Download feb 116: fundamentals of computing.

NAME: KIBE MARTIN MBUCHI
REG NO: F21/53104/2012
FEB 116: FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTING.
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 22/02/2013
NAME OF LECTURER: MR EMMANUEL BEAUTTAR KINYOR MUTAI
ASSIGNMENT:
1.Why is computer known as data processor?
It is a data processor because it is a fast operating electronic device,which automatically accepts and
stores input data, processes them and produces results under the direction of step to step basis.
2.Explain in brief the various generations in computer technology?
The Five Generations of Computers
First Generation(1940-1956) (vacuum tubes)
The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory and were
often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to
using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of
malfunctions.
First generation computers relied on machine language,the lowest-level programming language
understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a
time. Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.
The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices.
Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing
computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their
first-generation predecessors.Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input
and printouts for output.
They moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic which allowed programmers to
specify instructions in words. High-level programming language were also being developed at
this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.These were also the first computers
that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic
core technology.
Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits.
The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers.
Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips called semiconductors, which
increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through
keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system which allowed the device to run
many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.
Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors.
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated
circuits were built onto a single silicon chip.The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all
the components of the computer—from the central processing unit and memory to input/output
controls—on a single chip.
As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form
networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers
also saw the development ofGUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial
Intelligence.
Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development.
3.write a short note on Filth generations of computer.what makes it different from fourth
generation computer?
Fifth generation computers are mainly future computers.The aim of these computers is
to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning
and self-organization. In these computers massive numbers of CPUs are used for more
efficient performance. Voice recognition is a special feature in these computers. By using
superconductors and parallel processing computer geeks are trying to make artificial
intelligence a reality. Quantum computing, molecular and nanotechnology will change
the face of computers in the coming years.
4.Why did the size of computers get reduced in third generation computer?
This is because these new computers made of integrated circuits and semiconductors (a type
of material that had the properties of an insulator and a conductor). 3rd generation
computers also contained operating systems, which acted as overseers to the performance of
a computer and which allowed computers to run different programs at once.
5.Give short notes on the following:
a)versatility-The capacity of a computer to perform more than one task at a go.
b)storage-the ability of a computer to store information in its in-built memory and other
backing up storages.
c)slide rule-Is a mechanical analog computer.It is used primarily for multiplication and
division performs functions such as roots,logarithms and trigonometry.
d)Babbage’s Analytical Engine- was a proposed mechanical general-purpose computer
designed by Charles Babbage. The Analytical Engine incorporated arithmetic logic unit,control
flow in the form of conditional branching and loops and integrated memory making it the first
design for a general-purpose computer that could be described in modern terms as turing
complete.
6.Distinguish between microcomputer and mainframe computer.
For microcomputers, They are used at our homes. Micro computer can handle one user at a
time. These computer are used for documentation, making power point presentation , printing
tasks and other usual tasks but for mainframe computers, they can handle many users at a
time. That mean we cannot run Pc operating system on mainframe. Mainframe computers have
special operating system that can handle parallel user processing, transactions and time
sharing. These computers run best run on linux operating system. In mainframe computers
there are many processors working and integrating with each other.