CHF

• Best Practices and Safety Measures in a Computer Hardware Laboratory:

  • Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, gloves, and anti-static wrist straps
  • Avoid loose clothing and tie back long hair to prevent accidents
  • Use anti-static mats and wrist straps to prevent static electricity discharge
  • Keep the workspace clean and organized to prevent tripping hazards and easily locate tools and equipment
  • Ensure all equipment is properly grounded and inspect power cords for any damage
• Tools not mentioned above:

  • Power supply tester: used to check the power supply unit's functionality
  • Precision screwdriver set: for delicate screws in electronic devices
  • Cable management clips: to organize and secure cables neatly
  • Thermal imaging camera: detects heat variations in components for troubleshooting
  • Network cable tester: verifies the integrity of network cables for proper connectivity
• First Generation Computers, 1951–1958:

  • Included the UNIVAC-1
  • Used magnetic drums for primary storage
  • First generation software used symbolic language for programming
  • Machine language programs were used by the binary forms of zeroes and ones
• Second Generation Computers, 1959–1964:

  • The transistor replaced the vacuum tube
  • Magnetic tape was introduced and replaced the need for punched cards
  • COBOL and FORTRAN programming languages were introduced
• Third Generation Computers, 1965–1971:

  • Integrated circuits made possible the third generation of computers
  • Incredible numbers of transistors were deposited on a silicon chip, introducing miniaturization and increased speed
  • The nanosecond became the new standard for measuring access and process time
  • IBM’s System/360 computers and the first minicomputer by Digital Equipment Corporation were introduced
  • Online computers and remote terminals became popular using regular telephone lines from remote locations
  • Business applications increased, especially in the airline reservation systems and real-time inventory control systems
• Fourth Generation Computers, 1971–1990:

  • Large-scale integrated (LSI) circuits for memory and logic made the IBM 370 mainframe possible
  • Very-LSI circuits allowed placing a complete CPU on one small semiconductor chip
  • This led to increased computer performance and lowered the cost of computers significantly
• Personal Computers:

  • The evolution of the PC, known as the personal computer, profoundly changed the entire computer industry
  • The interface of the PC propelled the industry into the fifth generation of computing
• Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, Internet, and World Wide Web:

  • ARPANET began operation in 1969 with four nodes and expanded to 37 nodes by 1973
  • In 1977, it started using the Internet protocol (IP)
  • By 1997, the Internet counted over 20 million computers and 50 million users
• Fifth Generation—Challenges and Game Changers:

  • Big data
  • Predictive analytics
  • 3-D printing
  • Cloud computing
  • Wearable user interfaces
  • Mobile robotics
  • Neuron chip sets
  • Quantum computing
  • Internet of Things
• Big data:

  • Data that contains greater variety, arriving in increasing volumes and with more velocity
  • Also known as the three Vs, big data is larger, more complex data sets, especially from new data sources
• Predictive analytics:

  • Encompasses statistical techniques from data mining, predictive modeling, and machine learning to make predictions about future events
• 1. D printing:

  • Also known as additive manufacturing, creates a three-dimensional object layer-by-layer using a computer-created design
• Cloud computing:

  • The delivery of computing services over the Internet to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale
• Wearable user interfaces:

  • Should be small, compact, and lightweight compared to the body part where the interface will be attached
  • Should not interfere with the wearer's movement, while maintaining comfort
• Mobile Robotics:

  • The industry related to creating mobile robots that can move around in a physical environment
  • Controlled by software and use sensors to identify their surroundings
• Quantum computing:

  • The study of using phenomena in quantum physics to create new ways of computing
  • Made up of qubits, which can be a superposition of both 0 and 1
• Internet of Things:

  • Describes physical objects with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communications networks