Computer – An Introduction

Computer – An Introduction

1. Computer

Computer is an electronic device, which manipulates and stores data and information through commands or program codes.

The computer that was designed in the year 1946 was equivalent to the size of a huge class room. When compared to the computers of earlier stages with today, the size is minimized but the efficiency and speed has increased infinitely. Not only in the speed but also it can be used according to our convenience as desktops, laptops and mobile devices. The size and shape of the computer has been modified on the basis of our need.

Generally, the computer operates by the exchange of commands between the hardware and so ware. Hardware can be touched and felt, but the so ware cannot be.

2. History of computer

Now a days, we can find computer in many forms like desktop, laptop, palmtop, tablet etc. This kind of transformation in data handling and processing has happened over a long period of time. Let us know about the advancement of computer here.

Around 2000 years ago, the people of China used Abacus. is was considered as the most basic model of a computer. Nineteenth century was considered as the birth of the computer when Charles Babbage designed the basic construction of a computer.

ENIAC, which was used by the American Military in 1946 to predict the trajectory of artillery shells, recognized as the world’s first general purpose computer. Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace was honored as the first programmer as she gave the first programming to do arithmetic operations.

3. Generations of computer

The history of computer has been classified into many stages. The main difference between the generations is the speed and efficiency of the computer. On the basis of performance and speed, the generations of the computer was categorised.

4. Data

Data is the set of values of qualitative and quantitative variables. The data that is fed to the computer can be text, number or statistics. These data stored in computer memory cannot be used directly. It has to be processed.

Data processing

The data processing in a computer is collecting data and converting it into information according to our needs and requirements.

The steps in data processing

Data processing has six steps. They are:

·        Data collection

·        Data storage

·        data sorting

·        the data processing

·        Data analysis

·        Data presentation and conclusions

5. Information

The information we get or obtain or receive using the data from the computer can be used directly.