Set by : Tizazu B.

Chapter One

Over view of Computers

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 What is Computer?
Computer” comes from a Latin word “Compute” Compute means to
calculate.
A computer is considered to be a calculating device, which can perform
arithmetic operations.
The original objective for inventing a computer was to create a fast
calculating machine.
But, much of the work done by computers today is non-
mathematical or non-numerical nature.
A computer is an electronic device that is designed and organized
automatically to accept and store input data, process them, and produce
output results under the direction of a detailed step-by-step stored program
of instruction.
 A computer is an electronic device that accepts data, performs
computations, and makes logical decisions according to instructions that
have been given to it; then produces meaningful information in a form that is
useful to humans.

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 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
 Information is a processed, summarized, evaluated and organized data
that is used as the base of decision-making and guidance.

 Communication is the exchange of information between two agents. For

exchange of information, the information should be transmitted from one
point to another through a transmission media called Channel.

 Technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes

used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of
objectives, such as scientific investigation.

 It refers to all the means for people use their inventions and discoveries to
satisfy their needs and desires.

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 Cont’d….
ICT refers to the use of computers and telecommunications network
to create, store, process, send, and receive information from anywhere at any
time.

ICT is an extended term for Information Technology which stresses the

role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications
(telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary
software, middleware, storage and audio-visual systems, which enable users to
access, store, transmit and manipulate information.

It is the use of modern technology to aid the capture, processing, storage

and retrieval & communication of information in the form of numerical
data, text, sound or image.

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Information Communication Technology has three main integral components.
Computer
Communication And Network
The Know-how

Principle of information communication technology

 To solve problems
 To unlock creativity
 To make people more effective than they would be

Information Technology's Role Today

 Computers in Business
 Computers in Medicine
 Computers in Science and Engineering

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 Data vs Information

Data
 It is a collection of raw facts that describe the feature/ characteristics of people, places,
objects or events.

 It is the raw material whether in paper, electronic, or other forms that will be
processed by the computer

 Data consists of the raw facts & figures that are processed into information.

Information:

•Information = f (data, processing)

•Information is a function of data and processing . So, Data processing is the

process of changing data into information.

 It is summarized, evaluated, organized data that is used as the base of

decision-making and guidance.
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 Data Processing
It is the process of converting data into information. The following are
basic data processing activities.
1. Data Collection: It involves getting data from the origin to the
system.
2. Data Recording: The process of expressing data in a form that is
recognizable by either a person or a machine.
3. Data Classification: A process of categorizing all items of data
according to common characteristics and features.
4. Data Sorting:The arrangement of data items in a desired sequence.
5. Data store: Retaining the data for future reference.
6. Retrieving data: Refers to finding a specific stored data.
7. Summarizing Data: It is the process of condensing data.
8. Data Communication: Distributions of information to the specific
end users
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 Types of Computers
There are different types of Computers. Based on their classification, computers can be classified
into three.

A. Classification by method of operation /Data processing

1.Analog computers

2.Digital Computers

3.Hybrid Computer

B. Classification by their purpose

1.Special purpose computers
2.General purpose computers

C. Classification by size, price, capacity and performance

1.Super computer

2.Mainframe computer

3.Mini computer

4.Personal computer
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 Cont’d…..
A.Classification of computers by the method of operation (Data
processing)
They are classified into three:
1.Analog Computer
2.Digital Computers
3.Hybrid computers
1. Analog Computer
• Analog computers operate by measuring. Eg. 1 Liter, ½ Liter,
BP=120/80 mmHg …
• They deal with continues variables.
• They don’t compute directly with numbers.
• They operate by measuring physical magnitude.
• They are special purpose computers.
• Analog computers have limited accuracy.
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 Cont’d…..
• Examples
• Speedometer
• Thermometer
• Gasoline pomp
• Voltmeter
2. Digital Computers
• Digital computers deal with discrete variables.
• They operate by counting rather than measuring.
• They operate directly up on numbers (or digits) that represent numbers,
letters, or other special symbols.
•Digital computers have higher accuracy and speed than the analog
computers.
• Examples: -Abacus
-Desk & pocket computers
• The general purpose computers

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3. Hybrid Computers
• The best features of analog and digital computers can be
combined into a single device to form a hybrid computer.
• Hybrid computers processes information by collecting
input data with analog method and convert it into digital
quantities.
• It processes the digital values and convert the output
from digital to analog form.
• Example:
– In hospital insensitive-care unit analog devices may
measure a patient’s heart function, temperature and
other vital signs.
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 Cont’d……
B. Classification by purpose of application
• Computers can be used for different purposes.
• Based on their purpose of application, they are classified into two.
1. Special purpose computers
– They are designed to solve a single/ specific type of problem,
– That is their components and function are uniquely adapted to a specific
situation involving specific application.
– Example:
 The public telephone box
 Traffic control system
 Ticket machines (used in grocery, super market etc.)
 Pocket calculators etc.
 Counters
– Most analog computers are special purpose computers.

