Introduction
to the world
of Computers
Lesson 1:
History of
Computers
Information and
Communications Technology
(ICT)
Refers to several technologies used in the
creation, storage, processing, retrieval, and
dissemination of information.
ICT has become an integral part of our life. It
substantially improves the operation of different sectors
such as business, government, education,
entertainment, and healthcare. The following are some
instances on how ICT improves and makes our lives
easier:
Students can instantly search information that
they need for their homework
We can buy and sell products via the Internet
We can send and receive messages in real time to
our friends and relatives
We can view up to date news about different parts
of our country, or even the world
What is a Computer?
A computer is a machine that allows
the user to process, store, and
transform data into information based
on given instructions.
History of Computers
3 types of devices in calculating and
processing data:
Manual-mechanical device – a simple
mechanism powered by hand
Electromechanical device - usually powered
by an electric motor and uses switches and
relays
Electronic device- such as a modern digital
computer, has its principal components
circuit boards, transistors or silicon chips.
ABACUS
History of Computers
Calculating Devices
ABACUS (3000 B.C.)
The Abacus is an ancient computing device used
as an aid for mathematical computation. It is
made up of a wooden frame with beads sliding
on the wires. You can perform a mathematical
computation using this device by manipulating
the beads.
NAPIER’S BONES
(1617)
John Napier, a
Scottish
mathematician, built
a mechanical device
used for
multiplication and
division of large
numbers in 1617.
SLIDE RULE
(1622)
William Oughtred , an
Angelican minister
invented the slide rule in
1622.
This device can perform
multiplication, division,
square roots,
exponentials,
logarithms, and
trigonometric functions.
WILHELM SCHICKARD CALCULATING
CLOCK (1623)
Wilhelm Schickard, a German polymath built the
first automatic calculator called “calculating clock”
in 1623. This machine can add or subtract six-digit
numbers.
BLAISE
PASCAL'S
PASCALINE
(1642-1643)
Blaise Pascal invented
the mechanical
calculator in 1642. It
can perform addition
and subtraction of up
to eight-digit numbers.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM
VON LEIBNIZ STEPPED
RECKONER
(1671-1674)
Gottfried Wilhelm Von
Leibniz, a German
mathematician and
philosopher who
introduced the machine
called “Stepped Reckoner”
in 1671. This machine can
perform addition,
subtraction, multiplication,
division, and can extract
square roots.
JOSEPH MARIE
JACQUARD
LOOM (1801)
Joseph Marie Jacquard, a
Frenchman invented a
weaving device called
Jacquard Loom in 1801.
This device used a punched
card in controlling the
weaving pattern of the
fabric. Later on, a punched
card was used for storing
data in the early model of
computers.
CHARLES BABBAGE'S
DIFFERENCE ENGINE
(1822)
Charles Babbage, an
English mathematician
proposes a steam driven
special-purpose digital
calculator in 1822. This room-
sized machine can compute
tables of numbers such as
logarithm tables.
He is also known as the
“Father of Computer”.
CHARLES BABBAGE'S ANALYTICAL ENGINE
Although the development of the Difference Engine
was unsuccessful, Charles Babbage was not
discouraged to design another machine called the
Analytical Engine in 1833. This mechanical general
purpose machine has a resemblance to the modern
computer. It is a programmable. It has two main
parts – the “Mill” which is similar to the Central
Processing Unit (CPU) in modern computers, and
the “Store” which is similar to the memory in
modern computers. This machine can also store data
using the punch card.
BABBAGE’S ANALYTICAL ENGINE
Augusta Ada Byron,
Lady Lovelace
• English mathematician
and writer chiefly known
for her work on Charles
Babbage's early
mechanical general
purpose computer,
the Analytical Engine.
• World's first computer
programmer.
Herman Hollerith
An American statistician and
inventor who developed a
mechanical tabulator based on
punched cards to rapidly
tabulate statistics from
millions of pieces of data.
He was the founder of
the Tabulating Machine
Company that later merged to
become IBM.
Hollerith is widely regarded as
the father of modern automatic
computation.
ABC (Atanasoff-
Berry Computer)
John V. Atanasoff, the
inventor of the electronic
digital computer together
with Clifford Berry built
the prototype of an
electromechanical digital
computer in 1939.
