POWER POINT ASSIGNMENT 1

Generations of Computer
First Generation (Vacuum Tubes) – 1940-1956:
This Generation computers relied on Machine Language (the Language of 0s and 1s) and used
Vacuum tubes as components of memory. They were huge in size and occupied almost a room-
size area to fit in.
Given below are a few characteristic features of the 1st Generation of computer:

 The price of managing these computers was very high

 They were huge
 They were not capable of multitasking, and only one task could be performed at a time
 There was no use of monitors; the output was directly given in the form of print outs
 The electricity consumption was very high
Examples of computers developed in this generation are ENIAC – Electronic Numeric Integrated
and Computer, UNIVAC- Universal Automatic Computer, EDSAC – Electronic Delay Storage
Automatic Calculator and EDVAC – Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
econd Generation (Transistors) – 1956-1963:
The first-ever transistor was invented in 1947 but could never be used in the computer until the
1950s. Given below are a few characteristic features of the 2nd Generation computers:

 The speed of the transistor decided the speed of the computer

 It was less expensive in comparison to the 1st Generation computers
 The electricity consumption had also reduced with the use of transistors
 There was no change in the output as it was still received through a printout
 From machine language, there was a change to usage assembly language in computers.
Thus, now computers could understand words
 High-level programming languages were used
Two significant developments during this phase include the development of FORTRAN or
Formula Translation and COBOL or Common Business Oriented Language, which was
developed for business use.
Aspirants can visit the Computer Networks page to learn more about its types, functions and
uses. This will help candidates master another important topic for the Computer Awareness
section, from the examination point of view.
Third Generation (Integrated Circuits) – 1964-1971:
The phase when the usage of keyboards and monitors ha started for the input and output. The
transistors had been reduced in size and were placed on silicon chips. This increased the speed of
the computer.
Given below are the features of the 3rd Generation of computers:

 The Integrated circuits were used where small circuits could work as efficiently as the
larger ones
 Multitasking could be done in the computers developed during the 3rd phase
 Functions of the computer were based on the memory of the monitor
A few examples from this Generation of computer are PDP 8, IBM 360, ICL 2900, etc.
Fourth Generation (Microprocessors) – 1972-2010:
The maximum developments were done during this time phase as technology has advanced
many folds. By this time, millions of transistors could be placed on the silicon circuits.
The characteristic features of this Generation are given below:

 The first microprocessor, Intel 4004 chip was discovered by Ted Hoff and was made
commercially available in 1971. This led to the introduction of personal computers
 This Generation saw revised versions of computers being introduced in the form of
laptops and tablets
 GUI – Graphical User Interface was developed during this phase
 Speed, memory and storage had also improved in the computers of this Generation
The computers which were introduced during this Generation include Apple II, the first IBM
computer, STAR 1000, and many more.
Fifth Generation (Artificial Intelligence) – 2010-till date:
The current generation of computers which have made our lives easier and more convenient is all
a part of the fifth generation of the computer.
Given below is some basic information about the 5th generation of computers:

 Artificial intelligence is being used in devices currently which has enabled millions on
tasks to be completed within seconds on a device
 Advancement in the functioning of laptops, palmtops, etc.
 Other robotic devices have started being used to reduce human labour
 The devices from this generation are cost-effective, faster, consume lesser electricity and
are easily portable and convenient to use
Questions based on the different generations of computer are much likely to be asked in the
various competitive exams conducted in the country.

Types of Computer
There are majorly 4 types of computers which have been described briefly below. Candidates
must know about the different types of computers with respect to the upcoming competitive
exams:
 1. Super Computer – The computers which are used to process a huge amount of data at
once are called Supercomputers. They are mostly used in scientific and engineering
operations where the processing is complex. They are expensive and complicated to
work. For example – The computers used by NASA to launch space shuttles.
2. Mainframe Computer – Computers designed to be used in large firms and organisations
where a lot of people have to work on the same database are called mainframe computers.
They are almost equally as expensive as Supercomputers and are the fastest working
computers at present. They are mostly used in Banks.
3. Workstation – Usually a single user system is called a work station. The RAM for such
systems is more, and the processors are quite fast. They are mostly used by an individual
and can be used for multiple purposes.
4. Microcomputer – Designed for personal use only. This type of computers can easily be
moved from one place to the other. They have a personal storage area, input & output
unit and a Central Processing Unit. Examples for microcomputer are desktop, laptop,
mobile phone, tablets, etc.

