Fundamentals of Computing Chapter 1

History of Computers

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CSCA0201
FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTING
Chapter 1
History of Computers

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Definition of Computer
•Computeris a programmable
machine.
•Computeris an electronic device
that manipulates information, or
data according to a list of
instructions (program).
•Computer has the ability to store,
retrieve, and processdata.
•Computeris any device which
aids humans in performing various
kinds of computations or
calculations.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Principles Characteristic of Computer
•It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-
defined manner.
•It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions.
•It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of
data.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Importance of Computer Literacy
•Computers have touched every part of our lives: the
way we work, the way we learn, the way we live,
even the way we play.
•It almost is impossible to go through a single day
without encountering a computer, a device
dependent on a computer, information produced by
a computer, or a word that was introduced or whose
meaning has changed with the advent of computers.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Importance of Computer Literacy
•Because of the significance of computers in today’s
world, it is important to be computer literate.
•Being computer literatemeans you have
knowledge and understanding of computers and
their uses.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Use of Computer
Computer
Education
Government
Science
EntertainmentBanking
Business
Travel

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Advantages of Using Computer
•Computers can do the same task repetitively
with same accuracy.
•Computers do not get tired or bored.
•Computers can take up routine tasks while
releasing human resource for more intelligent
functions.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Disadvantages of Using Computer
•Computers have no intelligence; they follow
the instructions blindly without considering
the outcome.
•Regular electric supply is necessary to make
computers work, which could prove difficult
everywhere especially in developing nations.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Earliest Computer
•Originallycalculationswerecomputedbyhumans,
whosejobtitlewascomputers.
•Thesehumancomputersweretypicallyengagedinthe
calculationofamathematicalexpression.
•Thecalculationsofthisperiodwerespecializedand
expensive,requiringyearsoftraininginmathematics.
•Thefirstuseoftheword"computer"wasrecordedin
1613,referringtoapersonwhocarriedout
calculations,orcomputations,andthewordcontinued
tobeusedinthatsenseuntilthemiddleofthe20th
century.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Tally Sticks
A tally stickwas an ancient memory aid device to
record and document numbers, quantities, or even
messages.
Tally sticks

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Abacus
•An abacusis a mechanical
device used to aid an individual
in performing mathematical
calculations.
•The abacuswas invented in
Babylonia in 2400 B.C.
•The abacus in the form we are
most familiar with was first used
in China in around 500 B.C.
•It used to perform basic
arithmetic operations.
Earlier Abacus
Modern Abacus

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Napier’s Bones
•Invented by John Napier in
1614.
•Allowed the operator to
multiply, divideand
calculate squareand cube
rootsby moving the rods
around and placing them in
specially constructed boards.
John Napier
Napier’s Bones

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Slide Rule
•Invented by William Oughtred
in1622.
•Is based on Napier's ideas
about logarithms.
•Used primarily for
–multiplication
–division
–roots
–logarithms
–Trigonometry
•Not normally used for addition
or subtraction.
William Oughtred
Slide Rule

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Pascaline
•Invented by Blaise Pascal in
1642.
•It was its limitation to addition
and subtraction.
•It is too expensive.
Blaise Pascal
Pascaline

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Stepped Reckoner
•Invented by Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibniz in 1672.
•The machine that can add,
subtract, multiply and divide
automatically.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Stepped Reckoner

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Jacquard Loom
•The Jacquard loomis a mechanical loom,
invented by Joseph-Marie Jacquard in 1881.
•It an automatic loom controlled by punched cards.
Joseph-Marie Jacquard Jacquard Loom

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Arithmometer
•A mechanical calculator invented
by Thomas de Colmarin 1820
•The first reliable, useful and
commercially successful
calculating machine
•The machine could perform the
four basic mathematic functions
•The first mass-produced
calculating machine
Thomas de Colmar
Arithmometer

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Difference Engine
•Invented by Charles Babbage in1822
•It an automatic, mechanical calculator designed to
tabulate polynomial functions
•It is the first mechanical computer
Charles Babbage Difference Engine

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
First Computer Programmer
•In 1840, Augusta Ada Byron
suggests to Babbage that he use
the binary system.
•She writes programs for the
Analytical Engine.
Augusta AdaByron

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Scheutzian Calculation Engine
•Invented by Per Georg Scheutz in
1843.
•Based on Charles Babbage's
difference engine.
•The first printingcalculator.
Per Georg Scheutz
ScheutzianCalculation Engine

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Tabulating Machine
•Invented by Herman Hollerithin 1890.
•To assist in summarizing information and accounting.
Herman Hollerith Tabulating Machine

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Havard Mark 1
•Also known as IBM Automatic
Sequence Controlled Calculator
(ASCC).
•Invented by Howard H. Aikenin
1943
•The first electro-mechanical
computer.
Howard H. Aiken
Mark 1

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Z1
•The first programmable computer.
•Created by Konrad Zusein
Germany from 1936 to 1938.
•To program the Z1 required that
the user insert punch tape into a
punch tape reader and all output
was also generated through
punch tape.
Konrad Zuse
Z1

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Atanasoff-Berry Computer(ABC)
•It was the first electronic digital computing device.
•Invented by Professor John Atanasoffand
graduate student Clifford Berry at Iowa State
University between 1939 and 1942.
Professor John Atanasoff Atanasoff-Berry Computer

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
ENIAC
•ENIACstands for Electronic
Numerical Integrator and
Computer.
•It was the first electronic general-
purpose computer.
•Completed in 1946.
•Developed by John Presper
Eckertand John Mauchly.
ENIAC

