Intro.

To Information
Technology
By: Mr. Genesis Anthony G. Dait, MIT
Instructor
 Overview of a
Computer
 Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data
as an input from the user.
 processes it under the control of a set of instructions (called
program).
 produces a result (output), and saves it for future use.
 explains the foundational concepts of computer hardware,
software, operating systems, peripherals, etc.
 how to get the most value and impact from computer
technology.
 Functionalities of a
Computer
Step 1 − Takes data as input.
Step 2 − Stores the data/instructions in its memory and uses
them as required.
Step 3 − Processes the data and converts it into useful
information.
Step 4 − Generates the output.
Step 5 − Controls all the above four steps.
 Advantages of
Computers
 High Speed
 Computer is a very fast device.
 It is capable of performing calculation of very large
amount of data.
 The computer has units of speed in microsecond,
nanosecond, and even the picosecond.
 It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as
compared to man who will spend many months to perform
the same task.
 Advantages of
Computers
Accuracy
 In addition to being very fast, computers are very
accurate.
 The calculations are 100% error free.
 Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy
provided that the input is correct.
 Advantages of
Computers
Storage Capability
 Memory is a very important characteristic of
computers.
 A computer has much more storage capacity than
human beings.
 It can store large amount of data.
 It can store any type of data such as images, videos,
text, audio, etc.
 Advantages of
Computers
Diligence
 Unlike human beings, a computer is free from
monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration.
 It can work continuously without any error and
boredom.
 It can perform repeated tasks with the same speed and
accuracy.
 Advantages of
Computers
Versatility
 A computer is a very versatile machine.
 A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be
done.
 This machine can be used to solve the problems related
to various fields.
 At one instance, it may be solving a complex scientific
problem and the very next moment it may be playing a card
game.
 Advantages of
Computers
Reliability
 A computer is a reliable machine.
 Modern electronic components have long lives.
 Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.
 Advantages of
Computers
Automation
 Computer is an automatic machine.
 Automation is the ability to perform a given task
automatically. Once the computer receives a program i.e.,
the program is stored in the computer memory, then the
program and instruction can control the program
execution without human interaction.
 Advantages of
Computers
Reduction in Paper Work and Cost
 The use of computers for data processing in an organization leads to
reduction in paper work and results in speeding up the process.
 As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required,
the problem of maintenance of large number of paper files gets
reduced.
 Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high, it
substantially reduces the cost of each of its transaction.
 Disadvantages of
Computers
No I.Q.
 A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to
perform any task.
 Each instruction has to be given to the computer.
 A computer cannot take any decision on its own.
 Disadvantages of
Computers
Dependency
 It functions as per the user’s instruction.
 fully dependent on humans.

Environment
 The operating environment of the computer should be dust free
and suitable.
No Feeling
 Computers have no feelings or emotions.
 It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste,
experience, and knowledge unlike humans.
 Classification of
Computers
 The computer systems can be classified on the following basis:
1. On the basis of size.
2. On the basis of functionality.
3. On the basis of data handling.
Classification on the basis
of size
 Super computers
 are the most high performing system
 is a computer with a high level of performance compared to a
general-purpose computer.
 The actual Performance of a supercomputer is measured in FLOPS
instead of MIPS.
 Supercomputers actually play an important role in the field of
computation.
 and are used for intensive computation tasks in various fields,
including quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, climate research,
oil and gas exploration, molecular modeling, and physical
simulations. and also Throughout the history, supercomputers have
been essential in the field of the cryptanalysis.
Examples of Super
Computers
 PARAM (India) is a series of Indian supercomputers designed and
assembled by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
in Pune. PARAM means "supreme" in the Sanskrit language, whilst
also creating an acronym for "PARAllel Machine
 JAGUAR was a petascale supercomputer built by Cray at Oak
Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The massively
parallel Jaguar had a peak performance of just over 1,750
teraFLOPS.
 ROADRUNNER a supercomputer built by IBM for the Los Alamos
National Laboratory in New Mexico, USA. The US$100-million
Roadrunner was designed for a peak performance of 1.7 petaflops.
It achieved 1.026 petaflops on May 25, 2008, to become the
world's first TOP500 LINPACK sustained 1.0 petaflops system.
Examples of Super
Computers
 Main Frame Computers
 are commonly called as big iron.
 they are usually used by big organizations for bulk data processing
such as statistics, census data processing, transaction processing.
 are widely used as the servers as these systems has a higher
processing capability as compared to the other classes of
computers, most of these mainframe architectures were
established in 1960s.
 the research and development worked continuously over the years
and the mainframes of today are far more better than the earlier
ones, in size, capacity and efficiency.
 Example: IBM z Series, System z9 and System z10 servers.
 Mini Computers
 These computers came into the market in mid 1960s and were
sold at a much cheaper price than the main frames.
 they were actually designed for control, instrumentation, human
interaction, and communication switching as distinct from
calculation and record keeping, later they became very popular for
personal uses with evolution.
 In the 60s to describe the smaller computers that became possible
with the use of transistors and core memory technologies.
 Examples: Personal Laptop, PC.
 Micro Computers
 is a small, relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor
as its CPU.
 It includes a microprocessor, memory, and minimal I/O circuitry
mounted on a single printed circuit board.
 They actually formed the foundation for present day
microcomputers and smart gadgets that we use in day to day life.
 Examples: Tablets, Smartwatches.
Classification on the basis
of functionality
 Servers
 are nothing but dedicated computers which are set-up to offer some
services to the clients.
 They are named depending on the type of service they offered.
 Examples: security server, database server.

