Ochieng’ Okoth COMPUTER SCIENCE CONCEPTS
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
Computer
Is an electronic device that performs calculations and processes information with astonishing
speed with precision?
It can handle vast amount of information if at blinding speed with accuracy.
Roles of a computer in a society
Education keeping records communication
Aero planes entertainment in process industries
Research in metrological departments security
Employment
Generation of computers
1. First generation: 1942-1955
- The technology in place was vacuum tubes
- They consumed much power
- They were short lived
- They used magnet memories
- Was the first EDUAC
- The 1st generation include UNIVAC
2. 2nd Generation 1957-1963
- They used transistors technology
- They used magnetic core memories
- Transistors were more stable and reliable than vacuum tubes
- Generated less heat
- Consumed less power
- Speed increased
- The memory size expanded
3. 3rd generation 1964-1979
- Used integrated circuits
- Magnetic disks were developed during this period for storage purposes
- Computer memories expanded to 2MB of RAM
- This period produced the first micro computers
4. 4th generation 1979-1989
- Used large scale integration
- Very large-scale circuits
- Memories used magnetic disks, bubble memories and optical disks
- Memory size expanded up to hundreds of megabytes
5. Fifth generation 1989
- Has distributed computing system, telecommunication and computing technology
- Has seen development of extremely fifth generation computers (super computers)
with speed of GB/TB (Gigabytes/ Tera bytes)
1
COMPUTER SCIENCE CONCEPTS
SUMMARY IN A NUT SHELL
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
Computer
Is an electronic device that performs calculations and processes information with astonishing
speed with precision?
It can handle vast amount of information if at blinding speed with accuracy.
Roles of a computer in a society
Education keeping records communication
Aero planes entertainment in process industries
Research in metrological departments security
Employment
Generation of computers
1. First generation: 1942-1955
- The technology in place was vacuum tubes
- They consumed much power
- They were short lived
- They used magnet memories
- Was the first EDUAC
- The 1st generation include UNIVAC
2. 2nd Generation 1957-1963
- They used transistors technology
- They used magnetic core memories
- Transistors were more stable and reliable than vacuum tubes
- Generated less heat
- Consumed less power
- Speed increased
- The memory size expanded
3. 3rd generation 1964-1979
- Used integrated circuits
- Magnetic disks were developed during this period for storage purposes
- Computer memories expanded to 2MB of RAM
- This period produced the first micro computers
4. 4th generation 1979-1989
- Used large scale integration
- Very large-scale circuits
- Memories used magnetic disks, bubble memories and optical disks
- Memory size expanded up to hundreds of megabytes
5. Fifth generation 1989
- Has distributed computing system, telecommunication and computing technology
- Has seen development of extremely fifth generation computers (super computers)
with speed of GB/TB (Gigabytes/ Tera bytes)
1
COMPUTER SCIENCE CONCEPTS
SUMMARY IN A NUT SHELL
