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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
Contents

• Digital and analog computers

• Characteristics of computer—Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability, versatility
• History of computer—Calculating machines, Napier’s bones, slide rule, Pascal's adding
and subtraction machine, Leibniz's multiplication and dividing machine, punch card
system, Babbage's analytical engine, Hollerith's punched card tabulating machine
• Generations of computer
o First generation (1940 to 1956): Using vacuum tubes
o Second generation (1956 to 1963): Using transistors
o Third generation (1964 to 1971): Using integrated circuits
o Fourth generation (1971 to present): Using microprocessors
o Fifth generation (present and next): Using artificial intelligence
• Classification of computer—Microcomputers (desktop computer or Personal Computer
(PC), notebook computers or laptop, netbook, tablet computer, handheld computer or
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), smart phones), minicomputers, mainframe computers,
supercomputers )
• The computer system—Hardware, software, data, users
• The Input-process-output concept
• Components of computer hardware—Input/output unit, central processing unit, storage
unit
• Application of computers—Education, entertainment, sports, advertising, medicine,
science and

The term computer is derived from the word compute. The word compute means to calculate. A
computer is an electronic machine that accepts data from the user, processes the data by
performing calculations and operations on it, and generates the desired output results. Computer
performs both simple and complex operations, with speed and accuracy.

1.1 DIGITAL AND ANALOG COMPUTERS

A digital computer uses distinct values to represent the data internally. All information are
represented using the digits Os and 1s. The computers that we use at our homes and offices are
digital computers.

Analog computer is another kind of a computer that represents data as variable across a
continuous range of values. The earliest computers were analog computers. Analog computers
are used for measuring of parameters that vary continuously in real time, such as temperature,
pressure and voltage. Analog computers may be more flexible but generally less precise than
digital computers. Slide rule is an example of an analog computer.
1.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER

Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability and versatility are some of the key characteristics
of a computer. A brief overview of these characteristics are—

• Speed The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions of instructions per
second. Some calculations that would have taken hours and days to complete otherwise,
can be completed in a few seconds using the computer. For example, calculation and
generation of salary slips of thousands of employees of an organization, weather
forecasting that requires analysis of a large amount of data related to temperature,
pressure and humidity of various places, etc.
• Accuracy Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For example, the computer can
accurately give the result of division of any two numbers up to 10 decimal places.
• Diligence When used for a longer period of time, the computer does not get tired or
fatigued. It can perform long and complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy
from the start till the end.
• Storage Capability Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the computer
and also retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of data can be stored,
temporarily, in the primary memory. Secondary storage devices like floppy disk and
compact disk can store a large amount of data permanently.
• Versatility Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform different types of tasks with the
same ease. At one moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter document and in
the next moment you may play music or print a document.

1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER

The digital computers that are available nowadays vary in their sizes and types. The computers
are broadly classified into four categories based on their size and type—(1) Microcomputers, (2)
Minicomputers, (3) Mainframe computers, and (4) Supercomputer.

Figure 1.8 Classification of computers based on size and type

1.4 THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Computer is an electronic device that accepts data as input, processes the input data by
performing mathematical and logical operations on it, and gives the desired output. The
computer system consists of four parts•(1) Hardware, (2) Software, (3) Data, and (4) Users. The
parts of computer system are shown in Figure 1.13.

Hardware consists of the mechanical parts that make up the computer as a machine. The
hardware consists of physical devices of the computer. The devices are required for input,
output, storage and processing of the data. Keyboard, monitor, hard disk drive, floppy disk drive,
printer, processor and motherboard are some of the hardware devices.

Figure 1.13 Parts of computer system

Software is a set of instructions that tells the computer about the tasks to be performed and how
these tasks are to be performed. Program is a set of instructions, written in a language
understood by the computer, to perform a specific task. A set of programs and documents are
collectively called software. The hardware of the computer system cannot perform any task on
its own. The hardware needs to be instructed about the task to be performed. Software instructs
the computer about the task to be performed. The hardware carries out these tasks. Different
software can be loaded on the same hardware to perform different kinds of tasks.

Data are isolated values or raw facts, which by themselves have no much significance. For
example, the data like 29, January, and 1994 just represent values. The data is provided as input
to the computer, which is processed to generate some meaningful information. For example, 29,
January and 1994 are processed by the computer to give the date of birth of a person.

Users are people who write computer programs or interact with the computer. They are also
known as skinware, liveware, humanware or peopleware. Programmers, data entry operators,
system analyst and computer hardware engineers fall into this category.

