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CHAPTER #1

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

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WHAT IS DATA?

DATA

Data is a plural word and its singular form is datum ‘Datum’ is a Latin word meaning “something given” Numbers, characters, symbols, images etc., which can be

processed by computer Data is a collection of facts made up of text, numbers and

dates:Murray 35000 7/18/86

Any raw collection of facts and figures which is not meaningful to the user is called data

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TYPES OF DATA

There are three types of data to be entered in the computer:

Alphabetic Data: Capital letters from A-Z, and small letters from a-z.

Numeric Data: Decimal numbers from 0-9, decimal point notations.

Alphanumeric Data: Alphabetic, numeric and special characters/symbols.

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WHAT IS INFORMATION?

INFORMATION

Processed or meaningful form of data is called information, like "Farhan, 40" are two data items, but "Farhan is now 40 years old" is an information

example

Mr. Murray is a sales person whose annual salary

i$35,000 and whose hire date is July 18, 1986

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WHAT IS A COMPUTER

The word computer is derived from the word compute which means to calculate something

With this meaning a computer is considered to be a calculating device that performs the arithmetic operations at enormous speed

Now-a-days computer is not just the calculating device but it can perform many operations, so we can define as:“Computer is an electronic device that processes data, converting it into information that is useful to people”.

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Storage Communications

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Computers

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What are the advantages of using computers?

SpeedReliability Consistency

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WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTERS?

Violation ofPrivacy

Impact onEnvironment

Impact onLabor Force

Health Risks

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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

SPEED A computer is a very fast device. It can perform in a few

seconds the amount of work that a human can do in a day

ACCURACY

Every task is performed by computer with same accuracy. Errors may occur in computer due to human

DILIGENCE Human beings get bored from work on the same

thing for a long time and also tired. But the case is not same with computers, a computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration

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Characteristics of Computer (Cont..)

VERSATILITY A computer is capable of performing almost any task. It just

requires the particular software to perform that task

POWER OF REMEMBERING A computer can store and recall even after several years

any amount of information because of its storage capability

NO FEELINGS Computers are devoid of emotions. They have no feelings

I.Q A human think with their mind that what is right for them and

what is not. While a machine has no I.Q. But programmers are trying to make computer an intelligent machine.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Information technology is the use of modern technology to aid in storage, processing, analysis and communication of information.

We can simply define that the information about any technology is called information technology.

Information technology means the use of the hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data and video.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTER

Computers did not suddenly arrive. The research on the computer technology is a process of

hundreds of years and is still in progress

The latest computer is the result of several minds.

The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices

Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate

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Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

There are five generations of computers

1. First Generation (1940-1956)

2. Second Generation (1956-1963)

3. Third Generation (1964-1971)

4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

5. Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)

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1. First Generation (1940-1956)

In this generation of computer vacuum tube was used for circuitry

These computers were very large in size, taking up entire rooms

They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat

First generation computers relied on machine language

The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) and ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrated and Calculator) computers are examples of first-generation computing devices

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

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Vacuum Tubes in First Generation

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ENIAC Computer

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UNIVAC Computer

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2. Second Generation (1956-1963)

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers

The transistor was invented by Bardeen in 1947 .

Through the use of transistors the second generation computers were much faster and more reliable than the first generation of computers

Second-generation computers moved from machine language to symbolic, or assembly languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

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TRANSISTORS

First Transistor

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IBM-7094 Computer

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3. Third Generation (1964-1971)

The development of the integrated circuit was the main achievement of the third generation of computers

An Integrated Circuit (IC) or a chip is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material (transistor)

The earliest ICs used a technology called SSI (Small Scale Integration contain up to 100 transistors) and MSI (Medium Scale Integration contain 100-3000 transistors)

The third generation computers were smaller, more efficient and more reliable than their predecessor were

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

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Integrated Circuit

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4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip

What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand

LSI (large-scale integration): From 3,000 to 100,000 electronic components per chip

During this the first microprocessor the Intel 4004 was developed and was followed by VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration contain 100,000 to 1,000,000)

ULSI (ultra large-scale integration): More than 1 million electronic components per chip

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

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First Microprocessor Intel 4004

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Fourth Generation First PC

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5. Fifth Generation (Present-Beyond)

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today, Expert System, Robots etc.

