Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

Lecture 1: Introduction
to Computers
BY:

SNR. LECTURER NIDA KHALID

S U B J E C T:

I N T R O D U C T I O N T O I N F O R M AT I O N A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N T E C H N O L O G Y ( I C T )

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ICT 1

 Pre-requisite
None

Course meeting times

Lectures: 1 sessions/week (2hrs)
Labs: 1 session/week (3hr)

Course Resources
Lectures slides,
assignments (computer/written),
recommended book/s, and announcements will be uploaded on LMS
announcement section.

Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ICT 2

Course Content
1. Basic Definitions and Concepts,
2. Hardware: Computer Systems and Components. Storage Devices, Number Systems.
3. Software: Operating Systems, Programming and Application Software, Introduction to
Programming, Databases and Information Systems, Networks, Data Communication, The
Internet, Browsers and Search Engines,
4. The Internet: Email, Collaborative Computing and Social Networking,
5. The Internet: E-Commerce, IT Security, and other issues:
6. Ad hoc networks, Introduction to cloud computing and virtualization.

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Reference Material
1. Livesley, Robert Kenneth (2017) An introduction to automatic digital computers. Cambridge
University Press.
2. June P & Dan O (2015), New Perspective on Computer, 16/e, Cengage Learning.
3. Charles S. Parker, (2014) Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Course
Technology, 25 Thomson Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, USA
4. Deborah (2013), Understanding Computers, 14/e, Cengage Learning.
5. Gary B (2012), Discovering Computers, 1/e, South Western.
6. Peter Norton (2011), Introduction to Computers, 7 /e, McGraw-Hill

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Grading policy
Assignments; 20%

Finals; 50% Quizes; 10%

Mids; 20%

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Lecture Outline
This lecture covers:
◦ What computers are, how they work, and how they are used?
◦ Computer terminology
◦ History of computers
◦ The basic types of computers in use today

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

Why learn about computers?

◦ Pervasive computing
◦ Also known as ubiquitous computing
◦ Computers have become an integral part of our lives
◦ Pervasive computing, also known as ubiquitous computing, refers to the concept where
computing is embedded into everyday objects and environments, allowing them to
communicate and interact seamlessly with humans and each other without requiring
explicit user intervention.

Basic computer literacy

◦ Knowing about and understanding computers and their uses is an essential
skill today for everyone

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 Computers in the Home
Computers used for a variety of tasks: Smart appliances
◦ Looking up information and news ◦ Traditional appliances with built-in computer or
◦ Exchanging e-mail communication technology
◦ Shopping and paying bills Smart homes
◦ Watching TV and videos ◦ Household tasks are
◦ Downloading music and movies monitored and controlled
◦ Organizing digital photographs by a main computer in
the house
◦ Playing games

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Computers in Education
Many students today have access to computers either in a classroom or a computer
lab
Colleges and universities are even more integrated
◦ Wireless hotspots allow usage of personal laptops to connect to the college network
◦ Some colleges require a computer for enrollment

Distance learning
◦ Students participate from locations other than the traditional classroom setting using computers
and Internet access

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Computers on the Job
Computers have become a universal on-the-job
tool for decision-making, productivity, and
communication
◦ Used by all types of employees
◦ Used for access control and other security
measures
◦ Use by service professionals is growing
◦ Used extensively by the military
◦ Employees in all lines of work need to continually
refresh their computer skills

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

What is a Computer?
Computer is an advanced electronic device that
takes raw data as input from the user and processes
these data under the control of set of instructions
(called program) and gives the result (output) and
saves output for the future use.
A computer is a combination of hardware and
software resources which integrate together and
provides various functionalities to the user.

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

What is a Computer?
Basic operations
◦ Input: Entering data into the computer
◦ Processing: Performing operations on
the data
◦ Output: Presenting the results
◦ Storage: Saving data, programs, or
output for future use
◦ Communications: Sending or receiving
data

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Data vs. Information
Data
◦ Raw, unorganized facts
◦ Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video

Information
◦ Data that has been processed into a meaningful form

Information processing
◦ Converting data into information

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 Hardware
Hardware: The physical parts of a
computer
◦ Internal hardware
◦ Located inside the main box (system unit) of the
computer like motherboard
◦ External hardware
◦ Located outside the system unit
◦ Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless
connection
◦ There is hardware associated with all five
computer operations

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 Software
Software: The programs or instructions
used to tell the computer hardware
what to do
◦ System software: Operating system starts up
the computer and controls its operation
◦ Without OS computer cannot function
◦ Boots the computer and launches programs at the
user’s direction
◦ Application software: Performs specific tasks
or applications

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 Categories of Computers
Computers can be categorized in
various ways based on their size,
processing power, usage, and form
factor.

