UNIT 1 Page 1 of 5

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

The earliest data processing equipment were all manual-mechanical devices due to the absence of
electricity and adequate industrial technology.

ABAX – is known as the oldest computer and was developed by the Greeks in 500 B.C
- serves as a means to calculate, it is a flat stone or wooden tabletop in which are carved straight
lines
- calculations are done using little pebbles, and it is assumed that the various pebbles represent
different values

ABACUS - used in China during the 12th century; has a frame with beads strung on wires or rods and
arithmetic calculations are performed by manipulating the beads

NAPIER’S BONES - invented by John Napier in 1610; actually a series of rods, made of bone or ivory, that
could be arranged in predetermined ways to calculate products and quotients of numbers

SLIDE RULE – invented by mathematician William Oughtred; consists of two movable rulers placed side
by side (by sliding the rulers one can quickly multiply and divide)

PASCAL’S CALCULATOR – alternatively the Pascaline, the Pascalina or the Arithmetique; invented by
Blaise Pascal in 1645; this calculating machine was operated by dialing a series of wheels; could
add and subtract numbers up to eight digits

LEIBNIZ CALCULATOR – invented by Gottfried Leibniz; A mechanical device made of copper and steel;
can multiply, divide, add and subtract, as well as extract square roots; also known as the Stepped
Reckoner

DIFFERENCE ENGINE - by Charles Babbage (father of computing) in 1822.

-This device is used to produce mathematical and navigational tables
-a special-purpose mechanical digital calculator, designed to tabulate polynomial functions.
-Principle: uses the “differences” between previous values in a table to produce new values

ANALYTICAL ENGINE – also by Charles Babbage in 1835

- capable of performing all mathematical calculations, store values in its “memory” and compare
values. Failure: it needs thousands of wheels and gears that the 19th century could not produce
 Ada Lovelace – a mathematician, the daughter of the English poet Lord Byron is credited as
being the first computer programmer.
 In 1979, a modern programming language was named ADA in her honor.

PUNCHED-CARD MACHINE - by Dr. Herman Hollerith in the 1880’s

- the first electro-mechanical, punched-card, data processing machine
- could tabulate and sort census information
Punch cards – also invented by Hollerith
o Made of special cardboard; had 80-columns and 12 lines
o The location of a hole specifies the value of the current information

MARK I – by Howard Aiken; first fully automatic computer to be completed

- This computer was originally called the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (ASCC) and
later renamed Harvard Mark I
- approximately 51 ft long by 8 ft high, 2 ft deep; consisted of about 765,000 components and 500
miles of wiring
- Output was on punched card
- The main advantage of the Mark I was that it was fully automatic—it didn't need any human
intervention once it started. It was the first fully automatic computer to be completed. It was also
very reliable, much more so than early electronic computers
UNIT 1 Page 2 of 5

COMPUTER GENERATIONS:

A. First Generation (1951 – 1959) was characterized by the use of vacuum tubes.

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator)

- By John Mauchly and John Presper Eckert
- At 80ft. long by 18ft. high, it contained over 18,000 vacuum tubes
- In one second, the ENIAC could perform 5,000 additions, 357 multiplications or 38
divisions (one thousand times faster than any other calculating machine to date)
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)
- first commercial computer designed by Mauchly and Eckert
- handled both numeric and textual information

B. Second Generation (1959 – 1965) ) was characterized by the use of transisitors.

Advantages of the transistor over the vacuum tube are:

- smaller
- cheaper
- faster
- generates less heat
- more reliable
- require less power

C. Third Generation (1965 – 1971) was characterized by the use of integrated circuits

computers in this generation again became smaller, cheaper and faster compared to the
transistor-based computers.

D. Fourth Generation (1971 – present) was characterized by the use of microprocessors

present computers belong to this generation

A microprocessor is a single chip that could do all the processing of a full-scale computer

B. Fifth Generation (present and beyond) - Artificial Intelligence

many believe that the fifth generation computers is even now on the horizon
Its goal is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of
learning and self-organization

ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING (EDP) CONCEPTS

Data Processing
Is defined as the operations performed on data or raw facts in order to derive information

Electronic Data Processing (EDP)

Characterized by performing operations on data or raw facts by the use of an automatic
equipment in order to derive information.

