CHAPTER_1

Computer is an electronic device, which is calculating all the

arithmetic and logical function. It accepts input data process the data
as per the instruction of the user produce output.
Data :-
The data is a collection of related facts & figures.
Example student name, roll-on, DOB, mobile no etc
Information:-
The Collection of data that has been processed is known as
Information.
Characteristics of Computer:
Characteristics of computer are given below:–
Speed
2. Accuracy
3. Storage capacity
4. Automatic operation
5. Diligence
6. Versatility
7. Reliability
All are Characteristics described below:-
1.Speed:
Computer is a very fast device. It can execute basic operations like addition or
subtraction at a few microseconds for small machines and nanosecond for large
ones.
2.Accuracy:

Computer gives consistently accurate results. Their accuracy does not go down even
when they are used continuously for day’s another.
3.Storage Capacity:
A large volume of information can be stored in the memory of computer .The
information can be retrieved correctly when desired.
4.Automatic Operation:
Computer works automatically. Once data and program is fed to the computer it works
sequentially one after the other automatically .Human intervention is not
necessary for every operation.
5.Diligence:
A computer is free from problems lack of concentration. It can work for long hours
with the same accuracy and speed.
6.Versality:
Computer is a versatile machine. It is not fixed to any particular use or application. It
can cater to broad range of application. It can be used in all fields of life starting
from space research to domestic house.
7.Reliability:
Computer is fully reliable machine. In fact it never gives error. All error that comes out
is because of human error.
Use of Computer/ Application of Computer:
Computer is a very fast, accurate and reliable machine. It is no more
considered as a machine for doing. Scientific and engineering calculations .It is
used in all walks of life. Today computers are used in-
Defense setup
Design ,testing ,monitoring in the space program
Helps in handling and manipulating voluminous data in Business organization.
Designing new machines and equipments.
Scientific and engineering calculations.
Hospital management.
Educational Aids.
Railway, Bus and Airway reservation system.
Banking, Transactions.
Films and TV programs creating special Audio and video effects.
Measurement Units of Memory:
Bit – Binary digit. It means either 0 or 1.
1 Nibble – 4bits – It means collection of 4 characters.
1 Byte = 8bits
1 Kilo Byte (KB) = 1024 Bytes
1 Mega Byte (MB) = 1024 KB
1 Giga Byte (GB) = 1024 MB
1 Tera Byte (TB) = 1024 GB 1Yotta Byte=1024 ZB
1 Peta byte =1024TB 1Bronto Byte=1024 YB
1 Exa byte =1024PB 1 Geop byte= 1024 Bb
1 Zetta Byte =1024EB
EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER
Evolution of computer took place over thousands of years and finally we reached
the modern age computers. The evolution process is significantly characterized by
the following developments.
ABACUS (Abundant Bit Automatic Calculator Universal System)
It is the First mathematical device developed for arithmetic computations. It was
invented by Chinese in 450 BC. It consists of a set of wires with mounted beads.
This was used for addition and subtraction operations.
PASCAL MACHINE
After abacus an arithmetic machine was developed by famous mathematician
Blaise Pascal in 1642. It has toothed wheels for units, tens, hundreds, thousands
etc. positions. Each wheel moves for units of that position of the numbers. It is
similar in functioning to that of odometer of motor vehicles. Addition and
subtraction operations were possible.
LEIBNITZ MACHINE
Famous German Mathematician developed a computing machine 1694 which
could perform multiplication and Division also. This machine lacks precision.
BABBAGE’S MACHINE
Charles Babbage of UK devised a machine called Analytical Engine in 1863 which
could perform arithmetic operations and store the data. This was a mechanical
general purpose computer.
HOLLERITH PUNCHED CARD
Herman Hollerith of USA developed punched card machine to process census data. The
card is placed on a metallic plate. Wired brush moves on the card and makes contact
with the plate in the punched holes and generates electrical pulses. This was very much
popular for data processing work.
ENIAC
1943 saw the milestone; with the development of Electronic Numeric Integrator and
Calculator (ENIAC) in USA. It had nearly 18000 vacuum tubes and several registers and
capacitors. The weight was approximately 5 tones. It needed Air conditioning. The failure
of vacuum tube was very frequent. This was the first electronic calculating machine.
EDSAC
Earlier machines did not have the facility of storing instructions in memory. John Von
Neumann, for the first time introduced the concept of stored program in memory.
Present Days computers are based on this concept and hence the architecture is called
John Von Neumann Architecture. Neumann is also sometimes referred as father of
modern computers. The machine called EDSAC (Electronic Delayed Storage Automatic
Computer) was developed in1949 and was the first digital computer to have stored
program concept.
UNIVAC
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was first commercially available computer in
1951. It was used for census work in USA. It had both numeric and alphabetic data
processing.
Generation of Computer:
The development of computers is classified into different generation depending upon
the device technology, Architecture, Operational mode, Devices being used, Speed etc. Each
generation is considered to have about 10years time span.

1st Generation Computer (1942-1955):

1st Generation computer were marked by use of Vacuum tubes.
Electrostatic tube or mercury delay Lines were used for storage.
Punched Card was common input media.
Programs were written in machine level language, assembly language.
ENIAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC were some popular computers.
The speed of computer mini second.
Batch processing operating system was common operating system.
These computers suffer from the drawbacks like large size, slow speed, and heavy heat
generation, higher rate of failures, Air conditioning requirement, and high power consumption.

2nd Generation Computer (1956-1965):

2nd Generation computer were marked by use of transistor in place of Vacuum tubes.
Magnetic Core was used for storage device.
Keyboard, VDU was common input and output device.
Programs were written FORTRAN, COBOL, ALGOL used for programming.
Speed was measurement Micro second.
Multi-Programming operating system was common operating system.
IBM-1400, IBM-7000 was some popular computers.
Advantages:
Use of transistor reduces the size and cost. It also requires less
power and less heat is generated.

