Chapter 1

Introduction to Computer

What is computer?
 Definition of computer

Computer is an electronic device which is used to store the data, as per given
instructions it gives results quickly and accurately.

A computer is a programmable machine. It allows the user to store all

sorts of information and then process that information, or data, or
carry out actions with the information, such as calculating numbers or
organizing words.
Information: - It is the data that is processed & presented in an organized manner.

• Is a processed form of data so that it is meaning full to the person receiving it.

Example When the names of students are arranged in alphabetical order, total and average marks
are calculated & presented in a tabular form, it is information.

Data: - It is the collection of raw facts, figures & symbols.

• Unprocessed message

• Unorganized message

Example: -Names of students and their marks in different subjects listed in random order.

Program: - Set of instructions that enable a computer to perform a given task.

• A set of coded instructions that a computer can understand to solve a problem or to produce the

desired result.
Cont…

A computer is a machine that can be programmed to manipulate symbols.

Its principal characteristics are:

 It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.

 It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).

 It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data.

Therefore computers can perform complex and repetitive procedures quickly, precisely
and reliably.
 How Does a Computer Work?

A computer functions performed in the following manner:

• The computer accepts input/ Instructions & data from the user.

• The computer performs useful operations,

• The computer produces output

• The computer stores data for later use

 Why we use Computers?

The following are some of the capability of Computers, which are reasons to use Computers.

• Store and process large amount of information with high speed and accuracy;

• Transmit information across continents via communication channels;

• Simulate events;

• Perform complex mathematical computations and make comparisons;

• Monitor ongoing industrial operations;

• Perform repetitive processes with great ease, speed, and reliability;

 Characteristics of Computer

 SPEED : In general, no human being can compete to solving the complex computation, faster
than computer.

 ACCURACY : Since Computer is programmed, so what ever input we give it gives result with
accurately.

RELIABLE: - The output generated by the computer is very reliable,

STORAGE : Computer can store mass storage of data with appropriate format.

DILIGENCE : Computer can work for hours without any break and creating error.

 AUTOMATIC : A Machine is Set to be automatic. If it Works by it Self without human

intervention.
Cont…

 COST EFFECTIVENESS: Computers reduce the amount of paper work and

human effort.

VERSATILITY : We can use computer to perform completely different type of

work at the same time.

 NO IQ(Intelligence quotient) : Computer does not work without instruction.

 NO FEELING : Computer does not have emotions, knowledge, experience, feeling.

 Limitation of Computer

Limitation of Computer:
• Computer does not work on itself, it requires set of instructions to be provided, and else
computer (Hardware) is waste.
• Computer are not intelligent, they have to be instructed about each and every step which
they have to perform
• Computers cannot take decisions on its own, one has to program the computer to take
an action if some conditional prevail.
• Computers, unlike humans cannot learn by experience.
 History of Computer

The invention of Computers is dated back to 3000 B.C. when the first computing device
Abacus was created.

The French mathematician, physicist and religious philosopher Blaise Pascal developed
the first mechanical adding machine in 1642 to help his father, a civil servant in tax
calculations. Blaise’s adding machine used gears with teeth to represent numbers.

In 1842 an English mathematician, Charles Babbage was attempting to develop an

automatic computing device for calculation called “Difference engine” but it was never
finished.
 Generations of Computers

Although computer professionals do not agree on exact dates or specifics, computer

developments are often categorized by generations. Actually, there are five generations.

Major characteristics that distinguish the generations of computer are: -

 Dominant type of electronic circuit elements used.

 Major secondary storage media used.

 Computer language used.

 Types or characteristic of operating system used.

 Memory access time (time to store or retrieve a word or data from memory).
 First Generation: Vacuum Tubes (1950s)

• The first computer systems used vacuum tubes for electronic circuit and magnetic drums
 for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. These computers were
very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, the first
computers generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.

• First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming

language understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one
problem at a time. It would take operators days or even weeks to set-up a new problem.
Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.

• The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices.

Generally:

• Used vacuum tubes as components for the electronic circuit.

• Punched cards were the main source of inputs, and magnetic grams were used for internal storage.

• Operate in a speed of milliseconds (thousands of a second) and could handle more than 10,000
additions each second.

• Most applications were scientific calculations.

• They had a memory size of 20 bytes and speed of 5 mbps.

• They produced a lot of heat.

• These computers were unreliable and could not work fast with a lot of data.

• The programmers were machine dependent.

• These computers consume a lot of power.

Cont…
 Second Generation: Transistors (early 1960s)

• The world would see transistors replace vacuum tubes in the second generation of

computers. The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947 but did not see widespread
use in computers until the late 1950s. 

