Unit – I

Introduction to Computers and

Computing
Syllabus
■ Evolution of Computers: Generations and
Classification; Basic Organization of a
Computer System; Types of Computers:
Supercomputers, Mainframes, Embedded
Systems; Concept of Hardware, Software,
and Firmware.
Course Objective & Outcome
■ Objective:
A fundamental understanding of computer
evolution, classification, architecture, hardware
components, and peripherals, along with hands-
on experience in troubleshooting and assembly.
■ Outcome:
Understand the evolution, classification, and basic
organization of computer systems.
Information Processing System
■ DATA is a collection of independent and
unorganized facts.
■ INFORMATION is the processed and
organized data presented in a meaningful
form.
Information Processing System
■ COMPUTER is an electronic machine that
follows a set of instructions in order that it
may be able to accept and gather data
and transform these into information.
 PROCESSING
SYSTEM

DATA INFORMATION
Functions of an Information
Processing System
1. It accepts and gather data. (INPUT)
2. It processes data to become information.
(PROCESSING)
3. It stores data and information. (STORE)
4. It presents information. (OUTPUT)
Three Major Components of an
Information Processing System
■ HARDWARE is the tangible part of a
computer system.
■ SOFTWARE is the non-tangible part that
tells the computer how to do its job.
■ PEOPLEWARE refer to people who use
and operate the computer system, write
computer programs, and analyze and
design the information system.
Basic Units of Measurement
■ BIT is a unit of information equivalent to
the result of a choice between only 2
possible alternatives in the binary number
system.
■ BYTE is a sequence of 8 bits (enough to
represent one character of alphanumeric
data) processed as a single unit for
information.
Basic Units of Measurement

■ 1,000 bytes =1 kilobyte (K or KB)

1,000 KB =1 megabyte (MB)
1,000 MB =1 gigabyte (GB)
1,000 GB =1 Terabyte (TB)
 What is Computer?

 A computer is a device that accepts information (in the form of

digitalized data) and manipulates it for some result based on a
program or sequence of instructions on how the data is to be
processed.
Functionalities of a computer
 Any digital computer carries out five functions in gross
terms:
 Takes data as input.
 Stores the data/instructions in its memory and use them when
required.
 Processes the data and converts it into useful information.
 Generates the output
 Controls all the above four steps.
 Advantages
 High Speed
 Computer is a very fast device.
 It is capable of performing calculation of very large amount of data.
 The computer has units of speed in microsecond, nanosecond, and even
the picosecond.
 It can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds as compared to
man who will spend many months for doing the same task.

 Accuracy
 In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate.
 The calculations are 100% error free.
 Computers perform all jobs with 100% accuracy provided that correct
input has been given.
 Advantages
 Storage Capability
 Memory is a very important characteristic of computers.
 A computer has much more storage capacity than human beings.
 It can store large amount of data.
 It can store any type of data such as images, videos, text, audio and many others.

 Diligence
 Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness and lack of
concentration.
 It can work continuously without any error and boredom.
 It can do repeated work with same speed and accuracy.

 Versatility
 A computer is a very versatile machine.
 A computer is very flexible in performing the jobs to be done.
 This machine can be used to solve the problems related to various fields.
 At one instance, it may be solving a complex scientific problem and the very next
moment it may be playing a card game.
 Advantages
 Reliability
 A computer is a reliable machine.
 Modern electronic components have long lives.
 Computers are designed to make maintenance easy.

 Automation
 Computer is an automatic machine.
 Automation means ability to perform the given task automatically.
 Once a program is given to computer i.e., stored in computer memory, the program and
instruction can control the program execution without human interaction.

 Reduction in Paper Work

 The use of computers for data processing in an organization leads to reduction in paper work
and results in speeding up a process.
 As data in electronic files can be retrieved as and when required, the problem of maintenance
of large number of paper files gets reduced.

 Reduction in Cost
 Though the initial investment for installing a computer is high but it substantially reduces the
cost of each of its transaction.
 Disadvantages
 No I.Q.
 A computer is a machine that has no intelligence to perform any task.
 Each instruction has to be given to computer.
 A computer cannot take any decision on its own.

 Dependency

 It functions as per a user’s instruction, so it is fully dependent on human

being

 Environment
 The operating environment of computer should be dust free and suitable.

 No Feeling
 Computers have no feelings or emotions.
 It cannot make judgment based on feeling, taste, experience, and
knowledge unlike a human being.
Computer
Characteristics

Speed & Accuracy Automatic

Operation
Performs billions of operations per second with high Works independently once started, following stored
precision. Errors occur due to human factors, not program instructions without human intervention.

technological weakness.

