Unit 1 Computer: Evolution and Development

Learning Module in Computer Fundamentals and Programming
Unit 1: Computer: Evolution and Development
UNIT 1
COMPUTER: EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT
LESSON 1: COMPUTER: DEFINITION AND HISTORY
DURATION: 30 minutes
INTRODUCTION
Over the years, technology has revolutionized our world and daily lives.
Computer has been the essential key which made human lives easier, faster, better,
and more fun. It is a tool for putting useful information at our fingertips. In this lesson,
we will discuss what a computer is and how it has evolved.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

✓ Define the term computer
✓ Familiarize with the history and development of computer
PRE-TEST
Before we proceed, let’s assess your knowledge about the lesson, read the
following questions, and check the cell that corresponds to your answer.
1 - I have never heard of it.

2 - I have heard of it, but don't know what it is.
3 - I have some idea of what it is, but it’s not very clear.
4 - I know what it is and could explain what it is.
Questions 1 2 3 4
1. How familiar are you with the term computer?
2. How familiar are you with the computer’s

technological changes and developments from the
time it was invented.
3. How familiar are you with ENIAC?
4. How familiar are you with BINAC?
5. How familiar are you with UNIVAC?
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LESSON PROPER/COURSE METHODOLOGY
Activity 1.1.1
Let’s start the lesson with a quick exercise. Given the statements below,
identify which are true and which one is a lie. Justify your answers to the space
provided. You may use the web as a reference.
TWO TRUTHS & A LIE
1. Blaise Pascal design is the third functioning mechanical calculator in 1942.

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2. Calculators are considered computer.

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3. ENIAC is the first general-purpose computer.

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Analysis
Activity 1.1.2
Congratulations on performing the first task. For you to move forward, you
must understand and reflect first on your previous activity. Complete each statement
based on your experience.
The activity above made me notice and recognize
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It made me aware of
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Now, I want to learn more on
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Abstraction
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
A computer can be defined as ‘ an electronic digital device designed to accept
and store input data, process data and produce appropriate output information under
the control of a stored sequence of instructions’.
This definition is very broad. It needs to be so broad because computers are
used for such a wide range of applications, and are constructed in so many different
ways that any more specific definition would probably not include all types of
computers.
Some examples of where computer technology is used are:
• Research organizations, military organizations, and space agencies

• Chemical plants, breweries, factories, and production lines for process control
• Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• Mobile telephones and communications equipment
• Video recorders and audio equipment, etc.
Computers are very efficient and cost-effective machines. They require

electrical energy in helping people achieve the greatest results in their work. The
time required for computers to perform basic addition ranges from hundreds of
thousands to several millions per second. It has built-in self-checking capabilities for
monitoring the accuracy of its internal operations.
COMPUTER: The Technological Systems and Their Developments
For the past five thousand years, devices were used to help human process
data. As we grow, there have been many developments and tremendous changes in
technology. The information technology enlightens our way to perceive changes at
an increasing rate.
The history of computers will provide an understanding of technological
changes, processes, and developments. It has a profound impact on the
development of computational devices, which in turn affects our society in the future.
To be able to understand further the different characteristics and features of

today’s computer, let’s take a look at its evolution and development.
3000 B.C. – An early form of the bead-and wire abacus is used in Asia.
876 A.D. – First recorded use of the symbol zero occurs in India.
1620 – Edmund Gunter of England invents the slide rule, forerunner
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of the electric calculator.

1642 – Blaise Pascal designs the first functioning mechanical calculator,
which can perform the work of six accountants; initial public
reaction is less than overwhelming, but the Pascaline will remain in
th
use until the mid-20 century.
1694 – Gottfried Leibniz builds a calculating machine that uses binary
representations of numbers.
1812 – 19th-century factory worker Ned Ludd inspires other workers to
destroy “labor-saving’ machines that they fear will take over their
jobs; Luddite later comes to refer to anyone who opposes
technology.
1832 – Charles Babbage designs the first computer-driven by external
instructions; He created the Difference Engine, to calculate a
series of values automatically.
1854 – George Boole publishes his thoughts on symbolic logic, which
decades later will form the basis of computer science
applications.
1857 – Sir Charles Wheatstone introduces continuously feeding
paper tape that can be used for storing and reading data.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell, 27 years old, files a patent for the
telephone.
1890 – Herman Hollerith designs the punch-card tabulation
machine, allowing the US Census Bureau to reduce its data
calculation time from ten years to two and a half.
1896 – Herman Hollerith founds the Tabulating Machine Company,
one of three companies that will later merge and become known
as IBM.
1897 – Karl Braun develops the cathode-ray-tube.
1918 – Two inventors build a calculating machine based on the binary
numbers 1 and 0.
1938 – William Hewlett and David Packard formed HP in a garage in
Palo Alto, California. Konrad Zuse developed the Z3, the first
functional program-controlled, all-purpose, digital computer.
1942 – Dr. John Atanasoff and one of his graduate students, Clifford E.
Berry came up with the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). Dr.
Atanasoff is recognized as the man who invented the electronic
digital computer.
1944 – Howard H. Aiken devised Mark I, the first electromechanical
computer and built at IBM.
1946 – John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, designed ENIAC
(Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), the first
general-purpose electronic computer. As well as
EDVAC(Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) the
first stored-program computer designed, BINAC(Binary
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Automatic Computer) and UNIVAC I(UNIVersal Automatic

