Computer

Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers

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Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Learning Objectives
Learning
In this chapter you will learn about:
§ Computer
§ Data processing
§ Characteristic features of computers
§ Computers’ evolution to their present form
§ Computer generations
§ Characteristic features of each computer generation

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers

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Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Computer
§ The word computer comes from the word “compute”, which means, “to calculate”
§ Thereby, a computer is an electronic device that can perform arithmetic operations at high speed
§ A computer is also called a data processor because it can store, process, and retrieve data whenever desired

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers

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Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Data Processing
Data
The activity of processing data using a computer is called data processing
Data
Capture Data
Manipulate Data
Output Results
Information
Data is raw material used as input and information is processed data obtained as output of data processing

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers

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Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
Computer Fundamentals: Pradeep K. Sinha & Priti Sinha

Characteristics of Computers
1) Automatic: Given a job, computer can work on it automatically without human interventions
2) Speed: Computer can perform data processing jobs very fast, usually measured in microseconds (10-6), nanoseconds (10-9), and picoseconds (10-12)
3) Accuracy: Accuracy of a computer is consistently high and the degree of its accuracy depends upon its