TRANSFORMING

OPPORTUNITY
ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS C5-CE1-20

 What comes to mind when you hear
the word “computer”

Today we’ll explore the fundamental

concepts that shape our digital
world
WEEK 1 From basic terminology to the
fascinating history of computing

How have computers transformed

from room-sized machines to pocket
devices?
What is a Computer?

• An electronic device that processes data according to instructions

• Accepts input, processes information, and produces output
• Can store and retrieve information for future use
• Think about it: How many computers do you interact with daily?
• Examples: smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, smart TVs
The Four Basic Computer Operations

• Input: Receiving data (keyboard, mouse,

microphone, camera)
• Processing: Manipulating data using the CPU
• Output: Presenting results (monitor, speakers,
printer)
• Storage: Saving data for later use (hard drive,
memory)
• Can you identify these operations when you send a
text message?
Hardware vs. Software

• Hardware: Physical components you can touch

• Examples: CPU, memory, keyboard, monitor, motherboard
• Software: Instructions that tell hardware what to do
• Examples: operating systems, applications, games, web browsers
• Question: Is a USB drive hardware or software? What about the files on it?
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• The "brain" of the computer that executes

instructions
• Measured in gigahertz (GHz) - billions of
cycles per second
• Contains millions or billions of tiny transistors
• Modern CPUs can have multiple cores for
parallel processing
• Why do you think faster CPUs generally cost
more?
Memory and Storage

• RAM (Random Access Memory): Temporary, fast storage for active programs
• ROM (Read-Only Memory): Permanent storage for essential system instructions
• Hard drives and SSDs: Long-term storage for files and programs
• The more RAM you have, the more programs you can run simultaneously
• What happens to data in RAM when you turn off your computer?
Input and Output Devices

• Input devices: Keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, microphone,

camera
• Output devices: Monitor, speakers, printer, headphones
• Some devices are both input and output (touchscreens, USB
drives)
• Emerging technologies: Voice recognition, gesture control,
VR headsets
• How has smartphone technology changed our concept of
input/output?
Operating Systems

• Software that manages computer hardware and other programs

• Provides user interface and file management
• Examples: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
• Acts as intermediary between applications and hardware
• Which operating system are you most familiar with and why?
Types of Computers

• Personal computers: Desktops and

laptops for individual use
• Mobile devices: Smartphones and tablets
• Servers: Powerful computers that serve
data to other computers
• Supercomputers: Extremely fast
computers for complex calculations
• How do the computing needs differ
between these types?
Early Computing Concepts

• Ancient counting tools: Abacus (3000+ years ago)

• Mechanical calculators: Pascal's calculator (1642)
• Punch card systems for data storage and processing
• The concept of programmable machines emerged gradually
• Why do you think humans have always sought tools to help with calculations?
Charles Babbage and the Analytical Engine

• Often called the "father of the computer" (1791-1871)

• Designed the Analytical Engine in the 1830s
• Featured input, processing, output, and storage - sound familiar?
• Never fully built due to technology limitations of the time
• How might history have changed if his machine had been completed?
Ada Lovelace: The First Programmer

• Worked with Charles Babbage on the Analytical Engine

• Wrote the first computer algorithm in 1843
• Recognized that computers could do more than just calculations
• Envisioned computers processing music and graphics
• Why is it significant that the first programmer was a woman?
The Electronic Era Begins

• ENIAC (1946): First general-purpose electronic computer

• Used 18,000 vacuum tubes and filled an entire room
• Weighed 30 tons and consumed enormous amounts of electricity
• Could perform calculations 1,000 times faster than manual methods
• Compare this to the computer in your pocket today!
The Transistor Revolution

• Invented in 1947 at Bell Labs

• Replaced bulky, unreliable vacuum tubes
• Much smaller, faster, and more reliable
• Made modern computing possible
• How did miniaturization change what computers could do?
The Personal Computer Revolution

• 1960s: Multiple transistors combined on single

chips
• 1971: Intel 4004, the first microprocessor
• Enabled personal computers to become reality
• Moore's Law: Computing power doubles
approximately every two years
• Do you think Moore's Law will continue
indefinitely?
The Personal Computer Revolution

• 1970s-1980s: Computers became accessible to individuals

• Apple II, IBM PC, and Commodore 64 brought computing home
• User-friendly interfaces replaced complex command lines
• Software industry exploded with applications and games
• What made personal computers appealing to everyday users?
The Internet Age

• ARPANET (1969): Predecessor to the

modern internet
• 1990s: World Wide Web made internet
user-friendly
• Email, websites, and online
communication transformed society
• Computers evolved from standalone
devices to connected networks
• How has internet connectivity changed
your daily life?
The Mobile Computing Era

• Laptops made computing portable in the 1980s-1990s

• Smartphones combined computing with communication
• Tablets created new categories of mobile devices
• Cloud computing allows access to data anywhere
• What advantages and challenges does mobile computing create?
Modern Computing Trends

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Cloud computing and distributed systems
• Internet of Things (IoT) - everyday objects
becoming "smart"
• Quantum computing for solving complex
problems
• Which of these trends do you think will have
the biggest impact?
Looking to the Future

• Computers continue to become faster, smaller, and more powerful

• New interfaces: voice, gesture, brain-computer interaction
• Emerging fields: robotics, virtual reality, biotechnology
• Ethical considerations: privacy, job displacement, digital divide
• How do you envision computers evolving in the next decade?
Thank you

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