COMP APPLICATION-Lesson1 PDF

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
OF
AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY
JKUAT SODeL
SCHOOL OF OPEN, DISTANCE AND eLEARNING

P.O. Box 62000, 00200
2015
Nairobi, Kenya
E-mail: elearning@jkuat.ac.ke
HPS 2106 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
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This presentation is intended to covered within one week.
The notes, examples and exercises should be supple-
mented with a good textbook. Most of the exercises have
solutions/answers appearing elsewhere and accessible by
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clicking the green Exercise tag. To move back to the same

page click the same tag appearing at the end of the solu-
tion/answer.
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Errors and omissions in these notes are entirely the re-

sponsibility of the author who should only be contacted
through the Department of Curricula & Delivery
(SODeL) and suggested corrections may be e-mailed to
elearning@jkuat.ac.ke.
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JKUAT: Setting trends in higher Education, Research and Innovation
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LESSON 1
Introduction to Computers
1. Describe the hierarchy of computers according to power

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and their respective roles

2. Identify the major types, trends, and uses of microcom-
puter, midrange, and mainframe computer systems.
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3. Outline the major technologies and uses of computer pe-

ripherals for input, output, and storage.
4. Identify the computer systems and peripherals you would
acquire or recommend for a business of your choice, and
explain the reasons for your selections.
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1.1. What is a Computer
A computer is an electronic machine that accepts information,
stores it until the information is needed, processes the infor-
mation according to the instructions provided by the user, and
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finally returns the results to the user. The computer can store
and manipulate large quantities of data at very high speed, but
a computer cannot think.
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A computer makes decisions based on simple comparisons

such as one number being larger than another. Although the
computer can help solve a tremendous variety of problems, it is
simply a machine. It cannot solve problems on its own.
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1.2. History of Computers
Mechanical computing devices date back hundreds of years, but
the first real computers were developed during the 1940s. Com-
puters have evolved at an incredible pace since those early years,
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becoming consistently smaller, faster, more efficient, more reli-

able, and less expensive. At the same time, people have devised
all kinds of interesting and useful ways to put computers to use
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in work and play.

Computers today come in all shapes and sizes, with specific
types being well suited for particular jobs. Mainframe com-
puters and supercomputers provide more power and speed than
smaller desktop machines, but they are expensive to purchase
JJ II and operate. Timesharing makes it possible for many users to
J I work simultaneously at terminals connected to these large com-
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puters. At the other end of the spectrum, personal comput-
ers and handheld devices provide computing power for those of
us who dont need a mainframes capabilities. Microprocessors
arent just used in generalpurpose computers; theyre embedded
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in appliances, automobiles, and a rapidly growing list of other

products.
Connecting to a network enhances the value and power of a
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computer; it can share resources with other computers and facili-

tate electronic communication with other computer users. Some
networks are local to a particular building or business; others
connect users at remote geographic locations. The Internet is a
collection of networks that connects the computers of businesses,
JJ II public institutions, and individuals around the globe. Email pro-
J I vides hundreds of millions of people with near instant worldwide
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communication capabilities. With Web browsing software, those
same Internet users have access to billions of Web pages on the
World Wide Web. The Web is a distributed network of inter-
linked multimedia documents. Although it started as a tool for
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scientists, researchers, and scholars, the Web has quickly become

a vital center for entertainment and commerce.
Computers and information technology have changed the
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world rapidly and irreversibly. Our civilization is in a transition

from an industrial economy to what we might call the informa-
tion age, and this paradigm shift is having an impact on the way
we live and work. Computers and information technology are
central to this change, and we can easily list dozens of ways in
JJ II which computers now make our lives easier and more produc-
J I tive. Personal computer applications, such as word processing,
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spreadsheets, graphics, multimedia, and databases, continue to
grow in popularity. Emerging technologies, such as artificial
intelligence, offer promise for future applications. Devices that
were the stuff of science fiction novels 50 years ago are appearing
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on store shelves. At the same time, computers threaten our pri-

vacy, our security, and perhaps our way of life. As we rush into
the information age, our future depends on computers and on
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our ability to understand and use them in productive, positive

ways.
Since civilizations began, many of the advances made by sci-
ence and technology have depended upon the ability to process
large amounts of data and perform complex mathematical calcu-
JJ II lations. For thousands of years, mathematicians, scientists and
J I businessmen have searched for computing machines that could
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perform calculations and analyze data quickly and efficiently.
One such device was the abacus.
The abacus was an important counting machine in ancient
Babylon, China, and throughout Europe where it was used until
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the late middle ages. It was followed by a series of improvements

in mechanical counting machines that led up to the development
of accurate mechanical adding machines in the 1930s. These
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machines used a complicated assortment of gears and levers to

perform the calculations but they were far to slow to be of much
use to scientists. Also, a machine capable of making simple
decisions such as which number is larger was needed. A machine
capable of making decisions is called a computer.
JJ II The first computer like machine was the Mark I developed
J I by a team from IBM and Harvard University. It used mechani-
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cal telephone relays to store information and it processed data
entered on punch cards. This machine was not a true computer
since it could not make decisions.
In June 1943, work began on the worlds first electronic com-
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puter. It was built at the University of Pennsylvania as a secret

