Introduction to Computer Science

Unit 1
Introduction to Computer
History of Computer
Unit 2
Computer Software
Unit 3
Number System
Unit 4
Introduction to Problem Solving
Unit 5
QBasic
 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
The computer is fast becoming the universal machine of the twenty-first century. Early
computers were large in size and too expensive to be owned by individuals. Thus they were
confined to laboratories and few research institutes. They could only be programmed by
computer engineers. The basic applications were confined to undertaking complex calculations
in science and engineering. Today, the computer is no longer confined to the laboratory.
Computers, and indeed, computing have become embedded in almost every item we use.
Computing is fast becoming ubiquitous. Its application in engineering, communication, space
science, aviation, financial institutions, social sciences, humanities, the military, transportation,
manufacturing, and the extractive industries to mention but a few
What is Computer?
A computer is an electronic machine that takes data as input through the input unit, stores the
data as input through the storage unit, processes the data through the processing unit, and gives
results as information through the output unit.
Based on this definition, the computer has four functions:
 Accepts data – Input
 Processes data – Processing
 Gives Output – Output
 Stores results – Storage.

FUNCTIONAL UNIT OF COMPUTER

Based on the functions of computer described above, the activities of a computer center on
“Input”, “Processing”, “Output”. Thus, there are three core units of computer namely:
1. Input Unit
2. Processing Unit
3. Output Unit
Input Devices: Input devices are the computer hardware that accepts data and instructions from
a user. Input devices have been built in many forms to help in communicating with the computer.
The most common input devices are the keyboard and the mouse.
 The Keyboard: The keyboard of the personal computer comes in a number of styles. The
various models may differ in size and shape, but except for a few special purpose keys,
MDS keyboards are laid out almost identifiably. The most common keyboard used today
was established by IBM. The computer keyboard is more than just a typewriter. It
contains all of the keys required for typing letters, numbers, plus the keys for entering
commands and moving around on the screen. There are 101 keys arranged in groups:
Alphanumeric, Numeric, Function and Arrow/Cursor movement keys, and Computer
keys.
 A mouse is a pointing device that enables you to quickly move around on the screen, and
to select commands from menus rather than type the commands. A mouse is useful
because it enables the user to point at items on the screen and clicks a button to select the
item. It is convenient for entering certain data.
 Track Balls: A trackball is an input device that works like an upside-down mouse. You
rest your hand on the exposed ball and the fingers on the button. To move the cursor
around the screen, you roll the ball with your thumb. Trackballs are much popular with
notebook computers. They require less desk space than the mouse.
 The Joystick: This is a pointing device commonly used for games. It is not used for
business applications.
 The Pen: It is an input device that allows a user to write on or point at a special pad on
the screen of a pen-based computer, such as a personal digital assistant (PDAS).
 The Touch Screen: A computer screen that accepts input directly into the monitor; users
touch electronic buttons displayed on the screen. It is appropriate in environment where
dirt or weather would render keyboards and pointing devices useless.
 The Scanner: This is an input device used to copy images into a computer memory
without manual keying. It works by converting any image into electronic form by shining
light on the image and sensing the intensity of reflection at every point. There are several
kinds of scanners. These includes: hand held, flatbed, and sheet-feds.
 The Bar-Code Reader: This is one of the most commonly used input devices after the
keyboard and mouse. It is commonly found in supermarkets and department stores. This
device converts a pattern of printed bars on products into a product number by emitting a
beam of light frequently from a laser that reflects off the bar code image. A light sensitive
detector identifies the bar-code image by special bars at both ends of the image. Once it
has identified the barcode, it converts the individual bar patterns into numeric digits.
Processing Devices: Basically two components handle processing in a computer: the central
processing unit (CPU) and the memory.
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU): The central processing unit (CPU) is a tiny
electronic chip known as the micro processor located in the system unit. It is installed on
the main circuit board of the computer, the motherboard. The CPU as the name implies is
where information is processed within the computer. In this regard, you might think of
the CPU (processor) as the brain of the computer. The CPU is otherwise known as
microprocessor. Every CPU has at least two basic parts. The control unit and the
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The control unit coordinates all the computer activities
and contains the CPUs instruction to carry out commands. The ALU is responsible for
carrying out arithmetic and logic functions. In other words, when the control unit
encounters an instruction that involves arithmetic and logic it refers it to the ALU.
 Memory: What happens to all the information we put into the computer: before, while
and after information is processed? It is held in the computer memory or Random Access
Memory (RAM). The memory to which we are referring here is not he kind of long-term
storage that allows you to save work on a floppy disk and months later to use it, but
rather a short term holding area that is built into the computer hardware. While the CPU
is fast and efficient, it cannot remember anything by itself. It often refers to the memory
in the computer for software instruction and to remember what it is working on. The term
RAM and memory are often interchangeable. RAM refers to the way the CPU searches
through memory for the information it needs. For the workings of a memory, information
is stored in memory chips. The CPU can get information faster from RAM than it can
from a disk. A computer then reads information or instruction from disks and stores the
information in the RAM where it can get the information quickly. The CPU processes the
information and then returns to the RAM.