• The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become
smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation
predecessors. Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the
computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation
computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output.
Generally:

• Used transistors

• Faster and more reliable than first generation systems

• Were slightly smaller, cheaper, faster

• Generated heat though a little less

• Still relied on punch cards and printouts for input/output

• Allowed assembly and high-level languages( Assembly language is a low-level language that

needs compiler and interpreter, which converts that language to machine language. And then it

could be understood by a computer.)

• Stored data in magnetic media

• Introduced assembly language and operating system software

Cont…
Third Generation: Integrated Circuits (late 1960s, early 1970s)

• The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.
Transistors were miniaturized(small) and placed on siliconchips, called semiconductors, which
drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.

• Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through 
keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run
many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.
Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and
cheaper than their predecessors.
Generally:

• Used IC(integrated circuit )

• Used parallel processing

• Were slightly smaller, cheaper, faster

• Used motherboards

• Data was input using keyboards

• Output was visualized on the monitors

• Used operating systems, thus permitting multitasking

• Simplified programming languages e.g  Fortran, COBOL, PASCAL and BASIC.

Cont…
 Fourth Generation:  Microprocessors (late 1970s, early 1989s)

• The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built

onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the

hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer from the 

central processing unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.

• In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh.

Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and

more everyday products began to use microprocessors.

• As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which

eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of 

GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

A microprocessor is a computer processor that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit on a single

integrated circuit (IC), or sometimes up to 8 integrated circuits.

Generally:

• Used CPUs which contained thousands of transistors

• Were much smaller and fitted on a desktops, laps and palms

• Used a mouse

• Were used in networks

• Were cheap

• Had GUI

• Were very fast

• Register over 19 billion transistors in high-end microprocessors

Cont…
Fifth Generation: Artificial Intelligence (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 reality.

• Fifth generation computing is built on technological advancement gained in the previous

computer generations. It is meant to headline the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

• The implementation is designed to improve human and machine interaction by harnessing

human intelligence and taking advantage of the large data that has accumulated since the
dawn(open) of the digital age.
Cont…
 Types of computer

Computers are generally classified on the basis of various factors:

I. On the basis of Data processing

II. According to purpose of application

III. According to the basis of Size and data processing capacity

 I) On the basis of Data processing
Classification by on the basis of Data processing computer classified into three:

1. Analog computer

2. Digital computer

3. Hybrid computers.

1. Analog computers

Analog computers operate by measuring. They deal with continues variables, they don’t compute directly with

numbers, rather, they operate by measuring physical magnitude such as pressure, temperature, voltage, current

etc.

Examples Thermometer, Voltmeter, Speedometer, Gasoline pomp – Contains an analog Computer that converts

the flow of pumped fuel into two measurements the price of the delivered gas and the quantity of pumped fuel.

They are special purpose computers. However, analog computers have limited accuracy
Cont…
2. Digital Computers:

• A computer that performs calculations and logical operations with quantities represented as digits,
usually in the binary number system. A digital computer is designed to process data in numerical
form; its circuits perform directly the mathematical operations of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division.

Examples:

• Abacus

• Desk & pocket computers

• The general-purpose computers

• Digital computers have very high accuracy and speed than the analog ones
Cont…

3. Hybrid Computer (Analog + Digital): A combination of computers

those are capable of inputting and outputting in both digital and analog
signals. A hybrid computer system setup offers a cost-effective method of
performing complex simulations. Hybrid computer is a digital computer that
accepts analog signals, converts them to digital and processes them in digital
form. This integration is obtained by digital to analog and analog to digital
converter. A hybrid computer may use or produce analog data or digital data.
Cont…

2. Depending on purpose of application computers are classified into

1) Special Purpose Computers and

2) General Purpose Computers

1. Special Purpose Computers: These are developed with a specific purpose. Some of the areas where

these computers are being used are – soil testing, drip irrigation, medical scanning, traffic signals,

spacecraft, rocket technology etc.,

• Example

- The public telephone box - TiTraffic control system - Ticket machines (used in grocery, super

market etc.) - Pocket-calculators etc.

Cont…

2. General Purpose Computers: These are developed to meet the requirements of

several areas such as simulation, solving mathematical equations, payroll and
personnel database. These computers are available in different sizes and capabilities
and are further classified (based on memory, speed, and storage) as follows. Example: -

• Micro computers

• Mini computers

• Super computers etc.

Cont…

3. According to the basis of Size and data processing capacity

Computers can be classified in various ways depending upon its size, memory capacity,
processing speed.

