INTRODUCTION
Speed: The speed of computation is very high as the signals pass at the speed of light. Thus, millions of calculations can be done in a second.
Accuracy: As computers work on inbuilt software programs, there is no scope for human errors and are hence, highly accurate.
Information and Storage: A computer can store a large amount of data or instructions in its memory which can be retrieved at point of time.
Other characteristics include: Consistency, Automatic Operation, and Flexibility.
Characteristics of Computers
Father of Computer: Charles Babbage
Father of Modern Computer Science: Alan Tuning
First Un-programmable Electronic Digital Computer: Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC)
First Purpose Electronic Digital Computer: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC)
History of Computers
GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS:
First Generation (1946 – 1959)
– Used vacuum tubes & batch processing OS
– Machine & Assembly Languages used
– Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC, IBM-701,
IBM-650
Second Generation (1959 – 1965)
– Used transistors
– OS: Multi-Bag remaining, Time sharing
– Memory: Magnetic cores, magnetic tapes and
disks
– Used assembly and high-level languages like
FORTRAN, COBOL, Algol
– Examples: IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604
Third Generation (1965 – 1971)
– Used ICs
– OS: Remote processing, Time-sharing, Real-time,
Multi-programming
– Used High-level languages FORTRAN-II TO IV,
COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68
– Examples: IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000
series, PDP, IBM-370/168
Fourth Generation (1971 – 1980)
– VLSI Circuits Used
– Memory: Semiconductor and Winchester disk
– High level Languages: Fortan 77, Pascal, Cobol
used
– Examples: DEC 10, STAR 1000, PDP 11, Super
Computers (CRAY-1, CRAY–X-MP)
Speed: The speed of computation is very high as the signals pass at the speed of light. Thus, millions of calculations can be done in a second.
Accuracy: As computers work on inbuilt software programs, there is no scope for human errors and are hence, highly accurate.
Information and Storage: A computer can store a large amount of data or instructions in its memory which can be retrieved at point of time.
Other characteristics include: Consistency, Automatic Operation, and Flexibility.
Characteristics of Computers
Father of Computer: Charles Babbage
Father of Modern Computer Science: Alan Tuning
First Un-programmable Electronic Digital Computer: Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC)
First Purpose Electronic Digital Computer: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC)
History of Computers
GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS:
First Generation (1946 – 1959)
– Used vacuum tubes & batch processing OS
– Machine & Assembly Languages used
– Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC, IBM-701,
IBM-650
Second Generation (1959 – 1965)
– Used transistors
– OS: Multi-Bag remaining, Time sharing
– Memory: Magnetic cores, magnetic tapes and
disks
– Used assembly and high-level languages like
FORTRAN, COBOL, Algol
– Examples: IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604
Third Generation (1965 – 1971)
– Used ICs
– OS: Remote processing, Time-sharing, Real-time,
Multi-programming
– Used High-level languages FORTRAN-II TO IV,
COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, BASIC, ALGOL-68
– Examples: IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000
series, PDP, IBM-370/168
Fourth Generation (1971 – 1980)
– VLSI Circuits Used
– Memory: Semiconductor and Winchester disk
– High level Languages: Fortan 77, Pascal, Cobol
used
– Examples: DEC 10, STAR 1000, PDP 11, Super
Computers (CRAY-1, CRAY–X-MP)
4 www.oliveboard.in
Computer Awareness for Banking and Government Exams
The present generation of computers is the Fifth Generation of computers, i.e. 1980 – till date. The computers use ultra large scale integration (ULSI).
High level languages like C++, Java, .NET, etc. are used. Some examples are: laptop, desktop, ultrabook etc.
– Small, inexpensive computer for personal use
– Also called a micro-computers
– Popularly used at homes for playing games and/ or surng the Internet.
– Used for word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet and database management applications
1.Personal Computers :
– These are expensive and large sized computers
– Are capable of supporting hundreds of users simultaneously
– Used for specic large scale applications
3. Mainframes
– These were designed for specic tasks but have now lost popularity due to the advent of Pcs.
2. Mini Computers
– Powerful, expensive and the fastest computers
– Used for applications that require large amounts of mathematical computations
– For example: weather forecasting, uid dynamics, graphic design etc.
4. Super Computers
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
A computer system has four basic components.
COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
– Hardware: represents the physical and tangible components of the computer (keyboard, mouse, monitor etc.).
– Software: is a set of electronic instructions called programs that make the computer perform tasks.
– Data: the raw facts, which the computer stores and reads in the form of numbers.
– Users: the people who make use of a computer to obtain certain results/ outcomes.