Storage Devices: Among the most important part of a computer system are the devices that
allow you to save data or information. The physical components or materials on which data
are stored are called storage media. A storage device is a piece of hardware that permanently
stores information. Unlike electronic memory, a storage device retains information when
electric power is turned off. There are several storage devices and primary among them are:
 The Floppy Disk: The floppy disk is a circular flat piece of plastic made of a flexible
(or floppy) magnetic material on which data are recorded. Floppy disk drives store
data on both sides of the disks. Earlier computers stored data on only a single side of
the floppy disk.
 The Hard Disk: The hard disk is generally not visible because hard disks are usually
enclosed within the system unit. The hard disk is a stack of metal platters that spin on
one spindle like a stack of rigid floppy disks.
 The CD-ROM: CD-ROM disks are hard, plastic, silver – a colored disk. CD-ROM is
an acronym for Compact Disc Read – Only Memory. This implies that the disk can
only be read. You cannot change or overwrite the contents of a CD-ROM disk.
Output Devices: Output devices return processed data, that is, information back to the user. In
other words, output devices allow the computer ‘talk’ to us. The most common output devices
are the monitor and the printer.
 The Monitor: The monitor is an output device that enables the computer to display to the
user what is going on. It has a screen like that of a television. It is commonly referred to
as the screen or display. It is the main source for output of information from the
computer. As data is entered through an input device, the monitor changes to show the
effects of the command. Messages displayed on the screen allow the user to know if the
command is correct.
 The Printer: The printer is an output device that produces on hard copy or a print out on
a paper i.e. it takes data from its electronic form and prints it out on paper. There are
three principal types of printers; Laser, Inkjet and Dot – Matrix.
 The Sound Card: Sound Cards, otherwise known as soundboards, is a hardware board. It
is a device that produces audio sounds and usually provides ports in the back of a
computer for external speakers. It is installed in one of the expansion slot inside the
system unit’s motherboard.
 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE COMPUTER
The evolution of digital computing is often divided into generations. Each generation is
characterized by dramatic improvements over the previous generation in the technology used to
build computers, the internal organization of computer systems, and programming languages.
Although not usually associated with computer generations, there has been a steady
improvement in algorithms, including algorithms used in computational science. The following
history has been organized using these widely recognized generations as mileposts.
The First Generation (1940 – 1956)
The major electronic component is Vacuum Tube.
In 1946 the ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrator And Calculator) was completed. This
machine was made of 18,000 vacuum tubes. This was the first machine to use the stored-
program concept. It could perform 300 multiplications per second. It was programmed by
connecting a lot of wires.
In this generation, the Batch processing operating system was used with punch cards to store the
program. The programs were written with machine code.
The Second Generation (1956 – 1963)
The major components here are Solid-state devices (transistors) instead of vacuum tubes;
magnetic storage.
One transistor replaced the equivalent of 40 vacuum tubes. Therefore, with the transistor
technology, computers became smaller in size, faster, more reliable and much greater in their
processing capability. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their
memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology. Many of these
computers were used for business applications. The popular ones are IBM 1400 Series and
UNIVAC III. It is important to note that in this generation, both assembly and high-level
languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL were used.

The Third Generation (1964 – 1971)

The major component here is the Integrated Circuit (IC).
The integrated circuit increased the speed of the computer by a factor of 10,000 over the
previous computers. The Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) operations were performed in
microseconds (µs). The memory (primary storage device) of the computer was greatly
augmented. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they
were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors. An example of a third-generation computer
was IBM 360 series.
The Fourth Generation (1971 – 2010)
The major component here is the Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits technology also
known as microprocessors.
The VLSI circuits have about 5000 transistors and other circuit elements on a single chip which
made it possible to have microcomputers.
The fourth-generation computers are more powerful, reliable and affordable. Hence, the personal
computer became a normal thing. In this generation, time-sharing, real-time networks and
distributed operating systems were used. Fourth generation computers also saw the development
of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
Also, high-level languages like C, C++ and Java were used.