1.7.1 The Input-Process-Output Concept

A computer is an electronic device that (1) accepts data, (2) processes data, (3) generates output,
and (4) stores data. The concept of generating output information from the input 4 data is also
referred to as input-process-output concept.

The input-process-output concept of the computer is explained as follows—

• Input The computer accepts input data from the user via an input device like keyboard.
The input data can be characters, word, text, sound, images, document, etc.
• Process The computer processes the input data. For this, it performs some actions on the
data by using the instructions or program given by the user of the data. The action could
be an arithmetic or logic calculation, editing, modifying a document, etc. During
processing, the data, instructions and the output are stored temporarily in the computer’s
main memory.
• Output The output is the result generated after the processing of data. The output may be
in the form of text, sound, image, document, etc. The computer may display the output on
a monitor, send output to the printer for printing, play the output, etc.
• Storage The input data, instructions and output are stored permanently in the secondary
storage devices like disk or tape. The stored data can be retrieved later, whenever needed.

1.7.2 Components of Computer Hardware

The computer system hardware comprises of three main components —

1. Input/Output (I/O) Unit,

2. Central Processing Unit (CPU), and
3. Memory Unit.

The I/O unit consists of the input unit and the output unit. CPU performs calculations and
processing on the input data, to generate the output. The memory unit is used to store the data,
the instructions and the output information. Figure 1.14 illustrates the typical interaction among
the different components of the computer.

Figure 1.14 The computer system interaction

 • Input/Output Unit The user interacts with the computer via the I/O unit. The Input unit
accepts data from the user and the Output unit provides the processed data i.e. the
information to the user. The Input unit converts the data that it accepts from the user, into
a form that is understandable by the computer. Similarly, the Output unit provides the
output in a form that is understandable by the user. The input is provided to the computer
using input devices like keyboard, trackball and mouse. Some of the commonly used
output devices are monitor and printer.
• Central Processing Unit CPU controls, coordinates and supervises the operations ofthe
computer. It is responsible for processing of the input data. CPU consists of Arithmetic
Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU).
o ALU performs all the arithmetic and logic operations on the input data.
o CU controls the overall operations of the computer i.e. it checks the sequence of
execution of instructions, and, controls and coordinates the overall functioning of
the units of computer.

Additionally, CPU also has a set of registers for temporary storage of data, instructions,
addresses and intermediate results of calculation.

• Memory Unit Memory unit stores the data, instructions, intermediate results and output,
temporarily, during the processing of data. This memory is also called the main memory
or primary memory of the computer. The input data that is to be processed is brought into
the main memory before processing. The instructions required for processing of data and
any intermediate results are also stored in the main memory. The output is stored in
memory before being transferred to the output device. CPU can work with the
information stored in the main memory. Another kind of storage unit is also referred toas
the secondary memory of the computer. The data, the programs and the output are stored
permanently in the storage unit of the computer. Magnetic disks, optical disks and
magnetic tapes are examples of secondary memory.

1.5 APPLICATION OF COMPUTERS

Computers have proliferated into various areas of our lives. For a user, computer is a tool that
provides the desired information, whenever needed. You may use computer to get information
about the reservation of tickets (railways, airplanes and cinema halls), books in a library, medical
history of a person, a place in a map, or the dictionary meaning of a word. The information may
be presented to you in the form of text, images, video clips, etc.

Figure 1.15 shows some of the applications of computer. Some of the application areas of the
computer are listed below—

• Education Computers are extensively used, as a tool and as an aid, for imparting
education. Educators use computers to prepare notes and presentations of their lectures.
Computers are used to develop computer-based training packages, to provide distance
education using the e-learning software, and to conduct online examinations. Researchers
use computers to get easy access to conference and journal details and to get global
access to the research material.
• Entertainment Computers have had a major impact on the entertainment industry. The
user can download and view movies, play games, chat, book tickets for cinema halls, use
multimedia for making movies, incorporate visual and sound effects using computers,
etc. The users can also listen to music, download and share music, create music using
computers, etc.
• Sports A computer can be used to watch a game, view the scores, improve the game, play
games (like chess, etc.) and create games. They are also used for the purposes of training
players.
• Advertising Computer is a powerful advertising media. Advertisement can be displayed
on different websites, electronic-mails can be sent and reviews of a product by different
customers can be posted. Computers are also used to create an advertisement using the
visual and the sound effects. For the advertisers, computer is a medium via which the
advertisements can be viewed globally. Web advertising has become a significant factor
in the marketing plans of almost all companies. In fact, the business model of Google is
mainly dependent on web advertising for generating revenues.

