Introduction to Computing

Lecture # 2

Outline
Timeline: The Evolution of Computers The Computer Generations Varieties of Computers

Timeline: The Evolution of Computers

3000 BCE: Abacus invented in Babylonia

1642: first mechanical adding machine (Blaise Pascal)

1666: first mechanical calculator that can add and subtract (Samuel Morland) 1833: Babbages Difference Engine (automatic calculator) 1944: first electro-mechanical computer (Mark-I)
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Timeline: The Evolution of Computers

1945: John Von Neumann introduces the concepts of a stored-program 1946: first programmable electronic computer in united states (ENIAC) 1967: handheld calculator

1975: first microcomputer (MITs Altair 8800)

1981: IBM introduces personal computer (with 8088 CPU and 16KB RAM)

Timeline: The Evolution of Computers

1982: portable computers 1985: Intels 80386 32-bit microprocessor is introduced

1993: multimedia desktop computers; Intel introduces its first Pentium chip; Motorola releases the PowerPC CPU
1995: Intels Pentium Pro
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1997: Intels Pentium II

Timeline: The Evolution of Computers

1999: Intels Pentium III; AMDs Athlon CPU (800 MHz); Power Mac G4 available 2000: Intels Pentium 4: AMDs Athlon CPU reaches 1 GHz 2001: Pentium IV reaches 2 GHz 2002: Pentium IV reaches 3.06 GHz; Power Mac has 2.1 GHz Power PC CPUs 2003: Intels Pentium M/Centrino for mobile computing; 64-bit processors

The Computer Generations

The term Generation is used to distinguish between varying hardware and software technologies. It provides a framework for the growth of the computer industry. There are five computer generations.

First Generation (1942-1955)

Key Hardware Technologies
Vacuum tubes (in thousands), electromagnetic relay memory, punched cards secondary storage

Key Software Technologies

Machine and assembly languages, stored-program concept, mostly scientific applications

Key Characteristics
Bulky in size, computations in milliseconds, highly unreliable, limited commercial use, commercial production difficult and costly, difficult to use

Some Representative Systems

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ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC-1, IBM 701

Second Generation (1955-1964)

Key Hardware Technologies
Transistors (ten times faster switching than tubes), magnetic cores memory, magnetic tapes and disks secondary storage

Key Software Technologies

Batch operating system, high-level programming languages (like FORTRAN, COBOL, ALGOL), scientific and commercial applications (like payroll, inventory control, marketing)

Key Characteristics
Faster, smaller, more reliable and easier to program than previous generation systems, commercial production was still difficult and costly (thousands of transistors to be assembled manually)

Some Representative Systems

Honeywell 400, IBM 7030, CDC 1604, UNIVAC LARC
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Third Generation (1964-1975)

Key Hardware Technologies
ICs (consists of several transistors, resistors, capacitors) with SSI and MSI technologies, larger magnetic cores memory, larger capacity disks and magnetic tapes secondary storage, minicomputers SSI (Small Scale Integration): 10 to 20 components MSI (Medium Scale Integration): up to 100 components

Key Software Technologies

Timesharing operating system, standardization of high-level programming languages, unbundling of software from hardware

Key Characteristics
Faster, smaller, more reliable and easier and cheaper to produce commercially, easier to use, and easier to upgrade than previous generation systems; scientific, commercial, and interactive online applications (like airline reservation systems)

Some Representative Systems

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IBM 360/370, PDP-8, PDP-11, CDC 6600

Fourth Generation (1975-1989)

Key Hardware Technologies ICs with VLSI technology, microprocessors, semiconductor memory, larger capacity hard disks as built-in secondary storage, magnetic tapes and floppy disks as portable storage media, PCs, spread of high-speed computer networks LSI (Large Scale Integration): 30,000 components VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration): 1 million components Key Software Technologies Operating systems for PCs, GUI, multiple windows on a single terminal screen, UNIX operating system, C programming language, PC-based applications, networkingbased applications Key Characteristics Small, affordable, reliable, and easy to use PCs, more powerful and reliable mainframe systems, totally general purpose machines, easier to produce commercially Some Representative Systems IBM PC and its clones, Apple II, TRS-80, VAX 9000, CRAY1, CRAY-2, CRAY-X/MP

