Chapter One

Introduction to Computer
 CONTENTS

✓ Definition of Computers and its Applications

✓ Human vs Computer
✓ Characteristics of Computers
✓ Classification of computers
✓ Importance of Computers
✓ Generation and History of Computers
✓ Types of Computers
✓ Limitation of Computers
✓ Advantage and Disadvantage of Computers
2
 What is computer ?
➢Computer is: an electronic machine capable of manipulating
numbers and symbols, taking an input, storing it, processing it
and giving an output all under the control of a set of
instructions (called program).
➢It is a programmable electronic device.
Any calculating device or machine, which is electronic,
mechanical or electromechanical can be called a Computer.
✓But that doesn’t mean that computers perform only
calculation

3
➢Computer has two basic features.
✓ It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-
defined manner.
✓ It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a
program).
➢However, the term “Computer” has come to mean a special
electronic device having certain definite characteristics
➢Any computer system has three basic functions:
✓To accept data (input) ,
✓To convert data to information (process), and
✓To produce and communicate information in a timely
fashion to users for decision making (output).

4
 Computers vs. Human Beings
▪ Humans have rather poor memory, they need certain support apart
from their abilities and capacities.
▪ Because of poor memory and mental tiredness humans lack
accuracy, speed, and reliability that is why, human needs computer
as their additional support.
Differences between Human Attitude and computer Attitudes

Human Computer
Can Think Cannot think by itself
Gets Mental Tiredness Never gets Tiredness
May do mistake Can’t do mistake by itself
Has limited speed Very High Speed
Has limited Memory More Amount of memory
Accuracy may be missing Never missing 5
 Characteristics of Computers
➢The characteristics of a computer show the capabilities and the
potentials of the computer for processing data.
➢Computers have five basic characteristics:
Speed - The most important characteristic of a computer is its speed.
✓Computers perform their operations step by step.
✓Their speed is measured by the amount of time it took to perform
or carry out a basic operation.
✓Computer speed measured in terms of microsecond (10-6 one
millionths), nanosecond (10-9 one billionths), and Pico second (10-
12 one trillionths).

Storage - You can imagine how much space data of a census on

papers need.
✓Not only the space, also the time it took to get or retrieve specific
information from such vast amount of data is not negligible.
✓ 6
 ✓ But a computer can store such amount of information in a few
numbers of disks.
✓ In general a computer has a capacity to store a very large amount
of information in organized manner so that accessing information is
very fast.
Accuracy - Nowadays computers are being used for surgical purposes,
which need almost a hundred percent accuracy.
✓From this we can understand that computers are accurate and
consistent.
✓Unless there is an error in the input data or unreliable program the
computer processes with a very high accuracy.
Automatic - Once necessary information and program is fed, the
computer performs processing without human intervention.
Versatility - Computers have the potential to perform or solve varieties
of tasks and problems, as long as the problem or the task can be put
or reduced in the form of logical steps.
7
 Diligence: They are free from lack of concentration, tiredness and etc.
✓They constantly perform similar tasks over and over again.
There are several methods of classifying computers
I) Classification by the method of operation (processing)
➢Computers are classified by the type of data they are designed to
process.
➢They are classified into three: Analog, Digital and hybrid Computers
a) Analog Computers: They operate by measuring.
✓They deal with continues variables, they don’t compute directly with
numbers, rather, they operate by measuring physical magnitude such as
pressure, temperature, voltage, current etc.

8
Examples
✓Thermometer
✓Voltmeter
✓Speedometer
✓Gasoline pomp – Contains an analog Computer
that converts the flow of pumped fuel into two
measurements the price of the delivered gas and
the quantity of pumped fuel.
➢They are special purpose computers.
➢However, analog computers have limited accuracy

9
b) Digital Computers: deal with discrete variables, they
operate by counting rather than measuring.
They operate directly up on numbers (or digits) that
represent numbers, letters, or other special symbols.
Examples:
◦ Abacus
◦ Desk & pocket computers
◦ The general purpose computers
✓Digital computers have very high accuracy and speed
than the analog ones.

10
 c) Hybrid computers: The best features of analog and digital
computers can be combined into a single device to form a
hybrid computer. A hybrid computer processes the information
by collecting input data with analog method, convert it into
digital quantities, processes the digital values and convert the
output from digital to analog form. Example:
➢In hospital insensitive-care unit analog devices may
measure a patient’s heart function, temperature and other
vital signs.
➢These measurements may then be converted into numbers
and supplied to a digital component in the system.
➢This component is used to monitor the patient’s vital signs
and to send an immediate signal to the nurse’s station if any
abnormal readings are detected.

