Introduction to

Computer Science
Lecturer: Ngo Thanh Trung

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About the course
Duration of the course:
• Lecture: 30 hours
• Exercises: 15 hours
• Lab: 6 x 2 hours
About the course
Student Duties
• Class attendance: ≥ 80%
• Homework:
• Lab work:
About the course
Assessment
• Mid-term grade: 0.4 (40%)
• Home exercise grading
• Project
• Lab work and reports
• Mid-term test
• Final exam (multichoice and writing): 0.6 (60%)
 What is this course about?
• An introduction to Computer Science

• Algorithmic problem solving

• The C programming language

• Prerequisites: basic computer skills

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Textbooks
1. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong. Introduction to
Computer Science. Textbook Draft
2. Nell Dale, John Lewis. Computer Science
Illuminate. Jones & Bartlett Learning,2014.
3. Brookshear, J, G. Computer Science. An
Overview. Benjamin/Cummings, 1993.
4. Kernighan, B. W., Ritchie. D,M. The C
Programming Language. Prentice Hall. 1995.
5. Stephen G. Kochan. Programming in C: A
Complete Introduction to the C Programming
Language. Sams. 2004

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Course outline

Part I
Fundamentals of Information Technology

Part II
The C Programming Language

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Part I : Fundamentals of
Information Technology

• Unit 1. Basic Concepts

• Unit 2. Data Representation in a Computer
• Unit 3. Computer Systems
• Unit 4. Computer Network
• Unit 5. Operating Systems

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 Unit 1
Basic Concepts
Basic Concepts

Nguyen Thi Thu Huong-SoICT-HUST 9

 Unit 1. Basic Concepts

• Information and Information Processing

• Data – Information – Knowledge
• Information Processing
• Computers and Classification of Computers
• History of Computers
• Classification of Computers
• Computer Science and Relevant Sciences

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Information and
Information Processing

• Data – Information – Knowledge

• Information Processing

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Data - Information - Knowledge- Wisdom

DIKW pyramid
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 Data

Data represents unorganized and unprocessed

facts.

• Usually data is static in nature.

• It can represent a set of discrete facts about events.
• Data is a prerequisite to information.
• An organization has to decide on the nature and volume of
data that is required for creating the necessary information.

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 Information
• Information can be considered as an aggregation of
data (processed data) which makes decision
making easier.

• Information has usually got some meaning and

purposes.

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Data & Information
DATA and INFORMATION

INFORMATION = DATA + CONTEXT + MEANING

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 Knowledge
• Human understanding of a subject matter that has been
acquired through proper study and experience.
• Usually based on learning, thinking, and proper
understanding of the problem area.
• Understanding of information based on its perceived
importance or relevance to a problem area.
• Integration of human perceptive processes that helps
them to draw meaningful conclusions.

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Knowledge

• Through knowledge and experiences, the doctor

discover a rule of blood pressure increment ->
knowledge.
• Prescribe medicines, or other treatment to help the
patient to control blood pressure
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Wisdom
• Although commonly included as a level in DIKW,
the reference is very limited
• There are several definitions of Wisdom
• knowing the right things to do
• the ability to make sound judgments and decisions
apparently without thought

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 Information Processing

The electronic capture, collection, storage,

manipulation, transmission, retrieval, and presentation
of information in the form of data, text, voice, or
image and includes telecommunications and office
automation functions.

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Model of Information Processing

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

STORAGE

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Computers and
Classification of Computers

• History of Computers
• Classification of Computers
• Computer Science and Relevant Sciences

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History of Computers
The abacus

Blaise Pascal invented the first commercial

calculator, a hand powered adding machine
In 1801 Joseph-Marie Jacquard builds a loom
that weaves by reading punched holes stored on
small sheets of hardwood

Charles Babbage : a programmable machine

Ada Lovelace used the

machine to mechanically
translate a short written work.
She is generally regarded as
the first programmer
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History of Computers (cont’d)
• George Boole writes An Investigation of the
Laws of Thought(1854)
• In 1935, Konrad Zuse, builds a mechanical
calculator to handle the math involved in his
profession.
• The Enigma, a complex mechanical encoder is
used by the Germans
• Alan Turing proposes a "Universal
Machine" capable of "computing" any
algorithm in 1937.

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 History of Computers (cont’d)
• In 1946, ENIAC,
completes.
• The first commercially
successful computer is
IBM 701
• 1969 UNIX operating
system,
• Internet, ARPANet
• “Personal Computer"
• 1981:MS-DOS
Operating System
• 1985 : MS Windows ENIAC
The first digital programmable
machine

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First generation of computing
(1950-1959)
• Used vacuum tubes to store data and
programs

Nguyen Thi Thu Huong-SoICT-HUST

• Memory: Magnetic drums

• Input device: Punched cards

• Each computer was multiple rooms in

size

• Computers were not very reliable

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 Second generation of computing
(1959-1965)
• Replaced vacuum tubes by transistors and magnetic cores
• Dramatic reduction in size
• Computer could fit into a single room
• Increase in reliability of computers
• Reduced costs of computers
• High-level programming languages

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Third generation of computing
(1965-1975)
• Used integrated circuits rather than individual electronic
components
• Further reduction in size and cost of computers
• Computers became desk-sized
• First minicomputer developed

• Software industry formed

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Fourth generation of computing
(1975-1985)
• Reduced to the size of a typewriter
• First microcomputer developed
• Desktop and personal computers common
• Appearance of
• Computer networks
• Electronic mail
• User-friendly systems (Graphical user interfaces)

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Fifth generation of computing
(1985-now)
• Artificial Intelligence
• Massively parallel processors
• Handheld devices and other types of personal digital
assistants (PDAs)
• High-resolution graphics
• Powerful multimedia user interfaces incorporating sound,
voice recognition, touch, photography, video, and
television

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Fifth generation of computing
(1985-now)(cont’d)
Integrated global telecommunications incorporating data,
television, telephone, FAX, the Internet, and the World Wide
Web
Wireless data communications
Massive storage devices
Ubiquitous computing
Embedded systems
Artificial Intelligence

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The Layers of Software

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 Classification of Computers

Available in different shapes, sizes and weights

Perform different sorts of jobs from one another.

 Mainframe Computer
 Supercomputers
 Minicomputers
 Microcomputers

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Nguyen Thi Thu Huong-SoICT-HUST

Mini computer

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Micro computer

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Computer Science
and Relevant Sciences

• Information Technology
• Information and Communication Technology

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Definitions of Computer Science

The study of computers, including both hardware

and software design. Computer science is
composed of many broad disciplines, including
artificial intelligence and software engineering.

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 Information Technology

Includes all matters concerned with the furtherance of

computer science and technology and with the design,
development, installation, and implementation of
information systems and applications

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Information and Communication Technology
• Any communication device or application,
encompassing:
• Radio
• Television
• Cellular phones
• Computers
• Network hardware and software,
• Satellite systems . . .
• The various services and applications associated with
them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.

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Six Layers of a Computing System

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