2. Introduction to Computer
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Topics
1. Definition of computer
2. Earliest computer
3. Computer History
4. Computer Generations
5. Classification of Computer
6. Impact of Computer on Society
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3. Introduction to Computer
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Definition of Computer
• Computer is a machine or device that performs
processes, calculations and operations based on
instruction provided by a software or hardware
program. It has the ability to accept data (input),
process it, and then produce outputs.
• Computer is an electronic device that manipulates
information, or data. It has the ability to store,
retrieve, and process data.
• Computer is any device which aids humans in
performing various kinds of computations or
calculations.
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4. History of Computers
Abacus
• An abacus is a mechanical
device used to aid an individual
in performing mathematical
calculations.
• The abacus was invented in
Babylonia in 2400 B.C.
• The abacus in the form we are
most familiar with was first used
in China in around 500 B.C.
• It used to perform basic
arithmetic operations.
Earlier Abacus
Modern Abacus
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5. History of Computers
Pascaline
• Invented by Blaise Pascal in
1642.
• It was its limitation to addition
and subtraction.
• It is too expensive.
Blaise Pascal
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Pascaline
6. History of Computers
Difference Engine and Analytical Engine
• It an automatic, mechanical calculator designed to
tabulate polynomial functions.
• Invented by Charles Babbage in 1822 and 1834
• It is the first mechanical computer.
Charles Babbage
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Difference
Engine
Analytical
Engine
7. History of Computers
First Computer Programmer
• In 1840, Augusta Ada Byron
suggests to Babbage that he use
the binary system.
• She writes programs for the
Analytical Engine.
Augusta Ada Byron
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8. History of Computers
Scheutzian Calculation
Engine
• Invented by Per Georg Scheutz in
1843.
• Based on Charles Babbage's
difference engine.
• The first printing calculator. Per Georg Scheutz
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Scheutzian Calculation Engine
9. History of Computers
Tabulating Machine
• Invented by Herman
Hollerith in 1890.
• To assist in summarizing
information and accounting.
Herman Hollerith
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Tabulating Machine
10. History of Computers
Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
• It was the first electronic digital computing device.
• Invented by Professor John Atanasoff and
graduate student Clifford Berry at Iowa
State University between 1939 and 1942.
Professor John Atanasoff Atanasoff-Berry Computer
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11. History of Computers
ENIAC
• ENIAC stands for Electronic
Numerical Integrator and
Computer.
• It was the first electronic
general-
purpose computer.
• Completed in 1946.
• Developed by John Presper
Eckert and John Mauchly. ENIAC
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12. History of Computers
UNIVAC 1
• The UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer 1)
was the first commercial computer.
• Designed by John Presper Eckert and John
Mauchly.
UNIVAC 1
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13. History of Computers
EDVAC
• EDVAC stands for Electronic
Discrete Variable
Automatic Computer
• The First Stored Program
Computer
• Designed by Von Neumann in
1952.
• It has a memory to hold both
a
stored program as well as
data.
EDVA
C
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14. History of Computers
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Computer Generations
There are five generations of computer:
• First generation – 1946 - 1958
• Second generation – 1959 - 1964
• Third generation – 1965 - 1970
• Fourth generation – 1971 - today
• Fifth generation – Today to future
15. History of Computers
The First Generation
• The first computers used vacuum
tubes for circuitry and magnetic
drums for memory, and were often
enormous, taking up entire rooms.
• They were very expensive to operate
and in addition to using a great deal of
electricity, generated a lot of heat,
which was often the cause of
malfunctions.
Vacuum tube
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16. History of Computers
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The First Generation
• First generation computers relied on machine
language, the lowest-level programming language
understood by computers, to perform operations,
and they could only solve one problem at a time.
• Input was based on punched cards and paper tape,
and output was displayed on printouts.
• Examples:
– ENIAC
– EDSAC
– UNIVAC I, UNIVAC II, UNIVAC 1101
18. History of Computers
The Second Generation
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes
and ushered in the second generation
of computers.
• One transistor replaced the
equivalent of 40 vacuum tubes.
• Allowing computers to become
smaller, faster, cheaper, more
energy-efficient and more reliable.
• Still generated a great deal of heat
that can damage the computer.
Transistor
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19. History of Computers
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The Second Generation
• Second-generation computers moved from cryptic
binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly,
languages, which allowed programmers to specify
instructions in words.
• Second-generation computers still relied on
punched
cards for input and printouts for output.
• These were also the first computers that stored their
instructions in their memory, which moved from a
magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.
• Examples: UNIVAC III, RCA 501, Philco Transact
S-2000, NCR 300 series, IBM 7030 Stretch, IBM
7070, 7080, 7090 series
21. History of Computers
The Third Generation
• The development of the integrated
circuit was the hallmark of the
third generation of computers.
• Transistors were miniaturized and
placed on silicon chips, called
semiconductors, which drastically
increased the speed and efficiency of
computers. It could carry out
instructions in billionths of a second.
• Much smaller and cheaper compare
to the second generation computers.
Integrated Circuit
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22. History of Computers
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The Third Generation
• Users interacted with third generation computers
through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with
an operating system, which allowed the device to
run many different applications at one time with a
central program that monitored the memory.
• Computers for the first time became accessible to a
mass audience because they were smaller and
cheaper than their predecessors.
