History and Classification of

Computers
Basics of Computer
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers

• The first generation of computers:

o Time range: 1946-1956
o Used vacuum tubes to store and
process data
o Switching time: 0.1 to 1 millisecond
History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers

• The second generation of computers:

o Time range: 1957-1963
o Used transistors to store and process
data
o Switching time: 1 to 10 microsecond
History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers

• The third generation of computers:

o Time range: 1964-1979
o Used integrated circuits for storing
and processing data
o Switching time: 0.1 to 1 microsecond
History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers

• Early to middle fourth-generation

computers:
o Time range: 1980 -1995
o Used Large-Scale Integrated (LSI)
circuits for storing and processing data
o Switching time: 10 to 100 nanosecond
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers
• Late fourth-generation computers:
o Time range: 1996 -present
o Used Very Large-Scale Integrated (VLSI)
circuits for storing and processing data and also
o Used Grand-Scale Integrated (GSI)
circuits for storing and processing data
o Switching time: 1 to 10 nanosecond
History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers

• The fifth generation computers:

o Time range: Present
o Uses Massively Parallel
Processing to process multiple
instructions simultaneously
 History and Classification of Computers
Evaluation of Computers

• Future generations of computers:

oDNA Computer
oOptical Computers
 Traditional Types of Computers

• General purpose computers

– Supercomputer
– Mainframe
– Minicomputer
– Microcomputer (Personal Computer)

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 Super Computer
• is a computer with a high level of
computing performance compared
to a general purpose computer.
• introduced in the 1960s.
• Used for carrying out calculations
at a very fast rate.
• Used for weather forecasting,
Nuclear weapon development.
• very expensive and consume a lot
of power.

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 Mainframe Computer

• Mainframe computers are implemented using two or more CPUs.

• capable of storing billions of records.
• Used in large organizations.
• less expensive and less powerful than supercomputer
• These types of computers are used for complex scientific
calculations, large data processing application and for complex
graphics applications.

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 Mini Computer

• Used in mid-level organizations.

• Smaller and less expensive than mainframes
• They have high processing speed and high storage capacity than
microcomputers.
• They are very useful for scientists, engineers, smaller businesses, colleges
and universities.

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Micro Computer (Personal Computer)
• Small, self-contained computers with their
own CPUs
• Used by home and business users
• Uses a microprocessor, a CPU (Central
Processing Unit).

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 Computer Organization

• Six logical units of computer

Components of a PC
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 Computer Organization

• Six logical units of computer

1. Input unit
• Accepts information from the user and transforms it to
digital codes that the computer can process  Receiving
section:
• Obtains information from input devices such as Keyboard,
mouse, microphone, Scanner …
2. Output unit
• An interface by which the computer conveys the output to
the user  “Shipping” section
• Takes information processed by computer, Places information
on output devices Screen, printer, networks, …
– Information used to control other devices
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 Computer Organization

• Six logical units of computer

3. Memory unit
• A semiconductor device which stores the information
necessary for a program to run.
• 2 types
– ROM (Read Only Memory)
» Contains information that is necessary for the
computer to boot up
» The information stays there permanently even when
the computer is turned off.
– RAM (Random Access Memory)
» Contains instruction or data needed for a program to
run
» Got erased when the computer is turned off.
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 Computer Organization

• Six logical units of computer

Central processing unit (CPU)
– Does most of the work in executing a program
– 4. Control Unit
» Fetch instructions from main memory and put them in the
instruction register (Also called Forth logic unit of a
Computer)
5. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
» Execute arithmetic operations (Also called Fifth logic unit
of a Computer)

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 Computer Organization

• Six logical units of computer

6. Secondary storage unit
• Long-term, high-capacity “warehouse” section
• Storage
– Inactive programs or data
• Secondary storage devices
– Disks
• Longer to access than primary memory
• Less expensive per unit than primary memory

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 Input Devices
• Enter information into a
computer
• Examples:
– Mouse
– Keyboard
– Trackball
– Joystick
– Touchpad
– Light pen
– Digital camera
– Microphone
– Bar code reader
– Scanner
– OCR
– OMR
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 OCR
• OCR stands for optical character recognition.
• OCR is the electronic conversion of images into text.
• With OCR, PDF files, scanned documents, pictures taken with
a digital camera, can be converted into a digital format, as
well as made editable and searchable.

