Mohammad Rayan D. Guro-sarih.

September
6,2019

Abm 12-3

What is Computer

A computer is a machine that can be instructed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical
operations automatically via computer programming. Modern computers have the ability to
follow generalized sets of operations, called programs. These programs enable computers to
perform an extremely wide range of tasks. A "complete" computer including the hardware, the
operating system (main software), and peripheral equipment required and used for "full"
operation can be referred to as a computer system. This term may as well be used for a group of
computers that are connected and work together, in particular a computer network or
computer cluster.

Computers are used as control systems for a wide variety of industrial and consumer devices.
This includes simple special purpose devices like microwave ovens and remote controls, factory
devices such as industrial robots and computer-aided design, and also general purpose devices
like personal computers and mobile devices such as smartphones. The Internet is run on
computers and it connects hundreds of millions of other computers and their users.

Early computers were only conceived as calculating devices. Since ancient times, simple manual
devices like the abacus aided people in doing calculations. Early in the Industrial Revolution,
some mechanical devices were built to automate long tedious tasks, such as guiding patterns for
looms. More sophisticated electrical machines did specialized analog calculations in the early
20th century. The first digital electronic calculating machines were developed during World War
II. The first transistors in the late 1940s were followed by the MOS transistor and integrated
circuit in the late 1950s, leading to the microprocessor and the microcomputer revolution in the
1970s. The speed, power and versatility of computers have been increasing dramatically ever
since then, with MOS transistor counts increasing at a rapid pace, as predicted by Moore's law.

Conventionally, a modern computer consists of at least one processing element, typically a

central processing unit (CPU), and some form of memory. The processing element carries out
arithmetic and logical operations, and a sequencing and control unit can change the order of
operations in response to stored information. Peripheral devices include input devices
(keyboards, mice, joystick, etc.), output devices (monitor screens, printers, etc.), and
input/output devices that perform both functions (e.g., the 2000s-era touchscreen). Peripheral
devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source and they enable the result of
operations to be saved and retrieved.
 A BRIEF COMPUTER HISTORY

The computer as we know it today had its beginning with a 19th century English mathematics
professor name Charles Babbage. He designed the Analytical Engine and it was this design that
the basic framework of the computers of today are based on. Generally speaking, computers
can be classified into three generations. Each generation lasted for a certain period of time,and
each gave us either a new and improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer.

First generation: 1937 – 1946 - In 1937 the first electronic digital computer was built by Dr. John
V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. It was called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC). In 1943 an
electronic computer name the Colossus was built for the military. Other developments
continued until in 1946 the first general– purpose digital computer, the Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was built. It is said that this computer weighed 30 tons, and
had 18,000 vacuum tubes which was used for processing. When this computer was turned on
for the first time lights dim in sections of Philadelphia. Computers of this generation could only
perform single task, and they had no operating system.

Second generation: 1947 – 1962 - This generation of computers used transistors instead of
vacuum tubes which were more reliable. In 1951 the first computer for commercial use was
introduced to the public; the Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC 1). In 1953 the
International Business Machine (IBM) 650 and 700 series computers made their mark in the
computer world. During this generation of computers over 100 computer programming
languages were developed, computers had memory and operating systems. Storage media such
as tape and disk were in use also were printers for output.

Third generation: 1963 - present - The invention of integrated circuit brought us the third
generation of computers. With this invention computers became smaller, more powerful more
reliable and they are able to run many different programs at the same time. In1980 Microsoft
Disk Operating System (MS-Dos) was born and in 1981 IBM introduced the personal computer
(PC) for home and office use. Three years later Apple gave us the Macintosh computer with its
icon driven interface and the 90s gave us Windows operating system.

As a result of the various improvements to the development of the computer we have seen the
computer being used in all areas of life. It is a very useful tool that will continue to experience
new development as time passes.

Classification of Computer
1) Based on Operating Principles

On the basis of the operation performed and methods used to store and process the data
information, computers can be classified into the following categories:

 Analog computers

The analog computers represent data in the form of continuous electrical signals having a
specific magnitude. These computers are very fast in their operations to be carried out at the
same time. They are a powerful tool to solve differential equations.

 Digital Computers

The digital computer is also known as the digital information processing system, is a type of
computer that stores and processes data in the digital form. Therefore each type of data is
usually stored in these computers in terms of 0s and 1s. The output produced by these
computers is also in the digital form.