◦ Mobile devices
◦ Embedded computers
◦ Personal computers
◦ Minicomputers (Midrange servers)
◦ Mainframe computers
◦ Supercomputers

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 Categories of Computers
Mobile device
◦ A very small device with some type of built-in computing or Internet capability
◦ Typically based on mobile phones

Embedded computer
◦ Embedded into a product and designed to perform specific tasks or functions for that product
◦ Cannot be used as general-purpose computers
Personal computer
◦ A small computer designed to be used by one person at a time
◦ Also called a microcomputer

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Categories of Computers
Notebook (laptop) computers
◦ Typically use clamshell design
◦ Tablet computers
◦ Can be slate tablets or convertible tablets
◦ Netbooks
◦ Small notebooks; rapidly growing type of PC
◦ Ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs)
◦ Handheld computers

Minicomputer or Midrange server

◦ A medium-sized computer used to Users connect via a network with a computer
◦ Offer more processing power than personal computers but less than mainframes; typically used by small
to medium-sized businesses.
◦ host programs and data for a small network
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Categories of Computers
Mainframe computer
◦ Powerful computer used by several large organizations to manage large amounts of centralized data
◦ Standard choice for large organizations, hospitals, universities, large businesses, banks, government
offices
◦ Also called high-end servers or enterprise-class servers
Supercomputer
◦ Fastest, most expensive, most powerful type of computer
◦ Generally run one program at a time, as fast as possible
◦ Commonly built by connecting hundreds of smaller computers, supercomputing cluster
◦ Usage: Scientific simulations, weather forecasting, nuclear research, cryptography, and artificial
intelligence.Example: IBM's Summit and Cray systems.

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Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ICT 20
Categories of Computers
Computers can be categorized based on how they process data: analog, digital, or hybrid
computers.
Analog:
o Process continuous data, representing it as physical quantities (e.g., voltage, current).
o Continuous data (e.g., temperature, speed).
o Early mechanical speedometers.
Electrical analog simulators.
Digital:
o Process discrete data using binary numbers (0s and 1s).
o Discrete data (binary: 0s and 1s). -
o PCs, smartphones, tablets.
Servers, supercomputers.
Hybrid:
o Combine features of both analog and digital computers. Both continuous (analog) and discrete
(digital) data.
o ECG machines.

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

History of Computers?
Zeroth Generation (1642-1945)
First Generation (1945-55)
Second Generation (1955-65)
Third Generation (1966-70)
Fourth Generation (1971-80)
Fifth Generation(1981-Present)

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

Zeroth Generation (1642-1945)

Early Mechanical Devices (Pre 1800s)

◦ Abacus (circa 2400 BC):
◦ Early counting tool used in ancient civilizations
(China, Egypt, Greece).
◦ Basis for future calculating machines.
◦ Napier’s Bones (1617):
◦ Developed by John Napier, used for multiplication
and division.

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

Zeroth Generation (1642-1945)

The Analytical Engine (Pre 1837)
◦ Charles Babbage:
◦ Often called the "Father of the Computer."
◦ Analytical Engine (1837):
◦ A mechanical, general-purpose computing machine.
◦ Features: Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), control flow, memory—
key elements of modern computers.
◦ Though never fully built, it was a theoretical milestone in
computer history.

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Zeroth Generation (1642-1945)
Early Electromechanical Devices
◦ Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine (1890):
◦ Designed by Herman Hollerith for the U.S. Census.
◦ Used punched cards for data input, a precursor to data storage and retrieval.
◦ Led to the founding of IBM.
◦ Zuse Z3 (1941):
◦ Invented by Konrad Zuse in Germany.
◦ First programmable electromechanical computer.
◦ Used for simulations and calculations in engineering.
◦ Mark I (1944):
◦ Developed by IBM and Harvard University, led by Howard Aiken.
◦ Electromechanical computer used for complex mathematical calculations during WWII.