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 Cont’d…..
2. General-purpose Computers
 They are designed to solve variety of problems through the use
of “store program concept”.
 A program or set of instructions designed to solve a problem is
read and stored into the memory and then executed by the
computer one by one.
 The same computer can be applied to solve another set of
problem using different program.
 General purpose computers are more flexible and versatile.
 Exemples:
 Micro computers
 Mini computers
 Super computers etc.

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 Cont’d…..

C. Classification by physical Size, Price, Capacity and

Performance
• There is a wide variety of general purpose digital computers on the
market place today, in terms of physical size, price, capacity, and
performance.

• They are classified into four:

1.Super Computer

2.Mainframe Computer

3.Mini Computer

4.Personal Computer
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 Cont’d…….
1. Super Computers:They are the fastest, largest and most potential types of computer.

• They have speed of hundreds of millions of operation per second, a primary memory

capacity of about 80 million characters, a secondary memory of capacity of about 20

times its primary memory. They are multi-user systems in intercontinental range.

• They can carry out enormously complex scientific calculations.

• They are used to process huge amount of data and are commonly used in space

technology centers, meteorology stations, and astronomical observatories,

intercontinental communications, airline organizations.

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 Cont’d……
2. Mainframe Computers
– Smaller than in size and capacity, lower in speed & memory capacity than the
super computers.

– However they are multi-user systems and handle hundreds of users, usually
used in large organizations.

– They require special Air Conditioning.

– They can serve many different users for different functions at different locations.

Mainframe
Computer

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 Cont’d….
3. Mini Computers: This is designed to support more than one user at a time.

– They have relatively lower speed, can handle multi-users, are smaller in size
than the mainframe computers.

– They are also used as servers in Local Area Networks (LAN).

– They use terminals for inputs and output. Mini computers are used in small
organizations.

Fig. Mini Computer 18

 Cont’d
4. Micro Computers
– Micro computer (personal or desktop computer) is a computer whose
CPU is microprocessor.
– Microprocessor is a processor all of whose components are on a single
integrated-circuit chip. It can serve only a single user at a time.
– There are 3 types of microcomputer.
 Desktop: PC
 Laptop: called notebook computer
 Palmtop: also called hand held computer.

fig. Micro Computers

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 Characteristics of Computers
 It shows the capability and the potential of the computer
for processing data.

 Some of the characteristics of computers are:

 Speed  Versatility

 Storage capacity  Power of remembering

 No IQ
 Diligence
 No feeling
 Accuracy
 Automatic
 Durability
 Reliability

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 Cont’d
1. Speed
 The ability of the computers to carry out their instructions in a very short period of time.

 Computers can perform tasks within a matter of seconds or minutes that would be
impossible for a person to complete by hand in lifetime.

 Its speed is measured in terms of micro second (10-6 one millionths), nano second (10-9
one billionths), and Pico second (10-12 one trillionths).
2.Accuracy
 It produce accurate/exactly correct output.
 Errors can occur in a computer due to human rather than technological
weakness,
 That is due to inexact thinking by the programmer or due to incorrect input data
referred to as garbage in garbage out or GIGO.
3. Automatic:
 a machine is said to be automatic if it works by itself without human
intervention.
 Computers are automatic machines because once started on a job, they carry on until the
job is finished, normally without any human assistance. 21
 Cont’d
3. Storage Capacity
 Today’s computers can store huge amounts of data. The stored data can also
be retrieved in a few seconds.
4. Durability and reliability
 Computers are durable and extremely reliable devices.

 Computers can operate error-free over long periods of time

5.Versatility
 Because of technological advancements in the computer industry, most
computers today are considered to be general-purpose computers.

 The versatility of the computers and its use in a wide array of application
are limited only by the imagination of the human mind.

 Versatility of a computer means a computer can do different tasks at the

same time. Example: Copying, Playing,Writing… at the same time.
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 Cont’d
6. Diligence:

– unlike human beings, a computer is free from repetitiveness,

tiredness, lack of concentration, etc.

7. No IQ:

– performs these tasks with unthinkable speed and accuracy.

– It possesses no intelligence of its IQ is zero.

8. Power of remembering

9. No Feeling

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 Applications of Computers
• The main reasons to use Computers:

 Store and process large amount of information with high speed and accuracy;

 Transmit information across continents via communication channels;

 Simulate events;

 Perform complex mathematical computations and make comparisons;

 Monitor ongoing industrial operations;

 Perform repetitive processes with great ease, speed, and reliability;

 Therefore, computers are applicable for any functions or process that

requires these abilities.

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 Cont’d

The main areas of computer applications can be listed as follows

 Entertainment  Shopping from Home

 Commercial or business  Household Control

applications  Weather and Environment

 Scientific engineering and research  Transportation

 Medical and Health Care
applications
 Routine and Dangerous Tasks
 Information Utilities
 Consultant (Expert system)
 Electronic Banking and Service:

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History Of Computers

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 Generation of Computers
• There are five computer generations known until today.