Computer I), which was the first commercial computer produced
in the United States.
1947 – Two workers at Bell Laboratories experiment with the first
transistor.
1949 – John Mauchly develops the Short Code, the world’s first high
level programming language.
1951 – Grace Murray Hopper develops A-0 the first compiler for a
computer programming language. It translates programming
code into binary code.
1955 – Narinder Kapany develops the optical fiber. American
Airlines installs the first large database network, built by IBM,
connecting 1200 teletypewriters.
1956 – IBM develops the IBM 305 RAMAC, the first commercial
computer that used a moving head hard disk drive for secondary
storage. RAMAC stood for “Random Access Method of
Accounting and Control”. Programmers at IBM write the
computer language FORTRAN. The MANIAC I (Mathematical
Analyzer, Numerical Integrator, and Computer) becomes the
first computer program to defeat a human opponent in a game
of chess.
1958 – Jack St. Clair Kilby at Texas Instruments builds the first
integrated circuit. Bell Telephone introduces the first modem.
Researchers at Bell Labs invented the laser.
1959 – Grace Murray Hopper and Charles Phillips invented Cobol. John
McCarthy and Marvin Minsky formed the Artificial Intelligence
Lab at MIT. Xerox introduces the first commercial copier.
1960 – Digital Equipment Corporation develops the PDP-1, the first
commercial computer equipped with a keyboard and a monitor.
1962 – Programmers at MIT created the first video game.
1963 – Douglas Engelbert develops the mouse at the Stanford
Research Institute.
1964 – The American Standard Association adopts ASCII(American
Standard Code for Information Interchange) as the standard
code for data transfer.
1965 – Digital Equipment Corporation builds the first minicomputer. The
simplified computer language BASIC(Beginner's All-purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code) is developed.
1968 – Intel is formed.
1969 – ARPAnet, a precursor to the Internet, debuts. ATMs have
become more
widely used in banks. “Bubble memory” makes its debut,
allowing computers to retain memory after being shut off.
1970 – The floppy disk is introduced. Intel develops the first memory
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chip, which stores 1024 bits of data. Bell Labs develops Unix.
1971 – Texas Instruments introduces the pocket calculator. Dot
matrix printers appear. Niklaus Wirth develops PASCAL. The
first speech-recognition software, Hearsay, is developed in
India.
1972 – Ray Tomlinson invents e-mail. Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs
develop the computer language C.
1975 – Liquid crystal displays are marketed. Bob Metcalfe at Xerox
develops Ethernet. IBM introduces the laser printer.
1976 – Gary Kildall develops the CP/M operating system. IBM develops
the
inkjet printer. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs form Apple
Computer.
1977 – Bill Gates and Paul Allen officially found Microsoft. Apple
introduces the Apple II, the first pre-assembled personal
computer.
1978 – Word Star is released and quickly becomes the most popular
word processing program.
1980 – dBase II, the first widely used database management
system(DBMS) for microcomputers appears on the market.
1981 – IBM introduces the IBM PC with an MS-DOS operating
system.
1982 – Compact disc players are introduced. The first IBM PC clones
are marketed. Time magazine names the PC “Man of the Year”.
1983 – Apple introduces the $9,995 Lisa, the first computer to use a
graphical user interface and a mouse. IBM launches the PC-XT,
the first computer with a built-in hard drive.
1984 – CD-ROM debuts; Apple releases the Macintosh. 2400 baud
modems are introduced. Hewlett Packard markets the LaserJet,
the first personal laser printer. Novelist William Gibson coins the
term cyberspace.
1985 – America Online is founded. Microsoft develops Windows 1.0
for the IBM PC. Nintendo arrives in the United States.
1986 – The National Science Foundation approves funding for the
internet backbone.
1988 – Microsoft releases Windows 2.03.
1989 – Tim Berners Lee invents the World Wide Web. HDTV appears in
Japan.
1990 – Intel introduces the i486 microprocessor chip. Windows hits 3.0.
1993 – PDA, Personal Digital Assistants was introduced. Intel releases
the Pentium chip. Marc Andreessen and Eric Bina designed
Mosaic, the first graphical Web browser.
1994 – GPS auto navigation systems became available in the US.
Iomega
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introduces the Zip drive and disks. Marc Andreessen helped

