COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT l6

BY AWA CED
Module 1 : COMPUTING SYSYEMS AND COMPONENTS
INTRODUCTION
Since the dawn of history, man has always searched for efficient means to make calculations and process
information quickly and without errors. This is why the computer was created. With the idea of developing a
machine which could perform complex calculations faster and with full accuracy, man invented the ‘computer’.
Computer is derived from the latin word “computare” which means “ to calculate” or “ to sum up” meaning that a
computer is simply a calculating machine.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
1. A Computer. A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to perform or carryout arithmetic
and or logical operations. It is capable of accepting data throuth the input unit, process the data according to
instructions given through the various programs and also store (keep) the results (information) in its storage
units for furture use.
2. Computer science: Computer Science is a term used to describe the study of computer technology and
information processing techniques that use computers. (It is the study of the principles and use of
computers).
3. Computing: Computing is any activity that uses computers to manage, process and communicate
information. It includes the development of both software and hardware resources. The major areas of
computing include computer engineering, computer science, software engineering, information system and
information technology.
4. Data: Data are raw facts that still need to be processed. (Data is a piece of raw information collected, stored,
or processed without any organization that could give it meaning). Data can be text, a number, a sound, an
image, etc. Example: 04271967 is data – a piece of information that has no meaning by itself.
5. Information: Information reffers to data that has been processed. OR Information is simply an assembly of
data, organized in order to give the data meaning. Example: 04/27/1967 is information that might represent
the day, month, and year of someone’s birthday
NOTE: Data and information are often used interchangeably in the field of computing.
6. Processing: Processing is the act of storing, manipulating, extracting, and organizing data or information.
7. Computing system. It is a dynamic entity used to solve problems and interact with its environment.
COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM
A computer system is made up of 3 essential components ie hardware, software and data. These componentrs
enable the computer to perrform various task thereby executing instructions given by the user. The functioning of
the computer system is greatly afffected or worthless if any of these components is absent.
a. Hardware components.
They constitute the physical components that can be seen, touched and felt. E.g I/O devices (mouse, keyboard
etc), CPU, storage devices etc
b. Software components.
Also called computer software and reffers to the a set of programs that provide instructions to the computer to
perform specific task or operations. Computer software can be grouped into two namely system software and
application software.
THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS
Computers were developed due to mans search for fast, accurate and reliable calculating devices. The evolution of
computers is defined interms of eras, in which there are 3 eras. That is, the manual, mechanical and the
electronic era.
Manual Era
In the manual era (300 BC), the ABACUS which was considered as a counting device was introduced and was
used as the first calculating device. The abacus was produced by the MESOPOTAMIANS in Ancient
Mesopotamia. As trade transactions increased, a device known as Napiers Bone invented in 1616 by John
Napier, a scottish mathematician was used for calculation. These discoveries continued and gave rise to the
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manufacture of the first automatic calculator in 1623 by Wilhelm Schickard. This earned him the title “the
father of computer”. His calcultor could peform basic arithmetic operations on integers.
Mechanical Era
In the mechanical era, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) created the Pascaline in 1642. This machine was not the same
as a computer, but could be used for addition and subtraction. This was the first calculating machine.
As technology increased, the first practitioner of modern computing was the Englishman Charles Babbage
(1792-1871) who introduced the idea of using punch cards (perforated cards) to indicate the data and operations
to be processed. He invented a machine in 1800 that could count and execute a program. He called this machine
the difference engine. Later on, he invented its successor called the Analytical engine which was a general
purpose computing device and could execute programs. This earned him the title the father of modern
computer. Since analytical engine was programmable, babbage employed Ada Augusta Lovelace to write
programs. She then became the first programmer in the world. John Von Neumann later proposed the
construction of EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Computer). This was the first computer to use a stored
program(meaning that the operand and the opcode could be stored or kept in the same memory location).
In 1945 John William Mauchly (1907-1980) and John Presper Eckert (1919-1995) constructed a huge
calculating machine called ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). The machine
contained more than 18000 vacuum tubes, weighed 30 tons, and occupied an estimated area of 1500m2.