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Fifth Generation (1989-Present)

Key Hardware Technologies
ICs with ULSI technology, larger capacity main memory, larger capacity hard disks, optical disks as portable read-only storage media, notebook computers, powerful desktop PCs and workstations, very powerful mainframes, internet ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration): 10 million components

Key Software Technologies

World Wide Web, multimedia applications, internet-based applications

Key Characteristics
Portable computers, more powerful, cheaper, reliable, and easier to use desktop machines, very powerful mainframes, very high uptime due to hot-pluggable components, totally general purpose machines, easier to produce commercially

Some Representative Systems

IBM notebooks, Pentium PCs, SUN Workstations, IBM SP/2, SGI Origin 2000, PARAM 10,000
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The Varieties of Computers

Computers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Computers can be classified according to their processing power. In decreasing order of size: 1. Supercomputers 2. Mainframes 3. Workstations 4. Microcomputers 5. Microcontrollers

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The Varieties of Computers

1. Supercomputers

Typically priced from $500,000 to more than $350 million. High-capacity machines with thousands of processors that can perform more than several trillion calculations per second. The fastest computer in the world, which cost $350 million and looks like rows of refrigerator-size boxes, is the NEC Earth Simulator in Yokohama, Japan.

Supercomputer

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The Varieties of Computers

1. Supercomputers

Fastest, most powerful, most expensive among the categories Suitable for intensive calculations and processing e.g. Deep Blue, Blue Gene, IBM ASCI (Accelerated Strategies Computing Initiative) White Example Application: weather forecasting, simulating explosions of nuclear bombs, finding oil, designing aircrafts, etc.

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The Varieties of Computers

2. Mainframes
Water- or air-cooled computers that cost $5000 - $5 million and vary in size from small, to medium, to large, depending on their use. Small mainframes used to be called minicomputers; today, theyre more frequently called midsize computers. Terminal - means often used to access a mainframe. Consists of a display screen and a keyboard. A terminal can input and output data but cannot by itself process data.

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Mainframe

The Varieties of Computers

2. Mainframes
Allows hundreds of people to have simultaneous computer usage Used in large business environment (e.g., bank) Processing speed: billions of instructions per second

VP2400 mainframe
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The Varieties of Computers

3. Workstations
Workstations - expensive, powerful computers usually used for complex scientific, mathematical, and engineering calculations and for computeraided design and computeraided manufacturing.
Workstations provide capabilities comparable to midsize mainframes. They are used for tasks such as prescription drugs and movie special effects (such as 3D life in The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter).
Workstation: Sun Ultra450
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The Varieties of Computers

4. Microcomputers
Microcomputers - also called personal computers. Cost $500 $5000. Can fit next to a desk or on a desktop, or can be carried around. Tower PC - PC in which the case sits as a tower, often on the floor beside a desk, thus freeing up desk space.

HP Compaq Business d220 tower microcomputer

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The Varieties of Computers

4. Microcomputers
Desktop PC - those in which the case or main housing sits on a desk, with keyboard in front and monitor (screen) often on top.

Compaq Evo desktop microcomputer

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Apple i-Mac computer

The Varieties of Computers

4. Microcomputers
In addition to the desktop PC, microcomputers can also be notebook computers and PDAs Notebook computers are also called laptop computers Laptop computers are lightweight portable computers with built-in monitor, keyboard, hard-disk drive, battery, and AC adapter.

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The Varieties of Computers

4. Microcomputers
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are also called handheld computers or palmtops. PDAs combine personal organization tools--schedule planners, address books, to-do lists--with the ability in some cases to send e-mail and faxes. Well-known makers of PDAs include Palm, Handspring, Sony, and Compaq.

Personal Digital Assistant

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The Varieties of Computers

5. Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers - also called embedded computers. They are the tiny, specialized microprocessors installed in smart appliances and automobiles.

DSP: Digital Signal Processor

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