found Netscape Communications Corporation.
1995 – Flat-screen TVs were introduced. Microsoft releases Windows
95 and
Office 95. Jeffrey Bezos founds Amazon.com.
1996 – Palm Pilot debuts.
1997 – DVD players become available in the United States.
1998 – Diamond Multimedia introduces the portable MP3. Apple
releases its candy-colored iMacs. E-commerce explodes as a
new shopping medium and some 30 million households are
purchasing goods over the Internet.
1999 – The Linux Operating System hits the big time. AOL completes
its acquisition of Netscape.
2000 – The Y2K hits, but the damage is not worst as to what is
expected.
– Young Filipino students release the ILOVEYOU e-mail virus
that begins infecting computers and spreading over the Internet
starting on May 4, 2000. The virus becomes one of the most
costly viruses ever, estimated causing over $10 billion dollars in
damage because of the steps involved in cleaning a computer
after it has been infected.
For a complete computer history for the year 2000 to date, visit
http://www.computerhope.com/history/2000.htm
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Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2

Charles Babbage Atanasoff-Berry
Difference Engine Computer
Figure 1.3
The first transistor
Figure 1.4
Vacuum tube used in the first
generation of computer
Figure 1.5
The ENIAC Computer. The first operational
general-purpose electronic computer. Also
shown is one of its inventors, J. P. Eckert.
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Application
You just learned the history and technological developments of a computer.

Where do you think people could apply this knowledge? You may use the web as a
reference.
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REFLECTION/LEARNING INSIGHTS
1. Before taking up this lesson, do you know the history, technological
changes, and development of a computer? What learnings you have
acquired after this lesson?
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2. What do you think is the importance of understanding the definition and
history of a computer?
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LESSON 2: COMPUTER: CLASSIFICATIONS, CAPABILITIES, AND LIMITATIONS
DURATION: 1 hour
INTRODUCTION
The impact made by computers is very significant in our daily lives. It reached
different sectors of modern establishments – banks, factories, airlines, government
agencies, schools, hospitals, institutions, and private offices. The applications of
computers differ in each sector, which have their classifications, capabilities, and
limitations.
OBJECTIVES

✓ Distinguish the different classifications of a computer
✓ Understand the capabilities and limitations of a computer
PRE-TEST

Questions 1 2 3 4
1. How familiar are you with general purpose
computers?
2. How familiar are you with special purpose
computers?
3. How familiar are you with first generation,
second generation, third generation, fourth
generation, and fifth generation computers?
4. How familiar are you with mainframes and
supercomputers?
5. How familiar are you with mini-computers?
6. How familiar are you with micro computers?
7. How familiar are you with computer’s
capabilities?
8. How familiar are you with computer’s
limitations?
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Activity 1.2.1
Let’s start the lesson with a quick exercise. Given the statements below,
identify which are true and which one is a lie. Justify your answers to the space
provided. You may use the web as a reference.
TWO TRUTHS & A LIE
1. Computers can do anything as they have no limitations.

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2. Laptop is an example of general purpose computer.

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3. Laptop is an example of microcomputer.

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Analysis
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It made me aware of
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Abstraction
CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTER
Some of the computer’s capabilities
1. It is self-directing - The user merely feeds all the instructions to the

computer at the start and the later proceeds without any need for human
intervention.
2. Ability to store and retrieve information - The computer can remember or

recall data when a man finds the need for them.
3. Ability to perform mathematical operations and solve complex formula

at high speed and with great precision - A very fast computer can perform
the addition of 20 million pairs of ten-digit numbers in one second.
4. Ability to perform a logic operation - The computer is capable of comparing

numbers, letters of the alphabet, and special characters. Based on the results
of the comparison, the computer can direct its operation to take alternative
actions.
5. Ability to communicate with the user or with other machines - The

computer is capable of telling what must be fed or what must be done for the
program to operate continuously. It can also transmit data and messages from
one computer to another.
Some of the computer’s limitations
1. It can only do what is designed or programmed to do - If you ask the

computer to get the total payroll for a certain period, it will give you only the
total payroll for a certain period, it will give you the total payroll and not the net
salary or gross salary of each employee.
2. It cannot correct input data - If you mistakenly entered an hourly rate of P80
per hour, the computer cannot respond to the actual rate of P90 per hour. As
a line goes “Garbage In, Garbage Out”.
3. It cannot think and cannot derive meanings from objects - The computer
cannot interpret your favorite poem or cannot determine your present mood.
4. It can only process jobs expressed in a finite number of steps leading to

a precisely defined goals.
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5. It cannot completely avoid making errors due to power fluctuations,

system malfunctions, and human disorders.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
According to Technology
a. First Generation (1940-1946)

