INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTINGGulmina Rextina

TEXT BOOK

Introduction to Computers By Peter Norton

Other material will be mentioned in the last slide for every lecture

Please do not rely on slides alone, if you want to do well in this course make sure you read the book as well.

MARKING

The marks distribution is as following Quizzes, Assignments and Projects

25% Sessional 1 10% Sessional 2 15% Final Exam 50%

Quizzes will be surprise. That is at the start of end of any class I can take a quiz.

MARKING

Assignments and Projects will be given through out the course.

Make sure your assignments are not copied in any form.

ASSIGNMENT 1 Research on the internet and in the library and

compile history of computers.

You should write the history in your own words and not just copy paste from the internet.

Give proper references.

Your assignment can be hand written or typed.

The assignment should be no more then 5 pages.

All future assignments will be typed.

COURSE GROUP

Yahoo groups http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ITC_BPH12012/

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

Give an overview of what computers are and what they can do

Help you do everyday tasks and prepare you to make use of Computers in your field.

WHAT IS A COMPUTER

 A machine which can take instructions, and perform computations based on those instructions.

IS A COMPUTER INTELLIGENT??

IS A COMPUTER INTELLIGENT??

NO!!!! The are nothing like a human brain Computers can only follow instructions

blindly The instructions that we give to the computer

to perform a certain task are called programs

IS A COMPUTER INTELLIGENT??

To understand how dumb a computer is consider the following example

You have created a Robot that of course has a computer as a brain.

You want that robot to go to the market and fetch you an ice cream

Consider what instruction would you need to give to the robot?

WHAT CAN A COMPUTER DO?

A computer can process data very quickly It can perform millions of calculations in

seconds

BUT........ Still it is not intelligent It can only follow instructions. It can not make its own decisions Humans have to tell the computer exactly

what to do.

WHY ARE COMPUTERS POWERFUL?

Amazing speed Can perform millions of operations in seconds

Can store and organize large amounts of data A government can store information about all of

its citizens

Accuracy Computers are very precise and accurate Most mistakes that computers make are down to

human error

COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE

Desktop computers The most common type of computer Sits on the desk or floor Performs a variety of tasks

Workstations Specialized computers Optimized for science or graphics More powerful than a desktop

COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE

Notebook computers Small portable computers Weighs between 3 and 8 pounds About 8 ½ by 11 inches Typically as powerful as a desktop

Netbook computers Smaller and less powerful then laptops/notebook

computers.

COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE

Tablet computersNewest

development in portable computers

Input is through a pen or touch screen

Run specialized versions of office products

Tablet Computers Have become more

popular after the release of iPad in 2010

TABLET COMPUTERS

Google Nexus

Handheld computers Very small computers Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) Note taking or contact management Data can synchronize with a desktop

Smart phones Hybrid of cell phone and PDA Web surfing, e-mail access

COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE

COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Network servers Centralized computer All other computers connect Provides access to network resources Multiple servers are called server farms Often simply a powerful desktop

COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

MainframesUsed in large

organizationsHandle thousands

of usersUsers access

through a terminal can be a dumb terminal or intelligent terminal

MAINFRAMES VS. NETWORK SERVERS mainframes are more popular and generally

more reliable

Servers are smaller, significantly less expensive

Servers allow users to work "off-line," only needing to connect with the client-server when they need to share information.

With mainframes, everyone must be logged on simultaneously, which can slow the processing speed.

COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Minicomputers Called midrange computers Power between mainframe and desktop Handle hundreds of users Used in smaller organizations Users access through a terminal

COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

SupercomputersThe most powerful

computers madeHandle large and

complex calculations

Process trillions of operations per second

Found in research organizations

WHERE ARE SUPER COMPUTERS USED? The "Big Bang," or the initial expansion of all

energy and matter in the universe, happened more than 13 billion years ago in trillion-degree Celsius temperatures, but supercomputer simulations make it possible to observe what went on during the universe's birth

Forecasting hurricanesusing live data directly, supercomputers can predict the possible paths a hurricane can take.

Auto manufacturers use supercomputers to simulate auto accidents on video screen. This is less expensive and more revealing then actually crashing a car.

READING MATERIAL

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-computer.htm

Read the first chapter of your Text book

REFERENCES

Introduction to Computers by Peter Norton http://www.livescience.com/6392-9-super-coo

l-supercomputers.html