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INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION of computer

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Neha Bharti
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32 views

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION of computer

Uploaded by

Neha Bharti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION

The computers in recent times have become a relevant too particularly in the areas
of storage and dissemination of information. The ease with which the computer
function, i.e. the speed, accuracy and readiness.
With the usefulness of the computer, it has become fashionable for organizations to
be computerized, that is, a computer department is created to serve the whole
organization and expert or professionals are employed to manage the department.
It is today becoming increasingly difficult for computer illiterates to get good
employments, as computer literacy is now a pre-requisite for most jobs.
The world is becoming a global village through the use of computer, thus there is
the need for everyone to be computer illiterate.
The computer age was characterized by generation of computers, which signified
that computer had pass through stages of evolution or development. Before we
could arrive at the present day computers, it has undergone stages of development
known as generation of computers.
What is Computer?
A computer is an electronic device used to store retrieve and manipulate data.
A computer also defines as a programmable electromechanical device that accept
instruction (program) to direct the operations of the computers. Four words can be
deducted from the above definition for further illustration. Examples
i i. Store: To put data somewhere for safe keeping
ii ii. Retrieve: To get and bring the data back.
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i iii. Process: To calculate compare arran

The generations of computer are as follows:


First Generation of Computer (1937 – 1946):
In 1937 the first electronic digital computer was built by Dr. John V. Atanasoff and
Clifford Berry. It was called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer 12
(ABC). In 1943 an electronic computer name the Colossus was built for the
military. Other developments continued until in 1946 the first general– purpose
digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) was
built. It is said that this computer weighed 30 tons, and had 18,000 vacuum tubes
which was used for processing. When this computer was turned on for the first
time lights dim in sections of Philadelphia. Computers of this generation could
only perform single task, and they had no operating system.
Characteristics:
i i. Sizes of these computers were as large as the size of a room.
ii ii. Possession of Vacuum Tubes to perform calculation.
iii iii. They used an internally stored instruction called program.
iv iv. Use capacitors to store binary data and information.
v v. They use punched card for communication of input and output data and
information
vi vi. They generated a lot of heat.
vii vii. They have about One Thousand 1000 circuits per cubic foot.

Examples:
i i. Mark I developed by Aiken in 1944.
ii ii. Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) built at the
Moore School for Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania in 1946 by J.
Presper Eckert and William Mauchley.
iii iii. Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) also
developed in 1947 by Eckert and Mauchley.
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Second Generation of Computer (1947 – 1962):
Second generation of computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes which
were more reliable. In 1951 the first computer for commercial use was introduced
to the public; the Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC 1). In 1953 the
International Business Machine (IBM) 650 and 700 series computers made their
mark in the computer world. During this generation of computers over 100
computer programming languages were developed, computers had memory and
operating systems. Storage media such as tape and disk were in use also were
printers for output.
Characteristics:
i i. The computers were still large, but smaller than the first generation of
computers.
ii ii. They use transistor in place of Vacuum Tubes to perform calculation.
iii iii. They were produced at a reduced cost compared to the first generation of
computers.
iv iv. Possession of magnetic tapes as for data storage.
v v. They were using punch cards as input and output of data and information.
The use of keyboard as an input device was also introduced.
vi vi. These computers were still generating a lot of heat in which an air
conditioner is needed to maintain a cold temperature.
vii vii. They have about one thousand circuits per cubic foot.

Example:
i i. Leprechaun, IBM built by Bell Laboratories in 1947
ii ii. Transis produced by philco, GE and RCA.
iii iii. UNIVAC 1107, UNIVAC III.
iv iv. RCA 501.
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i v. IBM 7030 stretch.

Third Generation of Computer (1963 – 1975):


The invention of integrated circuit brought us the third generation of computers.
With this invention computers became smaller, more powerful more reliable and
they are able to run many different programs at the same time.
Characteristics:
i i. They used large-scale integrated circuits, which were used for both data
processing and storage.
ii ii. Computers were miniaturized, that is, they were reduced in size compared
to previous generation.
iii iii. Keyboard and mouse were used for input while the monitor was used as
output device.
iv iv. Use of programming language like COBOL and FORTRAN were
developed.
v v. They have hundred thousand circuits per cubic foot.

Examples:
i i. Burroughs 6700, Mini computers
ii ii. Honeywell 200
iii iii. IBM system 360
iv iv. UNIVAC 9000 series.

Fourth Generation of Computer (PC 1975 – Current)


At this time of technological development, the size of computer was re-divided to
what we called Personal Computers, PC. This was the time the first
Microprocessor was created by Intel. The microprocessor was a very large-scale,
that is, VLS integrated circuit which contained thousands of transistors. 15
Transistors on one chip were capable performing all the functions of a computer’s
central processing unit.
Characteristics:
i i. Possession of microprocessor which performs all the task of a computer
system use today.
ii ii. The size of computers and cost was reduced.
iii iii. Increase in speed of computers.
iv iv. Very large scale (VLS) integrated circuits were used.
v v. They have millions of circuits per cubic foot.

Examples:
i i. IBM system 3090, IBM RISC6000, IBM RT.
ii ii. ILLIAC IV.
iii iii. Cray 2 XMP.
iv iv. HP 9000.
v v. Apple Computers.

Fifth Generation of Computers (Present and Beyond)


Fifth generations computing devices, based on artificial intelligence (AI) are still in
development, although there are some application such as voice recognition, facial
face detector and thumb print that are used today.
Characteristics:
i i. Consist of extremely large scale integration.
ii ii. Parallel processing
iii iii. Possession of high speed logic and memory chip.
iv iv. High performance, micro-miniaturization.
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i v. Ability of computers to mimic human intelligence, e.g. voice recognition,
facial face detector, thumb print.
ii vi. Satellite links, virtual reality.
iii vii. They have billions of circuits per cubic.

Examples:
i i. Super computers
ii ii. Robots
iii iii. Facial face detector
iv iv. Thumb print.

Conclusion:
The earliest foundations of what would become computer science predate the
invention of the modern digital computer. Machines for calculating fixed
numerical tasks such as the abacus have existed Charles Babbage, sometimes
referred to as the "father of computing". Ada Lovelace is often credited with
publishing the first algorithm intended for processing on a computer.
Since antiquity, aiding in computations such as multiplication and division.
Algorithms for performing computations have existed since antiquity, even before
the development of sophisticated computing equipment.
In1980 Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-Dos) was born and in 1981 IBM
introduced the personal computer (PC) for home and office use. Three years later
Apple gave us the Macintosh computer with its icon driven interface and the 90s
gave us Windows operating system. As a result of the various improvements to the
development of the computer we have seen the computer being used in all areas of
life. It is a very useful tool that will continue to experience new development as
time passes. 17

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