Vacuum Tubes for circuitry and magnetic
Components
drums for memory
Punched cards and paper tape, output
Auxiliary Units
was displayed on printouts
Operation Speed Approx. 10-3 second or milliseconds
Processing Speed Approx. 2, 000 instructions per second
Memory Capacity Approx. 1,000 – 4,000 bytes
Software Machine language
Characteristics Quite large and produced an enormous
amount of heat; batch processing
Computing Device ENIAC and UNIVAC computers
b. Second Generation (1956-1963)
Transistors for circuitry and magnetic core
Components
for memory
Punched cards and paper tape, output
Auxiliary Units
was displayed on printouts
Operation Time Approx. 10-6 second or microseconds
Processing Speed Approx. 1,000,000 instructions per second
Memory Capacity Approx. 4,000 – 32,000 bytes
Software Assembly Language
Smaller size, generated little heat, less
expensive, and required less power than
Characteristics
the vacuum tube circuits, over-lapped
processing, real-time processing.
Computers developed for the atomic
Computing Device
energy industry
c. Third Generation (1964-1971)
Components Integrated Circuits(IC)
Keyboards, monitors and interfaced with
Auxiliary Units
an operating system
Operation Speed Approx. 10-9 second or nanoseconds
Approx. 10,000, 000 instructions per
Processing Speed
second
Memory Capacity Approx. 32,000 – 3,000,000 bytes
Software High-Level Language
Characteristics Smaller size, more reliable, greater speed,
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and greater capacity than the 2nd

generation computers, it can process
several programs simultaneously, time-
sharing and multi-tasking.
d. Fourth Generation (1971 –
present)
Components Microprocessors
Disk drives and Mass Storage, Mouse and
Auxiliary Units
hand-held devices
Operation Speed Approx. 10-12 second or picoseconds
100,000,000 to 1 billion instructions per
Processing Speed
second
Memory Capacity Gigabytes, Terabytes
Very-High Level Language (Object-
Software
oriented Programming
Smaller in size, lesser power
Characteristics
requirements, virtual memory.
e. Fifth Generation (present and
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. The use of
parallel processing and superconductors is
helping to make artificial intelligence a
Characteristics reality. Quantum computation and
molecular and nanotechnology will
radically change the face of computers in
years to come. The goal of fifth-generation
computing is to develop devices that
respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.
Robotics, Game Playing, Language and

Examples Linguistic Communication, Virtual Reality,
etc.
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According to Storage Capacity or Memory Size
A. MAINFRAMES AND SUPERCOMPUTERS
Mainframes and Supercomputers are generally designed to perform huge

numbers of complex calculations. They support hundreds of users via other smaller
computers called front-end processors (typically a smaller, general-purpose
computer that is dedicated to handling data communications control functions in a
communications network, thus relieving the host computer of these functions). These
computers have a memory capacity of gigabytes and disk storage of terabytes or
more. They are usually operated only by research institutions such as universities,
large government departments or banks, telecommunications, worldwide weather
forecasting, aircraft design, and scientific applications each with their own offices in
many locations.
Mainframes have several advantages in these applications:
• They allow centralized control and maintenance of the computer system. This
ensures a uniform computing service across the organization. It allows
simplified back-up and disaster recovery strategies to be implemented.
• They can be interfaced with many types of user equipment including personal
computers(PCS), electronic funds transfer point-of-sale (EFTPOS)
terminals, and automatic teller machines (ATMs) via their front-end
processors.
• They provide high-speed and often high-volume processing
• They allow many users to share data. This data is always up-to-date because
all users access the same centralized data. This means that any changes to
the stored data are seen instantaneously by all sites.
• They provide a high level of user security. Only authorized users are allowed
to access programs and data. Often an audit trail is provided so that these
accesses may be monitored.
• They provide a high level of data security. Because of centralized backup
procedures, lost or corrupted data is recovered relatively quickly, efficiently,
and accurately.
Figure 1.6
An IBM 704 mainframe

computer system.
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B. MINI-COMPUTERS
Minicomputers are machines used either as single workstations or as a

system feed by network to several terminals. These are used by medium-sized
companies for accounting, manufacturing, and as “servers” in computer networks.
They are designed to support many users and often have similar advantages to
mainframes in terms of centralized control, maintenance, and security. However,
they communicate with users directly – without the aid of front-end processors. It is
capable of supporting 4 – 200 users simultaneously
Figure 1.7
The Oslo PDP-7
C. MICRO COMPUTERS
IBM coined the term personal computer (PC) for the microcomputer. Originally
designed to be single-user desktop computers, they now have become the most
prolific of all types of computers. Desktop, laptop, and even palmtop or tablet
computers all fall into this category. This type of computer also has advantages:
• Because each computer is stand-alone, the failure of one computer system

does not affect other users as it would in a mainframe or mini-computer
situation.
• PCs may be networked together to share data and thus provide some of the
advantages of a centralized computer system without the expense of a mini-
computer or mainframe.
The major disadvantages of PCs are that they:
• Generally lack some forms of security

