COMPUTER INTRODUCTION

An amazing machine! We are living in the computer age today and most of our
day to day activities cannot be accomplished without using computers. Sometimes
knowingly and sometimes unknowingly we use computers. Computer has become an
indispensable and multipurpose tool. We are breathing in the computer age and gradually
computer has become such a desire necessity of life that it is difficult to imagine life
without it.

DEFINITION

For most of the people, computer is a machine used for a calculation or a

computation, but actually it is much more than that. Precisely Computer is an electronic
device for performing arithmetic and logical operation. Or “Computer is a device or a
flexible machine to process data and converts it into information.”

To know about the complete process that how computer works, we will have to
come across the various terms such as Data, Processing and Information. First of all we
will have to understand these terms in true sense.

1. DATA - is nothing but a mare collection of basic facts and figure without any
sequence. When the data is collected as facts and figure, it has no meaning at that time,
for example, name of student, names of employees etc.

2. PROCESSING - is the set of instruction given by the user or the related data to
output the meaningful information. Which can be used by the user? The work of
processing may be the calculation, comparisons or the decision taken by the computer.

3. INFORMATION – is the end point or the final output of any processed work. When
the output data is meaning it is called information.

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER

Actually speaking electronic data processing does not go back more than just half
a century i.e. they are in existence merely from early 1940’s. In early days when our
ancestor used to reside in cave the counting was a problem. Still it is stated becoming
difficult. When they started using stone to count their animals or the possession they never
knew that this day will lead to a computer of today. People today started following a set
of procedure to perform calculation with these stones, which later led to creation of a
digital counting device, which was the predecessor the first calculating device invented,
was known as ABACUS.

 THE ABACUS

Abacus is known to be the first mechanical calculating device. Which was used to be
performed addition and subtraction easily and speedily? This device was a first develop
Ed by the Egyptians in the 10th century B.C, but it was given it final shape in the 12th
century A.D. by the Chinese educationists. Abacus is made up of wooden frame in which
rod where fitted across with rounds beads sliding on the road. It is dividing into two parts
called ‘Heaven’ and ‘Earth’. Heaven was the upper part and Earth was the lower one.
Thus any no. can be represented by placing the beads at proper place.
 NAPIER’S BONES

As the necessity demanded, scientist started inventing better calculating device. In

thus process John Napier’s of Scotland invented a calculating device, in the year 1617
called the Napier Bones. In the device, Napier’s used the bone rods of the counting
purpose where some no. is printed on these rods. These rods that one can do addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division easily.

 PASCAL’S CALCULATOR

In the year 1642, Blaise Pascal a French scientist invented an adding machine called
Pascal’s calculator, which represents the position of digit with the help of gears in it.

 LEIBNZ CALCULATOR

In the year 1671, a German mathematics, Gottfried Leibniz modified the Pascal
calculator and he developed a machine which could perform various calculation based on
multiplication and division as well.

 ANALYTICAL ENGINE

In the year 1833, a scientist form England knows to be Charles Babbage invented
such a machine. Which could keep our data safely? This device was called Analytical
engine and it deemed the first mechanical computer. It included such feature which is
used in today’s computer language. For this great invention of the computer, Sir Charles
Babbage is also known as the father of the computer.

 GENERATION OF COMPUTER

As the time passed, the device of more suitable and reliable machine was need which
could perform our work more quickly. During this time, in the year 1946, the first
successful electronic computer called ENIAC was developed and it was the starting point
of the current generation of computer

FIRST GENERATION

ENIAC was the world first successful electronic computer which was develops
by the two scientists namely J. P. Eckert and J. W. Mauchy. It was the beginning of first
generation computer. The full form of ENIAC is “Electronic Numeric Integrated And
Calculator” ENIAC was a very huge and big computer and its weight was 30 tones. It
could store only limited or small amount of information. Initially in the first generation
computer the concept of vacuum tubes was used. A vacuum tube was such an electronic
component which had very less work efficiency and so it could not work properly and it
required a large cooling system.

SECOND GENERATION

As the development moved further, the second generation computers knocked the
door. In this generation, transistors were used as the electronic component instead of
vacuum tubes .A transistors is much smaller in the size than that of a vacuum tube. As the
size of electrons components decreased from vacuum tube of transistor, the size of
computer also decreased and it became much smaller than that of earlier computer.
THIRD GENERATION

The third generation computers were invented in the year 1964. In this generation
of computer, IC (Integrated circuits) was used as the electronic component for computers.
The development of IC gave birth to a new field of microelectronics. The main advantage
of IC is not only its small size but its superior performance and reliability than the
previous circuits. It was first developed by T.S Kilby. This generation of computer has
huge storage capacity and higher calculating speed.

FOURTH GENERATION

This is the generation where we are working today. The computers which we see
around us belong to the fourth generation computers. ‘Micro processor’ is the main
concept behind this generation of computer.

