I: Introduction to Computing

IPOBEN - TMG Course

Initial Preparatory Seminar Module
Nampula/2024

Doc: Silvino D. Assane

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 Introduction/History
Computer science is closely linked to human beings,
whether at home, at work or at leisure. The story of
the origin of technology begins along with history
of the technique, using objects that were
transformed into different instruments, having
evolved with the process of building societies
humans.
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The human being, endowed with its intelligence, sought

ways, throughout history, to overcome the

obstacles imposed by nature. That's how
developed and invented technological instruments
with the aim of overcoming the difficulties that
faced in their daily life.

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 Basic concepts
Technology = art (knowing how to do) + science (explaining the

necessary procedures.

Information is the act or effect of informing, that is,

a set of data articulated with a specific
sense.
Communication is the exchange of information between the sender.

(sender) and the recipient (receiver).

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Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
constitute a set of technological resources and
computational tools used for creation and use
of information. These are a set of resources
technological tools that Man uses to
communicate.

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Figure 1: Means of communication.
Source: IEDA Manual.

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Computer Science

Computing is the automatic processing of

information, through the use of techniques,
adequate procedures and equipment, having
for computers.

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Data - a set of symbols or objects, not
interconnected with each other, so they do not allow a passage of a

message from the receiver's point of view.

Information - a set of data, articulated with each other,

and with a certain meaning, that is, the set
of results that are obtained after a
processing.

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Example of data and information

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 Computer
It is a programmable machine, capable of performing

a wide variety of tasks following a

sequence of commands according to what will be
specified.

The computer does absolutely nothing without

that it be ordered to you.
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 Example of Computer

(Desktop)

Notebook
(Handheld)
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Features of the Computer Advantages of the computer

High speed of Reliability and Accuracy

processing Precision in control of
High capacity de processos
storage Increase in productivity
Possibility of replication Analysis of large quantities
Continuous processing of information
Programmable Decision-making support
Agility in operations
Reduction of bureaucracy

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 Brief history of computers

The first attempt to create a counting machine

it was the Abacus. The word comes from Arabic and means dust. The

the first abacuses were trays of sand on which

figures were made to represent the operations.

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The first computer for specific use
começou a ser projectado em 1819 e terminou
in 1822, that is, more than 180 years ago,
by the British Charles Babbage. The motivation for
Babbage era to solve polynomials by the method
the differences.

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In 1943 at the University of Pennsylvania,
Eckert e Mauchly iniciaram a construção de
a true vacuum tube computer, that is
electronic. The project was completed in 1946 and
used in World War II - OENIAC
Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Computer).
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Some Characteristics of the ENIAC
Weighed more than 30 tons; generated so much heat;

Operated on base ten and not on binary base;

It occupied about 270 m2the cooling was forced

Processed 5,000 operations per second; 15,000 relays

Possuía 19.000 válvulas, de 160 KW de potência;

They were assembled in the shape of the letter U.

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The ENIAC 18
 The machines of John Von Neumann
Conventional digital PCs are based on the idealized model.
by Von Neumann, in 1946, based on five components
main:
Input unit – provides instructions and data to the system.
Memory unit - stores the system data.
Logical and arithmetic unit - processes the data.
Control unit - controls the execution of instructions and the
data processing.
Output unit - presents the results of the data
processed.

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General Outline

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 Generations of Computers
Primeira geração (1939 - 1958): Segunda geração (1959 - 1966):
use of valves and components use of transistors. Speed of
electromechanical. Speed in microseconds (10-6). Circuitos
milliseconds. small-scale integrated.
Terceira geração (1964 - 1973): Quarta geração (1979 - 1990):
use of integrated circuits in use of integrated circuits in
media and large scale. Very high scaling speed. Peak speed
nanoseconds10-9Operations in seconds (10−12Processing
shared time. distributed.

Fifth generation (1990 –present): parallel processing, computers

optical, biological, and quantum. Application of artificial intelligence techniques.

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 Logical Structure (Software) and Physical
Computer Hardware
A computer is usually composed of two parts:
Hardware is the entire physical part of the computer (disks, monitor,

printer, keyboard, mouse), that is, they are your mechanical parts
and electronics.
Software is all the logical part of the computer, that is, the
programs and information. They are the programs that make

function or hardware (Windows, Word, etc.).