Electronic Era
Computing technology continued to increase untill the year 1939 to 1942 when John Atanasoff and Clifford
Berry created the first electronic computer using 45 vaccum tubes (valves) for internal logic and capacitors for
storage. They called it the Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC). This then birth the different generations of
computers extending to the 5th generation that we are today.

GENERATION OF COMPUTERS
The evolution of computers has been characterise by increase in processor speed, decrease in component size,
increase in memory size, increase in I/O capacity and speed. One factor responsible for the high increase in
processor speed is the reduction in the size of the microprocessor components. This has greatly reduce the
distance between components thereby increasing the speed at which each component functions.
Definition
Generation of computer reffers to an era or a period in the history and evolution of computers in which the
computers were characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way
computers operated, resulting to increasingly smaller, cheaper, faster, powerful, accurate and more efficient
devices. (A computer generation can be defined as a change in the technology in which the computer is or
was being used).
Initially, the term generation was used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies but nowadays,
generation includes both hardware and software, which together make up an entire computer system. There are
totally five different computer generations and each generation is characterized by a major technological
development that fundamentally changed the way the computer operates.
FIRST GENERATION OF COMPUTERS
This generationn of computers used vacuum tubes; a fragle glass device that could control and amplify electronic
signals. In this generation, punch cards (a card perforated accoding to a code) were used as input and output
media, numbers were represented in decimal form and arithmetic operations were performed in the decimal
system. Its memory consisted of 20 accumulators each capable of holding a 10 bit decimal number. Its weight
was estimated at 30 tons (a measure of weight with 1 ton = 907.187 kg), occupying a space of 1500sq feet floor
and contained more than 18000 vacuum tubes. It comsume up to 140KW of power and was capable of performing
5000 additions per second. E.g Electronic Numerical Intergrator and Computer (ENIAC), Electronic Discrete
Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC), Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) 1 and 2.
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Major features of first generation computers
 Used vacuun tubes to amplify and control electronic signals
 Huge computers that occupied a lot of space
 High electricity consumption and heat generation, thereby requiring continouos air condioning
 Low level programming was introduced and the major language was the machine language
 Computers were unreliable since they were prone to frequent hardware failure
 Data was stopred on punch cards
 Very costly and required constant maintenance

SECOND GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

In the second generation of computers, vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors (a solid state device made
rfrom silicon, smaller, cheapper and emits or dissipates less heat than vacuum tubes.
Other changes that accompanied second generation of computers include the introduction of more complex
arithmetic and logic units, the use of assembly language and the introduction of the first operating system (GM-
NAA); a system of Genral Motors and North American Aviation released in 1956. E.g IBM series, UNIVAC 3
etc
Major features of second generation computers
 Used transistors
 Smaller and less expensive than first generation
 Comsumed less electricity and emmitted less heatthan first generation
 Introduction of the first operating system
 Use of assembly language
 Wider commercial use
 Used magnetic core memories and magnetic disk as primary and secondary storage capacity
THIRD GENERATION OF COMPUTERS
This generation of computers was characterised by the use of integrated circuits made of transistors, capacitors,
resistors and other metallic connections. This generation consisted of two types of ICs, that is, small scale
integration (SCI) chip having about 10 to 20 transistors on a single chip and medium scale integration (MSI)
chip having about 100 transistors per chip. E.g Intel 4004, IBM 360, DEL etc

