BASIC COMPUTER C

ONCEPTS AND
PRINCIPLES OF COM
PUTER
Computer – an electronic device that is capable of
solving problems or manipulating data by accepting d
ata as input, performing prescribed operations both m
athematical and logical on the data, and then supplyi
ng the results of these operations.
 an electronic device that can store and process data
into valuable information.
 an electronic machine that follows a set of instructions in o
rder that it may be able to accept and gather data and tra
nsform these into information.

Data – any collection of facts or raw materials gathered

from one or more sources.

Information – the finished or processed data.

Information Processing System
 DATA is a collection of independent and unor
ganized facts.
 INFORMATION is the processed and organize
d data presented in a meaningful form.
 DATA PROCESSING is the course of doing thin
gs in a sequence of steps.
Functions of an Information Proc
essing System
1. It accepts and gather data. (INPUT)
2. It processes data to become information. (PROCE
SSING)
3. It stores data and information. (STORE)
4. It presents information. (OUTPUT)
PROCESSING S
YSTEM

INFORMATION
Three Major Components of an I
nformation Processing System
 HARDWARE is the tangible part of a computer system.
 SOFTWARE is the non-tangible part that tells the computer how
to do its job.
 PEOPLEWARE refer to people who use and operate the compu
ter system, write computer programs, and analyze and design
the information system.
Basic Units of Measurement

 BIT is a unit of information equivalent to the result of

a choice between only 2 possible alternatives in the
binary number system.
 BYTE is a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent on
e character of alphanumeric data) processed as a
single unit for information.
Basic Units of Measurement

 A byte can be used to represent a single character,

which can be:
 A letter
 A number
 A special character or symbol, or
 A space
 Classification of Computers
A. Classification by Purpose
1. General-Purpose Computer - has the capability to store dif
ferent programs of instructions and thus to perform a vari
ety of operations.

2. Special Purpose Computers – designed to perform one spe

cific task.
B. Classification by Data Handled
1. Digital Computers - a machine that is specialize in counting of items that
are distinct from one another.
2. Analog Computers – machine that deals with quantities that are continuo
us variable.

3. Hybrid Computers – machine that combines the measuring capabiliti

es of the analog and digital computer.

C. Classification Accdg. to Capacity

1. Microcomputers – it has from 4k to 64k storage locations.

2. Minicomputers – usually have from 8k to 256k memory storage locati

on.

3. Medium-size Computers - has a memory size ranging from 32k to 51

2k.
 4. Large Computers – has storage capabilities from 512
k to 8192k.
5. Supercomputers – machine that have the capabilities
far beyond the traditional large-scale systems.
6. Microcontollers – also called “Embedded Computers
”
7. Mainframe Computers – are less powerful, not quite
so fast, and somewhat less expensive than supercomputers

What Computers Can Do?

1. Data Processing – converting of data into information for
a useful output.
2. Control – control many devices and processes.
 3. Design and Development
4. Data Communication

Characteristics of a Computer:
 it is a machine
 it is electronic
 it is automatic
 it can manipulate data
 it has memory
 it has logic functions
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER
1. ABACUS – invented by the Chinese, considered being the first comp
uter that can perform simple addition and subtraction operations.
2. ADDING MACHINE/PASCALINE – invented by Blaise Pascal, the
first mechanical calculating machine that can perform addition and su
btraction.
3. LEIBNIZ MACHINE – invented by Gothfried Leibniz, performs the
four fundamental operations and square root.
4. DIFFERENCE ENGINE - invented by Charles Babbage, with a 20
decimal capacity that could solve mathematical problems.
5. ANALYTICAL ENGINE- invented by Charles Babbage, can perfor
m complex mathematical calculation, first general purpose computer.
Technological Evolution of Computers
1. First Generation (1951-1959)
- first generation computer were powered by thousands of vacuum
tubes.

2. Second Generation (1959-1965)

- invention of transistor.
TRANSISTOR – were smaller, faster, cheaper, required less power,
and produced less heat than vacuum tubes.

3. Third Generation (1965-1971)

- Integrated Circuits’ signifies the beginning of 3rd generation.
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS / IC’s – also known as chip, a single
wafer that can hold many transistors and electronic circuits.
4. Fourth Generation (1971 - present)
- the significant distinction for fourth generation computer
s lies on the techniques of implementation of integrated cir
cuits by using LARGE-SCALE INTEGRATION (LSI) of c
hips with several thousand transistors.