Storage & No Intelligence

Versatility
Stores vast amounts of data permanently and Zero IQ - requires precise instructions and cannot
handles diverse tasks from calculations to make independent decisions or judgments.

multimedia processing.
 Components of Computer
System

• Input Unit
This unit contains devices with the help of which we enter data into computer. This unit makes
link between user and computer. The input devices translate the information into the form
understandable by computer.
• CPU (Central Processing Unit)
CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. CPU performs all types of data processing
operations. It stores data, intermediate results and instructions(program). It controls the
operation of all parts of computer.
• Output Unit
Output unit consists of devices with the help of which we get the information from computer.
This unit is a link between computer and users. Output devices translate the computer's
output into the form understandable by users.
 What is Hardware?
■ Hardware represents the physical and
tangible components of a computer i.e.
the components that can be seen and
touched.
■ Examples of Hardware are following:
◻ Input devices -- keyboard, mouse
etc.
◻ Output devices -- printer, monitor
etc.
◻ Secondary storage devices -- Hard
disk, CD, DVD etc.
◻ Internal components -- CPU,
motherboard, RAM etc.
Basic hardware of a PC system
■ Central Processing Unit (CPU)
■ Memory Unit
■ Input Devices
■ Output Devices
■ Secondary Storage Devices
1. Central Processing Unit
■ Brain of the computer.
■ It directs and controls the entire computer
system and performs all arithmetic and
logical operations.
2. Memory Unit
■ Where the programs and
data are stored .
◻ READ ONLY MEMORY
(ROM) contains the pre-
programmed computer
instructions such as the Basic
Input Output System (BIOS).
◻ RANDOM ACCESS
MEMORY (RAM) is used to
store the programs and data
that you will run. Exists only
when there is power.
3. Input Devices
■ Allows data and programs to be sent to
the CPU.
◻ Keyboard
◻ Mouse
◻ Joystick
◻ Microphone
◻ Webcam
◻ Scanner
◻ Monitor
4. Output Devices
■ Media used by the computer in displaying
its responses to our requests and
instructions.
■ Monitor
■ Audio Speakers
■ Printer
5. Secondary Storage Devices
■ Attached to the computer system to allow
you to store programs and data
permanently for the purpose of retrieving
them for future use.
■ Floppy disk, Hard disk, CD Rom
 What is Software?
■ Software is a set of programs, which is designed to
perform a well-defined function. A program is a
sequence of instructions written to solve a particular
problem.
■ There are two types of software
◻ System Software
◻ Application Software
 System Software
■ The system software is collection of programs designed to operate, control,
and extend the processing capabilities of the computer itself. System
software are generally prepared by computer manufactures. These software
products comprise of programs written in low-level languages which interact
with the hardware at a very basic level. System software serves as the
interface between hardware and the end users.
■ System software is software designed to provide a platform for other
software. Examples of system software include operating systems like
macOS, Linux OS and Microsoft windows.

■ Some examples of system software are Operating System, Compilers,

Interpreter, Assemblers etc.
 Application Software
■ Application software products are designed to satisfy a particular need of a particular
environment. All software applications prepared in the computer lab can come under
the category of Application software.
■ Application software may consist of a single program, such as a Microsoft's notepad for
writing and editing simple text. It may also consist of a collection of programs, often
called a software package, which work together to accomplish a task, such as a
spreadsheet package.
■ Examples of Application software are following:
◻ Payroll Software
◻ Student Record Software
◻ Inventory Management Software
◻ Income Tax Software
◻ Railways Reservation Software
◻ Microsoft Office Suite Software
◻ Microsoft Word
◻ Microsoft Excel
◻ Microsoft Powerpoint
 Generations of Computer
■ The computer has evolved from a large-sized simple
calculating machine to a smaller but much more
powerful machine.

■ The evolution of computer to the current state is defined

in terms of the generations of computer.

■ Each generation of computer is designed based on a

new technological development, resulting in better,
cheaper and smaller computers that are more powerful,
faster and efficient than their predecessors.

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Generations of Computer

■ Currently, there are five generations of

computer. In the following subsections,
we will discuss the generations of
computer in terms of the technology used
by them (hardware and software),
computing characteristics (speed, i.e.,
number of instructions executed per
second), physical appearance, and their
applications.
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First Generation Computers
(1940-1956)
■ The first computers used vacuum tubes(a sealed glass tube
containing a near-vacuum which allows the free passage of electric
current.) for
circuitry and magnetic drums for memory.
■ They were often enormous and taking up entire room.
■ First generation computers relied on machine language.
■ They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a
great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the
cause of malfunctions(defect or breakdown).
■ The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-
generation computing devices.

