CFAP- Essential Computer Concepts

computer

•Its an electronic Device that is used for information Processing

.•Computer.. Latin word.. compute

•Calculation Machine

computer system

a computer, peripheral devices, and software is called a

computer

Accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output

Input

refers to whatever is sent to a Computer system

output

refers to the symbols that represent facts, objects, and ideas

Processing

is the way that a computer manipulates data

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

A computer processes data in a device called the

memory

is an area of a computer that holds data that is waiting to be processed, stored, or output

storage

is the area where data can be left on a permanent basis

Computer Output

is the result produced by the computer

output device

An ___________ displays, prints or transmits the results of processing

computer

Performs computations and makes logical decisions Millions / billions times faster than human beings

computer program

Sets of instructions for which computer processes data

Hardware

Physical devices of computer system

software

Programs that run on computers

Huge Data Storage, Input and Output, Processing

Capabilities of Computers

High Processing Speed, Accuracy, Reliability, Versatility, Diligence

Characteristics of Computers

abacus

Before the 1500s, in Europe, calculations were made with an

abacus

Invented around 500BC, available in many cultures (China, Mesopotamia, Japan, Greece, Rome, etc.)

Pascaline

In 1642, Blaise Pascal(French mathematician, physicist, philosopher) invented a mechanical calculator called the

Stepped Reckoner

In 1671, Gottfried von Leibniz(German mathematician, philosopher) extended the Pascaline to do multiplications, divisions, square roots: the

Difference Engine

In 1822 Charles Babbage(English mathematician, philosopher), sometimes called the "father of computing" built the

Difference Engine

Machine designed to automate the computation (tabulation) of polynomial functions (which are known to be good approximations of many useful functions)

-Based on the "method of finite difference"

-Implements some storage

Analytical Engine

In 1833 Babbage designed the ______________ , but he died before he could build it-It was built after his death, powered by steam

1946-59

First Generation of Computer was year..

1957-64

Second Generation of Computer was year...

1965-70

Third Generation of Computer was year...

1970-90

Fourth Generation of Computer was year...

1990-till date

Fifth Generation of Computer was year...

Mechanical Calculators

Generation 0

Vacuum Tube Computers

Generation 1

Transistor Computer

Generation 2

integrated circuit

Generation 3

Microprocessor

Generation 4

vacuum tube

First Generation / filled whole buildings

Transistor

Second Generation / filled half a room

integrated circuit (multiple transistors)

Third Generation / smaller in size

Microchips (millions of transistors)

Fourth Generation / Tiny - Palm Pilot is as powerful as old building sized computer

The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)

Generation 1 / was unveiled in 1946: the first all-electronic, general-purpose digital computer

binary arithmetic and boolean logic

In the 30s Claude Shannon (the father of "information theory") had proposed that the use of _____________ and ___________ should be used with electronic circuits