Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Chapter-1 OVERVIEW of COMPUTER Definition
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Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Chapter-1 OVERVIEW OF COMPUTER Definition: “Computer is an electronic machine that can store, recall and process data. It can perform tasks or complex calculation according to a set of instructions or programs. How does the computer work? It is as simple as making tea. To prepare tea, we add water, tea powder, milk, and sugar. These are all considered as input. After adding all, we have to boil. That boiling is called processing. After boiling, we get tea. That is called output. Similarly, the computer works based on the input, processing and output. Input-Process-Output cycle (IPO Cycle) Characteristics of Computer: Speed Versatility Storage Flexibility Accuracy Cost effectiveness Diligence Speed: The computer works very fast. The speed of Computer is measured in terms of MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second) or BIPS (Billion Instructions Per Second). For Example A money counting machine counts money faster than man. 1 | P a g e Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Storage: The computer can store a large volume of data and information. The storage capacity of the computer is measured in terms of Bytes. A group of 8 Bits is called a Byte. Accuracy The computer generated results are exact and without any mistakes with high rate of consistency. Diligence Unlike human beings, a computer does not suffer from limitations like tiredness and lack of concentration. It can work for hours without making any errors. Versatility Computers are capable of performing any task. Multi-processing features of computer make it quite versatile in nature. The computer can be adapted to any field easily. It is used for scientific calculations, business processing, for playing games, teaching, training etc. Flexibility Flexibility would involve the number of things you can do with a computer. While some are best used for simple business tasks, and filing of tasks, others are good for multimedia, gaming, and so on. Cost effectiveness Computers reduce the amount of paper work and human effort, thereby reducing costs. Components of Computer system: There are four components in the computer system. They are: Hardware Data & Information Software User(s) Hardware The physical parts of a computer system called as hardware. The hardware components can be seen, touch and feel. The hardware components are fixed inside or outside the computer system. Example Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Printer, RAM, CPU etc. 2 | P a g e Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Software A Set or collection of programs is known as software. The software is a computer program written using some computer programming languages to operate the computer. Software tells the hardware what to do. Unlike hardware, we can’t touch the software. Example Operating System, TUX Paint, Office Packages, Nudi, Adobe Reader, Computer Games etc. The software is broadly classified into two types. They are 1. System Software: It is a type of computer program that is designed to control and work with computer hardware, to run a computer's hardware and application programs. Example: Microsoft Windows, Linux, DOS etc. 2. Application software: It is a type of Software written by the user to perform a particular task like drawing a picture, playing computer games. Example: Paint, Nudi and Office Package etc. Difference between Hardware and Software Hardware Software Physical components of a computer are Set of programs is called Software. called Hardware. Hardware can touch, see and feel. The software can not touch and feel. Constructed using physical materials or Developed by the programming components. language. Not affected by computer viruses. Affected by computer viruses. User cannot make copies User can make copies Example: Monitor, Keyboard, RAM Example: OS, Text Editor, Nudi Data Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which can include text, numbers, audio or video. Data is the raw information or basic facts that computer can process. For Example: “PARAM” 16 The computer processed data is called information, which gives particular meaning. For Example: Name=“PARAM” Age=16. 3 | P a g e Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan User(s) People who use the computers are called users. These computer operators are called computer users. Functional components of a computer: Basically any computer is supposed to carry out the following functions. Accepts the data and program as input. Stores the data, program and retrieve as and when required. Process the data as per instructions given by the program and convert it into useful information. Communicate the information as output. Block diagram of a computer A computer is designed using four basic units. They are: 1. Input Unit 2. Central Processing Unit(CPU) Control Unit Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) 3. Memory Unit 4. Output Unit Control Unit Input Unit Output Unit Arithmetic & Logic Unit CPU Memory Unit Primary Memory Secondary Memory Fig: Block Diagram of Computer 4 | P a g e Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Input Unit Computers need to receive data and instructions in order to solve a problem. The Input unit performs this operation. The Input Unit basically links the external world or environment to the computer system. The input unit may consist of one or more input devices. The Keyboard and mouse of a computer are the most commonly used input devices. Central Processing Unit (CPU) It is the main part of a computer system like the heart of a human being. Most computers are identified by the type of CPU that is present in them. The function of the CPU is to interpret the instructions in the program and execute them one by one. It consists of two major units. 1. Control Unit: It controls and directs the transfer of program instructions and data between various units. The main activity is to maintain order and direct the operations of the entire system. 2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU): Arithmetic and Logic Unit performs arithmetic and logical operations and controls the speed of these operations. Arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division (+,-,*, /) and logical operations like AND, OR, NOT and relational operations like (<,>, <=,>=) are being carried out in this unit. Memory Unit The data and the instructions required for processing have to be stored in the memory unit before the actual processing starts. In a similar manner, the results generated from processing have to be preserved before it is displayed. The memory units thus provide space to store input data, intermediate results and the final output generated. Secondary storage devices are additional memory (storage) devices such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) etc., which are used to store huge information for future use. Note: The input unit, an output unit, and secondary storage devices are together known as Peripheral Devices. Output Unit It is used to print or display the results, which are stored in the memory unit. The actual function of the output unit is just the reverse of the input unit. Thus, the output unit links the computer to the outside world. The Monitor and Printer are the most commonly used output devices. 5 | P a g e Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Evolution of computer: Abacus Approximately 4,000 years ago, the Chinese invented the Abacus. It was the first machine used for counting and calculating. It is made of a wooden frame, metal rods, and wooden beads Abacus was mainly used for addition, subtraction and later for division and multiplication. Today, the abacus is still used widely in China and other Asian countries to count and calculate, just as we use calculators. Napier’s bones In the early 17th century, John Napier, a Scottish mathematician, invented another calculating tool. “Napier’s bones” was based upon manipulation of rods with printed digits. The rods were made of bone, ivory, wood or metal. The set consists of 10 rectangular blocks with multiples of a different digit on each of the four sides. The slide Rule The slide Rule was invented by William Oughtred. It is based on the principle that acutal distance from the starting point of the rule is directly proportional to the logarithm of the numbers printed on the rule. The slide rule is emboided by the two sets of scales that are joined together, with a marginal space between them. Adding Machine-Pascaline In 1642, at the age of 19, a French mathematician by the name of Biaise Pascal invented the Pascaline. The Pascaline is known as the first mechanical and automatic calculator. The Pascaline was a wooden box that could only add and subtract by means of a series of gears and wheels. It had a box with eight movable wheels called dials. When each wheel rotated one revolution, it would then turn the neighboring wheel. Leibniz Calculator Mathematician Gottfried Leibniz built a calculator in 1650 that could add, substract, multiply and divide the numbers. Jacquard loom In 1801, Joseph Mary Jacquard invented the Jacquard loom. A poweed loom that used punched wooden cards to automatically weave incredibly detailed patterns including pictures and text. This can be taken as the first “Read only Memory” device. 6 | P a g e Chapter 1- Overview of Computers MDRPUC, Hassan Difference and Analytical Engine In the early 1820s, an English mathematician by the name Charles Babbage designed a computing machine called the Difference Engine. This machine was to be used in the calculating and printing of simple math tables. In the 1830s, he designed a second computing machine called the Analytical Engine. This machine consited five units, which became the basic principle for the development of modern computer. Hence Charles Babbage is known as the "Father of Computers”.