 Personal / Microcomputer

 Minicomputer

 Mainframe computer

 Super computer
Cont…

Supercomputers

• A supercomputer is a term used to describe computers that have the

most capable processing power of its time. Early supercomputers in
the 60s and 70s used just a couple processors, while the 90s saw
supercomputers with thousands of processors at a time. Today, modern
supercomputers run hundreds of thousands of processors, capable of
computing quadrillions of calculations in just a few nanoseconds.
Cont…

Characteristics of Super computer

They are used for performing complex mathematical calculations.

Only scientists and mathematicians can operate them.

They are having huge memories & tremendous processing speed.

They are used for weather forecasting, animation graphics etc.

 Mainframe Computers

• Like supercomputers, mainframe computers are huge, towering machines with

lots of processing power. Mainframe computers are mostly used by corporations,
government agencies, and banks – organizations that need a way to store large
quantities of information. They are not the same as supercomputers. The
processing capabilities of mainframe computers are measured in MIPS, or
millions of instructions per second. Supercomputers, on the other hand, are
measured in FLOPS, or floating point operations per seconds.
 Characteristics of main frame computer

They are big computer systems sensitive to temperature, humidity, dust etc.

They have wide range of peripherals attached.

They have large storage capacity.

They can use wide variety of software’s.

They are not user friendly.

They can be used for more mathematical calculations.

They are installed in large commercial places or government organizations

 Minicomputers
Minicomputers:- have relatively lower speed, can handle multi-users, are smaller in size than
the mainframe computers. They use terminals for inputs and output. Mini computers are used
in small organizations.

Characteristic of minicomputer

 They have less memory & storage capacity than mainframe computers.

 They offer limited range of peripherals.

 Limited range of software can be used by them.

 The end users can directly operate it.

 They are not very sensitive to the external environment and hence are more generalized.

 They are used for data processing.

 Microcomputers

Personal / Microcomputer: A microcomputer is the smallest general purpose

processing system. Micro computers are also referred as ―personal computer (PC).
These are self-contained units and usually developed for use by one person at a time but
can be linked to very large systems. They are cheap, easy to use even at homes and can
be read for variety of applications from small to medium range.

Micro computer

They brought revolution in the history of computers.

They are also known as Personal Computers.

They are cheap and user friendly.

Cont…

 The main components are Monitor, CPU, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Modem and
Printer.

 They are having limited peripherals attached to them.

 This type of computers can use wide range of software.

 They are used as desktops either in offices or even homes.

 Children enjoy playing games & watching movies in these computers.

 Most popular micro computer’s processing chip manufacturing company is Intel.

 Application of computer
For Business

• A computer has high speed of calculation, diligence, accuracy, reliability, or versatility which has
made it an integrated part in all business organizations.

• Computer is used in business organizations for −

- Payroll calculations

- Budgeting

- Sales analysis

- Financial forecasting

- Managing employee database

- Maintenance of stocks, etc.

Cont…

 For Banking

• Today, banking is almost totally dependent on computers.

• Banks provide the following facilities −

- Online accounting facility, which includes checking current balance, making

deposits and overdrafts, checking interest charges, shares, and trustee records.

- ATM machines which are completely automated are making it even easier for
customers to deal with banks.
Cont…

For Education

• The computer helps in providing a lot of facilities in the education system.

• The computer provides a tool in the education system known as CBE (Computer Based Education).

• CBE involves control, delivery, and evaluation of learning.

• Computer education is rapidly increasing the graph of number of computer students.

• There are a number of methods in which educational institutions can use a computer to educate the
students.

• It is used to prepare a database about performance of a student and analysis is carried out on this
basis.
Cont…

 For Marketing

• Advertising − With computers, advertising professionals create art and graphics, write
and revise copy, and print and disseminate ads with the goal of selling more products.

• Home Shopping − Home shopping has been made possible through the use of
computerized catalogues that provide access to product information and permit direct
entry of orders to be filled by the customers.
Cont…

For Healthcare

• Diagnostic System − Computers are used to collect data and identify the cause of illness.

• Lab-diagnostic System − All tests can be done and the reports are prepared by computer.

• Patient Monitoring System − These are used to check the patient's signs for abnormality such
as in Cardiac Arrest, ECG, etc.

• Pharma Information System − Computer is used to check drug labels, expiry dates, harmful
side effects, etc.

• Surgery − Nowadays, computers are also used in performing surgery.

Cont…

For Engineering Design

- Computers are widely used for Engineering purpose. One of the major areas is CAD (Computer

Aided Design) that provides creation and modification of images.

For Military

- Military also employs computerized control systems

For Communication

- Some main areas E-mail, Chatting, Video-conferencing etc…

For Government

- for Budgets, Sales tax department, Income tax department, Computation of male/female ratio etc…
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