Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SUBJECT:
INTRODUCTION TO ICT (3576)
SUBMITTED TO:
MISS SADIA MAQBOOL
SUBMITTED BY:
Abdul Shakoor
REG #:br540076
GROUP: A
History of computers
History of computers start from some 2000 years ago in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) in
city of babylonia where abacus was born. First digital Copmuter was devised by Pascal
in 1642. The computer we use today was made by Charles babbage and he was called
father of computers between 1833 and 1871.it was actually an analytical engine.
First Computers
Enivac Computer ENIVAC was name of first
computer by W.Mauchly and
J.Presper Eckert at Pennsylvania University. Which is called as Electrical Numerical Integrator
and Calculator? ENIVAC used decimal digits starting from 0 and 9. Special technology of punch
cards was used for input and output purpose. ENIAC is generally acknowledged to be the
first successful high-speed electronic digital computer (EDC) and was productively used
from 1946 to 1955.
Progression of Hardware
in starting stages of developing computers for commercial purposes vacuum tubes
were used. Main frame computers were used in industries. By 1984, Apple and IBM
had come out with new models. Apple released the first generation Macintosh,
which was the first computer to come with a graphical user interface (GUI) and a
mouse. Transistors evolved evolution in field and then microprocessor leading
towards chip world, these days millions of chips is used in modern computers to
process the data.
Types of computers
1. Supercomputer
2. Mainframe Computer
3. Minicomputer
4. Microcomputer
Supercomputer
This type of computers is biggest in terms of size and performance .some super
computers are of a whole room or hall. They perform data processing easily. Their use
is more often in organizations like of NASA where research is needed in testing and
launching of rockets. These are very costly and not easily affordable and suitable for
personal use.
Mainframe computer
They are not costly and speedy as supercomputers but still used in some corporate
companies. They are also fast data processing systems. Banks educational institutions
& insurance companies use mainframe computers to store data about their customers,
students & insurance policy holders.
Examples.
• Hitachi’s Z800
Minicomputer
Mainframe minicomputer, they were not as big in size and processing ability as of
supercomputers. Mostly suited for processing plants batch operation in medium
industries. Minicomputers are used by small businesses & firms. Minicomputers are
also called as “Midrange Computers”. These are small machines and can be
accommodated on a disk with not as processing and data storage capabilities as super-
computers & Mainframes. These computers are not designed for a single user.
Individual departments of a large company or organizations use Mini-computers for
specific purposes. For example, a production department can use Mini-computers for
monitoring certain production process.
• Examples.
• K-202
• SDS-92
Microcomputer
Most of modern computers that we use today whether they are
laptops,palmtops,desktop comouters,tablets and smartphones are examples of
microcomputers. The micro-computers are widely used & the fastest growing
computers. These computers are the cheapest among the other three types of
computers. The Micro-computers are specially designed for general usage like
entertainment, education and work purposes. Well known manufacturers of Micro-
computer are Dell, Apple, Samsung, Sony & Toshiba.
Desktop computers, Gaming consoles, Sound & Navigation system of a car, Netbooks,
Notebooks, PDA’s, Tablet PC’s, Smartphones, Calculators are all type of
Microcomputers.
The development of electronic computers can be divided into five generations
depending upon the technologies used. The following are the five generations of
computers.
Advantages
Smaller in size as compared to the first generation computers.
More reliable.
Following are some of the important input devices which are used in a
computer −
Keyboard
Mouse
Joy Stick
Light pen
Track Ball
Scanner
Graphic Tablet
Microphone
Keyboard
Keyboard is mostly used to input some data. The layout of the keyboard is
like typical typewriter, although there are some extra keys provided for
performing additional functions. Some patterns are used like QWERTY is
used. There are more than 100 keys embossed on keyboard. Single or
combination of keys can perform so much of short cut operations.
Mouse
Mouse is an important pointing device. It has a cursor which is moved by
the movements of hands. Selecting or highlighting is done by clicking of
right and left buttons of mouse .it senses the movement of the mouse and
sends corresponding signals to the CPU when the mouse buttons are
pressed.
It has two buttons, left and right buttons and a wheel is present between
them. A mouse can be used to control the position of the cursor on the
screen.
Joystick
Joystick is also a pointing device, which is used to move the cursor position
on a monitor screen. It is like stick a having a spherical ball at its both
lower and upper ends. The lower spherical ball moves in a socket. The
joystick can be moved in all four directions.
Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select a
displayed menu item or draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of
a photocell and an optical system placed in a small tube.
Scanner
Scanner is an input device, it resembles in operation with a photocopy
machine. It is used when some information is available on paper and it is to
be transferred to the hard disk of the computer for further manipulation.
Microphone
Microphone is an input device used to give input of sound and it store in
digital form.