The Fifth Generation (2010 – Present)

The fifth generation of computers is beginning to use AI (artificial intelligence), an exciting
technology with many potential applications around the world. Leaps have been made in AI
technology and computers, but there is still room for much improvement. Examples of AI in
computers include Apple's Siri on the iPhone and Microsoft's Cortana on Windows 8 and
Windows 10 computers. The Google search engine also utilizes AI to process user searches.
The Sixth Generation (Future Generations)
As of 2021, most still consider us to be in the fifth generation as AI continues to develop. One
possible contender for a future sixth generation is the quantum computer. However, until
quantum computing becomes more developed and widely used, it is still only a promising idea.
Some people also consider nanotechnology to be part of the sixth generation. Like quantum
computing, nanotechnology is largely still in its infancy and requires more development before
becoming widely used.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMPUTER
 Speed: The computer can manipulate large data at incredible speed and response time can
be very fast.
 Accuracy: Its accuracy is very high and its consistency can be relied upon. Errors in
computing are mostly due to human rather than technological weakness. There is in-built
error detecting schemes in the computer.
 Storage: It has both internal and external storage facilities for holding data and
instructions. This capacity varies from one machine to the other. Memories are built up
in K (Kilo) modules where K=1024 memory locations.
 Automatic: Once a program is in the computer’s memory, it can run automatically each
time it is opened. The individual has little or no instruction to give again.
 Reliability: Being a machine, a computer does not suffer human traits of tiredness and
lack of concentration. It will perform the last job with the same speed and accuracy as
the first job every time even if ten million jobs are involved.
 Flexibility: It can perform any type of task once it can be reduced to logical steps.
Modern computers can be used to perform a variety of functions like on-line processing,
multi-programming, real time processing e.t.c.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
The computer has passed through many stages of evolution from the days of the mainframe
computers to the era of microcomputers.
Computers have been classified based on different criteria.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SIGNAL TYPE
There are basically three types of electronic computers. These are the digital, analog and
hybrid computers.
The Digital Computer
The digital computer represents its variables in the form of digits. The data it deals with
whether numbers, letters, or other symbols are converted into the binary form on input to the
computer. The data undergoes processing after which the binary digits are converted back to
alphanumeric form for output for human use.
Digital computers are mostly used in the commercial and business environment.
The Analog Computer
It measures rather than counts. This type of computer sets up a model of a system. The
analog computers are systems that measure continuous physical quantity. Analog computers
hold data in the form of physical variables rather than numerical quantity. In theory, analog
computers give an exact answer because the answer has not been approximated to the nearest
digit. Hence, it is mostly used by scientists and researchers.

The Hybrid Computer

Hybrid computers are systems that combine both analog and digital capabilities to carry out
their process. Hence, a hybrid system attempts to gain the advantage of both the digital and
analog elements in the same machine. This kind of machine is usually a special-purpose
device which is built for a specific task.

CLASSIFICATION BY PURPOSE
Depending on their flexibility in operation, computers are classified as either special purpose
or general purpose.
Special Purpose Computer
Special-purpose computer is designed to perform special tasks. Such computers may even be
designed and built to handle only one job. In such machine steps or operations that the
computer follows may be built into the hardware.
Examples:
Computers designed for tracking airplanes or missiles
Computers used as robots in factories.

General Purpose Computers

General-purpose computers are computers designed to handle a wide range of problems.
General purpose computers are used for the following: Banking, Inventory control.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BY SIZE OR CAPACITY

In the past, the capacity of computers was measured in terms of physical size. Today, it is
based on the volume of work that the computer can achieve. Computers are classified into the
following groups based on size or capacity.
Microcomputers
Microcomputers also known as single board computers, are the cheapest class of computers.
In the microcomputers, do not have a Central Processing Unit (CPU) as we have in large
computers. They are the cheapest and smallest and can operate under normal office
conditions. Examples are IBM, Apple, HP, etc.
Different types of Microcomputers (PC) are:
Laptop computers: These are small size types that are battery-operated. They could be carried
about like a box.
Notebook computers: These are like laptop computers but small in size
 Desktop computers
Mini Computers
A mini-computer is a mid-size computer, large in size and capacity than a microcomputer. A
minicomputer process uses multiple chips with multiple functions, unlike the microcomputer
which uses a single microprocessor chip.
Mainframe Computers
A mainframe computer is a large machine. It is large in size than micro and minicomputers.
It can be used by many people. It is used in large organizations such as banks.

UNIT 2
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Software is a set of instructions that operate a computer, manipulate the data and execute
particular functions or tasks. In other words, it is a programs, routines, and symbolic languages
that control the function of the hardware.
For software (the instructions) to perform various functions, it must be programmed. That is, the
instructions need to be written in a programming language that the computer can understand.
Without a program, a computer is useless.
Computer program is a sequence of instructions that can be executed by a computer to carry out
a process.
There are two kinds of software, systems software and applications software.