Lecture 1

COMPUTER BASICS

Objectives
To understand :
 

Importance of Computers Characteristics of Computers Evolution of Computers Advancement of Computers Application of Computers
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Importance of Computers

Industries

Agriculture

Research

Space Research Speech Recognition Education

Construction

Electronics

Entertainment

3 Artificial Intelligence

Computer
 

Computer derived from compute It is an electronic device that

   

Accepts inputs Performs mathematical and logical operations Uses stored programs for processing Generates outputs

It can perform diverse functions with the help of programs

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Characteristics


SPEED


Processes millions of instructions per second Accurate results when given correct instructions and data Very little human intervention required
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ACCURACY


Automation


Characteristics contd


Diligence


No tiredness Built-in continuous monitoring Secondary storage devices

Reliability


Storage capability


Characteristics contd


Versatility


Can run diverse applications Device sharing Information sharing

Resource sharing
 

Limitations


Can perform only what it is programmed to do Needs well defined instructions Limited use in areas where qualitative considerations are important

Evolution Of Computers

ABACUS NAPIER BONES PASCALINE (1642)

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Evolution contd

Babbage's Difference Engine (1822) & Analytical Engine (1833)

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Evolution contd

MARK I (1944)

ENIAC (1946)

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Computers Now

The shrinking trend continues

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Generations Of Computers


A GENERATION is described as


Stage of technological development or innovation Electronic components Internal memory components I/O and storage devices Programming languages
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Characterized by advances in
   

First Generation (1940-56)



Vacuum tubes or thermionic valves Magnetic drum memory Input on punched cards, paper tapes Output as printouts Machine language for programming Used mainly for scientific purposes ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC
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First Generation Components

Vacuum Tube

Magnetic Drum Memory

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First Generation contd



Limitations
      

Required lot of space for installation Consumed large amount of electricity Vacuum tubes generated tremendous heat Cooling was essential Non-portable, very slow Unreliable, prone to frequent hardware failures Difficult to program and lacked versatility
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Second Generation (1956-63)



Transistors Magnetic cores as internal memory Magnetic tapes as secondary storage I/O with punched cards and printouts Assembly language COBOL and FORTRAN introduced PDP-8, IBM 1401, IBM 7090
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Second Generation Components

Core Memory Stack

Transistors

Core Memory Detail

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Second Generation contd



Smaller compared to 1st generation computers Computational time reduced from milliseconds to microseconds. More reliable, needed less maintenance More portable Programming was easier with Assembly language Generated less heat but still required air conditioning Manual assembly of individual components into a functioning unit was still required
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Second Generation Computers

PDP-8

IBM 1401

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Third Generation (1964-Early 1970s)



Integrated circuits - ICs Keyboards and monitors Development of operating systems Multitasking became possible Extensive use of high level languages Became accessible to people NCR 395, B6500
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Third Generation Components

Integrated Circuits

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Third Generation contd



Computational time reduced from microseconds to nanoseconds Smaller in size and easily portable Consumed less power and generated less heat, sometimes needed air conditioning Maintenance cost low as hardware rarely failed Manual assembling of components not needed Commercial production easier and cheaper
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Third Generation Computers

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Fourth Generation (1970s Till Date)



Microprocessors
 

LSI & VLSI technology CPU on a single chip

Semiconductor internal memory Storage devices are smaller & cheaper Graphical User Interface, pointing devices
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Fourth Generation contd



Computers are more powerful, compact, reliable and affordable Personal computers (PCs) introduced Interconnection of computers has enabled
 

 

Use of computers in communication Resource sharing

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Apple II, Altair 8800, CRAY I

Fifth Generation Future Machines



Artificial Intelligence


Objectives are creating human like computers

Mega chips
 

Computers will use SLSI or Mega chips They will have memory capacity of human mind

Parallel Processing
 

Use multiple CPUs Access and execute several instructions at the same

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Fifth Generation contd



Artificial Intelligence


related technologies that try to simulate and reproduce human behavior like thinking, speaking and reasoning

AI comprises of Expert Systems(chess and medical assistance), Natural Language Processing, Speech Recognition, Vision Recognition and Robotics
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Fifth Generation contd

Parallel Processing Artificial Intelligence

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Classification


Based on Physical Size & Performance

   

Microcomputers Minicomputers Mainframes Super computers

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Microcomputers
Small, low cost computers


Microcomputers include -Desktop -Laptop and -Hand held models

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Desktop Computers


Also known as PCs Consist of

    

System unit Display monitor Keyboard Internal hard disk storage Other peripheral devices
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Laptop Computers
Portable


Also known as "notebooks" Can be used anywhere and at anytime

Can be operated from backup battery

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Hand Held Computers - PDA



Use electronic stylus for input Also known as palmtops Use small cards as storage Have limited memory

 

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Minicomputers


Larger than Microcomputers More powerful, faster

Support Multiple users Used as servers in a network



Used in industries, research organizations, colleges and universities

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PDP 11, IBM (8000 series), and VAX 7500

Mainframes
Provide large storage capacity at a centralized location Better processing capabilities


Used by large businesses and for scientific purposes IBM's ES000, VAX 8000, and CDC 6600
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Supercomputers
Fastest, costliest and most powerful computers


Parallel processing

Used in aerodynamics, plasma physics, simulations, animations etc CRAY-3, Cyber 205 PARAM, PARAM Padma
developed by C- DAC
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Application of Computers


Science Education Health Care Engineering Architecture Manufacturing

Communication Finance Publishing Banking Hospitality Entertainment

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Summary


Evolution of computing devices Stages in computer development Classification of computers Importance and application of computers

 

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