Introduction to Computer

By:

Sikander Ali Khan

What is Data?

Data

Data is a plural word and its singular form is datum

‘Datum’ is a Latin word meaning “something given”

Numbers, characters, symbols, images etc., which can be processed by computer

Data is a collection of facts made up of text, numbers and dates:

Murray 35000 7/18/86

Any raw collection of facts and figures which is not meaningful to the user is called data

Types of Data

There are three types of data to be entered in the computer:

Alphabetic Data: Capital letters from A-Z, and small letters from a-z.

Numeric Data:Decimal numbers from 0-9, decimal point notations.

Alphanumeric Data: Alphabetic, numeric and special characters/symbols.

What is Information?

Information

Information is interpreted data

Information is the meaning given to data in the way it is interpreted, e.g.

Mr. Murray is a sales person whose annual salary is $35,000 and whose hire date is July 18, 1986

Processed or meaningful form of data is called information, like "Farhan, 40" are two data items, but "Farhan is now 40 years old" is an information

Electronic Data Processing Raw data is transformed into information by processing it

Data Processing is a series of steps, actions or operations that converts data into meaningful information, or input into output

This can be accomplished by using machines, labor and procedures

When the data entered in the computer is manipulated, formulated ,sorted and passed through mathematical or statistical formulas, so it is known as Electronic Data Processing

Functions of Electronic Data Processing All data processing, whether done by hand or by the

latest computer system, consists of three basic activities:

• Capturing the input data• Manipulating the data• Managing the output results

Input OutputProcessing

Conventional Data Processing The conventional data processing system is the manual method of transforming data into information

The human beings themselves collect data, classify and arrange according to the items of the data, perform manual calculations and hence produce the required output result

Because of this processing method, the system is also termed as Manual Data Processing System

Example is Type Writer machine

Elements of an Electronic Data Processing System There are four basic elements of an EDP system, these are:

• Hardware The physical components of a computer is called hardware

• Software The term software refers to the computer programs, routines and

packages required to utilize and control the operation of the computer

• Procedure Procedure is a set of pre-planned steps and policies which the

computer system adopts in order to perform a specific task

• Personnel The individuals who work in an environment basically related to

computers are known as computer personnel

Information Technology

Information technology is the use of modern technology to aid in storage, processing, analysis and communication of information.

We can simply define that the information about any technology is called information technology.

Information technology means the use of the hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data and video.

Definition of a Computer

The word computer is derived from the word compute which means to calculate something

With this meaning a computer is considered to be a calculating device that performs the arithmetic operations at enormous speed

Now-a-days computer is not just the calculating device but it can perform many operations, so we can define as:

“Computer is an electronic device that processes data, converting it into information that is useful to people”.

Characteristics of ComputerSpeed

A computer is a very fast device. It can perform in a few seconds the amount of work that a human can do in a day

Accuracy

Every task is performed by computer with same accuracy. Errors may occur in computer due to human

Diligence Human beings get bored from work on the same thing for a

long time and also tired. But the case is not same with computers, a computer is free from tiredness, lack of concentration

Characteristics of Computer (Cont..)

Versatility A computer is capable of performing almost any task. It just

requires the particular software to perform that task

Power of remembering A computer can store and recall even after several years any

amount of information because of its storage capability

No feelings Computers are devoid of emotions. They have no feelings

I.Q A human think with their mind that what is right for them

and what is not. While a machine has no I.Q. But programmers are trying to make computer an intelligent machine.

Brief History of Computer

Computers did not suddenly arrive on the scene

The research on the computer technology is a process of hundreds of years and is still in progress

The latest computer is the result of several minds combined to give us the magic of sense

The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generations of computing devices

Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

There are five generations of computers

1. First Generation (1940-1956)

2. Second Generation (1956-1963)

3. Third Generation (1964-1971)

4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

5. Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)

1. First Generation (1940-1956)

In this generation of computer vacuum tube was used for circuitry

These computers were very large in size, 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

First generation computers relied on machine language

The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) and ENIAC (Electronic Numeric Integrated and Calculator) computers are examples of first-generation computing devices

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

Vacuum Tubes in First Generation

ENIAC Computer

UNIVAC Computer

2. Second Generation (1956-1963)

Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers

The transistor was invented by Bardeen in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 50s

Through the use of transistors the second generation computers were much faster and more reliable than the first generation of computers

Second-generation computers moved from machine language to symbolic, or assembly languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

Transistors

First Transistor

IBM-7094 Computer

3. Third Generation (1964-1971)

The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers

An Integrated Circuit (IC) or a chip is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material (transistor)

The earliest ICs used a technology called SSI (Small Scale Integration contain up to 100 transistors) and MSI (Medium Scale Integration contain 100-3000 transistors)

The third generation computers were smaller, more efficient and more reliable than their predecessor were

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

Integrated Circuit

IBM-360 Third Generation Computer

4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present)

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip

What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand

LSI (large-scale integration): From 3,000 to 100,000 electronic components per chip

During this the first microprocessor the Intel 4004 was developed and was followed by VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration contain 100,000 to 1,000,000)

ULSI (ultra large-scale integration): More than 1 million electronic components per chip

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

Fourth Generation First PC

First Microprocessor Intel 4004

5. Fifth Generation (Present-Beyond)

Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today, Expert System, Robots etc.

The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization

Brief History of Computer (Cont..)Brief History of Computer (Cont..)

Intelligence the ability to learn and understand.

Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science.

AI is the study how to make computer to do things more and more better than human.

Expert system is an intelligent computer program which consists of some knowledge about particular field, then using this knowledge ,it provide the answer to those people who don’t have any access to the experts in that particular field.

ROBOTSRobots are the machine that have the ability to move

and performs all the tasks manually just like a human can do it

First robot was introduced by “karel chapel”.USESRobots are used in industries to measure the

productivity.They over come the shortage of skilled labour in

industry They reduce the cost of productivity.They are also used in army to take the weapons from

one place to another place .

VOICE RECOGNITIONTranslating voice to text is a capability known

as voice recognition. There is also a demand for translating spoken words into text much as there is a demand for translating handwriting into text. With it you can speak to the computer rather than having to type and you can control the computer with simple commands such as “shut down", "print”.

Types of Computer

There are three basic types of computer according to working mechanism

Analog Computer

Digital Computer

Hybrid Computer

1. Analog Computer

Analog computer is used to process analog data

Analog data is a continuous and having an infinite variety of values

Such type of data include temperature, pressure, speed, weight, voltage, depth etc.

Examples of analog computer are Speedometer of car, Thermometer etc.

Analog computers are faster

Types of Computer (Cont..)Types of Computer (Cont..)

2. Digital Computer

A digital computer as its name implies works with digits to represent numerals, letters or other special symbols

A digital computer process digital data

Digital data is a discrete data and having only two possible values (0, 1)

Digital computer provide accurate results but they are slower than analog computer

Analog computers lack memory whereas digital computers store information

Types of Computer (Cont..)Types of Computer (Cont..)

3. Hybrid Computer

A hybrid computer is a combination of digital and analog computers

And it combines the best features of both types of computers

For example a petrol pump contains a processor that converts fuel flow measurement into quantity and price

Hybrid computer is used in hospitals to measure the heartbeat of the patient

Hybrid Computers are also used in scientific applications or in controlling industrial processes

Types of Computer (Cont..)Types of Computer (Cont..)