1. What is computer?

A computer is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and manipulates data, and provides
output in a useful format.

2.

a.) Characteristics of Computer

Speed: The computer was invented as a high-speed calculator. This has led to many scientific projects
which were previously impossible. The control of the moon landing would not have been feasible without
computers, and neither would today's more scientific approach to weather prediction.

Arithmetical and Logical Operations: A computer can perform arithmetical and logical operations. In
arithmetic operations, it performs the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on the numeric data.
In logical operation it compares the numerical data as well as alphabetical data.

Accuracy: In addition to being very fast, computer is also very accurate device. It gives accurate output
result provided that the correct input data and set of instructions are given to the computer.

Reliability: The electronic components in modern computer have very low failure rate. The modern
computer can perform very complicated calculations without creating any problem and produces
consistent (reliable) results.

Storage: A computer has internal storage (memory) as well as external or secondary storage. In
secondary storage, a large amount of data and programs (set of instructions) can be stored for future use.

Versatility: Versatile means flexible. Modern computer can perform different kind of tasks one by one of
simultaneously. It is the most important feature of computer.

Communications: Today computer is mostly used to exchange messages or data through computer
networks all over the world. For example the information can be received or send throug the internet with
the help of computer.

Precision: Computers are not only fast and consistent but they also perform operations very accurately
and precisely.

Automation: A computer can automatically perform operations without interfering the user during the
operations.

b.) Capabilities of Computer

a.) Ability to Perform Certain Logic Operations: Computers are symbol manipulators. It can manipulate in
logical ways letter, numbers, words, sentences, mathematical expressions and other symbols to which
people have giving meaning.

b.) Ability to Provide New Time Dimensions: The computer works one step at a time; it adds and subtracts
numbers; it multiples and divides numbers; and it can be programmed to perform other mathematical
operations.

c.) Ability to Store and Retrieve Information: The computer stores in internal storage both facts and
instructions. The ease with which instructions can be changed gives the computer great flexibility.

d.) Ability to control error: It has been estimated that a person would make one error in every 500- 1000
operations with a desk calculator.
e.) Ability to Check Itself: Computers have the ability to check its own work. By a method known as parity
checking, computers check on data when they enter storage, when they are moved internally, and when
they leave in the form of output.

c.) Limitations of computer

Computers are a man-made machine and it only does things that the human programs it to do, but in a
more efficient and faster way. If we train it to do mathematical things, it will solve it for us faster. If we
want it to store huge amount of data, it will do it for us.

However, they do not have common sense. We cant teach it to think morally or ethically. It just does what
we tell it to do. They will never experience human emotions or concepts...it will only provide us the
foundation and software to allow us to enter them into its system, but they will not process it like humans
do.

Its limitations are how much data we put into it. Its life expectancy is how long the hardware survives.
They get replaced easily because as the years passes, the technology and components get better.

3.

According to purpose of computer

a.) Servers: Server usually refers to a computer that is dedicated to providing a service. For example, a
computer dedicated to a database may be called a "database server". "File servers" manage a large
collection of computer files. "Web servers" process web pages and web applications.

b.) Workstation: Workstations are computers that are intended to serve one user and may contain special
hardware enhancements not found on a personal computer.

c.) Embedded computers: Embedded computers are computers that are a part of a machine or device.
Embedded computers generally execute a program that is stored in non-volatile memory and is only
intended to operate a specific machine or device.

According to data handled

a.) Analog Computers: The name analog comes from the word "analogous", meaning similar. Analog
computers are used for scientific, engineering, and process control purposes.

b.) Digital Computers: A machine that specializes in counting. It operates by counting values that are
discrete, or separate and distinct, unlike the continuous quantities that can be measured by the analog
computer.

c.) Hybrid Computers: Although both analog and digital computers are extremely used in widely accepted
in various industries, manufacturers have attempted to design a computer that combines the best features
of both types.

