Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Sta. Mesa, Manila

ENGINEERING UTILITES
First Semester AY:2020-2021
Module # 01

1-1. About the Module

1-1.1 Overview

Computers are an integral part of modern society and new technology has transformed the
modern world into a global village. Communication today is conducted using text messaging,
mobile phones, video calls over the Internet, email and social media sites New technology allows
people to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, and the World Wide Web allows
businesses to compete in a global market.

1-1.2 Module Objectives

After completing this module, the student must be able to:

• Familiarize the history of computers
• Learn how computer operates.
• Understand the components required for modern computer to function.

1-1.3 Course Materials

To complement this learning module, the students are advised to read/watch the following
resources listed below.

Ch. 1-6: History of Modern Computers

Jones, C. (2014). The Technical and Social History of Software Engineering. Pearson, Addison-
Wesley Education, 2014

Ch. 2: Hardware Components

Wilson, K. (2017). Essential Computer Hardware. Elluminet Press. England
The History of Computing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M6lANfzFsM
HOME SCHOOL SERIES: The History Of Computers and Coding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4d3FXu9-3I

Computer Basics: Hardware

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctAVC2JwEwI

Basics of Hardware and software | Computer Awareness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jglLkX3sCsc

1-1.4 Topics

Introductions to computers
History of computer. Modern computers; its components, and applications.
1-2. Introduction to Computers

From the earliest knowledge of counting and numerical concepts, those who used numerical
information were troubled by the needs for greater speed in calculating and for greater reliability
of results than the unaided human mind could provide. To explain the later importance of
computers and software, it is useful to begin with some of the earliest attempts to improve
mathematical performance.

It is also useful to think about what computers and software really do and why they are valuable.
The services that are provided to the human mind by various calculating devices include, but are
not limited to, the following:

• Basic arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

• Scientific mathematics, including powers, sines, cosines, and others
• Financial mathematics, including simple and compound interest and rates of return
• Logical calculations, such as routing and choices between alternatives
• Calculations of time, distance, height, and speed
• Deriving useful inductive knowledge from large collections of disparate information
• Deductive logic, such as drawing conclusions from rules

Mathematics is the first of these six forms of invention. Calculating devices, computers, and
software were all first invented to speed up mathematical calculations. Mathematics probably
started with addition and subtraction and were then followed later by multiplication and division.
After that, many other and more abstract forms appeared: geometry, trigonometry, algebra, and
calculus, for example.

The second form of invention is the recording of ideas and information so they can be shared and
transmitted and also to keep the ideas available over long time periods. The inventions in this
category include writing systems and physical storage of writing. Physical storage of writing
includes stone tablets, clay tablets, papyrus, animal skins, paper, and eventually magnetic and
optical storage. Storage also includes manuscripts, books, libraries, and eventually databases
and cloud storage.
The third form of invention is that of physical calculating devices that could assist human scholars
in faster and more accurate calculations than would be possible using only the human mind and
the human body. Tables of useful values were perhaps the fi rst method used to speed up
calculations. Physical devices include the abacus, protractors, astrolabes, measuring devices,
mechanical calculating devices, slide rules, analog computers, and eventually electronic digital
computers.

A fourth form of invention involves the available channels for distributing information to many
people. The first channel was no doubt word of mouth and passing information along to be
memorized by students or apprentices. But soon information transmission started to include
markings on stones and bones; markings on clay; and eventually pictographs, ideographs, and
finally alphabets.

The fifth form of invention is that of software itself. This is the most recent form of invention;
essentially all software used in 2013 is less than 55 years old, probably more than 50% of the
software is less than 20 years old.

1-3. History of Computer

At the start of the 1930s, the need for rapid computation was recognized, but practical knowledge
about building such devices was sparse. By the end of the decade, impressive research had
provided the logical basis for digital computing, and working computers were under development.
This decade also witnessed the inclusion of symbolic logic into computer designs, which would
soon open up a vast array of new kinds of applications dealing with logical issues such as
telephone routing and other forms of decision making. Computers were no longer envisioned
merely as fast mathematical calculators but as tools that could help in solving complex logical
problems. Several new analog computers were built for military purposes such as naval gun
control, bombsights, and submarine torpedo launching.

