Introduction to computer

C= commonly
O= operated
M=machine
P= particularly
U= used for
T=technologically
E= education
R =research
What is computer

The term ’ computer ‘ derived from word

“compute “which means to calculate.

A computer can be defined as a machine

(composed of electronic & electric
circuits), which can perform arithmetic
operations and logical decisions with
defined pattern of instruction called
software.
Computer is an electronic device or machine
that accepts data from the user, processes
the data by performing calculations &
operations on it.

COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Hardware-It’s the physical part of
computer system which we can see & touch.
Hardware types
Input-is consists of devices for entering
data in to a computer system.
Example
 keyboard,
 Mouse
Output-It’s device that used to present
data or information from computer to
user.
Example
 monitor
 speaker,
 printer,
 projector etc.
Processor- it’s help to processing the
computer system or such as human
brain.
Example
 CPU,
 Motherboard, etc.
Storage devices-is the parts of computer
which are used store data permanently &
temporary

It has two types

1. Primary storage devices

2. secondary storage devices
1.Primary storage device –is a memory
which integrated on motherboard for used
to store data.
They are
RAM (random access memory)
 It is used to store programs and data
that the CPU is presently in processing.
 It means main memory used to store
data temporary.
 It’s volatile memory –means that
data stored in RAM is lost when
computer is switched off, that is, it is
temporary storage.
 It’s has minimum capacity for window
mac os x 256MB – window vista 512MB
& maximum capacity 2GB and above
 There are two types of RAM
ROM (Read only memory)
 It is memory from which data memory
retrieve but the contents can not be
change by the user.
 It store data permanent or non-volatile
form non-volatile storage does not
lose it’s content when the power is
turn off.
ROM types

PROM(Programmable read only

memory )
EPROM(Erasable programmable read
only memory)
EEPROM(Electrically erasable
programmable read only memory)
Secondary storage device-
 It’s Integrated on outside of the
motherboard, used to store data
permanently.
Examples

Hard disk
 It’s stores a large amount of
information or data for long time.
Hard disk Drive -It’s secondary
storage what stores your data
 When you save data or install
programs on your computer ,the
information or data is typically
written (save) to your hard disk
 It’s has minimum capacity 500MB-
Hard disk drive types
80GB
 Internal hard disk
 External HDD
 IDE HDD
 SATA HDD etc.
CD-ROM drive-it’s used to write & read
data on disk.
CD-ROM disk- it’s used to store huge
volume of data such like dictionaries, etc.

It has three types

 CD-R disk (compact disk-recordable)

 CD-RW disk (compact disk-re-
writeable)
 DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk –read
only memory)
Floppy disk -is a removable storage disk
used for storing data. It can store small
amount of data (1.44 MB)

Flash
Magnetic tape are good example of
secondary storage devices
2. Software
 it’s the set of instruction or program
that tell what computer hardware to
do.
 Software is the instructional part of
computer system which we can see
but we cannot touch.
 There are two common types of
software

a. Application software
 is often called productivity programs
or end-user program s because they
Example of Application software are
 Microsoft office
 Anti-viruses
 Game
 Media player
 Web browser etc
b. System software
 It is the programs that are dedicated to
managing the computer itself.

 Such as operating system, file

managing utilizes & disk operating
system (DOS).
 The operating system manages the
computer hardware resources in
addition to application & data.
Types of computer
A mainframe computer
 is an untra-high performance
computer made for high volume,
proccessor-intensive computing.
 Is first type of computer used by
government and business.
 Mainframe computer are larger,
powerful computers that are physically
larger than micros & minis & usually
have processors with faster
instructionprocessing speeds.
Supercomputer-
 is special purpose machines, which has
the highest processing speed at a given
time for solving sientific & engenering
problems.
 It can proceess trillion of calculation per
second.
o weather forecasting
o crash testing
o special effects to movies etc.
Microcomputer
 is a small Low cast digital computer,
which usually consists of a
o microprocessor,
o storage
o unit,
o input channel,
o an output channel, all of which
may be on one chip inserted into or
several PC boards.
 Minicomputer
 is a small digital computer, which
normally is able to process and store
less data.
 Are usually multi-user system so there
are in interactive applications in
industries, research organization,
colleges, and universities.
Personal computer
 It appeared in the year of 1970’s that
work with small CPU, RAM 7 memory
chips.
 It’s used to the word
processing ,accounting , desktop,
database management applications
and etc.
 number of home users use this
software for play games & learn any
thing from internet easily.
Laptop computer
 is a portable computer that a user can
carry it around.
 Since the laptop computer resembles a
notebook.
 They are also known as notebook.
 Laptop are small computers enclosing
all the basic features of normal desktop
computer.
 The biggest advantage of this computer
is that one can use this computer
anywhere & at anytime.
Tablet computer
 It’s commonly shortened to tablet is a
mobile PC, typically with a mobile
operating system and LCD
touchscreen displaying processing
circuitry & rechargeable battery in
single thin, flat package.
COMPUTER TYPES
Based on operation principle
Analog –it can perform several
mathematical operations simulationally