military project during World War II and was to be used to cal-
culate the trajectory of artillery shells. It covered 1500 square
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feet and weighed 30 tons. The project was not completed until
1946 but the effort was not wasted. In one of its first demonstra-
tions, the computer solved a problem in 20 seconds that took a
team of mathematicians three days. This machine was a vast
improvement over the mechanical calculating machines of the
JJ II past because it used vacuum tubes instead of relay switches. It
J I contained over 17,000 of these tubes, which were the same type
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tubes used in radios at that time.
The invention of the transistor made smaller and less ex-
pensive computers possible. Although computers shrank in size,
they were still huge by todays standards. Another innovation to
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computers in the 60s was storing data on tape instead of punch

cards. This gave computers the ability to store and retrieve data
quickly and reliably.
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1.2.1. Classification of Computers

Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and weights,
due to these different shapes and sizes they perform different
sorts of jobs from one another.
JJ II A computer that is used in a home differs in size and shape
J I from the computer being used in a hospital. Computers act as a
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server in large buildings, while the computer also differs in size
and shape performing its job as a weather forecaster.
A student carrying a laptop with him to his college is differ-
ent in shape and size from all the computers mentioned here.
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Here we are going to introduce different classifications of

computers one by one. We will discuss what are in classifica-
tions and what job they perform.
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1.2.2. Super computers

The biggest in size, the most expensive in price than any other is
classified and known as super computer. It can process trillions
of instructions in seconds. This computer is not used as a PC in
JJ II a home neither by a student in a college. Governments specially
J I use this type of computer for their different calculations and
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heavy jobs.
Different industries also use this huge computer for design-
ing their products. In most of the Hollywoods movies it is used
for animation purposes. This kind of computer is also helpful
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for forecasting weather reports worldwide. The first Cray super-

computer was introduced in 1976.
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1.2.3. Mainframes
Another giant in computers after the super computer is the
Mainframe, which can process millions of instruction per sec-
ond and capable of accessing billions of data. The mainframe is
the workhorse of the business world.
JJ II Usually a mainframe serves as the heart of a network of com-
J I puters or terminals allowing hundreds of people to work at the
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same time on the same data. It requires a special environment
cold and dry.
Mainframe computers are very large, often filling an entire
room. They can store enormous of information, can perform
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many tasks at the same time, can communicate with many users
at the same time, and are very expensive. . The price of a
mainframe computer frequently runs into the millions of dollars.
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Mainframe computers usually have many terminals connected to

them. These terminals look like small computers but they are
only devices used to send and receive information from the ac-
tual computer using wires. Terminals can be located in the same
room with the mainframe computer, but they can also be in dif-
JJ II ferent rooms, buildings, or cities. Large businesses, government
J I agencies, and universities usually use this type of computer.
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This computer is commonly used in big hospitals, air line
reservations companies, and many other huge companies prefer
mainframe because of its capability of retrieving data on a huge
basis. It is normally too expensive and out of reach from a
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salary-based person who wants a computer for his home.
1.2.4. Minicomputers
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This computer is next in line but offers less than mainframe in

work and performance. Minicomputers are much smaller than
mainframe computers and they are also much less expensive.
Originally this size was developed to handle specific tasks, like
engineering and CAD calculations that tended to tie up the
JJ II mainframe.
J I The cost of these computers can vary from a few thousand
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dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. They possess most
of the features found on mainframe computers, but on a more
limited scale. They can still have many terminals, but not as
many as the mainframes. They can store a tremendous amount
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of information, but again usually not as much as the mainframe.

Medium and small businesses typically use these computers.
These are the computers, which are mostly preferred by the
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small type of business personals, colleges, etc.
1.2.5. Personal or Microcomputers Computers

Microcomputers commonly known as PCs in short for Personal
computers are the types of computers we are using in your Col-
JJ II lege. When talking about PC computers, most people probably
J I think of the desktop type, which are designed to sit on your
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desk. However these computers are usually divided into desktop
and laptop models and come in several formats as seen in figure
1 below.
The tower and the smaller mini-tower style case PCs which
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have become popular as people started needing more room

for extra drives inside. Repairmen certainly appreciate the
roominess inside for all the cables and circuit boards ...
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and their knuckles.

