Computer Fundamentals

(Introduction and Evolution)

By
Ambika.T
Info Institute of Engineering

What is a computer?

A computer is a digital device which can be programmed

to change (process) information from one form to another.
Do exactly as they are told.
Digital devices: Understand only two different states
(OFF and ON - 0 and 1)
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Conti

In Other words
Computer is an Electronic device that manipulates
information or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve
and process data.
And also use to edit or create spreadsheets,
presentations and even videos.
Applications that are performed
Type Documents
Send Email
Play Games
Browse the web etc..

Origins of Computing Machines:

Early computing devices

Abacus
300 BC by Babylonians
around 1200 A.D. in China and Japan

Abacus: positions of beads represent numbers

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Early computing devices

Pascals mechanical calculator - 1645

Gear-based machines (1600s-1800s)

Positions of gears represent numbers
Inventors: Blaise Pascal, Wilhelm Leibniz,
Charles Babbage
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Early Data Storage

Punched cards
First used in Jacquard Loom (1801) to store patterns for weaving
cloth
Storage of programs in Babbages Analytical Engine
Popular through the 1970s
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Early programming

Augusta Ada King (Byron), Countess

of Lovelace (1815-1852)
She is known as the "first
programmer".
The computer language Ada, created
by the U.S. Defense Department,
was named after Ada Lovelace.

Babbages Difference Engine (1822)

Part of the Difference Engine (below)

Babbage is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer that

eventually led to more complex designs. (1822)
The first difference engine was composed of around 25,000 parts, weighed
fifteen tons (13,600 kg), and stood 8 ft (2.4 m) high. Although he received
ample funding for the project, it was never completed. (Wikipedia)
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Early Computers

Vacuum
tube

Transistor

Microchip

Here is a brief overview of some of the early computers and trends in

computing.

First Generation Vacuum Tubes

1930s Vacuum tubes were used as electronic circuits

or electronic switches.

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1946 - ENIAC
First large-scale electronic digital computer was ENIAC (Electronic

Numerical Integrator and Calculator)

30 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8 feet high
3 additions every second, (incredibly slow by todays standards).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAnhFNJgNYY

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Second Generation Transistors

1947 - Walter Brittain and Willaim Shockley invented the

transistor at Bell Laboratories

Replaced the vacuum tube as an electronic switch

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Third Generation Integrated Circuits

1959, Jack Kirby and Robert Noyce (who later became the cofounder
of Intel Corp.) developed the first integrated circuit (silicon chip or
microchip).
An integrated circuit (IC) is a system of interrelated circuits packaged
together on a single sliver of silicon.
It is a way of placing multiple (millions) transistor devices into as single,
smaller device, the microchip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWVywhzuHnQ&feature=related

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Fourth Generation - Microprocessor

A microprocessor is a Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a single chip.
1971, Intel Corp. introduced the first microprocessor chip.

Intel 4004
108 kHz and contained (equivalent of) 2300 transistors

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IBM Personal Computer

On August 12, 1981,

IBM released their new
computer, named the
IBM PC
2004 IBM sells PC
business to Lenovo

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Apple Computers

1975 Steve Jobs and

Steve Wozniak starts
Apple Computer
1984 Apple
Macintosh with
Graphical User
Interface (GUI)

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Laptops

1981 - Adam Osborne,

produced the Osborne 1
1988 - Compaq laptop with
color screen
2008 Macbook Air
thinnest laptop
2011 Dell XPS 15Z
thinnest Windows laptop

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Trends from 1990 to today

Microsoft continues to update Windows

with latest version Windows called

Windows 8
LINUX operating system, an open
source version of UNIX, is taking on MS
Windows and gaining in popularity
IBM has stopped making small
computers; sold their business to
Lenovo
HP, the largest maker of PC is planning
to sell their PC division
Apple continues to be a major player in
personal computers, especially for the
creative market, iPods, iPads,
iPhones, etc.
Google has become a major player in
the Internet solutions
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Trends from 1990 to today

Faster
Smaller
More reliable
Less
expensive
Easier to use

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Fifth Generation

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial

intelligence, are continuing to be in development.
Parallel Processing is coming and showing the possibility
that the power of many CPU's can be used side by side,
and computers will be more powerful than those under
central processing.
The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop
devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.

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Computer Basics

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Traditional Types of Computers

General purpose computers

Super computer
Mainframe
Personal Computer

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Traditional types of computers:

Super computers
fast processing power
used by NASA and similar organizations
Example: CRAY supercomputers

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Traditional Types of Computers:

Mainframe
Computers

First computers, introduced in 1950s

Used by large businesses
Typically supported thousands of users
Very expensive
Used for very large processing tasks
IBMs new Mainframe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN4J4mClckA
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Traditional Types of Computers:

Personal Computers

Small, self-contained computers

with their own CPUs
Uses a microprocessor, a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) on a
single chip.
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Personal Computers

Desktop computers
Laptop computers
Tablets
Wearables
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Hardware versus Software

Hardware = The
physical components
that make up a
computer system.

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Hardware versus Software

Software = The
programs (instructions)
that tell the computer
what to do.
System Software
Application Software
Stored on a storage
media such as hard
disk, CD-ROM, floppy
disk, tape, etc.

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Hardware Components
PROCESS
INPUT

Know these!

SYSTEM UNIT

OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

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Input and Output Devices

INPUT

SYSTEM UNIT

OUTPUT

PERMANENT
STORAGE

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The Processor
Lets open the box!

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The Processor
circuit board = a board with
integrated circuits
(microchips)
system board or
motherboard
interface boards or expansion
boards
system board or motherboard =
a single circuit board with the
components which make up
the computers processor for a
microcomputer, including the:
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Memory
RAM
ROM or ROM BIOS
expansion slots
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The Processor: The CPU

CPU (Central Processing Unit) = A complex collection of electronic
circuits on one or more integrated circuits (chips) which:
1. executes the instructions in a software program
2. communicates with other parts of the computer system, especially
RAM and input devices
The CPU is the computer!

Rick Graziani graziani@cabrillo.edu

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RAM

RAM is TEMPORARY memory

RAM is volatile
stores ON and OFF bits (software and data) electrically
when power goes off, everything in RAM is lost
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ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM (Read Only Memory) = integrated circuits (microchips) that are used
to permanently store start-up (boot) instructions and other critical
information
Read Only = information which:
Cannot be changed
Cannot be removed
Fixed by manufacturer

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ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM is sometimes known as ROM BIOS (Basic Input Output System

software)
ROM contains:
start-up (boot) instructions
instructions to do low level processing of input and output devices,
such as the communications with the keyboard and the monitor

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Computer Performance:

CPU speed (and type)

Amount of RAM (and
speed)
Hard disk capacity

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Software

System Software
Application Software

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Application Software

Performs specific tasks:

Word processing
Calculations
Information storage and
retrieval
Accounting
Games
Cannot function without the
OS (Operating System)
Written for a specific
operating system and
computer hardware.
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Operating System Software

Loads automatically when

you switch on a computer
Main roles:
Controls hardware and
software
Permits you to manage
files
Acts as intermediary
between user and
applications

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GUI Graphical User Interface

Windows 3.1

Windows
95/98/XP

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CLI Command Line Interface

No GUI
MS DOS / Command Prompt
Linux / Unix
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