Figure 1.15 Applications of computer

• Medicine Medical researchers and practitioners use computers to access information

about the advances in medical research or to take opinion of doctors globally. The
medical history of patients is stored in the computers. Computers are also an integralpart
of various kinds of sophisticated medical equipments like ultrasound machine, CAT scan
machine, MRI scan machine, etc. Computers also provide assistance to the medical
surgeons during critical surgery operations like laparoscopic operations, etc.
• Science and Engineering Scientists and engineers use computers for performing
complex scientific calculations, for designing and making drawings (CAD/CAM
applications) and also for simulating and testing the designs. Computers are used for
storing the complex data, performing complex calculations and for visualizing 3–
 dimensional objects. Complex scientific applications like the launch of the rockets, space
exploration, etc., are not possible without the computers.
• Government The government uses computers to manage its own operations and also for
e-governance. The websites of the different government departments provide information
to the users. Computers are used for the filing of income tax return, paying taxes, online
submission of water and electricity bills, for the access of land record details, etc. The
police department uses computers to search for criminals using fingerprint matching, etc.
• Home Computers have now become an integral part of home equipment. At home,
people use computers to play games, to maintain the home accounts, for communicating
with friends and relatives via Internet, for paying bills, for education and learning, etc.
Microprocessors are embedded in house hold utilities like, washing machines, TVs, food
processors, home theatres, security devices, etc.

The list of applications of computers is so long that it is not possible to discuss all of them here.
In addition to the applications of the computers discussed above, computers have also
proliferated into areas like banks, investments, stock trading, accounting, ticket reservation,
military operations, meteorological predictions, social networking, business organizations, police
department, video conferencing, telepresence, book publishing, web newspapers, and
information sharing.

SUMMARY

• Computer is an electronic device which accepts data as input, performs processing on the
data, and gives the desired output. A computer may be analog or digital computer.
• Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability and versatility are the main characteristics
of computer.
• The computing devices have evolved from simple mechanical machines, like ABACUS,
Napier’s bones, Slide Rule, Pascal’s Adding and Subtraction Machine, Leibniz’s
Multiplication and Dividing Machine, Jacquard Punched Card System, Babbage’s
Analytical Engine and Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine, to the first electronic computer.
• Charles Babbage is called the father of computer.
• The evolution of computers to their present state is divided into five generations of
computers, based on the hardware and software they use, their physical appearance and
their computing characteristics.
• First generation computers were vacuum tubes based machines. These were large in size,
expensive to operate and instructions were written in machine language. Their
computation time was in milliseconds.
• Second generation computers were transistor based machines. They used the stored
program concept. Programs were written in assembly language. They were smaller in
size, less expensive and required less maintenace than the first generation computers. The
computation time was in microseconds.
• Third generation computers were characterized by the use of IC. They consumed less
power and required low maintenance compared to their predecessors. High-level
languages were used for programming. The computation time was in nanoseconds. These
computers were produced commercially.
• Fourth generation computers used microprocessors which were designed using the LSI
and VLSI technology. The computers became small, portable, reliable and cheap. The
 computation time is in picoseconds. They became available both to the home user and for
commercial use.
• Fifth generation computers are capable of learning and self organization. These
computers use SLSI chips and have large memory requirements. They use parallel
processing and are based on AI. The fifth generation computers are still being developed.
• Computers are broadly classified as microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframe
computers, and supercomputers, based on their sizes and types.
• Microcomputers are small, low-cost standalone machines. Microcomputers include
desktop computers, notebook computers or laptop, netbooks, tablet computer, handheld
computer and smart phones.
• Minicomputers are high processing speed machines having more storage capacity than
the microcomputers. Minicomputers can support 4–200 users simultaneously.
• Mainframe computers are multi-user, multiprogramming and high performance
computers. They have very high speed, very large storage capacity and can handle large
workloads. Mainframe computers are generally used in centralized databases.
• Supercomputers are the most expensive machines, having high processing speed capable
of performing trillions of calculations per second. The speed of a supercomputer is
measured in FLOPS. Supercomputers find applications in computing-intensive tasks.
• Computer is an electronic device based on the input-process-output concept. Input/Output
Unit, CPU and Memory unit are the three main components of computer.
• Input/Output Unit consists of the Input unit which accepts data from the user and the
Output unit that provides the processed data. CPU processes the input data, and, controls,
coordinates and supervises the operations of the computer. CPU consists of ALU, CU
and Registers. The memory unit stores programs, data and output, temporarily, during the
processing. Additionally, storage unit or secondary memory is used for the storing of
programs, data and output permanently.
• Computers are used in various areas of our life. Education, entertainment, sports,
advertising, medicine, science and engineering, government, office and home are some of
the application areas of the computers.