Digital- it’s use digital circuits & are

designed to operate on two states,
namely bits 0s & 1s .data is represented
as a series of 0s & 1s.

Hybrid – are combination of both digital

& analog computers.
Based on size & processing power
Mainframe computer –in large
organizations use mainframe for highly
critical application. it has high speed
Microcomputer –it’s such like personal
computer
Based on size

 Desktop

 Laptop
 Palmtop
 PDA (personal digital assistant
Generation of Computers
 In computer terminology, the word
generation is described as a stage of
technological development or
innovation.
 A major technological development
that fundamentally changed the way
computers operate resulting in
increasingly smaller, cheaper, more
powerful and more efficient and
reliable devices characterize each
generation of computers.
First Generation (1940-1956):
Vacuum Tubes
 First generation computers were
vacuum tube / thermionic valves-based
machines.
 These computers used vacuum tubes
for circuitry and magnetic drums for
memory.
 A magnetic drum is a metal cylinder
coated with magnetic iron-oxide
material on which data and programs
can be stored.
 Input was based on punched cards and
paper tape, and output was displayed
 Each machine was fed with different
binary codes and hence were difficult
to program. This resulted in lack of
versatility and speed. In addition, to
run on different types of computers,
instructions must be rewritten or
recompiled.
Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, and
UNIVAC.
Characteristics of first generations
computers:
 These computers were based on vacuum
tube technology.
 These were the fastest computing
devices of their times. (computation
time was in milliseconds)
 These computers were very large, and
required a lot of space for installation.
 Since thousands of vacuum tubes were
used, they generated a large amount of
heat. Therefore, air conditioning was
essential.
 These were non-portable and very slow
equipment’s.
 The lacked in versatility and speed.
 They were very expensive to operate
and used a large amount of electricity.
 These machines were unreliable and
prone to frequent hardware failures.
Hence, constant maintenance was
required.
 Since machine language was used,
these computers were difficult to
program and use.
 Each individual component had to be
Second Generation Computers (1956-
1963):Transistors
 In the sixties, there was lot of development in
semiconductor field - a field of materials. In
vacuum tubes, a filament is heated to emit
electrons, (the basic component of an atom)
that carry current.
 William Shockley and a few of his colleagues
invented transistors, which do not need any
heating to liberate electrons in addition to
being smaller in size, they saved power due to
the absence of heating and hence the cooling
needed.
 The smaller size resulted in smaller distances
that the electrons have to travel to transmit
 Hence calculations became faster. The
reliability also increased.
 Today you cannot see any second generation
computers.
 The smaller size of components saw mass
production of computers which became
cheaper.
 Many companies started buying and using
them increasing the demand.
 Computer programming languages developed
further to make programming easier and user
friendly.
 Yet if you compare today’s computers, they
were a lot behind.
 The increased use of computers and the
Characteristics of second generation
computers:
 These machines were based on
transistor technology.
 These were smaller as compared to the
first generation computers.
 The computational time of these
computers was reduced to microseconds
form milliseconds.
 These were more reliable and less prone
to hardware failure. Hence, such
computers required less frequent
maintenance.
 These were more portable and
 Second generation computers still
required air conditioning.
 Manual assembly of individual
components into a functioning unit was
still required.
Third Generation Computers(1964 -
early 1970s):Integrated circuits
 In second generation computers, one
could recognize the circuit components
such as transistors, resistors and
capacitors distinctly.
 There were physically separate or
“discreet”.
 Slowly scientists started integrating
these components together so that they
are not separate.
 They were fused into the circuits. People
called it large scale integrated circuits
(LSI).
 Programmers also developed more
sophisticated software. By 1970,
engineers developed a device called
microprocessor. Lot of circuits was
packed into it. Intel 4004 was one such
chip.
Characteristics of third generation’s
computers:
 These computers were based on
integrated circuit (IC) technology.
 They were able to reduce computational
time from microseconds to
nanoseconds.
 They were easily portable and more
reliable than the second generation.
 These devices consumed less power and
generated less heat. In some cases, air
conditioning was still required.