Computer Devices
The image given below shows the different devices which can be connected to a computer:

Functions of Computer
computer is used in various spheres of life today, and there are multiple advantages that the
computer has brought in today.
Given below are the functions of the computer:
 1. Lengthy calculations which may take hours to be completed manually can now be done
within seconds
2. Easy to use and cost-effective. People can buy them at reasonable prices
3. Reduced manual labour
4. Made storing information easier and more convenient
5. Years of data can be saved in the form of data in computers without the fear of losing it
6. There can be no question over its accuracy if the input has been given correctly

Computer devices can also be classified into categories:

 Hardware
 Software

What is an example of Software?

Software is the programs and routines for a computer or the program material for an electronic
device which make it run. An example of software is Excel or Windows or iTunes. Word
processing programs and Internet browsers are examples of software.

What is the example of a hardware?

Hardware refers to the physical elements of a computer. Also referred to as the machinery or the
equipment of the computer. Examples of hardware in a computer are the keyboard, the monitor,
the mouse and the processing unit However, most of a computer’s hardware cannot be seen; It’s
inside the computer case.

How many types of hardware are there?

Hardware is mainly classified into four main categories that are input devices, output devices,
storage, and internal components.

What are the different types of software?

It is mainly of two types that is System software and Application software.

Differences between Hardware and Software

Hardware Software

Hardware is further divided into four main Software is further divided into two main
categories: categories:

 Input Devices  Application Software

 Output Devices  System Software
  Secondary Storage Devices
 Internal Components

Developed using electronic and other materials Developed writing using instructions using a
programming language

When damaged, it can be replaced with a new When damaged it can be installed once more using
component a backup copy

Hardware is physical in nature and hence one can The software cannot be physically touched but still
touch and see hardware can be used and seen

Hardware cannot be infected by Viruses The software can be infected by Viruses

Hardware will physically wear out over time Software does not wear out but it can be affected
by bugs and glitches

An example of Hardware is hard drives, monitors, An example of software is Windows 10, Adobe
CPU, scanners, printers etc. Photoshop, Google Chrome etc.

Basics of Computer Hardware and Software

Computer Hardware Components

1. Peripheral Devices

These devices are the ones that provide input/output to the computer externally. They are
auxiliary devices meant to form a connection with the device externally via a cable or Bluetooth
to function. Some examples are mouse, headphones, etc.
2. Input devices
The input device allows the user to send data or information to the computer to perform a task.
Keyboards, joysticks, mouse, etc. are some of the examples.
3. Output devices

The output device completes the task related to the data sent by the input device. They receive
the data from the input devices and execute the tasks accordingly. Printers, monitors,
headphones, etc. are some of the output devices.

4. Secondary storage devices

The place where all the data on the computer goes is a storage device. This allows users to access
all the data safely and without any trouble. This device is one of the core components of a
computer system.
It is a hardware device to store digital data in multiple forms like text, images, audio, etc. Some
examples are – hard drives, USBs, memory cards, etc.

5. Internal components

The components that are already a part of the motherboard and the system are internal
components. Computer memory is internal to the system, becoming a good example of this.

Many devices may become a part of the system from inside using ribbon cables and insertion
cards. Some examples are – RAM, CPU, etc.

When any of these devices start performing poorly, the system replaces or upgrades. This
process of changing the device refers to hardware upgrades. Like users often upgrade their RAM
to have more space in the computer.

Computer Hardware Architecture

Computer Software
1. System Software

The software that runs the computer by activating, controlling, and coordinating the hardware is
system software. They also control the application programs on the computer. They differ
according to the function they need to perform in the computer system. Some of the examples
are –

a. Operating System

The most relevant example of system software is an operating system. It is an interface

connecting the users to the computer hardware. Linux, Windows, Edge, etc. are a few famous
operating systems that people use.

b. BIOS
A basic input-output system is part of Read-Only Memory or flash memory. The first software
that users activate at their computer is BIOS because it loads the drivers to assist storage of
operating systems. It has a set of commands to make the devices perform effectively.

The starting up of a device refers to boot, the ROM commands automatic execution of loading
boot in memory once the device starts.
c. Device driver

It is responsible for controlling computer hardware by providing an interface. The kernel uses
this software to communicate with the processor. The operating systems usually have these
drivers to work with hardware systems.

d. Assembler
It is a language program with input being an assembly and output being an object. The
programmer has a basic interpretation machine that uses hardware for fundamental instructions.
It uses machine language to get machine memory in place.

e. Compiler

System software that takes care of high-level languages by accepting the source program and
producing a corresponding object program. An interpreter is a program responsible for executing
a source program. FORTRAN, COBOL, etc. may designate to a compiler and its associated
language.

f. Loader
A system software responsible for loading the program and executing it is a loader. Absolute,
relocating, and direct-linking are some of the loading schemes. The assembler outputs the
program to the device and the loader executes it. This is a smaller program compared to the
assembler.

g. Features of a system software

 They are very close to the system.

