Transcript Background on Computers

Computers: The End User’s
Perspective
 Hardware
 Software
 Applications
 Operating Systems
 Types of Computers
Types of Operating Systems
 DOS, Windows,…
 Unix, Linux
 Other
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What Is a Computer
 Definition:
 A computer is a device which takes data in one form, uses
it, and produces a different form of information which is
related to (but not the same as) the original data.
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Basic Concepts of
Computers
 Minimal configurations of a
typical computer include:
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
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input units
output units
memory
central processing unit
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Basic Concepts of
Computers
 Computer Hardware
 The electronics and associated mechanical parts
of the computer.
 Computer Software
 Consists of instructions that control the hardware
and cause the desired process to happen
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The Many Kinds of
Computers
 General-purpose Computers
 Were not manufactured to do any one thing.
 Changeable to do any task.
 Special-purpose Computers
 Manufactured to do a predetermined task or set of tasks.
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The Many Kinds of
Computers
 Digital Computers
 One that functions in discretely varying quantities.
 Produces or gives results that are also discretely varying.
 Analog Computers
 One that functions in continuously varying quantities.
 Produces or gives results that are also continuously
varying.
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The General-Purpose Digital
Computer
 The General-Purpose Digital Computer
 Accepts information of many kinds.
 Changes it in a way that is controlled by humans.
 Presents results in a way usable by humans.
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The Von Neumann Computer
and Beyond
 Microcomputer
Input
Units
Memory
CPU
(Central Processing Unit)
Input Units:
Keyboard
Floppy disk
Hard disk
Mouse
CD ROM
Output
Units
Output Units:
Screen
Floppy drive
Hard disk
Printer
Speakers
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The Von Neumann Computer
and Beyond
 Minicomputer
Memory
Input
Units
CPU
(Central Processing Unit)
Input Units:
Several Keyboards
Floppy disk(s)
Hard disk(s)
Several Mice
CD ROM(s)
Output
Units
Output Units:
Several Screens
Floppy drive(s)
Hard disk(s)
Printer(s)
Speakers(s)
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The Von Neumann Computer
and Beyond
 Mainframe computer
Input
Units
Memory
CPU
(Central Processing Unit)
Input Units:
Many Keyboard
(Hundreds?)
Massive Hard disk
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Output
Units
Output Units:
Many Screens
(Hundreds?)
Massive Hard disk
Printer(s)
The Von Neumann Computer
and Beyond
 Supercomputer
Input
Units
Input Units:
Many Keyboard
(Hundreds?)
Massive Hard disk
Memory
CPU
(Central Processing Unit)
CPUs:
From many (from 4)
To thousands (65,537)
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Output
Units
Output Units:
Many Screens
(Hundreds?)
Massive Hard disk
Printer(s)
What Is an Operating
System?
 The operating system:
 A collection of programs that help you use the computer.
 Acts as a smart assistant that moves information around the
computer.
 Allows use of (partial list!)
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the keyboard
the mouse
printing to a printer of your choice
viewing information on a monitor
saving or retrieving files
formatting a disk
running programs
controlling any external device attached to the computer
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What Is an Operating
System?
 Where does the operating system reside?
ROM (Read Only Memory)
 Contains the skeleton operating system.
 The skeleton operating system allows use of keyboard
and both floppy and hard disk drives.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
 The main part of the operating system is transferred from
a secondary memory source, usually a hard disk to RAM.
The complete operating system contained in both
ROM and RAM controls the computer.
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What Is an Operating
System?
 Earlier synonyms for the operating system:
monitor, supervisor, executive
 Now, operating systems are referred to by their commercial
names:
MS-DOS, Windows ‘98, MacOS, OS/2, UNIX, Linux,
VMS,…
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