KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY, MALETE

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING

COURSE CODE:COS 101
CREDIT UNIT:3

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 Table of content
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING..........................................................3
Basic Concepts………………………………………………………………………………………………….3-4
Brief history of computing……………………………………………………………………………….4-5
Classification of computers………………………………………………………………………………6
Classification based on technology innovation……………………………………………….7-9
Classification based on method of data representation…………………………………10-11
Classification based on purpose………………………………………………………………12

Module1

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Introduction to Computing
Basic Concepts
Brief history of computing
Classification of computers
Classification based on technology innovation
Classification based on method of data representation
Classification based on purpose

Basic Concepts

1.0 Introduction
In the 21st century, computers have become indispensable tools in virtually all aspects of human lives.
The development of handheld computers such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers and
smart phones has helped computers to become ubiquitous. This unit presents background information
about computers by defining basic computer terms, providing a brief history of modern computing, and
describing the parts of a computer system.

1.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTING

A digital computer unlike the analogue computer and hybrid computers represents data by a
coded set of discrete electrical pulses. The computer system as presently structured has passed
through several stages of conceptual development including:
I. The invention of ABACUS (otherwise called BEAD FRAME) in china around the 7th
century B.C. The ABACUS was for addition.
II. The design of a logarithmic scale by the Scottish mathematician John Napier(1550-1617)
in the 17th century A.D
III. The inventory of the slide rule 1620 by the English mathematician Edmund Gunter
(1581-1626).
IV. French mathematician Blaise Pascal (1624-1662) who invented a mechanical calculator
in 1642.
V. Sir Samuel Morland (1625-1695), an English mathematician who invented three
calculating machines between 1663 and 1666
VI. German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibnitz (1646-1716) who in 1671
developed a calculator for multiplication and division.
VII. J.M.Jacquard a French weaver, in 1801 developed the punched cards.

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VIII. Charles Babbages (1792-1872) the English mathematician who is regarded as the Father
of Computing .He it was who first made an attempt to design a machine different from
hand calculator. His still-born machines were called “Difference Engine”(Which he
started designing in 1823) and “Analytical Engine”.
IX. American Statistician Hermann Hollerith(1860-1929) who in the 1880s started to develop
equipment and procedure for handling census data after being commissioned for the work
by the United State Bureau of the census.
X. British Mathematician George Boole (1815-1864) who in the late1853 published a paper
entitled “An investigation of the Laws of Thought”. The mathematician theories of logic
and probability are founded on these laws. His algebraic theory is now widely known as
“Boolean Algebra”
XI. The British mathematician Alan Turing who in 1936 proposed a test for determining
whether a machine can think. This lead to the theoretical concept known as “Turing
machine”.
XII. J.W. Mauchly and J.P. Eckert, two American Engineers who in 1939 designed the
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator).
XIII. Howard Aiken, American mathematician who in 1944 invented a fully automatic
calculator after seven years of work
XIV. M.V. Milkes, an Englishman, who in 1949 built the first stored program computer called
EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer) at Cambridge University.
XV. The Hungarian-born American mathematician john Von Neuman (1903-1957) and the
American mathematician Herman Goldstine and A,W, Burks who in the series of historic
reports written between 1946 and 1949 (inclusive) consolidated the stored program
concept of computer architecture. They were responsible for laying down the design plan
for the present day computers. This design plan is sometimes referred to as the Von
Neumann architecture. Their work which was carried out in the Institute for Advanced
Study Princeton, New jersey, USA is considered as the most important contribution to the
development of modern computers
XVI. The development of EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Computer)

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1.2 Definition of Terms

What is computer science?

Computer science is the study of computers and computational system.
Computer: A computer system is an automatic electronic data processing system in the sense
that it collects, manipulates, distributes, facts and figures by electronic means in order to achieve
a desired output. Computer can also be define as
An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that
can accept data (input), process the data according to specified rules, produce information
(output), and store the information for future use.
Functionalities of a computer: Any digital computer carries out these functions in gross terms:
i. Accept data through an input device (e.g. keyboard or mouse)
ii. Process the data to convert it into information
iii. Display the information on an output device (e.g. visual display unit or printer)
iv. Store the information for future use in a storage device (e.g. hard disc or compact disc)

Data: Data refer to raw or unprocessed facts about a person, place or thing. Examples of data
include name, age, height and profession. Data is the plural for datum.