• Are individually customized, so do not provide a uniform computing
environment for users (one user may find that another user’s PC is set-up in
an unfamiliar way).
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Figure 1.8 Figure 1.9 Figure1.10

According to its purpose Palmtop computer
Laptop computer Desktop Computer
A. GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
This type of computer is being used for different purposes like

playing games, watch videos, research using web-browsers. General-
purpose computers perform different tasks since installing different
types of software like Photoshop, Google Chrome, Microsoft Office,
etc. are allowed on this type of computer.
The computers that are being used in Schools, homes, and business
centers are some examples of general-purpose computers.
B. SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS
This type of computer is designed to perform a specific task.

Particular software is installed on these computers to perform a specific
task. Hand-held calculators, air traffic control, and old versions of game
consoles are some examples of special-purpose computers.
Application
Activity 1.2.2
This section will practice your understanding of the lesson.
Goal: To enhance students’ skills in identifying the classification of a
computer and know its capabilities and limitations.
Role: You are an engineering student.
Audience: Teacher and classmates
Situation: You have to identify 5 examples of computers you have recently

used e.g. your laptop, calculator, etc. This will help you understand that
computers have different classification.
Product/Performance and Purpose: For each item, you have to identify its
classification based on its purpose. You can discuss/present it in class
through a recorded video or during the class consultation.
Write your answers in the provided table below.
Standard: Your output must have the following:
- Your chosen example of computer

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- Its classification based on purpose
Classification
Name
(based on purpose)
Calculator Special purpose computer
Activity 1.2.3
List some advantages of fifth-generation computers compared to the other
generation computers.
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1. Before taking up this lesson, are you aware that computers have different
classifications? What learnings you have acquired after this lesson?
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2. What have you learned about the capabilities and limitations of a

computer?
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LESSON 3: ELEMENTS OF A COMPUTER
INTRODUCTION
At present, computers are deeply ingrained in every part of our lives. It has
been used in different sectors in our society. With this, there is a need to understand
the elements of computers and how it works. This lesson will cover all the necessary
things you need to know about the elements of a computer.
OBJECTIVES

✓ Familiarize with elements of a computer (Software, Hardware, Data, and
People)
PRE-TEST

Questions 1 2 3 4
1. How familiar are you with the term software?
2. How familiar are you with the term hardware?
3. How familiar are you with the term Data?
4. How familiar are you with the term Peopleware?
5. How familiar are you with system software?
6. How familiar are you with application software?
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Activity 1.3.1
Let’s start the lesson with a quick exercise. Given the words below identify
which are software, hardware, data, and peopleware.
Printer Windows Operating System Microsoft Office
Audio files Data encoder Google Chrome
Computer Mouse Computer Keyboard Monitor
Adobe Photoshop Student Number Speakers
Hardware Software Data Peopleware
__________ __________ __________ __________

__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
__________ __________ __________ __________
Analysis

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It made me aware of
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Abstraction
ELEMENTS OF COMPUTER
a. HARDWARE
The concept of hardware includes all physical devices and materials used in
information processing. Specifically, it includes not only machines, such as
computers and calculators, but also all data media, that is, all tangible objects on
which data is recorded, from sheets of paper to magnetic disks. Examples of
hardware in computer-based information systems are:
• Computer systems – which consist of central processing units (CPUs) and a

variety of interconnected peripheral devices. Examples are large mainframe
computer systems, minicomputers, and microcomputer systems.
• Computer peripherals – which are devices such as a keyboard or electronic
mouse for input of data and commands, a video screen or printer for output of
information, and magnetic or optical disks for the storage of data resources.
• Telecommunications networks – which consist of computers,
communications processors, and other devices interconnected by a variety of
telecommunications media to provide computing power throughout an
organization.
b. SOFTWARE
The concept of software includes all sets of information processing

instructions. This generic concept of software includes not only the sets of operating
instructions called programs, which direct and control computer hardware, but also
the sets of information processing instructions needed by people, called
procedures. So even information systems that don’t use computers have a software
resource component. The following are examples of software resources.
• Systems software – enables the applications to interact with the computer

and manage its internal resources. It consists of several programs, the most
important of which is the operating system or OS. The OS is the master
control program, which gives the user an interactive control over the
computer. The kind of OS a system would be using depends on the hardware
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that make-up the system. Among the popular OS used before and in use at
present are:
a. Disk Operating System (DOS) – the standard OS for older personal

computers made by IBM and other manufacturers that used the IBM
standard (IBM-compatibles). The most widely used is MS-DOS by
Microsoft Corporation. Nowadays, this is not the preferred operating
system among computers but is always a part of the booting process of
any Windows OS.
b. Windows OS – the earlier versions (Windows 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1) was
not a true operating system, as they required DOS to run. But they
were able to extend the capabilities of DOS with its graphical user’s
interface (GUI). Windows 95 is the true operating system developed by
Microsoft Corporation for the standalone computer, while Windows NT
4.0 is for networks. Different windows versions later developed
(Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, 2003, Vista, Windows Server 2008,
Windows 7, Windows 8, and more to come)
c. OS/2 – OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by

Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name
stands for “Operating System/2” because it was introduced as part of
the same generation change release as IBM’s “Personal System/2
(PS/2)” line of second-generation Personal Computers. OS/2 is no
longer marketed by IBM and IBM's standard support for OS/2 was
discontinued on December 31, 2006. Currently, Serenity Systems sells
OS/2 under the brand name eComStation.
d. Macintosh OS – Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based

operating systems developed by Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer,
Inc.) for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user
experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface.
The original form of what Apple would later name the "Mac OS" was
the integral and unnamed system software first introduced in 1984 with
the original Macintosh, usually referred to simply as the System
software.
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Early versions of the Mac OS were compatible only with Motorola

68000-based Macintoshes. As Apple introduced computers with
PowerPC hardware, the OS was ported to support this architecture as
well. Mac OS 8.1 was the last version that could run on a 68000-class
processor (the 68040). Mac OS X, which has superseded the "Classic"
Mac OS, is compatible with both PowerPC and Intel processors
through to version 10.5 ("Leopard"). Version 10.6 ("Snow Leopard")
supports only Intel processors.
e. UNIX – Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system

originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell
Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan,
Douglas Mcllroy, and Joe Ossanna. The Unix operating system was
first developed in assembly language, but by 1973 had been almost
entirely recoded in C, greatly facilitating its further development and
porting to other hardware. Today's Unix systems are split into various
branches, developed over time by AT&T as well as various commercial
vendors and non-profit organizations.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the influence of Unix in
academic circles led to large-scale adoption of Unix (particularly of the
BSD variant, originating from the University of California, Berkeley) by
commercial startups, the most notable of which are Solaris, HP-UX and
AIX. Today, in addition to certified Unix systems such as those already
mentioned, Unix-like operating systems such as MINIX, Linux, and
BSD descendants (FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and DragonFly
BSD) are commonly encountered. The term "traditional Unix" may be
used to describe a Unix or an operating system that has the
characteristics of either Version 7 Unix or UNIX System V.
f. LINUX – is a free Unix-type operating system created by Linus

Torvalds. Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free software
and open source development: typically all underlying source code can
be freely modified, used, and redistributed by anyone. Linux is
supported by corporations such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Novell,
23
Oracle Corporation, Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems. It is used as an

operating for a wide variety of computer hardware, including desktop
computers, supercomputers, E-book readers, video game systems
such as the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, several arcade games,
and embedded devices such as mobile phones and routers.
• Application software – used to perform a general or specific task, such as

word processing.
a. Packaged software – are programs developed for general users.
Examples are word processors, spreadsheets, database managers,
graphics packages, and communication software as well as different
programming languages.
b. Customized software – the kind of software that performs a task that

could not be done with standard, off-the-shelf packaged software. It can
provide all the requirements of an organization as it is designed from
scratch, but it will also be more expensive as far as acquisition and
maintenance are concerned. Examples are payroll system, inventory
system, real property tax system, and others.
• Procedures – which are operating instructions for the people who will use an
information system. Examples are instructions on using a software package or
user’s manual.
c. DATA
Data is more than the raw material of information systems. The concept of
data resources has been broadened by managers and information systems
professionals. They realized that data constitute a valuable organizational resource.
Thus, you should view data as data resources, which must be managed effectively
to benefit all end-users in an organization.
Data can take many forms, including traditional alphanumeric data, composed
of numbers and alphabetical and other characters that describe business
transactions and other events and entities. Text Data, consisting of sentences and
paragraphs used in written communications, image data, such as graphic shapes
24
and figures, and audio data, the human voice and other sounds, are also important
forms of data.
d. PEOPLEWARE
People are required for the operation of all information systems. These people
resources include end-users and Information system specialists.
• End users – also called users or clients are people who use an information
system or the information it produces. They can be accountants,
salespersons, engineers, clerks, customers, or managers. Most of us are
computer system end-users.
• Information system specialists – are people who develop and operate
information systems. They include systems analysts, programmers, web-page
developers, computer operators, and other managerial, technical, and clerical
IS personnel. System analysts design information systems based on the
information requirements of end-users, programmers prepare computer
programs based on the specifications of system analysts, and computer
operators operate computer systems.
25
Application
Let us now apply your understanding of our topic. Given the crossword puzzle
below, look for the following:
a) 3 example of Hardware c) 2 example of Data