The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

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Intelligence

the ability to learn and understand. Artificial intelligence

is the branch of computer science.

It is the study how to make computer to do things more and more better than human.

Expert system

is an intelligent computer program which consists of some knowledge about particular field, then using this knowledge ,it provide the answer to those people who don’t have any access to the experts in that particular field.

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TYPES OF COMPUTER

1. ACCORDING TO HARDWARE

2. ACCORDING TO PURPOSE

3. ACCORDING TO SIZE

4. ACCORDING TO USE

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ACCORDING TO HARDWARE

1. ANALOG COMPUTER

2. DIGITAL COMPUTER

3. HYBRID COMPUTER

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1. ANALOG COMPUTER

Analog computer is used to process analog data

Analog data is a continuous and having an infinite variety of values

Such type of data include temperature, pressure, speed, weight, voltage, depth etc.

Examples of analog computer are Speedometer of car, Thermometer etc.

Analog computers are faster

Types of Computer (Cont..)Types of Computer (Cont..)

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2. DIGITAL COMPUTER

A digital computer as its name implies works with digits to represent numerals, letters or other special symbols

A digital computer process digital data

Digital data is a discrete data and having only two possible values (0, 1)

Digital computer provide accurate results but they are slower than analog computer

Analog computers lack memory whereas digital computers store information

Types of Computer (Cont..)Types of Computer (Cont..)

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3. HYBRID COMPUTER A hybrid computer is a combination of

digital and analog computers and it combines the best features of both types of computers

For example a petrol pump contains a processor that converts fuel flow measurement into quantity and price

Hybrid computer is used in hospitals to measure the heartbeat of the patient

Hybrid Computers are also used in scientific applications or in controlling industrial processes

Types of Computer (Cont..)Types of Computer (Cont..)

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1. GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTER

• Most computers in use today are general purpose computers

• These are built for a great variety of processing jobs

1. SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTER

• A special computer as the name implies is designed to perform a specific operation

• Special purpose computers are also known as dedicated computers

• Such computers would be useful in games, control traffic lights, weather prediction etc.

2..Types of Computer (w.r.t. purpose)

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3..TYPES OF COMPUTER (W.R.T. SIZE)

1.MAINFRAME COMPUTERS Mainframe computers are large in size, expensive

and more powerful system

The largest mainframes can handle the processing needs of thousands of users at any given moment

Mainframe computers are used in large organizations, such as insurance companies, banks, universities, and international markets, where many people need to use the same data

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In a traditional mainframe environment, each user accesses the mainframe’s resources through a device called a terminal

Examples of mainframe computers are IBM-4381, ICL-2900, and NEC 610 etc.

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Mainframe Computers

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MINI-COMPUTERFirst released in the 1960s, minicomputers got theirname because of their small size compared to other computers of the dayThe capabilities of a minicomputer are somewherebetween those of mainframes and personal computers.For this reason, minicomputers are often calledmidrange computers

Powerful Minicomputers can serve the input and output needs of hundreds of users at a timeUsers can access a central minicomputer through a terminal or a standard PCExamples of mini computers are PRIME-9755 and IBM System 36 etc

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MINI COMPUTER

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3.SUPERCOMPUTERS Supercomputers are the most powerful computers made, and

physically they are some of the largest

These systems can process huge amount of data, and the fastest supercomputers can perform more than one trillion calculations per second

Supercomputers are ideal for handling large and highly complex problems that require extreme calculating power

Supercomputers are used for forecasting the weather, oil exploration, film imagery, and modeling complex processes like nuclear fission

Examples of supercomputers are CRAY-1 and CYBER-20

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Super Computer

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1. INDIVIDUAL USE

2. ORGANIZATIONAL USE

TYPES OF COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO USE

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1.INDIVIDUAL USE Most computers are meant to be used by only one person at a

time

Such computers are often shared by several people, but only one user can work with the machine at any given moment

Such type of computers are examples of Personal Computers (PCs)

Personal Computers are also called microcomputers, because they are among the smallest computers created for people to use

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The six primary types of computers in this category are:

1. >> Desktop Computers

2. >> Workstations

3. >> Notebook Computers

4. >> Tablet Computers

5. >> Handheld Computers

6. >> Smart Phones

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DESKTOP COMPUTERS

The most common type of personal computer is the desktop computer

A PC that is designed to sit on a desk or table

These computer not only enable people to do their jobs with greater ease and efficiency, but they can be used to communicate, produce music, edit photographs and videos, play sophisticated games, and much more

As its name implies, a desktop computer is a full-size computer that is too big to be carried around

The main component of a desktop PC is the system unit, which is the case that houses the computer’s critical parts, such as its processing and storage devices

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DESKTOP COMPUTERS

There are two common designs for desktop computers

The more traditional desktop model features a horizontally oriented system unit, which usually lies flat on the top of the user’s desk

Many users place their monitor on top of the system unit

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DESKTOP COMPUTERS

Vertically oriented tower models have become the more popular style of desktop system

The design allows the user to place the system unit next to or under the desk

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WORKSTATIONS

A workstation is a specialized, single user computer that typically has more power and features than a standard desktop PC

These machines are popular among scientists, engineers, and animators who need a system with greater-than average speed and the power to perform sophisticated tasks

Workstations often have

large, high resolution

monitors and accelerated

graphics handling

capabilities

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NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS

Notebook computers, as their name implies, approximate the shape of an 8.5-by-11 inch notebook and easily fit inside a briefcase

Because people frequently set these devices on their lap, they are also called laptop computers

Notebooks are fully

functional microcomputers

and they are portable

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TABLET PCS

The tablet PC is the newest development in portable, full-featured computers

Tablet PCs offer all the functionality of a notebook PC, but they are lighter and can accept input from a special pen-called a stylus or a digital pen-that is used to tap or write directly on the screen

Many Tablet PCs also

have a built-in microphone

and special software that

accepts input from

the user’s voice

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HANDHELD PCS

Handheld personal computers are computing devices small enough to fit in your hand

A popular type of handheld computer is the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

A PDA is no larger than a small appointment book and is normally used for special applications, such as taking notes, displaying telephone numbers and addresses

Many PDAs let the user access

the Internet through a wireless

connection, and several models

offer features such as cellular

telephone, and cameras etc.

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SMART PHONES

Some phones offer advanced features not typically found in cellular phones, they are sometimes called smart phones

These features can include Web and e-mail access, special software such as personal organizers, or special hardware such as digital cameras

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2.COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Some computers handle the needs of many users at the same time

These powerful systems are most often used by organizations, such as businesses or schools, and are commonly found at the heart of the organization’s network

The largest organizational computers support thousands of individual users at the same time, from thousands of miles away

These computer are:

Network Servers Mainframe Computers Minicomputers Supercomputers

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NETWORK SERVERS

Most organizations’ networks are based on personal computers

Individual users have their own desktop computers, which are connected to one or more centralized computers, called network servers

A network server is usually a powerful personal computer with special software and equipment that enable it to function as the primary computer in the network

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ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING

Raw data is transformed into information by processing it

Data Processing is a series of steps, actions or operations that converts data into meaningful information, or input into output

This can be accomplished by using machines, labor and procedures

When the data entered in the computer is manipulated, formulated ,sorted and passed through mathematical or statistical formulas, so it is known as Electronic Data Processing

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FUNCTIONS OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING

All data processing, whether done by hand or by the latest computer system, consists of three basic activities:

• Capturing the input data• Manipulating the data• Managing the output results

Input OutputProcessing

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CONVENTIONAL DATA PROCESSING

The conventional data processing system is the manual method of transforming data into information

The human beings themselves collect data, classify and arrange according to the items of the data, perform manual calculations and hence produce the required output result

Because of this processing method, the system is also termed as Manual Data Processing System

Example is Type Writer machine

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ELEMENTS OF AN ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM

There are four basic elements of an EDP system, these are:• HARDWARE

The physical components of a computer is called hardware• SOFTWARE

The term software refers to the computer programs, routinesand packages required to utilize and control the operation ofthe computer

• PROCEDUREProcedure is a set of pre-planned steps and policies whichthe computer system adopts in order to perform a specifictask

• PERSONNELThe individuals who work in an environment basicallyrelated to computers are known as computer personnel