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 First Generation (1945-55)
Stored-Program Architecture and Its Impact
The first generation computers used vacuum tubes & machine language was
used for giving the instructions. These computers were large in size & their
programming was difficult task. The electricity consumption was very high.
o
John von Neumann:
o
Proposed the stored-program concept in 1945, where program instructions are
stored in memory.
o
ENIAC (1945):
o Developed by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly at the University of
Pennsylvania.
o
First general-purpose, fully electronic digital computer.
o Contained 17,000 vacuum tubes and was used for military calculations.

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 First Generation (1945-55)
Stored-Program Architecture and Its Impact
o
EDVAC (1949):
o
One of the first computers to use the stored-
program concept, improving flexibility and
efficiency.
o
UNIVAC I (1951):
o
First commercially available computer,
developed by Eckert and Mauchly.
o
Used for business and government data
processing.

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Second Generation (1955-65)
Second Generation Computers (Transistor Era)
In 2nd generation computers, vacuum tubes were replaced
by transistors. They required only 1/10 of power required
by tubes. This generation computers generated less heat &
were reliable.
o
Key Features:
o
Replaced vacuum tubes with transistors,
making computers smaller, faster, and more
reliable.
o
Introduction of high-level programming
languages (COBOL, FORTRAN).
Examples:
o
IBM 1401: Popular computer used in business
and administration.
o
CDC 1604: One of the first computers to fully
use transistors.

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•.

Third Generation (1966-70)

Third Generation Computers (Integrated Circuit Era)
The 3rd generation computers replaced transistors with
Integrated circuit known as chip. From Small scale
integrated circuits which had 10 transistors per chip,
technology developed to MSI circuits with 100 transistors
per chip. These computers were smaller, faster & more
reliable. High level languages invented in this generation.
o
Key Features:
o
Use of integrated circuits (ICs), allowing multiple
transistors on a single chip.
o
Increased processing power and reduced cost.
o
Emergence of operating systems and multi-tasking.
o
Examples:
o
IBM System/360: Standardized computer family.
o
PDP-8: Early minicomputer, smaller and more
affordable than mainframes

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•.

Fourth Generation (1971-80)

Fourth Generation Computers (Microprocessor Era)
LSI(Large scale integration) & VLSI were used in this
generation. As a result microprocessors came into
existence. The computers using this technology known
to be Micro Computer. High capacity hard disk were
invented. There is great development in data
communication.
o
Key Features:
o
Use of microprocessors (entire CPU on a single
chip).
o
Development of personal computers (PCs) and
rise of home computing.
o
Key Innovations:
o
Intel 4004 (1971): First commercially available
microprocessor.
o
Apple I (1976) & IBM PC (1981): Early personal
computers that revolutionized computing.

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•.

Fifth Generation (1981-Present)

Fifth Generation Computers and Future Trends
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
o
Key Features:
o
Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, neural networks, and advanced
parallel processing.
o
Focus on natural language processing, machine learning, and intelligent systems.
o
Examples:
o
Quantum computers (Google, IBM): Promising breakthroughs in computation.
o
AI-based systems: Autonomous vehicles, smart assistants (Siri, Alexa).

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Computers Then and Now

32
Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ICT
HISTORY OF COMPUTING SOFTWARE
FIRST GENERATION (1951-1959)
• Machine language (1 &0)
FOURTH GENERATION (1971-1989)
• Assembly language • Structured programming (Pascal,
C/C++)
• Application software
• Spreadsheets, word processors,
SECOND GENERATION (1959-1965) DBMS
• High level languages
• Fortran, COBOL, LISP

FIFTH GENERATION (1990-todate)

• Microsoft products
• AI applications
THIRD GENERATION (1965-1971)
• Operating systems • Object oriented design
• System software • World wide web
• Application package • HTML
• Cloud Computing
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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers

Computers today
Before 1980
◦ Computers were large, expensive
◦ Very few people had access to them
◦ Computers were mostly used for high-volume processing tasks
Microcomputers in the early 80s
◦ Inexpensive personal computers
◦ Computer use increased dramatically
Today
◦ More than 80% of US households include a computer, and most use
computers at work

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Advantages & disadvantages
of computer
Advantages
High speed
Disadvantages
Accuracy
 Health Risk
Storage
 Violation of privacy
Automation
 Impact on labor force
Diligence
 Hacking
Versatility
 Cybercrime
Cost Effective
 Improper use
Summary
oBasic terminologies
oHistory of computers
oTypes of computer

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