A microprocessor is a single chip (L.S.I circuit), which is used in a computer

for any arithmetical or logical functions to be performed in any program. The honor
of developing microprocessor goes to Ted Hoff of U.S.A. He developed first micro-
processor, the Intel 4004, as he was working for Intel Corporation, U.S.A with the use of
microprocessor in the fourth generation computers, the size of computer become very fast
and efficient. It is evident that the next generation of computer i.e. fifth generation will
be developed soon. In that generation, computer will possess artificial intelligence and it
would be able to take self-decisions like a human being.

BASIC PARTS AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE COMPUTER

Whether it is a telephone with a touch screen, a laptop, a tablet or a desktop, all

computers consist of certain basic elements. This basic assembly is formed usually of a
motherboard, a processor, central memory, hard disc drive, connections, the monitor as
well as the keyboard, mouse or some kind of a touch pad.. The majority of the listed parts
are inside the cabinet, but knowing them is important in order to manage different
problem situations.

Remember what the reading instructions for this material told you: you don’t have
to read everything from start to finish! If you are familiar with a particular subject, just
skim through it and skip any content which you already know thoroughly.

THE COMPUTER CASE

The computer case contains the most important components of the computer: the
motherboard, the processor, random access memory modules, the hard drive etc. It may
not be possible to exchange the components in a laptop computer, but in a desktop
computer you have much more influence on the parts inside the case.

THE MOTHERBOARD

The motherboard is the part of the computer where such things as the processor,
memory modules, expansion cards and external devices are attached. This means that the
motherboard controls the functions of different components. The number of connection
slots for peripheral devices and the number and type of memory slots are important
properties of the motherboard.
In addition to the various connections, the motherboard also has a small battery ensuring
that settings made on the board are retained even when the computer is switched off.
THE PROCESSOR

The processor can be considered to be the ‘engine’ of the computer because it

executes the lion’s share of the information processing; the processor fetches commands
and necessary information from the RAM, carries out the tasks specified by the
commands, and returns the processed information to the RAM.

The speed of a computer depends largely on the speed of the processor. The
processor’s speed, in turn, is affected by various factors, such as the so-called clock
frequency (usually expressed as gigahertz, GHz), the amount of cores and of the so-called
cache memory inside the processor.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY

The RAM (Random Access Memory) is a memory storage that functions during
computer use and is especially utilized by the processor. In modern computers, the amount
of RAM is around 4 – 16 GB depending on the type and purpose of the computer (please
see data measurement units for more information). The RAM consists of one or more
memory modules.

HARD DRIVE

The hard drive is the permanent memory of the computer where saved files remain
even when the computer is turned off. This is why the hard drive is used for saving files.

DVD AND BLU-RAY DRIVES WITH WRITING CAPABILITIES

Most computers these days come with a Blu-ray drive or a DVD (Digital Versatile
Disk) Drive with writing capabilities, with which you can burn such things as backup
copies of important files to DVDs. CD drives are older and have mostly been replaced
with DVD drives. CD drives can only burn data on CDs, which have a substantially
smaller storage capacity, while DVD drives can burn data to both CDs and DVDs with
more capacity (please see recording media for more information).

THE DISPLAY AND DISPLAY ADAPTER

Most computer displays are so-called LCD displays (Liquid Crystal Display),
where the image display is produced by liquid crystals between two transparent sheets.
Display sizes range between only a few inches in handheld apparatuses to large 24 inch
desktop displays.

KEYBOARD

A standard keyboard has 102 keys. The keys are divided into alphabetical (a-z),
numerical (1-0) and special (Function, Ctrl, Alt etc keys).

In addition to the usual alphabetical and numerical keys, you should know at least
the following special keys that are located among the alphabetical ones.
Below are shown some typical keys on a PC keyboard. The keyboard mapping on Mac
computers is almost identical to PC keyboards, but the special keys Ctrl and Alt work
slightly differently. In addition, the Mac keyboard has Fn and Cmd keys instead of the
Windows key.

POINTING DEVICES
 Traditionally, most programs have been designed to be used with a mouse. The
mouse cursor seen on the screen of the computer moves along with the mouse. The cursor
can be used to select menu commands and areas, as well as activating different objects by
clicking the mouse keys.

 Mouse

You can attach a traditional mouse with or without a cord to any computer. Cordless mice
use radio waves to relay movement from the mouse to the computer (for this mouse, a
small radio receiver is attached to the computer).

 Touchpad

Almost all laptop computers have a touchpad which is used to move the cursor. Some
models also have a so-called pointing stick. In addition, portable computers have keys
with the clicking function of mouses. The touchpad is a pad where you can control the
cursor by moving your finger along the pad. Tapping the pad serves the same function as
clicking a mouse.

 Pointing stick

The pointing stick is a ‘nub’ located in the middle of the keyboard, and controls the cursor.
The pointing stick can be ‘clicked’ by tapping the stick or using the separate buttons in
the keyboard. In the right-hand image above, you can see a portable computer with both
a pointing stick (blue) and a touchpad (the large, dark grey area in front of the keyboard).

 Touchscreen

Devices that are smaller than a laptop, such as phones and tablets, usually do not have a
separate keyboard or pointer device. In these devices, the entire screen of the device
works as an input device. A touchscreen is used like the track pad on a laptop, and when
typing is required, a keyboard appears on the screen.