End of Lesson 1
Lesson 2:
Generation of
Computers
The Digital Computer
MARK 1 (1944)
It was developed by Howard Aiken at Harvard
University. It was the industry’s largest
electromechanical calculator.
The invention of MARK I started the era of
modern computers.
MARK I
FIRST GENERATION COMPUTERS
Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Calculator (ENIAC)
ENIAC was considered as the first electronic
digital computer. It was built by John Eckert and
John Mauchly.
Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer (EDVAC)
EDVAC allows much faster operation because the
computer had rapid access to both data and
instructions. It used binary unlike the ENIAC that
used decimal.
Electronic Delay Storage Automatic
Computer (EDSAC)
EDSAC was developed by Maurice Wilkes. It is one
of the first stored-program machine computers.
Universal Automatic Computer I (UNIVAC I)
UNIVAC I was developed by George Gray. It was
the world’s first commercially available computer.
SECOND GENERATION
COMPUTERS (1956-1963)
These computers used a device called transistors,
which replaced the vacuum tubes.
Transistors are smaller than vacuum tubes and
have higher operating speed, required less
electricity, and emitted less heat than vacuum
tubes.
Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, disk
storage, operating systems, and printers were
introduced in this generation of computers.
High level programming language that
significantly makes computer programming
easier due to its resemblance to English
language was also developed in this period.
THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS
(1964-1971)
The computer that was built during this period used
Integrated Circuits (ICs) also known as “chips”.
Third generation computers also use operating system
capable of running and managing different programs at
once.
Monitors and keyboards were also introduced in this
period to replace the punched cards; memory was
improved; magnetic disks could save more data.
FOURTH GENERATION
COMPUTERS (1971-Present)
These computers use integrated circuits and
microprocessors (considered as the brain of the
computer).
The personal computer (PC) that you use at home
or at your school is a Fourth Generation Computer.
Computers in this generation are usually connected
via the Local Area Network (LAN), and the
Internet.
More sophisticated operating systems and software
such as MS Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, Apple
Macintosh were also developed during this period.
FIFTH GENERATION COMPUTERS
(Present and Beyond)
Besides extremely high speed processing, the fifth
generation computer can take instructions via audio
and video.
It uses the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI),
which makes these computers capable of making
decisions on its own and learning the way humans
learn.
End of Lesson 2
Lesson 3:
Classification
of Computers
Classification of Computers by type
of data handled
1. Analog Computers
Analog computers are used for scientific,
engineering, and process-control services.
Examples are analog clock, thermometer,
speedometer, voltmeter, barometer, etc.
2. Digital Computer
Digital computer is a machine that specializes
in counting. It operates on data, including
magnitudes, letters, and symbols, that are
expressed in binary code — using only the two
digits 0 and 1. Examples are IBM PC, Apple
Macintosh, calculators, digital watches/clock.
3. Hybrid Computer
Hybrid computers are computers that
exhibit features of analog computers and
digital computers. The digital component normally
serves as the controller and provides logical and
numerical operations, while the analog component
often serves as a solver of differential equations
and other mathematically complex equations.
Examples are computers used in hospitals to
measure the heartbeat of the patient, devices used
in petrol pump, hybrid machines are generally used
in scientific applications or in controlling industrial
processes.
Classification of Computers
according to sizes / capacity
The term “capacity” refers to the volume of work
or the data processing capability a computer can
handle. Their performance is judged by:
1. amount of data that can be stored in memory
2. speed of internal operation of the computer
3. number and type of peripheral devices
4. amount and type of software available for use
with the computer
Classification of Computers according to
sizes / capacity
• Hand-held Computer
This type of computer is so small that it can fit
in your palm or pocket.
Microcomputers (Personal Computer)
This type of computers are typically used
at home, office, and schools. Desktop computers,
calculators, laptops, tablets & smartphones are
all types of microcomputers.
Minicomputer
Also known as the server is a medium-sized
computer that is faster and larger than the
microcomputer.
Mainframe
A Mainframe is a large and expensive type of computer
that is capable of supporting thousands of users at the same
time. Bank educational institutions & insurance companies
use mainframe computers to store data about their customers,
students & insurance policy holders.
