Fundamentals of

Information Technology
&
Computer Application

By
Mr.Tahir Maqsood
What is Computer?
• A computer is a machine that can programmed to
accept the data, process data into useful
information and store it for later use called
Computer
• Computer consist of two components which are as
followed
1: Hardware(Machine is known as)
2: Software(programs are called software)
 History of Computer:
• Abacus (invented by Babylonia in 2400 B.C)
Abacus was invented by the Chinese around 4000 years ago. It was used in
china for arithmetic operations as a counting machine. It’s a wooden rack
with metal rods with beads attached to them. The abacus operator moves
the beads according to certain guidelines to complete arithmetic
computations.
• Napier’s Bone (Jhone. Napier in 1614)
John Napier devised Napier’s Bones, a manually operated calculating
apparatus. For calculating, this instrument used 9 separate strips (bones)
marked with numerals to multiply and divide. It was also the first machine to
calculate using the decimal point system.
• Slide Rule
Its being invented by (William Oughtred) in 1622.It allows to operate
multiplications, division, Cube. Special instruction are used to run this board.
• Pascaline
Pascaline was invented in 1642 by Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and
philosopher. It is thought to be the first mechanical and automated
calculator. It was a wooden box with gears and wheels inside. Its limited use
in Addition and Subtraction and also much Expensive.
 History of Computer
• Difference Engine
• In the early 1820s, Charles Babbage created the Difference Engine. It was a
mechanical computer that could do basic computations, like polynomial
functions. It was a calculating machine used to solve numerical tables such
as logarithmic tables.
• Analytical Engine
• Charles Babbage (Father of computer) created another calculating machine,
the Analytical Engine, in 1830. It was a mechanical computer that took input
from punch cards. It was capable of solving any mathematical problem and
storing data in an indefinite memory.
• Jacquard Loom
• It is a Mechanical Machine as loom invented by Joseph Maier Jacquard in
1881 A proper punch card is used to control it.
• Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC)
• The first digital computer device invented by Jhone Atanasoff and his
Graduated Student at Law State university in 1939 -1942.
 Generations of computer:
• First Generation (1940s-1950s): The first computers used vacuum tubes for
processing and magnetic drums for storage. They were large, expensive, and
unreliable.
• Second Generation (1950s-1960s): The second generation of computers
replaced vacuum tubes with transistors, making them smaller, faster, and more
reliable. Magnetic core memory was also introduced, which was faster and
more reliable than magnetic drums.
• Third Generation (1960s-1970s): The third generation of computers used
integrated circuits, which allowed for even smaller and faster computers. They
also introduced magnetic disk storage and operating systems.
• Fourth Generation (1970s-1980s): The fourth generation of computers saw the
introduction of microprocessors, which made personal computers possible.
They also introduced graphical user interfaces and networking.
• Fifth Generation (1980s-Present): The fifth generation of computers is still
ongoing, and is focused on artificial intelligence and parallel processing. This
generation also saw the development of mobile computing and the internet.
 Hardware Software
Hardware is further divided into four main Software is further divided into two main
categories: categories:
•Input Devices •Application Software
•Output Devices •System Software
•Secondary Storage Devices
•Internal Components
Developed using electronic and other materials Developed writing using instructions using a
programming language

When damaged, it can be replaced with a new When damaged it can be installed once more
component using a backup copy

Hardware is physical in nature and hence one The software cannot be physically touched but
can touch and see hardware still can be used and seen

Hardware cannot be infected by Viruses The software can be infected by Viruses

An example of Hardware is hard drives, An example of software is Windows 10, Adobe

monitors, CPU, scanners, printers etc. Photoshop, Google Chrome etc.
Defining Data &
Information
• What is data?

The Raw facts and figure called data.

The unprocessed form of items called Data
Data is information when dealing with the machine.
What is Information?
The Processed form of items called information.
Information is any knowledge that comes to our attention.

That could be voice, image, text and video and others

Computer based
Information Systems
System:
A system is a set of elements or components that
interact to accomplish goals.

Information System:

An information system is a set of interrelated components

that collect, manipulate, store data and disseminate
information and provide a feedback mechanism to monitor
performance.
 Information Concepts
Process:
A set of logically related tasks performed to
achieve a defined outcome.