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Key Features: 1G
• Main electronic component – vacuum tube
• Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic tapes
• Programming language – machine language
• Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate a lot of
heat.
• Speed and size – very slow and very large in size (often
taking up entire room).
• Input/output devices – punched cards and paper tape.
• Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum tube
computers produced between 1942 and1963.
First Generation Computers
Advantages :
■ It was only electronic device
■ First device to hold memory
Disadvantages :
■ Too bulky i.e large in size
■ Vacuum tubes burn frequently
■ They were producing heat
■ Maintenance problems

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Second Generation Computers
(1956-1963)
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the
second generation of computers.
• Second-generation computers moved from
cryptic binary machine language to symbolic.
• High-level programming languages were also being
developed at this time, such as early versions
of COBOL and FORTRAN.
• These were also the first computers that stored their
instructions in their memory.

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Key Features:2G
• Main electronic component – transistor
• Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
• Programming language – assembly language
• Power and size – low power consumption, generated
less heat, and smaller in size (in comparison with the first
generation computers).
• Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in
comparison with the first generation computers).
• Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic tape.
• Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094, UNIVAC
1107, etc
 Second Generation Computers

Advantages :
■ Size reduced considerably
■ The very fast
■ Very much reliable
Disadvantages :
■ They over heated quickly
■ Maintenance problems

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Third Generation Computers
(1964-1971)
■ The development of the integrated circuit was the
hallmark of the third generation of computers.
■ Transistors were miniaturized and placed
on siliconchips, called semiconductors.
■ Instead of punched cards and printouts, users
interacted with third generation computers
through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with
an operating system.
■ Allowed the device to run many different applications at
one time.

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Key features:3G
• Main electronic component – integrated circuits (ICs)
• Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
• Programming language – high level language (FORTRAN, BASIC,
Pascal, COBOL, C, etc.)
• Size – smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second generation
computers (they were called minicomputers).
• Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in comparison with the
second generation computers).
• Input / output devices – magnetic tape, keyboard, monitor, printer,
etc.
• Examples – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC 1108, etc.
Third generation computers
Advantages :
■ ICs are very small in size
■ Improved performance
■ Production cost cheap

Disadvantages :
■ ICs are sophisticated

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Fourth Generation Computers
(1971-present)
■ The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of
computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were
built onto a single silicon chip.
■ The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the
components of the computer.
■ From the central processing unit and memory to
input/output controls—on a single chip.
■ . Fourth generation computers also saw the
development of GUIs, the mouse and
handheld devices.

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Key Features:4G
• Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and microprocessor.
• VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
• Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
• RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element) used in computers that
temporary stores of programs and data (volatile: its contents are lost when the computer is turned
off).
• ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in computers that permanently stores data
and programs (non-volatile: its contents are retained even when the computer is turned off).
• Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Kotlin, etc.).
• A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
• Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
• Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the third generation
computers).
• Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor, printer, etc.
• Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
• Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc
Fourth Generation Computers

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Fifth Generation Computers
(present and beyond)
■ Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial
intelligence.
■ Are still in development, though there are some
applications, such as voice recognition.
■ The use of parallel processing and superconductors is
helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.
■ The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop
devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.

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Key Features:5G
• Main electronic component: based on artificial intelligence, uses the Ultra Large-Scale
Integration (ULSI) technology and parallel processing method.
• ULSI – millions of transistors on a single microchip
• Parallel processing method – use two or more microprocessors to run tasks
simultaneously.
• Language – understand natural language (human language).
• Power – consume less power and generate less heat.
• Speed – remarkable improvement of speed, accuracy and reliability (in comparison
with the fourth generation computers).
• Size – portable and small in size, and have a huge storage capacity.
• Input / output device – keyboard, monitor, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad),
touchscreen, pen, speech input (recognise voice / speech), light scanner, printer, etc.
• Example – desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
Fifth Generation Computers

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Types of computer
 Two types of
classification
• On the basis of Technology
• On the basis of Size
Types of computers on the basis
of Technology
• Analog
Computers
• Digital
Computers
• Hybrid
Computers
 Analog Computers

