Introduction To Computers

Chapter No 1

Introduction

About the Course

? Course instructor
? Course policies
? Topics to be covered
? Course Website and Reference material
? Assignments and Projects

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 About the Course
? Text Book:
? Computer, Communications and Information.
By Sarah Hutchinson and Stacey Sawyer.
? Reference Book:
? Living With Computers
By Patrick Mckeown.

? Course website
? http://www.ssuet.edu.pk/courses/ce101

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Topics to be covered
? Introduction and Overview of ? The Internet and uses of
Computers Communications Technology
? Input/Output ? Introduction to Information
? Storage Hardware Systems
? Processing Hardware ? Information Systems
Analysis and Design
? Number Systems
? Introduction to Databases
? Logic Gates
? Ethics, Privacy and Security
? Boolean Algebra
? Introduction to
Communications and
Networks

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 Exam and Grading
? Assignments 5 Marks
? Class Quiz 10 Marks
? Mid-Term 10 Marks
? Lab Viva 10 Marks
? Presentation 5 Marks
? Final Examination 60 Marks
? Class Participation 3 Marks (Bonus)
? Attendance and Behaviour 2 Marks (Bonus)
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Final Project
? In form of Paper and Presentation
? Can be done in groups of 2 to 4 students
? Maximum limit of the paper is 20 pages
? ... about 5000 to 10,000 words for 20 pages
? Use diagrams as appropriate
? Properly cite references you use!

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 Course Schedule
? Tentative course outline, day by day
? Dates for exams, midterm and final are
fixed.
? Note:
? Outline is subject to change

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What Is a Computer
? A data processing
machine operated
automatically under
the control of a list
of the instructions
(called a program)
stored in its main
memory.

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 What Is a Computer System

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Input - Processing - Output

? Input
what you type, read, or
enter into computer
? Devices
? keyboard
? mouse
? scanner
? sensors, etc

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 Input - Processing - Output
? Processing changes the
input data via formatting,
sorting, and calculations

? Devices
? Components on the
motherboard
? CPU, ALU, Memory

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Input - Processing - Output

? Output
results of computer
processing
? Devices
? screen
? printer
? plotter
? signals, etc.

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 Input - Processing - Output
? Storage
save information for later
processing

? Devices
? memory
? diskette
? hard disk
? tape, etc.

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Parts of a Computer System

? What is a Computer?
? A complete computer system includes 4 distinct
parts:
? Hardware
? Software

? Data

? Users

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 Parts of a Computer System
? What is a Computer?
? A computer is an electronic device used to process
data.
? A computer can convert data into information that
is useful to people.

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 Parts of a Computer System
? Hardware
? A computer's hardware consists of electronic
devices; the parts you can see and touch.
? The term "device" refers to any piece of hardware
used by the computer, such as a keyboard,
monitor, modem, mouse, etc.

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 Parts of a Computer System
? Software
? Software – also called Programs – consists of
organized sets of instructions for controlling the
computer.
? Some programs exist for the computer's use, to
help it manage its own tasks and devices.
? Other programs exist for the user, and enable the
computer to perform tasks for you, such as
creating documents.

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Parts of a Computer System

? Data
? Data consists of raw facts, which the computer
can manipulate and process into information that
is useful to people.
? Computerized data is digital, meaning that it has
been reduced to digits, or numbers. The computer
stores and reads all data as numbers.
? Although computers use data in digital form, they
convert data into forms that people can
understand, such as text, numerals, sounds, and
images.
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 Parts of a Computer System
? People
? People are the computer's operators, or users.
? Some types of computers can operate without
much intervention from people, but personal
computers are designed specifically for use by
people.

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Layers of a Computing System

Communication
Application
Operating System
Programming
Hardware
Information

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4
 Early History of Computing
? Abacus ( 16th century )
An early device to record numeric values
? Blaise Pascal ( middle 17th century )
Mechanical (gear driven) device to add, subtract,
divide & multiply
? Joseph Jacquard ( late 18th century )
Jacquard’s Loom, the punched card
? Charles Babbage ( 19th century )
Analytical Engine, designed but never implemented
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Early History of Computing

? Alan Turing
Turing Machine, Artificial Intelligence Testing
? Harvard Mark I, ENIAC, UNIVAC I
Early computers launch new era in mathematics,
physics, engineering and economics

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 Generations of Computer

? Vacuum tube - 1946-1957

? Transistor - 1958-1964
? Small scale integration - 1965-1968
? up to 100 devices
? Medium scale integration - 1968-1971
? 100-3,000 devices on a chip

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Generations of Computer

? Large scale integration - 1972-1977

? 3,000 - 100,000 devices on a chip
? Very large scale integration - 1978 to date
? 100,000 - 100,000,000 devices on a chip
? Ultra large scale integration
? Over 100,000,000 devices on a chip

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 Generations of Computer
Approximate Technology Typical Speed
Generation Dates ( Operation /
Second )
1 1946-1957 Vacuum Tube 40,000

2 1958-1964 Transistor 200,000

3 1965-1971 Small and 1,000,000

Medium Scale
Integration
4 1972-1977 Large Scale 10,000,000
Integration
5 1978- Onwards Very Large Scale 100,000,000
Integration
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Generations of Computer
? Transistor - 1958-1964
? Replaced vacuum tubes
? Smaller and Cheaper
? Less heat dissipation
? Solid State device
? Made from Silicon (Sand)
? Invented 1947 at Bell Labs
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 Benefits of Integration
? Increased speed (shorter electrical path)
? Smaller computers
? Reduced cooling
? More reliable interconnections (on chip)
? Cheaper

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Types of Computers
? Computers are of four types:
? Microcomputers
? Minicomputers
? Mainframes
? Supercomputers

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 Types of Computers
? Microcomputers
? This most widely used computer generally
employs a microprocessor, “computer on a
chip” and are desktop sized or less
? Two main types
? Desktop ( PC’s & Workstations )
? Portable ( Notebooks, Palmtops )

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Types of Computers
? Microcomputers
? Desktop
( PC’s & Workstations )
? Small enough for a desktop,
but not easily portable
? Personal computers (PC’s) run

general purpose software and

are employed by a wide
spectrum of users

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 Types of Computers
? Microcomputers
? Portable (Notebooks, Palmtops)
? Easily transported from one place to another

? Four categories
? Laptops
? Notebooks
? Palmtops
? Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
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Types of Computers
? Minicomputers

? Desk-sized
? More processing speed and storage capacity
than microcomputers
? General data processing needs at small
companies
? Larger companies use them for specific
purposes
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 Types of Computers
? Mainframes

? Larger machines with special wiring and

environmental controls
? Faster processing and greater storage than
minicomputers
? Typical machine in large organizations
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Types of Computers
? Supercomputers

? The most powerful of the four categories

? Used by very large organizations, particularly
for very math-intensive types of tasks
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