PLUS ONE

COMPUTER
SCIENCE

DISCIPLINE OF COMPUTING
 DIFFERENCE ENGINE
CHAPTER 1: THE DISCIPLINE OF
COMPUTING
In 1822, Babbage invented this machine that
could perform arithmetic calculations and
print results automatically.
ABACUS

Considered as the first computer for basic

ANALYTICAL ENGINE
arithmetical calculations. Discovered by
the Mesopotamians around 3000 BC.
In 1833, Charles Babbage started designing
the real predecessor of the modern computer.
The Engine had a ‘Store’ (memory) where
numbers and intermediate results could be
NAPIER’S BONES stored, and a separate ‘Mill’ (processor) where
arithmetic processing could be performed.
Its input/output devices were in the form of
A set of numbering rods by which a punched cards containing instructions.
multiplication problem could be easily These instructions were written by Babbage’s
performed. Invented by John Napier, a assistant, Agusta Ada King, the first
mathematician in 1617 AD. programmer in the world. Charles Babbage’s
great inventions – the Difference Engine and
the Analytical Engine earned Charles Babbage
the title ‘Father of Computer’.

PASCALINE
GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS
A computing machine that was capable of
adding and subtracting two numbers
directly and that could multiply and divide by
repetition. Developed by Blaise Pascal (a
French mathematician) in 1642, at the age
of 19.

LEIBNIZ’S CALCULATOR

In 1673 the German mathematician- VON NEUMANN ARCHITECTURE

philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz
designed a calculating machine called the
Step Reckoner. The Step Reckoner expanded
The mathematician John Von Neumann
on Pascal’s ideas and extended the
designed computer architecture. It is known
capabilities to perform multiplication and
as Von Neumann architecture.
division as well.

JOIN AGNI +1 & +2 ONLINE TUITION BATCH Call now 9995 400 800 3
 It consists of a central processing unit (CPU) complex problems by the application of
containing arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and process that are analogues to human
control unit (CU), input-output unit and a reasoning process. The two most common AI
programming languages are LISP and Prolog.
memory for storing data and instructions.
The fifth-generation computing also aims at
This model implements the ‘Stored Program
developing computing machines that respond
Concept’ in which the data and the to natural language input and are capable of
instructions are stored in the memory. learning and self-organisation. Such intelligent
systems are still in the development stage,
though there are some applications, such as
speech recognition, face recognition and
robotic vision and movement that are already
available.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

It is an artificial language designed to

communicate instructions to a computer. The
first programming language developed for
use in computers was called machine
language. Machine language consisted of
TRANSISTORS strings of the binary digits 0 and 1. To make
programming easier, a new language with
instructions consisting of English-like words
instead of 0’s and 1’s, was developed. This
Developed at Bell Laboratories by John
Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley language was called assembly language.
in 1947. Later new languages called high level
languages were developed which are machine
independent and which used simple English-
like words and statements.
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
Silicon chips that contained miniaturised
transistors were developed by Jack Kilby, an
ALGORITHM
engineer with Texas Instruments.

a step by step procedure to get the solution

for a given problem.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI is the ability to simulate human intelligence.
AI is the branch of computer science
concerned with developing computer
programs (intelligent systems) for solving

4 JOIN AGNI +1 & +2 ONLINE TUITION BATCH Call now 9995 400 800
TURING MACHINE
A model of a computer proposed by Alan 3. Compare any three features of five
Turing in 1936. He made significant generations of computers.
contributions to the development of computer
science, by presenting the concepts of
algorithm and computing. Turing proposed an (March 2017)
imitation game which is later modified to
Turing test and it is considered to be the test
for determining a machine's intelligence.
Considering these contributions he is regarded
as the Father of Modern Computer Science as
well as Artificial Intelligence.

4. Order the following technologies according

QUESTIONS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS’ to different generations of computers (First
to Fifth Generation)
QUESTION PAPERS
a) Transistor
b) Vacuum tube
c) Artificial intelligence
1. Who is known as the father of Modern d) Microprocessor
Computer Science?
(Sept. 2016)
a) Alan Turing
c) Charles Babbage
b) John Von Neumann
d) Ada Lovelace
(July 2017)

5. Following are some facts related to the

evolution of computers:
2. Match the following: (Usage of transistors, Introduction to Very
Large Scale Integration Circuit, Construction
of ENIAC)
a) First Generation i) Microprocessor
Computer Categorise these under respective generations
and briefly explain each.
b) Second Generation (ii) Vacuum Tube
Computer
c) Third Generation (iii) Transistor (March 2016)
Computer
d) Fourth Generation (iv) Integrated
Computer Circuit

(July 2017)

JOIN AGNI +1 & +2 ONLINE TUITION BATCH Call now 9995 400 800 5
 6. Which is the first automatic 9. Briefly write the major changes in the
electromechanical computer? technology during the different generations
of computers.
a) Pascaline
b) Abacus
c) Mark I
d) Analytical Engine (March 2015)

(Sept 2015)

7. Find the correct match for each item in

column A and column B.

A B

a) Abacus i) Preprogrammed

b) Pascaline ii) Computing Machine

c) Jacquard’s Looms iii) Punched cards

d) Mark I iv) Counting frame

(Sept 2015)

8. Write the number represented by the

following Abacus.

(March 2015)

6 JOIN AGNI +1 & +2 ONLINE TUITION BATCH Call now 9995 400 800