computers and related devices.
The two major categories of software are:
1)System software
-System software is made up of control programs such
as the
operating system (OS) and database management
system (DBMS).
- Examples of OS: Windows, Macintosh, Linux
2) Application software
-Application software is any program that processes
data for the

Definition: Hardware
Hardware, in the computer world, refers to the
physical components that make up a computer
system.
There are many, many different kinds of hardware
that can be installed inside and connected to the
outside of a computer.
However, there are several standard pieces of
hardware that can be found as part of nearly every
computer:
1)Motherboard
2)Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3)Random Access Memory (RAM)
4)Power Supply
5)Video Card , etc

Differences between firmware, software

andSoftware
hardware Hardware
Firmware
Fixed, usually
rather small,
programs and data
structures that
internally control
various electronic
devices.

Programs used to
operate computers
and related
devices.

Physical
components that
make up a
computer system.

Example:

Example:

Example:

Television remote
control is a
Microsoft Word
firmware-controlled 2007 is an example
device
of a software

CPU is an example
of a hardware

Classes of computer
Computers can be generally classified by size and
power as follows:
1)Personal Computer
Defined as a small, relatively inexpensive computer
designed for an individual user.
Businesses use personal computers for word
processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for
running spreadsheet and database management
applications.
At home, the most popular use for personal
computers is for playing games and for surfing the
Internet.

Classes of computer

Example of a common components

in a personal computer system

Classes of computer
2) Workstation
It is a type of computer used for engineering
applications, desktop publishing, software
development, and other types of applications that
require a moderate amount of computing power and
relatively high quality graphics capabilities.
Workstations generally come with a large, highresolution graphics screen, at large amount of RAM,
built-in network support, and a graphical user
interface.
Most common operating systems for workstations are
UNIX and Windows NT.

Classes of computer

Example of a workstation by Dell

Classes of computer
3) Supercomputer
Supercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest
computers currently available.
Supercomputers are very expensive and are
employed for specialized applications that require
immense amounts of mathematical calculations
(number crunching).
- For example, weather forecasting requires a
supercomputer.
Other uses of supercomputers are:
1)scientific simulations
2)(animated) graphics
3)nuclear energy research
4) electronic design
5)analysis of geological data (e.g. in petrochemical
prospecting).

Classes of computer

Example of a super computer by

NEC

Classes of computer
4) Mainframe
Mainframe is a very large and expensive computer
capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of
users simultaneously.
The main difference between a supercomputer and a
mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its
power into executing a few programs as fast as
possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to
execute many programs at the same time.

Classes of computer
5) Notebook computer / Laptop
An extremely lightweight personal computer.
Notebook computers typically weigh less than 6
pounds and are small enough to fit easily in a
briefcase.
Notebook computers cost about twice as much as
equivalent regular-sized computers.
Notebook computers come with battery packs that
enable you to run them without plugging them in.
However, the batteries need to be recharged every
few hours.

Classes of computer

Example of a laptop (HP Limited

Edition)

Server
A computer system in a network that is shared by
multiple users.

In information technology, a server is a computer

system that provides services to other computing
systemscalled clientsover a computer network.
The term server can refer to hardware (such as a Sun
computer system) or software (such as an RDBMS
server).
In large companies, servers often reside in racks in
the datacenter, and all access is via their network
connections.

Server

Example of servers in a datacenter

Workstation
A workstation is a high-end microcomputer
designed for technical or scientific applications.
Intended primarily to be used by one person at a
time, they are commonly connected to a local area
network (LAN) and run multi-user operating systems
(example: Windows NT).
Workstations had offered higher performance than
personal computers, especially with respect to CPU
and graphics, memory capacity and multitasking
capability.
Presently, the workstation market is highly
commoditized and is dominated by large PC vendors,
such as Dell and Heward Packard (HP).

Desktop
A desktop computer is a personal computer (PC) in
a form intended for regular use at a single location, as
opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer.
Most modern desktop computers have separate
screens and keyboards.

