INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

LECTURE 01

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
A computer is an electronic device, which executes our statements
according to our instructions at very high speed.
OR
A computer is an electronic device, which takes input from user process it
according to our instructions and then display the result.
Characteristics of computers
A computer has the following tremendous characteristics.
i) Speed
ii) Accuracy
iii) Diligence
iv) Versatility
v) Power of Remembering
i Speed
A computer is a very fast device it can perform in a few seconds the
amount of work that a human being can do in an entire years.
The speed of computer is not measured in seconds or milliseconds
but it is in microseconds, nanoseconds and even Pico seconds.
ii) Accuracy
A computer performs each and every calculation with quite
accuracy as compare to human being.
Errors can occur in a computer, but these are mainly due to human
rather than computer weaknesses.
iii) Diligence.
A computer is free from tiredness and lack concentration and it can
work for hours together without creating any error or looseness.
If ten millions calculations have to be performed, a computer will
perform the ten millionth calculation with exactly the same
accuracy and speed as the first one.
iv) Versatility
Versatility is one of the most wonderful things about the computer.
One moment, it is preparing the results of the particular
examination, the nest moment it is busy in preparing electricity
bills and in between it may be helping an office secretary to trace an
important letter in a seconds.
v) Power of remembering
A computer can store and recall any amount of information
because of its secondary storage capacity. Every piece of
information can be retained as long as desired by the user and can
be recalled as and when requires. Even after several years, the
information recalled would be as accurate as on the day when it
was fed to computer.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTER

There are five computer generations known throughout the complete history of
computer. Each generation has been discussed below.
i) First Generation (1942 to 1955)
The machines were invented during this period, consist of vacuum tube,
which was a fragile, glass device that could control and amplify electronic
signals. These vacuum tube computers are referred to as first generation
computers.
Advantages
a) Vacuum tubes were the only electronic components
available during those days.
b) Vacuum tube technology made possible the advent of
electronic digital computers.
c) These computers were the fastest calculating device of their
time.
Disadvantages
a) Too bulky in size
b) Unreliable
c) Air conditioning required.
d) Non portable
e) Limited commercial use.
ii) Second Generation (1955 to 1964)
The transistor, a smaller and more reliable successor to vacuum tube, was
invented in 1947. However the computer that used transistors were not
produced in quantity until over a decade later. The second generation
emerged with transistor being the brain of computer.
Advantages
a) Small in size as compare to the first generation computer.
b) More reliable.
c) Less heat generated.
d) Better portability
Disadvantages
a) Air-Conditioning required.
b) Commercial production was difficult and costly.
iii) Third Generation (1964 to 1975)
advance in electronics technology continued and the advent of
“microelectronics” technology made it possible to integrate large number
of circuit elements into very small surface of silicon known as “chip” this
new technology was called “Integrated Circuit” (ICs). The third generation
was based on IC technology and the computer that was designed with the
use of integrated circuits was called third generation computers.
Advantages
a) Smaller in size as compares to previous generation computers.
b) More reliable.

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c) Lower heat generator.

d) Speedy
e) Easily portable.
Disadvantages
a) Air-Conditioning required.
b) Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacture of IC
iv) Fourth Generation ( 1975 to Onwards)

Initially the integrated circuits contained only about ten twenty

components; this technology was named small-scale integration (SSI).
Later, with the advancement in technology for manufacturing ICs, it
became possible to integrate up to a hundred components on a single chip.
This technology came to be known as a medium scale integration (MSI).
Then came the era of large-scale integration (LSI) when it was possible to
integrate over 30,000 components on to a single chip. Effort is still on for
further manufacturization and it is expected that more than one million
components will be integrated on a single chip known as very large scale
integration (VLSI).
Advantages
a) Smallest in size.
b) Very reliable
c) Heat generated is negligible.
d) No air conditioning required.
e) Hardware failure is negligible.
f) Easily portable
g) Cheapest
Disadvantages
a) Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacture
of LSI chips.
v) Fifth Generation (Yet to come)
Unlike the last four generations, which naturally followed its predecessor,
the fifth generation will be totally different.
In structure it will be parallel and will be able to do multiple tasks
simultaneously. In function it will not be algorithmic. In nature, it will not
do just data processing, but knowledge processing.
THE MULTIPURPOSE TOOL.
A computer is used for almost in every field of life.
* The first modern computer was used for complex numerical tasks.
* Modern medicine uses computers in many ways. E.g. computers
are used to assist in surgical procedures and to diagnose illnesses.
* Educators are interested in computers as tools for interactive
learning.
* The scientific community uses computers to do research and
exchange information with colleagues around the world.

