Introduction to Computers

Unit-I
 '
Bachelor of Computer Applications
UNIT- I
Fundamentals of Computers: Definition & characteristics of computer system, Computer generation from first to fifth
generation, classification of computers: Micro, mini, mainframe and super computers
Computer Hardware: Major components of digital computer, Block diagram of a computer, input-output devices, description
of computer input units , output units, CPU.
Computer Memory: Memory Hierarchy. Primary Memory - RAM and its types , ROM and its types. Secondary Memory.
Cache memory. Secondary Storage Devices – Hard disk, Compact disk , DVD, Flash memory.
UNIT - II
No. of Hours: 12 Chapt er/Book Re ference: TBl !Chapters: 10,12 ,141; TB2
1Chapters:6,7 j; RBI !Chapt ers:6A, 68 , 1 2A,1 2BJ, RB3 !Chapter s: 8, 9]

Interaction with Computers:

Comput er Softwa re: System software: Assemblers, Compilers, Interpreters, linkers, loaders.
Application Software: Introduction to MS Office (MS -Word , MS Power point, MS-Exce l).
 ► Operating Systems: Elementary Operating System concepts, Different types of Operating
Systems. DOS: Booting sequence; Concepts of File and Directory, Types of DOS commands.
► Computer Languages: Introduction to Low-Level Languages and High-Level Languages .

► UNTT - ill
► No. of Hours: 12 Chapter /Book Referenc e: TBl [Chapters:3,5,4]; TB2 [Chapt ers:5); RBt
[Chapt er:2)

► Computer Number System: Positional and Non-positional numb er systems, Binary, Decimal. Octal
and Hexadecimal Number Systems and their inter-conversion.
► Binary Arithmetic: Addition. subtraction, multiplication and division . Use of complement method
to represent negative binary numbers. I's complement , 2 's complement, subtraction using ·1 s
►complement and 2 's complement. Introduction to Binary Coded Decimal (BCD), ASCIJ Codes,
EBCDIC codes.
 ► UNIT - IV
► No. of Hours: 10 Chapter/Book Reference : TBl Chapters: J 7,1 81; TB2
[Chapters :9,10]; RB3[7A,7B,8A,8Bj

► Computer Network & Internet: Basic elements of a communication system. Data transmission
modes, Data Transmission speed, Data transmission media, Digital and Analog Transmission ,
Network topologies, Network Types (LAN, WA N and MAN ). Basics of internet and intranet.

► Internet:Terminologies related to Internet: Protocol, Domain name, Internet Connections, IP

address, URL , World Wide We b. Introduction to Client-Server Model, Search Engine, Voice over
Internet Protocol(VOIP), repeater , bridges, hub, switch, router, gateway, firewall, Bluetooth
technology.
Advanced trends in IT Application: brief introduction to cloud Computing, Internet Of Things, Data
Analytics, AI and machine learning.
Introduction to Computers

► The word computer comes from the word “compute”, which means, “to
calculate”

► Thereby, a computer is an electronic device that can perform arithmetic

operations at high speed

► A computer is also called a data processor because it can store, process, and
retrieve data whenever desired
Characteristics of Computers

► Automatic
► Speed
► Accuracy
► Diligence
► Versatility
► Power of remembering
► No I.Q
► No feelings
Evolution of Computers

► Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical adding machine

in 1642
► Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented the first
calculator for multiplication in 1671.
► Keyboard machines originated in the United States around
1880
► Around 1880, Herman Hollerith came up with the concept of
punched cards that were extensively used as input media
until late 1970s
► Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of
modern digital computers

► He designed “Difference Engine” in 1822

► He designed a fully automatic analytical engine in 1842
for performing basic arithmetic functions
► His efforts established a number of principles that are
fundamental to the design of any digital computer
Computers Generations
Some
Generation Key hardware Key software Key representative
(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems

