FUNDAMENTAL OF COMPUTER

23RD AUGUST 2024

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

2. DEFINITION OF COMPUTER…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

3. HISTORY OF COMPUTER…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

4. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER……………………………………………………………………………………………………..1

4.1. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BASED ON GENERATION…………………………………………………………….1

4.1.1. FIRST GENERATION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2

4.1.2. SECOND GENERATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2

4.1.3. THIRD GENERATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

4.1.4. FOURTH GENERATION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

4.1.5. FIFTH GENERATION …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4

4.2. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BASED ON TYPES………………………………………………………………………4

4.2.1. ANALOGUE COMPUTER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

4.2.2. DIGITAL COMPUTER…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

4.2.3. HYBRID COMPUTER………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5

4.3. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BASED ON SIZE…………………………………………………………………………6

4.3.1. SUPER COMPUTER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

4.4 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER BASED ON PURPOSE………………………………………………………………….6

4.4.1. GENERAL PURPOSE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

4.4.2. SPECIFIC PURPOSE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

4.5. CLASSIFACTION OF COMPUTER BASED ON MAKE (MANUFACTURE)……………………………………………6

4.5.1. BRANDED COMPUTER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6

4.5.2. CLONE COMPUTER…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7

Before the information age which introduced digital communication, information was
difficult to get and relay to others. The emergence of the computer brought about digital
information which is the result of computer processing. A computer is not only a
machine with the keyboard and mouse but it can be tiny in size. these very small
computers are those embedded inside some household appliances, the automobile,
planes, trains, power plants, calculators, marking them work digitally. Computers enable
efficient processing and storage information, thus enhancing the efficiency of some of
these appliances.

DEFINITIONS OF A COMPUTER:
1. A computer is an electronic machine that accepts data, stores data, processes data
and produces the results as electronic file of information or as a single to automatically
control another machine.
2. A computer programmable machine that receives input, store and manipulates data
and provides output in a useful format.
HISTORY
Many years ago people used their fingers and toes in counting. They also used stones,
pebbles and seeds of plants like the palm kernel. Then when many things had to be
contented, people could no longer use their fingers, and toes, or stones and seeds in
counting, and then the computer was invented. The computer was made as a counting
machine. The first computer was called the Abacus counting machine.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
There are several methods used in classifying computers these are include the
following:
1. Classification based on generation
2. Classification based on type
3. Classification based on size
4. Classification based on purpose
5. Classification based on make (manufacture)
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON GENERATIONS.

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The evolution of digital computing is characterized by it improvements over one another
in term of the technology used to build computers, their internal organizations and
programming languages. From the 1950’s, the computer age took off in full force. The
years since then have been divided into periods or generations based on the technology
used.
FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS (1945-1954): VACUUM TUBES
These machines were used in business for accounting and payroll applications. Valves
were unreliable components generating a lot of heat. They had very limited memory
capacity. Magnetic drums were developed to store information and tapes were also
developed for secondary storage. They were initially programmed in machine language
(binary). A major breakthrough was the development of assemblers and assembly
language. 1930’s – Vacuum tubes were used as electronic circuits or electronic
switches
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FIRST GENERATION COMPUTER
1. They were large and costly
2. They use vacuum tube technology
3. The instructions were coded in machine language i.e. 0s and 1s.
4. They generated a lot of heat
5. They had limited internal storage
6. They were scarce
SECOND GENERATION (1955-1964): TRANSISTORS
The development of the transistor revolutionized the development of computers.
Invented at Bell Labs in 1948, transistors were much smaller, more rugged, cheaper to
make and far more reliable than valves. Core memory was introduced and disk storage
was also used. The hardware became smaller and more reliable, a trend that stills
continues. Another major feature of the second generation was the use of high-level
programming languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL. These revolutionized the
development of software for computers.
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SECOND GENERATION
1. They were faster than first generation computer
2. They had limited internal storage
3. They use transistor technology and hence generated less heat
4. They were common

