Understanding Computers: Overview, Components, and Functions

What is computer?

 Computers are electronic devices with the ability to store results for later use and to receive, process, and produce output. The components of a computer system are peripheral devices, software, and hardware.

Software

Software is a set of instructions, data or program used to operate a computer and perform specific tasks. In simple terms, software tells a computer how to functions.IT refer to applications and programs that run on devices such as PCs, mobiles, tablets, and other smart devices.

Systems software

 The interface that connects user applications and hardware is called system software. The OS manages hardware as well as all other programs in a computer. Example of system software include operating system (OS) loke Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.

Application Software

A computer program or software package that serves a user's special needs is called application software. Application software can serve an individual, a company, or a learning institution, among other purposes. Application software can also be referred to as end-user or productivity software. Application software is what most of the apps that we see on our smartphones are. Examples of applications software include office suites, graphics software, databases, web browsers and images editors etc.

Drive software

A driver is a piece of software that facilitates communication between a device and the operating system. For instance, an application calls an operating system function when it wants to read data from a device. The driver's function is then called by the operating system. Following its receipt by the driver, the data is returned to the operating system, which subsequently returns it to the application.

Computer Hardware

The visible and touchable, tangible parts of a computer are represented by its hardware. Software and hardware rely on one another for functionality. To produce an output or results that are helpful, they both need to collaborate.

System Unit

The system unit contains the components required to process and store instructions and data temporarily. The central processing unit (CPU), primary memory, and system board make up these components.

Computer history

The history of the word "computer" is fascinating. It was originally applied to someone who used to compute, or perform computations, in the sixteenth century. Up to the 20th century, the word was used in the same sense as a noun. To perform all types of computations and calculations, women were employed as human computers.

By the latter half of the 1800s, the term was also applied to devices that performed calculations. These days, the term is typically used to refer to electrically powered, programmable digital gadgets.

Early Computer History

Calculations have been performed on machines for thousands of years, ever since the development of mankind. An abacus was among the first and most well-known devices. The first mechanical computer was then being developed in 1822 by Charles Babbage, the father of computers. After that, in 1833, he created the Analytical Engine, a general-purpose computer. It included an ALU, a few fundamental flow chart ideas, and the notion of integrated memory.

Then, in the annals of computer history, almost a century later, we obtained our first general-purpose electronic computer. The acronym for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer is ENIAC. This computer was created by J. Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly.

Generations of Computers

The development of contemporary computers is sometimes referred to as the "generation of computers" in computer history. We currently use computers that are from the fifth generation. Let's now look at some of the salient features of these five computer generations.

• First Generation: This group encompassed the years 1940 through 1955. It was around this time that computer-readable machine language was created. Vacuum tubes were employed in the circuitry. They made use of magnetic drums to store memories. These were enormous, expensive, and intricate devices. Punch cards and batch operating systems were their main sources of dependence. Paper tape and magnetic tape were used as input and output technologies. Examples include ENIAC, UNIVAC-1, EDVAC, and others.

• Second Generation: The initial designation for the years 1957–1963 as the "second generation of computers" Second-generation computers employ COBOL and FORTRAN as its assembly and programming languages. In this case, vacuum tubes were swapped out for transistors. Consequently, the computers became smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient. They went from assembly to binary languages as well. A few examples are IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600, and so forth.

•Third Generation: The invention of the integrated circuit was the defining feature of this era (1964–1971). Many transistors are assembled into a single integrated circuit (IC), which lowers the cost of computers while also increasing their power. Compared to earlier models, these computers were more affordable, faster, more compact, and more dependable. High-level programming languages were used, including COBOL, PASCAL PL/1, and FORTRON-II to IV. Take the IBM-370/168, Honeywell-6000, and IBM-360 series, for example.

• Fourth Generation: The advancement of microprocessor technology led to the introduction of the fourth generation of computers. From 1971 to 1980, fourth generation computers were the norm. C, C++, and Java were the programming languages used in computers of this generation. A few examples are the Apple II, PDP 11, CRAY-1, CRAY-X-MP, and STAR 1000. At this point, we started producing computers for use in homes.

•Fifth Generation: These computers are still in use today, having been around since 1980. The world of computers is here to stay and will continue to do so. Artificial intelligence is the characteristic that defines this generation. This is becoming possible and has a great deal of potential for the future because to the usage of superconductors and parallel processing. Ultra Large scale Integration, or ULSI, technology is used in computers of the fifth generation. These are the newest, most advanced computers available. Java, C, and C++. Programming languages such as Net and others are utilized. IBM, Pentium, Desktop, Laptop, Notebook, Ultrabook, and so on are a few examples.

Types of Computers

1. Analog Computers: Analog computers have electrical components and are instead constructed with a variety of parts including gears and levers. Analog computing has the benefit that creating an analog computer to fix a particular issue can be quite simple.

2. Digital Computers: Binary (or bit) sequences of 0s and 1s are typically used in digital computers to represent data in discrete form. Digital computers fall into a lot of different subcategories.

a. Mainframe computers: This kind of computer is usually used by large organizations for important tasks like processing massive volumes of data. Mainframe computers are distinguished by their large store capacities, quick components, and powerful processing power. Because they were complex systems, they were managed by a team of systems programmers who had special access to the computer. These devices are no longer known as mainframes; instead, they are officially termed

b. Supercomputers: Supercomputers are the term for the most powerful computers ever created. Supercomputers are massive systems designed specifically to address challenging scientific and industrial problems. Supercomputers are used in the fields of quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, oil and gas exploration, molecular modeling, physical simulations, aerodynamics, nuclear fusion research, and cryptoanalysis.

c. Minicomputers: Although they are smaller in size, minicomputers are a kind of computer that share many of the same features and functionalities as bigger computers. Due to their affordability and compact size, minicomputers were typically used by a small group or in a department within an organization. They were also frequently devoted to a particular purpose.

d. Microcomputers: Microprocessor integrated circuits (MICs), sometimes known as chips, are the building blocks of microcomputers, which are teeny computers. At the very least, a microcomputer is a system with a CPU, program memory, data memory, and an input-output system (I/O).

e. Embedded processors: Embedded processors typically have a low power need, a basic design, and limited computing and I/O capabilities. The two main categories of embedded processors are microcontrollers and ordinary microprocessors. Systems that don't need the computing power of conventional devices like workstations, laptops, or desktop PCs use embedded processors.