 The size of these computers was smaller
 Extensive use of high-level languages
became possible.
 Manual assembling of individual
components was not required, so it
reduced the large requirement of labor
and cost. However, highly sophisticated
technologies were required for the
manufacture of IC chips.
 Commercial production became easier
and cheaper.
Fourth Generation Computers (Early
1970s – till date):Microprocessors
 More and more circuits were packed in a
microprocessor.
 The components were integrated further
and very large scale integration (VLSI)
technology revolutionized computer
field further.
 Intel Corporation made chips such as
8080 and 8086 to be followed by 80286,
80386, 80486 and now the Pentium
processor.
 These chips perform calculations faster.
 Computers using such VLSI chips
progressively shrunk in size. Computers
using the microprocessors are termed as
microcomputers.
 The software technology also developed
further. Programmers developed more
sophisticated and user friendly software.
 In course of time, the cost of these
computers have come down so much
that even individuals bought them so
they came to be known as personal
computers.
Characteristics of Fourth generation
computers:
 Fourth generation computers are
microprocessor-based systems.
 These computers are very small.
 Fourth generation computers are the
cheapest among all the other
generations.
 They are portable and quite reliable.
 These machines generate negligible
amount of heat, hence they do not
require air conditioning.
 Hardware failure is negligible so
minimum maintenance is required.
Fifth Generation Computers (Present
and beyond): Artificial Intelligence
 Up to fourth generation, the classification
was based purely on hardware.
 Fifth generation computers are classified
based on software also.
 VLSI technology is used in fifth
generation computers. They have large
main memories.
 The speed is also high. In addition to all
this, Fifth generation computers run
software called ‘expert systems’.
 Mega Chips: Fifth generation
computers will use super large Scale
integrated (SLSI) chips, which will result
in the production of microprocessor
having millions of electronic
components on a single chip. In order to
store instructions and information, fifth
generation computers require a great
amount of storage capacity. Mega chips
may enable the computer to
approximate the memory capacity of
the human mind.
 Parallel Processing: Most computers
 Artificial Intelligence (AI): It refers to
a series of related technologies that
tries to simulate and reproduce human
behavior, including thinking, speaking
and reasoning.
 AI comprises a group of related
technologies: expert systems (ES),
natural language processing (NLP),
speech recognition, vision recognition,
and robotics.
Characteristics of
computers
Speed:
Computers are capable of
carrying out the task with
enormous speed. Today’s
computers, according to their
class, can perform from 4 MIPS
(Millions of instructions per
Storage:
Computers can store enormous quantity
of information. Which is expressed in
terms of Kilobytes (or) Mega Bytes (MB) or
Giga Bytes (GB). It is achieved through its
‘Main memory’ or ‘Primary storage’ and
through ‘auxiliary storage’ or ‘Secondary
storage’. The Hard disks Floppy disk,
Compact Disc (CD) and Magnetic Tape
storage are examples of secondary
storages. These large volumes of storage
occupy much lesser space compared to
paper documents and this aspect of
Accuracy:
The accuracy of a Computer is
consistently high. In fact, this quality
of the computers make them
indispensable in various fields such
as Scientific Research, Space
Research, Weather Predictions and
many other areas where precision of
a high order is required. The
accuracy of the computer is best
achieved by programming them in
the most efficient manner. When it
Versatility:
Computers are versatile in that they
can perform almost any task,
provided they are given the
appropriate logical steps. For
example, they are capable of
performing wide ranging tasks such
as construction of a payroll, inventory
management in a factory, hotel
billing, hospital management,
banking applications and any
imaginable task in every walk of life.
Automation:
The biggest advantage of
computers is that it is automatic
in its operation. Once a
programming logic is initiated the
computer performs repeated
operations without human
interventions until program
completion.
Diligence:
Computers are machines and
that do not get tired or ‘lose
concentration’ like human
beings. If a large number of
calculations say million
calculations are to be performed
the resultant output will remain
exactly the same even if
operations are repeated any
number of times.
Reliability:
The computers give very
accurate results with
predetermined values. They
correct and modify the
parameters automatically, giving
suitable signals. They give
formatted results with high
degree of precisions.