Application of Information and
Communication Technologies (2+1)
WEEK-2
Categories of Computers
And How does Computer Works?
For
1st Semester
Application of Information and
Communication Technologies (2+1)
Lectures Learning Outcomes of This Week
After Attending these lectures student will be able:
“To understand Categories of Computers and How does
Computer Works, and what are its components”
All Computers, Great & Small:
The Categories of Machines
• Computers come in different sizes; they also function as clients and/or servers.
• There are five basic computer sizes.
1. Supercomputers
2. Mainframes
3. Workstations
4. Microcomputers
5. Microcontrollers
1. Supercomputers
• Supercomputers are used in very special situations.
• Priced from $1 million to over $350 million.
• High-capacity machines with thousands of processors that can perform more than several
quadrillion calculations per second.
• Faster and largest computer available.
• Used for government census, weather forecasting, designing
aircraft, scientific projects, etc.
• The Titan (U.S.A.) computer is currently the largest
supercomputer.
• The next supercomputer generation may use
nanotechnology.
2. Mainframes
Mainframe computers are used in many large businesses.
• Priced from $5,000 to $5 million
• Process billions of instructions per second
• Size is dependent on the use
• Water-cooled or air-cooled
• Used to be called midsize computers
• Used by banks, airlines, colleges, and the like for millions
of transactions
3. Workstations
Workstations are used for graphics, special effects,
and certain professional applications.
• Expensive, powerful personal computers
• Used for scientific, mathematical, engineering,
computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM) applications
• Used for designing cars, drugs, movie special effects
• Are usually connected to a network
4. Microcomputers
Microcomputers are used by individuals as well as businesses, and they
can be connected to networks of larger computers. There are many types of
microcomputers.
• Personal computers that cost $500 to over $5,000
• Used either stand-alone or in a network
• Types include: desktop, tower, notebooks (laptops),
netbooks, tablets, mobile devices, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), and e-readers
4. Microcomputers
TYPES OF MICROCOMPUTERS
1. Desktop and tower PCs
2. Notebooks & netbooks
3. Tablets
4. Microcomputers
TYPES OF MICROCOMPUTERS
4. Mobile devices & PDAs
5. E-readers
6. Also called embedded computers, microcontrollers are tiny, specialized
microprocessors inside appliances and automobiles
They are in microwaves, programmable ovens, blood-pressure monitors, air bag sensors,
vibration sensors, MP3 players, digital cameras, keyboards, car systems, etc.
Servers
• The word server describes the way a computer—
whether mainframe, workstation, or PC—is used.
• A server, or network server , is a central computer that
holds collections of data (databases) and programs for
connecting or supplying services to PCs, workstations,
and other devices, which are called clients. These
clients are linked by a wired or wireless network. The
entire network is called a client-server network.
• Purpose: Hold data and programs for clients to access
and to supply services for clients.
How Computers Work: Three Key Concepts
All computer users must understand three basic principles:
(1) Data is turned into information;
(2) hardware and software have their own specific functions; and
(3) all computers involve input, processing, storage, and output, plus communications.
1. Purpose of a computer: Turning data into information
• Data: the raw facts and figures
• Information: data that has been summarized or otherwise transformed for use in decision making
2. Hardware vs. software
• Hardware = the machinery and equipment in a computer system
• Software (programs) = the electronic instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task
How Computers Work: Three Key Concepts
3. The basic operations of a computer: All computers use 4 basic operations +
communications:
i. Input: What goes into the computer system
ii. Processing: The manipulation a computer does to transform data into information
iii. Storage:
• Primary storage, or memory, is temporary storage for data waiting to be
processed
• Secondary storage is permanent storage: media such as hard disk, DVDs,
and CDs
iv. Output: What comes out—the results of processing, such as on the screen,
printouts, sound
v. Communications: Sending and receiving data
Customizing a Desktop Computer
• What would you need?
• Keyboard & mouse (input hardware)
• Inside the system cabinet (processing & memory hardware)
• Case and power supply
• Processor chip – the central processing unit (CPU)
• Memory chips – random access memory (RAM) or primary storage
• Motherboard – the system board, the main circuit board, with expansion slots to
plug in components
Storage Hardware: Hard Drive, CD/DVD Drive
Storage capacity is represented in bytes
• 1 byte = 1 character of data
• 1 kilobyte = 1,024 characters
• 1 megabyte = 1,048,576 characters
• 1 gigabyte = over 1 billion characters
• 1 terabyte = over 1 trillion characters
• 1 petabyte = about 1 quadrillion characters
Basic PC System
Output hardware
• Video
• Sound cards
• Speakers
• Monitor
• Printer
Communications hardware
• Modem
Basic PC System
Software
Computers use two basic types of software: system software and application
software.
1. System Software - enables the computer to perform essential operating tasks and makes
it possible for application software to run.
• Most important part: operating system (OS)
• Some operating system options
• Windows
• Unix
• Linux
• Mac OS
Software
2. Application Software - enables you to perform specific tasks—solve problems,
perform work, or entertain yourself.
Compatibility: Application software is specific to the system software you use.
• Linux applications won’t work on Windows.
• Windows applications won’t necessarily work on Linux.
Application of Information and
Communication Technologies (2+1)
Questions and Answers from Lectures
and
Summary of Topics Covered in This Week
Assessment of Learning from Lectures
Homework/Group Discussion/Assignment/Quiz etc.
References