Second Week in ICT Class...Advance knowledge on Computer

Computer History

1st Session

We began again a new week of our ICT class and on the 1st Session we got to know about the Computer History. We learnt about the milestones in the history of computer development. We learnt that The early computer called Abacus used to be used before 1940s. From 1940-1950 it was the age of 1st Generation. During this time they developed Vacuum Tube. From 1950-64 it was the age of Transistor development also called as the 2nd Generation? The 3rd Generation used IC (Integrated Circuit). It was from 1964-1974. The 4th Generation is using VLSI and semiconductor chip; we are living in this generation. We also got to know the First IBM Computer falls under this category. What about the 5th Generation? They are considered from present till the future. We imagine they will develop artificial intelligence and will use advanced technology in various sectors of human life.

Computer Architecture

It refers to the concept of hardware and software and the interconnection between them with the performance and capability of a computer. We learned computer architecture includes processor, memory, I/O (Input/Output) system, Control unit and ALU. ALU stands for Arithmetic Logic Unit. We also learned 1 byte = 8 bits.

We got to know about the categories of computers: 

1. Embedded Computers

2. Mobile Devices

3. Personal computers

4. Mid-range Servers

5. Mainframes

6. Supercomputers.

then we had an assignment on the following topic.

Computer Hardware: Motherboard, CPU and Main Memory

2nd Session

System Unit is the 1st topic to talk about. We learnt that System Unit components are:

1. Processor

2. Memory

3. Expansion Cards

4. Ports and Connectors

Motherboard and Processor

Now What does Motherboard do? It is the main circuit board in system unit. It contains Chips, ICs and transistors. The Processor is the main part of the computer. Sometimes it is called as CPU. It processes the data and controls the computer.

Central Processing Unit

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. Memory and Processor are the main parts of CPU. I acts as the brain of the computer. It has two parts. Control Unit (CU) and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).

Architecture of CPU

It includes Input, Output, Secondary Storage, Memory, Registers, CU and ALU. Data conversion to Information is one of the main tasks of CPU.

At first Data is sent through Input devices. Then it sends the data to Registers and then to CU through ALU it again comes back to Registers.  Then it sends to Memory. the Memory sends to Output devices. If the user wants to store the data, Memory sends the data to Secondary Storage.

Main Memory

There are two parts: RAM & ROM

       1. RAM (Random Access Memory)

       2. ROM (Read Only Memory)

RAM vs ROM??

Through ROM we can only read data. But to write the data we need PROM, EPROM, or EEPROM. ROM is non-volatile in nature. RAM is just opposite. It is volatile indeed and we can write and read data as well.

Computer Hardware: Storage and I/O Devices

3rd Session

Reflections:

1. The milestones of computer development in the history and about the five generations.

2. Computer architecture includes Processor, Memory, ALU, Control unit and I/O system.

3. The categories of computers.

4. The architecture of a computer system and the internal operations led by CPU.