LESSON 1 (STUDY)

Abacus

It is considered as the ultimate ancestor of today’s computers.

• It was an arithmetic tool used by early merchants.

• It helped with numerical and logical computations.

Charles Babbage

he is know for “the father of computing”

difference engine and analytical engine

inventions of Charles babbage

December 26, 1791, Teignmouth, Devonshire in the UK, lived from 1791-1871

birthday, place and lifespan of Charles Babbage

Difference Engine

it was based on the Method of Differences and as powered by steam. It contained basic concepts and elements of a modern general-purpose computer

Analytical Engine

was a proposed mechanical general-purpose computer designed by Charles Babbage, with the assistance of Ada Lovelace.

Jacquard’s punched cards

What does analytical engine use?

punched cards

Used for storing operating instructions/programsand could store around 1,000 numbers of up to 50 decimal places.

Analytical Engine

Allowed output devices for displaying results

First Generation 1946–1959

• Used vacuum tubes

• Used punch cards as the main storage medium

• Designed for a specific task

• Used machine language

Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)

It is a machine language used in first generation and it had:

• 18,000 vacuum tubes

• 70,000 resistors

• 5 million soldered joints

Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC)

It was a pioneer in implementing von Neumann’s architecture.

A key part was the:

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU allowed computer functions to be coordinated through a single source.

Second Generation 1959–1965

The major development was the: Transistor

Compared with the previous generation, computers became:

• Smaller

• More reliable

• Faster

• More energy-efficient

•They used assembly language.

Third Generation 1965–1971

Main development: Integration

An IC (Intergrated Circuit) is a small chip that can function as:

• Amplifier

• Oscillator

• Timer

• Microprocessor

• Computer memory

Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce

The first Integrated Circuit (IC) was invented independently by:

Fourth Generation 1971–1980

Developments included:

• User-friendly software packages

• VLSI

• ULSI

Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI)

It is the process of creating an IC by combining millions of MOS transistors onto a single chip.

Ultra-Large-Scale Integration (ULSI)

It is the process of integrating or embedding millions of transistors onto a single silicon semiconductor microchip

Fifth Generation 1980–onwards

The use of Artificial Intelligence, Expert Systems, Natural Language Processing

Computer

A device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output according to a series of stored instructions.

Hardware

The physical parts of a computer.

Software

The programs used by a computer.

Data

Raw facts or information that can be processed.

Information

The result after data has been processed.

Default

The preset or automatic setting.

Workstations

A type of Computers designed for specialized or demanding work.

Palmtop / Handheld

Small computers that can be held in the hand.

Tablet Pc

Portable computer with a touchscreen.

Hardware

refers to the physical parts of a computer.

Data processing

is the process of collecting, changing, and distributing data to accomplish a certain task.

Computer System

is a collection of different parts, procedures, or techniques that work together as one organized system.

Input Devices

are devices used to enter data or commands into the computer.

Output Devices

communicate the processed information to the user.

the main processor of the computer.

• Executes program instructions

• Performs calculations

• Makes comparisons

• Controls operations

control unit, arithmetic logic unit, Registers, Cache

parts of CPU

Control unit (CU)

Its job is to direct and coordinate operations.

Registers

Very small and very fast storage locations used during processing.

Cache

Fast memory that helps the CPU access frequently needed data quickly.

RAM and ROM

What are the primary storage

Random Access Memory

It allows instructions and data to be stored, changed, and retrieved by the user.

Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

It performs:

Arithmetic operations

Logical operations

Read Only Memory

It allows readout capability.

Memory Subsystems

also called secondary storage, keeps data even when the computer is turned off.

• Provides additional storage

• Can store large amounts of data

• Allows data to be retrieved later

• Is slower than primary storage

Motherboard

is the main circuit board of the computer.

It connects important components such as:

CPU

RAM

Storage

Expansion devices

It also contains areas such as:

CPU socket

RAM slots

Expansion slots

Storage connectors

Power connectors

Power supply unit (PSU)

converts incoming electrical power into usable power for the computer.

It supplies power to:

Motherboard

Drives

Graphics cards

Other components

Graphics Card

Handles graphics processing and display workloads.

Network Adapter

Provides:

Wired network connection

Wireless network connection

Sound Card

Provides specialized audio input/output.

PCIe Slots

Allow compatible expansion cards to connect to the motherboard.

CPU cooler

Removes heat from the CPU

Case fans

Move air through the computer system.

Thermal Interface Material

Helps transfer heat from the CPU to the cooler.

Good Airflow

Helps maintain:

Performance

Component lifespan

Microcomputers

Small desktop systems with limited I/O devices.

Minicomputer

A general-purpose computing device.

Mainframe

A very large and expensive computer that can support thousands of users at the same time.

Supercomputers

Fastest type of computers

–Employed for specialized applications

•Weather forecasting

•Animated graphics

•Fluid dynamic calculations

•Nuclear energy research

Desktop PC’s

Medium sized computers

–Relatively inexpensive and designed for individual users