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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
AND PROGRAMMING
CS 1101
Computer Science Department
Basics of Computers: Definition, Computer
Generations, Classifications
What is a computer ?
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A computer is an electronic device that receives input, process
stores and provides output in a useful format(Information)
Functions-Accept, Store, Process, Retrieve and Display
Generations of computers
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Generation Period Characteristics
1st 1946 - 1959 Use Vacuum tubes
-- ENIAC
2 nd 1959 - 1965 Use transistors
-- EDVAC,UNIVAC
3 rd 1965 - 1971 Large Scale Integrated Circuits
-- ALTAIR
4 th 1971 - 1980 Very Large Scale Integrated
Circuits
-- APPLE
5 th 1980 - onwards “Artificial Intelligence” based
computers
- INTEL-Microprocessor
I- Ancient Counting Machines
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1- The Abacus (base 5) (in ancient Babylon, China,
Europe)
II- Mechanical Counting Machines
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1642
2- The Pascaline is a mechanical calculating device
invented by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal
in 1642. (+)
II- Mechanical Counting Machines
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1673
3- The Leibniz Wheel was invented by the famous
mathematician Leibniz in 1673.
(+,-,*,/)
II- Mechanical Counting Machines
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1810
4- Punched Cards were used by the French weaver
Joseph Jacquard in 1810. The cards carried
weaving instructions for the looms, later this idea
offered a great use for storing info.
II- Mechanical Counting Machines
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1832
5- Charles Babbage’s first
computer - Difference
Engines to produce tables
of numbers.
This device had mechanical problems similar to those
that plagued Pascal and Leibniz.
Charles Babbage 2nd Computer
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1858
Analytical engine
general-purpose
used binary system
punched cards as input
branch on result of previous
instruction
Ada Lovelace (first programmer)
machined parts not accurate
enough
never quite completed
The Invention of the Vacuum Tube
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6- Initially discovered by
Thomas Edison, the vacuum 1883
tube formed the building
block for the entire
electronics industry.
Vacuum tubes were later
used as electron valves in
the 20th century to build the
first electronic computers.
III- Electrical Counting Machines
1888
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In US - Herman Hollerith invented a
calculating machine that used:
along with punched
cards instead of mechanical gears.
III- Electrical Counting Machines
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• Hollerith’s machine was immensely successful. The
general count of the population, then 63 million,
took only 6 weeks to calculate!
• Based on the success of his invention, Herman
Hollerith and some friends formed a company that
sold his invention all over the world. The company
eventually became known as:
International Business Machines IBM
III- Electrical Counting Machines
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1943
51 feet long and weighed over 5 tons
11- MARK I was built by a team from IBM and
Harvard University. Mark I used mechanical
telephone switches to store information. It accepted
data on punched cards, processed it and then
output the new data.
IV- Electronic Counting Machines
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1946
The ENIAC was the first US-built all-electronic
computer built to perform ballistics
calculations. (Away from IBM)
IV- Electronic Counting Machines
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1951
EDVAC (Electronic
Discrete Variable
Automatic Computer)
UNIVAC (Universal
Automatic Calculator)
Two Inventions that changed the way
computers are built!!
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1- The Transistor: The most significant
1946
single invention of the modern era.
It was invented by 3 scientists at At&T’s
Bell Labs.
* Transistors are smaller (sometimes
microscopic)
* Fast and don’t need to warm up.
Transistors on a circuit board
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Resistors
Transistors
Capacitor
Two Inventions that changed the way
computers are built!!
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2- The (IC) Integrated Circuit
1961
The IC revolutionized the entire
electronic technology.
Ex: The Pentium Processor contains
3.1 Million Transistors in 1.5 inch
square!
1975 - 1981
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What Is a Computer?
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0
Computer
Take input, process input and provide output
Performs computations and makes logical decisions
Millions / billions times faster than human beings
Computer programs
Sets of instructions by which a computer processes data
Hardware
Physical devices of computer system
Software
Programs that run on computers
2003 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved. (modified by Evan Korth)
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COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Robotics & Industrial Automation
Office Automation
Telecommunications
Electronic Financial Transactions (Bank)
Personal Computers
E-Mail & Teleconferencing
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Robotics & Industrial Automation
Internet
Merits and Demerits of Computer
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Merits:
1. Speed: very high speed. Speed is measured in MIPS and BIPS.
2. Accuracy : The results are very correct.
3. Reliability: It gives correct and consistent result always
4. Storage capability: Stores large amounts of data
5. Versatility: Can do different types of jobs
6. Diligence: It won’t get tired
De-Merits:-
1. Non-Intelligent:
It performs the given instructions only.
It does not think on its own.
It does not possess any intelligence for analyzing the problem on its own
2. Inactive: If no power supply, it won’t work.
Classifications of Computers
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1. Super-computers
2. Mainframe computers
3. Mini-computers (or mid-range computers)
4. Micro-computers
Microcomputer Types
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Desktop Netbooks
Media center system units Tablet PC
Notebook or laptop Handheld
Mini Computers
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A mini computer faster than a microcomputer.
High cost than microcomputers
Uses: Industries, Factories
10 SQ Feet area
10 Terminal
connected to CPU
Eg: Prime 997
MainFrame Computers
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A mainframe computer is faster than a mini
computer.
1000 sq. feet area and the most expensive system
100 Terminals +CPU
Govenments,Universities
Eg:IBM1401
Super Computers
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These computers are the fastest, most expensive the
extremely powerful
Complex mathematical calculations
GPS
Nuclear Research
Eg: Param
Computer Organization
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Six logical units of computer system
Input unit
Mouse, keyboard
Output unit
Printer, monitor, audio speakers
Memory unit
Retains input and processed information
Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
Performs calculations
Central processing unit (CPU)
Supervises operation of other devices
Secondary storage unit
Hard drives, floppy drives
Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
2003 Prentice
Block Diagram of Computer
System Unit
29 Storage
HD
RAM
Registers
CU
ALU
CPU
Machine Languages, Assembly
Languages, and High-level Languages
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Three types of programming languages
Machine languages
Strings of numbers giving machine specific instructions
Example:
100001001011011010101010101010110
Assembly languages
English-like abbreviations representing elementary
computer operations (translated via assemblers)
Example:
LOAD BASEPAY
ADD OVERPAY
STORE GROSSPAY
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2000 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
Machine Languages, Assembly
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Languages, and High-level Languages
High-level languages
Instructions closer to everyday English
English is a natural language. Although high level
programming languages are closer to natural languages,
it is difficult to get too close due to the ambiguities in
natural languages (a statement in English can mean
different things to different people – obviously that is
unacceptable for computer programming).
However, this is a big research area of computer science.
Use mathematical notations (translated via compilers)
Example:
grossPay = basePay + overTimePay
Interpreter – Executes high level language programs without
compilation. 31
2003 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved. (modified by Evan Korth)
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