Computer Fundamentals And
Applications
BY MS. ANGELA KAFURIA
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
❖ Understand what is a Computer
❖ Know the history of Computer
❖ Know the types of Computer
INTRODUCTION
Information Concepts:
❖ Data can be defined as a raw facts that has no meaning. Data does not
depend on information and it is not enough to make decision. These are
concepts, or instructions in a formalized manner, which should be
suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by human or
electronic machine
❖ Information is referred to as a processed data that has a meaning and
purpose. Information depends on data, and can be used to make
decision. Information has some meaningful values for the receiver.
❖ Knowledge: Knowledge can be described as actionable information. It is
what we know, and is unique to each individual.
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
A computer is a programmable
electronic device that accepts raw
data as input and processes it with
a set of instructions (a program) to
produce the result as output.
CONTINUE…
A computer is a programmable device that take in data
as input, stores and process the data then gives it as
information.
FUNCTIONALITIES OF A
COMPUTER
A computer performs the following main activities:
❖Accept data through devices like keyboard, scanner
❖Stores the data/instructions in its temporary
memory for processing.
❖Generates meaningful output from processed data
and displays it through output devices.
❖Stores the data permanent if required by user.
FUNCTIONALITIES OF A
COMPUTER
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
1.High Speed
Computer is a very fast device.
It is capable of performing calculation of very large
amount of data.
The computer has units of speed in microsecond,
nanosecond, and even the picosecond.
It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds
as compared to man who will spend many months to
perform the same task.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
2.Accuracy
In addition to being very fast, computers are very
accurate.
The calculations are 100% error free.
Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy
provided that the input is correct.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
3.Storage Capability
Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.
A computer has much more storage capacity than
human beings.
It can store large amount of data.
It can store any type of data such as images, videos,
text, audio, etc.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
4.Diligence
A human cannot work for several hours without resting,
yet a computer never tires.
A computer can conduct millions of calculations per
second with complete precision without stopping.
It can perform repeated tasks with the same speed and
accuracy.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
5.Versatility
A computer can perform multiple tasks at the same time
this is known as versatility.
Computer perform different types of tasks with the same
accuracy and efficiency.
A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be
done.
Eg. Playing music and working on word at the same
time.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
6.Reliability
A computer is a reliable machine.
The output results never differ unless the input varies
(garbage in garbage out)
Modern electronic components have long lives.
Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM
7.Automation
Computer is an automatic machine.
Automation is the ability to perform a given task
automatically.
A computer may conduct tasks automatically after
instructions are programmed. This automation will
eradicate the need of a human interaction. This leads us
to AI.
DISADVANTAGES OF
COMPUTERS
Computer has No I.Q.
▪A computer is a machine that has no intelligence
quotient to perform any task.
▪Each instruction has to be given to the computer.
▪A computer cannot take any decision on its own.
▪It is dependency
▪It functions as per the user’s instruction, thus it is fully
dependent on humans.
DISADVANTAGES OF
COMPUTERS
Potential of loss of privacy
With computers storing so much personal information,
it's at risk of getting into the hands of others. Once a
malicious person has your information, can use it in
appropriate.
DISADVANTAGES OF
COMPUTERS
Can limit learning and create a dependency
With the use of internet computers can be a perfect
place to get information. But it can make you
dependency
For example, auto correct and auto fill.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Assignment:
We are in 5th Industrial Revolution and computers are
one of the major piece taking us through. Using your
own words explain 10 areas where computers are very
useful in our life.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Business
A computer has high speed of
calculation, diligence, accuracy,
reliability, or versatility which has
made it an integrated part in all
business organizations.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Computer is used in business organizations for:
❖Payroll calculations
❖Budgeting
❖Sales analysis
❖Financial forecasting
❖Managing employee database
❖Maintenance of stocks, etc.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Banking
Today, banking is almost
totally dependent on
computers.
Banks provide the following facilities:
Online accounting facility, which includes checking
current balance, making deposits and overdrafts,
checking interest charges, shares, and trustee records.
ATM machines which are completely automated are
making it even easier for customers to deal with banks.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Insurance
Insurance companies are
keeping all records up-to-date
with the help of computers.
Insurance companies, finance
houses, and stock broking
firms are widely using
computers for their concerns.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Insurance companies are maintaining a database of all
clients with information showing:
❖Procedure to continue with policies
❖Starting date of the policies
❖Next due installment of a policy
❖Maturity date
❖Interests due
❖Survival benefits
❖Bonus
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Education
The computer helps in
providing a lot of facilities in
the education system.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
❖The computer provides a tool in the education system known as
CBE (Computer Based Education).
❖CBE involves control, delivery, and evaluation of learning.
❖Computer education is rapidly increasing the graph of number of
computer students.
❖There are a number of methods in which educational
institutions can use a computer to educate the students.