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 Principle of operation

Basically, the computer is organized into three

major functions or areas, which are: input of
data, data processing and data output.

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 Entrada de Dados - Input
For the computer to process our data,
we need to have means to provide them to him. For
Yes, the computer has resources such as the
keyboard, the mouse, the floppy disks, CDs and others for

data entry.

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 Data Processing

It is the systematic treatment of data, through

computers or other electronic devices, with the
objective of organizing, classifying or carrying out any
transformations in the data, according to a pre-determined plan

programmed, aiming to obtain a certain

result. The data processing is done on the CPU.

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 Output
The data resulting from the processing of
information via computer can be
presented in numerous forms, and through
various devices. The video monitor is one of the
main ways to obtain output data from
computer.

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 HARDWARE

The Essential Components of a Computer

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An Essential Component is one that cannot
missing in the assembly of a computer, because without

Hey, the machine doesn't work. The main ones

components of a computer are: Motherboard,
Processor (CPU), Main memory (RAM)
Dispositivos de entrada, Dispositivos de saída.

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Components of a desktop computer

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 Cabinet
The cabinet is where the parts of the computer are located.
what are responsible for storing and processing the
information. Most of the descriptions that follow refer to
to devices that are placed inside the cabinet.

Most cabinets have an external button.

power switch (on/off) and a reset button that
it serves to restart the computer.
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 Notebook Base
Cabinet

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 Motherboard
The motherboard is the platform that
allows physical and electrical connections, direct and
indirect hints, from all the devices of a
computer. They have certain controllers
integrated (such as video and sound), which
we call them on-board controllers.

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 Cont...

They work in sync with the capacity of the

processor and RAM memory (making use of
of this). Some specific controllers may be
added, for they are independent, separate
from the motherboard. We call these controllers.
off-board.

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A - the processor (UCP-CPU)
B - RAM Memory
C - Expansion Slots
D - Power cord
E - Fixed drivers like HD
F1 - Battery
F2 - BIOS (Basic Input-Output System)

System)
G - USB connectors,
printer
H - Holes to hold the
plate
I - control chip of the board
(barrages)
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 Central Processing Unit
The processor (CPU - Central Processing Unit
The CPU - Central Processing Unit is responsible for
processing and treatment of all data that
enter and exit the computer. The processor determines
the model of the microcomputer in use and its speed
(clock) is measured in Gigahertz (GHz).

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Microprocessor chip

Basic operation of a microcomputer

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 Memories

The computer's memory is made up of all the

devices that are used to store data and
instructions, whether temporarily or permanently.
It can be said that after the processor, the most important part

The important part of a computer is its memory.

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There are several devices subjected to a hierarchy
forming the computer's memory, but to have
a simplified initial view, they can be divided into
two main large groups: the main memory and the
secondary memory.

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 Main memory
The main memory is the one that is accessed directly by the
It processes and stores data electronically.
It presents high speed and low capacity of
storage. It is formed by RAM memory (of
English Random Access Memory, which means 'memory of'
randomaccess"), which stores the information that is
used in the processor's work; and,

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and by the ROM (Read Only Memory, "memory
only paraleitura), which stores the instructions of
computer initialization.

RAM memory stick

ROM memory (BIOS) - in red

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Purpose of Primary Memories

One of the purposes of the main memory of

computer, popularly known as memory
DRAM, SDRAM or simply RAM, is the
temporarily store data and programs for use
from the CPU, that's why it is called
volatile memory.

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 Secondary Memories
Secondary memory, also called memory of
mass has high storage capacity and low
speed. It is used to record large amounts of data
for a long period of time and is not accessed directly
through the processor. When it needs information
stored in this memory, the processor copies it
previously to the main memory.

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Mass storage examples are the units
from tape, the floppy disks, the hard drives, the disks
optical discs (CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays) and disks

removable (pendrives, memory cards, etc.).