What is a Computer?
An electronic device capable of solving problems by accepting data, performing prescribed
operations on the data, and supplying the results of these operations.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
UNIT 1 Page 3 of 5

1. According to Type
a. Analog – recognize data as a continuous measurement of physical property.
measures voltage, pressure, speed and temperature.
Ex. Automobile speedometer
b. Digital – High-speed, programmable, electronic devices that perform mathematical
calculations, compare values, and store the results.
numbers, letters, and special symbols are represented by 1s and 0s.
c. Hybrid –combination of the analog and digital features

II According to Purpose
a. General – built for a variety of processing jobs
- Ex. Microcomputer in schools
b. Special – built for specific processing jobs or applications
start out as general-purpose machines but are adapted by using a specific
configuration. (example: video games, ATM Machines)

III. According to Size and Volume

a. Super Computer – primary storage contains billions of bytes (gigabytes) of data

CRAY 2 – one of the most powerful supercomputers. Cray-2 is set up in a C-
shape. Not as tall as a person and is small enough to fit in the space of a large
business desk. Operates at 1 billion instructions/sec.
b. Mainframe computers – 256 Mb of memory
 are computers used mainly by large organizations for critical applications,
typically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics,
ERP, and financial transaction processing.
c. Mini Computers
usually took up one or a few cabinets the size of a large refrigerator or two
• usually used in small and medium-sized businesses, and they can serve several
users simultaneously.
• smaller and less expensive, and containing somewhat less memory and
processing capabilities
d. Micro Computers
• Generally, a microcomputer cannot be very big, due to the fact that it should be
able to fit well on desks or tables
• serve only a single user at a time

CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN COMPUTERS

1. Electronic 4. Stored Program Concept
2. High Speed 5. General Purpose
3. Digital

UNIT OF COMPUTER STORAGE

1 byte = 8 bits
1 character = 1 byte
1024 bytes = 1 kb
1048576 bytes = 1024 kb = 1 mb

COMPUTER HARDWARE

Two basic components:

1. hardware 2. software

Hardware – simply refers to the physical equipment that makes up a computer system
The four components:
1. Central Processing Unit 3. Input device
2. Storage device 4. Output device
UNIT 1 Page 4 of 5

Central Processing Unit (CPU) – often referred to as the brain of the computer
it performs all the processing of data

Two Components:
1. Arithmetic Logic Unit – performs all computations and all logical operations
2. Control Unit – read and interpret program instructions
direct the operation of the internal processor components
control the flow of programs and data in and out of the RAM

Storage Device – are devices that retain data for later use. Also called memory.
Writing – the process of entering data into storage
Reading – the process of retrieving data from storage

Types of Computer Storage:

1. Main Storage
2. Auxiliary Storage

Main Storage – also known as primary storage or internal storage

Divided into two areas:

1. RAM – Random Access Memory
2. ROM – Read Only Memory

Auxiliary Storage – also known as secondary storage or external storage

Two types of auxiliary storage:
1. Direct-Access Storage Device (DASD)
2. Sequential-Access Storage Device (SASD)

Input Devices – are devices used to enter data into the computer for processing.
Ex. Scanner, audio, mouse, keyboard
Output Devices – are devices used to transfer data from the computer to the user
Ex. Monitor, Speaker, Printer

Software – refers to all computer programs which direct and control the computer hardware in data
processing.
Two General Categories:
1. System Software – is a collection of programs which facilitates the full use of the
computer (Ex. DOS, Unix, Compiler)
2. Application Software – programs that are designed to perform specific user-
oriented tasks (Ex. Excel, Microsoft Word, Print Artist)

IMPACT OF COMPUTERS IN THE SOCIETY

Advantages
1. speed 4. store and recall information
2. repetitiveness 5. comparison
3. accuracy
Disadvantages
1. Can not do anything unless they are first programmed with specific instructions
2. Can not decide how they are to be programmed or provide their own input
3. Can not interpret the data they generate
4. Can not implement any decision that they suggest
5. Can not “think”
6. Can not correct wrong instructions
UNIT 1 Page 5 of 5

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

I. Word Processing
lets you use your computer to compose and print letters, reports and other types of
documents
it offers much more extensive editing capabilities than typewriters without retyping it
allows you to insert new characters, delete existing ones and move blocks of text from one
part of the document to another
II. Desktop Publishing
enables you to combine text, pictures, graphics, tables, lines, boxes and other design elements
in a single document
lets you perform the type of page layout operations required to produce documents such as
newsletters, books and flyers.
III. Spreadsheet
lets you perform almost any kind of mathematical calculations
has a built-in graphics capabilities which transforms a set of numbers into a bar graph, pie
chart, or any type of chart
IV. Database Management
- lets you store, retrieve, and manipulate large collections of information like mailing lists,
inventories, student rosters or library card catalogs.
V. Accounting
helps you manage your money
lets you track and categorize income and expenses, reconcile your bank statements, and
produce standard financial reports such as income statements and balance sheets.
VI. Graphics/Presentation
lets you create pictures or designs either to display on screen or to print
includes painting and drawing programs that lets you either combine and modify existing
pictures or construct your own
you can also enhance photographic images
VII. Communications
- allows computers to “talk” to each other over phone lines, via a special piece of equipment
known as a modem
VIII. Games, Entertainment and Educational Applications

EMERGING TRENDS

1. Video Conferencing
2. WIFI
3. RFID
4. AI/Robotics