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5. Instructions were coded in high level languages
6. Machine languages of the first generation computer were replaced by assembly
language which was much easier
7. They were less expensive to buy and power
THIRD GENERATION (1965-1974): INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (ICS)
IC’s were again smaller, cheaper, faster and more reliable than transistors. Speeds
went from the microsecond to the nanosecond (billionth) to the picoseconds (trillionth)
range. ICs were used for main memory despite the disadvantage of being volatile.
Minicomputers were developed at this time. Terminals replaced punched cards for data
entry and disk packs became popular for secondary storage. IBM introduced the idea of
a compatible family of computers, 360 families easing the problem of upgrading to a
more powerful machine. Operating systems were developed to manage and share the
computing resources and time-sharing operating systems were developed. These
greatly improved the efficiency of computers. Computers had by now pervaded most
areas of business and administration. The number of transistors that be fabricated on a
chip is referred to as the scale of integration (SI).
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS
1. They were less expensive to buy and power
2. They were smaller in size
3. They made use of integrated circuit technology
4. They were more energy efficient and so generated lesser amount of heat
5. Instructions were coded in high level language
6. They were faster than earlier generations
7. The generation witnessed the development of the mini computer
FOURTH GENERATION (1975-1984): VLSI (VERY LARGE SI)
The term fourth generation is occasionally applied to VLSI-based computer architecture.
VLSI has made it possible to fabricate an entire CPU, main memory, or similar devices
with a single IC. This has resulted in new classes of machines such as inexpensive
personal computers, and high- performance parallel processors that contain thousands
of CPUs. VLSI allowed the equivalent of tens of thousands of transistors to be
incorporated on a single chip. This led to the development of the microprocessor a
processor on a chip. Intel produced the 4004 which was followed by the 8008, 8080,
8088 and 8086 etc. Other companies developing microprocessors included Motorola
(6800, 68000), and Zilog. Personal computers were developed and IBM launched the
IBM PC based on the 8088 and 8086 microprocessors. Mainframe computers have
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grown in power. Memory chips are in The megabyte range. VLSI chips had enough
transistors to build 20 ENIACs. Secondary storage has also evolved at fantastic rates
with storage devices holding gigabytes (1024Mb= 1 GB) of data. On the software side,
more powerful operating systems are available such as UNIX. Applications software has
become cheaper and easier to use.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOURTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
1. Several thousands of transistors are formed into a single chip.
2. They have bigger storage facilities.
3. They have larger storage capacities.
4. They have user – friendly interface facilities.
5. They use microchip technology.
6. They are smaller in size.
7. The generation witnessed the development of object- oriented programming (OOP).
8. They generate lesser amount of heat.
9. They are less expensive to buy and power.
10. Instructions are coded in high level language.
11. The generation witnessed the introduction of programmable minicomputers supplied
with software packages.
FIFTH GENERATION (1991-PRESENT):
The race is now on building the next or “fifth” generation of computers, machine that
exhibit artificial intelligence (AI). Thus new generations of computers will involve
robotics and computer networks. Developments are still continuing. Computers are
becoming faster, smaller and cheaper. Storage units are increasing in capacity.
Distributed computing is becoming popular and parallel computers with large numbers
of CPUs have been built.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
1. They can take decision on their own.
2. They have artificial intelligence.
3. They are in various forms.
4. They will be able to accept spoken word instructions (voice recognition).
5. They will have high speed of operation.
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CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS BASED ON TYPES
The following are the classification of computer based on types:
1. Analogue Computers.
2. Digital Computers.
3. Hybrid Computers.
ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
These are computers that measure physical quantities such as pressure, temperature,
and humidity. The values represented change continuously. Examples of the analogue
computers Aretha car speedometer, rotating clock, voltage reader, analogue
thermometer, and the analogue wristwatch.
CHARACTERISTIC OF ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
1. They measure physical quantities.
2. The values that are represented change continuously.
3. Time is continuously observed.
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
These are machines that perform calculations in digit and discrete numbers of decimal
or binary form. Digital computers receive new programs quite easily, either through
manual instructions or by automatic means. Examples of digital computers are the
digital thermometer, digital meter reader, digital wristwatch, GSM phone, Pager, digital
radio, and the decoder (TV decoder).
CHARACTERISTIC OF DIGITAL COMPUTERS
1. They perform calculations in digits and discrete numbers of decimals or in binary
form.
2. They receive new programs quite easily.
3. They translate numeric value into machine readable forms.
4. In a digital system, the representation of a natural event is made by measuring the
changing qualities of the object at separate moments in time.
HYBRID COMPUTERS
These computers use both analogue techniques and digital techniques in other to
accomplish their mean computational process. Hybrid computers use both continuously

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variable techniques and discrete digital techniques in operation. An example of a hybrid
computer is the automobile car speedometer.
CHARACTERISTIC OF HYBRID COMPUTERS
1. They use both analogue and digital techniques.
2. They convert values into binary values of 0s and 1s
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SIZE
The following are the classification of computers based n size
1. Super computers (shown below)
 Most power type of computer.
 High-capacity computers.
 Fastest processing.
 Used by large organizations, usually research facilities.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON PURPOSE
For the classifications based on purpose, there are two types:
1. General purpose computers
2. Special purpose computers
GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
These are computers designed to solve a wide variety of problems. They can be
adapted to perform particular tasks or solve problems by means of specially written
programs. Examples are network servers and desktop workstation.
SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
Special – purpose computers are designed mainly to perform specific functions. They
are built to perform some predetermined functions. Examples include computers,
designed for use in petrol pumps, digital watches, space research computers, and
seismic operation computers.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MAKE (MANUFACTURE METHOD)
Base on the make or manufacturer, computers can be classified as:
1. Branded computers
2. Clone computers.

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BRANDED COMPUTERS
These computers are manufacture by companies that specialize in the production of
various products. Each has a unique trade name and trademark. They are also called
proprietary system. Examples are IBM, Dell, Dec, Atari Gateway, Compaq, Hewlett
Packard, Toshiba and Zinox.
CLONE COMPUTERS
These are near copies of branded systems. The components of these computers are
coupled together and configured by companies or individuals who possess the skill.
Clone computers most often do not have known names. They are also called PC –
Compatibles.