MODULE 2.

COMPUTER CONCEPTS

A. Introduction::

This lesson will provide an overview of computers, their components and basic
operations. It will also discuss how computing technology is used in data /
information processing. In this module, you will understand the basic concepts of
information and communication technologies.

B. Objectives:

At the end of this module, students are expected to:

1. describe the function of a computer;.
2. explain the characteristics of computers;
3. Describe how computers are used;
4. name various devices that have been used for computations in the past;
5. compare the capabilities of the different types of computers;

C. Learning Content:
 What is a Computer?
 What does a computer do?
 Characteristics of Computer
 Uses of Computer
 History of Computer
 The Four Generations of Digital Computing
 Types of Computer

D. Pre-Test:
Describe what is computer and how do we use them?
E. Learning Activities:

What is a Computer?

An electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its

own memory unit, that can accept data (input), manipulate the data according to
specified rules (process), produce information (output) from the processing, and
store the results for future use.

Data is a collection of unorganized facts & figures and does not provide any
further information regarding patterns, context, etc. Hence data means
"unstructured facts and figures".

Information is a structured data i.e. organized meaningful and processed

data. To process the data and convert into information, a computer is used.
What does a computer do?

Input
It is the process of capturing or acquiring the information, or it is the process
of accepting data or information, by using input the computer can do any process.
Information or data that is entered into a computer or computer device using input
devices.

Types of Computer Input

• Data - the raw facts given to the computer.
• Programs -the sets of instructions that direct the computer.
• Commands - special codes or key words that the user inputs to perform a
task.
• User response - the user's answer to the computer's question.

Process
 Processing - is the transformation process to convert the input into
output.
 A process is an instance of running a program.
 It cause the computer to follow instructions from the Memory.
 Perform by Central Processing Unit (CPU).

Output
It is the result, which comes from the transformation process or it is the
outcome of the process.
Anything that comes out of a computer.

Types of Computer Output

 Hard copy - Printed on paper or other permanent media.
 Soft copy - A soft copy is the unprinted digital document file.
 Displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means.
 It can be transported from one computer to another.

Storage

Secondary storage - data, information and programs are stored in computer-

processable form.

Communications

Communications - enables the transfer of data from one place to another and
facilitates resource sharing.

Characteristics of Computer
Speed : In general, no human being can compete to solving the complex
computation, faster than computer.

Accuracy : Since Computer is programmed, so whatever input we give it gives result

with accurately.

Storage : Computer can store mass storage of data with appropriate format.

Diligence : Computer can work for hours without any break and creating error.

Versatility : We can use computer to perform completely different type of work at

the same time.

Power of remembering : It can remember data for us.

No IQ : Computer does not work without instruction.

No feeling : Computer does not have emotions, knowledge, experience, feeling.

Uses of Computer
 PC at Home
 Computer games
 Working from Home
 Banking from Home
 Connecting to the Web
 Office Applications
 Stock Control
Stock control is ideal for automation and in many companies it is now completely
computerized. The stock control system keeps track of the number of items in stock
and can automatically order replacement items when required.

 Accounts / Payroll
In most large organizations the accounts are maintained by a computerized
system. Due to the repetitive nature of accounts a computer system is ideally suited
to this task and accuracy is guaranteed.

 Automated Production Systems

Many car factories are almost completely automated and the cars are assembled
by computer-controlled robots. This automation is becoming increasingly common
throughout industry.

 Design Systems
Many products are designed using CAD (Computer Aided Design) programs to
produce exact specifications and detailed drawings on the computer before
producing models of new products.
History of Computer

Pre Mechanical Age

The earliest age of technology. It can be defined as

the time between 3000 B.C. and 1450 A.D. When humans
first started communicating, they would try to use
language to make simple pictures – petroglyphs to tell a
story, map their terrain, or keep accounts such as how
many animals one owned, etc.

The abacus is believed to have been invented in 4th

century B.C.