"A set of values used to represent different quantities is known as Number System".
For example, a number system can be used to represent the number of students in
a class or number of viewers watching a certain TV program etc. The digital computer
represents all kinds of data and information in binary numbers. It includes audio, graphics,
video, text and numbers. The total number of digits used in a number system is called its
base or radix. The base is written after the number as subscript such as 51210.

Some important number systems are as follows.

 Decimal number system

 Binary number system
 Octal number system
 Hexadecimal number system

The decimal number system is used in general. However, the computers use binary
number system. The octal and hexadecimal number systems are used in the computer.

DECIMAL NUMBER SYSTEM

 The Decimal Number System consists of ten digits from 0 to 9. These digits can
be used to represent any numeric value. The base of decimal number system is 10. It is
the most widely used number system. The value represented by individual digit depends
on weight and position of the digit.

Each number in this system consists of digits which are located at different
positions. The position of first digit towards left side of the decimal point is 0. The
position of second digit towards left side of the decimal point is 1. Similarly, the position
of first digit towards right side of decimal point is -1. The position of second digit towards
right side of decimal point is -2 and so on.

The value of the number is determined by multiplying the digits with the weight
of their position and adding the results. This method is known as expansion method. The
rightmost digit of number has the lowest weight. This digit is called Least Significant
Digit (LSD). The leftmost digit of a number has the highest weight. This digit is called
Most Significant Digit (MSD). The digit 7 in the number 724 is most significant digit and
4 is the least significant digit.

Example:
The weights and positions of each digit of the number 453 are as follows:
Position 2 1 0
Weights 102 101 100
Face value 4 5 3
The above table indicates that:
The value of digit 4 = 4x102 = 400
The value of digit 4 = 5x10 = 50
The value of digit 3 = 3x10 = 3
The actual number can be found by adding the values obtained by the digits as follows:
400 + 50 + 3 =45310
Example:
The weights and positions of each digit of the number 139.78 are as follows.
Position 2 1 0 -1 -2
Weights 102 101 100 . 10-1 10-2
Face Value 1 3 9 7 8
The above table indicates that:
The value of digit 1 = 1x102 = 100
The value of digit 3 = 3x101 = 30
The value of digit 9 = 9x100 = 9
The value of digit 7 = 7x10-1 = 0.7
The value of digit 8 = 8x10-2 = 0.08
The actual number can be found by adding the values obtained by the digits as follows:
100 + 30 + 9 + 0.7 + 0.8 = 139.78

BINARY NUMBER SYSTEM

Digital computer represents all kinds of data and information in the binary system.
Binary Number System consists of two digits 0 and 1. Its base is 2. Each digit or bit in
binary number system can be 0 or 1. A combination of binary numbers may be used to
represent different quantities like 1001. The positional value of each digit in binary
number is twice the place value or face value of the digit of its right side. The weight of
each position is a power of 2.

The place value of the digits according to position and weight is as follows:
Position 3 2 1 0
Weights 23 22 21 20
Example: Convert 101112 decimal number
Position 2 1 0 -1 -2
Weights 102 101 100 10-1 10-2
Face Value 1 3 9 7 8
101112 = 1 x 24 + 0 x 23 + 1 x 22 + 1 x 21 + 1 x 20
= 1 x 16 + 0 + 1 x 4 + 1 x 2 + 1 x 1
= 16 + 0 + 4 2 + 1
= 2310
Example: Convert 101.1012
Position 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3
Face Value 1 0 1 . 1 0 1
Weight 24 21 20 2-1 2-2 2-3
101.1012 = 1 x 22 + 0x21 + 1 x 20 + 1x 2-1 + 0 x 2-2 + 1 x 2-3
= 1 x 4 + 0 + 1 x 1 + ½ + 0 + 1/8
= 4 + 0 + 1 + 0.5 + 0.125
= 5.62510

OCTAL NUMBER SYSTEM

Octal Number System consists of eight digits from 0 to 7. The base of octal system is 8.
Each digit position in this system represents a power of 8. Any digit in this system is
always less than 8. Octal number system is used as a shorthand representation of long
binary numbers. The number 6418 is not valid in this number system as 8 is not a valid
digit.

The place value of each digit according to position and weight is as follows.
Position 4 3 2 1 0
Weight 84 83 82 81 80
Example: convert 458 to decimal number
458 = 4 x 81 + 5 x 80
=4x8+5x1
= 32 + 5
= 3710

HEXADECIMAL NUMBER SYSTEM

The Hexadecimal Number System consists of 16 digits from 0 to 9 and A to F. The

alphabets A to F represent decimal numbers from 10 to 15. The base of this number system
is 16. Each digit position in hexadecimal system represents a power of 16. The number
76416 is valid hexadecimal number. It is different from 76410 which is seven hundred
and sixty four. This number system provides shortcut method to represent long binary
numbers.

The place value of each digit according to position and weight is as follows:
Position 4 3 2 1 0
Weights 164 163 162 161 160
Example: Convert 3A16 to decimal number
3A16 = 3 x 161 + A x 160
= 3 x 16 + 10 x 1
= 48 + 10
= 5810