A workstation which is part of a computer network and
generally would be expected to have more than a regu-
lar desktop PC of most everything, like memory, storage
space, and speed. When talking about PC computers,
JJ II most people probably think of the desktop type, which
J I are designed to sit on your desk.
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The small types of PC like the palmtop (PPC) and hand-

held (HPC) models which have a small size low weight and
are easy to carry. A student can take it with him/her to
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his/her school in his/her bag with his/her book. They are

preferred by students and business people to meet their
assignments and other necessary tasks.
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With a Tablet PC you use an electronic stylus to write on

the screen, just like with a pen and paper, only your words
are in digital ink. The Tablet PC saves your work just like
you wrote it (as a picture), or you can let the Hand Recog-
nition (HR) software turn your chicken-scratches into reg-
JJ II ular text.
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Initially PCs were terribly limited in what they can do when
compared to the larger models discussed above because they
could only be used by one person at a time, they were much
slower than the larger computers, and they could not store nearly
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as much information.
However advances in PC technology have seen the PCS con-
tinually grow in power and capacity. Networking and the Client
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server technologies have also made it possible to network PCs

to create powerful computer systems that can handle nearly as
much work as the big types discussed earlier.
Indeed with PCs getting powerful by the day, the minicom-
puter has become less important. In fact, the ordinary new PC
JJ II is today much more powerful than minicomputers used to be.
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Today PCs are excellent when used in small businesses, homes,
schools and colleges. These computers are inexpensive and easy
to use. They have become an indispensable part of modern
life.
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Example . The term mainframe used to refer to a large

computer system to which numerous dumb terminals are con-
nected. outline at least eight (8) characteristics of mainframes?
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Solution:
Can process millions of instruction per second

Capable of accessing billions of data
The mainframe is the workhorse of the business world.
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Serves as the heart of a network of computers or terminals
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Allows hundreds of people to work at the same time on the
same data
It requires a special environment cold and dry.
Mainframe computers are very large, often filling an entire
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room.
Huge storage capacity
Expensive: The price of a mainframe computer frequently
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runs into the millions of dollars.
Revision Questions
Exercise 1. what are the pro and cons of mainframe com-

puting?
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Exercise 2. Using short notes and a diagram illustrate the
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fundamental capabilities of any computer system
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Solutions to Exercises
Exercise 1.
There are several advantages of mainframes:

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Scalability, the ability to add more users as the need arises

Centralized management
Centralized backup
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Low cost desktop devices (dumb terminals)

High level of security
There are several disadvantages of mainframes:
Character-based applications
Lack of vendor operating system standards and interoper-
JJ II ability in multivendor environments
J I Expensive maintenance, initial equipment, and set up cost
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Potential for a single point of failure in non fault tolerant
configurations
Potential for a bottleneck in timesharing systems
Exercise 1
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Exercise 2.
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All computer systems, no matter how small or large, have the

same fundamental capabilities: processing, storage, input and
output. Input unit includes devices like keyboard and mouse,
which are used by the user to give some data to the computer.
Processing unit is where these data are processed and turned
JJ II into meaningful information. Processing unit also includes tem-
J I porary storage (RAM) in which the data currently being pro-
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cessed are stored temporarily. To show the result of processes,
to the user, output devices like monitors and printers are used.
The output on a monitor is usually called softcopy and the out-
put on a printer is usually called hardcopy. Sometimes we may
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want to store our data and information permanently so that we

can refer to them again, later. For this purpose, interchangeable
devices like floppy disk drives and CD-ROM drives, or perma-
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nently installed devices like hard disks are used as permanent

storage mediums. Exercise 2
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JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF OPEN, DISTANCE AND eLEARNING

HPS 2106 COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

clicking the green Exercise tag. To move back to the same

Errors and omissions in these notes are entirely the re-

1. Describe the hierarchy of computers according to power

and their respective roles

3. Outline the major technologies and uses of computer pe-

A computer makes decisions based on simple comparisons

becoming consistently smaller, faster, more efficient, more reli-

in work and play.

in appliances, automobiles, and a rapidly growing list of other

computer; it can share resources with other computers and facili-

scientists, researchers, and scholars, the Web has quickly become

world rapidly and irreversibly. Our civilization is in a transition

on store shelves. At the same time, computers threaten our pri-

our ability to understand and use them in productive, positive

the late middle ages. It was followed by a series of improvements

machines used a complicated assortment of gears and levers to

puter. It was built at the University of Pennsylvania as a secret

computers in the 60s was storing data on tape instead of punch

1.2.1. Classification of Computers

Here we are going to introduce different classifications of

1.2.2. Super computers

for forecasting weather reports worldwide. The first Cray super-

Mainframe computers usually have many terminals connected to

salary-based person who wants a computer for his home.

This computer is next in line but offers less than mainframe in

of information, but again usually not as much as the mainframe.

small type of business personals, colleges, etc.

1.2.5. Personal or Microcomputers Computers

have become popular as people started needing more room

and their knuckles.

The small types of PC like the palmtop (PPC) and hand-

his/her school in his/her bag with his/her book. They are

With a Tablet PC you use an electronic stylus to write on

server technologies have also made it possible to network PCs

Example . The term mainframe used to refer to a large

Can process millions of instruction per second

runs into the millions of dollars.

Exercise 1.  what are the pro and cons of mainframe com-

There are several advantages of mainframes:

Scalability, the ability to add more users as the need arises

Low cost desktop devices (dumb terminals)

All computer systems, no matter how small or large, have the

want to store our data and information permanently so that we

nently installed devices like hard disks are used as permanent

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Example . The term mainframe used to refer to a large

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