INTRODUCTION Many people who possess little knowledge of computers are awed by the tremendous achievements brought about

t by computers Assuming that man can make a computer which is capable of doing everything, still man has to work An idle mind is a devils lair The very first principle that should be remembered about computer is the principle of GIGO or Garbage-InGarbage-Out FORERUNNERS OF COMPUTERS Abacus Commonly misconstrued to be a Chinese invention, the abacus is really It has several parallel sticks in a frame with sliding beads The position of the beads within each stick represents a value Slide rule Analog rather than a digital computer It is composed of one flat, stationary stick with graduated markings Compass An invention of the Arabs which they used for navigation in the open seas On land, the Chinese mounted it on a chariot for long journeys or conquests Quipu An unusual, nevertheless authentic, ancestor of the computer that is made entirely of rope It is regarded as legendary South American Indian tribes living in the inner jungles swear that it is real Generations of Computers 1. Pre-computer era (circa 1887 1945) Marked by the use of electro-mechanical devices and components Designed mainly to perform single tasks and simple arithmetic operations st 2. 1 Generation (circa: 1946 1959) Utilize vacuum tubes Expensive, relatively slow, unreliable, and bulky nd 3. 2 generation (circa:1960 1969) Emergence and use of transistors Physical dimension, require less power to operate, generate less heat Cost less to maintain rd 4. 3 generation (circa: 1970 1979) Use of microelectronic (miniaturized circuits) and/or Integrated Circuit (IC) th 5. 4 generation (circa: 1980 present) In this era, the VVLSI (Very, Very Large-Scale Integrated circuit) and the bubble memory were developed and introduced

This era is characterized by the use of dual processors, dual CPUs, fault-tolerant and non-stop systems, and vertical recording th 6. 5 generation (present and beyond) Based on AI (Artificial Intelligence) Quantum computations and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of the computers to come

Classification of Computers A. According to type: 1. Analog Computers Devices where values are obtained by the measurement of some continuous quantity Such as the length of a line or the value of a voltage e.g. slide rules, automobile speedometers, scales and electric meters 2. Digital computers Devices that operate on discrete or exact values. Data at processed according to arithmetic and logical operator 3. Hybrid Computers Devices that combine both analog and digital capabilities in a single computer Classification of Computers (continuation) B. According to Purpose: 1. Special-purpose computers Designed for specific uses, they have been built for both military and civilian applications 2. General-purpose computers Designed for a wide variety of applications, processing However, it is limited by the size, speed, and peripherals available o a system of a particular computer. They are further classified as follows: Classification of Computers (continuation)

1. 2. 3. 4.

General-purpose computer classification: a) Scientific computers Designed for the high-speed processing of numerical data Applications that typically require large amounts of computations with only a small volume of input and output data b) Business computers Designed to handle large volumes of data open required in payroll, billing, inventory, and other typical business applications c) Educational computers Designed to analyze or simulate situations. They are also used in the classrooms to perform or to check calculations or even study computers According to size: 1. Portable computers are easily carried by one person from one location to another. The first portable computers were dubbed luggables a) Laptop computers A compact unit weighing roughly 10 to 12 pounds Are small enough to fit easily on ones lap Some of the more sophisticated models even possess humidity safeguards b) Notebook computers Portable computers that are small enough to fit into an average-sized briefcase Typically, they weigh less than 6 pounds Cost about twice as much as equivalent regular-sized computers According to size : (continuation) c) Sub-notebook computers A portable computer that is slightly lighter and smaller than a full-sized notebook computer Have a smaller keyboard and screen d) Palmtop computers Sometimes called picocomputers

Offer reduced size with reduced capabilities Although some palmtops are general-purpose, many are special-purpose Personal Information Managers, or PIM 1) Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) A special-purpose palmtops that keep phone directories and calendars and provide calculator capabilities Most PDAs are designed to accept written input by a pen PDA decodes what you write According to size :(continuation) 3. Microcomputers Generally small desk-sized models often called small business, personal, and/or home computers 4. Minicomputers Are relatively small computers having limited memory and input/output capabilities Often come in sizes of ordinary office desks 5. Medium-scale computers Are larger, faster and can handle more input/output and storage devices than the minicomputer Sizes are similar to that of huge cabinets or large refrigerators According to size: (continuation) 6. Large-scale computers Faster in processing speed, greater in storage capacity Wider n selection of input/output devices, and greater in processing capabilities than medium-scale computers Utilized for large and complex data processing 7. Super computers Were coined to describe an elite group of extremely powerful computer systems

 Elements of An Information System There are four elements of an Information System: They are the hardware, the software, data, and people 1. Hardware

Physical aspect of an Information System This is to include all tangible and material components such as the computer itself and its various extensions known as peripherals and as media 2. Software

Composed of all the abstract aspects of an Information System Included herein are all logical and intangible components such as the instructions and commands Elements of An Information System (continuation) 1. Data

Basic objective of a computer system is to convert data into the correct information at the right time and in the right form Are raw materials that are processed into useful information 2. Peopleware

Essential part of the operation of a computer consists of people whose work is related to the operations of a computer These include programmers, systems analysts, system engineers, encoders, computer operators, as well as ordinary EDP (Electronic Data Processing) technician HARDWARE 1. Main Component 2. Peripherals and Media MAIN COMPONENT