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Chapter One

Overview of Computer Science

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Introduction to Information and Communication Technology

Information

 Computers process data into information

Data

collection of unprocessed items

which include text, numbers, images, audio, and video

Information

 conveys meaning and is useful to people

 It can be encoded into various forms for transmission and interpretation

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Information Processing Cycle

 Series of input, process, output, and storage activities are called information
processing cycle

 Computers carry out information processes using instructions

Instructions

Steps that tell the computer how to perform a particular task

 Most computers today communicate with other computers.

 As a result, communications become an essential element of the information

processing cycle

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Communication Technology

 Exchange of information through the use of speech, signs or symbols is called

communication

 Different communication technology exist to connect with people physically

located thousands of kilometers away

Example:- Telephones, television, videophone, satellite and computer

networks

 Computer networks have revolutionized modern day communication and

communication technologies

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History of Networking

ARPANET

• Established by the US department of defense in the early 1960s

• Resulted in development on initial protocols, languages and frameworks for

network communication

Internet

• Describe network of networks

• Developed protocols to facilitate information exchange over the internet

• TCP still forms the backbone of networking

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 Telnet
 First commercial adaptation of ARPANET introduced in 1974
 ISP was introduced to provide uninterrupted Internet connection to its customers at affordable
rates
 World Wide Web
 more and more networks were developed in different part of the world
 Each network used different protocols for communicating over the network
 This prevented different networks from connecting together seamlessly
 In 1980s, group of computer scientists create a seamless network of varied networks, called the
world wide web (WWW)
 World wide web is a complex web of websites and web pages connected together through
hypertexts
 Hypertext is a word or group of words linking to another web page of the same or different website

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Definition of Computer and Computer Science

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What is computer?

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A computer is

 An electronic device that

Accepts data

Performs computations

Makes logical decisions according to instructions

Then produces meaningful information in a form that is useful to

humans

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What is Computer Science?

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Computer Science is

 One of the disciplines of modern science

 It concerned with information

Representation

Storage

Manipulation or processing

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Presentation of information

 Under this field we study about

Various aspects of computer technologies

Their development

Their applications in the present world

 It is the study of computers and computational systems

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 It deals about how to create, not simply use, new technologies

 Computer science develops students’ computational and critical thinking skills

 Computer science education encompasses

The study of computers and algorithmic processes

Their Principles, Hardware and Software Designs, Applications and

impact on the society

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 Characteristics of computers

Capability and the potential of the computer for processing data

 Speed

Carry out instructions in a very short period of time

 Accuracy

Needs almost hundred percent accuracy

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 Capacity

Store and process vast amounts of data

 Durability and reliability

Operate error-free over long periods of time

 Versatility

Used for almost any type of application

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History of Computers

(Reading Assignment)

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 Generation of Computers
 Major characteristics that distinguish each generations are

Dominant type of electronic circuit elements used

Major secondary storage media used

Computer language used

Types or characteristic of operating system used

Memory access time (time to store or retrieve a word or data from memory)

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First Generation computers [1946-1959]
 Use vacuum tubes as the basic components for
memory and circuitry for CPU

 Tubes produced a lot of heat and the

installations used to fuse frequently

 Batch processing operating system was used

 Punch cards, paper tape, and magnetic tape

was used as input and output devices

 Used machine code as the programming

language
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Second generation computers [1959-1965]
 Transistors were used that were cheaper,
consumed less power, more compact in size,
more reliable
 Magnetic cores were used as the primary
memory and magnetic tape and magnetic
disks as secondary storage devices
 Assembly language and high-level
programming language
 Used batch processing and
Multiprogramming operating system

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Third generation computers [1965-1971]
 used Integrated Circuits (ICs) in place of
transistors

 A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and

capacitors along with the associated circuitry

 This made computers smaller in size, reliable,

and efficient

 Remote processing, time-sharing,

multiprogramming operating system were used

 Generated less heat

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Fourth generation computers [1971-1980]

 Used very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits

having about 5000 transistors on a single chip

 More powerful, compact, reliable, and affordable

 It gave rise to personal computer (PC) revolution

 Time sharing, real time networks, distributed

operating system were used

 High-level Languages like C, C++, DBASE etc used

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Fifth generation computers [1980-till date]
 VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale
Integration) technology
 Production of microprocessor chips having ten
million electronic components
 Based on parallel processing hardware and AI
(Artificial Intelligence) software
 languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used
 More user-friendly interfaces with multimedia
features
 Example Desktop, Laptop and NoteBook
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 Types of computers
Personal computers [PC]
 A small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for
an individual user
 Businesses use personal computers for
Word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and
for running spreadsheet and database management
applications
 Popular use for personal computers is playing games
and surfing the internet
 Designed as single-user systems, these systems are
normally linked together to form a network
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Workstation
 Used for
Engineering applications (CAD/CAM)
Desktop publishing
Software development
 Other such types of applications which require
Moderate amount of computing power
Relatively high quality graphics capabilities
 Come with a large, high-resolution graphics screen, large
amount of RAM, inbuilt network support
 Have mass storage device such as a disk drive
 Common operating systems for workstations are UNIX and
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 Cont…

Minicomputer

 Midsize multi-processing system

 Capable of supporting up to 250

users simultaneously

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Mainframe

 Very large in size and is an expensive computer

 Capable of supporting hundreds or even

thousands of users simultaneously

 Executes many programs concurrently

 Supports many simultaneous execution of

programs

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Supercomputer

 Fastest computers currently available

 Very expensive

 Employed for specialized applications

 can process more than one quadrillion

instructions in a single second

 Example:- weather forecasting, scientific

simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid
dynamic calculations, nuclear energy
research, electronic design
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 Applications of computers
 Every activity whether personal or business-related rely on the computer system

 Every small and big organizations and other business companies have started

offering computer-based service

 Advancement of communications, electronic service networks, and multimedia

have opened a new door for corporates by providing

An effective way of business processing

Payment transfer

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Business application

 Computer is used in business

organizations for:
Payroll calculations
Budgeting
Sales analysis
Financial forecasting
Managing employee database
Maintenance of stocks

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Banking application

 Banking is almost totally

dependent of computers

 Banks provide the following

facilities:

Online accounting facility

ATM machines

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In insurance

 Keeping all records up-to-date

 Companies, finance houses, and

stock broking firms are widely

using computers for their concerns

 Maintaining a database of all

clients with information

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Education
• Provides a tool in the education
system

• CBE involves control, delivery, and

evaluation of learning

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Marketing application

• Advertising
Create art and graphics, write and
revise copy, and print and
disseminate ads with the goal of
selling more products

• Home shopping
Access to product information and
permit direct entry of orders

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Healthcare

 Major fields of health care in

which computers are used

Diagnostic system

Lab-diagnostic system

Patient monitoring system

Pharma information system

Surgery

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Engineering Design

 Creation and modification of

images[CAD]

Structural Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Architectural Engineering

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 Cont…

Military application

 military areas where a computer has

been used are

Missile Control

Military Communication

Military Operation and Planning

Smart Weapons

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Communication
• Some main areas in this category are
E-mail
Chatting
Usenet
FTP
Telnet
Video-conferencing

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Government
Computers play an important role in
government services
 Budgets
 Sales tax department
 Income tax department
 Computation of male/female ratio
 Computerization of voters lists
 Computerization of PAN card
 Weather forecasting

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