Information: Information is processed data or data that has been converted into useful form e.g.
the result of students in an examination or the net pay of an employee.

INPUT PROCESSING OUTPUT

Based on the component structure of the modern computer,at least four generation of computers
have up till the 1980s emerged.

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1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
There are various ways by which computers are classified, the major ones are based on the
following:
1. Technological innovation.
2. Manner/method of data representation.
3. Purpose of the computer.
4. Processing speed.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
Classification of computers based on technological innovation involves the grouping of
computers in terms of their various generations i.e. stages of computer development. These
various generations of computers were triggered by the work of inquisitive researchers who took
it upon themselves to correct the mistakes or laxities in their previous discoveries at one
particular time or the other. Such generations of computers are as follows:
FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (mid1940s-1950s)
These are the computers that were in use in the early 1950s.The technological innovation that led
this group of computers was the Stored Program Concept. The logic part of these computers
was made of Vacuum Tubes while Magnetic Drum was used for the memory element. Because
of the vacuum tubes, first generation computers were very large, expensive and consumed a lot
of electricity hence generates a lot of heat. Examples of the first generation computers are
EDVAC, UNIVAC and IBM700 series.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS
As a result of the vacuum tube used in this generation of computers, the machines possess the
following features:
1. They are very large in size.
2. They consume a lot of electricity, hence generates a lot of heat.
3. They are usually very expensive to maintain.
4. The memory element was made up of magnetic drum.
5. The programs were written in Machine Language.

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SECOND GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (late1950s-mid1960s)
This group of computer came about to correct or to reduce the problems of the first generation
computers. The invention of Transistor- a solid-state conductor made this generation of
computer possible. The transistors replaced the vacuum tubes as the logic circuit and because the
transistor is a solid-state device, computers processing speed became faster and the system
became smaller in size compare to the first generation computers was however retained.
Examples of computers in this generation are UNIVAC 1107, IBM 7030 and IBM 7090 series.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SECOND GENERATION COMPUTERS
1. The logic part of computers in the generation was made up of transistors.
2. The memory element i.e. the Magnetic drum was however retained.
3. The size is also reduced compared to the size of the first generation of computers.
4. They consume less electricity hence produce less heat.
5. Assembly language (i.e mnemonic codes) was used for the programming of these
computers.

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THIRD GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (mid 1960s-1970)
The technological invention that led to this generation of computers is the Integrated
Circuit(IC). An integrated circuit consists of complex electronic circuits fabricated on a single
chip not more than two millimeters long. This reduced the size of the computers. They were also
faster than the computers of the previous generations. This generation of computers used cheap
Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) for their memory element. It was in this generation of
computers that high-level languages were introduced. Examples of computers in this generation
are PDP-11, CDC 6600, and CDC 7600 among others.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS.
1. The memory element was made up of Metal Oxide Semiconductors.
2. Small Scale and medium scale integrated circuit formed the logic part
3. Computers in this generation were able to process more than one task at a time (i.e.
Multi- processing ability).
4. High-level language were introduced. .
5. Operating system was also introduced in this generation.
6. These computers were faster than the previous ones.
7. Keyboard is used as input device
8. Monitor and printouts are used for output Users interacted with the third generation
computers through 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

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FOURTH GENERATION OF COMPUTERS (1970)
The technological innovation that led to this generation of computers is the Very Large
Integrated Circuit of the microprocessor. A microprocessor is a central processing unit
fabricated on a single silicon chip. It worth nothing that the integrated circuit mentioned above is
a small-scale integration compared to the very large scale integration of the microprocessor. In
fact, the introduction of microprocessors marked the beginning of varieties of application
software such as the word processing and desktop publishing packages. Examples of computers
in this generation are IBM 3033, Burroughs B7700 and mainframes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS.

1. Microcomputers were introduced due to the small size of microprocessors.
2. Computer became faster compared to those of the previous generation.
3. High-level languages were also used for programming this generation of computers.
4. Varieties of software application into this generation of computers.

FIFTH GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

Despite the aforementioned generations of computers new innovations are constantly springing
up. This makes strict classification based on technological innovations almost impossible. In
fact, under such new innovation of computer it is expected that normal or present computer
architectures it expected that normal or present computer architecture of Von Neumann model
would be emphasized. Computers would be data driven. It is also hoped that Artificial
Intelligence (AI) will play a major role especially in the area of software development. A good
example of the 5th generation computers are some special purpose computers like Robots find in
departmental stores and other electronic machines designed for the purpose of assisting human
being in business as well as house chores.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
1. Very Large Integrated Circuit is used for the logical part.
2. The software of such computers is highly characterized with Artificial Intelligence.