Mechanical age

The Mechanical age developed between 1450 and 1840, the inventors began
to use techniques and tools to create machines that will perform some tasks.

Mathematics had evolved to a stage were such practical calculations could be

expressed as algebraic relationships and solved in a step by step manner. It was
therefore not an impossible step to conceive of automating such tasks.
A lot of new technologies were developed in this era due to an
explosion of interest in computation and information.
Technologies like the slide ruler (an analog computer used for
multiplying and dividing) were invented in this period.

John Napier of Scotland invents logs in 1614 to allow multiplication and

division to be converted to addition and subtraction.

Wilhelm Schickard, a professor at the University of

Tubingen, Germany builds a mechanical calculator in 1623 with a
6-digit capacity. The machine worked, but it never makes it
beyond the prototype stage.

Leonardo Da Vinci is now given credit for building the

first mechanical calculator around 1500. Evidence of Da
Vinci’s machine was not found until papers were discovered
in 1967.

Blaise Pascal builds a mechanical calculator called

Pascaline in 1642 with an 8-digit capacity. The Pascaline was
only able to do addition with ease.
Gottfried Leibniz – (1617) invented Stepped Reckoner that
could multiply 5 digit and 12 digit numbers yielding up to 16
digit numbers.

Joseph-Marie Jacquard invents an automatic loom controlled

by punch-cards in the early 1800s.

Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar -1820 – developed

Arithmometer(the first mass produced calculator).

Charles Babbage designs a “Difference Engine” in 1820 or 1821 with a

massive calculator designed to print astronomical tables. The British government
cancelled the project in 1842. Babbage then conceives the “Analytical Engine”, a
mechanical computer that can solve any mathematical problem and uses punch-
cards.

Augusta Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace and daughter of

English poet Lord Byron, worked with Babbage and created a
program for the Analytical Engine.
Ada is now credited as being the 1st computer programmer.

Electromechanical Age (1840-1940)

Difference Engine Analytical Engine

 The discovery of ways to harness electricity was the key advance made
during this period. Knowledge and information could now be converted into
electrical impulses.
The beginnings of telecommunication, Voltaic Battery, Telegraph and
Telephone and Radio

Voltaic battery
Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile which is considered to be the first
source of stored electricity in the 8th Century.

The battery made by Volta is credited as the first electrochemical cell.

Telegraph
Samuel F.J. Morse invented the first magnetic telegraph
in the year 1832 and made an experiment version in 1815.

Telephone and Radio

The first successful bi-directional transmission of clear speech by Bell and

Watson was made on 10 March 1876 when Bell spoke into his device, “Mr. Watson,
come here, I want to see you.” and Watson answered.

Electromechanical computing tabulating machine

Tabulating machine:
1853: Pehr and AdvardScheutz complete their tabulating Machine, capable of
processing fifteen-digit numbers, printing out results and rounding off to eight digits.

Comptometer:
1885: A Comptometer is a type of mechanical (or electro-mechanical) adding
machine. The comptometer was the first adding device to be driven solely by the
action of pressing keys.

Comptograph:

1889: Felt’s Comptograph, containing built- in printer, is

introduced.

Punch Cards
A punch card or punched card (or punchcard or Hollerith card or IBM card), is a
piece of stiff paper that contains digital information represented by the presence or
absence of holes in predefined positions.
The millionare

1893: The Millionaire, the first efficeint four-function calculator invented by

Otto shweiger, a Swiss Engineer.

Electronic Age
The electronic age is what we currently live in. It can be defined as the time
between 1940 and right now. The ENIAC was the first high-speed, digital computer
capable of being reprogrammed to solve a full range of computing problems.
This computer was designed to be used by the U.S. Army for artillery firing
tables. This machine was even bigger than the Mark 1 taking up 680 square feet and
weighing 30 tons - HUGE. It mainly used vacuum tubes to do its calculations.

