1-Introduction to Computer

Definitions of Computer

•It is an  electronic machine that accepts input information, processes it according to a list of instructions and produces the resulting output information.

Charles Babbage is considered as the father of computers.

Description of various Functional Unit of Computer

—Input Unit:-It is a device that is used to give required information to the computer, example keyboard, mouse etc

—Memory Unit:-It is to store programs and data.

—Arithmetic and Logic Units:-It is responsible for performing arithmetic operations and logical operations

—Output Unit:-It is used to display the processed result to the user;example:-monitor,printer etc.

—Control Unit:-It coordinates and controls the Activities amongst various functional units.

Von Neumann Architecture:why it is important?

All computers more or less based on the same basic design, the von Neumann Architecture! what ever it be a multi-million dollar mainframe or a Palm Pilot.

The von Neumann architecture describes a general framework, or structure, that a computer's hardware,

programming, and data should follow.

                        Fig. John von Neumann (1903-57). Progenitor of the modern, electronic PC.

Von Neumann divided a computer’s hardware into 5 primary groups:

CPU

Input

Output

Working storage

Permanent storage

This division provided the actual foundation for the modern PC, as von Neumann was the first person to construct a computer which had working storage (what we today call RAM). And the amazing thing is, his model is still completely applicable today. If we apply the von Neumann model to today’s PC, it looks like this:

                                    

                                            Fig.  . The Von Neumann model in the year 2004.

The Parts of a Computer System:

                A complete computer system includes four distinct parts:

Ø Hardware

Ø   Software

Ø   Data

Ø   User