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Evolution of Computer
Year Development
- Computations are done by sliding
2000 B.C beads on a wire arranged on a
ABACUS tray. The term abacus came from
the Greek word abax, meaning flat
surface.
1967- First Floppy Disk - The first floppy disk was built by
Allan Shugart of IBM.
- Developed by Dennis Ritchie and
1972- C Brian Kernighan a C programming
language.
Mini Computers
First released in the 1960s, minicomputers got their name because of their
small size compared to other computers of the day. The capabilities of a
minicomputer are somewhere between those of mainframes and personal
computers. Like mainframes, minicomputers can handle much more input and
output than personal computers can, although some minis are designed for a
single user, the most powerful minicomputers can serve the input and output
needs of hundreds of users at time. Users can access a central minicomputer
through a terminal or standard PC.
Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computers are
used in a large
organization such as
insurance companies and
banks, where many people
frequently need to use the
same data. Mainframes
are large, powerful
systems. The larges
mainframe can handle the
processing needs of
indiatimes.com thousands of users at any
given moment. But what
these systems offer in power, they lock in flexibility. Most mainframe systems are
designed to handle only a specific set of tasks. You may have interacted with a
mainframe system without even knowing it. For example, if you have ever visited
and airlines website to reserve a flight, you probably conducted a transaction
with a mainframe computer.
Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the most
powerful computers made, and
physically they are some of the
largest. These systems can
process huge amounts of data,
and the fastest supercomputers
can perform more than one
nbcnews.com trillion calculations per second.
Some supercomputers can house thousands’ of processors. This kind of
computers is ideal for handling large and highly complex problems that require
extreme calculation power. For example, supercomputers have long been used in
mapping of the human genome, forecasting weather, and modeling complex
processes like nuclear fission.
Computers in Education
Today’s youths could definitely
be called the computing
generation. Baby boomers
may have been introduced to
computers at college or on the
job. From video games to
computers at school and
home, and most children and
teens today have been
exposed to computers and
related technology all their
lives. Although the amount of
computer use varies from
school to school, students in
elementary and secondary
schools typically have access
to computers either in the
classroom or in a computer
lab, and virtually all colleges
have some sort of computing
facility available for student
use. Colleges and universities
computer use is typically much
more integrated into daily classroom activities. A growing number of college
campuses have wireless hotspots on campus that allow students to use their PCs
to connect wirelessly to the college network and the Internet from anywhere in
the campus. College students today are typically expected to use the Internet for
research, as well as to use computers to prepare papers and classroom
presentation and to access online course materials. In fact, some institutions
require a computer for enrollment. Most college instructors use computers to
prepare handouts and exams, to prepare and deliver classroom presentation and
lectures, and to create and maintain course Web pages, room learning that
allows students to participate their current location via Internet connection,
instead of physically going to the educational institution. Distance learning
students can do coursework and participate in class discussions from home,
work, or wherever they happen to be at the moment. Consequently, distance
learning gives students grate flexibility to schedule class time around their
personal, family, and work commitments. Distance learning also allows students,
such as individual located in very areas or stationed at military posts overseas, to
take courses when they are not able to physically attend classes.
Computer in Government
Today, computers play a crucial part in nearly every government agency:
Population. The U.S Census Bureau was one of the first organizations to use
computer technology, recruiting mechanical computers known as “difference
engines” to assist in tallying the American population in the early 20 th century
Taxes: Can you imagine trying to calculate tax bill without the help of
computers? Neither could the Internal Revenue Service. In fact, IRS new
encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns online, via the Internet.
Health Care: Pay a visit to your family doctor or the local hospitals, and you’ll
find yourself surrounded by computerized equipment of all kinds. Computers,
in facts are making health care more efficient and accurate while helping
providers bring down costs. Many different health care procedures now
involve computers, from ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, to laser
eye surgery and fetal monitoring. Surgeons now can use robotic surgical
devices to perform delicate operations and even to conduct surgeries
remotely. New virtual-reality technologies are being used to train new
surgeons in cutting-edge techniques, without cutting an actual patient.
UNIT 2
Computer System Elements
Learning Outcomes
1. Acquaint to the components of the system unit
2. Demonstrate how memory stores data, instructions, and information; and
how the system unit executes an instruction.
3. Apply and demonstrate the roles user when working with a computer
STORAGE
A. Hardware
B. Software
C. Peopleware
A. THE HARDWARE
- Refers to the physical components of a computer that you can actually
touch, such as the keyboard, monitor, and central processing unit.
1. INPUT DEVICES
- Captures information and translates it into a form that can be processed
and used by other parts of the computer.
Examples
Sensor, Mouse, Scanner, etc.…
2. Output devices
- Consists of devices which communicate the result of processing back to
the user into a form recognizable by a human operator
Examples
Monitor, Speaker, Printer, projector, etc.…
4. Storage Devices
- Stores information so you can recall and use that information at a later
time.
Hard Disk Drive - which is a magnetic storage device with one or more
thin metal platters (or disk) that store information sealed inside the disk drive
External Magnetic Hard Disk- drives are portable storage units that you
can connect to your computer as necessary.
Floppy Disks and Zip Disks - these media are useful for storing files of
information for backup or security purposes, or for transferring files from
one computer to another. A memorable magnetic storage medium that
holds about 1.44 megabytes of information. Zip disk- is a high capacity
removable magnetic storage medium.
Examples
6. Connecting Devices
- Connecting devices include a port (located on the back of your computer)
and a connector (located on the end of the cable or wire
B. SOFTWARE
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
EXAMPLE
• UNIX
• LINUX
• WINDOWS 2000
• WINDOWS XP
• WINDOWS VISTA
Utility programs - are systems software service programs that help the
operating system efficiently manage files and do housekeeping
functions.
EXAMPLE
ANTI VIRUS
DRIVERS
INSTALLERS
EXAMPLE
• COBOL COMPILER
• FORTRAN COMPILER
• JAVA INTERPRETER
o Spreadsheet
o Presentation Graphics
EXAMPLE: Power Point, Adobe Illustrator Free Hand, Corel Draw
• The people who use the computer system. They are the most important
factor in a computer system because they manipulate and program the
computer system to make it useful
• The skilled workers in the Information Technology field are considered as
the peopleware.
4. Managing Files. As you have learned computers saves data. It is the user’s
job to manage files in a computer, setting up a logical system for storing,
accessing and deleting it