b) 3 example of Software d) 2 example of Peopleware
D P R I N T E R D K H U F R A K A G M
E M P L O Y E E I D M A A G E R A M M
O A I M A G E S Q M W R U G P R O M L
T D V A L I R S U P P O D R R T P E E
E N D N A K A P R I C E I D O M R W S
A N E C L E R K S G K O O H G E I T L
C F C V N M M O U S E P T O R M N A E
H A Z O F R A N C O Y O M L A O T N Y
E E P L D K T E X T B L P G M R E K V
R N Q D F E N M F H O G A U M Y R K S
S I c P U Y R C I V A L I I E W T A G
Y A T O U C H P A D R O N N R P O N R
S C K A J A C P E N D S T G E L A A A
S O U N D M O N I T O R W E C O S T N
H F S T U D E N T N A M E S M E R R G
L R U B Y A K O C C O M P Y U T E O E
S I L V A N N A H P H O T O S H O P R
Hardware Software Data Peopleware
____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________
1. Before taking up this lesson, are you aware of the different elements of a
computer? What learnings have you acquired after this lesson?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
26
2. What do you think is the importance of understanding the elements of

computers?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. Before taking up this lesson, are aware that there are two types of
software? In your own words, describe the difference between system and
application software.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
27
LESSON 4: DATA PROCESSING
INTRODUCTION
The complex information and the demand for rapid processing of data have
contributed to the prominence of computer technology throughout the country. We
must understand the process of culminating the data and how it is converted into
information.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

✓ Understand the concept of data processing
PRE-TEST

Questions 1 2 3 4
1. How familiar are you with data processing?
2. How familiar are you with the term data?

3. How familiar are you with the term information?
Activity 1.4.1
Let’s start the lesson with a quick exercise. Write your name, section, and
complete address on the space provided below.
I am __________________________ and I am currently residing in

___________________________________________________________________.
28
This will give you a hint regarding the topic we’ll discuss later on. Your name
and your address here are examples of data. On the other hand, the entire sentence
we produced is an example of information.
Analysis
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Abstraction
DATA PROCESSING
Data processing is a process of transforming data into the desired output. It is

a system wherein facts, data, and figures are manipulated to create information and
to give results in a more usable form. Data is a raw material or a collection of
unorganized facts while information is processed and organized data produced as
the output of data processing operations.
Input Process Output Storage
29
• Input – data must be captured and prepared for processing by data entry
activities such as recording and editing. End users typically record data about
transactions on some type of physical medium, such as a paper form, or enter
it directly into a computer system using a keyboard or direct input devices.
Once entered, data may be transferred onto a machine-readable medium,
such as magnetic disk or tape, until needed for processing.
• Process – data is typically manipulated by such activities as calculating,

comparing, sorting, classifying, and summarizing. These activities organize,
analyze, and manipulate data, thus converting it into information for end-
users. The quality of any data stored in an information system must also be
maintained by a continual process of correcting and updating activities.
• Output – Information in various forms is transmitted to end-users and made
available to them in the output activity. The goal of information systems is the
production of appropriate information products for end-users. Common
information products are video displays, paper documents produced by the
printers, and audio responses that provide us with messages, forms, reports,
listings, graphics displays, and others.
• Storage – The data, information, and programs are stored in computer –
processable forms such as hard disks, CD-ROMs, flash drives, memory stick,
magnetic tapes, and others for later use.
Application
Activity 1.3
This section is created to show what you’ve learned.
Goal: To master the steps involved in data processing.
Role: You are an engineering student.
Audience: Teacher and classmates
Situation: You will identify the Input, process, and one possible output
whenever a user does the following transaction with Automated Teller
Machine (ATM):
a. Cash withdrawal
b. Balance inquiry
Product/Performance and Purpose: You will compare your answers to your

classmates’ answers. This activity will help you grasps the concept of data
processing in a real-life situation.
30
Standard: Your output/discussion must have the following:
a. Cash withdrawal
Input: ________________________________________________
Process: ______________________________________________
Output: _______________________________________________
b. Balance inquiry
Input: ________________________________________________
Process: ______________________________________________
Output: _______________________________________________
1. Before taking up this lesson, are you aware that there’s a considerable
difference between data and information? What learnings you acquired
after this lesson?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. What do you think is the importance of understanding data processing?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
31
POST-TEST
Well done, future engineer! Before moving on to the next unit of the subject,
you have to answer the following sets of questions.
Part 1: Computer: Definition and History
True or False: Write true if the statement is correct; write false if otherwise.
__________ 1. Computers can be defined as an electronic device that accept and

store input data, process data, and produce appropriate information.
__________ 2. In 1907, the floppy disk was introduced.
__________ 3. ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer.
__________ 4. BINAC stands for Binary Automated Computer.
__________ 5. In 1990, intel introduces the i486 microprocessor chip
Part 2: Computer: Classifications, Capabilities, and Limitations.
Identification: Write your answer on the space provided before each number.
__________ 1. This type of computer is designed to perform a specific task.
__________ 2. This generation of computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and
magnetic drums for memory.
__________ 3. This type of computer is used for different purposes like playing
games, watch videos, research using web-browsers, etc.
__________ 4. This generation of computers introduced integrated circuits as the

main components of computers.
__________ 5. According to memory size, laptop is an example of _________.
Part 3: Elements of Computer
Multiple choice: For each question, encircle the letter that corresponds to your
answer.
1. Find the odd one out.
a) Hardware c) Information
b) Software d) Data
32
2. Windows media player is an example of _____.

