Selected topics in computer
science
Chapter one
Basic computer concepts
General outline Chapter One Out Line
Computer Concept A. Computer Development
Data Storage B. Computer Definition
Data Base Systems C. Functions Of Computer
Cloud Computing D. Computer System
Internet Of Things
Basic computer concepts
Questions for students
Q1. Who is considered as the father of Charles Babbage(1791-1871)
computer ?
Originated the concept of digital
programming computer
English mathematician and inventor
Q2. Who is considered as the
father of modern computer? Alan Turing
Computer science
Computer science the study of computers and how they can be used.
Computer science is a branch of science that deals with the theory of computation or the
design of computers.
Computer science is the study of computation and information.
Computer science deals with
The theory of computation
The algorithms
The computational problems and
The design of computer systems
hardware,
software and
applications.
Computer science is the study of computers, including both hardware and software design.
Development of computer
a. Abacus
Abacus is known to be the first mechanical calculating device.
Which was used to be performed addition and subtraction easily and speedily.
Abacus is made up of the wooden frame in which rod where fitted across with rounds
beads sliding on the rod.
b. Pascal Calculator
In the year 1642, Blaise Pascal a French scientist invented the adding machine called
Pascal’s calculator, which represents the position of the digit with the help of gears in it.
Development of computer
Analytical Engine
A scientist from England knows to be Charles Babbage invented such the machine.
This device is known as Analytical engine and it is the first mechanical computer.
It includes such feature which we use in today’s computer language.
For this great invention of the computer, Sir Charles Babbage is also known as the father
of the computer
Computer
A Computer is a General-purpose machine, commonly consisting of digital
circuitry, that accepts (inputs), stores, manipulates, and generates (outputs) data
as numbers, text, graphics, voice, video files, or electrical signals, in accordance
with instructions called a program
Father of the computer – Charles Babbage.
Father of the modern computer – Alan Turing.
Basic Architecture of Computer: John Von Neumann (1947-49).
First Programmer: Lady Ada Lovelace (1880).
First Electronic Computer: ENIAC (1946) – J.P. Eckert & J.W. Mauchly.
The first computer for the home user introduced – IBM in 1981.
Computer definition
The computer is not an acronym; it is a word derived from the word "compute", which
means to calculate.
A computer is an electronic device that is used for fast calculation.
It were just calculating machines that needed a lot of space for establishment.
"A computer is a general purpose electronic device that is used to perform arithmetic and
logical operations automatically.
A computer consists of a central processing unit and some form of memory."
σ COMPUTER = Arithmetical Logical Unit (ALU) + Control Unit (CU)
What components does a computer
require to function?
A computer needs the components listed below in order to operate, at the very least.
1. Processor: A part that carries out commands from the hardware and software.
2. Memory: Temporary primary storage for information moving between the CPU and the
storage.
3. Motherboard: The component that connects all other components is the motherboard.
4. Secondary storage device: Data is permanently stored on a slower secondary storage
device.
BASIC COMPUTER FUNCTIONS
Any programming language is implemented on a computer.
All computer system perform the following 5 basic operations.
It converts the raw input data into information, which is useful to the users.
1. Inputting: It is the process of entering data & instructions to the computer system.
2. Storing: The data & instructions are stored for either initial or additional processing, as & when
required.
3. Processing: It requires performing arithmetic or logical operation on the saved data to convert it
into useful information.
4. Outputting: It is the process of producing the output data to the end user.
5. Controlling: The above operations have to be directed in a particular sequence to be completed.
BASIC COMPUTER FUNCTIONS
Computer functions
1. Take data as input
2. Store data & instruction
3. Process data
4. Generate output
5. Controls all the process
COMPUTER SYSTEM
COMPUTER SYSTEM
Live ware is a term that was widely used in the computer industry in early 1966.
The term refers to computer users that are used humorously along with hardware and
software.
The term was used as slang for the people who spent most of their time on the computer.
It is used to describe people that are responsible for working on the computer.
They can be analysts or programmers.
They are the computer user that works on the computer and are needed for it to work.
The feature or qualities of the liveware are problem-solving, analytical skills, documentation,
and reporting skills.
Software
A collection of code or programs along with its documentation and operating procedures that follow predefined steps to
perform a certain task.
It is used to control or manage the hardware components in a system.