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 OMR
• OMR stands for Optical Mark Recognition.
• OMR is used to detect marks on paper.
• The OMR scanner has a read head comprised of 48 sensors,
which shine onto the form paper.
• Marks are detected because they are less reflective than
the unmarked areas of the paper.

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 Output Devices
• Monitor
• Speaker
• Printer
• Projector
• Headphone
• Plotter (Large printer)

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 Hardware versus Software
Hardware
• The physical
components that make
up a computer system.
Software
• The instructions that
tell the computer what
to do.
• There are 2 types of
software:
– System Software
– Application Software
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 System Software
• Directs all the activities and sets all the rules for
how the hardware and software will work together.
• Examples would be:
Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Linux,

• automatically loaded when you switch on a

computer
• Main roles:
– Controls hardware and software
– Permits you to manage files
– Acts as intermediary between user and applications
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 Application Software
• Performs specific tasks:
– Word processing (MS word, MS PowerPoint etc.)
– Calculations software
– Accounting software
• Cannot function without the OS (Operating
System)

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 The Processor: The CPU
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
1. executes the instructions in a software program
2. communicates with other parts of the computer system, especially RAM and
input/output devices

The CPU is the computer!

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 RAM (Random Access Memory)

RAM (Random Access Memory)

• used to temporarily store software and data
• “primary” storage for the CPU
• RAM is volatile
• when power goes off, everything in RAM is lost
• Three functions:
• RAM holds data before processing
• RAM holds/stores instructions for processing data
• RAM holds results after processing and is waiting to be sent to the storage or
output devices
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 ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM (Read Only Memory)

• used to permanently store instructions and other critical information
• Cannot be changed
• Cannot be removed
• Cannot be appended (added to)
• Fixed by manufacturer
• Data can only be read

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 ROM (Read Only Memory)

• ROM is sometimes known as ROM BIOS (Basic Input Output System )

• ROM permanently contains start-up (boot) instructions
• Start up instructions are instructions about input/output devices

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 Storage Devices

• Storage Devices:
• Storage Devices are used to store data in a
relatively permanent form or non-volatile
form that means data is not lost even when
the computer’s power is turned OFF.
– Floppy disks
– CD-ROMs
– DVD-ROMs
– Hard disks
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 Hard Disks
• Fixed permanently in a hard disk
drive inside a system unit
• Used to store the operating system,
applications, and data

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 CD-ROMs
• Read-only memory
devices (but CD-R and
CD-RW discs are
recordable)
• Store up to 650 MB of
data
• Portable and can be
used on any computer
that has a CD-ROM
drive
• CD-R (CD
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 DVD-ROM
• Digital Video Disk-Read Only Memory.
• Uses both sides of the disk.
• Each side can store 4.7 GB of data.
• New DVD-ROMs has more storage capacity.
• DVD-R(DVD Recordable): is a one-time recordable disc,
similar to a CD-R.
• DVD-RW (DVD Rewritable): can be erased or rewritten
multiple times like CD-RW.

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 Performance of a Computer

Factors that affect the performance of a computer:

• RAM: when the computer is switched on, the operating
system and the running programs are loaded into RAM. Larger
the RAM is, the better performance a computer has.

• System Clock: The computer’s operating speed is linked to the

speed of the system clock. The clock speed is the frequency
with which a processor executes instructions or the data is
processed. A CPU’s performance is measured by the number
of instructions it executes in a second.

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 References
• Anita Goel: Chapter 1, 2 , 3, 4.

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Thank You!