 They have a very fast speed.
 These are difficult to design and understand.
 They are less interactive.
 They have small size.
 These are hard to manipulate.
 They usually use low-level language.
2. Application Software

This type of software is for specific tasks related to end-users and their ease. Unlike system
software, a computer doesn’t need them to function. The users can install and uninstall this
software according to their needs. They may have only one program or a collection according to
tasks. Some of its types are –
1. Word Processing Software

This software is for creating editable documents that users can keep going back to. They can add
textual content or edit the existing one when necessary. Other than this, multiple other features
are depending on the particular application. Some examples are – Ms Word, Google Docs,
Wordpad, etc.
2. Spreadsheet Software

This is for making spreadsheets and deals with information/data. It has grids and columns to
tabulate all the data properly making it easy for the user to maintain records. It enables data
processing of even larger files.

There is an option to calculate using different formulas as well. Some examples are – Ms Excel,
Google Sheets, etc.

3. Multimedia Software

These are for editing videos, audios, and texts and allows users to combine all of them as well.
They can improve their documents with interesting visuals and sounds using multimedia
software. Some examples are – VLC player, Premier Pro, Window Media Player, etc.

4. Enterprise Software

These are for particular business functions when the organizations have multiple tasks to take
care of regularly. This may be for accounting, billing, inventory management, web traffic
analysis, etc. Some examples are – Mailchimp, Google analytics, customer support system, etc.
5. Programming Software

These are software for writing other programs by translating programming languages into
machine language. The developers use them to create, debug, and maintain applications.

Programming or software development tools are a few other names for it. Some examples are –
Eclipse, Coda, Notepad++, etc.

Features of application software

 Closer to the user.

 Easy to design and understand.
 Interactive.
 Have a slow speed.
 Usually use high-level language.
 Easy to manipulate and use.
 Need large storage space in a device.
Can a computer run without the software?

Mostly no, a computer cannot function without installing software. In absence of an operating
system, the computer is likely to work with error or without output. Having software allows it to
explore supplementary capacities. Users can save time with faster results using the software.
A word processor is not necessary but is helpful for creating documents, cloud computing is not
important but users can easily run programs on it. Thus, the importance of software is
unavoidable and we will keep using it for our daily tasks.
 Computer - Memory

A computer is a device that is electronic and that accepts data, processes that data, and gives
the desired output. It performs programmed computation with great accuracy & higher speed.
Or in other words, the computer takes data as input and stores the data/instructions in the
memory (use them when required). It then processes the data and converts it into useful
information. Finally, it gives the output. Here, input refers to the raw data that we want the
machine to process and return to us as a result, output refers to the response that the machine
provides in response to the raw data entered and the processing of data may involve analyzing,
searching, distributing, storing data, etc. Thus, we can also call a computer data processing
system.

What is Memory?

