Lecture
Notes
Module
1
– Part
1
SIT101
Introduction
to
Information
Technology
MODULE
1
– PART
1
COMPUTER
BASICS
2
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
Objectives
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• Characteristics
of
computers
• Evolution
of
computers
• Generations
of
computers
• Classification
of
computers
• Major
computer
system
components
• General
overview
of
how
computers
work
• Application
of
computers
in
various
fields
3
Introduction
§ Computer: derived from compute -‐ to calculate.
§ Earlier times: fingers/pebbles used to compute
§ Computer: electronic data processing device capable of:
1. Receiving input
2. Storing and carrying out a set of instructions for solving
problems
3. Generating output with high speed and accuracy
4
Introduction
§ Data: collection of facts which can exist in different forms
(numbers, symbols, words, images, sound, video)
§ Computers manipulate data to produce information.
Information: data that is meaningful, organized and
useful.
§ Computers cover a huge area of applications.
§ Millions of complex calculations can be performed in a
fraction of second to achieve the desired result.
5
Computer
Description
Characteristic
Speed Process
data
at
millions
(MHz)
or
billions
(GHz)
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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instructions
per
second.
Accuracy Always accurate
unless
faulty
instructions
–
Garbage
In
Garbage
Out
(GIGO)
Diligence Never tires
or
loses
concentration.
Reliability Processing
without
human
interference.
Built-‐in
diagnostics
for
continuous
monitoring.
Storage
Capacity Large
storage capacity.
Rapid
access.
Versatility Multitasking
with
ease.
6
Resource Sharing Connected computers
share
expensive
resources
and
data.
Computing
before
computers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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• Counting
device
from
ancient
times
built
in
Asia.
• Used
worldwide
for
centuries
• Still
used
today
for
fast
calculations
Abacus
• 1st functional
automatic
calculator
• 1642
by
French
mathematician
Blaise
Pascal
• Used
8
movable
dials
to
add
numbers
Pascaline up
to
8
figures
long 7
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• 1694
by
German
mathematician
Gottfried
Wilhelm
von
Liebniz.
• Extended
Pascal’s
design
to
perform
division,
multiplication
and
square
Stepped
Reckoner root
• 1801
by
Frenchman
Joseph-‐Marie
Jacquard.
• Used
punch
paper
cards
to
program
patterns
that
the
loom
outputted
as
woven
fabrics.
8
Jacquard’s
Loom
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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Punch
card
• Commands
and
data
represented
by
the
presence/absence
of
holes
in
predefined
positions 9
Computers
era
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
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• Began
with
English
mathematician
Charles
Babbage
in
1822
• Machine
for
differential
equations.
• Powered
by
steam,
size
of
locomotive.
• Perform
calculations
and
print
results.
Difference
Engine
• Used
punch
cards
for
operating
instructions
and
storage.
• Had
controlling
unit
for
processing
and
devices
for
output.
• Both
machines
were
designed
but
never
fully
functional.
10
Analytical
Engine
Hollerith’s
Tabulator
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
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• 1889:
Herman
Hollerith
working
for
US
Census
Bureau
• Used
punch
cards
to
store
data,
fed
into
a
machine
that
compiled
results
mechanically.
• Founded
the
Tabulating
Machine
Company
later
known
as
IBM.
11
Mark I
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• 1944:
partnership
between
Harvard’s
physicist
Howard
Aiken
and
IBM.
• Also
known
as
IBM
Automatic
Sequence
Controlled
Calculator.
• Used
relays
and
electromagnetic
components
to
replace
mechanical
components.
12
Generations
of
computers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
§ Stages
of
innovation
or
technological
development.
§ Over
time
computers
became
smaller,
cheaper,
more
powerful,
more
efficient
and
more
reliable.
§ Five
computer
generations
depending
on
type
of
processor
installed
in
the
machine.