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* Engineers and architectures use computers to design objects and

structure with the help of CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools.
* The government is a major user of computers; many governmental
agencies now even host their own World Wide Web sites.
* Filmmakers use computers to create special effects.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
Every computer system consists of four parts.
i) Hardware, also known simply as the computer.
ii) Software also known as programs.
iii) Data, which the system converts into information.
iv) People also known as user.

i) Hardware
Any part of the computer, which is tangible, called Hardware. Or
the complement of software is called hardware.
Hardware consists of interconnected electronic devices that you can
use to control the computers operation input and output.
ii) Software
The parts of computer, which are intangible, are called software. Or
complement of hardware is called software. In other words the
term software refers to sets of electronic instructions that tell the
hardware what to do. These sets of instructions are also known as
programs. E.g. you will possibly use a word processing program to
enter, edit and format text documents, such as letters, memos and
reports.
iii) Data
Data refers to the raw facts that computer can manipulate. Data can
consist of letters, numbers, sound or images. Data after processing
is called information.
iv) User
Last part of the computer system is the person who uses the
computer. In discussion about computers, people are usually
referred to as users.
LOOKING INSIDE THE MACHINE
A computer consists of the following major parts.
i) Processor.
ii) Memory
iii) Input and Output devices
iv) Storage devices.

i) The Processor
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The procedure that transforms raw data into the useful information is
called processing. To perform this transformation, the computer uses two
components, the processor and memory.
Processor is like brain of the computer, the part that organizes and carries
out instructions that come from either the user or the software.
In a personal computer, the processor usually consists of one or more
microprocessors, which are slivers of silicon or other material attached
with many tiny electronic circuits. The microprocessor is plugged into a
circuit board. The circuit board to which the microprocessor is connected
is called motherboard.
ii) Memory
Memory is like an electronic scratch pad inside the computer. When you
launch a program, it is loaded into and run from memory. Data used by
the program is also loaded into memory for fast access. As you enter new
data into a computer it is also stored in memory but only temporarily. The
most common type of memory is called random access memory (RAM).
This is volatile memory. The speed of computer is also depending upon it.
The most common measurement unit for describing the computers
memory is the byte. The amount of memory it takes to store a single
character such as letter, alphabet or a numeral. Its large units are kilobyte,
megabyte, gigabyte and terabyte.
iii) Input and Output Devices
Input devices accept data and instructions from the user. The most
common input device is the keyboard, which accepts letters, numbers and
commands from the user. Another popular input device is the mouse,
which lets you select options from on-screen menus. Other popular input
devices are trackballs; touch pads, joysticks, scanner, digital cameras and
microphones.
Output devices returned processed data back to the user. The most
common output devices are the display screen, known as monitor and the
printer. The computer sends output to the monitor, when the user needs
only to see the soft copy of the output. It sends output to the printer when
the user needs a paper copy also called hard copy.
iv) Storage devices
Computer also needs a place to keep program files and related data when
it is not using them. The purpose of storage is to hold data.
Remember the distinction between storage and memory. Their functions
are the similar, but they work in different ways.
The most common storage medium is the hard disk, floppy disk, tape and
CD(s).

6. SOFTWARE BRINGS THE MACHINE TO LIFE

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A specific set of instructions that drive a computer to perform a specific

task is called a program. A combination of these programs is called
software. When a computer is using a particular program, it is said to be
running or executing that program. These programs tell the machine what
to do, without them a computer could not do any thing.
The software is divided into two major categories.
i) Application Software
ii) System Software
i) Application Software
Programs that helps the people in performing some specific tasks
are called application software.
Thousands of applications are available, however, some major
categories are as follows.
* Word processing software
* Spreadsheets
* Database managements software
* Graphics, multimedia and presentation applications
* Entertainment and education software
* Communication software.
ii) System Software
System software is also known as system package, is a set of one or
more programs design to control the operations of a computer
system.
One major type of system software called operating system.
Operating system tells the computer how to use its own
components. Operating system is a program that creates an
interface between user and computer hardware.
THE SHAPES OF COMPUTERS TODAY
Computers come in many sizes and varying capabilities.
Major categories are as follows.
i) Supercomputer
ii) Mainframe Computer
iii) Minicomputer
iii) Microcomputer or Personal Computer (PC)

i) Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the more powerful computers made. They are
built to process huge amount of data. For example scientists build
models of complex processes and simulate processes on a super
computer. One such process is nuclear fission.

ii) Mainframe Computers

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The largest type of computer in common use is the mainframe.

Mainframe computers are used where many people in a large
organization need frequently access to the same information, which
is usually organized into one or more huge database.
iii) Minicomputers
These computers are smaller in size than mainframe computer. The
capabilities of a minicomputer lies some where between those of
mainframes and those of personal computers. For this reason, mini
computers are often referred to as mid range computer.
Like mainframes, minicomputer can handle much more input and
output than personal computer can. Although some minis are
designed for a single user, many can handle dozens or even
hundred of terminals.
iv) Microcomputers
The term microcomputer and personal computer are
interchangeable, but PC which stands for personal computer some
times has more specific meanings.
In 1981 IBM called its first microcomputer the IBM-PC. One source
of PC’s popularity is the rate at which improvements are made in
the technology. Microprocessors, memory chips and storage
devices keep making gains in speed and capacity while physical
size and price remains stable or in some cases are reduced. For
example compared to the physical PC of the ten years ago a
machine of the same price today will have at least eight times as
much RAM, about 50 times more storage capacity.