Computer memory is just like the human brain. It is used to store data/information and
instructions. It is a data storage unit or a data storage device where data is to be processed and
instructions required for processing are stored. It can store both the input and output can be
stored here.
Characteristics of Main Memory:
 It is faster computer memory as compare to secondary memory.
 It is semiconductor memories.
 It is usually a volatile memory.
 It is the main memory of the computer.
 A computer system cannot run without primary memory.
In general, memory is of three types:
 Primary memory
 Secondary memory
 Cache memory
Now we discuss each type of memory one by one in detail:
1. Primary Memory: It is also known as the main memory of the computer system. It is used
to store data and programs or instructions during computer operations. It uses semiconductor
technology and hence is commonly called semiconductor memory. Primary memory is of two
types:
(i) RAM (Random Access Memory): It is a volatile memory. Volatile memory stores
information based on the power supply. If the power supply fails/ interrupted/stopped, all the
data & information on this memory will be lost. RAM is used for booting up or start the
computer. It temporarily stores programs/ data which has to be executed by the processor.
RAM is of two types:
 S RAM (Static RAM): It uses transistors and the circuits of this memory are capable of
retaining their state as long as the power is applied. This memory consists of the number of
flip flops with each flip flop storing 1 bit. It has less access time and hence, it is faster.
 D RAM (Dynamic RAM): It uses capacitors and transistors and stores the data as a charge
on the capacitors. They contain thousands of memory cells. It needs refreshing of charge on
capacitor after a few milliseconds. This memory is slower than S RAM.
(ii) ROM (Read Only Memory): It is a non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory stores
information even when there is a power supply failed/ interrupted/stopped. ROM is used to
store information that is used to operate the system. As its name refers to read-only memory,
we can only read the programs and data that is stored on it. It contains some electronic fuses
that can be programmed for a piece of specific information. The information stored in the
ROM in binary format. It is also known as permanent memory. ROM is of four types:
 MROM(Masked ROM): Hard-wired devices with a pre-programmed collection of data or
instructions were the first ROMs. Masked ROMs are a type of low-cost ROM that works in
this way.
 PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory): This read-only memory is modifiable once
by the user. The user purchases a blank PROM and uses a PROM program to put the
required contents into the PROM. Its content can’t be erased once written.
 EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): It is an extension to PROM
where you can erase the content of ROM by exposing it to Ultraviolet rays for nearly 40
minutes.
 EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): Here the written
contents can be erased electrically. You can delete and reprogramme EEPROM up to
10,000 times. Erasing and programming take very little time, i.e., nearly 4 -10
ms(milliseconds). Any area in an EEPROM can be wiped and programmed selectively.
2. Secondary Memory: It is also known as auxiliary memory and backup memory. It is a non-
volatile memory and used to store a large amount of data or information. The data or
information stored in secondary memory is permanent, and it is slower than primary memory.
A CPU cannot access secondary memory directly. The data/information from the auxiliary
memory is first transferred to the main memory, and then the CPU can access it.
Characteristics of Secondary Memory:
 It is a slow memory but reusable.
 It is a reliable and non-volatile memory.
 It is cheaper than primary memory.
 The storage capacity of secondary memory is large.
 A computer system can run without secondary memory.
 In secondary memory, data is stored permanently even when the power is off.
Types of secondary memory:
(i) Magnetic Tapes: Magnetic tape is a long, narrow strip of plastic film with a thin, magnetic
coating on it that is used for magnetic recording. Bits are recorded on tape as magnetic patches
called RECORDS that run along many tracks. Typically, 7 or 9 bits are recorded concurrently.
Each track has one read/write head, which allows data to be recorded and read as a sequence of
characters. It can be stopped, started moving forward or backward, or rewound.
(ii) Magnetic Disks: A magnetic disc is a circular metal or a plastic plate and these plates are
coated with magnetic material. The disc is used on both sides. Bits are stored in magnetized
surfaces in locations called tracks that run in concentric rings. Sectors are typically used to
break tracks into pieces.

Hard discs are discs that are permanently attached and cannot be removed by a single user.
(iii) Optical Disks: It’s a laser-based storage medium that can be written to and read. It is
reasonably priced and has a long lifespan. The optical disc can be taken out of the computer by
occasional users. Types of Optical Disks :
(a) CD – ROM:
 It’s called Compact Disk. Only read from memory.
 Information is written to the disc by using a controlled laser beam to burn pits on the disc
surface.
 It has a highly reflecting surface, which is usually aluminum.
 The diameter of the disc is 5.25 inches.
 16000 tracks per inch is the track density.
 The capacity of a CD-ROM is 600 MB, with each sector storing 2048 bytes of data.
 The data transfer rate is about 4800KB/sec. & the new access time is around 80
milliseconds.
(b) WORM-(WRITE ONCE READ MANY):
 A user can only write data once.
 The information is written on the disc using a laser beam.
 It is possible to read the written data as many times as desired.
 They keep lasting records of information but access time is high.
 It is possible to rewrite updated or new data to another part of the disc.
 Data that has already been written cannot be changed.
 Usual size – 5.25 inch or 3.5 inch diameter.
 The usual capacity of 5.25 inch disk is 650 MB,5.2GB etc.
(c) DVDs:
 The term “DVD” stands for “Digital Versatile/Video Disc,” and there are two sorts of
DVDs: (i)DVDR (writable) and (ii) DVDRW (Re-Writable)
 DVD-ROMS (Digital Versatile Discs): These are read-only memory (ROM) discs that can
be used in a variety of ways. When compared to CD-ROMs, they can store a lot more data.
It has a thick polycarbonate plastic layer that serves as a foundation for the other layers. It’s
an optical memory that can read and write data.
 DVD-R: It is a writable optical disc that can be used just once. It’s a DVD that can be
recorded. It’s a lot like WORM. DVD-ROMs have capacities ranging from 4.7 to 17 GB.
The capacity of 3.5 inch disk is 1.3 GB.
3. Cache Memory: It is a type of high-speed semiconductor memory that can help the CPU
run faster. Between the CPU and the main memory, it serves as a buffer. It is used to store the
data and programs that the CPU uses the most frequently.
Advantages of cache memory:
 It is faster than the main memory.
 When compared to the main memory, it takes less time to access it.
 It keeps the programs that can be run in a short amount of time.
 It stores data in temporary use.
Disadvantages of cache memory:
 Because of the semiconductors used, it is very expensive.
 The size of the cache (amount of data it can store) is usually small.