Major features of third generation computers

 It characterised the use of integrated circuits
 Computers were smaller, faster and more reliable
 Keyboards and monitors were invented to provide interface with an an OS
 High level languages like pascal were introduced
 E.g Intel 4004, IBM 360, DEL etc
FOURTH GENRATION OF COMPUTERS
In the fourth generation of computers, large scale integration (LSI) of transistors were used. This led to the
development of microprocessor chip containing the entire central processing unit (CPU) on a single silicon
chip. T he size of computers became smaller and computers became cheaper. Micorcomputers and GUI were also
developed . Here, computers could be connected to each other in a LAN and internet. Hard disk and floppy disk
and CDs were also developed.
Major features of fourth generation computers
 Development of micro processor
 Development of protab le computers
 Networking of computers and data communication
 Different types of memories with hight storage capacity
 Very reliable, powerful and accurate devices
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 E.g Apple 2, Pentium 1,2,3,4,etc
FIFHT GENERATION COMPUTERS
Fifth generation computers are still under delelopment and are being develped to have thinking power and ability
to make decisions. The concept of artificial intelligence in being used in these computers. These computers are
being developed to have knowledge information processing system (KIPS) rather than the present data or
logic information processing system. Applications such as voice recognition and visual recognition are a step in
this direction.
Artificial intelligence
It is the theory and development(building) of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human
intelligence, such as visual perception, speechrecognition, decisioon ,making and translationbetween languages.

Major features of fifth generation computers

 Artificail intelligence or ultralarge scale integrated circuit
 Knowledge information processing system
 Use of natural language

TYPES OF COM PUTERS

There are different types of computers that canbe classified based of the type of data they can handle, purpose,
size and performance.
a. Classification based of the way data is handled
Based on the way data is handled, computers can be classified into analogue, digital and hybrid
computers.
1. Analogue computers: These are computers that use continouos phenomena such as electrical,
mechanical and hydraulic processes to model and solve problems. That is, they work on continouos
form of data and gives out continouos form of output( they work on similar data). These computers
operate numbers which involves continouosly changing measurable physical quantities like
temperature, speed, voltage, pressure etc. Some examples of analogue computers include wrist watch,
thermometer, Abacus, slide rule, electronic intergrators, , weaher forecasting models, flight simulators,
pascaline, difference engine etc
These quantities vary continuously while meaasuring the quantity such as the temperature of a person
which changes consistently. The analogue computer is the first generation of computers, ie, the
beginning of the computing world. Analogue computers are equiped to measure things rather than
countable or check. They are specially designed to measure and perform arithmetic calculations
of numbers, where nu mbers are represented in physical quantities. In typical electronic
analogue computers, the inputs are converted to voltages that can be added or multiplied using
specially designed circuit units. Responses are continuously generated for viewing or for
conversion into another desired form. The efficiency of this computer increases when we get the
result of the data in the form of graphs etc. analogue computers cannot store statistics. They are
used in the fields of technology, science, research, engineering, education etc.
NOTE: Analogue computers have been seen to be more energy efficient than their digital
counterparts.
FEATURES OF ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
 The quantities that represent digital data change consistently over time
 They are mostly mechanical or electrical machines that can perform task like adition,
multiplication, subtraction and division
 The output of analogue devices can be expressed in the form of graphs drawn on the screen of
an oscilloscope or on paper, or an electrical signal used to control the operstion of a mechanism
 Thet operate on real time. That is, real time processing.
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 The analogue devices are designed for specific purposes
 These are generally used to monitor real-world conditions like wind, sound, movement,
temperature etc
 In addition to technical applications like automaic transmission and musical synthesizers,
analogue computers are also specific computational problems of a practical nature.
TYPES OF ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
 Electronic analaogue computers, use electronic circuits to solve problems
 Mechanical analogue computers, employ fluid dynamics to model systems
 Hybrid computers, combine analogue and digital components.
ADVANTAGES OF ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
The adavantageous point of analogue computers is that
 They show results in a simple or graphical way within a short time. (Real-time transformation in a
digital computer require complex…..
 High-speed processing
 Real time operation
 Continouos representation
 Low power consumption
LIMITATIONS OF ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
 They are sentitive to noise and errors
 They are difficult to program
 They are limited in precision
Some areas of application of analoge computers include Modelling, simulation, signal processing,
control systems, scientific research etc
2. Digital computers: These are computers that work on discrete data. These computers operate binary
data (consisting of of Os and 1s) which is discrete in nature using electronic switches and logic gates
to execute instructions. They execute a programmed processing system where instructions or programs
are stored as software. They work at tremondous speed and arfe able to produce more accurate results.
Components include
 CPU
 Memory (RAM, ROM)
 Input/Output devices such as keyboard, mouse and monitor
 Storage devices (hard drive, SSD)
 Operating system (OS)
ADVATAGES
 High speed
 Accuracy
 Large amount of stoirage capacity
 They are cost effective
 They are flexible
E.g
 calcualtor,
 laptops
 desktop computers
 servers
 mainframes
 gaming consoles
 smart home devices
 Point-of-sale (POS) systems etc
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Difference between analogue and digital computers