3rd Generation Computer (1966-1975):

1. Third generation computers were marked by use of
Integrated Circuits (IC). An IC is a chip containing a number
of registers, transistors and capacitors.
2. Semi conductors were use storage device.
3. Keyboard, Joystick, Monitor was common input and output
device.
4. Programs were written BASIC, Pascal, C used for
programming language.
5. Speeds were measure Nanosecond.
6. Multi-programming operating system was common used.
7. IBM-360, ICL-1900 was some popular computers used.
Advantages:
Size becomes still smaller and speed becomes faster. It is also
less expensive.
4th Generation Computer (1975-1985):
1. Fourth generation computers were marked by use of LSI and VLSI
techniques and also micro-processor. The developments in the field of IC
technology LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuits) and VLSI (Very Large
Scale Integrated Circuits) technology came into being.
2. Floppy Disk, Optical Disk, hard disk memory were use storage device.
3. Keyboard, Microphone, Scanner, VDU, and Printer was common input and
output device.
4. Programming was written C++, Java, SQL used for Programming language.
5. Speeds were measure picoseconds.
6. Networking Distributed operating system was common used.
7. P1, P2, P3, P4 were some popular computers used.

5th Generation Computer (1985-Onwards):

The fifth generation computers are under development. These computers are
characterized by extensive use of parallel processing and presence of Artificial
intelligence. Capability and power wise it will be very much effective. It will have
special features for NLP and Image Processing.
Classification of Computer:
Computers are classified broadly into 3types according to construction and working
principles.
1. Analog Computer
2. Digital Computer
3. Hybrid Computer

1. Analog Computer:
These computers work on the principle of measurement of continuous change in
physical qualities like pressure, Temperature, speed, Voltage these computers are used
mostly in industrial and process control system. It cost is also less, Accuracy factor is
less.

2. Digital Computer:
These computers work on the principle of counting discrete numbers known as Binary
numbers. Everything has to be represented in term of binary numbers. These can be
used in any field. It has broad range of usage it has large number of components and
hence costly also. Accuracy is very high in Digital computers. Everywhere we find Digital
computer.

Digital computers are further classified into mostly 3types.

a) Main Frame Computer
b) Mini Computer
c) Micro-Computer
(A) Main Frame Computer:
Size-wise this is the largest computer power and feature-wise also. It is most
powerful and costly also. It is a multi-user system. The major features of these
computers are:-

CPU - 30 to 1000MIPS
Word Length - 64 bits
Storage - 1TB to 1 PB
Input / Output Device – All types Input / Output Devices are used
Operating System - All types except MS Dos.
Area of use - Space Research, Industries, Universities.
(B) Mini Computer:
This type of computer is smallest than main frame computer but bigger in size
than micro-computer. It performance-wise it is medium size. It is a multiuser
system. The major features of these computers are:-

CPU - 10 to 30 MIPS
Word Length - 32 bits
Storage – 1GB TO 1TB
Input / Output Devices - All type of Input / output Devices can be
Used.
Operating system – All type of Operating system except Dos is
Supported.
Area of use – Engineering & Scientific organization, Education
Instruction, Universities, Defense Unit etc.
(c) Micro Computer:
This is smallest size computer. It is mostly single user machine. The Micro
processor is the main CPU of the computer. Micro computers are developed
gradually and now have come to such a stage that the gap between micro
computer and Minicomputer is very less. This Micro computer is used in almost
all places. It is very easy to use. The main unit of Micro computer is the Micro
Processor. Depending on the micro processor used the performance of the micro
computer is judged. This Micro computer is otherwise known as personal
computer.
3. Hybrid Computer:
This type of computer has the feature of both analog and digital computers. It can
accept continuous change in physical quantities and then convert them to digital
numbers. Digital data is processed and the output may be produced in printed
form or in analog form. These are designed for specific purpose and costly.
Super Computer:
These are the fastest computers. These machines are specially designed to
maximize the number of FLOPS (Floating Point Operation Per-Second). Anything
below 1kg FLOPS is not considered to be a super computer. Super computer has
unique highly parallel architecture in order to achieve these speed and effective
only on a small range of problems. Super computer are used for large scale
numerical calculations, such as weather forecasting, Air craft design.
According to Transportability

(1) Desktop Computer

Size of Desk model. Difficult to Transport comparable to laptop.
Massive weight than laptop.
Occupies total area of Desk.
Used in Every sector; like:- Offices, Banks, Industry etc
Example: HP, COMPAQ, accer, Intel etc

(2) Laptop / Notebook/Briefcase Computer

Size of a small, slim, and attached case.
2 to 4 kgs in weight.
Bulky when compared to Desktop PC.
Rugged in design.
The difference between laptops and notebooks is their weight.
Examples: HP Omni Book 3100, COMPAQ Armada , 1592DT

(3) Palmtop
Size of a large pocket calculator
Applications are limited and in-built
They are useful for data entry operations in the field
Example: Hewlett-Packard's IPaq line (The h1945 and
H5555), and Toshiba's e755
 (4) PDA
Stands for Personal Digital Assistant
Is handheld computing device that allows I/O operations on data
Contains at least one database with names and address book, to-do lists, memo pad,
notepad, and a library of medical information.
Has a feature that includes networking, wireless communication
features, voice recording, and telephone/fax integration. Example: Apple Newton, Casio
Cassiopeia, Nokia Series60, Dell's Axim, Newton Message Pad, Palm III
(former Pilot), Psion Series 3 and 5, CASIO Z-7000.