Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K.

Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Fundamentals

Pradeep K. Sinha
Priti Sinha

Chapter 1

Introduction
Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 1/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Learning Objectives
In this chapter you will learn about:

Computer

Data processing

Characteristic features of computers

Computers evolution to their present form

Computer generations

Characteristic features of each computer generation

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 2/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer

The word computer comes from the word compute,
which means, to calculate

Thereby, a computer is an electronic device that can

perform arithmetic operations at high speed

A computer is also called a data processor because it can

store, process, and retrieve data whenever desired

Ref. Page 01 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 3/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Data Processing

The activity of processing data using a computer is called

data processing

Data Input Computer Output Information

(Raw material) (Data processor) (Finished product)

Data is raw material used as input to data processing and

information is processed data obtained as output

Ref. Page 01 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 4/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Characteristics of Computers
Sr.
Characteristics Description
No.

1 Automatic It carries out a job normally without any human intervention

It can perform several billion (109) simple arithmetic operations

2 Speed
per second

3 Accuracy It performs every calculation with the same accuracy

4 Diligence It is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration

5 Versatility It can perform a wide variety of tasks

It can store huge amount of information and can recall any piece
6 Memory
of this information whenever required

It cannot take its own decisions, and has to be instructed what

7 No I. Q.
to do and in what sequence

8 No Feelings It cannot make judgments based on feelings and instincts

Ref. Page 03 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 5/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Evolution of Computers

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 6/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Evolution of Computers

Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical adding
machine in 1642

Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented the first
calculator for multiplication in 1671

Keyboard machines originated in the United States
around 1880

Around 1880, Herman Hollerith came up with the concept
of punched cards that were extensively used as input
media until late 1970s

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 03 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 7/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Evolution of Computers

Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of

modern digital computers

He designed Difference Engine in 1822

He designed a fully automatic analytical engine in

1842 for performing basic arithmetic functions

His efforts established a number of principles that

are fundamental to the design of any digital
computer

Ref. Page 03 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 8/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Some Well Known Early Computers

The Mark I Computer (1937-44)

The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1939-42)

The Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator (ENIAC)
(1943-46)

The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
(EDVAC) (1946-52)

The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC)
(1947-49)

Manchester Mark I (1948)

The Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) I (1951)

IBM 701 (1952)

IBM 650 (1953)

Ref. Page 05 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 9/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Generations

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 10/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Generations

Generation in computer talk is a step in technology. It
provides a framework for the growth of computer industry

Originally it was used to distinguish between various

hardware technologies, but now it has been extended to
include both hardware and software

Till today, there are five computer generations

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 04 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 11/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Generations

Key hardware Key software Key Some

Generation
representative
(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems

First
Vacuum tubes
Machine and
Bulky in size
ENIAC

(1942-1955)
Electromagnetic assembly
Highly unreliable
EDVAC
relay memory languages
Limited commercial
EDSAC

Punched cards
Stored program use and costly
UNIVAC I
secondary concept
Difficult commercial
IBM 701
storage
Mostly scientific production
applications
Difficult to use
Second
Transistors
Batch operating
Faster, smaller, more
Honeywell 400
(1955-1964)
Magnetic cores system reliable and easier to
IBM 7030
memory
High-level program than
CDC 1604

Magnetic tapes programming previous generation
systems
UNIVAC LARC

Disks for languages
secondary
Scientific and
Commercial
storage commercial production was still
applications difficult and costly

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 12/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Generations

Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.

(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems

Third
ICs with SSI and
Timesharing
Faster, smaller, more
IBM
(1964-1975) MSI technologies operating reliable, easier and 360/370

Larger magnetic system cheaper to produce
PDP-8
cores memory
Standardization
Commercially, easier
PDP-11

Larger capacity of high-level to use, and easier to
CDC 6600
disks and programming upgrade than
magnetic tapes languages previous generation
secondary storage
Unbundling of systems

Minicomputers; software from
Scientific,
upward compatible hardware commercial and
family of interactive on-line
computers applications

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 13/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Generations
Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.
(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems
Fourth
ICs with VLSI
Operating systems
Small,
IBM PC
(1975-1989) technology for PCs with GUI and affordable, and its

Microprocessors; multiple windows on reliable, and clones
semiconductor a single terminal easy to use PCs
Apple II
memory screen
More powerful
TRS-80

Larger capacity hard
Multiprocessing OS and reliable
VAX 9000
disks as in-built with concurrent mainframe
programming systems and
CRAY-1
secondary storage
languages supercomputers
CRAY-2

Magnetic tapes and
floppy disks as
UNIX operating
Totally general
CRAY-
portable storage media system purpose X/MP

Personal computers
C and C++ machines

Supercomputers based programming
Easier to
on parallel vector language produce
processing and
PC, Network-based, commercially
symmetric and supercomputing
Easier to
multiprocessing applications upgrade
technologies
Object-oriented
Rapid software

Spread of high-speed design and development
computer networks programming possible

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 14/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Generations

Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.

(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems
Fifth
ICs with ULSI
World Wide Web
Portable
IBM notebooks
(1989- technology
Multimedia, computers
Pentium PCs
Present)
Larger capacity Internet
Powerful,
SUN
main memory, applications cheaper, reliable, Workstations
hard disks with
Micro-kernel, and easier to use
IBM SP/2
RAID support multithreading, desktop machines

SGI Origin 2000

Optical disks as multicore OS
Very powerful
portable read-only mainframes
PARAM

JAVA Supercomputers
storage media
MPI and PVM
High uptime due

Notebooks, libraries for to hot-pluggable
powerful desktop parallel components
PCs and programming
General purpose
workstations machines

Powerful servers,
Easier to produce
supercomputers commercially

Internet

Cluster computing

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 15/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Electronic Devices Used in Computers of Different
Generations

(a) A Vacuum tube (b) A Transistor (c) An IC chip

Ref. Page 07 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 16/17

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 Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Key Words/Phrases

Computer
Integrated Circuit (IC)

Computer generations
Large Scale Integration (VLSI)

Computer Supported Cooperative
Medium Scale Integration (MSI)
Working (CSCW)
Microprocessor

Data
Personal Computer (PC)

Data processing
Second-generation computers

Data processor
Small Scale Integration (SSI)

First-generation computers
Stored program concept

Fourth-generation computers
Third-generation computers

Garbage-in-garbage-out (GIGO)
Transistor

Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI)

Groupware
Vacuum tubes

Information

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 17/17