COMPUTER FOUNDAMENTALS

COMPUTER FOUNDAMENTALS

·         Computers an advanced  electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user  and processes these data under the control of set of instructions (called program) and give the result (output) and save output for the future use.

·         Computer can be define as an electronic device that accept ,process,store,and output  data or information

·         PROGRAM:-  Is a set of information  that tell the computer  on how ti manipulate or  process data.

i.        HISTORY OF COMPUTER

ii.       ABACUS:- This was the first mechanical calculating  device  for counting of large number it is  used for arithmetic calculate.

iii.      In 1617 john nippier build a machine for the purpose of multiplication.

iv.     In 16th  century Edmund Gunter  developed a slide rule use for addition,subtraction,multiplication and division.

v.       In 1642 blaise pascal developed adding and subtraction machine in other to help his father tax collector.

vi.     In 1823 an English man Charles Babbage  built with a vacuum tube which  is very large and know as  the first computer  generation  he was a worded  as the FATHER OF COMPUTER.

COMPUTER GENERATION

GENERATION                                                                                                                         COMPONENT USED

1.       First generation (1946-1954)                                                                                        Vacuum tubes

2.       second generation (1955-1965)                                                                                            Transistor

3.       third generation (1965-1975)                                                                      Integrated circuits (IC)

4.       Fourth generation (1980-till today)                                Ultra scale intergrade circuits (ULSI)

                                                                                                                               micro processor (SILICON CHIP)

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER

Computer are classification according to the storage capacity ,speed and purpose for which they are developed these can be  classified into three type:

1.       Analog computer

2.       Digital computer

3.       Hybrid computer

1.       Analog computer: they operate by "measuring" instead of "counting" They are special machine that measure physical quantities used for controlling marching and processes that are react directly to change in physic situation    Example:thermometer,car speedometer,voltmeter,petrol dispenser.

2.       Digital computer: these computer operate by "counting" all quantities are expressed as discrete digit or numbers there are useful for evaluating  arithmetic expression and manipulation of data they  are  faster and more flexible than analog computer  but not be accurate.

Hybrid:these computer have a combine features  of analog and digital computer  they are  special purpose computer and hence  uncommon Example is programming a modern day television set which involves both analog and digital procedure, channel selection is digital while processing the channel for clear reception is analog and formally saving the channel for future use is also  a digital  computer can be broadly classified by their speed and computing power.

CHARACTERISTICS /ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER

1.       High Speed: computer has the ability to perform routine tasks at a greater speed than human beings, they can perform millions of calculation in seconds.The computers process data at an extremely fast rate, i.e.

Millions or billions of instructions per second.

In few seconds, a computer can perform a huge task that a normal human being may take days or even years to complete.

The speed of a computer is measured in megahertz(MHZ), it`s one million instructions per second.

2.    Accuracy: computer is used  to perform task in a way that  ensure  accuracy  depend on the instruction and type