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 Storage Units
Hard disk: (HD - hard disk), is a secondary memory,
non-volatile, where they are stored "permanently"
data on a computer. It allows us fast access and
storage of a large amount of information.
There are several types of hard drives, such as IDE/ATA,
Serial ATA and SCSI, and its capacity is measured in Bytes.
It remains "hidden" inside the cabinet and has a large
storage capacity (120GB, 360GB, 500GB, ...).
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 SSD (Solid-State Drive)
In addition to the HDs, it is now possible to choose devices
SSD, which is nothing more than an evolution of the old
technology. They are much more agile and end up
transmitting information in record time, something that
It doesn't need to be timed, as the change is impactful.
it is extremely noticeable. Furthermore, they are more

silent and have greater durability against damage

physicals, not affecting their integrity. 46
 CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
It is a data storage support.
Initially, this type of device was intended only for the
storage and subsequent reading, that is, it was not possible
delete the data already stored and write other data in it
space. Today there are already CDs and DVDs that can be written
and rewritten several times. So that they can be read and written.
CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives are required.

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 Input devices/peripherals
They are the devices that enable data entry into
computer. For example:

Keyboard: has four sets of keys: the

alphanumeric, numeric, movement ones /
navigation and function keys. When a key is pressed,
the keyboard sends an electronic code to the processor that,
in turn, interprets and sends a signal to another peripheral,
showing on the screen the corresponding character. 49
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Mouse: is used to activate and point commands in the
computer screen. As you move it
On the table, the pointer repeats the movement on the monitor.

from your computer. In general, its operation consists of

to position the cursor (mouse pointer) over the item
desired, displayed on the screen, and to give one or two clicks on a

two buttons.

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Scanner: input device that captures
images, photos or drawings, transferring them
for the screen, where they can be worked on
(edited) and then printed or stored.

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Other input devices

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 Output devices
They are the devices that present the final results.
of processing. For example:

Monitor: allows the user to visualize the

results and actions executed on the machine.
In the past, the most commonly used model was the CRT and

currently the most used models are the LCD, the

Plasma and LED.
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CRT

LED

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Printer: it has the paper to print on paper
result of a work developed on the computer
(such as texts, reports, graphs). For different types
of printing there are different models of
impressoras:Matricial, Jato de Tinta (Deskjet), Laser.

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Other output devices

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 Mixed devices
Mixed devices are the devices that have both
functions of input devices like those of
exit. They allow communication in the sense of
computer for the user and in the direction of the user
for the computer.

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 Units of Measurement
The computer works with a very language
simple. As it is a system
electronic, one of the simplest forms of
communication is through electric pulses. Thus, the
computer works with two variables, 1 and 0, which
mean respectively on (1) and off (0).

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This system is known as the Binary System
(base 2), that is, there are only two digits that
compose the data. The smallest fragment of data
used is the Bit (b), which comes from English Binary

Digit. Logo, a bit means either on or off.

off (0 or 1).

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Considering that the byte unit is considerably
small when we indicate larger values,
we use multiples of the byte: kilobyte, megabyte,
gigabyte, terabyte, etc.

1 KiloByte = 1 Kb = 1024 bytes

1 Megabyte = 1 Mb = 1024 Kb

1 GigaByte = 1 Gb = 1024 Mb

1 Terabyte = 1 Tb = 1024 Gb 62
From the Byte, the unit of measurement changes every 1,024.
times.

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Software and its types
Computer programs

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Software is the set of programs (instructions) that
causes the computer to perform the processing and
produce the desired result.
It is the combination of Hardware and Software that makes

our computer works as we know it,

taking shape and making things happen.

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Program: it is the set of instructions that
they represent an algorithm for solving a
problem. Also called software, this
the term is used to indicate the functional part of
a computer.

Software/programs can be divided by

categories (types):

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Basic: Operating System or simply
SO is the main software that exists in a
computer. This type of program manages
directly or hardware and must be suitable for
each type of machine. Ex.: Windows, Linux,
Unix, etc.

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Application Software: they are the programs
installed on the computer, except for the system
operational, intended to provide us with certain types
of services, and we can include in this category the
word processors, electronic spreadsheets,
the graphic programs and the management systems
from the database.

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Utilities: Support software for problem solving
of disk, memory, etc. Ex: Management Systems of
Databases, Antivirus.

Programming Language: set of conventions

the rules that specify how to instruct the computer to
executar determinadas tarefas. Ex: Visual Basic, Delphi,
C, C++, Pascal, etc.

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