Computer Fundamentals

1.1 Introduction - What Is a Computer?

Definition: An automatic electronic apparatus for calculations or controlling operations expressible in numerical or logical terms.

Categories: Initially mechanical, now electronic. Primarily used for data processing and computer-assisted controls.

Operations: Limited to logical or numerical terms.

Functions:

1. Accepts input (data or instructions).
2. Stores input in memory cells.
3. Processes input through calculations or logical comparisons.
4. Outputs result in alphanumeric form.
5. Internally converts input to binary digits for processing.

1.2 Evolution of Computers - A Brief History:

Computing in the Mechanical Era

1. Abacus: Invented in 500 BC.
2. Blaise Pascal: Designed a calculator with gears (1642).
3. Charles Babbage: Analytical Engine (1823) - Programmable but not reliable due to precision issues.

Computing in the Electrical Era

1. Electric Motors (1800): Led to motor-operated calculating machines.
2. Herman Hollerith (1889): Developed a mechanical machine using punched cards.
3. Konrad Zuse (1941): Created the first electronic calculating computer (Z3).
4. Alan Turing (1943): Developed the Colossus, a fixed-program electronic computer.
5. ENIAC (1946): First general-purpose electronic digital computer by J.W. Mauchly and S.P. Eckert.

Transition to Transistors and Integrated Circuits

1. Transistor (1948): Invented at Bell Labs.
2. 1958: General-purpose computers using transistors were introduced.
3. Jack Kilby (1958): Invented the integrated circuit.
4. 1971: Intel announced the single-chip microprocessor 4004.

Microprocessor Development

1. 1972-1979: Introduction of various 8-bit microprocessors.
2. 1981: IBM PC with 8088 microprocessor gained popularity.
3. 1983-1989: 80286, 80386, and 80486 microprocessors introduced.
4. 1993: Pentium was introduced, providing improved personal computers.

Advancements in Computing

1. 1980s-1990s: Rise of personal computers, networking, and portable devices.
2. Programming Languages: Assembly, Fortran, Algol, Cobol, Basic, Pascal, C/C++, Ada, Java.
3. Operating Systems: Unix, MSDOS, MS-Windows, Linux (gaining popularity).