Introduction to Computer

Computers are machines that perform

tasks or calculations according to a set
of instructions, or programs.
Computers work through an interaction
of hardware and software
 What is Computer
A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its own memory unit,
that can accept data (input), manipulate
data (process), and produce information
(output) from the processing. Generally,
the term is used to describe a collection of
devices that function together as a system.
 What Does A Computer Do?
Computers can perform four general operations, which
comprise the information processing cycle.

Input
Process
Output
Storage
 Why Is A Computer So Powerful?

The ability to perform the information

processing cycle with amazing speed.
Reliability (low failure rate).
Accuracy.
Ability to store huge amounts of data and
information.
Ability to communicate with other computers.
 How Does a Computer Know what to do?

It must be given a detailed list of instructions,

called a compute program or software, that
tells it exactly what to do.
Before processing a specific job, the computer
program corresponding to that job must be
stored in memory.
Once the program is stored in memory the
compute can start the operation by executing
the program instructions one after the other.
The First Generation: 1946-1958
(The Vacuum Tube Years)
ENIAC, short for Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer, it was the first large-scale, electronic, digital
computer capable of being reprogrammed to solve a full
range of computing problems
 Computer Generations Second Generation: 1959-1964
(The Era of the Transistor
 Computer Generations

Third Generation: 1965-1970 Integrated

Circuits - Miniaturizing the Computer
 Computer Generations
Fourth Generation: 1971-Today (The Microprocessor)
 Power Supply

The electricity available from a standard

wall outlet is alternating current ( AC)
but a microcomputer runs on direct
current (DC) the power supply is
A device that convert AC to DC to run
the computer
 Computer Hardware
CPU Performs the actual computation or
calculation,
Its called the brain of the computer.
Memory (Primary and secondary storage)
Input technologies
Output technologies
Communication technologies
Speed of CPU measured inn megahertz MHz
 The Binary System

Binary system has only two digits: 0 and 1. Thus

in the computer, the 0 can be represented by the
electrical current being off and the 1 by the
current being on,
All data and program instructions that go into
the computer are represented in terms of these
binary numbers.
 Representing Letters
and Symbols

American Standard Code for Information

Interchange (ASCII)
8 bits = 1 byte = alphanumeric character or symbol
256 different combinations

Unicode
16 bits equal 1 byte

96,000 different combinations; used for all languages

 Memory Capacity

Bit: In binary system, each 0 or 1 is called

a bit, which Is short for binary digit
Byte: A group of 8 bits is called byte
 Memory (Primary Storage)

There are four main types of primary storage

1, register, 2 RAM, 3 cash memory, 4 ROM
Memory Capacity
Kilobyet :(1024) KB , One thousand
Megabyte: (1024 x 1024) MB, One Million
Gigabyte. ( 1024 x 1024 x 1024) GB, One
trillion
 Primary memory
Registers: are the part of the CPU They have least
storage capacity.
RAM: is temporary and volatile, lose data if the current
is lost due to electoral failure , power surge or electrical
noise.
Cash memory: is a high speed memory that a
processor can access more rapidly then main memory
(RAM). There are two type cash memory L1, and L2,
L1 Located in the processors, L2 located on the mother
board L1 cash is smaller and faster then L2
 Memory (Primary Storage)

ROM: is a chip where certain critical

instructions are stored. It is nonvolatile
ROM means instruction stored in it can be read
only by the computer and cannot be change by
user ROM data starts or boot the computer one
it has been shut off
 Secondary Storage.
Magnetic tape
Magnetic Disc/Hard Disc
Floppy: Portable 1.44MG
Optical Storage devices: CD Use laser beam
CD-ROM
DVD
Memory Cards
Enterprise Storage System
Types of enterprise storage systems

RAID: Redundant arrays of independent

disks are reliable
SAN: Storage area network
NAS: Network attached storage
.
Hierarchy of computers according to power
and their respective roles

Super computer
The Champion: ASCI White
Mainframe
Minicomputer/Server
Workstations
Desktop Personal computer
Network computer
Laptop computer
Palmtop computer
 Supercomputers
Unique in that unlike mainframes & personal
computers, designed to focus all their resources and
capabilities on a single task at a time
Early supercomputers used a single or a few processors
working in parallel

