Computer

An elctronice machine that is capable of performing claculations on various types of information (data) by using a stored set of instructions

• Data input into computer memory
• Data proccessed in a centeral unit
• Data is output in a readable format

1991 London Science Museum

Early binary storage, 1=punch hole 0= no punch hole

• Started during WWII
• Often filled entire rooms

small desk terminals connect to large mainframe computer in another room

• beginning of general purpose computers
• reprogrammed for new tasks
• often filled entire rooms

Mainframe computers developed

• -"Minicomputers" developed
• refigerator size
• too large and expensive for home use

• -Altair 8800 introduced
• first affordable home pc
• no keyboard, monitor or software

• 1975
• first affordable home pc
• no keyboard, monitor, or software

BASIC- Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code

Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code

graphical user interface

• 1st GUI computer
• Developed in 1973 before Altair
• used windows, menus, and icons

• 1st GUI home pc
• 1st to have mouse

• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Scanner

• Monitor
• Printer

• Processes software instructions which are stored in memory as digital data
• Data is carried from memory to CPU via electrical current
• Original CPUs used mechanical vaccum tubes to amplify and control electricity(they were large and fragile)

• smaller transistors significantly reduced CPU size
• single integrated circuit consisting of many transistors

• Number of transistors on an integrated circuit will double every 24 months
• Held true for decades (more or less)
• Holds today due to multicore chips

• Primary memory
• made of integrated circuit chips on silcon
• CPU needs to process data quickly
• data is moved from relatively slow storage memory(hard drive) to faster RAM
• RAM can be over written with new info

• Pro: very fast access
• Con: easily erased by crash or power surge

• Secondary memory
• hard disk drive (HDD)
• hard platters, magetic surfaces that hold against digital data
• data located by sector
• platters spin at 5400-15000 rpm

• solid state storage
• good size to storage space ratio

• laser light used to read and "burn" data onto discs
• (DVD drives)

• memory stays even when power is off
• cannot be easily overwritten
• installed at manufacturing

• (Basic Integrated Operating System)
• Installed by PC manuacturer
• basic "boot up info" on chip
• Allows computer to start up

• hold all primary integrated circuit chips:
• CPU
• RAM
• PCIE
• BIOS