Intro to IT Concepts

INTRODUCTION TO IT CONCEPTS

Chapter 1:Computers: How They Shaped the

World

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Understand how computers came into view.• Examine the different generations of

computers and their examples.• Evaluate the different types of computers on

their similarities and differences.

Subion | Trillanes | Labanan Introduction to IT Concpets

• DEFINITION OF A COMPUTER– The word “computer” came from its root word “compute,” which

came from the Latin word, “computare,” which means “arithmetic,” “accounting” or “reckoning.” Based from its literal definition, a computer is someone or is something, particularly a device that computes mathematical problems needed to be solved.

– If we are going to define a computer technically, a computer is a “general-purpose” device that performs functions based on given programmed instructions that are installed in its system whether permanently or not.


Lesson 1: History of Computers

• BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTERS



Scholars from different ancient civilizations rely on their knowledge and experience on how to compute season changes, equinoxes, tidal changes, astronomical phenomenon and many others.



One of the early devices of this kind and is considered as the first computer device is the abacus.



A more modern calculating device was invented by a Scottish mathematician named John Napier is what called as Napier’s Bones.



Since the preceding devices required having manual outputs and manual recording, inventors thought of a far better and less tedious way of recording what has been calculated. Thus the concept of punched cards was developed.



Some of the first of these devices were invented by Charles Babbage, the Father of Computers.



A Difference Engine is a calculating device that is meant to compute complex mathematical equations, problems and tables that are very prone to erroneous results if done manually at that time.


Lesson 1: History of ComputersCharles Babbage also designed the Analytical Engine in the 1830s. It was supposed to be the first “general-purpose” computer.

• PROMINENT FIGURES IN THE WORLD OF COMPUTERS



People Invention/Discovery/Formed Year Description

John Napier Napier’s Bones 1614Is a set of movable rods or “bones” used to

multiply, divide, get the square roots and cube roots of a particular number.

William Oughtred Slide Rule 1622

Consists of two slide rules, which slide along each other to reduce multiplication and division and other complex arithmetic computations to mechanical equivalent of

addition and subtraction.

Blaise Pascal Pascaline 1642Mechanical machine that adds up number

figuresJoseph-Marie

JacquardPunched Cards 1801

Recording medium to store what has been calculated



Charles Babbage, The Father of Computer

Difference Engine 1822The first designed mechanical

computer.

Analytical Engine 1834

A successor of the Difference Engine designed to calculate

complex mathematical formula

Samuel Morse Morse Code 1835

A code of dots and dashes used to communicate with long

distances.

Herman HollerithHollerith’s Desk 1890

A counting device used to record the US census

Tabulating Machine Company

1896Later became International

Business Machine (IBM) in 1911

Lee De Forest Electronic Tube 1906Used during the first generation of

computers



Alan Turing Turing Machine 1937A device based on

theoretical computing concept

John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry

ABC (Atanasoft-Berry Computer) prototype

1939The first electronic and

digital computing device



John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly

ENIAC 1945

Stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and

Computer, is said to be the world’s first “general

purpose” electronic computer

UNIVAC

1951

UNIVersal Automatic Computer is the first

commercial computer

EDVAC

Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer, unlike the ENIAC, which performs

decimal calculations, the EDVAC performs binary

calculations



William Shockley Transistors 1947Transistor are the main protagonist for the

second generation computersSteve Russell Spacewar Computer Games 1962 The first computer game

John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz

BASIC 1964Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction

LanguageJames Fergason LCD

1971Liquid Crystal Display

David Noble Floppy disk An example of a Magnetic storage device

Charles Simonyi WYSIWYG 1974

What You See Is What You Get describes how the output of a command will be

displayed based from the given program itself

Bill Gates and Paul Allen

Microsoft 1975The company responsible for the Windows

Operating System



Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak

Apple 1976The company responsible for the

development of the Mac Computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad

Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau

World Wide Web 1990 Allowed the start of the modern Internet

Sergey Brin and Larry Page

Google 1998Developer of google.com and one of the

most loved employers in the world


Lesson 1: History of Computers• Summary:

– The computer is a “general-purpose” device that performs functions based on given programmed instructions that are installed in its system whether permanently or not.

– The first computing device developed was the abacus, used in Ancient China and Babylon. Some of the modern computing device after the abacus was the Napier’s Bones developed by John Napier, Slide Rule invented by Oughtred.

– In 1822, Difference Machine was designed by the Father of Computer, Charles Babbage. It was designed to calculate complicated mathematical problems. Its successor the Analytical Engine, also designed by Charles Babbage in 1834, was the very first fully-automatic computing device.

• First Generation Computers (1940-1956) – Vacuum Tubes


Lesson 2: Generation of Computers

• Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors



• Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits



• Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors



• Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence



• Summary:

– The evolution of computers was divided into generations that describe what the computers were made and the speed of how they process data.

– The first generation of computers used vacuum tubes.

– The second generation of computers used transistors.

– The third generation of computers used integrated circuits.

– The fourth generation of computers used microprocessors.

– The fifth generation of computers is currently utilizing Artificial Intelligence.



• Supercomputers• Mainframe Computers• Minicomputers (also known as mid-range

computers)• Microcomputers


Lesson 3: Types of Computers

• Supercomputers



Supercomputers are the fastest computers in the world. Computers of this type can process a million dataper second.

• Mainframe Computers



Mainframe computers are the second fastest computers in the world. Computers of this type can process thousands of data in one minute.

• Minicomputers– Minicomputers are called as such because they

are smaller in size than the supercomputers and mainframe computers. The development of these computers started in the 70’s.



• Microcomputers– Microcomputers are what end users are most fond

of. Microcomputers are the computers that we use for our every day routine.



• Desktop


Types of Microcomputers

Desktop computers have the capability to run software applications for personal matters or for office transactions.

• Notebook or Laptop



A Notebook or what is popularly known as a Laptop, is anothertype of microcomputer but unlike the desktop, notebooks are portable and are smaller.

• Netbook– Netbooks are like laptops but smaller. Most people

like netbooks better than laptops because of its portability; it is easy slip into a bag and bring it anywhere.



• Media Center Unit



• Tablet PC



Tablet PCs are like stone tablets from ancient civilization, the difference is it is electronic.

• Handheld Computers



Handheld computers are, from what the name suggests; are computers that can be operated by holding them with one or both hands.

• Summary:

– Computers are divided into different types. This type are as follows:• Supercomputer• Mainframe computers• Minicomputers• Microcomputers

– Microcomputers have different types and these types are as follows:• Desktop• Notebook or Laptop• Netbook• Media Center Unit• Tablet PC• Handheld computers



Chapter 1:Computer: How They Shaped the World

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Intro to IT Concepts