• Examples: Burroughs 6700, Control Data 3300,
6600, 7600, Honeywell 200, IBM System/360,
System 3, System 7
24. History of Computers
The Fourth Generation
• The microprocessor brought the
fourth generation of computers, as
thousands of integrated circuits
were built onto a single silicon chip.
• As these small computers became
more powerful, they could be linked
together to form networks, which
eventually led to the development
of the Internet.
• Fourth generation computers also
saw the development of GUIs,
the mouse and handheld
devices.
Microprocessor
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25. History of Computers
The Fifth Generation
• Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Still in development.
• The use of parallel processing and
superconductors is helping to make
artificial intelligence a reality.
• The goal is to develop devices that respond
to natural language input and are capable
of learning and self-organization.
• There are some applications, such as voice
recognition, that are being used today.
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27. Classification of Computer Cont…
1) Analogue Computer
Analogue computers are designed to process
analogue data. Analogue data is continuous data that
changes continuously and cannot have discrete values.
We can say that analogue computers are used where
we don't need exact values always such as speed,
temperature, pressure and current.
Analogue computers directly accept the data from the
measuring device without first converting it into numbers
and codes. They measure the continuous changes in
physical quantity and generally render output as a
reading on a dial or scale. Speedometer and mercury
thermometer are examples of analogue computers.
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28. Classification of Computer Cont…
Advantages of using analogue computers:
o It allows real-time operations and computation at the
same time and continuous representation of all data
within the rage of the analogue machine.
o In some applications, it allows performing calculations
without taking the help of transducers for converting
the inputs or outputs to digital electronic form and vice
versa.
o The programmer can scale the problem for the
dynamic range of the analogue computer. It provides
insight into the problem and helps understand the
errors and their effects.
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29. Classification of Computer Cont…
2) Digital Computer
Digital computer is designed to perform calculations
and logical operations at high speed. It accepts the
raw data as input in the form of digits or binary
numbers (0 and 1) and processes it with programs
stored in its memory to produce the output. All
modern computers like laptops, desktops including
smartphones that we use at home or office are
digital computers.
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30. Classification of Computer Cont…
Advantages of Digital Computers:
o It allows you to store a large amount of information and to
retrieve it easily whenever you need it.
o You can easily add new features to digital systems more easily.
o Different applications can be used in digital systems just by
changing the program without making any changes in hardware
o The cost of hardware is less due to the advancement in the IC
technology.
o It offers high speed as the data is processed digitally.
o It is highly reliable as it uses error correction codes.
o Reproducibility of results is higher as the output is not affected
by noise, temperature, humidity, and other properties of its
components.
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31. Classification of Computer Cont…
3) Hybrid Computer
Hybrid computer has features of both analogue and
digital computer. It is fast like an analogue computer
and has memory and accuracy like digital computers.
It can process both continuous and discrete data. It
accepts analogue signals and convert them into digital
form before processing. So, it is widely used in
specialized applications where both analogue and digital
data is processed. For example, a processor is used in
petrol pumps that converts the measurements of fuel
flow into quantity and price. Similarly, they are used in
airplanes, hospitals, and scientific applications.
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32. Classification of Computer Cont…
Advantages of using hybrid computers:
o Its computing speed is very high due to the
all-parallel configuration of the analogue
subsystem.
o It produces precise and quick results that are
more accurate and useful.
o It has the ability to solve and manage big
equation in real-time.
o It helps in the on-line data processing.
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33. Impact of Computer on Society
Everyone knows that this is the age of computer and
vast majority of people are using computer.
Development of science and technology has direct
effect on our daily life as well as in our social life.
Computer technology has made communication
possible from one part of the world to the other in
seconds. They can see the transactions in one part
of the world while staying in the other part.
Computer development is one of the greatest
scientific achievements of the 20th century.
Computers are used in various fields as well as in
teaching and learning.
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34. Impact of Computer on Society Cont…
o An aid to management: The computer can also be used as a management tool
to assist in solving business problems.
o Banking: Branches are equipped with terminals giving them an online accounting
facility and enabling them to information as such things as current balances,
deposits, overdrafts and interest charges.
o Industrial Application: In industry, production may be planned, coordinated and
controlled with the aid of a computer.
o Engineering Design: Computer help in calculating that all the parts of a
proposed design are satisfactory and also assist in the designing.
o Meteorology: Data is recorded at different levels of atmosphere at different
places, using remote sensors carried on a satellite.
o Air Travel: Small computers are installed as a part of the plane's equipment.
o Road Traffic Control: Computers assist with the control of traffic lights.
o Telephones: Computerized telephone exchanges handle an ever increasing
volume of calls very efficiently.
o Medicine: Computers are widely used in hospitals for such task as maintaining
drugs, surgical equipments and linen, for payroll and also for checkup and
treatment of diseases.
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35. Positive Impact of Computer :-
o The work can be done in very less time.
o More information can be stored in small space.
o Multitasking and multiprocessing capabilities of
data.
o Easy to access data.
o Documents can be kept secret.
o Error free result.
o It can be used for various purposes. i.e. It can be
used in any type of work.
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36. Negative Impact of Computer :-
o Highly expensive.
o Data piracy.
o Increased Unemployment.
o Huge data and information can be lost
sometimes.
o Fast changing computer technology.
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