• The major characteristics that distinguish these generations are the following;

 Dominant type of electronic circuit elements used.

 Major secondary storage media used.

 Computer language used.

 Types or characteristic of operating system used.

 Memory access time (time to store or retrieve a word or data from

memory).

• Computer generations are usually categorized by dramatic improvement in the hardware,

typically refold or better increases in speed, capacity and reliability.

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First generation (1950s)
• The first commercially available computers
were developed as a first-generation computers.
– ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC-I, IBM 650, IBM 701
• Characteristics of First generation computers
1. Used vacuum tubes as the principal electronic circuit;
2. Punched cards were the primary medium used to store
data files and input data to the computer.
3. Memory access time was expressed in milliseconds.
4. Programming language was written in machine languages.
5. Computer operating system was also primitive.

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 Cont’d....
Drawbacks of first generation computer:
 They were too bulky in size,

 They were requiring larger rooms for installation.

 They were expensive.

 They were relatively slow and unreliable-machine.

 The heat emitted by thousands of vacuum tubes requires the

room where the computer is located to be properly air-conditioned.

 Consume very high power.

 Difficult to program and use.

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Second generations (early 1960s)
 Transistors were used instead of vacuum tubes.
 They were more powerful, more reliable, less expensive,
smaller in size and cooler to operate than the first generation
computers.
 Magnetic tape was used for preparing programs and data to be fed
into the computers.
 Memory access time was also expressed in micro-seconds.
 Assembly languages were used for programming codes
 Programming languages such as COBOL,ALGOL, FORTRAN
 Batch processing operating systems were introduced.

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 Cont’d.....
• Major characteristics of 2nd generation computers
– Faster & smaller than 1st generation computer.
– Consume less power.
– Larger & faster primary & secondary storage devices.
– Easier to program & use.
– Transistors were the main circuit components.
– Magnetic tapes used for main storage.
– Operate in microseconds (millionths of a second)
– Business applications become more commonplace, with large data files
stored on magnetic tape and disk.
– High-level languages COBOL and FORTRAN were introduced during
this period.
– Batch operating systems were used that permitted rapid
processing of magnetic tape files.

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Third generation (late 1960s, early 1970s)
 Transistors were replaced with Integrated circuits
(IC’s)
 They were more powerful, more reliable, less expensive,
smaller in size, and cooler to operate than the 2nd
generation computers.
 Access times were measured in nanoseconds
 Magnetic disk storage became popular and provided direct
access to very large data files.
 Structured programming languages were introduced
that improved programming productivity.
 Interactive operating system was introduced that
allowed individual users to access their data files.

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 Fourth Generation (late 1970s, early 1989s)
The main distinction of these computers is
 Introduction of LSI-Large Scale Integration, VLSI-Very Large
Scale Integration (1-million components in a single chip. This progress
led to the creation of a microprocessor (CPU).
 The microprocessor contains all the component of a computer
(CPU, Memory, and input and output controls).
 The IBM introduces its Personal Computer (PC) in 1981, for use in
the home, office, and schools.
 Floppy disks became very popular as a portable medium for porting
programs and data from one computer system to another.
 Computer networks (LAN & WAN), GUI (Graphical User
Interfaces) supported, several new PC based application (word
processing, spread sheets, etc.), are used
 Standard-high-level programming languages are major
developments of the fourth generation period.
 Operating systems were used as add-on hardware.

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Fifth Generation Computer (1989 – Up-to-
now)
It is now being developed and will stand a part, from the previous
four generations, not only due to its ULSI-(Ultra Large Scale Integration)
technology
They are expected to be intelligent computers that will be able to
understand speech and process accordingly.
It will consume less power, faster, large memory, more user-friendly with
multimedia and internet supported hardware and software also available.
The fifth generation computer is in progress.
They will have intelligent processors i.e., processors which can draw
inferences.
Users will also be able to interact with them in natural languages such as
English, German etc.
Japans are working intensively on the project for developing the 5th
generation.
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 Summary Generation of Computer
Criteria 1st 2nd Generation 3rd Generation 4th 5th
Generation Generation Generation

1 Vacuum Transistor Integrated LSI VLSI

Electric
circuit Tube Circuit

2 Punched Magnetic Tape Magnetic Disk Hard disk

Storage
device card
In progress
3
Programmin Machine Assembly High Level Structured
g language Language Language Language HLL

4 Millisecond Microsecond Nano Second Picosecond

Memory
Access Time
5 Primitive Batch OS Interactive Advanced
Operating
system OS OS

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 Home Questions
According to your Professions (Management
discipline)
1. What is the benefits and drawbacks of Computer?
2. What is the limitations to use computer in day to day
activity as management discipline?
3. What type of computer is commonly used in day to
day activity in most organization and why?
4. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each computer
generations?

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Thank You ...