Introduction to

Computers

GPDR113 – Introduction to Information and Communication Technology

Department of ICT Education
Faculty of Science Education
University of Education, Winneba
Data vs Information
• Data consists of raw facts, which the computer can manipulate
and process into information that is useful to people.
• Information is data that has been processed in such a way that it
is meaningful to the person who receives it
• The process of turning data into information is called
processing.
• For example, the computer can process several data items to
provide a student grade report.

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 2

What is Technology?
• Technology can be defined as the application of scientific
principles in producing machines or tools to better the life of
mankind.
• Computer technology is a combination of computer related
hardware or software such as multimedia computers, different
types of media (graphics, audios and videos) and networked
communication tools (email, bulletin boards) to support
applications in businesses, industry or education.

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 3

What is a Computer?
•A computer is an electronic device
which accepts data, processes the data,
stores and produces the result as
information under the direction of a
stored program of instructions (software)
with speed and accuracy.

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 4

Classification of Computers
• Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and weights,
and they perform a variety of jobs from one another.
• Computers can be classified according to the following:
• Classification by Purpose
General Purpose Computers
Designed to solve a wide range of problems depending on the
software used. For example the personal computer can be used
for business, education, entertainment and so on.
Special Purpose Computers
Designed to perform a specific task. An example is the ATM

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 5

Classification of Computers
• Classification by Capacity and Size
Super computers
These are the most expensive and fastest computers available.
Supercomputers are designed to occupy special air – conditioned rooms
and are used for research, worldwide weather forecasting, oil explorations,
aircraft designs, nuclear testing and others.
Mainframe computers
These are next in size and speed to Super computers. They can store great
amounts of information and are normally used by banks, airlines, large
businesses, government agencies and universities
Mini computers
Mini-computers are mid-sized multi-processing computers. They can
perform several actions at the same time and can host several users
simultaneously
19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 6
Classification of Computers
• Classification by Capacity and Size
Workstations
Workstations are expensive, powerful single user computers
usually used for complex scientific, mathematical, and
engineering calculations and for computer-aided design and
computer-aided manufacturing
Micro-computers
• Microcomputers, also called personal computers (PCs) can fit
next to a desk or on a desktop. They are either stand-alone
machines or are connected to a computer network such as a
local area network.
19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 7
Classification of Computers
• Classification by Nature / Type
Digital computers
They use digital signals which are discrete and expressed as electrical
pulses. Digital computers also operate on representation of real numbers
/other characters coded numerically and handle alphabetic and numeric
data with precision and speed
Analog computers
They operate on data in the form of continuous variable physical
quantities such as temperature and pressure.
Hybrid computers
They combine the capabilities of both digital and analog computers.
Thus hybrid computers have the ability to either represent data in a
numerical format using the binary mode or by representing data as a
physical quantity.
19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 8
Basic Operations of a Computer

Input Processing

Communi
Storage
cation

Output

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 9

Why are Computers Powerful?
• Computers are powerful because they have the following attributes:
• Speed
Computers can process data very quickly.
• Accuracy
The degree of accuracy of computer is very high and every calculation is performed
with the same accuracy
• Diligence
A computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration, fatigue, etc
• Versatility
It means the capacity to perform completely different types of work
• Storage
Computer have the capacity to store large amount of information.
• Communication
Computers can be used to transmit data and information from one location to the
other through the use of communications channel
19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 10
Components of a Computer
• Computers are made up of two parts: the hardware and the
software.
• Hardware:
• The physical equipment required to create, use, manipulate
and store electronic data.
• Hardware consists of all the machinery and components in a
computer system
• Software:
• Software, or programs, consists of all the electronic
instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task.

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 11

Brief History of Computers
The First Generation • Features
(1943-1958): • Use of vacuum tubes
• Big and Clumsy
• High Electricity Consumption
• Programming in Mechanical
Language
• Larger air conditioners were
needed
• Lots of component failure
occurred
19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 12
Brief History of Computers
The Second Generation • Features
(1959-1964): • Transistors were used
• Core Memory was developed
• Faster than First Generation computers
• First Operating System was developed
• Programming was in Machine
Language and Assembly Language
• Magnetic tapes & disks were used
• Computers became smaller in size
than the First Generation computers
• Computers produced less heat and
consumed less electricity
19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 13
Brief History of Computers
The Third Generation • Features
(1965-1970): • Integrated circuits developed
• Power consumption was low
• Small Scale Integration (SSI)
and Medium Scale Integration
(MSI) technology was used
• High level languages were
used

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 14

Brief History of Computers
The Fourth Generation • Features
(1971- 2010): • LSI and VLSI Technology used
• Development of Personal
Computers
• Redundant Array of Independent
Disks (RAID) Technology of data
storage
• Used in virtual reality, multimedia,
simulation
• Computers started being used for
Data Communication
• Different types of memories with
very high accessing speed and
storage capacity

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 15

Brief History of Computers
The Fifth Generation • Features
(2011- Present): • Uses parallel processing
• Uses superconductors
• Uses speech recognition
• Will be used in intelligent
robots
• Artificial intelligence is used

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 16

 Questions and Answers

19/06/2021 Department of ICT Education, UEW 17