At the start of the 1940s, World War II rapidly engulfed the world in one of the most devastating
conflicts in history. The war led to a massive increase in the need for rapid calculations for military
ballistics, cryptanalysis, and other military necessities.
As a result of these military needs, the Allies, and the Axis powers both increased their spending
on analog and digital computers. Digital computers were used by the Allies to break key military
codes for both Germany and Japan, which probably shortened the war and raised the odds of
Allied success. Analog computers were built by the thousands for naval fire control, submarine
torpedo launching, antiaircraft fire control, and bombsights linked to autopilots.

At the start of the 1950s, computers were built by hand, and they each used thousands of vacuum
tubes. These custom-built early computers were used primarily for military and mathematical
calculations. By the end of the decade, computers had become commercial products for both the
military and businesses, and they were manufactured using transistors and integrated circuits.
Programming these commercial computers was made easier by the early high-level languages of
COBOL, FORTRAN, and LISP. The occupation of computer programmer was starting an
ascending trajectory that would soon make it one of the fastest-growing jobs in history.

At the start of the 1970s, computers and software were minor niche industries with uncertain
futures. By the end of the decade, computers and software were on their way to creating wealth
beyond imagination and making Bill Gates the world’s wealthiest individual and Apple Computer
the world’s wealthiest company. The jobs of computer programming and software engineering
continued to expand rapidly.

By 1979, computers and software were well on their way to becoming the dominant tools for
business and government operations, and they were also on their way to becoming major
personal tools as well. After this decade, the impact of computers and software would permeate
every aspect of business, government, military, and personal activities. The world was changing,
and computers and software created huge networks that spanned the globe.

1-3. Modern Computers

The modern computer has become faster and more powerful, but the basic architecture of a
computing machine has essentially stayed the same for many years. Today we can take two
equivalent views of the machine: The hardware view and the software view. The hardware view,
not surprisingly, focuses on the machine and does allow for the fact that the software has
something to do with its reason to exist.
1-3.1 Computer Hardware

Computer systems are made up of several different hardware components such as a processor,
random access memory (RAM), hard-disk drive (HDD) and so on. This is called internal hardware
and usually plugs into a main board called a motherboard. For a typical personal computer,
devices that sit outside the case/central processing unit (CPU) are called peripherals and can
include printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, cameras, etc. There is also removable storage such
as memory cards, USB sticks and external hard drives that are designed to be portable. Modern
computer systems include the following:

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Computer memory is made up of silicon chips and is the computer’s working area. This is where
software instructions and data are stored. RAM is a general-purpose memory that usually stores
the user data in a program. RAM is volatile in the sense that it cannot retain data in the absence
of power, i.e., data is lost after the removal of power. For example, if you are typing a document
in Microsoft Word, both Microsoft Word and your document are loaded into and stored in the
computer’s memory while you are working on it.

Typical Computer RAM

Storage Drive
Storage drive also known as hard-disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) is a computing
device that stores data for a long term, non-volatile data, such as computer files, software, and
operating system.
 Typical Hard-disk Drive Internal

HDD is a type of storage media used in computers. It is the most popular device used for
secondary storage in personal computers. Data in a HDD is retained even without the power
because of its non-volatile nature. Also, data could be accessed randomly in an HDD. Data is
read/written magnetically by the heads of the HDD. HDD was introduced by IBM in 1956. Initially,
hard disks were very small in capacity and very high in price, but as the time went by, the cost
has gone down dramatically, while the capacity has become very large.

Typical Solid-state Drive

SSD is a device used for data storage. It stores persistent data using a solid-state memory. SSD
stores data in non-volatile microchips. SSD do not contain any moving parts inside them. Because
of these features, SSD are not vulnerable to physical shock, produces less noise and takes less
time to access. But they are slightly expensive and the number of writes per lifetime could be
limited. SSD are used in applications such as mission critical applications, equity trading
applications, telecommunication applications and video streaming, which benefit greatly from
faster access times.

Processor
Processor, commonly known as central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of the computer which
execute instructions given to a computer. It is made up of many transistors that process electrical
signals.