ANALOGUE COMPUTERS DIGITAL COMPUTERS

They work with continouos signals (values or data) They work with discrete values or data
Has less speed than digital computers Has high speed than analogue computers
Has very low or limited memory Has very large amount of memory
Has no state Has two states, that is, ON and OFF
Has comparatively low performance Has very low performance
Perform calculations through physical changes Perform calculations through logical operarions (AND<
NOT,OR etc).
Represent information as comtinouos values Represent inormation as discrete values
Depends on physical variations Does not depend on physical variation
Provides results with less accuracy Provides results with very high accuracy
They are difficult to use They are more simpler to use
They have complex architecture They donot have complex architecture like analogue
computers
Readability is low Readability is high
Shows results in terms of voltage signals Shows results on computer display screen
Employs analogue encoding Employs digital encoding
Power consmption is low Power consumption is high
Usually specially purpose devices They are often general purpose computers
Examples include analogue clock, thermometer etc Examples include digital laptops, camera, watches etc

3. Hybrid computers: These are computers that function in both analogue and digital form. They
integrate the features or components of analogue and digital computers. Here, the digital and anlogue
devices are connected in such a way that data can be transferred between them. The digital unit
controls the analogue unit by means of instructions given to it.
Characteristics
 Improved perrformance
 Increase accuracy
 Enhanced flexibilty
Areas of application
 Scientific simulation such as weather forecasting
 Real time control systems
 Robotics
 Medical imaging such as CT scans
 Gaming and entertainment
Advantages
 Improved accuracy and precision
 Increasd [prpocessing speed
 Enhanced flexibility and programmability
 Real-time processing
 Cost effecive
Disdavatages
 Complexity in design and implementation
 High development cost

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 Compactibility issues between analogue and digital components
 Limited commercial availability
Examples
 Electronic petrol pumps
 Water pumps
 Power grid control systems
 Robotics
 Thermostats
 Mixers
 Smart watches

b. Classification based on purpose

1. General purpose computers: These are computers that are design to perform a wide range of task
(variety of different task). They are versatile, meaning they can change easily from one activity to another
but are weak in in speed and efficeincy.
Examples;
 Personal computers such as laptops, desktops,
 Servers
 Super computers
 Mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets
 Mainframes etc
 Others: computers used for payroll, accounts management, word processing etc

NOTE: A payroll is a list of people employed by a company and showing how much each person earns.

2. Special purposecomputers: These are compputers that perfoem a specific task or set of tasks. They are
designed to handle special problems or to performs. They are good in performance, have high speed and
more efficient and rfelaible than general purpose computers.
Examples;
 ATM systems
 Playstations
 Telescopes
 Security systems
 computers managing
 Ttraffic light control systems
 Mmilitary systems such as Radar systems
 Microwave ovens
 Point-of-sale (POS) systems etc.

c. Classification based on size and performance

1. Supper computers
These are extremely powerful computers designed to perform complex calcualtions, simulations and data
processing at tremendous speed. Supper computers are the most powerful computers( in terms of
processing speed) and are used for problems requiring complex calculations. They are capable of
performing billions (50 million) operations in a second.
Characteristics of supercomputers
 High processing speed

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 High memory and storage capacity
 Advanced cooloing to prevent overheating

Areas of application

 Scientific research
 Wearther forecasting
 Modelling and simulation systems
 Artificial intelligence
 Cybersecurity

