IT in Business

Chapter 1
Introduction to Computers
Contents
• What is Computer?
• Types of Computers
• Generations of Computers
• Categories of Computers
• Uses of Computer
What is Computer?
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computer
 What is Computer?
• “Computer” derived from “compute”  means to calculate
• In past, computer was normally considered to be a calculating device used to
perform arithmetic operations
• But today, computers are used in every field of life to solve problems of
different kinds
• Definition of Computer
• A computer is an electronic machine that is used to solve different kinds of problems
according to a set of instructions given to it
• Function of computer
• Accepts data and instructions (as input) and stores them in its own memory
• Processes or manipulates data according to given instructions and produces information
(known as output)
• Stores information permanently on storage devices for later use
• Retrieves information from storage devices when required
 Data & Information
Data
• Word ‘data’ refers to facts concerning things, people, objects, events, etc.
• A collection of raw facts and figures  data
• Word ‘raw’ means unprepared or unprocessed
• Data may consist of text, numbers, images, audio, and video

Information
• Processed data
• Processed data (information) gives clear and proper meanings
• It can be used for decision-making
 Data Processing
• A process to convert data into information
• Different operations are performed on data to convert it into useful
information
• Operations  arithmetic, data sorting, and data formatting
• Data and instructions are given to computer, It processes data according to
given instructions and converts into required information or results
 Characteristics of Computer
Speed
• High-speed electronic device
• A computer can perform billions or trillions of operations or tasks per second
• Operations  arithmetic & sorting operations, displaying images, recording
audio/video, playing music, and showing video or movie
• Usually, measured in Mega Hertz (MHz) or Giga Hertz (GHz)
• Different computers have different speeds
Accuracy
• Computer does not make any kind of mistakes in calculations
• It processes data and produces a 100% accurate result
• Computer can perform billions or trillions of operations in one second without
any error
 Characteristics of Computer
Reliability
• Electronic components in a modern computer have a very low failure rate
• Modern computer can perform complicated calculations without creating any
problem
• In general, computers are very reliable and do all tasks accurately
Consistency
• A computer can repeat same actions consistently (again and again) without
losing its concentration
• To run a spell checker (built into a word processor) for checking spelling in a document
• To play multimedia animation for training purposes
• To deliver a lecture through a computer in a classroom etc.
• A computer will carry out the activity in an exact manner every time
 Characteristics of Computer
Memory / Storage
• A computer has internal memory (storage)  primary memory
• Computer stores instructions of the program and data in primary memory during data
processing
• Temporary memory
• A computer also has external storage  secondary storage
• A large amount of data and programs can be stored permanently
• Stored data or information is available anytime
• Examples  hard disk, USB drive, and CD
Automation
• Once data and instructions are given to the computer; it can automatically
perform different operations on data
 Characteristics of Computer
Versatility
• Versatility refers to capability of a computer to perform different kinds of tasks
with same accuracy & efficiency
Multitasking
• A computer has the capability of multitasking
• A user can perform multiple tasks on computer at the same time
• Example  a user can print a document on printer, while listening to naats.
 Characteristics of Computer
Communication
• A computer has capability of communicating with other computers in a
computer network
Diligence
• A computer can continuously work for hours without creating any error
• It does not get tired while working
No Feelings
• A computer has no feelings or emotions
• It detects objects based on the instructions given to it
Types of Computers
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computer
 Analog Computers
• Word “analog” means continuously varying in quantity
• Analog computers accept input data in continuous form and output is
obtained in the form of graphs
• Examples of analog data  voltage, current, sound, speed, temperature,
pressure, etc. values
• These values continuously increase and decrease
Examples of Analog Devices
• Thermometer  used to measure temperature
• Analog Clock  measures time by means of distance continuously covered by needle
around a dial
• Voltmeter  used to measure voltage
• Speedometer  used to measure speed of a car
 Digital Computers
• Word “digital” means discrete
• It refers to a binary system, which consists of only two digits, i.e. 0 and 1
• Digital data consists of binary data represented by OFF (low) and ON (high)
electrical pulses
• Today most of the computers used in business, educational institutions,
hospitals, offices, and at homes are digital computers
• Examples  IBM PC and Apple Macintosh
• Calculators, digital watches, digital scoreboards, and digital thermometers
 Hybrid Computers
• Combined features of both analog and digital computers
• These computers contain both digital and analog components
• In hybrid computers, users can process both continuous (analog) and discrete
(digital) data
• In hospitals, these are used to watch the patient’s health condition in ICU
(Intensive Care Unit)
• These are also used in telemetry, spaceships, missiles, etc.
Generations of Computers
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computer
Generations of Computer
• The computer has evolved from a large-sized simple
calculating machine to a smaller but much more powerful
machine.

• The evolution of computer to the current state is defined

• Each generation of computer is designed based on a new

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Generations of Computer
• Currently, there are five generations of computer. In
the following subsections, we will discuss the
generations of computer in terms of the technology
used by them (hardware and software), computing
characteristics (speed, i.e., number of instructions
executed per second), physical appearance, and their
applications.

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First Generation Computers
(1940-1956)
• The first computers used vacuum tubes(a sealed glass tube containing a near-vacuum which
allows the free passage of electric current.) for
circuitry and magnetic drums for memory.
• They were often enormous and taking up entire room.
• The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices.

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First Generation Computers
Advantages :
• It was only electronic device
• First device to hold memory

Disadvantages :
• Too bulky i.e large in size
• Vacuum tubes burn frequently
• They were producing heat
• Maintenance problems

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Second Generation Computers
(1956-1963)
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second
generation of computers.
• High-level programming languages were also being developed at this
time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.

