Computer Organization: - Six Logical Units in Every Computer
Computer Organization: - Six Logical Units in Every Computer
Computer Organization
• Six logical units in every computer:
1. Input unit
• Obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse)
2. Output unit
• Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other
devices)
3. Memory unit
• Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information
4. Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
• Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions
5. Central processing unit (CPU)
• Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer
6. Secondary storage unit
• Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage
• Stores inactive programs
History of C
• C
– Evolved by Ritchie from two previous programming
languages, BCPL and B
– Used to develop UNIX
– Used to write modern operating systems
– Hardware independent (portable)
– By late 1970's C had evolved to "Traditional C"
• Standardization
– Many slight variations of C existed, and were incompatible
– Committee formed to create a "unambiguous, machine-
independent" definition
– Standard created in 1989, updated in 1999
Structured Programming
• Structured programming
– Disciplined approach to writing programs
– Clear, easy to test and debug and easy to modify
• Multitasking
– Specifying that many activities run in parallel
Hardware Trends
• Every year or two the following approximately
double:
– Amount of memory in which to execute programs
– Amount of secondary storage (such as disk storage)
• Used to hold programs and data over the longer term
– Processor speeds
• The speeds at which computers execute their programs