CSC 101 Introduction to Computers

Fall 2004

Lecture Week Three

Computers in the Past

Connecticut Community Colleges Gateway Community College Student Info System Contact Instructor

Course Home Page

Syllabus

Assignments - Tuesday Class

Assignments - Mon-Wed Class

  • Types of Computers in Use Today
    •  Supercomputer

      The fastest type of computer. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations. For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers include animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration.

      The chief difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently.

    •  Mainframe

      A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom and moves to supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers. In some ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support more simultaneous programs. But supercomputers can execute a single program faster than a mainframe. The distinction between small mainframes and minicomputers is vague, depending really on how the manufacturer wants to market its machines.

    •  Servers

      A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a file server is a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on the server. A print server is a computer that manages one or more printers, and a network server is a computer that manages network traffic. A database server is a computer system that processes database queries.

      Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks. On multiprocessing operating systems, however, a single computer can execute several programs at once. A server in this case could refer to the program that is managing resources rather than the entire computer.

    •  Workstation

      (1) A type of computer used for engineering applications (CAD/CAM), desktop publishing, software development, and other types of applications that require a moderate amount of computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.

      Workstations generally come with a large, high-resolution graphics screen, at least 64 MB (megabytes) of RAM, built-in network support, and a graphical user interface. Most workstations also have a mass storage device such as a disk drive, but a special type of workstation, called a diskless workstation, comes without a disk drive. The most common operating systems for workstations are UNIX and Windows NT.

      In terms of computing power, workstations lie between personal computers and minicomputers, although the line is fuzzy on both ends. High-end personal computers are equivalent to low-end workstations. And high-end workstations are equivalent to minicomputers.

      Like personal computers, most workstations are single-user computers. However, workstations are typically linked together to form a local-area network, although they can also be used as stand-alone systems.

      (2) In networking, workstation refers to any computer connected to a local-area network. It could be a workstation or a personal computer.

      Workstation also is spelled work station or work-station.

    •  Personal Computer

      A small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. In price, personal computers range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. All are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip. Businesses use personal computers for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database management applications. At home, the most popular use for personal computers is for playing games.

      Personal computers first appeared in the late 1970s. One of the first and most popular personal computers was the Apple II, introduced in 1977 by Apple Computer. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, new models and competing operating systems seemed to appear daily. Then, in 1981, IBM entered the fray with its first personal computer, known as the IBM PC. The IBM PC quickly became the personal computer of choice, and most other personal computer manufacturers fell by the wayside. One of the few companies to survive IBM's onslaught was Apple Computer, which remains a major player in the personal computer marketplace.

      Other companies adjusted to IBM's dominance by building IBM clones, computers that were internally almost the same as the IBM PC, but that cost less. Because IBM clones used the same microprocessors as IBM PCs, they were capable of running the same software. Over the years, IBM has lost much of its influence in directing the evolution of PCs. Many of its innovations, such as the MCA expansion bus and the OS/2 operating system, have not been accepted by the industry or the marketplace.

      Today, the world of personal computers is basically divided between Apple Macintoshes and PCs. The principal characteristics of personal computers are that they are single-user systems and are based on microprocessors. However, although personal computers are designed as single-user systems, it is common to link them together to form a network. In terms of power, there is great variety. At the high end, the distinction between personal computers and workstations has faded. High-end models of the Macintosh and PC offer the same computing power and graphics capability as low-end workstations by Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and DEC.

    •  Embedded - Special Purpose Computers

      A specialized computer system that is part of a larger system or machine. Typically, an embedded system is housed on a single microprocessor board with the programs stored in ROM. Virtually all appliances that have a digital interface -- watches, microwaves, VCRs, cars -- utilize embedded systems. Some embedded systems include an operating system, but many are so specialized that the entire logic can be implemented as a single program.



  • Types of Processors
    • Intel - CISC Chip
    • Motorola - RISC Chip
    • Platform - Chip and Operating System


  • Why We Use Computers - Coputer Strengths
    • Data vs. Information
    • Speed
    • Accuracy
    • Consistancy
    • Reliability
    • Communications
    • Memory Capabilities


  • Computer History
    • 3000BC - China, Abacus
    • 1642 - Blaise Pascal - Pascaline
    • 1842 - Charles Babbage - Analytical Engine
    • 1890 - Herman Hollerith - Punch Card, Tabulating Machine
    • 1924 - International Business Machine
    • 1942 - John Atasoff - ABC Computer
    • 1944 -
      Howard Aiken,

      Grace Hopper - Mark I
    • 1946 -
      John Mauchly, J. Presper Eckert - ENIAC
    • 1951 -
      John Mauchly, J. Presper Eckert - UNIVAC - 1st Generation
    • 1954 - IBM 650
    • 1958 - Jack S. Kilby - Integrated Circuit
    • 1959 - IBM and the BUNCH - 2nd Generation
    • 1963 -
      DEC, Data General - Mini Computer
    • 1964 -
      IBM 360 - 3rd Generation
      Dr. Thomas Kurtz & Dr. John Kemeny - BASIC
    • 1969 - ARPAnet, Apollo Moon Landing
      IBM Unbundles software
    • 1971 - Silicon Chip - 4th Generation
    • 1975 -
      Bill Gates, Paul Allen - Microsoft founded
    • 1977 -
      Steve Jobs, Steve Woziak - Apple II
    • 1981 -
      IBM PC
    • 1984 -
      Macintosh and the GUI
    • 1985 - Windows
    • 1989 - Tim Berners - Lee - World Wide Web
    • 1993 - Web Browser
    • 1996 - Hand-held Computers
    • 2000 - Y2K

Computers; Information Technology in Perspective - Chapter 1, Sections 5-6 and IT Illustrated - The History of Computing - pgs. 39 - 68


 My First Computer

 My Husband's First Computer


Links for Further Study

Supercomputer - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Supercomputer

Mainframe Computer - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Mainframe-computer

Microcomputer - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Microcomputer

Minicomputer - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Minicomputer

Apple Computers - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Apple-Computer

Silicon Graphics Workstation - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Silicon-Graphics,-Inc.

Workstations - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Workstation

Personal Computer - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Personal-Computer

Laptop - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Laptop

The ENIAC - http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/ENIAC.Richey.HTML

1946, The Eniac - http://www.computer.org/history/development/1946.htm

The ENIAC - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/ENIAC

Grace Hopper - http://www.chips.navy.mil/archives/02_spring/index2_files/hopperhistory.htm

Atanasoff-Berry-Computer - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Atanasoff-Berry-Computer

UNIVAC I - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/UNIVAC-I

IBM 360 - http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/IBM-360

Apple Computer History - http://www.apple-history.com/frames/?

Last Updated: 9/20/04