Some software enables the user to enhance the system's functionality as well.
There is a collection of programs that are used by the computer to perform certain tasks.
The features of the software are as follows:
Efficiency,
maintainability,
reusability, and
portability.
Hardware
It refers to the physical devices or the physical component of the computer system that is tangible.
These components can differ in compatibility, performance, and capacity.
The functions of hardware are entering, processing, storing and displaying the result.
Firmware
Firmware is software that runs on very small processors that makes a hardware device
function correctly.
Firmware is rarely or never replaced
Firmware often is used to produce small useful behaviors for a much bigger piece of hardware
Example, your WiFi radio has firmware that allows it to provide radio signal information in a format that is
useful for your computer’s main processor.
Wristwatches, calculators, computer mouses and car key fobs all have firmware.
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
A language that is acceptable to a computer system is called a computer language or
programming language
The process of creating a sequence of instructions in such a language is called programming
or coding.
A program is a set of instructions, written to perform a specific task by the computer.
A set of large program is called software.
To develop software, one must have knowledge of a programming language.
COMPUTER LANGUAGES
Languages are a means of communication.
Normally people interact with each other through a language.
On the same pattern, communication with computers is carried out through a language.
This language is understood both by the user and the machine.
Just as every language like English, Hindi has its own grammatical rules;
every computer language is also bounded by rules known as syntax of that language.
The user is bound by that syntax while communicating with the computer system.
Computer languages are broadly classified as:
Low Level Language: The term low level highlights the fact that it is closer to a language
which the machine understands.
The low level languages are classified as:
1. Machine Language: This is the language (in the form of 0’s and 1’s, called binary numbers)
understood directly by the computer.
It is machine dependent.
It is difficult to learn and even more difficult to write programs.
2. Assembly Language
The machine codes are substituted by symbolic codes/mnemonics to improve their
understanding.
It is the first step to improve programming structure.
Assembly language programming is simpler and less time consuming than machine level programming, it is
easier to locate and correct errors in assembly language than in machine language programs.
It is also machine dependent.
programmers must have knowledge of the machine on which the program will run.
High Level Language
Low level language requires extensive knowledge of the hardware since it is machine
dependent.
To overcome this limitation, high level language has been evolved which uses normal
English, which is easy to understand to solve any problem.
High level languages are computer independent and programming becomes quite easy
and simple.
The program statements are not closely related to the internal characteristics of the
computer
Various high level languages are given below:
High Level Language
a. BASIC (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code): It is widely used, easy to learn general purpose
language.
Mainly used in microcomputers in earlier days.
b. COBOL (Common Business Oriented language): A standardized language used for commercial
applications.
c. FORTRAN (Formula Translation): Developed for solving mathematical and scientific problems.
One of the most popular languages among scientific community.
d. C: Structured Programming Language used for all purpose such as scientific application, commercial
application, developing games etc.
e. C++: Popular object oriented programming language, used for general purpose.
Low level language High level language
Is machine dependent • Is machine independent
programming becomes difficult • uses normal English, which is easy to
understand to solve any problem.
• programming becomes quite easy and
simple.
1st generation Machine language O &1
2nd generation Assembly language Symbols and
mnemonics
3rd generation High level language COBOL, FORTRAN, C,
C++, FORTH, BASIC,
PASCAL
4th generation Very high level SQL,
languages
Computer Viruses
Viruses: A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real programs.
For example, a virus might attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet program.
Each time the spreadsheet program runs, the virus runs, too, and it has the chance to reproduce (by
attaching to other programs) or wreak havoc.
•E-mail viruses: An e-mail virus
Travels as an attachment to e-mail messages, and usually replicates itself by automatically
mailing itself to dozens of people in the victim's e-mail address book.
Some e-mail viruses don't even require a double-click -- they launch when you view the
infected message in the preview pane of your e-mail software
1. Trojan horses: A Trojan horse is simply a computer program.
The program claims to do one thing (it may claim to be a game) but instead does damage
when you
run it (it may erase your hard disk).
Trojan horses have no way to replicate automatically.
2. Worms: A worm is a small piece of software that uses computer networks and security
holes to replicate itself.
A copy of the worm scans the network for another machine that has a specific security hole.
It copies itself to the new machine using the security hole, and then starts replicating from
there, as well.
