CHAPTER-1

Computer Overview

Contents:
● What is a computer?
● Data
● Information
● Functioning of computer
● Functional components of computer
* Input unit
*Output unit
*Memory unit
● Evolution of computer
● Generation of computer
● Types of computer
● Application Of Computer

Computer:
A computer is an electronic machine which can process millions of instructions in a small unit of time .The word computer is
taken from the word ‘compute’ which means calculate. Computer can take input from the input devices then process the given
input as per the instruction and produce the desired output through the output devices.

Data:
Any raw , facts and figures are known as data etc. For example - Rajeev,24,80 etc.

Information:
A processed data is known as information.
OR
If a data organized in such a way, which gives a particular meaning is known as information. For eg- Rajeev is a boy, who
is 24 years old and he aggregates 80% marks in metric board.

FUNCTIONING OF COMPUTER

INPUT PROCESSING OUTPUT

The functioning of a computer is categorized into three phases. The first phase is input. In this phase the
computer takes sufficient input from the input devices.
The second phase is processing. In this phase computers work on the actual task.
The last phase is output. After all the processing, the computer produces output through the output devices.
FUNCTIONAL COMPONENT OF COMPUTER

CPU
ALU

INPUT UNIT CU OUTPUT UNIT

REGISTER

MEMORY UNIT

Since the computer system follows the I-P-O (Input-Process-Output) cycle. The first stage is performed in the computer system by
the input unit. The second phase of the computer system is processing and it is done by CPU. And the last phase of the computer
system is output and it is done by the output unit. In the processing an intermediate form of data and instructions are stored in a
memory unit.

INPUT UNIT
The input unit is formed by input devices attached to the computer system. The input unit is responsible for taking
input from the input devices and converting it into computer understandable form (binary form) Examples:- Light pen ,camera,
microphone, scanner ,etc.

CPU(Central processing Unit)

CPU stands for central processing unit. The CPU is the control centre for a computer system. It guides, directs and
governs its performance. It is the brain of the computer system. The CPU has three components which are responsible for
different functions.
These three components are as follows:–
i) ALU ii) CU iii) Register

i) ALU(Arithmetic logical unit):- The ALU stands for arithmetical logical unit. The ALU performs all the arithmetical and logical
operations for example when two numbers are required to be added, then numbers are sent from memory to ALU where addition
takes place and the result is put back into the memory. In the same way other arithmetical operations and logical operations are
performed.

ii) CU(Control Unit) :- The CU stands for control unit. CU controls and guides the interpretation, flow and manipulation of all data
and information .The CU sends control signals until the required operations are done properly by ALU and memory.

iii) Register : - The register is smallest memory in the computer system. It holds the intermediate data in small unit of time.

OUTPUT UNIT
The output unit is formed by output devices attached to the computer system. The output coming from the CPU is in the form of
electronic binary signals which need to be converted in some forms which can be easily understood by human beings. For
example – monitor, printer, projector, speaker, etc.
Memory unit
When we pass the data and information through input devices, then that data and information are stored in the memory unit.
The memory of a computer is most like human memory.

MEMORY UNIT
1 binary digit = 1 Bit
4 Bit = 1 Nibble
2 Nibble OR 8 bit = 1 byte
1024 byte = 1 kilo byte(KB)
1024 KB = 1 mega byte(MB)
1024 MB = 1 giga byte(GB)
1024 GB = 1 tera byte(TB)
1024 TB = 1 peta byte(PB)
1024 PB = 1 Exa byte (EB)
1024 PB = 1 zetta byte(ZB)
1024 ZB = 1 yotta byte(YB)
1024 YB = 1 bronto byte(BB)
1024 BB = 1 geop

Hardware
Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of the computer, that is, components that can be seen and touched
are called hardware. That means the electronics, electrical and mechanical equipment that makes up a computer is called
hardware. For example – all input, output and memory devices, CPU.

Software
Software represents the set of program that governs the operation of a computer system and makes the computer run.
Software can be classified into three categories :-
i) Operating system
ii) Application software
iii) Language processor

Evolution of computer
The concept of a computer did not come overnight. Just as the growth and development of mature
biological species normally to place in fits and started over the age, the computer also took thousands of years to make a real
computer.
Lat us take a look at the development of computer through various stages.
i) Abacus
Around three thousands years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Mesopotamians quite a unknown laid the
foundation of the computer era. They discovered the earliest form of bead and wire counting machine which subsequently came
to be known as abacus. The Chinese improved upon the abacus so that they could count and calculate fast.
An abacus consists of beads divided into two parts which are movable on the rods, of the two parts. Addition and
multiplication etc. of the numbers is done by using the place value of the digits of the numbers and position of beads in the
abacus .