First ▪ Vacuum tubes ▪ Machine and ▪ Bulky in size ▪ ENIAC

(1942-1955) ▪ Electromagnet assembly ▪ Highly unreliable ▪ EDVAC
ic relay languages ▪ Limited ▪ EDSAC
memory ▪ Stored commercial use and ▪ UNIVAC I
▪ Punched cards program costly ▪ IBM 701
secondary concept ▪ Difficult
storage ▪ Mostly commercial
scientific production
applications ▪ Difficult to use
Second ▪ Transistors ▪ Batch operating ▪ Faster, smaller, more ▪ Honeywell 400
(1955-1964 ▪ Magnetic cores system reliable and easier to ▪ IBM 7030
) memory ▪ High-level program than ▪ CDC 1604
▪ Magnetic tapes programmin previous generation
▪ UNIVAC LARC
g languages systems
▪ Disks for
secondary ▪ Scientific and ▪ Commercial
storage commercial production was still
applications difficult and costly
Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.
(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems

Third ▪ ICs with SSI ▪ Timesharin ▪ Faster, smaller, ▪ IBM

(1964-1975) and MSI g more reliable, 360/370
technologies operating easier and cheaper ▪ PDP-8
▪ Larger system to produce
▪ PDP-11
magnetic ▪ Standardizati ▪ Commercially,
▪ CDC 6600
cores memory on of easier to use, and
▪ Larger high-level easier to upgrade
capacity disks programming than previous
and magnetic languages generation
tapes ▪ Unbundling systems
secondary of software ▪ Scientific,
storage from commercial and
▪ Minicomputers; hardware interactive on- line
upward applications
compatible
family of
computers
 Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.
(Period) Technologies technologies characteristics systems

Fourth ▪ ICs with VLSI ▪ Operating systems ▪ Small, ▪ IBM PC

(1975-1989 technology for PCs with GUI affordable, and its
) ▪ Microprocessors; and multiple reliable, and clones
semiconductor windows on a single easy to use PCs ▪ Apple II
memory terminal screen ▪ More powerful ▪ TRS-80
▪ Multiprocessing OS and reliable
▪ Larger capacity ▪ VAX 9000
with concurrent mainframe
hard ▪ CRAY-1
programming systems
disks as in-built
languages and ▪ CRAY-2
secondary storage
▪ UNIX operating supercomputers ▪ CRAY-X/MP
▪ Magnetic tapes
system with C ▪ Totally
and
programming general
floppy disks as language purpose
portable storage machines
▪ Object-oriented
media
design and ▪ Easier to
▪ Personal computers
programming produce
▪ Supercomputers commercially
▪ PC, Network-based,
based on parallel
and ▪ Easier to
vector processing supercomputing upgrade
and applications ▪ Rapid software
symmetric
development
multiprocessing
possible
technologies
▪ Spread of
high-speed
Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.
(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems

Fifth ▪ ICs with ULSI ▪ Micro-kernel ▪ Portable ▪ IBM notebooks

(1989- technology based, computers ▪ Pentium PCs
Present) ▪ Larger capacity multithreading, ▪ Powerful, ▪ SUN
main memory, distributed OS cheaper, reliable, Workstatio
hard disks with ▪ Parallel and easier to use ns
RAID support programming desktop ▪ IBM SP/2
▪ Optical disks as libraries like MPI machines
▪ SGI Origin
portable & PVM ▪ Powerful 2000
read-only ▪ JAVA supercomput
▪ PARAM 10000
storage media ▪ World Wide Web ers
▪ Notebooks, ▪ Multimedi ▪ High uptime due
powerful a, to hot-pluggable
desktop PCs Internet components
and applicatio ▪ Totally
workstations ns general purpose
▪ Powerful ▪ More complex machines
servers, supercomputing ▪ Easier to
supercomputers applications produce
▪ Internet commercially,
▪ Cluster easier to
computing upgrade
▪ Rapid software
development
possible
Five Basic Operations of Computer
System
► Inputting

► Storing

► Processing

► Outputting

► Controlling