Evolution of Computers

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K.
Sinha & Priti Sinha
Computer Fundamentals
Pradeep K. Sinha
Priti Sinha
Chapter 1
Introduction
Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 1/17
Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
Learning Objectives
In this chapter you will learn about:
Computer
Data processing
Characteristic features of computers
Computers’ evolution to their present form
Computer generations
Characteristic features of each computer generation
Computer
The word computer comes from the word “compute”,
which means, “to calculate”
Thereby, a computer is an electronic device that can

perform arithmetic operations at high speed
A computer is also called a data processor because it can

store, process, and retrieve data whenever desired
Ref. Page 01 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 3/17
1
Data Processing
The activity of processing data using a computer is called

data processing
Data Input Computer Output Information

(Raw material) (Data processor) (Finished product)
Data is raw material used as input to data processing and

information is processed data obtained as output
Characteristics of Computers
Sr.
Characteristics Description
No.
1 Automatic It carries out a job normally without any human intervention
It can perform several billion (109) simple arithmetic operations

2 Speed
per second
3 Accuracy It performs every calculation with the same accuracy
4 Diligence It is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration
5 Versatility It can perform a wide variety of tasks
It can store huge amount of information and can recall any piece
6 Memory
of this information whenever required
It cannot take its own decisions, and has to be instructed what

7 No I. Q.
to do and in what sequence
8 No Feelings It cannot make judgments based on feelings and instincts
Evolution of Computers
2
Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical adding
machine in 1642
Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented the first
calculator for multiplication in 1671
Keyboard machines originated in the United States
around 1880
Around 1880, Herman Hollerith came up with the concept
of punched cards that were extensively used as input
media until late 1970s
(Continued on next slide)
Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of

modern digital computers
He designed “Difference Engine” in 1822
He designed a fully automatic analytical engine in

1842 for performing basic arithmetic functions
His efforts established a number of principles that

are fundamental to the design of any digital
computer
Some Well Known Early Computers
The Mark I Computer (1937-44)

The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1939-42)
The Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator (ENIAC)
(1943-46)
The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
(EDVAC) (1946-52)
The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC)
(1947-49)
Manchester Mark I (1948)
The Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) I (1951)
IBM 701 (1952)
IBM 650 (1953)
3
Computer Generations
“Generation” in computer talk is a step in technology. It
provides a framework for the growth of computer industry
Originally it was used to distinguish between various

hardware technologies, but now it has been extended to
include both hardware and software
Till today, there are five computer generations
Some
Generation Key hardware Key software Key
representative
(Period) technologies technologies characteristics systems
First Vacuum tubes Machine and Bulky in size ENIAC

(1942-1955) Electromagnetic assembly Highly unreliable EDVAC
relay memory languages Limited commercial EDSAC
Punched cards Stored program use and costly UNIVAC I
secondary concept Difficult commercial IBM 701
storage Mostly scientific production
applications Difficult to use
Second Transistors Batch operating Faster, smaller, more Honeywell 400
(1955-1964) Magnetic cores system reliable and easier to IBM 7030
memory High-level program than CDC 1604
programming previous generation
Magnetic tapes UNIVAC LARC
languages systems
Disks for
Scientific and Commercial
secondary
storage commercial production was still
applications difficult and costly
4
Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.

Third ICs with SSI and Timesharing Faster, smaller, more IBM
(1964-1975) MSI technologies operating reliable, easier and 360/370
Larger magnetic system cheaper to produce PDP-8
cores memory Standardization Commercially, easier PDP-11
Larger capacity of high-level to use, and easier to CDC 6600
disks and programming upgrade than
magnetic tapes languages previous generation
secondary storage Unbundling of systems
Minicomputers; software from Scientific,
upward compatible hardware commercial and
family of interactive on-line
computers applications
Fourth ICs with VLSI Operating systems Small, IBM PC
(1975-1989) technology for PCs with GUI and affordable, and its
Microprocessors; multiple windows on reliable, and clones
semiconductor a single terminal easy to use PCs Apple II
memory screen More powerful TRS-80
Larger capacity hard Multiprocessing OS and reliable VAX 9000
disks as in-built with concurrent mainframe
programming systems and CRAY-1
secondary storage
languages supercomputers CRAY-2
Magnetic tapes and
UNIX operating Totally general CRAY-
floppy disks as
system purpose X/MP
portable storage media
C and C++ machines
Personal computers
Supercomputers based programming Easier to
language produce
on parallel vector
PC, Network-based, commercially
processing and
symmetric and supercomputing Easier to
multiprocessing applications upgrade
technologies Object-oriented Rapid software
Spread of high-speed design and development
computer networks programming possible

Fifth ICs with ULSI World Wide Web Portable IBM notebooks
(1989- technology Multimedia, computers Pentium PCs
Present) Larger capacity Internet Powerful, SUN
main memory, applications cheaper, reliable, Workstations
hard disks with Micro-kernel, and easier to use IBM SP/2
RAID support multithreading, desktop machines
SGI Origin 2000
Optical disks as multicore OS Very powerful
portable read-only mainframes PARAM
JAVA Supercomputers
storage media MPI and PVM High uptime due
Notebooks, libraries for to hot-pluggable
powerful desktop parallel components
PCs and programming General purpose
workstations machines
Powerful servers, Easier to produce
supercomputers commercially
Internet
Cluster computing
5
Electronic Devices Used in Computers of Different
Generations
(a) A Vacuum tube (b) A Transistor (c) An IC chip
Key Words/Phrases
Computer Integrated Circuit (IC)

Computer generations Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
Computer Supported Cooperative Medium Scale Integration (MSI)
Working (CSCW) Microprocessor
Data Personal Computer (PC)
Data processing Second-generation computers
Data processor Small Scale Integration (SSI)
First-generation computers Stored program concept
Fourth-generation computers Third-generation computers
Garbage-in-garbage-out (GIGO) Transistor
Graphical User Interface (GUI) Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI)
Groupware Vacuum tubes
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Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K.

Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 2/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Thereby, a computer is an electronic device that can

A computer is also called a data processor because it can

Ref. Page 01 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 3/17

The activity of processing data using a computer is called

Data Input Computer Output Information

Data is raw material used as input to data processing and

Ref. Page 01 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 4/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

1 Automatic It carries out a job normally without any human intervention

It can perform several billion (109) simple arithmetic operations

3 Accuracy It performs every calculation with the same accuracy

4 Diligence It is free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration

5 Versatility It can perform a wide variety of tasks

It cannot take its own decisions, and has to be instructed what

8 No Feelings It cannot make judgments based on feelings and instincts

Ref. Page 03 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 5/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 6/17

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 03 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 7/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Charles Babbage is considered to be the father of

He designed “Difference Engine” in 1822

He designed a fully automatic analytical engine in

His efforts established a number of principles that

Ref. Page 03 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 8/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Some Well Known Early Computers

The Mark I Computer (1937-44)

Ref. Page 05 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 9/17

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 10/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Originally it was used to distinguish between various

Till today, there are five computer generations

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 04 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 11/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

First Vacuum tubes Machine and Bulky in size ENIAC

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 12/17

Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 13/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

(Continued on next slide)

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 14/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Generation Key hardware Key software Key Some rep.

Ref. Page 15 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 15/17

(a) A Vacuum tube (b) A Transistor (c) An IC chip

Ref. Page 07 Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 16/17

Computer Fundamentals : Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer Integrated Circuit (IC)

Chapter 01: Introduction Slide 17/17

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