Chapter 1
Looking Inside the Computer System
What Is a Computer and What Does
It Do?
• Computer:
A programmable, electronic device that accepts data, performs operations on
that data, and stores the data or results as needed
– Computers follow instructions, called programs, which determine the tasks
the computer will perform
• Basic operations
– Input: Entering data into the computer
– Processing: Performing operations on the data
– Output: Presenting the results
– Storage: Saving data, programs, or output for future use
– Communications: Sending or receiving data
Data vs. Information
• Data
– Raw, unorganized facts
– Can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, or video
• Information
– Data that has been processed into a meaningful form
• Information processing – Converting data into information
Computers Then and Now
• The computer as we know it is a fairly recent invention
• The history of computers is often referred to in terms of generations • Each
new generation is characterized by a major technological development
• Precomputer and early computers (before 1946)
– Abacus(A manual counting device with beads used for basic arithmetic. e.g. shopkeepers in China use an abacus for quick
calculations. )
slide rule(A mechanical tool with sliding scales used to perform multiplication and scientific calculations; e.g. engineers used slide
rules before calculators.)
mechanical calculator (A hand-operated machine with gears that performs addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. e.g. Pascal’s Calculator used in the 17th century.)
– Punch Card Tabulating Machine and Sorter(A machine that reads data encoded on punch cards and
automatically performs counting, summing, and statistical operations for data processing. The holes on a punch card represent
coded data, each hole indicates a specific number, letter etc.)
Computers Then and Now
• PRECOMPUTERS AND EARLY COMPUTERS
Dr. Herman Hollerith’s Punch Card
Tabulating Machine and Sorter is an
example of an early computing device. It
was used to process the 1890 U.S. Census
data.
• First-generation computers (1946-1957)
– Very large in size and powered by vacuum tubes
– Used a great deal of electricity, and generated a lot of heat
– ENIAC(Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer(firing tables for the U.S. Army)
- UNIVAC ( Universal Automatic Computer (predicted the winner of the 1952 U.S. presidential election
showing its power in handling large amounts of data.)
• Second-generation computers (1958-1963)
– Used transistors
– Computers were smaller, more powerful, cheaper, more energy-
efficient, and more reliable
– Punch cards and magnetic tape were used to input and store data
--Like language. C, C++.etc.
Computers Then and Now
FIRST-GENERATION
COMPUTERS First-
generation computers,
such as ENIAC shown
here, were large and
bulky, used vacuum tubes,
and had to be physically
wired and reset in order
to run programs.
Computers Then and Now
SECOND-GENERATION
COMPUTERS
Second-generation
computers, such as the
IBM 1401 mainframe
shown here, used
transistors instead of
vacuum tubes so they
were smaller, faster,
and more reliable than
first-generation
computers.
• Third-generation computers (1964-1970)
– Used integrated circuits (ICs) and which combined many transistors on a single chip
–Became smaller, faster, more reliable and more efficient.
– Keyboards were introduced for input instead of punch cards.
– Monitors and operating systems were introduced, improving user interaction
– Supported multiprogramming (running multiple programs at the same time)
• Fourth-generation computers (1971-1980)
– Use microprocessors
– IBM PC, Apple Macintosh
– Use keyboards, mice, monitors, and printers
– Use magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical disks for storage
– Computer networks, wireless technologies, Internet introduced
Computers Then and Now
THIRD-GENERATION
COMPUTERS
Third-generation
computers used
integrated circuits,
which allowed the
introduction of smaller
computers such as the
IBM System/360
mainframe shown here
Computers Then and Now
• FOURTH-
GENERATION
COMPUTERS Fourth-
generation
computers, such as
the original IBM PC
shown here, are
based on
microprocessors.
Most of today’s
computers fall into
this category.
Computers Then and Now
• Fifth-generation (now and the future)
– Initial stages of development
– No precise classification
- May be based computers extremely small, fast, and powerful.
– May be based on artificial intelligence (AI)
– Likely use voice and touch input.
-AI-based systems like ChatGPT
-Robotics with AI
Hardware
• Hardware: The physical parts of a computer
– Internal hardware
• Located inside the main box (system unit) of the computer
– External hardware
• Located outside the system unit
• Connect to the computer via a wired or wireless connection
– There is hardware associated with all five computer operations
Hardware
Hardware
• Input devices
– Used to input data into the computer
– Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones, joysticks, touchpads,
touch screens, fingerprint readers, etc.
• Processing devices
– Perform calculations and control computer’s operation
– Central processing unit (CPU) and memory
• Output devices
– Present results to the user
– Monitors, printers, speakers, projectors, etc.
Hardware
• Storage devices
– Used to store data on or access data from storage media
– Hard drives, CD/DVD discs and drives, USB flash drives, etc.
• Communications devices
– Allow users to communicate with others and to electronically access
remote information
– Modems, network adapters, etc.
Hardware
Software
• Software: The programs or instructions used to tell the computer
hardware what to do
– System software: Operating system starts up the computer and
controls its operation
• Without OS computer cannot function
• Boots the computer and launches programs at the user’s direction
• Most use a GUI to interact with the user via windows, icons, menus,
buttons, etc.
• Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.
Software
Application Software
Computer Users and Professionals
• Computer users (end users): People who use a computer to obtain
information
• Computer professionals include:
– Programmers (They write, test and maintain computer programs using programming languages.)
– Systems analysts (A systems analyst analyzes hospital workflow and designs a patient-record management
system)
– Computer operations personnel (They manage the day-to-day running of computer systems
servers and data centers to ensure smooth operations)
– Security specialist (They protect computer systems and networks from cyber threats by implementing
security policies and tools)