Dr.
Peshang Hasan Karim
Outline
Introduction to Computer
Functions of Computer
Characteristics
Computer Applications
Evolution and Generations
Computer Classifications
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Computer is an electronic device designed to process,
store, and retrieve data.
Core functions and capabilities of a computer:
Accepts and stores data;
Processes the data;
Generates output in a required format.
Performs complex calculations, execute a wide variety of
tasks based on programmed instructions (software).
Interacts with users through input and output devices.
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Advantages of computers
1. High Speed;
2. Accuracy;
3. Storage Capability;
4. Diligence (do not get tired);
5. Versatility (Variety of functions);
6. Multitasking;
7. Automation;
8. Reduction in Paper Work (Less Paper).
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1. High Speed
The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions
of instructions per second.
Some calculations that would have taken hours and days to
complete, However computers can complete them in a few
seconds.
Example: Weather forecasting that requires analysis of a large amount
of data related to temperature, pressure…
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2. Accuracy
Computer provides a high degree of accuracy.
In computers, errors mostly happen because of human factors.
Accuracy depends on the design of computer
Example: The results of calculations of addition, subtraction,
division, multiplication of numbers.
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3. Storage Capability
Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the
computer and also retrieved whenever required.
A limited amount of data can be stored, temporarily, in the
primary memory.
Secondary storage devices like solid state disk and compact disk
can store a large amount of data permanently.
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4. Diligence
Unlike humans, computers never get tired and can work continuously.
It can handle long and complex calculations with the same speed and
accuracy from start to finish.
5. Multitasking
A computer's ability to execute multiple tasks or
processes simultaneously.
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6. Versatility
The versatility of a computer refers to its ability to perform a
wide range of tasks efficiently and accurately.
Computers can adapt to different types of applications and solve
problems in various domains such as education, business,
healthcare, entertainment, and science.
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7. Automation
A computer can autonomously perform
tasks using Artificial Intelligence (AI),
eliminating the need for human intervention.
For Instance: Speech Recognition, task scheduling, scanning for virus
8. Paper Reduction
Computers contribute to paperless operations,
reducing the need for physical paperwork.
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Disadvantages
No intelligence quotient (I.Q.)
Dependency – user should give commands
No Feelings/ Emotions
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Application of computers
Education
Business & Marketing
Health care
Military
Design
Space
Communications & media
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Brief History of computing
Mechanical Computers
Electronic Computers
Computer Generations
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Brief History of computing
Abacus:
Nearly 5000 years ago was
used in Babylon
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Brief History of mechanical computers
Pascaline Stepped Reckoner
(1640s) (1670s)
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History of Electronic computers
1. First Generation 1940s. Vacuum tube based.
2. Second Generation mid-1950s – mid-1964: Transistor based.
3. Third Generation mid-1960s- early1970s: Integrated Circuit
based.
4. Fourth Generation early-1970s - present day: VLSI
microprocessor based.
5. Fifth Generation 1980-present and beyond: ULSI
microprocessor based.
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First Generation 1940s
Used vacuum tubes as the basic components for memory and
circuitry for CPU.
Used machine code as programming language.
ENIAC: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
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The main features First Generation
Vacuum tube technology;
Unreliable;
Very costly;
Generated lot of heat;
Slow input and output devices;
Huge size;
Non-portable;
Consumed lot of electricity;
Supported machine language
only;
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The main features of second generation
Use of transistors.
More reliable than 1G
Smaller.
Generated less heat.
Consumed less electricity.
Faster than 1G.
Still very costly.
Using programming languages like FORTRAN,
COBOL
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The main features of the third generation are:
Integrated Circuit used;
More reliable in comparison to previous two
generations;
Smaller size;
Generated less heat;
Faster;
Lesser maintenance;
Still costly;
Consumed lesser electricity;
Supported high-level language such as:
FORTRAN-II TO IV, COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC,
ALGOL-68
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Fourth Generation early 1970s - present
Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits.
(1000 transistors) used;
Cheaper
Portable and reliable
Very small size
Concept of internet was introduced
Great developments in the fields of networks
Computers became easily available;
Programming languages: C, C++, DBASE etc.
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The main features Fifth Generation 1980-till date
Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) technology;
Development of true artificial intelligence;
More user friendly interfaces with multimedia features;
Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper
rates;
All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net.
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Dr. Peshang Hasan Karim
Computer Classification
Computers can be classified into three types based on the type of
data they can handle:
Computer
based on data handling
Analog Digital Hybrid
Computer Computer Computer
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Analog Computer
Analog computers work on the principle of measuring, in
which the measurements obtained are translated into data.
Analog computers measure continuous physical
magnitudes.
Modern analog computers usually use electrical
parameters, such as voltages, resistances or currents, to
represent the quantities being manipulated.
Applications: Engineering, scientific works.
Example: The Polish analog computer AKAT-1. It could
solve relatively complex differential equations in real time.
Polish analog computer
AKAT-1 (1959)
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Digital computers
Digital computers are high speed electronic devices.
Digital computers use binary code, consisting of 0s and 1s, to process
data and execute instructions.
These computers have the ability to perform complex calculations with
high precision and speed.
Used in a wide range of fields
and applications
Example: Computers at homes and
offices are digital computer usually.
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Hybrid computers
Hybrid computers are a mix of analog and digital computers. These
computers perform a high level of calculations quickly and efficiently. It
takes input in analog form, converts it into digital form, and then processes
it to produce an output.