Monitors
Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display Unit (VDU), are the main
output device of a computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called pixels
that are arranged in a rectangular form. The sharpness of the image
depends upon the number of pixels.
Flat-Panel Display
Printers
Printer is an output device, which is used to print information on paper.
Impact Printers
Non-Impact Printers
Like our body computer also a work machine. After so much work load it also slows
down. When interruptions in its operations occur from inside its executing program
libraries computer is called to be malfunctioned or in other words we can say our
computer is sick. Those programs from inside body are called viruses.
In general usage, the term "computer virus" includes all forms of " malware," or malicious
software.
the first computer virus, was found by Elk Cloner, left its lab in 1981. Some people
sitting on internet specially designed these viruses to effect working of computers in
different organizations and personal computers.
"There is always something new," said Peter Szor, an independent researcher and
former engineer at Symantec Corporation, a maker ofantivirus software and author of
The Art of Computer Virus Research and Defense (Addison-Wesley, 2005). Symantec
and other virus labs often see more than 30,000 unique malware programs on a single
day, Szor added.
The sinister programs often work by associating themselves with a legitimate program
that when activated also "executes," or runs, the virus' code.
4. softwares. software.
we often confuse memory and storage, especially when describing the describing their capacity
units.The term memory refers to the amount of RAM installed in the computer, whereas the term
storage refers to the capacity or ability to store of the computer’s hard disk. Here’s another
important difference between memory and storage: the information stored on a hard disk remains
intact even when the computer is turned off.
When we are doing any task on a computer we have to execute some instructions instantly and
remaining needs to be stored for later use.some data in form of facts,figures,pictures,codes or any
multimedia source is needed to store so that it can be fetched at any time whenever we are doing
same work again. This memory system matches like our brain but computer can not think and act
multiple thoughts like our brain can do in nick of a time.
normally when we say memory of a computer ,two things come in mind.RAM and Hard
Drive.RAM is short form of random access memory and hard drive is generally known as hard
disk.RAM holds temporary instructions and data to store for a short time while we are working.
Hard disk is permanently storage of data that can be retrieved at any time.
A good example of this is when the CPU loads an older data – such as a word processing or page
layout program – into memory, orders the software to work as quickly and efficiently as
possible. In practical terms, having the program loaded into memory means you can get work
done more quickly with less time spent waiting for the computer to perform tasks.
if there is more value of memory installed of RAM or Hard disk computer can perform more
efficiently. If there is not much, memory installed to work swapping occurs. Swapping is a
phenomenon which occurs when there is not much space CPU and RAM so they reserve a place
in hard disk to to stimulate additional RAM. It requires for CPU approximately 200ns
(nanoseconds) to access RAM compared to 12,000,000ns to access the hard drive. it means if a
normal process which would take 3 minute it will take 3 months when we are having with space
availability in RAM and Permanently memory. Having more RAM in a computer cuts down on
the number of times the processor must read data from the hard disk, an operation that takes
longer than reading data from RAM .With a memory upgrade, applications respond more
quickly, Web pages load faster, and you can have more programs running simultaneously. In
short, additional memory can make using your computer a lot more enjoyable.
ROM term stands for read-only memory. It's used to store the instructions for a computer, also
known as the firmware. Most modern computers use flash-based ROM. It is part of the BIOS
chip, which is located on the motherboard. The data in the ROM is not lost even if the computer
is shut down. Ones data is stored, one can only retrieve it but cannot edit it except if it was
written on a special type of ROM. ROM is a storage medium that is used with computers and
other electronic device
RAM ROM
1.It stands for random access memory. 1.It stands for read only memory.
2.With RAM, data is written in fast process. 2.entryof data and reading to ROM is very slow.
3.Chip of RAM can store quite a lot of data, up 3.ROM chips usually store small size of data in
to 16 GB. megabytes of information, around 4 MB per
chip.
4.RAM is used to stoe data temporary 4.Data stored in ROM is not lost when power is
data created removed
6.Its working starts while computer’s regular 6.Used mostly in a computer’s start-up process.
operations, after loading the OS.
10.There are two main types of RAM: dynamic 10.ROM types include EPROM, EEPROM,
(DRAM) and static (SRAM). PROM and Mask ROM
QUESTION NUMBER 5(a)
Why operating system is required to run a
computer system?discuss main features of an
operating system?
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software
resources and provides common services for computer programs. An operating system is the
most important program that facilitates computer to run and execute programs. Without an
operating system, a computer is of no use since the computer's hardware won't be able to
communicate with the software. Operating System is the main linkage and interface between
the user and the hardware. For physical operations of hardware, the operating system acts as
an medium between programs and the hardware, all execution codes are executed by hardware
and application software’s themselves ,sometimes interrupted by operating system. Types of
Operating Systems
• Real-Time OS
• Multi-user OS
• Network OS
• Internet/Web OS
• Mobile OS
(1)it manages the computer's resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk
drives, and printers, (2) it establishes a user interface (3) execute and provide services for
applications software.