Typical Computer Processor

Modern processors have multiple cores. You might see a dual core or quad core processor. A
core is an independent processing unit, meaning the processor can execute more than one
instruction at a time, so the more cores your processor has, theoretically the faster it is.
The operation of most CPU’s is to execute a sequence of stored instructions called a program.
The instructions are kept in the computer’s memory (or RAM). There are four steps that nearly all
CPUs use in their operation: fetch, decode, execute, writeback.
 Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

1-3.2 Classification of Computer Applications and Their Characteristics

Although a common set of hardware technologies is used in computers ranging from smart home
appliances to cell phones to the largest supercomputers, these different applications have distinct
design requirements and employ the core hardware technologies in different ways. Broadly
speaking, computers are used in three dissimilar classes of applications.

Typical Desktop Computer Set-up

Personal computers (PCs)
A personal computer, also known as desktop computer, is designed for use by an individual,
usually incorporating a graphics display, a keyboard, and a mouse. They are possibly the best-
known form of computing and emphasize delivery of good performance to single users at low cost
and usually execute third-party software. This class of computing drove the evolution of many
computing technologies, which is merely 35 years old.

Servers
Servers are used for running larger programs for multiple users, often simultaneously, and
typically accessed only via a network. Servers are oriented to carrying sizable workloads, which
may consist of either single complex applications—usually a scientific or engineering
application—or handling many small jobs, such as would occur in building a large web server.
These applications are usually based on software from another source (such as a database or
simulation system) but are often modified or customized for a particular function. Servers are built
from the same basic technology as desktop computers, but provide for greater computing,
storage, and input/output capacity. In general, servers also place a higher emphasis on
dependability, since a crash is usually more costly than it would be on a single user PC.

Datacenter Server Computers

Servers span the widest range in cost and capability. At the low end, a server may be little more
than a desktop computer without a screen or keyboard and cost a thousand dollars. These low-
end servers are typically used for file storage, small business applications, or simple web serving.
At the other extreme are supercomputers, which at the present consist of tens of thousands of
processors and many terabytes of memory, and cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Supercomputers are usually used for high-end scientific and engineering calculations, such as
weather forecasting, oil exploration, protein structure determination, and other large-scale
problems. Although such supercomputers represent the peak of computing capability, they
represent a relatively small fraction of the servers and thus a proportionally tiny fraction of the
overall computer market in terms of total revenue.

Embedded computers
Embedded computers are the largest class of computers and span the widest range of
applications and performance. Embedded computers include the microprocessors found in your
car, the computers in a television set, and the networks of processors that control a modern
airplane or cargo ship. Embedded computing systems are designed to run one application or one
set of related applications that are normally integrated with the hardware and delivered as a single
system; thus, despite the large number of embedded computers, most users never really see that
they are using a computer.

Arduino Uno
Embedded applications often have unique application requirements that combine a minimum
performance with stringent limitations on cost or power. For example, consider a music player:
the processor need only to be as fast as necessary to handle its limited function, and beyond that,
minimizing cost and power is the most important objective. Despite their low cost, embedded
computers often have lower tolerance for failure, since the results can vary from upsetting (when
your new television crashes) to devastating (such as might occur when the computer in a plane
or cargo ship crashes). In consumer-oriented embedded applications, such as a digital home
appliance, dependability is achieved primarily through simplicity — the emphasis is on doing one
function as perfectly as possible. In large embedded systems, techniques of redundancy from the
server world are often employed. Although this book focuses on general-purpose computers,
most concepts apply directly, or with slight modifications, to embedded computers.

Raspberry Pi

1-4. Activities and Assessment

1. In your on words, define the meaning of computer, describe how it functions and affects
your life.
 2. What are the differences, advantage/disadvantage of a desktop computer, server, and
embedded computer with each other?
3. Explain how computer affects the life of professional engineers and student alike?

1-5. References

Berger, A. (2005). Hardware and Computer Organization, The Software Perspective. Elsevier.
United Kingdom

Indika (2011). Difference Between SSD and HDD. www.differencebetween.com/difference-

between-ssd-and-vs-hdd/ (accessed July 2020)

Jones, C. (2014). The Technical and Social History of Software Engineering. Pearson, Addison-
Wesley Education, 2014

Wilson, K. (2017). Essential Computer Hardware. Elluminet Press. England