The Abacus
ii) Napier’s logs and bones
John Napier (1550-1617) developed idea of an logarithm. He used logs to transform multiplication
problem to addition problem Napier’s logs later became the basis for a well-known invention the computing machine known as
slide [Link]’s also devised set of numbering rods known as Napier’s bones. He could perform multiplication and division
with these bones.

Napier's Log and Bones

iii) Pascal’s Adding machine

Blaise Pascal a French mathematician invented a machine in 1642 made up of gears which was used for adding
numbers quickly. This machine was named as adding machine or also known as pascaline. This machine was capable of addition
and subtraction. It worked on the clockwork mechanism principle. The machine consisted of numbered toothed wheels having
unique position values to, the rotation of wheels controlled the addition and subtraction operation. This machine was capable of
carry transfer automatically.

Pascla Addnig Machine

iv) Leibnitz’s calculator
Gott Fried Leibnitz, a german mathematician improved and adding machine and constructed a new machine in 1671 that
was able to perform multiplication and division as well. This machine performed multiplication through repeated addition of
numbers. Leibnitz machine used stepped cylinder each with nine teeth of varying length instead of wheels as was used by Pascal.

Labnitz Calculator
v) Jacquard’s loom
In 1801 Joseph Jacquard manufactured punched cards and used them to control looms . This the entire controlled weaving
process was automatic. The entire operation was under a programs control. With the historic invention of punched cards in the
era of storing and retrieving information started that greatly influence the later inventions and advancements.

Jacquard Loom

vi) Babbage Analytical Engine

Charles Babbage developed a machine in 1822 ,which is called difference engine. This machine was capable to
calculate logarithmic table and solve polynomial problems.
In 1833 Charles Babbage designed an analytical engine which was to
become a real ancestor of the modern-day computer. The analytical engine was capable of performing all the four arithmetic
operation as well as a comparison.
The great inventions of different engine
and analytical engine earned Charles where was the title of father of computer.
vii) Hollerith’s machine
In 1887 and American named Herman hollerith fabricated what was dreamed off by Charles Babbage. He fabricated the first
electro mechanical punched card tabulator that used punch card for input output and instruction.
viii) First Electronic Computer – The prototype of first electronic computer was assembled by John Atansoff and Cliford
Barry, which was completed in 1942 using 300 vacuum tubes.

#GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

i) First generation computer(1940-1956) : vacuum tubes

● Use the vacuum tubes to control and amplify electronic signals
● huge computers that occupied lot of a space
● High electricity consumption and high heat generation.
● Were unreliable since they were prone to frequent hardware failures.
● Commercial production was difficult
● They were very costly and required constant maintenance.
● Continuous air condition was required.
● Programming was done in machine language.
● Ex- ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC.

Note:- UNIVAC-1 was the first electronic computer of this generation that was used for the business application.

where these stands for:-

ENIAC:- Electronic Numerical integrator and calculator.
EDVAC:- Electronic Discrete Variable automatic computer.
EDSAC :- electronic delay storage automatic computer
UNIVAC-1:- universal automatic computer
ii) Second generation computer :(1956-1963) : Transistor
● Used transistor based technology
● This is smaller and less expensive as compared to the first generation computers
● consume the less electricity and limited less heat
● magnetic core memories and magnetic disks were used as primary and secondary storage respectively
● first operating system developed
● programming in assembly language
● wider commercial use but commercial production was still difficult
● they also required constant air conditioning.
● Example: IBM 1401, IBM1620, UNIVAC 1108.

iii) Third generation computer(1964-1971): Integrated circuit (IC)

● Used Integrated circuit
● computers were smaller faster and more reliable
● low power consumption and less heat where emitted as compared to the first and second generation
computer
● less human labour high level language developed
eg- IBM360 series, Honey well 6000 series, ICL-1900 series, IBM-370/168, ICL-2900
iv) fourth generation computers(1971-present): Microprocessor
● IC with LSI and VLSI technology
● microprocessors developed
● portable computers developed
● networking and data communication became popular
● different types of computer secondary memory with highest storage capacity and fast access developed
● very reliable, powerful and small in size
● negligible power consumption and heat generation
● very less production cost
eg- apple, dell, IBM etc.
v) Fifth generation computers(present -beyond) : AI
● Parallel processing – many processes are grouped to function as one large group processor
● superconductivity – a superconductor is a conductor through which electricity can travel without any
resistance resulting in faster transfer of information between the components of computer
● artificial intelligence – artificial intelligence or AI makes it possible for machine to learn from experience
adjust to new inputs and perform human-like tasks.
Types of computer:-
The computer can be classified based on the technology being used as digital , analog and hybrid.