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 3. Computers in this generation perform virtually all things.
The sixth generation of computers came into being in the late 1990s. The architecture is based
on neural networks.

1.4 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON METHODS OF DATA PRESENTATION

Computers can also be classified according to the manner of data representation as follows:
1. Digital computers.
2. Analogue computers.
3. Hybrid computers.
Digital Computers: These are computers that records data by counting in discrete variables
which corresponds to ‘’on’’ and ‘’off’’ states of electricity. They can only be used for the
purpose of arithmetic. It is highly used for addition, subtraction, division and comparison
purposes. They are often used at homes, offices, factories, and shops. Digital computers. Are
either general or special purpose computers. Examples are calculator and adding machines.
Analogue Computers: These are computers, which records data by using physical quantities in
proportion to a given amount of number. They are used mainly for measurement for example
thermometer used for measuring temperature.
Hybrid Computers: These are computers, which imbibed the concepts and qualities of both
digital and analogue computers e.g. Microcomputers.

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1.5 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON PURPOSE
Computers can also be classified based on the nature of purpose for which they are made. These
mainly consists of two; General purpose computers and Special Purpose computers.
General Purpose Computers: General purpose computers are those computers which can be
programmed and used for a variety of tasks. They are computers that are made for no special
purpose and can be used for multiple tasks.
Special Purpose Computers: Special purpose computers on the other hand are those which are
specially designed for a specific reason and have programs already hardwired to suit the specific
task for which they are made. Hence they are not programmable. Examples of special purpose
computers include those specially made for research and navigation purposes among others.

1.6 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON PROCESSING POWER

This classification of computers is based on the processing power and the processing power is in
turn based on the computer’s word length. Computers in this group are as follows:
1. Mainframe computers.
2. Minicomputers.
3. Microcomputers.
Mainframe Computers: These are the traditional large-scale computers that have many
peripherals attached to them and so can be used for different purposes simultaneously. Such
computers have large main memory and many backup facilities. Therefore, they are usually very
large and expensive. Mainframes are normally used in research centres and educational
institutions. Examples of mainframe computers include NCR 9300 and the ICL 900 series.
Mini Computers: These are smaller in size, cost less and have less applicability. They have
smaller memory size and word lengths. Examples of mini computers include PDP 11, PDP 8 and
the VAX series.
Microcomputers: Microcomputers are that which has its processor and memory chip mounted
on a single board. Microcomputers are smaller and cheaper than minicomputers. However, like
the traditional mainframe computers, microcomputer, can be connected to other peripheral
devices like scanner, telephone lines e.t.c.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER
Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability and versatility are some of the key characteristics of a
computer. A brief overview of these characteristics are—

 Speed The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions of instructions per second. Some
calculations that would have taken hours and days to complete otherwise, can be completed in a few
seconds using the computer. For example, calculation and generation of salary slips of thousands of
employees of an organization, weather forecasting that requires analysis of a large amount of data related
to temperature, pressure and humidity of various places, etc.

 Accuracy Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For example, the computer can accurately
give the result of division of any two numbers up to 10 decimal places.

 Diligence or Consistency When used for a longer period of time, the computer does not get tired or
fatigued. It can perform long and complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy from the start
till the end.

 Storage Capability Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the computer and also
retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of data can be stored, temporarily, in the primary memory.
Secondary storage devices like floppy disk and compact disk can store a large amount of data
permanently.

 Versatility Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform different types of tasks with the same ease.
At one moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter document and in the next moment you may
play music or print a document. Computers have several limitations too. Computer can only perform tasks

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MODULE 1: Practice Questions:
1. What is computer?
2. List and explain the characteristics of a computer
3. What are the functionalities of a computer?
4. The first generation of computer used ………………for
circuitry.
5. The second generation of computer used ……………for
circuitry.
6. ……………… generation of computer allows device to
run many different applications at one time.
7. ……………… generation of computers made use of
mnemonic codes to perform operations.
8. What is the acronym of ENIAC?
9. What is the acronym of EDVAC?
10. What were some disadvantages of first generation of
computers?
11. Who invented the mechanical calculator in 1642?
12. Who is regarded as the father of computing?

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