ITC: Lesson 1: Computing

Computing

¨ the process of utilizing computer technology to complete a given goal-oriented task.

¨ encompasses the design and development of hardware and software systems, the organization and processing of data, and the use of algorithms to solve problems.

¨ includes various activities such as programming, data processing, network management, and the development of software applications.

Key Components of Computing

¨ Hardware: Physical components of a computer system, such as the CPU, memory, storage devices, and peripherals.

¨ Software: Programs and applications that run on the hardware, including operating systems, productivity software, and specialized applications.

¨ Data: Information processed by computer systems, which can be stored, retrieved, and manipulated.

¨ Networks: Systems that enable computers to communicate and share resources, including local area networks (LANs) and the internet.

Brief History of Computing

Early Beginnings

¨ Abacus. One of the earliest known computing devices, used for arithmetic calculations.

¨ Antikythera Mechanism. An ancient Greek analog device, considered one of the earliest known mechanical computers, used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses.

¨ John Napier's Bones (1617). A manually-operated calculating device used to simplify multiplication and division.

¨ John Napier

Mechanical Era

¨ Pascaline (1642). A mechanical calculator capable of performing addition and subtraction.

¨ Blaise Pascal

¨ Leibniz’s Stepped Reckoner (1672). It could perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

¨ Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

¨ Jacquard Loom (1804). this loom used punched cards to control the pattern being woven, an early example of programmable machines.

¨ Joseph Marie Jacquard

Early 19th Century

¨ Difference Engine (1822). an automatic mechanical calculator meant to tabulate polynomial functions.

¨ Charles Babbage

¨ Analytical Engine (1837) considered the first concept of a general-purpose computer, with components such as an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control flow in the form of conditional branching and loops.

¨ Charles Babbage

¨ Ada Lovelace (1843) Known as the first computer programmer; she wrote an algorithm intended to be processed by the Analytical Engine.

Early 20th Century

¨ Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine (1890). a punch card system to assist in the 1890 U.S. Census, leading to the formation of IBM.

¨ Herman Hollerith

¨ Alan Turing (1936). Proposed the concept of a theoretical machine (the Turing Machine) that became the foundation of modern computer science.

Mid-20th Century - The Dawn of Digital Computers

¨ Zuse’s Z3 (1941) the first programmable digital computer.

¨ Konrad Zuse

¨ ENIAC (1945) The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was the first general-purpose digital computer.

¨ John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly

¨ Transistors (1947) revolutionized computing, leading to smaller, more reliable computers.

¨ John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley

Late 20th Century - The Rise of Modern Computing

¨ Integrated Circuits (1958). Integrated circuits (ICs) allowed for the creation of smaller, more powerful computers.

¨ Developed by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce

¨ Mainframe Computers (1960s) IBM and other companies produced large-scale computers used by businesses and governments for complex calculations and data processing.

¨ Microprocessors (1971) Intel released the 4004, the first microprocessor, leading to the development of personal computers.

¨ Personal Computers (1970s-1980s) The Apple II (1977), IBM PC (1981), and Macintosh (1984) popularized personal computing.

Late 20th Century to Present - The Digital Age

¨ Graphical User Interface (GUI) (1980s) The introduction of GUIs with systems like the Macintosh and Windows made computers more user-friendly.

¨ Internet and World Wide Web (1990s) The development of the internet and Tim Berners-Lee's World Wide Web transformed global communication, information sharing, and commerce.

¨ Mobile Computing (2000s) The rise of smartphones and tablets, exemplified by devices like the iPhone (2007), brought computing power to handheld devices.

¨ Cloud Computing (2010s) The emergence of cloud computing services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, enabled scalable, on-demand computing resources and storage.

¨ Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (2010s-present) Advances in AI and machine learning are driving innovations in numerous fields, from autonomous vehicles to personalized medicine.

Types of Computers

Supercomputers

¨ The most powerful and fastest type of computer, used for highly complex calculations and large-scale simulations.

¨ Weather forecasting, scientific research, cryptography, nuclear simulations, and complex data analysis.

Mainframe Computers

¨ Large, powerful computers used primarily by large organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing, and transaction processing.

¨ Banking, insurance, government, large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP), and transaction processing.

Minicomputers (Mid-Range Computers)

¨ Mid-sized computers that are more powerful than personal computers but less powerful than mainframes.

¨ Small to medium-sized businesses for tasks such as database management, enterprise resource planning, and scientific applications.

Personal Computers (PCs)

¨ General-purpose computers designed for individual use, capable of handling a wide range of tasks.

¨ Types:

¤ Desktop Computers: Stationary computers typically used at a single location, consisting of a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and CPU.

¤ Laptops: Portable computers that integrate the monitor, keyboard, and CPU into a single unit, with a built-in battery.

¤ Tablets: Mobile computers with a touchscreen interface, often used for casual browsing, media consumption, and light computing tasks.

¤ Smartphones: Handheld devices that combine mobile phone capabilities with computing functionalities.

Workstations

¨ High-performance personal computers designed for technical or scientific applications.

¨ Graphic design, 3D modelling, animation, video editing, and complex simulations.

Servers

¨ Computers that provide services, resources, or data to other computers (clients) over a network.

¨ Types:

¤ File Servers: Store and manage files for network users.

¤ Web Servers: Host websites and handle web traffic.

¤ Database Servers: Manage databases and handle database queries.

¤ Application Servers: Host and run specific applications for network users.

Embedded Systems

¨ Specialized computing systems that are part of larger devices and perform dedicated functions.

¨ Consumer electronics (TVs, microwaves), automotive systems (engine control units, infotainment systems), industrial machines, and medical devices.

Hybrid Computers

¨ Computers that combine features of both analog and digital computers, capable of processing both continuous and discrete data.

¨ Specialized scientific applications, medical instruments, and complex simulations.