11
II) Classification by purpose of application
➢Computers can be applied or used for different purposes.
Based upon their application, they are classified as special
purpose or general purpose computers.
a) Special purpose computers
➢They are designed to solve a single type of problem, that is
their components and their functions are uniquely adopted to
a specific situation involving specific application.
Example:
✓The public telephone box
✓Traffic control system
✓Ticket machines (used in grocery, super market etc.)
✓Pocket calculators etc.
Most analog computers are special purpose computers.
12
b)General purpose computers
➢They are designed to solve variety of problems through
the use of “store program concept”.
➢ A program or set of instructions designed to solve a
problem is read and stored into the memory and then
executed by the computer one by one.
➢ The same computer can be applied to solve another set
of problem using different program. General computers
are more flexible and versatile.
Examples:
✓Micro computers
✓Mini computers
✓Super computers etc.

13
III) Classification by physical size, price, capacity and performance
a) Micro computers: -are the most widely used type of computers.
✓They are single users, can fit on desktops, are of varying capacity
and easy to handle.
✓ Microcomputers are sometimes referred as personal computers.
✓They have video display unit for output purpose. Data is entered
through the keyboard and by the help of floppy disk.
✓Microcomputers come in a variety of sizes and shapes for a
variety of purposes.
✓ Basically they can be grouped into three: Laptop, Palmtop and
Desktop computers.
➢ Laptop computers are smaller versions of microcomputers about
the size of a briefcase designed for portability. People can easily
carry these personal computers
14
 ✓ Unlike desktop PCs that have mostly detachable components,
laptops include all their components (except their printer) in a
single unit
➢Palmtop computer is the smallest microcomputer that is about the same
size as a pocket calculator. It is the most portable computer and is
growing in popularity among the latest entries in the microcomputer
market.
✓Palmtops are typically used for a limited number of functions, such as
maintaining personal calendar, name and address files, or electronic
worksheets.
➢Desktop computer is the most widely used type of personal computer
(microcomputers).
✓Unlike laptop and personal computers, desktop computers have
detachable parts. However, since its size is larger than the other
types of personal computers, it is not easily portable.

15
➢In general, microcomputers are used for:
✓Word processing (to prepare letters, reports, memos
and other documents.)
✓Computerized worksheet analysis and modeling.
✓Graphics in the generation of charts and other
graphic images.
✓Engineering activities. (Computer-aided design and
analysis can be performed )
✓Personal and home use (Entertainment, home
management, personal finances, education)

16
b) Mini computers: are midrange computers that are larger
and more powerful than most microcomputers but are
smaller and less powerful than mainframe computer systems.
➢The minicomputers' size prevents it from being easily
portable although it can be moved more easily than a
mainframe computer.
➢Minicomputers cost less to buy and maintain than
mainframe computers.
➢Most minicomputers can function in ordinary operating
environments, as they do not need special air conditioning
or electrical wiring.
➢Minicomputers are being used for a large number of
business and scientific applications.
17
➢They are popularly used in scientific laboratories, research centers,
universities and colleges, engineering firms, industrial process monitoring
and control, etc.
c) Mainframe computers: are large, powerful computers that are
physically larger than micros and minis and usually have processors with
faster instruction processing speeds.
➢For example, they may be able to process from 10 to 200 million
instructions per second (MIPS).
➢ It is generally found in a special computer room where environmental
factors such as temperature, humidity, dust and air conditions are
closely monitored.
➢Because of the computer's cost and the value of the information stored
there, the rooms in which mainframes are located have security systems
allowing only authorized personnel to enter.

18
➢Mainframe computers are designed to handle the
information processing needs of organizations with many
employees and customers or with complex computational
problems.
➢To give some examples, mainframes can handle the
processing of thousands of customer inquiries, employee
paychecks, student registrations, sales transactions, and
inventory changes.
➢They are also used as the center of computer networking.
➢These computers are used by organizations that have
enormous and complex data processing assignments.

19
d) Supercomputer: The term supercomputer has been coined to
describe a category of extremely powerful computer designed for
high-speed processing.
✓A supercomputer is generally characterized as being the fastest,
most powerful, and most expensive computer.
➢As many as sixty miles of wiring are closely packed inside
supercomputers, and tremendous amounts of heat are generated.
➢Because of this, supercomputers demand special cooling
requirements and the room itself should be air-conditioned.
➢Some supercomputers require extra floor support to hold the
extreme weight of the complete system that includes storage units.

20
➢In addition, highly trained data processing professionals
are required to operate supercomputers.
➢These computers can take inputs from over 10,000
individual computers and users at the same time.
➢Super computers are largely used by
✓research organizations,
✓military defense systems,
✓national weather forecasting agencies,
✓large corporations,
✓aircraft manufacturers, etc.

