Overview of Introduction to Computers Prepared By : ASM ASHIF ASA University
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Overview of Introduction to Computers
Prepared By : ASM ASHIFASA University
Topics
Meanings of Computer
• Types of Computers
• Evolution/Generation of Computers Computer System Hardware SoftwareSoftware Data Information Procedure People Communication/ Connectivity
Meanings of Computer
Computer is a device that computes, especially a programmable electronic machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information. According to Collins English Dictionary, Computer is “A device, usually electronic, that processes data according to a set of instructions”. The actions carried by the computer are either arithmetic or logical in nature.
Types of Computers
Computers are either analog or digital in nature. Computers of yesteryears were analog in nature, but modern day computers are digital in nature. Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows, though there is considerable overlap:
Personal computer WorkstationMinicomputerMainframeSupercomputer
Types of Computers
Personal computer: A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data. These are cost effective machines which are used for general purpose computations.
Workstation: A powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor.
Minicomputer: A multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously. It is scaled down version of main frame machines designed to meet the computing needs of small and medium enterprise (SME). HP, IBM, SUN and Dell are some of the major vendors of mini computers.
Types of Computers
Mainframe: A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. They are usually installed in very large organizations such as banks, meteorological office, defense establishments etc. These machines have proprietary hardware and software. The cost of acquisition and maintenance of these machines are high. IBM is the most popular maker of mainframe machines and some of the models are 3090, ES/9000, and S/390Supercomputer: An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second. It works on massively parallel architectures interconnecting more than one processor, has large quantity of main memory and secondary storage devices. It supports multiple users, use proprietary hardware and software, need special environment for working and are very expensive in both procuring and maintaining. Supercomputers are usually used for complicated computations such as weather forecasting and other scientific research requiring massive calculations.
Evolution/Generation of Computers
First Generation(1944-1958)Most input and output media were punched cards and
magnetic tape.Main memory was almost exclusively made up of
hundreds of vacuum tubes.Computers were somewhat unreliable because the
vacuum tubes failed.They could run only one program at a time.ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator And
Calculator) ,
Evolution/Generation of Computers
Second Generation(1959-1963)Transistors and some other solid-state devices that
were much smaller than vacuum tubes.Magnetic cores became the most widely used type
of main memory.Removable disk packs were introduced as storage
device.Smaller, more reliable and significantly faster than
first-generation computers.
Evolution/Generation of Computers
Third Generation(1964-1970) Integrated circuit replaced traditional transistorized
circuit.The use of magnetic disks for data storage became
widespread.Multiprogramming and timesharing.
Evolution/Generation of Computers
Fourth Generation(1971-now)LSI ,VLSI and ULSI circuits were developed.Computers’ main memory capacity increased.Software application like dBASE, electronic
spreadsheet became commercially available.
Computer System
A computer system comprises hardware and software. A computer system processes data into information according to instructions provided by the user. Data are raw facts that need to be processed, whereas information is meaningful data. Instructions provided by the user tell the computer hardware how to perform a task are referred to as the computer software.
Computer System
It accepts data that is typed to it by the
user (input data).The computer then processes this data
providing a result. This result is then displayed on the screen or
printed on a sheet of paper (computer output).
A Typical Computer System
Basic Elements of a Computer System
Computer system includes hardware, peripheral devices, and software. Hardware – the physical components that comprise the computer and
other devices connected to it, such as a keyboard or monitor. Peripheral devices – expand the computer’s input, output, and storage
capabilities. Input device is a hardware device that allows users to enter data or
commands into the computer. Output device is any hardware device that makes information
available to a user. Storage device is any device that can store data.
Software – programs containing instructions that direct the operation of the computer system.
A Computer System Architecture
Input Device:Punch card
reader, Keyboard,
Mouse, Scanner,
Voice.
Computer:CPU,
Internal Memory
Output Device:Monitor,Printer,Plotter,Modem,
Disk DriveExternal Storage:Floppy disk,Hard disk,
Optical disk, Tape drive
Basic Computer OrganizationBasic Computer Organization
ALU
Control Unit
Input Devices OutputDevices
Memory
Central Processing unit
CPU3
8
9
52
1
467
11
10 12
T0 outside world
From
outside world
Computers Consist of Five Parts
Hardware Software Users Data Some authors treat
Communications as fifth part
Hardware
Types of Hardware
The Input hardware: used to enter data and instructions into a computer.
The Output hardware: used to view information produced by the computer.
The Processing hardware: used to process data into information.
Types of Hardware
The Storage hardware: used to store data, information and instructions permanently on media.
The Communication hardware: used to enable connections between computers (i.e: modems, cable and fax modems).
Software
Computer software is often regarded as anything but hardware, meaning that the "hard" are the parts that are tangible (able to hold) while the "soft" part is the intangible objects inside the computer.
Software is made up of a group of related programs. A program is a sequence of instructions to the hardware components of a computer system to perform a specific processing task.
Software
Software can generally be classified into application software or systems software. Application software performs general-purpose tasks for users, e.g. a payroll system, word processing, spreadsheets.
Software
Systems software, on the other hand, runs basic computer operations, manages computer resources and allows application software to run on the computer. Systems software includes operating systems, utility programs and language translators.
Software
A software package is software to perform a general business function, e.g. Microsoft Office. The Microsoft Office programs Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access will be studied in details in this course.
Data
As mentioned before, data is a collection of raw facts, whereas information is processed data.
In a computer system data is represented using two binary digits: 1 ("on") and 0 ("off"). This is referred to as the binary system.
Data
During processing, 0 is represented by an electrical current being off ( or at low voltage) and 1 by the current being on (or at high voltage).
When a letter is typed on the keyboard, the character is automatically converted into series of 1s and 0s that the computer can understand.
Data
Letters, numbers and special characters are represented within the computer system by means of binary coding schemes. Two common binary coding schemes are the ASCII-8 and EBCDIC. Following, table lists some examples of how some characters are represented using the ASCII scheme.
Data
ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange and is typically used to represent data in smaller computers (microcomputers).
EBCEDIC stands for Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange and is used to represent data in larger computers.
Procedures
A procedure is a sequence of steps describing how to carry out a particular task on the computer. For example, to logon the computer, to shut down the computer, to save a file, etc.
People
People are the most important part of the computer system because they design and develop computer systems, operate computer hardware, create computer software and establish procedures for carrying out tasks.
People
People dealing with the computer can mainly be classified into computer professionals or end-users.
Computer professionals are people having formal education in technical aspects of using computers. Examples are computer programmers, system analysts and network administrators.
People
End-users, on the other hand, are people who use a computer system to help them carry out a task specific to their job or profession or just for fun. End-users need not have much technical knowledge about the computer.
Communication/ Connectivity
Connectivity refers to using computers for communication purposes, e.g. sending messages from one computer to another, sharing resources (such as software) and sharing information.
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