What is a Computer? A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or "data.

" It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You can use a computer to type documents, send email, and browse the internet. You can also use it to handle spreadsheets, accounting, database management, presentations, games, and more. Computers are not very intelligent devices, but they handle instructions flawlessly and fast. They must follow explicit directions from both the user and computer programmer. Computers are really nothing more than a very powerful calculator with some great accessories. Applications like word processing and games are just a very complex math problem. Types of Computers based on Configuration There are four different types of computers when we classify them based on their performance and capacity. The four types are

Super Computers Mainframe Computers Mini Computers Micro Computers

Super Computers When we talk about types of computers, the first type that comes to our mind would be Super computers. They are the best in terms of processing capacity and also the most expensive ones. These computers can process billions of instructions per second. Normally, they will be used for applications which require intensive numerical computations such as stock analysis, weather forecasting etc. Other uses of supercomputers are scientific simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design, and analysis of geological data (e.g. in petrochemical prospecting). Perhaps the best known super computer manufacturer is Cray Research. Some of the "traditional" companies which produce super computers are Cray, IBM and Hewlett-Packard. As of July 2009, the IBM Roadrunner, located at Los Alamos National Laboratory, is the fastest super computer in the world.

Mainframe Computers

Mainframe computers can also process data at very high speeds vi.e., hundreds of million instructions per second and they are also quite expensive. Normally, they are used in banking, airlines and railways etc for their applications.
Mini Computers

Mini computers are lower to mainframe computers in terms of speed and storage capacity. They are also less expensive than mainframe computers. Some of the features of mainframes will not be available in mini computers. Hence, their performance also will be less than that of mainframes.
Micro Computers

The invention of microprocessor (single chip CPU) gave birth to the much cheaper micro computers. They are further classified into Desktop Computers Laptop Computers Handheld Computers(PDAs)
Desktop Computers Today the Desktop computers are the most popular computer systems. These desktop computers are also known as personal computers or simply PCs. They are usually easier to use and more affordable. They are normally intended for individual users for their word processing and other small application requirements. Laptop Computers Laptop computers are portable computers. They are lightweight computers with a thin screen. They are also called as notebook computers because of their small size. They can operate on batteries and hence are very popular with travelers. The screen folds down onto the keyboard when not in use. Handheld Computers Handheld computers or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are pen-based and also battery-powered. They are small and can be carried anywhere. They use a pen like stylus and accept handwritten input directly on the screen. They are not as powerful as desktops or laptops but they are used for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and playing games. They have touch screens which we use with a finger or a stylus. What is Hardware and Software? Hardware: The physical components which you can see, touch and feel in the computer system are called hardware Eg monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. Software: Software is used to describe the instructions that tells the computer how to perform a task. Software is categorized 1) System softwares ( eg . operating systems, compilers, editors etc) 2) Application softwares ( MS-word, excel, accounting packages etc)

System components Component needed to assemble a basic modern PC system. Motherboard Processor Memory (Primary) Hard disk CD-ROM Floppy Drive Keyboard Mouse Monitor Power Supply Cabinet
Motherboard: motherboard is the important component of the computer as everything else is connected to it. And it controls everything in the system. Motherboards are available in several different shapes.

Processor
The processor is often thought as the engine of the computer. Then the processor reads the commands from the memory and then executes them. The processor is one of the most expensive parts of the computers and is also one of the smallest parts. Primary Memory Memory : Is used to hold programs and data during execution. Primary memory is often called as RAM(Random Access Memory). It holds all the programs and data the processor is using at a given time. RAM is volatile because its contents are erased when power is switched off. The other type of system memory is ROM(Read only Memory)which is permanent because it contents are not erased even when power is switched off. It is usually used to load an operating system. Hard disk drive A hard drive consists of spinning platters made up of aluminum or ceramic that is coated with magnetic media. The platters come in various sizes. The hard drive with many different storage capacities can be created depending upon the density, size and number of platters. This is also called as Secondary memory. There can be several programs in the system, which cannot be stored in RAM, so we need a very huge non-volatile memory, which can be used for storing all the programs, and data when the system is not in use are called as Hard disks.