According to size and capacity

a.) PC or Microcomputers: A personal computer (PC) or a micro is the smallest general purpose computer
system which can execute programs to perform a variety of instruction. It has all the functional elements
found in a larger system. These computers usually have an 8, 16 or a 32 bit microprocessor.

b.) Minicomputer: A minicomputer system is a small general purpose computer varying in size from a
desktop model to a unit the size of a four drawer filing cabinet.
c.) Mainframe Computer: The term mainframe computer was created to distinguish the traditional, large,
institutional computer intended to service multiple users from the smaller, single user machines.

d.) Supercomputers: A supercomputer is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical

calculations such as weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, nuclear simulations, theoretical astrophysics,
and complex scientific computations.

3.

Date Device/Machine Inventor/People Involved Characteristics/Description/Function

Made from horn, bone or ivory the
device allowed the capability of
1617 Napier’s Bones John Napier
multiplying by adding numbers and
dividing by subtracting.
The slide rule is used primarily for
multiplication and division, and also
1622 Slide Rule William Oughtred for functions such as roots, logarithms
and trigonometry, but is not normally
used for addition or subtraction.
Can add, subtract, and carry between
1642 Pascaline Blaise Pascal
digits.
A machine that can add, subtract,
1674 Leibniz Calculator Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
multiply and divide automatically.
Frances Joseph-Marie A fully automated loom that is
1804 Jacquard Loom
Jacquard programmed by punched cards.
A mechanical calculator that could
add and subtract directly and could
Charles Xavier Thomas de
1820 Arithmometer perform long multiplications and
Colmar
divisions effectively by using a
movable accumulator for the result.
An automatic, mechanical calculator
1821 Difference Engine Charles Babbage designed to tabulate polynomial
functions.
Developed a method for machines to
record and store information onto
1890 Punched Cards Herman Hollerith
punch cards to be used for the US
census.
Herman Hollerith starts the Tabulating
Machine Company, the company later
1896 IBM Herman Hollerith becomes the well-known computer
company IBM (International Business
machines).
The machine was not programmable,
Atanasoff-Berry John Vincent Atanasoff
1937 being designed only to solve systems
Computer and Clifford Berry
of linear equations.
A fully automatic computing machine;
whose attributes, with the addition of
1941 Z3 Konrad Zuse conditional branching, have often
been the ones used as criteria in
defining a computer.
A first general-purpose electronic
ENIAC (Electronic computer. It was a Turing-complete,
J. Presper Eckert and
1943 Numerical Integrator and digital computer capable of being
John Mauchly
Computer) reprogrammed to solve a full range of
computing problems.
 First fully automatic computer to be
1944 Mark I Howard Aiken
completed
EDVAC (Electronic First internally stored program
1945 Discrete Variable John Neuman computer to be built, a major
Computer) improvement over the ENIAC
A electrical computer containing
thousands of vacuum tubes that
UNIVAC (Universal J. Presper Eckert and
1951 utilizes punch cards and switches for
Automatic Computer) John Mauchly
inputting data and punch cards for
outputting and storing data.
Transistors are faster, smaller and
create less heat than traditional
1955 Transistors Bell Laboratory
vacuum tubs, making these
computers more reliable and efficient.
A miniaturized electronic circuit
constructed of individual
Jack Kilby and Robert
1958 Integrated Circuit semiconductor devices, as well as
Noyce
passive components, bonded to a
substrate or circuit board.
A 4-bit central processing unit (CPU)
released by Intel Corporation in 1971.
Intel 4004 Computer
1971 Faggin, Hoff and Mazor It was the first complete CPU on one
Microprocessor
chip, and also the first commercially
available microprocessor.
1976 Apple II Steve Wozniak The first personal computer
1979 WordStar Software Seymour Rubenstein & First word processor
Rob Barnaby
1981 MS DOS Computer Microsoft First Operating System
System
1990 Internet Tim Berners-Lee Network of computers