Introduction to Computer
Definition
For most of the people, computer is a machine
used for a calculation or a computation, but
actually it is much more than that.
Computer is an electronic device for performing
arithmetic and logical operation.
“Computer is a device or a flexible machine to
process data and converts it into information.”
DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER
• Actually speaking electronic data processing does not go
back more than just half a centaury i.e. they are in
existence merely from early 1940’s.
• In early days when our ancestor used to reside in cave
the counting was a problem. Still it is stated becoming
difficult. When they started using stone to count their
animals or the possession they never knew that this day
will lead to a computer of today.
• People today started following a set of procedure to
perform calculation with these stones, which later led to
creation of a digital counting device, which was the
predecessor the first calculating device invented, was
know as ABACUS.
Abacus
Abacus is known to be the first mechanical calculating
device which was used to be performed addition and
subtraction easily and speedily.
This device was a first developed by the Egyptians in
the 10th centaury B.C, but it was given it final shape in
the 12th centaury A.D. by the Chinese educationists.
Abacus is made up of wooden frame in which rod
where fitted across with rounds beads sliding on the
rod. It id dividing into two parts called ‘Heaven’ and
‘Earth’. Heaven was the upper part and Earth was the
lower one.
NAPIER’S BONES
As the necessity demanded, scientist started
inventing better calculating device. In thus
process John Napier’s of Scotland invented a
calculating device, in the year 1617 called the
Napier Bones.
In the device, Napier’s used the bone rods of the
counting purpose.
These rods that one can do addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division easily.
PASCAL’S CALCULATOR
• In the year 1642, Blaise Pascal, a French
scientist invented an adding machine
called Pascal’s calculator, which
represents the position of digit with the
help of gears in it.
LEIBNZ CALCULATOR
• In the year 1671, a German mathematics,
Gottfried Leibniz modified the Pascal
calculator and he developed a machine
which could perform various calculation
based on multiplication and division as
well.
ANALYTICAL ENGINE
• In the year 1833, a scientist form
England knows to be Charles
Babbage invented such a machine
which could keep our data safely.
• This device was called Analytical
engine and it deemed the first
mechanical computer.
• It included such feature which is
used in today’s computer language.
• For this great invention of the
computer, Sir Charles Babbage is
also known as the father of the
computer.
GENERATION OF COMPUTER
• FIRST GENERATION
• ENIAC was the world first successful electronic computer which was
develops by the two scientists namely J. P. Eckert and J. W.
Mauchy.
• It was the beginning of first generation computer. The full form of
ENIAC is “Electronic Numeric Integrated And Calculator” ENIAC
was a very huge and big computer and its weight was 30 tones. It
could store only limited or small amount of information. Initially in the
first generation computer the concept of vacuum tubes was used. A
vacuum tube was such an electronic component which had very
less work efficiency and so it could not work properly and it required
a large cooling system.
SECOND GENERATION
• Transister
• As the development moved further, the second
generation computers knocked the door. In this
generation, transistors were used as the electronic
component instead of vaccum tubes .
• A transistors is much smaller in the size than that of a
vaccum tube. As the size of electrons components
decreased from vaccum tube of transistor, the size of
computer also decreased and it became much smaller
than that of earlier computer.
THIRD GENERATION
• The third generation computers were invented in the
year 1964.
• In this generation of computer, IC (Integrated circuits)
was used as the electronic component for computers.
The development of IC gave birth to a new field of
microelectronics. The main advantage of IC is not only
its small size but its superior performance and reliability
than the previous circuits. It was first developed by T.S
Kilby. This generation of computer has huge storage
capacity and higher calculating speed.
FOURTH GENERATION
• This is the generation where we are working today. The
computers which we see around us belong to the fourth
generation computers. ‘Micro processor’ is the main
concept behind this generation of computer.
• A microprocessor is a single chip (L.S.I circuit), which is
used in a computer for any arithmetical or logical
functions to be performed in any program. The honaur of
developing microprocessor goes to Ted Hoff of U.S.A.
• He developed first micro-processor, the Intel 4004, as he
was working for Intel Corporation, U.S.A with the use of
microprocessor in the fourth generation computers, the
size of computer become very fast and efficient.
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
MAIN COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
MAIN COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
• A computer information system is made up
of hardware and software.
• Hardware describes any kind of computer
equipment that can be physically touched.
• Software is stored on media such as a
floppy disk or a CD-ROM.
Hardware components of a computer system:
1. The CPU (Central Processing Unit)
this carries out all the instructions the
computer has to do. It is made up of:
A control unit which controls each of the
steps the CPU makes as it works.
An ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit) which
carries out the step-by-step calculations
and processing.
2. Main/internal memory
RAM (Random Access Memory) is used to
store the operating system, software and
files data used while the computer is
running.
ROM (Read Only Memory) is used to store
the software used to start the hardware
and load the operating system software
into RAM.
[Link] devices - these allow the input of
data into the computer (i.e a keyboard or
mouse).
[Link] devices - these allow the output of
information from the computer (i.e. a
monitor or printer) .
[Link]/Backing Storage - these store
data when the computer is turned off (i.e.
a hard disk).
Peripheral equipment of computer
• a hardware device that is attached to a
computer, rather than being built into it.
Useful Software for Clerical Activities
Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Word is the most popular word
processing program – and justifiably.
• It is easy to use and allows you to create
all different types of documents.
Microsoft Power Point
• When you create a presentation using
PowerPoint, the presentation is made up
of a series of slides.
• The slides that you create using
PowerPoint can also be presented as
overhead transparencies or 35mm slides.
In addition to slides, you can print
audience handouts, outlines, and
speaker's notes.
Microsoft Excel
• It is a spreadsheet program used to store
and retrieve numerical data in a grid
format of columns and rows.
• Excel is ideal for entering, calculating and
analyzing company data such as sales
figures, sales taxes or commissions
Microsoft Outlook
• It is a personal information manager from
Microsoft, available as a part of the
Microsoft Office suite.
• Although often used mainly as an email
application, it also includes a calendar,
task manager, contact manager, note
taking, journal, and web browsing.
Microsoft OneNote
• Microsoft OneNote is a computer program
for free-form information gathering and
multi-user collaboration. It gathers users'
notes (handwritten or typed), drawings,
screen clippings and audio commentaries.