 Hybrid Computers

The hybrid computer is a combination of analog computer and digital computer because it
encompasses the best features of both these computers. Therefore the hardware components
of hybrid computers are usually the mixture of analog and digital components. The hybrid
computer is also less expensive than the digital computers.

2) Based on Application

Different computers are designed for a different purpose so that they can perform their tasks
according to their capabilities. On the basis of different applications or purpose, computers can
be classified into the following categories:

 General purpose computers

They are designed in such a manner that they can work in all environments. The general
purpose computers are versatile and can store a number of programs meant for performing
distinct tasks. The general purpose computers are not efficient and consume a large amount of
time in generating the results.

 Special purpose computers

They are designed in such a manner that they can perform only a specified task. The special
purpose computers are not versatile and their speed and memory size depend on the task that
is to be performed. The special purpose computers are efficient and consume less amount of
time in generating the results.

3) Based on size and Capabilities

Computers differ from each other in terms of their size, shape, and weights. Each type of
computers perform some unique functions and can be employed in the fields suited to them.
On the basis of size, shape the computers can be classified into the following categories.

 Microcomputers

A microcomputer is a small and cheap digital computer that is designed to be used by

individuals. It is built around a microprocessor, a storage unit, and an I/o channel. The
microcomputers are generally in the form of PCs, workstations and notebook computers.

 Mini computers

A minicomputer was first introduced in the year 1960 by Digital Equipment Corporations(DEC).
They were called minicomputers because of their smaller size than the other computers of
those time.

 Mainframe computers

A mainframe computer is a very large computer that is employed by the large business
organization for handling major applications such as financial transaction processing.

 Super computers

A super computer is the fastest type of computers that can perform complex operations at a
very high speed. The super computer was first presented in the year 1960s by Seymour Cray at
Control Data Corporation(CDC). They are more expansive than the other categories of
computers.

Components of Computer

Input Unit

Input unit is used for transfers’ raw Data and control signals into the information processing
system by the user before processing and computation. All the input unit devices provide the
instructions and data are transformed into binary codes that is the primary memory acceptable
format.
Example of Input unit devices: keyboard, mouse, scanner, joystick, MICR, Punched cards,
Punched paper tape, Magnetic tape etc.

Memory or Storage Unit

Memory or Storage unit is used for storing Data during before and after processing. The
capacity of storage is expressed in terms of Bytes.

The two terms Memory or Storage unit are used interchangeably, so it is important to
understand what is the difference between memory and storage?

 Memory

This unit retains temporarily results till further processing, For example, Random Access
Memory (RAM).This memory is volatile, which means data is disappears when the power is lost.

 Storage

The storage or "secondary storage" is used for retain digital data after processing for
permanently. For example hard drive. The Storage is non-volatile in nature. CPU does not access
directly to secondary storage memories, instead they accessed via input-output unit. The
contents of secondary storage memories are first transferred to the main memory (RAM) and
then CPU access it.

Output Unit

Output Unit receives information from the CPU and then delivers it the external storage or
device in the soft or hard processed form. The devices which are used to display output to the
user are called output devices. The Monitor or printer is common output device.

Central Processing Unit

The main chip in a computer is the microprocessor chip, which is also known as the CPU (central
processing unit). The CPU is mounted on a printed circuit board called the main board or
mother board. This chip is considered to be the controlling chip of a computer system since it
controls the activities of other chips as well as outside devices connected to the computer, such
as monitor and printer. In addition, it can also perform logical and computational tasks.
Microprocessors work on a parallel system. Figure shows a typical structure of one of the first-
generation microprocessors. The recent ones possess greater complexity, although the basic
design concept has not changed much.

The various activities that a microprocessor performs, such as storing data, doing arithmetic
calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.), are the result of instructions
given to the CPU in the form of sequences of 0s and 1s. Microprocessors are designed to carry
out a large number of instructions and all the instructions may be represented by different
sequences of 0s and 1s. Each instruction is represented by a unique set of 0s and 1s.

The internal structure of a typical CPU consists of circuits which form a number of registers (the
typical number is 16), an arithmetic unit for carrying out arithmetic operations, a logic unit, and
a control unit.

 Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

Arithmetic Logical Unit is used for processing data after inputting data is stored into primary
unit. The major operations of Arithmetic Logical Unit are addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, logic and comparison.

 Control unit (CU)

It is like a supervisor, that checks ordaining operations or check sequence in which instructions
are executed.