Computer Fundamental

Computer Tutorial

Introduction to Computer What is Computer Component of computer Characteristics of computer Application of computer Advantages of computer Disadvantages of computer Computer hardware Computer software

» Generation of Computer » First Generation of Computer » Second Generation of Computer » Third Generation of Computer » Fourth Generation of Computer » Fifth Generation of Computer

Types of Computer According to functionality On the basis of Size Microcomputers Computer Minicomputers Computer Mainframe Computer Supercomputer Computer On the basis of Purpose

Component of Computer Input-Process-Output Concept Computer Hardware Computer Software Data, Information and Knowledge

Central Processing Unit ALU & CU CPU Registers Motherboard Ports and Interfaces Processor Types of Processors

Input devices Keyboard Mouse TrackBall Joystick Digitizing Tablet Light Pen Touch Screen Audio Input Device Vidio Input Device Scanner Optical Input Devices

Output devices Monitor Audio system Printer Plotter Projector

Computer Memory Memory Representation Memory Hierarchy CPU Registers Cache Memory Primary memory Random Access Memory Read Only Memory Data Access Methods Secondary Memory Magnetic Tape Magnetic Disk Hard Disk Floppy Disk Zip Disk Optical Disk CD-ROM Recordable Optical Disk Differences between Primary and Secondary Memory

Computer Ports Serial Ports Parallel Ports PS/2 port USB Port VGA Port DVI Port Ethernet Port

Computer Software System Software Operating System Device Driver System Utilities Application software

Programming Language Machine Language Assembly Language High-level Language Translator Software Difference Between a Compiler and An Interpreter Linker & Loader

Flow Chart Flow Chart Symbols Rules For Drawing Flowcharts How to draw flowchart Types of Flowcharts

Number System Kinds of Number Systems Converting Decimal Integer to Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal Converting Decimal Fraction to Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal Converting Decimal Integer Fraction to Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal Conversion of Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal to Decimal Conversion of Binary to Octal, Hexadecimal Conversion of Octal, Hexadecimal to Binary Binary Arithmetic Complement of Binary Numbers Binary Data Representation Binary Coding Schemes

Operating System Types of OS Functions of OS Process Management CPU Scheduling Process Synchronization Memory Management File Management Device Management

DOS OS & Commands Physical Structure of Disk Function of DOS Types of file system Internal commands External commands

Computer Network Data Transmission Media & Modes Guided Media Unguided Media Network Types LAN Topologies Network Devices

Internet Internet Architecture Internet Address World Wide Web Web Browser Internet Search Engines Electronic Mail Uses of Internet

MCQ on Fundamental of Computer

Second Generation of Computer

Second Generation of Computer ( 1956 to 1963 )

Second generation computers generated a lot of heat but much less than the first generation computers. They required less maintenance than the first generation computers.

Hardware Technology

Transistors replaced the vacuum tubes of the first generation of computers. Transistors allowed computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, energy efficient and reliable. The second generation computers used magnetic core technology for primary memory. They used magnetic tapes and magnetic disks for secondary storage. The input was still through punched cards and the output using printouts. They used the concept of a stored program, where instructions were stored in the memory of computer.

Transistors

Software Technology

The instructions were written using the assembly language. Assembly language uses mnemonics like ADD for addition and SUB for subtraction for coding of the instructions. It is easier to write instructions in assembly language, as compared to writing instructions in machine language. High-level programming languages, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN were also developed during this period.

Computing Characteristics

The computation time was in microseconds.

Physical Appearance

Transistors are smaller in size compared to vacuum tubes, thus, the size of the computer was also reduced.

Application

The cost of commercial production of these computers was very high, though less than the first generation computers. The transistors had to be assembled manually in second generation computers.

Examples

» PDP-8
» IBM 1401
» CDC 1604

Second Generation Computer

Advantages of Second Generation of Computer

» Smaller in size as compares to 1st generation.
» Much more reliable.
» Less heat generated.
» Computation was performing in micro second.
» Less hardware and maintenance problem.
» Could be used for commercial use

Disadvantages of Second Generation of Computer

» Very costly for commercial use.
» It still required frequent maintenance.
» Frequent cooling also required.

Other Generation of compter are

» First Generation of Computer (1940 to 1956): Using Vacuum Tubes
» Third Generation of Computer (1964 to 1971): Using Integrated Circuits
» Fourth Generation of Computer (1971 to present): Using Microprocessors
» Fifth Generation of Computer (Present and Next): Using Artificial Intelligence