Computer chassis
A computer case (also known as a computer
chassis, cabinet, box, tower, enclosure, housing
or simply case) is the enclosure that contains the
main components of a computer.
Cases are usually constructed from steel , aluminum,
or plastic, although other materials such as wood , and
Lego have also been used in case designs.
There are several types of chassis which include:
1)Mini tower
2)Full tower
3)AT case
4)ATX case

Computer chassis
1)Mini tower
The mini tower is the case of choice for many
homebuilders.
It is roughly the same size as a desktop case, but due
to its design is generally easier to use and often has
more capacity.
It also tends to keep components cooler than a
desktop case.
Since it is not nearly as large as a full tower case,
many people put the mini tower on the desktop, next
to the monitor.

Computer chassis
2) Full tower
A full tower case is the largest standard PC case
available on the market.
These units are big, heavy and at two to three feet in
height, are intended to be installed on the floor.
Towers are the most flexible, expandable cases, with
many drive bays to support a large number of internal
devices.
The best case at keeping components from
overheating.

A typical mini tower case

(AOpen's Mt85)

A full tower case. Note the five

5.25" drive bays, and
the extended stabilizing feet at
the bottom.
(In Win's Q600)

Computer chassis
3) AT case
AT case have serial and parallel ports attached to the
case in an expansion slot and connected to the board
through cables.
They also have a single keyboard connector soldered
onto the board at the back of the board.
The processor is still at the front of the board and can
sometimes get in the way of expansion cards.
The AT design is not conducive to efficient cooling of
the system.
-Air is not blown over the areas that need it, namely
the CPU.
-Also, the air flow draws in dust. Over time, the AT
power supply will get dusty and the inside of the

Example of an AT case

Computer chassis
4) ATX case
Many consider the ATX design a vast improvement
over the standard AT design.
Some advanced features of the ATX format:
1.Integrated I/O Connectors
-While the AT uses headers on the board that are
attached to the actual ports on the back of the case,
the ATX board has the actual ports built right onto the
board. This makes installation easier and enhances
reliability.
-This includes an integrated PS/2 mouse connector

Computer chassis
2) Reduced Processor Interference with Cards
- The processor is moved from the front of the board
near the slots to the back, top of the board, near the
power supply.
-This means that a user can install full-length
expansion cards in the slot without having to worry
about hitting the CPU or heat sink.
3) Better Cooling Conditions
- The ATX power supply blows air into the case instead
of out. This means that air blows out all the holes in
the case and thus keeps dust out.

Example of
ATX cases

Display device: Monitor

Display device is an output device that visually
conveys information.
Monitor is an example of a display device. It is a
computer display and related parts packaged in a
physical unit that is separate from other parts of the
computer.
There are two main types of monitor:
1)CRT monitor
2)TFT monitor

Display unit: CRT Monitor

CRT stands for cathode ray tube, describing the
technology inside an analog computer monitor or
television set.
A CRT monitor or TV is readily recognizable by its
bulky form.
The screen is coated with tiny dots of phosphor
material
- Each dot consists of a red, blue, and green phosphor
The CRT monitor comes in 15-inch to 21-inch sizes
(38 53 cm) and larger, though the actual viewing
screen is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) smaller than the rated
size.
Screens are measured diagonally from corner to
corner including
theof
case.
Example
a CRT monitor

Display unit: CRT Monitor

Display unit: TFT Monitor

A TFT monitor uses thin-film transistor technology for
the ultimate LCD display.
LCD monitors, also called flat panel displays, are
replacing the old style cathode ray tubes (CRTs) as the
displays of choice.
Nearly all LCD monitors today use TFT technology.
The benefit of a TFT monitor is a separate, tiny
transistor for each pixel on the display.
Because each transistor is so small, the amount of
charge needed to control it is also small.
This allows for very fast re-drawing of the display, as
the image is re-painted or refreshed several times per
second.
A typical 17-inch TFT monitor has about 1.3 million

Display unit: TFT Monitor

Example of a TFT/ Flat screen

monitor by HP

Activity:
1)What is computer? And list three types of
computer.
2)List the main technology evolved during
each of the generation.
3)Name three of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
fields that evolved during the fifth
generation.
4)What is the differences between Firmware,
Software and Hardware?
5)What is the three advantages of using an
ATX case/chassis ?