13
Generation Processor Language
First Vacuum
Tubes Machine language
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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(1940-‐1956) (binary
coded
‘0’
&
‘1’)
Second Transistors Assembly
language
(1956-‐1963) (mnemonics:
ADD,
MULT)
Third Integrated
Circuits High level
languages
(1964-‐1971) (single chip
with
transistors
and
resistors)
Fourth Microprocessors High
level
languages
(1971
– Present) (1000’s
of
components
on
single
chip)
Fifth Mega-‐chips Natural languages
14
(Present and
(millions of
components
(human
simulations,
Beyond) on
single
chip) voice
recognition)
Generation Characteristics Examples
First Speed:
milliseconds,
manual
assembly ENIAC,
(1940-‐1956) Non-‐portable,
slow,
hardware
failures,
EDVAC,
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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expensive,
A/C
required UNIVAC
Second Speed: microseconds,
manual
PDP-‐8,
(1956-‐1963) assembly,
more
portable
and
energy
IBM
1401,
efficient
but
A/C
required IBM
7090
Third Speed: nanoseconds,
portable,
more
NCR
395,
(1964-‐1971) efficient,
less
power/heat,
non-‐ B6500
manual
assembly,
keyboard/mouse
Fourth Compact,
portable,
reliable,
cheapest,
Apple II,
(1971
– Present) computers linked, graphical
user
Altair
8800
interface
(GUI),
personal
computers CRAY-‐1
Fifth Parallel
processing,
Artificial
(Present and
Intelligence
– human like
computers
– 15
Beyond) reason,
make
decisions,
learn,
become
experts
First
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
Generation ENIAC
Vacuum
tube
Second
Generation IBM
Transistor 1401
Third
Generation NCR
Integrated
circuit 395
Fourth 16
APPLE
II
Generation
Microprocessor
Evolution
of
Computers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
17
Classification
of
computers
• Four major categories: micro, mini, mainframes and
supercomputers
• Micro:
• Desktop
• Handheld
• laptop
18
Microcomputers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
§ Small, low cost digital computer.
§ Consists of a microprocessor, storage unit, channels for
input and output.
§ Uses peripherals like keyboard, disk drives, monitor, and
printers.
§ It includes desktop, laptop and hand held models such as
PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)
19
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
A. Desktop
Computers
• Also
known
as
PC
• Stand-‐alone,
individual
use
• System
unit,
monitor,
keyboard,
internal
hard
disk.
• Not
very
expensive
• Major
PC
manufacturers:
Apple,
IBM,
Dell,
HP
B. Laptop
• Lightweight,
portable
computer
with
all
features
of
desktop.
• Also
called
notebook
computers
• Can
be
used
without
external
power
supply
• Requires
charging
of
battery
• Expensive
compared
to
desktop 20
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
C. Hand-‐held
computers
§ Also known as palmtop
§ Portable computer that user can hold when using.
§ Slightly bigger than common calculators
§ Interaction through pen, electronic stylus or touch
screens instead of keyboard.
§ Small monitor is usually the only form of output
§ Usually no disk drive, small cards used to store the
program and data
§ Limited memory and less power
21
Microcomputers
Desktop Laptop
22
Hand-‐held
Mini
Computers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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§ Small digital computer that can process and store less
data than mainframes but more than microcomputers.
§ Known as mid-‐range computers
§ Supports four to 200 simultaneous users.
§ Used in research labs, small to medium size business
environments.
ØEx: PDP 11,IBM 8000 SERIES ,VAX 7500
23
Mainframes
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
§ Ultra-‐high performance computer made for high volume,
processor intensive computing and extensive data storage
and retrieval.
§ Second largest computer in capability and size.
§ Allows storing a large amount of data at centralized
location.
§ Computers at different locations access centralized data.
ØEx: IBM ES000, VAX 8000 , CDC 6600
24
Supercomputers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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§ Largest computer in capability and size.