Example: Petrol pump – Measurement convert fuel flow into currency rate;
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Digital computer classification based on
size and capacity
Supercomputer;
Mainframe;
Mini;
Micro Computer (Personal computer)
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Supercomputer
Supercomputers work on a high level performance. The fastest
supercomputers are able to process 100 trillion instructions in a single
second;
In supercomputers tasks (instructions) are split into parts and are
worked on simultaneously by thousands of processors;
They are highly expensive.
Can be a single computer or series of
computers working in a parallel as a single
computer;
Application Examples of supercomputers:
Scientific researches;
Weather broadcasting; FRONTIER Supercomputer
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Supercomputer Tianhe-2 or Milky Way 2
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The World’s Top Supercomputers
TeraFLOPs (floating-point operations per second) is a unit of computing speed equal to one trillion
(10^12) floating-point operations per second.
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Mainframe (big Iron)
Mainframe computers are powerful standalone systems can store huge amounts of
data on a single dedicated hardware platform and they are capable to handle
hundreds or even thousands of clients simultaneously;
The size of these computers are smaller than supercomputers, but still they
comparatively huge as well as take huge space for the entire setup.
They are not as fast as supercomputers
Used by large organizations for critical
applications like bulk data processing for tasks
such as industry and consumer statistics,
enterprise resource planning, and large-scale
transaction processing.
IBM z16 Mainframe
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Supercomputer Mainframe
Supercomputers are used for large and complex Mainframe computers are used as a storage for large
mathematical computations. databases and serve as a maximum number of users
simultaneously.
Supercomputers have higher processing speed in the Mainframe computers have less processing speed than
range of 100 to 900 MIPS supercomputers, in the range of 3 MIPS to 100 MIPS.
largest and costliest computers. Smaller in size and less costly than supercomputers.
Now a day, the supercomputers have Linux and their Mainframe computers can have multiple operating
variant operating systems. systems simultaneously.
Super computers are mostly built for one or a few specific Mainframe computers are built to handle a large variety
tasks. of tasks.
Use in scientific fields Used by large organizations for critical applications like
bulk data processing
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Minicomputers
Minicomputers (also called mid-range servers) are digital computers, generally used
in multi-user systems. They have higher processing speed and higher storage
capacity than the microcomputers. But smaller in size, less expensive, and less
powerful than a mainframe or supercomputer.
Minicomputers can support 4–200 users simultaneously. The users can access the
minicomputer through their PCs or terminal.
PDP 11, IBM (8000 series) are some of the widely used minicomputers.
Minicomputers were used for scientific and engineering computations, business
transaction processing, file handling, and database management.
Minicomputers as a distinct class of computers emerged in the late 1950s and
reached their peak in the 1960s and ’70s before declining in popularity in the 1980s
and 1990s. More powerful personal computers, workstations, and small or midsize
servers replaced this type of computer.
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Minicomputers
IBM’s 1130 minicomputer, 1965. Dennis Ritchie (standing) and Ken Thompson,
inventors of the UNIX operating system at Bell
labs, work at a PDP-11 in the early 1970s.
Source: [Link] 36
Microcomputers
Microcomputers are digital computers, small in size with low-cost and they are
single-user. They consist of central processing unit, input unit, output unit, storage
unit and the software.
Microcomputers include desktop computers, notebook computers or laptop, tablet
computer, handheld computer, smart phones and netbook
Netbook
Workstation Desktop Notebook
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Microcomputers
Tablet computers
pocket computers
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Computer types based on
purpose
General purpose: these computers are designed to perform different of tasks.
Example: Desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Specific purpose: They are designed to solve a specific problem or to perform a
specific task.
Example: Weather-forecasting simulators, Traffic-control computers, Automatic
teller machines (ATM), Oil-exploration systems.
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Introduction to Computer system
Computer is an electronic device that accepts data as input, processes the
input data by performing mathematical and logical operations on it, and gives
the desired output.
Computers consists of software and hardware.
Data are isolated values or raw facts that do not have much meaning on their
own.
Users interact with the computer. The users can be: programmers, data entry
operators, system analyst and computer hardware engineers.
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computer
Hardware Software
Operating
Input unit Application
system
mouse Microphone Scanner Keyboard windows Microsoft office
Central Processing unit
ALU register CU
Memory unit
RAM, Rom, Hard drive, Floppy, Flash
memory
Output unit
Monitor Printer Speaker
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HARDWARE
Hardware: The physical components of a computer system. Those
things which you can touch, which are components of electronic,
electrical or mechanical.
Computer hardware main components:
Input-output (I/O) unit
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Memory Unit
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Hardwar components: Input unit
Input unit: allows data and instructions to enter a computer. The Input unit
accepts data from the user and converts it into a form that is understandable by
the computer.
The input can be provided to the computer using the following input devices:
Keyboard, mouse, scanner, optical, touchpad, screen, joystick, gamepad, webcam,
microphone.
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Hardwar components: Output unit
Output unit: Provides the output in a form that is understandable by the user.
Some of the commonly used output devices are monitor and printer.
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Hardwar components: CPU
Central Processing Unit (CPU): controls, coordinates and supervises the
operations of the computer. It is responsible for processing of the input data.
CPU consists of Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), memory unit and Control Unit (CU).
In addition to these, auxiliary storage/secondary storage devices are used to
store data and instructions on a long-term basis.
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References
Analog computers: Source: [Link]
AKAT-1: [Link]
Top super computers : [Link]
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