Computer Basics

 

 

What is A Computer?

A computer is an electronic machine that accepts information, stores it until the information is needed, processes the information according to the instructions provided by the user, and finally returns the results to the user.  The computer can store and manipulate large quantities of data at very high speed, but a computer cannot think.  A computer makes decisions based on simple comparisons such as one number being larger than another.  Although the computer can help solve a tremendous variety of problems, it is simply a machine.  It cannot solve problems on its own. 

 

History of Computers

Since civilizations began, many of the advances made by science and technology have depended upon the ability to process large amounts of data and perform complex mathematical calculations.  For thousands of years, mathematicians, scientists and businessmen have searched for computing machines that could perform calculations and analyze data quickly and efficiently.  One such device was the abacus.

                The abacus was an important counting machine in ancient Babylon, China, and throughout Europe where it was used until the late middle ages.  It was followed by a series of improvements in mechanical counting machines that led up to the development of accurate mechanical adding machines in the 1930’s.  These machines used a complicated assortment of gears and levers to perform the calculations but they were far to slow to be of much use to scientists.  Also, a machine capable of making simple decisions such as which number is larger was needed.  A machine capable of making decisions is called a computer.

 

                The first computer like machine was the Mark I developed by a team from IBM and Harvard University.   It used mechanical telephone relays to store information and it processed data entered on punch cards.  This machine was not a true computer since it could not make decisions.

                In June 1943, work began on the world's first electronic computer.  It was built at the University of Pennsylvania as a secret military project during World War II and was to be used to calculate the trajectory of artillery shells.  It covered 1500 square feet and weighed 30 tons.  The project was not completed until 1946 but the effort was not wasted.  In one of its first demonstrations, the computer solved a problem in 20 seconds that took a team of mathematicians three days.  This machine was a vast improvement over the mechanical calculating machines of the past because it used vacuum tubes instead of relay switches.  It contained over 17,000 of these tubes, which were the same type tubes used in radios at that time. 

                The invention of the transistor made smaller and less expensive computers possible.  Although computers shrank in size, they were still huge by today’s standards.  Another innovation to computers in the 60’s was storing data on tape instead of punched cards.  This gave computers the ability to store and retrieve data quickly and reliably. 

 

 

Classification of Computers

                Mainframe Computers

                Minicomputers

                Microcomputers

                Supercomputers

 

Mainframe computers

 

 

Minicomputers

 

Microcomputers

 

Computer Tasks

 

When a computer is asked to do a job, it handles the task in a very special way. 

1.        It accepts the information from the user.  This is called input.

2.        It stored the information until it is ready for use.  The computer has memory chips, which are designed to hold information until it is needed.

3.        It processes the information.  The computer has an electronic brain called the Central Processing    Unit, which is responsible for processing all data and instructions given to the computer.

4.        It then returns the processed information to the user.  This is called output.

 

Every computer has special parts to do each of the jobs listed above.  Whether it is a multimillion dollar mainframe or a thousand dollar personal computer, it has the following four components, Input, Memory, Central Processing, and Output. 

 

The central processing unit is made up of many components, but two of them are worth mentioning at this point.  These are the arithmetic and logic unit and the control unit.  The control unit controls the electronic flow of information around the computer.  The arithmetic and logic unit, ALU, is responsible for mathematical calculations and logical comparisons.

 

 

Input Devices

 

Memory

                Read Only Memory   (ROM)

ROM is a small area of permanent memory that provides startup instructions when the computer is turned on.  You can not store any data in ROM.  The instructions in ROM are set by the manufacturer and cannot be changed by the user.  The last instruction in ROM directs the computer to load the operating system.

 

 Every computer needs an operating system.  This is a special computer program that must be loaded into memory as soon as the computer is turned on.  Its purpose is to translate your instructions in English into Binary so that the computer can understand your instructions.  The operating system also translates the results generated by your computer into English when it is finished so that we can understand and use the results.  The operating system comes with a computer.

 

                Random Access Memory  (RAM)

This is the area of memory where data and program instructions are stored while the computer is in operation.  This is temporary memory.  NOTE:  The data stored in RAM is lost forever when the power is turned off.  For this reason it is very important that you save your work before turning off your computer.  This is why we have peripheral storage devices like your computer’s hard disk and floppy diskettes. 

      

  Permanent Memory (Auxiliary Storage)

Your files are stored in permanent memory only when saved to your disk in a: drive or saved to your computer's hard disk,

 Drive c:

 

To better understand how a computer handles information and to also understand why information is lost if the power goes off, let’s take a closer look at how a computer handles information.  Your computer is made of millions of tiny electric circuits.  For every circuit in a computer chip, there are two possibilities:

 

1.                An electric circuit flows through the circuit or

2.                An electric circuit does not flow through the circuit.

 

When an electric current flows through a circuit, the circuit is on.  When no electricity flows, the circuit is off.  An “on” circuit is represented by the number one (1) and an off circuit is represented by the number zero (0).  The two numbers 1 and 0 are called bits.  The word bit comes from “binary digit”.  Each time a computer reads an instruction, it translates that instruction into a series of bits, 1’s and 0’s.  On most computers every character from the keyboard is translated into eight bits, a combination of eight 1’s and 0’s.  Each group of eight bits is called a byte. 

 

Byte – The amount of space in memory or on a disk needed to store one character.  8 bits = 1 Byte

 

Since computers can handle such large numbers of characters at one time, metric prefixes are combined with the word byte to give some common multiples you will encounter in computer literature. 

 

  

 

Central Processing Unit   (CPU)

               

The central processing unit is one of the two most important components of your microcomputer.  It is the electronic brain of your computer.  In addition to processing data, it controls the function of all the other components.  The most popular microprocessors in IBM compatible computers are made by Intel.  The generations of microprocessors are listed below.

 

1981                        8088

1984                        80286

                                1987                        80386

                                1990                        80486

                                1993                        Pentium 

                                1996                        P-6

 

Your laptop computer has a 166 MHz Pentium processor.

 

 

Output Devices

 

 

Storage Devices

 

Telecommunications

                Telecommunications means that you are communicating over long distances usually using phone lines.  This enables you to send data to and receive data from another computer that can be located down the street, in another town, or in another country. 

                Telecommunications requires a communication device called a modem, which connects your computer to a standard phone jack.   A modem converts the digital signals that your computer uses into analog signals that can be transmitted over the phone lines.  To use a modem, you must also have communication software to handle the transmission process. 

 

 

Computer Software

               

System Software

     System software will come provided with each computer and is necessary for the computer’s operation.  This software acts as an interpreter between the computer and user.  It interprets your instructions into binary code and likewise interprets binary code into language the user can understand.  In the past you may have used MS-DOS or Microsoft Disk Operating System which was a command line interface.  This form of system software required specific commands to be typed.  Windows 95 is a more recent version of system software and is known as a graphical interface.  This means that it uses graphics or "icons" to represent various operations.  You no longer have to memorize commands; you simply point to an icon and click.

 

                Program Software

       Program software is software used to write computer programs in specific computer languages.

 

                Application Software

     Application software is any software used for specified applications such as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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