5. Fifth Generation (future)

- the use of computer w/ artificial intelligence (AI).
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE- indicate the ability to perfor
m humanlike thinking and reasoning.
Major Contributors to Computer Development
1. BLAISE PASCAL – invented the mechanical calculation machine wh
ich is the Pascaline/Adding Machine (1642).
2. JOSEPH MARIE JACQUARD- developed an automatic loom that
was controlled by punched card (1801).
3. CHARLES BABBAGE – the “father of computer”
- invented the first modern computer design, made a machine to auto
matically solve problems (1821).
4. ADA AUGUSTA LOVELACE – the “first computer programmer”
- the one who made the program for the invention of Charles Babbage
which is the Difference Engine (1842).
5. GEORGE BOOLE- developed binary algebra or also kno
wn as Boolean Algebra (1852).
6. HERMAN HOLLERITH – the “father of information pro
cessing” ,the first person to successfully use punched cards
(1890).
PUNCHED CARD- was the most popular method for ent
ering data into computers.
7. JOHN ATANASOFF and CLIFFORD BERRRY- they i
nvented the first all-electronic computer, called the ABC (1
942).
8. ALAN TURING- a British Mathematician who made histo
ry , used vacuum tube technology to build Britishh Colossu
s, to counteract the German code scrambling device ENIG
MA (1943).
- Built the ACE, w/c some consider to be the 1st programmabl
e digital computer (1950).
9. HOWARD AIKEN - he built the MARK
I
MARK I –the first automatic sequence-controlled calculator (1944).
10. JOHN VON NEUMAN – presented a paper outlining the stored-pro
gram concept.(1940).
11. PRESPER ECKERT and JOHN MAUCHLY- built the ENIAC in
1945
ENIAC– the 2nd general purpose electronic digital computer.
12. MAURICE WILKES- built the EDSAC in 1949
EDSAC- the first stored program computers
13. PRESPER ECKERT,JOHN MAUCHLY and JOHN VON NEU
MAN – built the EDVAC (1949)
14. AN WANG – developed magnetic core memory (1949).
15. JAY FORRESTER- organized magnetic-core memory to be more eff
icient (1949).
16. JOHN MAUCHLY and PRESPER ECKERT – built th
e UNIVAC I in 1951.
UNIVAC I – the 1st computer designed and sold commerc
ially, esp. For business data processing applications.
17. GRACE HOPPER – developed the UNIVAC I compiler
in 1950’s
-developed the COBOL programming language in 1961, -
found the 1st computer BUG.
18. BACKUS – one of a group of IBM engineers who devel
oped FORTRAN (1957).
19. JACK KILBY and ROBERT NOYCE – developed and
perfected the Integrated Circuit in 1959.
20. AMDAHL – designed the IBM system/360 series mainfra
me computers.
21. KEN OLSEN- founded DEC and produced the PDP-1 in 1963.
PDP -1 – the first minicomputer.
22. JOHN KEMENY and THOMAS KURTZ – developed BASIC pro
gramming language in 1965.
BASIC- the objective of this programming language is to help teach p
eople how to program.
23. HOFF – developed the famous INTEL 4004 microprocessor chip in 1
970.
24. ROBERTS- the “father of microcomputer”
-designed the first microcomputer which ALTAIR 8800 in kit form in
1975.
25. CRAY- developed the CRAY-1 supercomputer (1976).
26. STEVE JOBS and STEVE WOZNIAR – designed and built the firs
t Apple Microcomputer (1977).
27. DANIEL BRICKLIN and BOB FRANSTON – designed
VISICALC.
VISICALC- the first spreadsheet program.

USES OF COMPUTER
 used to keep records
 used for mathematical computations
 used to perform repetitive tasks w/o much intervention from th
e user.
 used for publishing
 used for entertainment
 used for telecommunication
Why computer sometimes fail?
1. GIGO (Garbage In- Garbage Out)
> used to express the idea that in computing and other spheres,
incorrect or poor quality input will always produce faulty output.
2. Programs contain errors or bugs that do not become evident until a spe
cific circumstance arises.
3. “Users” do not understand each ‘others’ needs or have not communica
ted successfully.
4. Improper controls can lead to sabotage the company and invasion of p
rivacy.
5. Lack of standards results to problems.
6. Manufacturer fails to supply needed spare parts, trained technicians, or
that particular machine model is no longer in production.