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Second Generation Computers
Advantages :
• Size reduced considerably
• The very fast
• Very much reliable

Disadvantages :
• They over heated quickly
• Maintenance problems

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Third Generation Computers
(1964-1971)
• The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the
third generation of computers.
• Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third
generation computers through keyboards
and monitors and interfaced with an operating system.

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Third generation computers
Advantages :
• ICs are very small in size
• Improved performance
• Production cost cheap

Disadvantages :
• ICs are sophisticated

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Fourth Generation Computers
(1971-present)
• The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as
thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip.
• Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs,
the mouse and handheld devices.

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Fourth Generation Computers

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Fifth Generation Computers
(present and beyond)
• Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence.
• Are still in development, though there are some applications, such
as voice recognition.
• The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that
respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and
self-organization.

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Fifth Generation Computers

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Classification of Computers
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computer
 Classification of Computers
• Computers are being manufactured in different sizes, data processing speeds,
etc.
• Computers are classified according to their data processing speed, amount of
data that they can hold, and price
• Depending upon the computer’s size, speed, memory size, and price,
computers are classified into the following categories:
• Supercomputers
• Mainframe Computers
• Minicomputers
• Personal Computers
 Supercomputer
• Most powerful and fastest computer
• It can process huge amounts of data and can solve complicated problems
• It can perform more than one trillion calculations per second
• Most expensive  cost is up to several billion dollars
• Example  Deep Blue (developed by IBM)
 Supercomputer
• Purpose of Supercomputers in
• Weather forecasting
• Nuclear energy research
• Aircraft design
• Automotive design
• Weapon design
• Controlling industrial units
• Oil and gas exploration
• Supercomputers are used in large organizations, research laboratories,
aerospace centers, large industrial units, etc.
• Nuclear scientists use supercomputers to create and analyze models of
nuclear fission and fusions
• In Pakistan, supercomputers are used in many organizations, like Atomic
Energy Research Centre and Missile Control Systems
 Mainframe Computers
• Second powerful computer
• Physically large sized computer that covers about 1000 sq feet
• Expensive
• Consists of multiple processors
• It can process trillions of instructions per second (TIPS)
 Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe computers are used in large organizations such as insurance
companies, banks, and government departments, where many people
frequently need to use or access the same data
• Example  IBM S/390
 Minicomputers
• This category of computer is named as minicomputer because of their small
size as compared to other computers at that time
• Capabilities of a minicomputer are less than a mainframe computer but more
than a personal computer
• Also known as midrange computer
• Minicomputers are used in small businesses, education, scientific research,
and many other government departments
• Example  IBM AS/400
 Personal Computers
• Personal computers (or simply PCs)  also called microcomputers
• Personal computers are typically developed for individual users
• It can be used by only one person at a time
• Today most PCs can communicate with other computers and devices
• They are commonly used in almost every field of life such as at homes, small
offices, education, etc.
• They are available in different sizes and shapes
 Personal Computers
Desktop Computers
• Most common type of personal computer
• All components of this computer can easily fit on a desk or table
 Personal Computers
Portable Computers
• Types of PCs that can easily be carried from place to place  portable
computers or mobile computers
• These computers run on rechargeable batteries, power supply, or both
Laptops
• A laptop is more expensive than a desktop computer
• We can use a laptop by placing it on our lap  That is why named as a laptop
• A laptop computer can perform the same functions as a desktop computer
 Personal Computers
Portable Computers
Tablets
• A tablet is like a laptop and can perform the same functions as a laptop
• Physically smaller than a laptop and larger than a mobile phone
• It has a touch screen that is used for both input and output
 Mobile Devices
• Small computing devices that can fit in the hand (or in a pocket)
• These devices have small screens and some of them have small physical
keyboards
• Most popular types of mobile devices  smartphones, handheld computers,
PDAs, portable media players, and e-book readers
 Mobile Devices
Smartphones
• Today, smartphones/mobile phones are commonly used for communications
between people
• A smartphone is an Internet-enabled phone
• It provides the functions to receive & send e-mails and to access Whatsapp,
Facebook, etc. through Internet
 Mobile Devices
Handheld Computers
• In the mid-1990s, many new types of small computing devices have been
introduced  known as handheld computers
• A handheld computer can fit in the hand  that is why called handheld
computer
• Handheld computers are also used by mobile employees  meter readers &
parcel delivery people
 Mobile Devices
PDAs
• PDA stands for Personal Digital Assistant
• PDA is one of the more popular lightweight mobile devices in use today
• Many PDAs are web-based and users can send/receive e-mails and access
Internet
• Similarly, some PDAs also provide telephone capabilities
 Mobile Devices
Portable Media Players
• Electronic mobile device
• It is used to listen to music, watch videos, movies, and television shows
• It also provides the facility to organize pictures, music, and videos
 Mobile Devices
E-Book Readers
• An e-book reader (electronic book reader)  also called an e-
reader
• It is a mobile device that is used for reading e-books (also
called digital books) and other forms of digital media such as
newspapers and magazines
• An e-book is an electronic version of a printed book, readable
on computers and other digital devices
Uses of Computer
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Computer
 Uses of Computer
• Main fields where computers are playing a very important role are:
• Education
• Business
• Banks
• Departmental Stores
• Entertainment
• E-Commerce
• Health Care
• Science
• Publishing
• Travelling
• Government
• Home
• Agriculture
• Energy
• Library
• Defense
• Internet