Computer History

1

Computer applications today:◦ Word processing (Word)◦ Spreadsheets (Excel)◦ Presentation software (PowerPoint)◦ Communication (email, Internet)◦ Games◦ Databases◦ ...

2

How did we get here?

3

Way Back: Babbage’s “Difference Engine”

At the British Museum

4

Difference Engine Close-up

Difference Engine (video) Difference Engine (article)

5

The Difference Engine in Action

6

One-of-a-kind computers:The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)

7

ABC: Rebuilt at Iowa State

Pictures and Drawings Court Trial Reconstructing the ABC Computer ABC part 1 (video, 10 min) ABC part 2 (video, 10 min) ABC part 3 (video, 10 min)

8

ABC Links

18,000 vacuum tubes 80 ft long x 3 ft deep by 8 ft tall $500,000 ($6M in today’s dollars) 30 tons 150 kilowatts ENIAC (Wikipedia article)

9

One-of-a-kind computers: ENIAC

10

ENIAC

11

ENIAC

ABC was the first electronic, digital computer.

ENIAC was the first electronic, digital, general-purpose computer.

12

Which was the first computer?

UNIVAC 1, More UNIVAC

13

Commercial ComputersGeneration 1: Early 1950s

Big Slow Hot Expensive Unreliable

14

Generation 1 Hardware: Vacuum Tubes

15

UNIVAC

16

Commercial ComputersGeneration 2: Late 50s-mid 60s

Smaller Faster Cooler Cheaper More reliable

17

Generation 2 Hardware: Transistors

IBM 1620

18

Generation 2

IBM 360

19

Commercial ComputersGeneration 3: Mid 60s to mid 70s

20

Generation 3 Hardware: “Integrated” Circuits

IBM 360

21

Generation 3

A “mini” computer was about the size of a refrigerator. They could be made this small because of integrated circuits.

PDP 8

22

Minicomputers

The “micro” computer. The Apple ][ Plus Apple II

23

Commercial ComputersGeneration 4: Mid-70s to Today

A 4th generation computer uses large-scale integrated circuits (silicon chips) for its circuitry.

24

Generation 4 Hardware:Large-scale Integrated Circuits

IBM PC August, 1981

25

Generation 4

iMac

26

Generation 4

The trend has continually been:

◦SMALLER◦CHEAPER◦FASTER◦MORE RELIABLE◦MORE POWERFUL◦MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT

27

Trends

28

Hardware SummaryGen Dates Hardware

1Early 50s-Late

50sVacuum tubes

2Late 50s-Mid

60sTransistors

3 Mid 60s-Mid 70s Integrated Circuits

4 Mid 70s-PresentLarge-scale

integrated circuits

Moore's Law (1965): The number of transistors that can be placed on an integrated circuit is doubling approximately every 2 years.

29

Moore’s Law

30

Computer Components

Computer Components

32

CPU

Main Memory

Secondary Memory(Storage)

Input

Output

Input Device: Hardware used to enter data and instructions

The Components of a Computer: Input

33

Most common devices:◦ Keyboard◦ Mouse

Input

34

Three other common devices:◦ Microphone◦ Scanner◦ Web Cam

Input

35

Hardware that conveys information to humans

Computer Components: Output

36

Most common:◦ Monitor◦ Printer

Output

37

Another common output device:◦ Speakers

Output

38

39

System Unit: Case containing electroniccomponents used to process data

The Components of a Computer: System Unit

CPU and memory go on the motherboard:

Motherboard

40

41

Central Processing Unit (CPU): the electronic component that interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer.

It is located inside the system unit on the motherboard.

The Components of a Computer: CPU

Executes instructions (programs/software)

One instruction at a time (per “core”) Billions of instructions per second Today: multiple cores (CPUs) Today: 2-3 GHz clock speed Located on motherboard

Computer Components:The CPU

42

The Core i7 has four processors inside of it.

The CPU: Intel Core i7

43

Celeron: Lower cost, lower performance

The CPU: Intel Celeron

44

45

Main Memory: Consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions

It is located in the system unit on the motherboard.

The Components of a Computer: Main Memory

Main Memory is: Fast! But: Volatile... ... Expensive... ... and Limited

The Components of a Computer Main Memory

46

47

Storage: Holds data and instructions for future use:◦Magnetic disk◦Flash memory◦Optical disk◦Magnetic tape

The Components of a Computer: Storage (Secondary Memory)

Secondary Memory is: Permanent (not volatile) Cheap (cost per byte) Unlimited But: Slow!

The Components of a Computer: Storage (Secondary Memory)

48

Main Memory is:

Volatile Expensive Limited Fast!

Storage (Secondary Memory):Magnetic Disk

49

5.25” 3.5” 2.5” 1.5”

50

Hard disk: Provides greater storage capacity than a floppy disk or USB flash drive

Direct Access Most are housed inside

of the system unit

Storage (Secondary Memory):Magnetic Disk

Storage (Secondary Memory):Magnetic Disk

51

52

Floppy Disk Small removable

magnetic storage device. Direct access Holds about 1.4 MB Obsolete

Storage (Secondary Memory):Floppy Disk

USB Flash Drive: Provides much greater storage capacity than a floppy disk.

Small and lightweight enough to be transported on a keychain or in a pocket

Direct Access

Storage (Secondary Memory):Flash Memory

53

54

Magnetic tape Sequential access Used primarily for backup

Storage (Secondary Memory):Magnetic Tape

Old: 7-inch tape New: cassettes

Storage (Secondary Memory): Magnetic Tape

55

56

Optical Disk: Flat, round, portable metal disc

Direct Access CD-ROM (.6 GB) DVD-ROM (4-17 GB) Blu-ray (25-50 GB)

Storage (Secondary Memory):Optical Disk

57

Types of Computers

58

The two most popular personal computers:

Type 1: Personal Desktop Computers

PC and compatibles use the Windows operating system

Apple Macintosh usually uses the Macintosh operating system (Mac OS X)

59

Notebook/laptop computer: Portable, small enough to fit on your lap Usually more expensive than a desktop

computer with equal capabilities

Type 2: Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices

60

Apple iPad tablet computer iPad overview

Type 2: Mobile Computers

61

Smart phone: a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality.

Type 2: Mobile Computers

62

Portable Media Players Stores music, videos, photos

Type 2: Mobile Computers

63

Game Console: a mobile computing device designed for single-player or multiplayer video games.

Type 3: Game Consoles

64

Server: A computer that controls access to network resources and provides centralized storage

Type 4: Server

65

Mainframe computer: very powerful, expensive computer that supports thousands of connected users.

Type 5: Mainframe computer

66

Supercomputer: the fastest, most powerful, most expensive computer. Used for applications requiring complex mathematical calculations.

Type 6: Supercomputer

67

World’s fastest computer 1750 teraflops

Cray Jaguar XT5

68

Supercomputer: IBM Blue Gene

69

Embedded Computer: a special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger product.

Type 7: Embedded Computer

70

1. Personal Computers (desktop)2. Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices3. Game Consoles4. Servers5. Mainframes6. Supercomputers7. Embedded Computers

Summary: Types of Computers

71

The End