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• Computer

  • Considered as calculating machine
  • Can perform arithmetic operations
  • Programmed to : accept data ( input), process data into useful information, produce out, and then store for later use
• User

  • Someone that communicates with a computer
• Data

  • Collection of raw facts and figures
  • Consists of numbers, characters, symbols, etc.
• Information

  • Processed data
  • Meaningful than data
  • Data that is organized, meaningful and useful
• Information technology

  • For storing, retrieving, and sending information
• Mechanical Computers

  • 1600 to 1900
  • More traditional computer-based on mechanical techniques
  • Example: abacus, slide ruler, and pascal calculator
• What year does the ELECTRONIC COMPUTER starts and ended?

  1937 - 1953
• First Generation of electronic computers used vacuum tubes:

  • Operated from 1946 to 1956
  • Could perform 2,000 to 16,000 additions per second
  • Had main memory ranging from 100 bytes to 2 kilobytes
  • Used vacuum machines, were very large, required special rooms with air conditioning, and needed specially trained technicians to run and maintain
• Second Generation of electronic computers (from 1959 to around 1965) used transistors:

  • Were smaller, faster, and more reliable
  • Could perform 6,000 to 3,00,000 operations per second
  • Had main memory ranging from 6 kilobytes to 1.3 megabytes
  • Cost one-tenth the price of a 1st generation
  • Became common in larger businesses and universities
• Third generation computers (1965 to around 1972) used integrated circuits, which are many transistors on one piece of silicon
• Characteristics of third generation computers:

  • Smaller, faster, more reliable, and lower in price compared to previous generations
  • Some could fit on desktops, while others were the size of a stove or refrigerator
  • Capable of performing 100,000 to 400,000,000 operations per second
  • Cost about one-tenth the amount of second generation computers
• Third generation computers with integrated circuits became very common in medium to large businesses