CD-ROM drive
CD-ROM stands for compact disk read only memory. It consists of small disks similar to the gramophone records to hold digital information. As the name applies they are read only medium. With the advancement in technology writable CDs are also available.

Floppy Disk Drive

Keyboard The keyboard is the main input device for most computers. It is used to input text or enter commands into the PC. Nowadays keyboards with additional features are available like multimedia keyboard, wireless keyboard. Mouse With the invention of graphical user interface mouse is used to input information into the computer. Users simply point and click to enter information. The main advantage of mouse over keyboard is simplicity. And there are many operations that are much easier to perform with a mouse then a keyboard. Monitor The monitor is the specialized high-resolution screen similar to a television. The video card sends the contents of its video memory to the monitor at a rate of 60 or more time per second. The actual display screen is made up or red, green and blue dots that are illuminated by electron beam from behind. The video card DAC chip controls the movement of the electron beam, which then controls what dots are turned on and how bright they are. Which then determines the picture you see on the screen.

Power supply
SMPS(Switch Mode Power Supply): The power supply supplies power to every single part in the PC. The main function of the power supply is to convert the 230 V AC into 3.3 V, 5 V and 12 V DC power that the system requires for the operations. In addition to supplying power to run the system, the power supply also ensures that the system does not run unless the power supplied is sufficient to operate the system properly. The power supply completes internal checks and tests before allowing the system to start. If the tests are successful, the power supply sends a special signal to the motherboard called Power Good. If this signal is not present continuously, the computer does not run. Therefore, when the AC voltage dips and the power supply becomes stressed or overheated, the Power Good signal goes down and forces a system reset or complete shutdown.

Cabinet
The box or outer shell that houses most of the computers is called Cabinet. The cabinet actually performs several important functions for your PC including protection to the system components, directing cooling airflow, and allowing installation of and access to the system components. The cabinet often includes a matching power supply and must also be designed with shape of the motherboard and other system components in mind. Evolution of Computers: Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. Read about each generation and the developments that led to the current devices that we use today.

First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions. First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts. The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951. Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output. Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology. The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry. Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers. Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors. Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computerfrom the central processing unit and memory to input/output controlson a single chip. In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors. As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.

Printers
The printers are classified as under: Impact Printers - These printers have a mechanism that touches the paper in order to create an image. The Dot Matrix Printer is an example of this type. Non-impact Printers - These printers do not touch the paper when creating an image. The inkjet and laser printers are examples of this type. Dot Matrix Printers Printers in this category print the characters / images using dots through inked ribbon. These printers are very economic and require very less maintenance cost. The print quality of the dot matrix printer is decided by the quantity of pins it has. The number of the pins can vary from nine to twenty four, depending on the kind of dot matrix printer. When compared to the other kind of printers, like the laser printers or the ink jet printer, the dot matrix printer is much more expensive. The dot matrix printer has a tendency to make a lot of noise when compared to the other kinds of printers. This is why the dot matrix printer is not very popular among customers. Quality of print in this category is not very high but is highly suitable for printing situations requiring multiple copies. These printers can print through hammering pattern of dots on the printing ribbon and can thus print multiple copies of document if multiple papers separated by carbon papers are inserted in it. Note that this feature is not available with any other category of printers. Inkjet/Deskjet/Bubblejet Printer Printers in this category are most popular. These printers are very low priced with high running/maintenance cost. These printers work on liquid ink technology and print the image using circuit-controlled jet of ink. An inkjet sprays the ink onto the paper in tiny droplets to form text and graphics. Printing speed of these printers is not very high compared to Laser Printers. These printers are suitable for people having less printing jobs with a desirable print quality. These printers are available in 'Coloured' and 'Black & White' options. Different companies have branded their products using the same technology with different names e.g. Hewlett Packard (hp) manufactures DeskJet Printers Epson manufactures Inkjet Printers Canon manufactures Bubble Jet Printers Laser Printer These printers use a technique, which is a combination of laser and Xerox technology. The technology involves dry powder based ink, which is adhered to a drum through magnetic force, and when a paper is passed through the drum it releases ink on that paper. These are the fastest available printers in the category and are most suitable for uses involving high-speed quality prints.