Knowledge:
An awareness and understanding of a set of
information and ways that information can be made
useful to support a specific task or reach a decision
CBIS(computer Based
information System)
Hardware: It is Computer Equipment
Software: Computer Programs
Databases: It is an organized collections of facts
Telecommunications:
Electronic transmission of signals for communication
 Networks: The distant electronic communication between
different devices called networks.
 Internet: Interconnected Networks( network of all the
networks ) known as internet
 Intranet: Internal Corporate Network( communication
within the organization called intranet)
 Extranet: Linked Intranets(outside the organization
through links called Extra net)
 Business Information
Systems
E-Commerce:
Any business transaction executed electronically known as E-commerce

M-Commerce:
The transactions conducted anywhere, anytime through mobile phone
called M-commerce

Management Information System:

A system used to provide routine information to managers and
decision makers

Decision Support System:

A system used to support problem-specific decision making
 Employees
Business Information
Systems
Corporate Databases Corporate
Flow Structure databases of intranet
of external
internal data
Decision
data
support
systems

Transaction Databases
Management Executive
Business processing of information Application support
transactions systems valid systems databases systems
transactions

Drill-down reports Expert

Exception reports systems
Demand reports
Operational Key-indicator reports
databases
Input and Scheduled
error list reports
Classifications of the
Computer
 Classification of Computers
Analog Computers .1

Analog computers are used to process continuous data. Analog computers

represent variables by physical quantities. Thus any computer which solve
problem by translating physical conditions such as flow, temperature, pressure,
angular position or voltage into related mechanical or electrical related circuits as
an analog for the physical phenomenon being investigated in general it is a
computer which uses an analog quantity and produces analog values as output.
Thus an analog computer measures continuously. Analog computers are very
much speedy. They produce their results very fast. But their results are
.approximately correct. All the analog computers are special purpose computers
Digital Computers .2

Digital computer represents physical quantities with the help of digits or numbers.
These numbers are used to perform Arithmetic calculations and also make
logical decision to reach a conclusion, depending on, the data they receive from
the user
Digital computer, any of a class of devices capable of solving problems by
processing information in discrete form. It operates on data, including
magnitudes, letters, and symbols, that are expressed in binary code the two
digits 0 and 1. By counting, comparing, and manipulating these digits or their
combinations according to a set of instructions held in memory
Hybrid Computers .3
Various specifically designed computers are with both digital and analog
characteristics combining the advantages of analog and digital computers when
working as a system. Hybrid computers are being used extensively in process
control system where it is necessary to have a close representation with the
.physical world

The hybrid system provides the good precision that can be attained with analog
computers and the greater control that is possible with digital computers, plus the
.ability to accept the input data in either form
 Types of Computer
Personal Computer:
A personal computer is a general-
purpose computer whose size,
capabilities and original sale price
make it useful for individuals, and
is intended to be operated directly
by an end-user with no
intervening computer operator. ...
A personal computer may be a
desktop computer or a laptop ,
netbook, tablet or a handheld PC.
Desktop computer
A desktop computer is a
personal computer designed for
regular use at a single location on
or near a desk or table due to its
size and power requirements.
The most common configuration
has a case that houses the power
supply, motherboard (a printed
circuit board with
a microprocessor as the central
processing unit (CPU), memory.
Laptop Computer
A portable, compact
computer that can run on an
electrical wall outlet or a
battery unit.
All components (keyboard,
mouse, etc.) are in one
compact unit.
Usually more expensive than
a comparable desktop.
Sometimes called a
Notebook.
Workstation computer
• Powerful desktop computer designed for
specialized tasks.
• Can tackle tasks that require a lot of processing
speed.
• Can also be an ordinary personal computer
attached to a LAN (local area network).
• It is a high performance computer system that is
basically designed for a single user and has
advanced graphics capabilities, large storage
capacity, and a powerful microprocessor (central
processing unit).
M. Guymon Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Supercomputer
• When we talk about speed, then the first name that
comes to mind when thinking of computers is
supercomputers. They are the biggest and fastest
computers (in terms of speed of processing data).
Supercomputers are designed such that they can
process a huge amount of data, like processing trillions
of instructions or data just in a second. This is because
of the thousands of interconnected processors in
supercomputers. It is basically used in scientific and
engineering applications such as weather forecasting,
scientific simulations, and nuclear energy research. It
was first developed by Roger Cray in 1976.
 Mainframe
Mainframe computers are designed in such a way that they can support
hundreds or thousands of users at the same time. It also supports
multiple programs simultaneously. So, they can execute different
processes simultaneously. All these features make the mainframe
computer ideal for big organizations like banking, telecom sectors, etc.,
which process a high volume of data in general.
Characteristics of Mainframe Computers
•It is also an expensive or costly computer.
•It has high storage capacity and great performance.
•It can process a huge amount of data (like data involved in the banking
sector) very quickly.
•It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.
Mini Computers

Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In this

type of computer, there are two or more processors, and it
supports 4 to 200 users at one time. Minicomputer is similar to
Microcontroller. Minicomputers are used in places like institutes
or departments for different work like billing, accounting,
inventory management, etc. It is smaller than a mainframe
computer but larger in comparison to the microcomputer.
•Characteristics of Minicomputer
•Its weight is low.
•Because of its low weight, it is easy to carry anywhere.
•less expensive than a mainframe computer.
•It is fast.