Supercomputer
The fastest, biggest, and most expensive
type of computer. It has several
microprocessors, which makes it capable of
processing trillions of instructions per second.
Supercomputers are used in weather
forecasting, aerospace, automotive, chemical,
electronics and petroleum industries.
Current and Future Trends in ICT
Speech Recognition
It is the ability of a machine or program to
identify words and phrases in spoken language
and convert them to a machine-readable
format.
Wi-fi (Wireless Fidelity)
Wearable Computer
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
End of Lesson 3
Lesson 4:
Computer System
Computer System
A computer system is primarily a
combination of hardware and software.
Hardware is everything that you see
and touch on the computer. A software
is a collection of computer programs that
enables the computer to do specific
tasks.
Computer Hardware
The Central Processing Unit
(CPU), Motherboard, RAM,
Keyboard, Hard Disk, and
Monitor are some examples of
computer hardware.
Input Devices
Input devices are computer hardware parts
that accept input or instructions from the
user.
Output Devices
Output devices enable the user to see the
results of computer processing or to receive
feedback from the computer.
Processor
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the
brain of the computer.
It is the computer hardware component that
processes the various inputs and data
received by the computer and produces the
desired output.
Memory
A place where it can store and retrieve the
data to be processed and instructions to be
executed.
Two kinds of memory
PRIMARY MEMORY
also called as main memory is a type
of memory that is embedded within the
computer motherboard that is directly
being accessed by the processor.
Two types of primary memory
Random Access Memory (RAM)
It is a computer temporary storage area
that can be access directly and rapidly by the
processor.
Read-only Memory (ROM)
It contains permanent data and software
that are supplied by the manufacturer.
SECONDARY STORAGE MEMORY
- provides a means to store large volumes
of data and software even if the power
supplies are switched off.
PARTS OF THE COMPUTER
System Unit
It is a rectangular box that contains the
motherboard, central processing unit (CPU),
RAM, hard disk, CD/DVD Drive, and floppy
disk drive.
Monitor
It is a TV-like screen attached to the system
unit. It is used to display the output
generated by the computer.
Keyboard
Is the primary input device that is used to
enter information into the computer.
Mouse
Is a palm-sized pointing device that has a
rubber ball embedded in its lower side and
buttons on the top.
Printer
Used to produce information on paper
known as hard copy or printout.
Speaker
Is an output device that converts electrical
signals and translate them back into physical
vibrations to create sound waves.
Modem
Is used for sending and receiving data over telephone or
cable lines.
The computer only accepts data in digital form but the
data being transmitted through telephone lines are in
analog signal. Modems convert the analog signal into
digital form and enable the computer to interpret the
data and convert the digital form of data into analog
signal, The analog signal is then transmitted through
telephone lines. This process is called
“modulate/demodulate”, wherein the name modem was
derived.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
The software contains a set of
instructions for a computer to follow.
The different types of software
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
- controls and manages the computer resources
and the execution of application software. The two
main types of system software are:
OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) - performs basic tasks
such as recognizing input from the keyboard,
sending output to the monitor and controlling
peripheral devices such as printers and disk drives.
UTILITIES - Perform specific functions usually
related to managing system resources.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
It is a computer program designed to
perform a group of coordinated functions,
tasks, or activities for the benefit of the
user.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES
Word Processor A software used to create MS WORD, WORD PERFECT,
documents WRITER
Spreadsheet A software that allows the user to MS EXCEL, CALC
manipulate numbers in table (row
and column) format.
Database Management A software used to create and MS ACCESS, SQL SERVER, MYSQL
System (DBMS) manage a database. A database
contains related data.
Presentation Software A software that provides tools in MS POWERPOINT, IMPRESS
creating professional-looking
multimedia presentation
Graphics Software A software used to create graphics PHOTOSHOP, GIMP, CorelDRAW,
or modify photos Draw
Computer Games A software that allows the user to Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft,
play video games. SimCity
Communication Software It allows the user to send and Outlook, Yahoo Messenger, GTalk
receive instant messages, info, and
files via computer and the
Internet.
End of Lesson 4