• Analog Computer is a that

computing
device work
s
continuous range of values. The results on
given
by the analog computers will only be
approximate since they deal with quantities that
vary continuously. It generally deals with
physical variables such as voltage, pressure,
temperature, speed, etc.
 Digital Computers
• A digital computer operates on digital data such as numbers.
It uses binary number system in which there are only two digits 0
and 1. Each one is called a bit. The digital computer is designed
using digital circuits in which there are two levels for an input or
output signal. These two levels are known as logic 0 and logic 1.
Digital Computers can give more accurate and faster results.
Based on the purpose, Digital computers can be further classified
as:
• General Purpose Computers
• Special Purpose Computers
 Hybrid
Computers
• A hybrid computer combines the desirable features of
analog and digital computers. It is mostly used for
automatic operations of complicated physical
processes and machines. Now-a-days analog-to-digital
and digital-to- analog converters are used for
transforming the data into suitable form for either type
of computation. For example, in hospital’s ICU, analog
devices might measure the patients temperature, blood
pressure and other vital signs.
Types of computers on the basis
of size
• Super
Computers
• Mainframe
Computers
• Mini
Computers
• Micro
Computers
 Super Computers
• When we talk about types of computers,
the first type that comes to our mind
would be Super computers. They
are the best in terms of processing
capacity and also the most expensive
ones. These computers can process
billions of instructions per second.
Normally, they will be used for
applications which require intensive
numerical computations such as
stock analysis, .
weather forecasting
 Mainframe Computers

• Mainframe computers can also process data at

very high speeds i.e., hundreds of million
instructions per second and they are also quite
expensive. Normally, they are used in banking,
airlines and railways etc. for their
applications.
 Mini Computers
• Mini computers are lower to mainframe
computers in terms of speed and
storage capacity. They are also less
expensive than mainframe computers.
Some of the features of mainframes will
not be available in mini computers.
Hence, their performance also will be less
than that of mainframe computers.
 Micro Computers
• Desktop Computers
• Laptop Computers
• Handheld
Computers(PDAs)
 Desktop Computers

• Today the Desktop computers are the most popular

computer systems. These desktop computers are also
known as personal computers or simply PCs. They
are usually easier to use and more affordable. They
are normally intended for individual users for their
word processing and other small application
requirements.
 Laptop
Computers
• Laptop computers are
portable computers.
They are lightweight
computers with a thin
screen. They are also
called as notebook
computers because of their
small size. They can
operate on batteries and
hence are very popular
with travelers. The screen
folds down onto the
keyboard when not in use.
Handheld Computers or Personal
Digital Assistants (PDAs)
• Handheld computers or Personal
Digital Assistants (PDAs) are pen-based
and also battery- powered. They are
small and can be carried anywhere.
They use a pen like stylus and accept
handwritten input directly on the screen.
They are not as powerful as desktops or
laptops but they are used for
scheduling appointments, storing
addresses and playing games. They have
touch screens which we use with a finger
or a stylus.
 Embedded System

● An embedded system is a small computer built

inside another machine or device to do a specific
job.
● An embedded system is a specialized computer
system—a combination of a computer processor,
computer memory, and input/output peripheral
devices—that has a dedicated function within a
larger mechanical or electronic system.
● Components: It includes a computer processor,
memory, and input/output (I/O) peripheral
devices.
 Application of embedded
system
● The embedded system controls water level,
temperature, and washing time.(Washing Machine)

● The embedded system sets the correct cooking time

and temperature.(Microwave)
● Sensors check room temperature(AC)
● Embedded system controls display, sound, apps, and
internet connection.(Smart TV)
 Firmware
• Firmware is a software program or set of instructions
programmed on a hardware device.
• Layer between hardware and software.
• Also call “embedded software”,Non-volatile, installed
on ROM chips (ROM,PROM, EPROM) or flash chips.
Firmware : What does it do?

• Coordinates the activities of the hardware

during normal operation and contains
programming constructs used to perform
those operations.
• Example: in atypical modem, the firmware
will be afactor in establishing the modem's
data rate, command set recognition, and
special feature implementation
Functionalities of Firmware

• Booting and running system

• Providing Basic I/O Services
• Providing Debugging Services
• Providing backdoor for system recovery/Maintenance
Types of Firmware

• BIOS/UEFI Firmware – Used in computers to initialize

hardware and load the OS.
• Embedded Firmware – Found in devices like
microwaves, routers, and smartwatches.
• Peripheral Firmware – Used in accessories like
printers, mice, and keyboards.
• Network Firmware – Enables connectivity and
communication in devices such as routers and
switches.
• Security Firmware – Added layers of firmware for
safety and protection in sensitive environments.
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!