Introduction to Computer Flashcards
Works by itself without human intervention. Computers are _________ machines because once started on a job, they carry out the job (normally without human assistance) until it is finished.
However, computers being machines cannot start themselves and cannot go out and find their own problems and solutions.
Automatic
A computer is a very fast device. It can perform in a few seconds, the amount of work that a human being can do in an entire year, if he/she worked day and night and did nothing else.
Speed
In addition to being very fast, computers are very accurate. ________ of a computer is consistently high and the degree of its ——- depends upon its design. A computer performs even calculation with the same ——-.
Accuracy
A person who writes instructions for a computer to a particular problem.
Programmer
Errors caused due to incorrect input data or unreliable programs.
Garbage-In-Garbage-Out (GIGO)
Unlike human beings, a computer is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration. It can continuously work for hours without creating any error and without grumbling.
Diligence
One of the most wonderful things about a computer. One moment it is preparing results of an examination, next moment it is busy preparing electricity bills, and in between.
Versatility
As a human being acquires new knowledge, his/her brain subconsciously selects what it feels to be important and worth retaining in memory.
A computer can store and recall any amount of information because of its secondary storage (a type of detachable memory) capability. It can retain a piece of information as long as a user desires and the user can recall the information whenever required.
Power of Remembering
What are the STRENGTHS of Computers?
Automatic
Speed
Accuracy
Diligence
Versatility
Power of Remembering
Today, a computer is able to do a work which is impossible for man. Computers are used to do risky and dangerous work and where sharp actually is needed. But it does not have any intelligence of its own. It works according to the instruction only.
No Self Intelligence
Computer cannot take any decision of its own. It does only those tasks which are already instructed to it.
No Decision-Making power
Computer has __ _______ _____-. Once you give instructions to a computer how to perform a task, the very task is cannot perform if you do not give it any instructions for the next time. For example, when you are taught how to solve a problem and if same type of problem is given you to solve, then you can do it.
No learning power
What are the LIMITATIONS of Computers?
No Self Intelligence
No Decision-Making power
No learning power
A computer ________ ____ ____________. For example, after having a basic understanding of a word processor, you can create, edit, store, and print the documents easily and quickly.
Increases your productivity
It allows you to send emails, browse content, gain information, use social media platforms, and more. By connecting to the internet, you can also connect to your long-distance friends and family members.
Connects to the Internet
A computer allows you to store a large amount of information, e.g., you can store your projects, ebooks, documents, movies, pictures, songs, and more.
Storage
It not only allows you to store data but also enables you to organize your data. For example, you can create different folders to store different data and information and thus can search for information easily and quickly.
Organized Data and Information
It helps write good English if you are not good at spelling and grammar. Similarly, if you are not good at math, and don’t have a great memory, you can use a computer to perform calculations and store the results.
Improves your abilities
It can be used to help the physically challenged, e.g., Stephen Hawking, who was not able to speak used computer to speak. It also can be used to help blind people by installing special software to read what is on the screen.
Assist the physically challenged
You can use the computer to listen to songs, watch movies, play games and more.
Keeps you entertained
What are the BENEFITS of using a Computers?
Increases your productivity
Connects to the Internet
Storage
Organized Data and Information
Improves your abilities
Assist the physically challenged
Keeps you entertained
Believed to be the first computer invented in China around 4,000 years ago.
A wooden rack with metal rods and beads. Calculations are performed by manipulating the beads according to some rules to perform arithmetic calculations.
Still used in some countries like China, Russia, and Japan.
Abacus
It was a manually-operated calculating device which was invented by John Napier (1550-1617) of Merchiston. In this calculating tool, he used 9 different ivory strips or bones marked with numbers to multiply and divide.
First machine to use the decimal point.
Napier’s Bones
First mechanical and automatic calculator also known as Arithmetic Machine or Adding Machine. Invented by Blaise Pascal (1642-1644).
A wooden box with gears and wheels. Performed addition and subtraction.
Designed to assist Pascal’s father, a tax accountant.
Pascaline
Developed by a German mathematician-philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz (1673).
Improved upon Pascal’s invention. A digital mechanical calculator using fluted drums instead of gears.
Stepped Reckoner or Leibnitz wheel
Designed by Charles Babbage (early 1820s) who is known as “Father of Modern Computer”. It was a mechanical computer which could perform simple calculations. It was a steam driven calculating machine designed to solve tables of numbers like logarithm tables.
Difference Engine
Developed by Charles Babbage (1830). It was a mechanical computer that used punch-cards as input. It was capable of solving any mathematical problem and storing information as a permanent memory.
Analytical Engine
Invented by Herman Hollerith (1890).
A mechanical tabulator based on punch cards, designed to tabulate statistics and sort data.
Used in the 1890 U.S. Census.
Significantly sped up data processing. Hollerith’s company later became International Business Machine (IBM) in 1924.
Tabulating Machine
First electronic computer introduced in the United States in 1930. It was an analog device invented by Vannevar Bush. This machine has vacuum tubes to switch electrical signals to perform calculations. It could do 25 calculations in few minutes.
Differential Analyzer
Major changes in the history of computer began in 1937 when Howard Aiken planned to develop a machine that could perform calculations involving large numbers. In 1944, Mark I computer was built as a partnership between IBM and Harvard.
The first programmable digital computer.
Mark I
Circuits: Vacuum tubes
Size/Cost: Slow, huge, expensive
OS: Batch operating system
Input/Output: Punch cards, magnetic/paper tape
First Generation Computers (1946-1959)
Examples of First Generation Computers
ENIAC ( Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
EDVAC ( Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer)
UNIVACI( Universal Automatic Computer)
IBM-701
IBM-650
Circuits: Transistors (smaller, cheaper, less power)
Speed: Faster than 1st generation
Memory: Magnetic cores
Storage: Magnetic disk/tape
OS: Batch processing, multiprogramming
Languages: Assembly, COBOL, FORTRAN
Second Generation Computers (1959-1965)
Examples of Second Generation Computers
IBM 1620
IBM 7094
CDC 1604
CDC 3600
UNIVAC 1108
Circuits: Integrated circuits (ICs) (more transistors, smaller, reliable)
OS: Remote processing, time-sharing, multiprogramming
Languages: FORTRAN II-IV, COBOL, PASCAL, PL/1, ALGOL-68
Third Generation Computers (1965-1971)
Examples of Third Generation Computers
IBM-360 series
Honeywell-6000 series
PDP(Personal Data Processor)
IBM-370/168
TDC-316
Circuits: Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits (millions of transistors)
Size/Cost: More compact, powerful, fast, affordable
OS: Real-time, time-sharing, distributed
Languages: C, C++, DBASE
Fourth Generation Computers (1971-1980)
Examples of Fourth Generation Computers
DEC 10
STAR 1000
PDP 11
CRAY-1 (Super Computer)
CRAY-X-MP (Super Computer)
Circuits: Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) (millions of components)
Technology: Parallel processing, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Languages: C, C++, Java, .Net
Fifth Generation Computers (1980-Present)
Examples of Fifth Generation Computers
Desktop
Laptop
NoteBook
UltraBook
ChromeBook