a) Software c) Hardware
b) Operating System d) System software
3. Printer, monitor, mouse, and keyboard are examples of ___________ (element of

computer).
a) Software c) Data
b) Hardware d) Peopleware
4. This enables the applications to interact with the computer and manage their
internal resources.
a) System software c) Procedures

b) Application software d) None of the above
5. This consists of central processing units (CPUs) and a variety of interconnected

peripheral devices. Examples are large mainframe computer systems,
minicomputers, and microcomputer systems.
a) Computer peripherals c) Telecommunications Networks

b) Computer systems d) None of the above
Part 1: Data Processing
Identification: Write your answer on the space provided before each number.
__________ 1. All data, information, and programs are saved here.
__________ 2. This is a process of transforming data into the desired output. It is a

system wherein facts, data, and figures are manipulated to create information and to
give results in a more usable form.
__________3.This involves activities such as calculating, comparing, sorting,

classifying, and summarizing data to produce the desired output.
__________ 4. This is raw material or a collection of unorganized facts.
__________ 5. This is processed and organized data produced as the output of data
processing operations.
33
OTHER PARTS
✓ ANSWER KEY
Post-test
Part 1: Computer: Definition and History
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
Post-test
Part 2: Computer: Classification, Capabilities, and Limitations
1. Special purpose computer
2. First Generation
3. General-purpose computer
4. Third Generation
5. Microcomputer
Post-test
Part 3: Elements of Computer
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. B
Post-test
Part 4: Data processing
1. Storage
2. Data Processing
3. Process
4. Data
5. Information
34

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Learning Module in Computer Fundamentals and Programming

Unit 1: Computer: Evolution and Development

LESSON 1: COMPUTER: DEFINITION AND HISTORY

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1 - I have never heard of it.

2. How familiar are you with the computer’s

3. How familiar are you with ENIAC?

4. How familiar are you with BINAC?

5. How familiar are you with UNIVAC?

LESSON PROPER/COURSE METHODOLOGY

TWO TRUTHS & A LIE

1. Blaise Pascal design is the third functioning mechanical calculator in 1942.

2. Calculators are considered computer.

3. ENIAC is the first general-purpose computer.

Some examples of where computer technology is used are:

• Research organizations, military organizations, and space agencies

Computers are very efficient and cost-effective machines. They require

COMPUTER: The Technological Systems and Their Developments

To be able to understand further the different characteristics and features of

of the electric calculator.

Automatic Computer) and UNIVAC I(UNIVersal Automatic

introduces the Zip drive and disks. Marc Andreessen helped

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2

You just learned the history and technological developments of a computer.

LESSON 2: COMPUTER: CLASSIFICATIONS, CAPABILITIES, AND LIMITATIONS

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1 - I have never heard of it.

LESSON PROPER/COURSE METHODOLOGY

TWO TRUTHS & A LIE

1. Computers can do anything as they have no limitations.

2. Laptop is an example of general purpose computer.

3. Laptop is an example of microcomputer.

CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF COMPUTER

Some of the computer’s capabilities

1. It is self-directing - The user merely feeds all the instructions to the

2. Ability to store and retrieve information - The computer can remember or

3. Ability to perform mathematical operations and solve complex formula

4. Ability to perform a logic operation - The computer is capable of comparing

5. Ability to communicate with the user or with other machines - The

Some of the computer’s limitations

1. It can only do what is designed or programmed to do - If you ask the

4. It can only process jobs expressed in a finite number of steps leading to

5. It cannot completely avoid making errors due to power fluctuations,

a. First Generation (1940-1946)

and greater capacity than the 2nd

Robotics, Game Playing, Language and

According to Storage Capacity or Memory Size

A. MAINFRAMES AND SUPERCOMPUTERS

Mainframes and Supercomputers are generally designed to perform huge

Mainframes have several advantages in these applications:

An IBM 704 mainframe

Minicomputers are machines used either as single workstations or as a

• Because each computer is stand-alone, the failure of one computer system

The major disadvantages of PCs are that they:

• Generally lack some forms of security

Figure 1.8 Figure 1.9 Figure1.10

A. GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS

__ 5. According to memory size, laptop is an example of _.