Computing Fundamentals
Lecture - 2
Dr. Hafiz Adnan Habib
Computer Engineering Department
UET Taxila
Computers for Individual Users
List of Computer Manufacturers
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compute
r_system_manufacturers
Computers for Individual Users
• Desktop Computers
• Workstations
• Notebook Computers
• Tablet PCs
• Handheld PCs
Desktop Computer
• Dell
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/desktops-
n-workstations?~ck=mn
• HP
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-
office/-/products/Desktops/Desktops
• Sony
http://store.sony.com/vaio-desktops/cat-27-
catid-Desktops
Workstation
• Dell
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/desktops-
n-workstations?~ck=mn
• Apple
http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/
Notebook
• Dell
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/laptops.asp
x?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&~ck=mn
• HP
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-
office/-/products/Laptops/Laptops
• Sony
http://store.sony.com/vaio-laptops/cat-27-catid-
Ultrabook-Convertible-Laptops
Tablet and Handheld PCs
• Apple
http://www.apple.com/
• Dell
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/tablet-
deals?~ck=mn
Current State of Art
• Smart Phones
• Smart Watches
• Google Glasses
Smart Phones
• Apple
http://www.apple.com/iphone/
• HTC
http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/
• Samsung
http://www.samsung.com/pk/consumer/mobile
-devices/mobile-phones/smartphones/
Smart Watches
• Pebble
https://getpebble.com/
• Samsung
http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/gala
xynote3-gear/
Google Glasses
• http://www.google.com/glass/start/
Computers for Organizations
Computers for Organizations
• Network Servers
• Main Frame Computers
• Mini Computers
• Supercomputers
Network Servers
• Computers Labs of department are connected to
network server in server room
• Server offers services
– Mail service
– File service
– Streaming service etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_(computing)
Mainframe Computers
• Many users access the same data
• Used in corporates and government
organizations such as
– Banks
– Insurance companies etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_compu
ter
Mini Computers
• Todays PCs and Servers are mini computers
physically
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minicomputer
Super Computers
• Most powerful and largest in physical size
• Execute trillions of instructions
• Tens of thousands of processors combined
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercomputer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPGPU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPARC
Current State of Art
• Cloud Computing
http://www.ibm.com/us/en/
http://aws.amazon.com/
http://www.akamai.com/
Other Existences of Computers
Hosting Servers
http://www.godaddy.com/
Application Hosting
http://aws.amazon.com/
http://www.akamai.com/
Looking Inside Computer Systems
Parts of a Computer System
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• Users
Hardware
• Physical components in computer
Software
• Set of instructions that makes computer
perform tasks
• Software categorization
– Software used by computers to manage resources
– Software used by users to fulfill their
requirements
Data
• Facts or piece of information
Can you indicate any kind of data?
Please write in your notebook
Users
• Human beings are operators of computers
• User less computers
Information Processing Cycle
Information Processing Cycle
• Input
– User
– Program
• Processing
• Output
– On display
– Send through network to some other computer
• Storage
Essential Computer Hardware
Computer Hardware
• Processor
• Memory
• Input and Output
• Storage
Processing Devices
• Procedure to transform raw data into
information is called processing
• Processing involve two components
– Processor
– Memory
Memory Devices
• RAM (Random Access Memory)
– Looses data when power is turned off
• ROM (Read Only Memory)
– Maintains data when power is turned off
• Memories are defined in terms of Bytes
Input and Output Devices
• Input devices
– Accept input from user
– Accept input from other computers
• Output Devices
– Return data to the user
– Return data to other computers
Input and Output Devices
• Input devices
Name the input devices
• Output Devices
Name the output devices
Storage Devices
• Magnetic Storage
• Optical Storage
Software Brings the Machine to Life
System Software
• Operating System
– Windows
– Mac OS
– Linux
• Network operating system
• Utility
New Trends in System Software
• Operating System for Smart Phones
– Android
– iOS
– etc.
• Other Operating Systems
– Chrome OS
– Firefox OS
– etc.
Application Software
• Word processing
• Spreadsheets
• Database management
• Presentation programs
• Graphics programs
• Multimedia programs
Application Software
• Entertainment
• Web design tools and web browsers
• Games
Another Categorization of Software
• Standalone Applications
• Web Based Applications
• Apps for Smart Phones (new)
Computer Users Role
What type of rolls a user can play with
computer?
Think
Write in your notebook
Computer Users Role
• Setting up the System
Computer Users Role
• Installing Software
Computer Users Role
• Running Programs
Computer Users Role
• Managing Files
• Cloud Based Management of Files (new)
Computer Users Role
• Maintaining the System
User Less Computers
• Switches and Routers in Networks
• Surveillance Cameras
• etc.
How these systems operate?
History of Computers
History of Computers
• Mechanical Era (1623-1900)
• First Generation Electronic Computers
(1937-1953)
• Second Generation Computers
(1954-1962)
History of Computers
• Third Generation Computers
(1963-1971)
History of Computers
• Fourth Generation Computers
(1972-1984)
History of Computers
• Fifth Generation Computers
(1983-1990)
History of Computers
• Sixth Generation Computers
(1990-till date)
Cloud Computing Era
http://www.ibm.com/us/en/
http://aws.amazon.com/
http://www.akamai.com/