 Workstation
 computers designed to primarily to be used by single user at a time.
 They run multi-user operating systems.
 They are the ones which we use for our day to day personal /
commercial work.
Classification on the basis
of functionality
 Information Appliances
 They are the portable devices which are designed to perform a limited
set of tasks like basic calculations, playing multimedia, browsing
internet etc.
 They are generally referred as the mobile devices..
 They have very limited memory and flexibility and generally run on
“as-is” basis.
 Embedded Computers
 They are the computing devices which are used in other machines to
serve limited set of requirements.
 They follow instructions from the non-volatile memory and they are
not required to execute reboot or reset.

Classification on the basis
of Data Handling
 Analog
 An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously-changeable
aspects of physical fact such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to
model the problem being solved.
 Any thing that is variable with respect to time and continuous can be claimed as
analog just like an analog clock measures time by means of the distance traveled
for the spokes of the clock around the circular dial.

 Digital
 A computer that performs calculations and logical operations with quantities
represented as digits, usually in the binary number system of “0” and “1”.
 Computer capable of solving problems by processing information expressed in
discrete form. from manipulation of the combinations of the binary digits, it can
perform mathematical calculations, organize and analyze data, control industrial
and other processes, and simulate dynamic systems such as global weather
patterns.
Classification on the basis
of Data Handling
 Hybrid

 A computer that processes both analog and digital

data, Hybrid computer is a digital computer that
accepts analog signals, converts them to digital and
processes them in digital form.
 History of Computer
 Before computers were developed people used sticks,
stones, and bones as counting tools.
 As technology advanced and the human mind improved
with time more computing devices were developed like
Abacus, Napier’s Bones, etc.
 Thesedevices were used as computers for performing
mathematical computations but not very complex ones.
 ABACUS
 Around 4000 years ago, the Chinese invented the Abacus,
and it is believed to be the first computer.
 Thehistory of computers begins with the birth of the
abacus.
 Napier’s Bone
 Napier’s Bones was a manually operated calculating device
and as the name indicates, it was invented by John Napier.
 Inthis device, he used 9 different ivory strips (bones)
marked with numbers to multiply and divide for calculation.
 It was also the first machine to use the decimal point
system for calculation.
 Pascaline
 It is also called an Arithmetic Machine or Adding Machine.
A French mathematician-philosopher Blaise Pascal invented
this between 1642 and 1644.
 It was the first mechanical and automatic calculator.
 It is invented by Pascal to help his father, a tax accountant
in his work or calculation.
Stepped Reckoner/Leibniz
Wheel
A German mathematician-philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm
Leibniz in 1673 developed this device by improving Pascal’s
invention to develop this machine.
 Itwas basically a digital mechanical calculator, and it was
called the stepped reckoner as it was made of fluted drums
instead of gears (used in the previous model of Pascaline).
 Difference Engine
 Charles Babbage who is also known as the “Father of
Modern Computer” designed the Difference Engine in the
early 1820s.
 Difference Engine was a mechanical computer which is
capable of performing simple calculations.
 itwas a steam-driven calculating machine, and it was
designed to solve tables of numbers like logarithm tables.
 Tabulating Machine
 Herman Hollerith, an American statistician invented this
machine in the year 1890.
 TabulatingMachine was a mechanical tabulator that was
based on punch cards.
 Itwas capable of tabulating statistics and record or sort
data or information.
 This machine was used by U.S. Census in the year 1890.
 Hollerith’sTabulating Machine Company was started by
Hollerith and this company later became International
Business Machine (IBM) in the year 1924.
Tabulating Machine
 Differential Analyzer
 Itwas the first electronic computer introduced in the United
States in 1930.
 It was an analog device invented by Vannevar Bush.
 This machine has vacuum tubes to switch electrical signals
to perform calculations.
 It could do 25 calculations in few minutes.
 Mark I
 The next major changes in the history of computer began in
1937 when Howard Aiken planned to develop a machine
that could perform calculations involving large This machine
has vacuum tubes to switch electrical signals to perform
calculations.
 In 1944, Mark I computer was built as a partnership
between IBM and Harvard.
 It was the first programmable digital computer.