❖ It is used to prepare a database about performance of a student
and analysis is carried out on this basis.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Marketing
In marketing, uses of the
computer are following:
Advertising - With computers,
advertising professionals create
art and graphics, write and
revise copy, and print and
disseminate ads with the goal of
selling more products.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Home Shopping - Home shopping has been made
possible through the use of computerized catalogues that
provide access to product information and permit direct
entry of orders to be filled by the customers.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Healthcare
Computers have become an
important part in hospitals, labs,
and dispensaries. They are being
used in hospitals to keep the
record of patients and medicines.
It is also used in scanning and
diagnosing different diseases.
ECG, EEG, ultrasounds and CT
scans, etc. are also done by
computerized machines.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Following are some major fields of health care in which computers
are used.
❖Diagnostic System - Computers are used to collect data and
identify the cause of illness.
❖Lab-diagnostic System - All tests can be done and the reports
are prepared by computer.
❖Patient Monitoring System - These are used to check the
patient's signs for abnormality such as in Cardiac Arrest, ECG,
etc.
❖Pharma Information System - Computer is used to check
drug labels, expiry dates, harmful side effects, etc.
❖Surgery - Nowadays, computers are also used in performing
surgery.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Engineering Design
Computers are widely used for
Engineering purpose.
One of the major areas is CAD
(Computer Aided Design) that
provides creation and
modification of images. Some of
the fields are:
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
❖Structural Engineering - Requires stress and strain
analysis for design of ships, buildings, budgets,
airplanes, etc.
❖Industrial Engineering - Computers deal with design,
implementation, and improvement of integrated
systems of people, materials, and equipment.
❖Architectural Engineering - Computers help in
planning towns, designing buildings, determining a
range of buildings
❖on a site using both 2D and 3D drawings.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Military
Computers are largely used in
defense. Modern tanks, missiles,
weapons, etc. Military also employs
computerized control systems. Some
military areas where a computer has
been used are:
❖Missile Control
❖Military Communication
❖Military Operation and Planning
❖Smart Weapons
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Communication
Communication is a way to
convey a message, an idea, a
picture, or speech that is
received and understood
clearly and correctly by the
person for whom it is meant.
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Some main areas in this category are:
❖E-mail
❖Chatting
❖Usenet
❖ FTP
❖Telnet
❖Video-conferencing
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
Government
Computers play an important role in
government services. Some major fields in
this category are:
Budgets
Sales tax department
Income tax department
Computation of male/female ratio
Computerization of voters lists
Computerization of PAN card
Weather forecasting
Computer Generations
There are five computer generations known to date.
Each generation has been discussed in detail along with
their time period and characteristics. In the following
table, approximate dates against each generation has
been mentioned, which are normally accepted.
Computer Generations
SN Generation & Description
1 First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based. Machine
language was developed(0’s and 1’s). Magnetic drums for memory
,complicated, large, expensive.
2 Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based. COBOL
and FORTAN as assembly n programing languages.
3 Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based. High
level programing language like PASCAL.
4 Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. Invention of microprocessor.
Prog lang such as C,C++ and java. Home based computer produced.
5 Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor based.
First Generation Computers
The period of first generation was from 1946-1959.
The computers of first generation used vacuum
tubes as the basic components for memory and
circuitry for CPU (Central Processing Unit). These
tubes, like electric bulbs, produced a lot of heat and
the installations used to fuse frequently. Therefore,
they were very expensive and only large
organizations were able to afford it.
First Generation Computers
In this generation, mainly
batch processing operating
system was used. Punch
cards, paper tape, and
magnetic tape was used as
input and output devices.
The computers in this
generation used machine
code as the programming
language.
First Generation Computers
The main features of the first generation are:
❖Vacuum tube technology
❖Unreliable
❖Supported machine language only
❖Very costly
❖Generated a lot of heat
❖Slow input and output devices
❖Huge size
❖Need of AC
❖Non-portable
❖ Consumed a lot of electricity
First Generation Computers
Some computers of this generation were:
ENIAC
EDVAC
UNIVAC
IBM-701
IBM-650
Second Generation Computers
The period of second generation was from 1959-1965. In
this generation, transistors were used that were cheaper,
consumed less power, more compact in size, more
reliable and faster than the first generation machines
made of vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic
cores were used as the primary memory and magnetic
tape and magnetic disks as secondary storage devices.
In this generation, assembly language and high-level
programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL were
used. The computers used batch processing and
multiprogramming operating system.
Second Generation Computers
The main features of second generation are:
❖Use of transistors
❖Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
❖Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
❖Generated less heat as compared to first generation computers
❖Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers
❖Faster than first generation computers
❖Still very costly
❖AC required
❖ Supported machine and assembly languages
Second Generation Computers
Some computers of this
generation were:
❖ IBM 1620
❖IBM 7094
❖ CDC 1604
❖CDC 3600
❖UNIVAC 1108
