Lunes, Hulyo 25, 2011

COMPUTER: HISTORY; TYPES; PARTS



The computer has been through many changes to become the machine that we use today.  The idea for the computer began with people who wanted an easier way to calculate numbers.  Now we use the computer for everything. 

500 B.C. - Abacus was invented in Babylonia. It is a calculator made of strings and beads.
1642-  Blaise Pascal invented the first automatic calculator.  It did not run by electricity it ran by turning gears and wheels.
1673- Gottfried Albinos created another type of calculator.  It also ran with gears and wheels.
1801- Joseph-Marie Jacquard invented a punchcard that could be used for weaving.   It made sure that the threads went through in the right order.  This is important because computers use codes and order to work.
1833- Charles Babbage invented all of the parts of the modern computer.
1880’s- Herman Hollerith invented calculating machine that counted and sorted information.
1940's- Vacuum tubes were invented and used in the computer. It was the most important invention.
1947- Second generation computers didn't use vacuum tubes anymore.
1950s- The computers ran by a chip. 
1960- Computers were affordable and small enough to fit in a home.
1980- The beginning of the computers like those we use today.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvKxJ3bQRKE&feature=related



TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Classes by Size

]Microcomputers (Personal computers)

Microcomputers are the most common type of computers in existence today, whether in a workplace, at school or on the desk at home. The term “microcomputer” was introduced with the advent of single chip microprocessors. The term “microcomputer” itself is now practically an anachronism.
These computers include:
A separate class is that of mobile devices:

]Minicomputers (Midrange computers)

A minicomputer (colloquially, mini) is a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the smallest multi-user systems (mainframe computers) and the largest single-user systems (microcomputers or personal computers). The contemporary term for this class of system is midrange computer, such as the higher-endSPARC, POWER and Itanium -based systems from Sun Microsystems, IBM and Hewlett-Packard.

]Mainframe computers

The term mainframe computer was created to distinguish the traditional, large, institutional computer intended to service multiple users from the smaller, single user machines. These computers are capable of handling and processing very large amounts of data quickly. Mainframe computers are used in large institutions such as government, banks and large corporations.

]Supercomputer

A supercomputer is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical calculations such as weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, nuclear simulations, theoretical astrophysics, and complex scientific computations. A supercomputer is a computer that is at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation. The term supercomputer itself is rather fluid, and the speed of today's supercomputers tends to become typical of tomorrow's ordinary computer. Supercomputer processing speeds are measured in floating point operations per second or FLOPS. Example of floating point operation is the calculation of mathematical equations in real numbers. In terms of computational capability, memory size and speed, I/O technology, and topological issues such as bandwidth and latency, Supercomputers are the most powerful, are very expensive, and not cost-effective just to perform batch or transaction processing. Transaction processing is handled by less powerful computers such as server computers or mainframes.


Classes by function

]Servers

Server usually refers to a computer that is dedicated to providing a service. For example, a computer dedicated to a database may be called a "database server". "File servers" manage a large collection of computer files. "Web servers" process web pages and web applications. Many smaller servers are actually personal computers that have been dedicated to providing services for other computers(It's nothing but a group of micro computers sharing memory for one single user program likely database).

]Workstations

Workstations are computers that are intended to serve one user and may contain special hardware enhancements not found on a personal computer.


Information appliances

Information appliances are computers specially designed to perform a specific user-friendly function —such as playing music, photography, or editing text. The term is most commonly applied to mobile devices, though there are also portable and desktop devices of this class.


Embedded computers

Embedded computers are computers that are a part of a machine or device. Embedded computers generally execute a program that is stored in non-volatile memory and is only intended to operate a specific machine or device. Embedded computers are very common. Embedded computers are typically required to operate continuously without being reset or rebooted, and once employed in their task the software usually cannot be modified. An automobile may contain a number of embedded computers; however, a washing machine and a DVD player would contain only one. The central processing units (CPUs) used in embedded computers are often sufficient only for the computational requirements of the specific application and may be slower and cheaper than CPUs found in a personal computer.

Computer types

Since the invention of computers from first generation and fourth generation computers, they have been classified according to their types and how they operate that is input, process and output information. Below you will get a brief discussion on various types of Computers we have
Computer types can be divided into 3 categories according to electronic nature. Types of computers are classified according to how a particular Computer functions. These computer types are
· Analogue Computers
· Digital Computers
· Hybrid Computers
Analogue Computers
Analogue types of Computer uses what is known as analogue signals that are represented by a continuous set of varying voltages and are used in scientific research centers?, hospitals and flight centers
With analogue types of computer no values are represented by physical measurable quantities e.g. voltages. Analogue computer types program arithmetic and logical operations by measuring physical changes i.e. temperatures or pressure.
Digital Computer type
With these types of computers operation are on electrical input that can attain two inputs, states of ON=1 and state of OFF = 0. With digital type of computers data is represented by digital of 0 and 1 or off state and on state. Digital computer type recognizes data by counting discrete signal of (0 0r 1), they are high speed programmable; they compute values and stores results. After looking at the Digital computer type and how it functions will move to the third computer type as mentioned above.
Hybrid type of Computer
Hybrid computer types are very unique, in the sense that they combined both analogue and digital features and operations. With Hybrid computers operate by using digital to analogue convertor and analogue to digital convertor. By linking the two types of computer above you come up with this new computer type called Hybrid.
I hope this article on computer types gives you a basic foundation of how computers are classified and how they operate. Next article will focuses on computer sizes definition and characteristics,For more on Computer resources and related articles check out Computer Resource and if you found information relevant please help share these to as many people as possible whom you think would benefit from them

Computer Types

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Parts.bmp (89334 bytes)
Diskc010.wmf (10838 bytes)Disk-a disk is a piece of plastic that holds information for or from your computer.
Cd006.wmf (19574 bytes)C.D.-a round circle holds information for or from your computer.
Hard Drive-hard drives are machines that have alot of memory to save your work and carries a c.d.rom and a floppy disk
Perif032.wmf (28406 bytes)Keyboard-a keyboard is a tool that is used for typing like a typewriter.
Montr007.wmf (2102 bytes)Monitors- a monitor is the screen on your computer that you look at when you are on the computer.
Cpmse011.wmf (1462 bytes)Mouse-  A piece of plastic that has a ball on the bottom and two buttons on the top.  When you click on the mouse, you usually click on the left button.  It allows you to click on and choose things on your screen.
Print008.wmf (6998 bytes)Printer-  A machine that puts things from the computer onto paper.
Perif039.wmf (1430 bytes)Scanner-  A piece of equipment that copies pictures so that you can use it in your computer projects.
Speakers-  The part of the computer that lets you hear the sounds from the programs.
Modem-  A part of the computer that connects to the phone lines so that you can go on the Internet.
Compu007.wmf (1366 bytes)Chip-  A small piece inside the computer that helps your computer work.  Chips have to be programmed by people or they won't work.  There are many chips in a computer.
Compu010.wmf (23286 bytes)Motherboard-  A main board of the computer that has many chips on it.  The motherboard makes the computer work.  It also is where the memory and the processing are found.
Compu023.wmf (50422 bytes)CPU (Central Processing Unit)-  A chip that is the "brains" of your computer that processes the information.

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1 komento:

  1. pc happyHulyo 25, 2011 nang 9:24 PM

    very nice post............ i agree with your views for computer parts. Very nice picture for computer parts and accessories.
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    TumugonBurahin

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