CHAPTER 1

1.1 COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

Learning Outcomes

The evolution of computers

The characteristics of personal computers,
servers, mainframes and super computers.

What is Information Technology?

Information technology refers to both the

hardware and software that are used to store,
retrieve and manipulate information.

Computer Technology

Computer is an electronic device operating under the

control of instructions stored in its memory unit that
can accept data (input), process data arithmetically
and logically, produce results (output) from the
processing and store the results for future use.

Data is a collection of unorganised facts, which can

include words, numbers, images, and sounds.
Computers manipulate and process data to create
information. Information is data that is organized,
has meaning and is useful.

Computer Technology

User is a person that communicates with a

computer or uses the information it generates
Hardware is the electric, electronic, and
mechanical equipment that makes up a
computer.
Software is the series of instruction that tells the
hardware how to perform tasks.
Firmware is software that is embedded in a
piece of hardware.

Computer Technology
Output

Process

Storage
Input

Evolution of Computer Technology

First generation (1941-1956)

The first generation of computers used vacuum
tubes. Vacuum tubes failed frequently so first
generation computers did not work most of the time.
Example :
Features of UNIVAC
- easier to use (than ENIAC)
- fewer vacuum tubes (more reliable)
- stored program
- general-purpose
- used machine language
IBM 701

UNIVAC specifications

First generation computer

ENIAC specifications

The Second Generation

Early(1956-1963)

The transistor heralded the second generation of

computers
Features and Advancements
- Still use punch cards
- Used printers, tape storage, & disk storage
- Used high-level programming languages
- COBOL & FORTRAN introduced
IBM 1401 Electronic Recording Machine -- Accounting
(ERMA)
American Standard Code for Information Interchange
(ASCII)
IBM System/360
- line of compatible computers
- instruction set enabled to be used for both business and
science

Transistor

Second generations of computers

The Third Generation

(Mid 1960s to Mid 1970s)

Advancements and Milestones

- used timesharing
- accessed remotely by terminals
- used integrated circuits (small, medium, to large-scale
integration) resulting in lower cost
More Advancements and Milestones
- DECs minicomputer, the PDP-8
- many different programming languages
- IBM unbundled its systems
Still More Advancements and Milestones
- Wide-area networks (WAN) developed
- ARPANET implemented Internet protocols (TCPIP)
- Local area networks (LAN) developed
- Mainframes (proprietary)/minicomputers (open architecture

DEC-PDP-7 mini

DEC PDP-8 minicomputer

The Fourth Generation (1975-1991)

employed very-large-scale integration (VLSI)

developed Intel 4004, first microprocessor
Apple Computer founded
IBM introduced the Personal Computer (PC)
IBM compatibles or clones introduced
Macintosh was the first commercial personal
computer to offer a user interface
Microsofts Windows 98 is a popular GUI designed
for IBM-compatible microcomputers

Apple Computer

Fifth Generation

Experts have forecast that the hallmark of the fifth

generation will be artificial intelligence (AI), in which
computers exhibit characteristics of human
intelligence. AI has been slow in coming.
Technologically, were still in the fourth generation, in
which engineers are pushing to see how many
transistors they can pack on chip. This effort alone
will bring some of the trappings of AI.

Evolution of Computer

Various Technical Computer

Specifications
Home Computers:
- CPU: Intel Dual Core or Core Duo (Pentium D or AMD Dual
Core)
- RAM: 2 GB memory (4 GB if you plan to upgrade to
Vista/Seven)
- Hard disk : 160 GB hard drive or higher
- Other device:
DVDRW,Ethernet card and cable, WPA2 A/G/N Intel wireless
card. (Atheros cards may or may not work on our network)
Windows XP SP3, Vista Business SP2, or Windows 7 Pro,
Microsoft Office

Various Technical Computer

Specifications
Entertainment/gaming computer:
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce series or
the ATI Radeon series.
- CPU: at least a 2.0 GHz.
- RAM: 1 GB.
- HD: 150 GB

Various Technical Computer

Specifications

Multimedia Editing Computer

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo or i5
Memory: 4 GB
Hard drive: 500GB 7200 RPMHard Drive SATA2 .
Video: 512Mb PCI express video card with DVI.
Monitor: 21.5" monitor
Optical drive: 16X Max DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with
double layer write capability
Other features: Built in ethernet, sound and as many USB
ports as possible with at least two on the front panel for easy
access.
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium.

Various Technical Computer

Specifications

Application Server
CPU: 64-bit, four core
Memory: For development: 4 gigabytes (GB)
For evaluation or single-server production use: 8 GB
For multiple-server production use: 16 GB
Hard drive: 80 GB for system drive
Video: 512Mb PCI express video card with DVI.
Monitor: 21.5" monitor
Optical drive: 16X Max DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with
double layer write capability
Other features: Built in ethernet, sound and as many USB
ports as possible with at least two on the front panel for easy
access.
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium.

Characteristics of
Personal Computers

A desktop computer is a personal computer

(PC) in a form intended for regular use at a
single location, as opposed to a mobile
laptop or portable computer.
come in a variety of styles ranging from
large vertical tower cases to small form factor
models that can be tucked behind an LCD
monitor.

Characteristics of Servers

A server is any combination of hardware or

software designed to provide services to
clients.
In the hardware sense, the word server
typically designates computer models
intended for running software applications
under the heavy demand of a network
environment.

cont

In this client-server configuration one or more

machines, either a computer or a computer
appliance, share information with each other
with one acting as a host for the other.
faster CPU, increased high-performance
RAM, and typically more than one large hard
drive.
running a server operating system, eg:
Windows Server.

Characteristics of Mainframes

ability to run (or host) multiple operating

systems.
operate not as a single computer but as a
number of virtual machines that mean single
mainframe can replace dozens or even
hundreds of smaller servers
are designed to handle very high volume
input and output (I/O) and emphasize
throughput computing.

IBM Mainframe

Cont

can add or hot swap system capacity non

disruptively and granularly, to a level of
sophistication usually not found on most
servers.
have execution integrity characteristics
for fault tolerant computing

Characteristics of Supercomputer

are used for highly calculation-intensive

tasks such as problems involving quantum
physics, weather forecasting, climate
research, molecular modeling (computing
the structures and properties of chemical
compounds, biological macromolecules,
polymersand crystals).
Is high capacity machines with hundreds of
thousands of processors that can perform
over 1 trillion calculations.

2 Different Casing Types

AT case
Standard case used by IBM
Cheaper
A small space for other computer components

ATX case
Latest type of chassis (improved)
Motherboard can be placed in 90 degree
More space for added expansion slot
Good air flow

1.2 Function of computer software

System Software

Application Software

designed to operate the computer

hardware and to give and maintain a
platform for running application
software

a computer program which utilizes

the capabilities of computer

It just creates a graphical user

interface thorough which the user can
interact with hardware with the help
of operating system.

enable the end-user to perform

specific, productive tasks, such as
word processing or image
manipulation.

Example: Operating System

Example: word processors,

spreadsheets, and media players

Knowledge Check

Describe the evolution of computers

State the characteristics of personal
computers, servers, mainframes and super
computers.
Identify the various types of operating system
for personal computers and server
computers