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
UNIVAC 1
•The UNIVAC I(UNIVersal Automatic Computer 1)
was the first commercial computer.
•Designed by John Presper Eckert and John
Mauchly.
UNIVAC 1

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
EDVAC
•EDVAC stands for Electronic
Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer
•The First Stored Program
Computer
•Designed by Von Neumann in 1952.
•It has a memory to hold both a
stored program as well as data.
EDVAC

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The First Portable Computer
•Osborne 1–the first portable computer.
•Released in 1981 by the Osborne Computer
Corporation.
Osborne 1

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The First Computer Company
•The first computer company was the Electronic
Controls Company.
•Founded in 1949 by John Presper Eckert and
John Mauchly.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
Computer Generations
There are five generations of computer:
•First generation–1946 -1958
•Second generation–1959 -1964
•Third generation–1965 -1970
•Fourth generation–1971 -today
•Fifth generation–Today to future

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The First Generation
•Computers of first generation used
vacuum tubes as the basic components
for memory and circuitry for Central
Processing Unit
•They were very large in size, consumed
lot of power and emitted too much of heat.
•They required to be housed in large air-
conditioned rooms
During this period, computer programming
was mainly done in machine language
•Input was based on punched cards and
paper tape, and output was displayed on
printouts
Vacuum tube

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The First Generation

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The First Generation -Characteristics
•Vacuum tubes were the only electronic component available
during those days.
•The computers were very large in size.
•They consumed a large amount of energy.
•They heated very soon due to thousands of vacuum tubes.
•They were not very reliable.
•Air conditioning was required.
•Constant maintenance was required.
•Non-portable.
•Costly commercial production.
•Limited commercial use.
•Very slow speed.
•Limited programming capabilities. Used machine language only.
•Used magnetic drums which provide very less data storage.
•Punch cards were used for input.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Second Generation
•In second generation of computer
transistors were used.
•The transistors were highly reliable
and easier to handle and maintain
than the vacuum tubes.
•They required much less power.
These transistors replaced vacuum
tubes in computers during this
period.
•The magnetic cores were used to
construct large random access
memories.
•Magnetic disk storage was also
developed during this period.
Transistor

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Second Generation
•Commercial applications rapidly developed during
this period and dominated computer use by mid
1960s.
•This period also witnessed development of high level
languages (like FORTRAN, COBOL, ALGOL, and
SNOWBOL) and operating systems.
•The computers used multiprogramming and batch
processing operating system..

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Second Generation

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Second Generation -Characteristics
•Smaller in size compared to the first generation of computer.
•The second generations computers were more reliable.
•Used less energy and were not heated as much as the first one.
•Better speed and could calculate data in microseconds.
•Used faster peripherals.
•Better portability as compared to the first generation.
•Accuracy improved.
•Used assembly language as well.
•Cooling system was required.
•Only used for specific purposes
•Constant maintenance was required
•Commercial production was difficult
•Costly and not versatile
•Punch cards were used for input.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Third Generation
•In this generation silicon transistors
replaced germanium transistors.
•ICs were small in size, less power
consuming and less expensive than the
previous switching technology.
•Advances in storage technologies resulted
in creating large capacity magnetic ,disks
and tapes and large magnetic core based
random access memory.
•On software front, high level languages
were improved.
•Fortran IV and optimising Fortran
compilers were developed.
Integrated Circuit

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Third Generation

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History of Computers
The Third Generation -Characteristics
•Smaller in size as compared to previous generations.
•More reliable as compared to previous generations.
•Used less energy as compared to previous generations.
•Produced less heat as compared to the previous two
generations of computers.
•Maintenance cost was low because hardware failure is rare.
•Better speed and could calculate data in nanoseconds.
•Totally general purpose
•Good storage
•Could be used for high-level languages.
•Less expensive and better accuracy
•Commercial production increased.
•Used mouse and keyboard for input.
Chapter 1 History of Computers

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History of Computers
The Third Generation -Characteristics
•Air conditioning was required.
•Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacturing
of IC chips.
•Tactile sensitivity is decreased
Chapter 1 History of Computers

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Fourth Generation
•The fourth generation computers were
made using very large scale integration
technology. It led to the development of
microprocessor.
•Magnetic core memories were replaced
by semiconductor memories.
•Personal computer operating systems
were developed during this period.
Graphic User Interface (GUI) technology
was exploited to offer more comfort to
users.
•PCs became more affordable and
widespread during this period.
Microprocessor

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Fourth Generation

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Fourth Generation -Characteristics
•More powerful and reliable than previous generations.
•Small in size
•Fan for heat discharging and thus to keep cold. No air
conditioning required.
•Fast processing power with less power consumption
•Totally general purpose
•Less need of repair.
•Commercial production
•All types of High level languages can be used in this type of
computers
•Cheapest among all generations
•The latest technology is required for manufacturing of
Microprocessors.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Fifth Generation
•Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
technology gave way to Ultra Large Scale
Integration that led to the development of
microprocessor chip with several million
electronic components on each.
•These computers will be able to think and
take decisions.
•Artificial Intelligence is being built into the
computer.
•The revolutionary parallel processing is
being used in the new breed of computers.
•The goal is to develop devices that
respond to natural language inputand
are capable of learning and self-
organization.

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Chapter 1 History of Computers
The Fifth Generation -Characteristics
•These computers are much faster than other generation
computers.
•It is easier to repair these computers.
•These computers are much smaller in size than other
generation computers
•They are portable and easy to handle.
•Development of true artificial intelligence.
•Advancement in Parallel Processing.
•Advancement in Superconductor technology.