The Four Generations of Digital Computing

The first generation (1951- 1958)

 Vacuum tubes as their main logic elements.
 Punch cards to input and externally store data.
 Rotating magnetic drums for internal storage of data and programs

The second generation (1959-1963)

 Vacuum tubes replaced by transistors as main logic element.
 Magnetic tape and disks began to replace punched cards as external storage
devices.

The third generation (1964-1979)

 Individual transistors were replaced by integrated circuits.
 Magnetic core internal memories began to give way to a new form, metal
oxide semiconductor (MOS) memory, which, like integrated circuits, used
silicon-backed chips.

The Fourth Generation (1979- Present)

 Microprocessors that contained memory, logic, and control circuits (an
entire CPU = Central Processing Unit) on a single chip.
 Some have begun to call it the Information Revolution. Technological changes
brought dramatic new options to Americans living in the 1990s.

Computers
Personal computers had become widespread by the end of the 1980s. Also available
was the ability to connect these computers over local or even national networks.

Internet
The INTERNET was developed during the 1970s by the Department of Defense. In the
case of an attack, military advisers suggested the advantage of being able to operate
one computer from another terminal.

In the early 1990s, this was developed, in large part, for commercial purposes.

New forms of communication were introduced. ELECTRONIC MAIL, or EMAIL, was a

convenient way to send a message to associates or friends. New forms of
communication were introduced. Messages could be sent and received at the
convenience of the individual. A letter that took several days to arrive could be read
in minutes.

Types of Computer

Analog computer
Analog computer measures and answer the questions by the method of
“HOW MUCH”. The input data is not a number instead a physical quantity like temp,
pressure, speed, velocity.
 Signals are continuous of (0 to 10 V)
 Accuracy 1% Approximately
 High speed
 Output is continuous
 Time is wasted in transmission time

Digital computers
Digital computer counts and answer the questions by the method of “HOW
Many”. The input data is represented by a number. These are used for the logical
and arithmetic operations.
 Signals are two level of (0 V or 5 V)
 Accuracy unlimited
 low speed sequential as well as parallel processing
 Output is continuous but obtain when computation is completed.

Micro computers
Microcomputer are the smallest computer system. There size range from
calculator to desktop size. Its CPU is microprocessor. It also known as Grandchild
Computer.

Application: - personal computer, Multi user system, offices.

Mini computers
 These are also small general purpose system. They are generally more
powerful and most useful as compared to microcomputer. Minicomputer are also
known as midrange computer or Child computer.

Application:-Departmental systems, Network Servers, work group system.

Mainframe computers
Mainframe computers are those computers that offer faster processing and
grater storage area. The word “main frame” comes from the metal frames. It is also
known as Fathercomputer.

Application – Host computer, Central data base server.

Super computers
Super computer are those computer which are designed for scientific job like
whether forecasting and artificial intelligence etc. They are fastest and expensive. A
super computer contains a number of CPU which operate in parallel to make it
faster. It also known as grand father computer.

Application – whether forecasting, weapons research and development.

Servers
They are super fast, high configured computers intended to serve the node in
a network. Nodes in turn are PCs. They are connected to server which hosts all or
most of the software required by them. They run only one copy of the software
installed on the server. Hence, Servers should be very fast

Workstation
It is a type of computer used for engineering applications (CAD/CAM),
desktop publishing, software development, and other types of applications that
require a moderate amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics
capabilities.

Tablet pc
Is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating
system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a
single, thin and flat package.

Handheld pc (pda)
A portable computer that is small enough to be held in one’s hand. It
combines computing, telephone/fax, and networking features. A typical PDA can
function as a cellular phone, fax sender, and personal organizer. Unlike portable
computers, most PDAs are pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for
input.

Laptop
 They are superfast, high configured computers intended to serve the node in
a network. Nodes in turn are PCs. They are connected to server which hosts all or
most of the software required by them. They run only one copy of the software
installed on the server. Hence, Servers should be very fast

Palmtop
A small computer that literally fits in your palm. Compared to full-size
computers, palmtops are severely limited, but they are practical for certain functions
such as phone books and calendars.