Computer Fundamentals

Lab Manual

Submitted by Muhammad Abdul Rafae

Roll Number 2024-AU-013

Semester Fall 2024

Department of Automotive Engineering Technology

 Punjab Tianjin University of Technology (PTUT)
Department of Automotive Engineering

Computer Fundamentals
Lab Manual 1
Teacher: Hafiz Muhammad Umar Hayat Date:12-9-24
History of Computers
Instructions:
1. In this lab, focus will be kept on background and history of computers.
2. The evolution of computers in the 20th century.
3. You can focus on the main generations of computer (1st to 5th)
4. How the previous century paved away for the modern-day computers.
5. Include figures and tables to support your document.
6. Make sure to add a conclusion at the end of your document.
Exercise:
Prepare a document where you understand the history and evolution of computers. The
document should cover nearly all the major aspects of computers. For example, the
introduction from abacus to modern day computers. Add any detail you find interesting along
the way.
Lab 1: Introduction and History of a Computer

What is Computer?
An electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to
instructions given to it in a variable program.

Abacus:
The binary abacus is used to explain how computers manipulate numbers. The abacus shows
how numbers, letters, and signs can be stored in a binary system on a computer, or via ASCII.
The device consists of a series of beads on parallel wires arranged in three separate rows.

Generations of Computers – Computer Fundamentals

Generations of Computer: The modern computer took its shape with the
arrival of your time. It had been around the 16th century when the evolution
of the computer started. The initial computer faced many changes, obviously
for the betterment. It continuously improved itself in terms of speed,
accuracy, size, and price to urge the form of the fashionable day computer.
Basic Terms Related to Computers
The basic terms related to generations of computers are listed below.
1. Vacuum Tube: Vacuum tubes have the functionality of controlling the
flow of electronics in a vacuum. Generally, it is used in switches,
amplifiers, radios, televisions, etc.
2. Transistor: A transistor helps in controlling the flow of electricity in
devices, it works as an amplifier or a switch.
3. Integrated Circuit (IC):Integrated Circuits are silicon chips that contain
their circuit elements like transistors, resistors, etc.
4. Microprocessors: Microprocessors are the components that contain the
CPU and its circuits and are present in the Integrated Circuit.
5. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is called the brain of the
computer. CPU performs processing and operations work.
6. Magnetic Drum: Magnetic Drum is like a cylinder that stores data and
cylinder.
7. Magnetic Core: Magnetic cores are used to store information. These are
arrays of small rings.
8. Machine Language: Machine Language is the language that a computer
accepts (in the form of binary digits). It is also called low-level
programming language.
9. Memory: Memory is used to store data, information, and program in a
computer.
10. Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence deals with creating
intelligent machines and behaviors.

Phases of Computer Generations

 First Generation Computers (1940-1956)

 Second Generation Computers (1956-1963)
 Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)
 Fourth Generation Computers (1971-Present)
 Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond)

Generations of Evolving Hardware

Computer Time-Period

First Generation 1940s – 1950s Vacuum Tube Based

 Generations of Evolving Hardware
Computer Time-Period

Second Generation 1950s – 1960s Transistor Based

Third Generation 1960s – 1970s Integrated Circuit Based

Fourth Generation 1970s – Present Microprocessor Based

Artificial Intelligence
Fifth Generation Present – Future
Based

First Generation Computers

Examples of some main first-generation computers are mentioned below.

 ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, built by J. Presper
Eckert and John V. Mauchly was a general-purpose computer. It had
been cumbersome, and large, and contained 18,000 vacuum tubes.
 EDVAC: Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer was designed
by von Neumann. It could store data also as instruction and thus the
speed was enhanced.
 UNIVAC: Universal Automatic Computer was developed in 1952 by
Eckert and Mauchly.
Second Generation Computers

Characteristics of Second-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Transistor.

Machine language and assembly

Programming language
language.

Memory Magnetic core and magnetic tape/disk.

Input/output devices Magnetic tape and punched cards.

Smaller in size, had low power

consumption, and generated less heat
Power and size
(in comparison with the first-
generation computers).

PDP-8, IBM1400 series, IBM 7090

Examples of the second generation and 7094, UNIVAC 1107, CDC 3600,
etc.
Third Generation Computers

Characteristics of Third-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Integrated circuits (ICs).

Programming language High-level language.

Large magnetic core, magnetic

Memory
tape/disk.

Magnetic tape, monitor, keyboard,

Input/output devices
printer, etc.

IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, NCR 395,

Examples of the third generation
B6500, UNIVAC 1108, etc.

Fourth Generation Computers

 Characteristics Components

Very-large-scale integration (VLSI)

and the microprocessor (VLSI has
Main electronic component
thousands of transistors on a single
microchip).

semiconductor memory (such

Memory
as RAM, ROM, etc.).

pointing devices, optical scanning,

Input/output devices
keyboard, monitor, printer, etc.

IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple

Examples of the fourth generation
Macintosh, Alter 8800, etc.

Fifth Generation Computers

Characteristics of Fifth-Generation Computers

Characteristics Components

Main electronic component Based on artificial intelligence, uses

the Ultra Large-Scale Integration
(ULSI) technology and parallel
 Characteristics Components

processing method (ULSI has millions

of transistors on a single microchip
and the Parallel processing method
use two or more microprocessors to
run tasks simultaneously).

Understand natural language (human

Language
language).

Size Portable and small in size.

Trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen,

pen, speech input (recognize
Input/output device
voice/speech), light scanner, printer,
keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.

Desktops, laptops, tablets,

Example of the fifth generation
smartphones, etc.