Ø Computer Types.
Science the invention of
computers from first generation and fourth generation computer, they have been
classified according to their types and how they operate that is input, process
and output information. Below you will get a brief discussing on various types
of computers we have computer types can be divided into 3 categories according
to electronic nature. Types of computer are classified according to how a
particular computer functions. These
computer types are
Analogue Computers
Digital Computers
Hybrid Computers
Generation of Computers
1)
First Generation (1941 – 1956)
World
ware gave rise to numerous developments and started off the computer age. Electronic
numerical Integrator and computer (ENIAC ) were produced by a partnership
between University of Pennsylvania and the US
government. It consisted of 18000 vacuum tubes and 7000 resistors. It
was developed by john Prosper Eckert and john w. mauchly and was a general
purpose computer. “Van Neumann designed the electronic discrete variable automatic computer (DVAC) in 1945 with a memory
to hold both a stored program as well as data.” Von Neumann’s computer allowed for all the
computer functions to be controlled by a single source.
Then in
1951 came the universal automatic computer (UNIVACI), designed by Remington
rand and collectively owned by US census bureau and general electric. UNIVAC
amazingly predicted the winner of 1952, presidential elections, Dwight d. Eisenhower.
In first
generation computers, the operation instructions of programs were specifically
built for the task for which computer was manufactured. The machine language
was the only way to tell these machines to perform the operations. There was
great difficultly to program these computers and more when there were some
malfunctions. First generation computers used vacuum tubes and magnetic drums
(for data storage)
UNIVAC I
of 1951 was the first business computer mode in the U.S. many people saw a
computer for the first time on television when UNIVAC I predicted the outcome
of the 1952 presidential elections.
Bendix G
– 15 of 1956 inexpensive at $60,000 for science and industry but could also be
used by a single user several hundred were built used magnetic tape drive and
key punch terminal
IBM 650
that become the most popular medium sized computer in American in the 1950
rental cost was $5000 per month were installed able to read punched cards of
magnetic tape used rotating magnetic drum main memory unit that could store
4000 words, from Smithsonian NMAH
2)
Secondary Generation Computer (1956-1963)
The invention
of transistors marked that start of the second generation. These transistors
tool place of the vacuum tubes used in the first generation computers. First
large scale machines were mode using these technologies to meet the
requirements of atomic energy laboratories. One of the other benefits to the
programming group was that the second generation replaced Machines Language
with the assembly language. Even though complex in itself assembly languages
was much easier than the binary code.
Second
generation computers also started showing the characteristics of modern day
computers with utilities such as a printers, disk storage and operating
systems. Many financial information was processed using these computer.
In
second generation computers, the instructions (program) could be stored inside
the computer memory. High level languages such as COBOL (common
business-oriented Languages) and FORTRAN (Formula Translator) were used and they
are still used for some applications nowadays.
3)
Third Generation Computers (1964-1971)
Although
transistors were great deal of improvement over the vacuum tubes they generated
heat and damaged the sensitive areas of the computer. The integrated circuit (IC)
was invented in 1958 by jack kilby. It combined electronic components onto a
small silicon disc, made from quartz. More advancement mode possible the
fittings of even more components on a small chip or semi conductor Also in
third generation computers, the operating systems allowed the machines to run
my different applications. These applications were monitored and coordinated by
the computer’s memory.
4)
Fourth Generation Computers (1971 – Present)
Fourth
generation computers are the modern day computers. The size started to go down
with the improvement in the integrated circuits. Very large scale (VLSI) and ultra large scale
(ULSI) ensured that millions of components could be fit into a small chip. It
reduced the size and price of the computers at the same time increasing power,
efficiency and reliability. The Intel 4004 chip. Developed in 1971, took the
integrated circuit one step further by locating all the components of a
computer (Central Processing Unit, memory and input and output controls) on a
minuscule chip.
Due to
the reduction of cost and the availability of the computer power at a small
place allowed every user to benefit. First came the minicomputer’s with offered
users different application, most famous of these the word processors and
spreadsheets, which could be used by non-technical users, video game system
like Atari 2600 generated the interest of general populace in the computers.
In 1981
IBM introduced personal computers for home and office use. The number of
personal computers in use more than doubled form 2 million in 1981 to 5.5
million in 1982. Ten years later, 65 million PCs were being used. Computer
sized kept getting reduced during the years. It went down form desktop to
laptop to palmtops. Macintosh introduced graphic user interface in which the
users didn’t have to type instructions by could use mouse for the purpose.
The
continued improvement allowed the networking of computers for the sharing of
data Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) were potential
benefits. In that they could be implemented in corporations and everybody could
share data over it. Soon the internet and worlds wide web appeared on the
computer scene and fermented the Hi-Tech revolution of 90’s
5)
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)
Fifth
generations computers are only in the mind of advance research scientists and
being tested out in the laboratories.
These computer will be under Artificial intelligence (AI). They will be able to
take commands in a audio visual way and carry out instructions. Many of the
operations which requires low human intelligence will be performed by these
computers.
Parallel
processing is coming and showing the possibility that the power of many CPU’s
can be used side by side and computers will be more powerful than those under
central processing. Advances in super conductor technology will greatly improve
the speed of information traffic. Future looks bright of the computers.
Number
System
There are
four systems of arithmetic which are often used in digital circuits. These systems are :
ü Decimal : it’s has a bas(or redix) of 10 i.e. it uses of different
symbols to represent numbers.
ü Binary : it has a base of 2 i.e. it uses only two different
symbols.
ü Octal : it has a base of 8 i.e. it uses eight different symbols.
ü Hexadecimal : it has a base of 16 i.e. it uses sixteen different
symbols.
Decimal to Binary Decimal
Decimal to Binary Decimal
Binary
1 00001
1 00001
2 00101
3 00011
4 00100
5 00101
6 00110
7 00111
8 01000
9 01001
10 01010
11 01011
12 01100
13 01101
14 01110
15 01111
16 10000
17 10001
18 10010
19 10011
20 10100
21 10101
22 10110
23 10111
24 11000
25 11001
26 11010
27 11011
28 11100
29 11101
30 11110
31 11111
Software
Introduction to software
The software is a series of instructions or a special program that
performs a particular task and is recorded in some form on a computer disk.
Simply, the software is an abstract collection of instruction for computer to
perform specific tasks. It is called differently a program of software program computer
software has three major categories. It is typically classified into system
software, application software, and utilities software.
System Software
System software is a program that manages and supports the computer
resources and operations of a computer system while it executes various tasks
such as processing data and information, controlling hardware components and
allowing users to use application software. That is system software functions
as a bridge between computer system hardware and the application software.
System software is modes up of many control
programs, including the operating system communications software and
database manager. There are many kinds of computers these days. Some of them
are easier to learn than others. Some of them perform better than others. These
differences may come from different systems software.
Popular
Operating Systems
The most popular microcomputer operating systems are DOS, windows
3. x. windows 95, PS/2 windows NT and Macintosh system. UNIX as a popular
operating system that is available for microcomputer, minicomputer and
mainframe computer systems. The following will show the details :
o DOS
o Windows 3.x
o Windows
o 95
o OS/2
o Windows NT
o Macintosh Operating System
o UNIX
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