Introduction to
Computing
Which one is the computer?
Rock Calculator Television
Modern Airplane Washing Machine Computer Workstation
Is it a Computer?
What questions would
you ask?
What experiments
would you run?
Is a rock a computer?
Does not act or
process
Takes no input and
produces no output
Computers must be able to handle input and
output
Is a washing machine a computer?
Input: dirty clothes
Output: clean clothes
Does not handle
information
Computers input and output information
Is a television set a computer?
Input: information from
cables or radio waves
Output: information as
sound and picture
Does not process
information
Computers process information by computing
new results and answering queries
Is a modern airplane a computer?
Input: information from
radio waves
Output: manipulations
to the airplane
Can only handle
specific information
necessary for flight
control
Computers are general purpose because
they can perform many different tasks
Is an ordinary calculator a computer?
Input: numbers and
mathematical operations
Output: answer
Handles any numeric task
Cannot remember which
buttons are pressed
Computers are programmable so they can
remember sequences of operations
Definition of a Computer
a general purpose,
programmable,
information processor
with input and output
Computing Agents
Definition of computers does not cover all
that computer scientists study.
Computing agent – is a device or an
organism that performs or process
something like numbers or data.
Have some or all of the characteristics of a
computer
Specialized Computing Devices and
Information Appliances
Devices limited by set of operations or
programmability
Calculators limited to operations described by
their buttons
Global Positioning System (GPS) calculates
latitude and longitude from satellite signals
Cell phone allows one to surf the web
Information appliances – performs a single
job well
Embedded computers and robots
Machines with full-fledged computers inside
Washing machines, airplanes, ATMs, etc.
Such machines require highly reliable,
predictable computer programs
All physical mechanisms controlled by
computers are robotic devices
Restrict definition to machines that are general
purpose and programmable
Robotic arm or cart
Natural computing agents
Living organisms process information in their
efforts to eat, survive, and reproduce
1940s study showed frogs collect less visual
information than people
Identify rapidly moving objects as food, slowly moving
objects as predators
Study physical events in terms of information they
contain and process
Chemical reactions, crystal formations, plant growth, etc.
What is a computer?
Definition of a computer is narrow
Definition of computing agent is broad
Although many computer scientists focus on
the computer, some computer scientists deal
with computing agents
What can computers do – today?
Business productivity managers
Personal information managers
Spreadsheets
Database software
Desktop publishing
Multimedia encyclopedias
Simulate the physical world
Produce a music video
What might computers do – tomorrow?
Diagnose diseases
MYCIN captures medical knowledge in rules that
allowed a computer to identify an ailment based
on symptoms
Control robots that walk, talk, and learn
CMU created a program that drove a van from
Pittsburgh to D.C. using cameras for eyes
Compose music and create art