Examples

 IBM submit
 Sierra
2. Mainframe computers: Mainframe computers are larger general purpose computers. They provide a multi-
user environmrnt such that amny users or operations can operate or be carried out on a single machine
simultaneously. They are often used in organiozations involving thousands of customers, employees and
transactions. E.g banks. They are very expensive and therefore owned by big companies.
3. Minicomputers: Minicomputerss are powerful, having all or some of the facilities of mainframe computers
but are smaller, cheaper and slower that mainframe computers. They also create multiuser environment.
Example; IBM AS/400.
4. Microcomputers: Microcomputers are the smallest computers which create single user environment such
that only one person can operate at a time. They are also called SINGLE-CHIP PROCESSOR or
SYSTEM-ON-A-CHIP. They are the cheapest computers and can therefore be owned by individuals.
They are used for word preocessing, graphic designing, accounting, record keeping (database), playing
games and communication on the internet etc. They are classified into the following 3 basic categories.
i. Programmable computers or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): These are microcomputers
that are designed to carryout day to day task related to sharing or exchange of information by
connecting to desktop computers regardless of location. They are used as notepads and address
book.
ii. Laptop or desktop computer or personal computers: These are computers which are designed
to carryout day to day personal task. They are used in business and at home.
iii. Workstations: These are computers that are similar to personal computers but have greater
memory and processing capability. They are generally used in industrial scientific and busines
environments that require high levels of computation.

Charateristics of computers

FEATURE CHARACTERISTIC
High speed A computer can work at tremendous speed. It has the ability to calcualte or perform
millions of instructions per second
Accuracy It is an accuarate machine. It gives false results only when wrong datat is entered; a
concept known as Gabbage In Gabbage Out (GIGO)
High storage capacity Computers have high storage capapcity and can therfore store or recall large amount
of information because of its secondary storage capapcity. It forgets or loses
information only when asked to.
Commuincation Computer users can exchange files when computers are connectedin network. This has
enhance or facilitated communication among users
Versatility A computere is a versatile machine; being capable of performing many task
interchangeably.

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Autoamtic A computer performs work automatically once the user feeds data into it. It does not
require help from the user.
Reliability Computers carry out complex task without making errors or mistakes, thereby
producing consistent and reliable (trustworthy) results.
No Intelligences Computers are programmed to carryout tasks and instructions exactly as instructed and
qoutient (IQ) do not have an intelligence of their own.
Diligence Computers do not get tired or bored. They can work continouoly for hours

Limitations of computers
 A computert cannot generate data or information on its own
 A computer cannot correct wrong instructions
 A computer does not have intelligence on its own
 Computers donot have feelings
 Computers do not have (lack) the ability to learning

SUMMAERY CONCLUSION
Computers started back as far as 300BC with ABACUS machine produced by the MESOPOTAMIANS in
Ancient Mesopotamia as the first calculating device. The increase in trade transactions led to the development of
the NAPIERS BONE in 1616AD by JOHN Napier, a scottish mathematician. Mans continuous search led to the
manufacture of the first automatic calcuator in 1623 by Wilhelm Schickard, which earned him the titile the
Father of computer. His calculator could perform basic calculations or operations on integers.
Technology continued to take new turns and Charles babbage, an English mathematician invented a machine in
1800 that could count and execute a program. He called this machine the difference engine. His technological
experties led to the development of another device which he called analytical engine. It was a general purpose
compuiting device. This earned charles babbage the titile father of modern computer, this because he
produced the first machine that could execute a program. Since analytical engine was programmable,
babbage employed ADA AUGUSTA LOVELACE to write programs. She then became the first world
prgrammer.
Computer continued to see the light of day untill the year 1939 when John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry created
the first electronic computer using vaccum tubes for internal logic and capacitors for storage. They called this
device the Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC). This gradually led to the different generations of computers
extending to the fifith generation that we are looking up to. This increase in technology has led to the
development of different typse of computers such as mainframe, super, mini, micro etc. These computers are
applicable in many spheres of life such as education, business, health etc. Although the computers are strong (in
speed), powerful and accurate in their performance and operations, they are also limited in some areas such such
as lack of IQ, need of electrical energy to function, lack of feelings etc. but that not withstanding, their use and
impact in mans life and his daily activities cannot be over emphasized.

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