Yes we can run or start some data display without operating software as monitor will display its
colored display without any distinguishable data, but our computer or laptop will only be a dead
piece or , mere some collection of some bits which do not know how to communicate with any
hardware.
Main features of an operating system
1 Hardware Management
Hardware’s are run by operating software whether internal or external hardware. it’s
important function is to manage all hard wares with soft wares. It controls all connected
devices it tells them how to operate and interact. Some examples of the hardware that
the operating system controls include the RAM, Disk drives and video cards.
2. Program Control
Operation and executions according to their designed is also controlled by operation
software. It also manages data stored temporarily in the computer's RAM memory.
Programs are designed to run with a particular operating system for their proper function, as the
operating system needs to display any interfaces and facilitate communications among the
programs and hardware. Without the operating system to run it, programs can't perform their
tasks.
3. Data Access
Data is accessed from any location and from anytime frame by this operating software.
it manages which files are to be managed and stored permanently or temporarily by
given instructions from cpu. The data stored and fetched can include document files,
picture data, videos and multimedia. While the hard drive itself reads and writes the
data, the operating system tells it what to write and when to read and how to read it.
5. Network Communication
Data communications refers to the transmission of thas digital data between two or
more computers and a computer network or data network is a telecommunications
network that allows computers to exchange data between them. The operating
system manages a computer's resources, allocating them as needed. Some
important and crucial operations are given priority.
6. Safety and Security
New security features in Windows include two new authentication methods towards
touch screens (PINs and passwords of pictures), the addition of antivirus capabilities to
Windows Defender. window defender is antivirus of windows itself. Smart Screen
filtering integrated into Windows, and support for the "Secure Boot" functionality on
UEFI systems to save from infection.
Task bar or start menu is not the same it is more powerful. Microsoft is now
making best use of its aero technology. By default, taskbar icons are larger and items
are grouped together and are not labeled with large text. In the Start menu, a small
arrow to the right of applications such as Word now expands to give a list of recently
documents.Any can be pinned so you can keep one permanently on the list.
We will discuss only one here according to scope and limitations for this program and it
is Windows 7.
The Windows 7 operating system shares many features and functions with Windows
Vista. It also improves some features on Vista. Here is a list of features and functions
that are unique to Windows 7:
• Action Center –
Allows users to see what alerts Windows 7 shows; a suitable way to control those
annoying UAC messages when we are not to disable it.
• Aero Shake –
Click and shake one open window and all others on the desktop will minimize.
• Aero Snap –
Drag a window to any edge of the display and it will automatically re-size.
• Aero Peek –
Point to the right edge of the taskbar to watch open windows turn transparently,
revealing all your hidden icons and gadgets.
• Aero Templates,
Themes – new backgrounds and themes unique are created for Windows 7 (also
downloadable from Microsoft).
• Device Stage –
• Domain Join –
• Gadgets (Improved) –
The Sidebar has been eliminated this time; Gadgets can be moved anywhere; New
Gadgets have more functions.
• Home Group –
It enables users to quickly and easily create home networks between computers using
Windows 7.
• Jump Lists –
When we right-click a program icon and see a list of recently used files that use that
program.
• Libraries -
It makes it easier to find, work with, and organize documents, music, pictures, and
videos across our PC or network.
• Location-Aware Printing –
It is important feature for those who travel often from home and office: Windows 7
remembers which network and printer you're using and automatically switches the
default printer that we were using sometimes before.
• Multiplayer Games –
Microsoft has revived 3 XP multiplayer games: Internet Checkers, Internet Spades, and
Internet Backgammon. You can also access platform, multi-player games like Roblox.
• Networking (Improved) –
improved taskbar widget that allows for quick network connection and configuration.
• Play to function –
In windows 7 we can play music easily by clicking and devices compliant with the
Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) media standard.
• Performance (Improved) –
Sleep mode will reconnect the wireless network mode, limited background processes
to those needed for curren used devices, faster desktop searching, and easier setup
for external devices.
We can pin our favourite programs on task bar ; we have to rearrange programs in any
way you like by clicking and dragging. We Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail
preview of open files or programs. Then,we move our mouse over a thumbnail to
preview the window full-screen.
In windows media center a few new features and integrates with Home Group.
• Windows Touch –
• Windows XP Mode –
Allows an XP session of Windows to run so that Business applications will work within
Windows 7 – however, will not work with most current Intel and some AMD-based
computers.
https://thecrazyprogrammer.com
https://en.wikipedia.org