Lecture 1 Introduction to the Computers CSCS100 – Fall 2009 – Forman Christian College Asher Imtiaz *Several of these slides have been adapted and modified from LUMS CS101 course (Dr Sohaib Khan and Dr Arif Zaman), VU CS101 slides (Dr. Altaf A. Khan) and Peter Norton’s supplementary material.
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Lecture 1 Introduction to the Computers CSCS100 – Fall 2009 – Forman Christian College Asher Imtiaz *Several of these slides have been adapted and modified.
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Lecture 1Introduction to the ComputersCSCS100 – Fall 2009 – Forman Christian CollegeAsher Imtiaz
*Several of these slides have been adapted and modified from LUMS CS101 course (Dr Sohaib Khan and Dr Arif Zaman), VU CS101 slides (Dr. Altaf A. Khan) and Peter Norton’s supplementary material.
Course Overview
What we’ll cover, and what we’ll not?
About Computers…
What is it, and what can it do?
What is a computer?
InputProcessing / Computation
Output
What is a Computer?• [Norton] A Computer is an electronic device
that processes data, converting it into information that is useful to people.
• [Wikipedia] A Computer is a programmable device, usually electronic in nature, that can store, retrieve and process data.
• [The American Heritage Dictionary]1. 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
2. One who computes
What can computers do, or not do?
• A computer does what it is told to do…
• You tell a computer what to do by giving it a list of precise, unambiguous instructions, a computer program
Calculator – A Simple Computer
Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in March 2004, and released to the public domain.Thanks to Kodabar for removing the shadow.
Categorization of Computer Systems
Computers Everywhere• Not just Desktops, Workstations, Tablet
• Specialized computers• Optimized for science or graphics
• Engineering design, modeling, animation, video editing.• More powerful than a desktop• Often have high-resolution monitors, accelerated graphics
capabilities.• More expensive than the average desktop, typically by at
least more than double the price
Image from http://www.pcaccessoriesparts.com/
Computers For Individual Use• Notebook computers
• Small portable computers• Weighs between 3 and 8 pounds• About 8 ½ by 11 inches• Typically as powerful as a desktop• Can include a docking station• Also called laptop computers• Power optimization (battery life: at
least 2 hours)• About 1.5 times or higher than the cost of desktops.
Image credits: images.businessweek.com
Image credits: http://gizmodo.com
Computers For Individual Use• Tablet computers
• Newest development in portable computers
• Input is through a pen
• Run specialized versions of office products
• Handheld computers• Very small computers• Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)• Note taking or contact management• Data can synchronize with a desktop• $200 onwards
• Smart phones• Hybrid of cell phone and PDA• Web surfing, e-mail access
Computers For Individual Use
Image credits: www.techpuddle.com
Computers For Organizations• Network servers
• Centralized computer• All other computers connect• Provides access to network
resources• Multiple servers are called server
farms• Often simply a powerful desktop
Computers For Organizations• Mainframes
• Used in large organizations, banks, e-commerce systems, military.
• Also called “Enterprise Servers”• Handle thousands
of users• Users access through a
terminal• High reliability
Computers For Organizations• Supercomputers
• The most powerful computers made. IBM Deep Blue 1997.
• Handle large and complex calculations
• Process trillions of operations per second
• Cost tens of millions of dollars• Found in research organizations• Designed to focus on one task at
a time• In the past, single high end
processor. • Modern supercomputers, 1000s
of processors working in parallel.• Why would we want to do
this?
Wearable Computers
• A different interaction idea.• Small in size, carried in a pocket, worn on the
arm, waist, or head or elsewhere on the body • Capability similar to PDA’s, but more expensive • They are always ON, and always accessible. • “A person's computer should be worn, much as
eyeglasses or clothing are worn, and interact with the user based on the context of the situation” http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/
• Example usage scenarios: military (e.g. land warrior) industry, health care
Wearable computers
Video Conferencinghttp://wearcam.org/wristcam/dusting/
www.gatech.edu/innovations/wearable/
Ranking w.r.t. installed number
• PC’s• PDA’s• Workstations• Servers• Wearables (will take the top spot
in future)• Mainframes• Supercomputers
Computers In Society• More impact than any other invention
• Changed work and leisure activities• Used by all demographic groups
• Computers are important because:• Provide information to users• Information is critical to our society• Managing information is difficult
Computers In Society• Computers at home
• Many homes have multiple computers• Most American homes have Internet• Computers are used for