§ Special purpose machines
§ Highest processing speed – 400-‐10,000 MFLOPS (millions
of floating point operations per second)
§ Several processors operate in parallel to make it faster.
§ Solve problems in seconds that take years with
pen/paper.
§ For complex scientific and engineering problems.
§ Limited market and expensive
25
ØEx: CRAY-‐3, Cyber 205 , PARAM
Minicomputer
Supercomputer
Mainframe
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
26
The
computer
system
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• A computer consists of interrelated components
that work together with the aim of converting
data into information.
• HARDWARE refers to the tangible part of a
computer system
• SOFTWARE is the non-‐tangible part that tells the
computer how to do its job.
27
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• Computers are NOT intelligent, thinking
machines.
• Computers must be instructed on exactly what
to do and how to do it.
• Instructions given to computers are called
programs, often used interchangeably with
software.
28
Major
computer
system
components
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• Central Processing Unit (CPU): internal component
that processes data (input) using instructions and
produces information (output).
• Input unit: accepts instructions and data
• Output unit: communicates the results to the user
• Storage unit:
• primary storage or main memory (RAM)
• secondary storage (Hard disk) stores temporary and
final results. 29
Keyboard
Speaker,
Microphone
System
Unit,
Monitor/Screen,
Mouse
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
30
How
do
computers
work?
31
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
§ A task is assigned to a computer in a set of step-‐
by-‐step instructions which is known as a
program.
§ A computer performs three basic steps to
complete any task
§ Input
§ Processing
§ Output
32
• Step 1
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
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• Accepts whatever is fed into the system as input (data)
supplied through keyboard, USB flash etc.
• Ex: words and symbols in document, numbers for
calculation, images, audio, video etc..
• Step 2
• Processes the data following instructions
• Ex: calculations, modifying documents, sorting lists etc.
• Step 3:
• Produces output.
• Ex: reports, documents and graphs through monitors,
printers etc. 33
Applications
34
Applications
of
computer
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• Science
• Used
to
develop
theories,
carry
out
scientific
analysis.
• Education
• Used
in
classrooms,
libraries
etc.
to
make
education
more
interesting.
• Computer-‐aided
education
and
training.
• Medicine
/
Healthcare
• Patient
diagnoses,
treatment
plans
• Automated
imaging
techniques
35
Applications
of
computers
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
• Engineering/Architecture/Manufacturing
• Computerized
robots
for
hazardous
jobs.
• Designing/drawing
3
dimensional
objects
• Entertainment
• Control
images
and
sounds,
create
special
effects.
• Computerized
animation
and
colorful
graphics.
• Communication
• E-‐mail
and
messaging
• Videoconferencing 36
Review
Questions
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
1. How
is
the
speed
of
a
computer
measured?
2. What
are
the
three
basic
steps
that
computers
carry
out
to
complete
a
task?
3. Name
the
basic
component
on
which
each
of
the
first
four
generation
of
computers
were
based.
4. Which
category
of
computers
does
a
tablet
computer
belong
to?
5. How
are
commands
represented
on
a
punch
37
card?
Review
Questions
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
1. What
is
the
computer
language
of
0s
and
1s
called?
2. What
does
CPU
stand
for?
3. What
was
the
first
electronic
general
purpose
computer?
4. What
are
the
four
major
components
of
a
computer
system?
5. Describe
some
characteristics
of
computers.
6. List
some
applications
of
computers
7. Why
are
transistors
better
than
vacuum
tubes? 38
Review
Questions
SIT101
-‐ Introduction
to
Information
Technology
©
F elicitas
Mokom
1. Which
are
portable
– mini
or
micro
computers?
2. What
will
distinguish
fifth
generation
computers
from
previous
generations?
3. What
is
an
example
of
a
PDA?
4. What
does
GIGO
stand
for
and
what
does
it
mean?
5. What
category
of
computers
does
the
CRAY
family
of
computers
belong
to?
39