Computer:-
i) Digital : a) Purpose wise
b) Size and performance wise
a) Purpose wise : (i) general purpose
(ii) special purpose
b) Size and performance wise: (i) micro computer
(ii) mini computer
(iii) mainframe computer
(iv) Supercomputer

i) Digital computer:- Digital computer is designed to perform calculation and logical operation at high speed. It
accepts the Raw data as input in the form of digits or binary numbers and process it with programs stored in its
memory to produce the output. All modern computers like laptops ,desktops , including a smartphone that we use at
home or office at digital computers.
ii) Analog computer :- Analog computers are mainly based on voltages and current with continuous electrical
signals and display the output continuously. These computers store the data and perform calculation quite differently
than digital computers which make use symbolic representation.
These are generally slower in speed as compared to digital computers to list of some of the examples are
thermometer, ammeter etc.
iii) Hybrid computers :- Hybrid computers are special purpose computers that have a combination of both analogue
and digital computers. They are digital computers which accept analogue signals and convert them to digital form.
First of these are generally used for scientific applications in airplanes and hospitals. Some of the examples are
ultrasound machines and monitoring machines.

#Classification of digitals computers:- digital computer can be classified into two ways:-
i) purpose wise
ii) size and performance wise
According to their purpose computers are classified into two types:-
i) General purpose computers:- General purpose computer is the one that can work on different types of programs
input to it and thus be used in countless applications. The programs are not permanently stored but are input at the
time of execution. This computer are very versatile.
ii) Special purpose computer:- Special purpose computer is the one that is designed to perform a specific task. The
instructions to carry out the task are permanently stored in the machine. For the specific task this type of computer
works efficiently but such computers are not versatile.

# According to the size and performance digital computers are classified into four types which are as follows :-
i) Micro computes:- These are also known as personal computers. This types of digital computers use a
microprocessor and include both desktop and laptops. This computers can work on a small volume of data, are very
versatile and can handle a variety of applications. These computers are being used as a work station multimedia and
advertising application. Small portable computers such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and tablets with wireless
computing technology are increasingly becoming popular.
ii) Mini computer:- These computers can support multiple user working simultaneously on the same machine.
These are mainly used in an organization where computers installed in various departments are interconnected to
each other these computers being useful for small business organizations. e.g :- PDP-11, VAX, 7500 MAGNUM etc
iii) Mainframe computer :- These computers are large and very powerful computers with very high memory
capacity. This can process huge databases such as census and extremely fast rate and suitable for big organizations ,
banks , industries sector and can support hundreds of user simultaneously on the network.e.g:- ICL 39, CDC 6600,
VAX 8842, IBM 3090/600, IBM4381.
iv) Super computer:- These are faster and very expensive computers. They can execute billions of instructions per
second. These are multiprocessors parallel systems suitable for specialized complex scientific applications involving
huge amounts of mathematical applications such as weather forecasting. The main difference between a
supercomputer and a Mainframe computer is that a supercomputer computer executes faster programs as fast as
possible where as a Mainframe computer executes many programs concurrently. e.g :- CRAY X-MP-14, CDC-205,ETA
GF-10, FUJITSU VP-400, NEC SX-2,PARAM,PACE
# Applications of a Computer

i) Business :- Computers are used in business organization for payroll calculation, sales analysis , for financial
forecasting, managing employees database and maintenance of stocks etc.
ii) Education :- Computers have its dominant use in the education field which can significantly enhance performance
in learning to stop event distance learning is made productive and effective through internet and video based classes.
iii) Marketing :- In marketing uses of computers are;-
a) Advertising :- With the computer advertising professionals create arts and graphics ,writes and revise copies
and print ads with the goal of selling products.
b) Home shopping :- Home shopping has been made possible through the use of computerized catalogues that
provide access to product information and permit direct entry of order to be filled by the customers.
iv) Banking :- Banks provide online accounting facility which includes current balance deposit interest charges shares
and trust records.
v) Communication :- Communication means to convey a message, an Idea, a picture or a speech that has received and
understood clearly and correctly by the person .

Characteristics of a computer:
Speed: A computer computes problems much faster than a human being.
Accuracy: With the high computation speed, computers are able to produce accurate results.
No IQ: It is programmed to carry out tasks and performs exactly as instructed, since it has no intelligence of its own.
Versatility: A computer can perform variety of different tasks. i.e., A computer sometimes perform the video mixing
operations, sometimes used for creating websites, sometimes used for creating mobile applications, etc.
Diligence: It can carry out tasks again and again with exactly the same result every time, and it does so without
tireding.
Reliability: Computers are immune to tiredness and boredom or fatigue. Thus they are more reliable than human
beings.
Data Storage: Using different kinds of storage devices, it can store huge quantities of data over long periods of time.
No Heuristics: As computer is a dumb machine, thus it never ever learns from its past experiences.