Skill Development

Lecture 1
Instructor: Faima Abbasi

Department of Law,
Bahria University, Islamabad

September 13, 2019

Course Information
I Course Name:
Skill Development

I Course meeting times:

Lectures: 3 session/week

I Course Resources:
Lectures slides, assignments (computer/written) and
announcements will be uploaded on course web page (piazza)

I Course Composition: Lectures, Readings, Term Project,

Quizzes, Assignments

I Course Aim: To understand the basic concept of Information

communication Technologies and develop IT skills.
Course Information

I Textbooks

I Introduction to Computers 6th International Edition, Peter, N.

McGrawâHill

I Using Information Technology: A Practical Introduction to

Computer Communications, 6th Edition. Williams, S.
McGrawâHills.

I Computers, Communications information: A user’s

introduction, Sarah, E. Hutchinson. Stacey, C. Swayer.

I Fundamentals of Information Technology, Alexis L

Mathewsleon Leon Press
Class Norms
Grading Policy

I Quizzes: 10%

I Assignment: 10%

I Term Project: 10%

I Mid Term Semester: 20%

I Final Exam: 50%

Course Contents
I Introduction to Computers
I Computer Hardware
I System Software and Input/Output Devices
I Application Software: Tools for Productivity
I Internet
I Types of Software Applications
I Software Applications in Businesses
I MS Word/MS Excel/MS PowerPoint
I Computer Networks
I Introduction to Database Management Systems (DBMS)
I Databases Applications
I Web Page Development
I Multimedia Presentation Tools
Introduction to Computers

I A computer is an electronic device that process data, convert

it into information that is useful for people
I A computer is an electronic device that can accept input,
process it and produce results as its output
I A computer is an electronic device that process data
according to the set of stored instructions
I Modern computers are digital: Two digits combine to make
data
I Old computers were analog: A range of values make data
Analog Vs Digital Computers
I Analog Computers
I Provide information in continuous form
I No state 0 & 1
I Easy to develop & small memory
I Calculates analog quantities
I Result not reliable
I Gives output in form of graphs

I Digital Computers
I Works with digits
I Everything described in two states, i.e., either On or Off
I The number 1 represents on & 0 represents off
I Gives output in digital format
Computers for Individual

I Desktop Computers

I The most common type of computer

I Sits on the desk or floor
I Performs a variety of tasks

I Workstations

I Specialized computers
I Optimized for science or graphics
I More powerful than a desktop
I Suitable for, engineering design, modeling, animation and
video editing
Computers for Individual

I Handheld computers

I Palm Computer/ Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

I Note taking or contact management
I Current PDAs: Internet and Phone
I Data can synchronize with a desktop

I Smart phones

I Hybrid of cell phone and PDA

I Web surfing, e-mail access
Computers for Organization
I Network Servers

I Centralized Computer
I All other computers connect
I Provide access to network resource
I Multiple servers are called server farms
I Often Simply a powerful desktop: Google
I Flexibility to differant kinds of tasks

I Mainframes

I Used in large organizations

I Handles thousands of user
I Users access through a terminal
I Large and powerful systems
Computers for Organization
I Minicomputers

I Called midrange computers

I Power between mainframe and desktop
I Handle hundreds of users
I Used in smaller organizations
I Users access through a terminal

I Supercomputers

I The most powerful computers made

I Handle large and complex calculations
I Process trillions of operations per second
I Found in research organizations
Computers in Society
I More impact than any other invention
I Changed work and leisure activities
I Used by all demographic groups

I Computers are important because:

I Provide information to users
I Information is critical to our society
I Managing information is difficult

I Computers at home
I Many homes have multiple computers
I Computers are used for communication
I Used for business, entertainment, education, finances
Computer Generations

Computer has become a part of our life. Today along with

calculations, their work area is very wide-supermarket scanners
scan and calculate our grocery bill and also keep store inventory,
automatic teller machines (ATM) help us in banking transaction.

How the technology has developed and what its future course is.
To understand this first we should know about the different
generation of computers.
First-Generation Computer (1945-1956)

First-generation computers used vacuum tubes and values as their

basic electronic component. They were extremely large in size and
reliable. The language used for storing and processing data was
machine language.
First-Generation Computer (1945-1956)
I ENIAC (Electronic numerical integrator and calculator): It
was built in 1946 at the university of pennsylvania, USA by
John Eckert and John Mauchly.

I EDVAC (Electronic discrete variable automatic computer): It

was developed in 1950

I EDSAC (Electronic delay storage automatic computer): It was

developed by Mv Wilikes at Cambridge University in 1949

I Univac-I: The Universal Automatic Computer was USAâS first

commercially available computer system. It was delivered in
1951 by the Eckert-Mauchly computer corp.
Disadvantages

I They were too bulky.

I They emitted large amounts of heat because they used lots of

vacuum tubes.

I AIR conditioning was required.

I They were prone to frequent failure that is why they were

unreliable.

I They were not portable.

Second-Generation Computer (1956-1963)
In the generation of computers, transistors were used in place of
vacuum tubes.
Transistors are more compact than vacuum tubes as they are made
up of semiconductors. They are also more durable than vacuum
tubes.

I IBM 1620: Its size was used smaller as compared to the

first-generation computers and it was used mostly for
scientific purpose.

I IBM 1401: It was used for was business application.

I CDC 3600: It was used for scientific purpose.

Advantages & Disadvantages

I Advantages

I They were smaller as compared to first-generation computers.

I They generated less heat.
I They took comparatively less computers time.
I They were less prone to failure.

I Disadvantages

I They required Air Conditioning.

I Frequent maintenance was required.
I They were difficult and quite expensive.
Third-Generation Computer (1964-1971)

In the third generation of computers integrated circuits (ICs)

began to be used. These ICs were called chips.

These ICs are more compact than a transistor. Single ICs has many
transistors, registers and capacitors, placed on silicon material. So
the computer built of such components became smaller.
Third-Generation Computer (1964-1971)

Some of the computers developed during this period were:

I IBM-360: Developed by IBM in 1964.

I PDP-8: Developed by DEC in 1965.
I PDP-11: Developed by DEC IN 1970.
I CRA-1: Developed by CRAY research in 1974.
I VAX: Developed by DEC 1978.

High-level language such as BASIC (Beginners all-purpose

symbolic instruction code) were developed during this period.
Advantages

The advantages that the third-generated computers had over the

second generation computers were:

I They were smaller in size as compared to the

second-generation computers.
I They generated less heat.
I They reduced computational time.
I They involved low maintenance cost.
I They were easily portable.
I They were comparatively cheaper.
Fourth-Generation Computer (1971 Onwards)

Fourth-generation computers used very large integration (VLSI)

technology, i.e., creating an integrated circuit (IC) by combining
thousands of transistors into a single chip.

After the induction of integrated circuits, computers could only get

small in size, since hundreds of computers could fit onto one chip.

By the 1890s, the use of VLSI technology had squeezed hundreds

of thousands of computers onto a single chip.

Ultra-large scale integration (ULSI) increased that number to

millions.
Advantages

The advantages that the fourth-generated computers had over the

third-generation computers were:

I They were cheaper.

I They had a larger memory and high functional speed.
I They consumed less power.
I They generated a negligible amount of heat.
The End