Multimedia
As the name suggests, multimedia is a set of more than one media element used to produce a concrete and more structured way of communication. In other words multimedia is simultaneous use of data from different sources. These sources in multimedia are known as media elements. With growing and very fast changing information technology, Multimedia has become a crucial part of computer world. Its importance has realised in almost all walks of life, may it be education, cinema, advertising, fashion and what not. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, computers have been restricted to dealing with two main types of data - words and numbers. But the cutting edge of information technology introduced faster system capable of handling graphics, audio, animation and video. And the entire world was taken aback by the power of multimedia. WHAT IS MULTIMEDIA? Multimedia is nothing but the processing and presentation of information in a more structured and understandable manner using more than one media such as text, graphics, animation, audio and video. Thus multimedia products can be an academic presentation, game or corporate presentation, information kiosk, fashion-designing etc. Multimedia systems are those computer platforms and software tools that support the interactive uses of text, graphics, animation, audio, or motion video. In other words, a computer capable of handling text, graphics, audio, animation and video is called multimedia computer. If the sequence and timing of these media elements can be controlled by the user, then one can name it as Interactive Multimedia. DIFFERENT MEDIA ELEMENTS (i) Text Inclusion of textual information in multimedia is the basic step towards development of multimedia software. Text can be of any type, may be a word, a single line, or a paragraph. The textual data for multimedia can be developed using any text editor. However to give special effects, one needs graphics software which supports this kind of job. Even one can use any of the most popular word processing software to create textual data for inclusion in multimedia. The text can have different type, size, color and style to suit the professional requirement of the multimedia software. (ii) Graphics Another interesting element in multimedia is graphics. As a matter of fact, taking into consideration the human nature, a subject is more explained with some sort of pictorial/graphical representation, rather than as a large chunk of text. This also helps to develop a clean multimedia screen, whereas use of large amount of text in a screen make it dull in presentation. Unlike text, which uses a universal ASCII format, graphics does not have a single agreed format. They have different format to suit different requirement. Most commonly used format for graphics is .BMP or bitmap pictures. The size of a graphics depends on the resolution it is using. A computer image uses pixel or dots on the screen to form itself. And these dots or pixel, when combined with number of colors and other aspects are called resolution. Resolution of an image or graphics is basically the pixel density and number of colors it uses. And the size of the image depends on its resolution. A standard VGA (Virtual Graphics Arrays) screen can display a screen resolution of 640 480 = 307200 pixel. And a Super VGA screen can display up-to 1024 768 = 786432 pixel on the screen. While developing multimedia graphics one should always keep in mind the image resolution and number of colors to be used, as this has a direct relation with the image size. If the image size is bigger, it takes more time to load and also requires higher memory for processing and larger diskspace for storage. However, different graphics formats are available which take less space and are faster to load into the memory. There are several graphics packages available to develop excellent images and also to compress them so that they take lesser disk-space but use higher resolution and more colors.

Packages like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Paint Shop Pro etc. are excellent graphics packages. There is Graphics gallery available in CDs (Compact Disk) with readymade images to suit almost every requirement. These images can directly be incorporated into multimedia development. (iii) Animation Moving images have an overpowering effect on the human peripheral vision. Followings are few points for its popularity.

Uses of Multimedia
Placing the media in a perspective within the instructional process is an important role of the teacher and library professional. Following are the possible areas of application of multimedia: Can be used as reinforcement Can be used to clarify or symbolize a concept Creates the positive attitude of individuals toward what they are learning and the learning process itself can be enhanced. The content of a topic can be more carefully selected and organized The teaching and learning can be more interesting and interactive The delivery of instruction can be more standardized. The length of time needed for instruction can be reduced. The instruction can be provided when and where desired or necessary.