21
 Generations of computers
➢The history of digital computers start in the 1940s where the first
electronic general purpose digital computer was manufactured at the
University of Pennsylvania by two American scientists.
➢The name of this computer was ENIAC (Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer).
➢Even though, this machine has several drawbacks its invention was a
great break through to the computer industry.
➢ Ever since then the industry has shown a very big advancement in
different aspects.
➢The history of computer development is often referred to in
reference to the different generations of computing devices.

22
➢Each generation of computer is characterized by a
major technological development that fundamentally
changed the way computers operate, resulting in
increasingly smaller, cheaper, and more powerful, and
more efficient and reliable devices.
➢ Each generation and the developments that led to the
current devices that we use today are discussed below.

23
I First Generation – 1945s: Vacuum Tubes
➢Used vacuum tubes as components for the electronic circuit.
➢Punched cards were the main source of inputs, and magnetic
drums were used for internal storage.
➢Operate in a speed of milliseconds (thousands of a second)
and could handle more than 10,000 additions each second.
➢Most applications were scientific calculations.

24
II Second Generation – 1960s: Transistors
➢Transistors were the main circuit components. Transistors are solid
state devices made from silicon which is smaller, cheaper, faster,
dissipate less energy and more reliable than vacuum tube but work in
the same way as the vacuum tube.
➢The transistor was invented in Bell Labs.
➢ Magnetic tapes (similar with home tape caste), used for main
storage,
➢Operate in microseconds (millionths of a second) with more than
200,000 additions possible each second.
➢High-level languages COBOL and FORTRAN were introduced during
this period. Batch operating systems were used that permitted rapid
processing of magnetic tape files.
➢The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic
energy industry.
25
III Third Generation - 1964-1971: Integrated Circuits
➢The development of the integrated circuit was the characteristic 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.
➢Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third
generation computers through keyboards and monitors.
➢users started to interact to the computer through operating systems.
➢This allowed the computer 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 were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.

26
IV Fourth Generation – 1971 - Present: Microprocessors
➢Greatly expanded storage capabilities and improved circuitry.
➢ Has a large-scale integrated circuits (LSI) which has several hundred
thousands of transistors placed on one tiny silicon chip.
➢In the mid-1970s the development of very-large-scale-integration
(VLSI) produced a chip containing a microprocessor.
➢VLSI made the microcomputer possible.
➢The Intel 80386 microprocessor followed.
➢The Intel 80386 is faster and more powerful than its predecessors.
➢Magnetic disks became the primary means of internal storage.
➢Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the
mouse and handheld devices.
27
V Fifth Generation - Present and Beyond: Artificial Intelligence
➢ Fifth generation computing devices, are based on artificial
intelligence,
➢ Are still in development, though there are some applications, such as
voice recognition, that are being used today.
➢ The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to
make artificial intelligence a reality.
➢ Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will
radically change the face of computers in years to come.
➢ The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that
respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and
self-organization.

28
 Uses of Computers
➢ Computers are applied in industry, government, education, medicine,
scientific research, law, social science and arts. It is essential for every
educated person today to know about a computer. Now a days they are
used in:
✓Commercial /Business Applications
Payroll accounting: was the 1st commercial area to become widely
computerized.
Office Automation: Application of current technologies to offices.
Office Automation: retaining, manipulating and utilizing information in
electronic form
Word processing: Preparing reports, official letters, documents..
Stock control: the processing of sales orders and sales accounting, and
production planning.
Banks: is almost totally dependent on the computer.
Insurance Companies
29
✓Scientific Applications
Computers apply in the field of physics, chemistry astronomy
and genetics. They are widely used in:
Universities
Industrial laboratories
Weather forecasting
Space technology
◦ Air traffic control
◦ Pilots training
◦ Railways and roadways
◦ Medical field

30
✓Hospital Administration
◦ Useful in maintaining inventory of drugs, surgical
equipment
◦ Payroll hospital accounting (bed allocation)
◦ To control patients condition
◦ Assist in medical diagnosis e.g. Program which can
carryout electro-cardiogram analysis to determine
both normal and abnormal heart conditions.
◦ Train doctors and nursing staffs

31
✓Industrial Applications
◦ In industry, production may be planned, coordinated and
controlled with the aid of a computer.
◦ In the design of airplane, ship, car, bridge, road and
buildings.
✓Educational Applications
◦ Computers support the teaching and learning process in
secondary and primary schools.
✓Higher Education: Assists in research activities
✓Libraries- To control lists of borrowed books..
◦ To provide useful information such as encyclopedia

32
 Limitations of computers
➢Computers haven’t yet met all our expectations as a
productivity improvement tool i.e. they facilitate our work by
reducing time and cost, but sometimes we take much more
time to learn how to use application program that is
supposed to increase productivity based on the existing
program
➢They don’t think.
➢Computers are merely tools, useless without humans.
➢It cannot identify its problem
➢Decide the output needed to solve the problem
➢Software that generate automatically is also designed by
humans
33