Those processors were custom-built for the

supercomputers, and were, therefore, very expensive

Modern supercomputers use the same processors that

are used in desktop PCs. They, however, are designed
to use 1000s of them working together in parallel
 The Champion: ASCI White
Capable of 12.3 trillion calculations/sec
1,000 times faster than Deep Blue (1997)
Designed for complex 3-D simulations required
for testing nuclear weapons
Powered by 8192 microprocessors
6 TB of memory; 160 TB of storage capacity
74,000 times faster than Cray 1 (1976)
Most powerful computer as of February 2002
 Mainframe Computers

Also called Enterprise Servers

Designed for performing multiple, intensive
tasks for multiple users simultaneously
Used by large businesses (e.g. banks, e-
commerce sites), military, and industrial
organizations
 Mainframe Computers

Designed for very-high reliability

Generally consist of multiple processors, GBs
of memory, and TBs of storage
Cost in millions of dollars
 Servers/Minicomputers

The name minicomputers used to define the

class of computers that lies between personal
computers and mainframes

Then very high-end desktop computers called

low-end or mid-range servers took over the
role that was previously played by
minicomputers
 Servers/Minicomputers

Low-end and mid-range servers are used by

small businesses and organizations as file-stores,
to run e-mail systems and Web sites
Generally are more reliable than desktops, but
not as solid as the mainframes
Generally consist of 2 or more processors, GBs
of memory, and TBs of storage
Costs in hundreds of thousands of dollars
 Desktop Computers

Also called microcomputers

Low-end desktops are called PCs and high-end
ones Workstations

Generally consist of a single processor only,

some times 2, along with MBs of memory, and
GBs of storage
 Laptops and palmtops
Laptops and palmtops computers are very capable computers
but are light-weight and consume very little power

Laptops (also called notebook computers) generally weigh

around 2kg, use special low-power processors, typically have
MBs and GBs memory, GBs of storage, can work for more
than 2 hours on battery

Their usage is similar to that of PCs

They cost in the range of $1500-2500

 Desktop Computers

PCs are used for running productivity applications,

Web surfing, messaging

Workstations for more demanding tasks like low-end 3-

D simulations and other engineering & scientific apps

Are not as reliable and fault-tolerant as servers

Workstations cost a few thousand dollars; PC around a

$1000
 Palmtop or mobile
Wearable are small in size, carried in a pocket, worn on
the arm, waist, or head or elsewhere on the body

Capability similar to PDAs, but more expensive

They are always ON, and always accessible. That is, the
user can always enter and execute commands, even
while walking around or doing other activities

Each soldier of the future will be fitted with one

 Human Data-Entry Devices
INPUT TCCHNOLOGIES

Key board, (carpal tunnel syndrome)

Mouse, ( track ball, optical)
Touch screens (stylus) Joy stick, Micro
phone
 Source Data Automation

Automated teller machines (ATMs)

Point -of- sale (POS) terminal are
computerized cash registers.
Optical mark reader, magnetic ink character
readers (MICRs)
 Optical character recognition (OCR) software is use in
conjunction with a scanner to convert text into digital
form for input in to computer. As a practical example, the
scanner by itself could take a picture of this page of text
and convert it into digital information that the computer
could store as a picture of text. But you would not be able
to decompose the picture file into individual words that
could be further modified by word processing program
OCR technologies would enable you to scan data process
them with the OCR software, and then put them in to
database, spreadsheets, or word processing format.
 Text Books:
Potter, Turban Rainer, (2003)

Introducton to Information
Technology, 9th edition, TURBAN
RAINER POTTER
Williams Sawyer

Using Information Technology: A

practical introduction to computers &
communications, 5th edition
Muhammad F. Rahim
(Faiz)
faizurrahim1@gmail.com

Ph: 0322 812 1234

 Reference books:

Parsons, J.J. & Oja, D. (2006) Computer Concepts:

Complete Illustrated, 6thEd., Thomson Course
Technology
Edited by Sinkin, Mark G. (2009), Introduction to
Computer Information System for Business, 5th
edition
Norton, P., (2004), Introduction to Computers, 6th
Ed., Career Education
Long, L., (2004), Computers, 12th Ed., Prentice Hall