TypiNg..

    ..typing is the process of inputting text into a device, such as a typewriter, cell phone, computer, or a calculator, by pressing keys on a keyboard. It can be distinguished from other means of input, such as the use of pointing devices like the computer mouse, and text input via speed recognition.

SoftwAre..

Software...

          All of us know what does software is and how big is its contributions in our computers.

What is Software?

-Programs that make a computer run.

-Sets of instructions which tell the computer what to do to come up with the desired result.

Concept

-The hardware needs the software to be useful; the software needs the hardware to be useful.

-When the user needs something to be done the computer, he/she gives instructions in the form of software to computer hardware.

-These instructions need to be written in a language that is readily understood by the computer and that language is called the machine language.

Machine Language

-A language that is easy to understand for the uPs.

-Though readily understood by microprocessors, it is very difficult to write in for human programmers.

-Language translators were invented to overcome this problem.

Language translators

-Human programmers write programs in a language that is easy to understand for them.

-They use language translators to convert that program into machine language. 

Types of Software..

System Software

          -programs that work automatically once you open or boot your computer.

          -their task include loading and running programs, checking and protecting computers and controlling hardware.

          -it is the control software that operates the hardware and allows the application to run.

          *Operating Software (OS)

                   -perform its work invisibly to control the internal functions of a computer.

                   -interacts directly with the computer hardware.

Examples:

          Windows XP- home and business

          Windows 2000- business network use

          Mac Operating System- GUI, graphics

          OS/2 Warp- commercial work

          UNIX- general purpose, mainframe

          Linux- alternative to windows

          Dos- command driven

         

*Operating System

                    -run in the background without the users being aware of it.

                    -controls the inputs, outputs, interrupts, and storage of files as                          requested by the applications software.

Application Software

          -programs installed in the computer.

          -enables the user to do different tasks.  

          -used for a specific purpose or application.

·        Word processing

·        Numerical analysis and storage

·        Recording of data

·        Designing and graphics

·         Image processing

·        Presentations

·        Desk top publishing

·        Web design

Word Processors

            -Used in creating letters, memos, reports and other write- ups.

            Examples:

                               WordStar    MS Word        WordPerfect 

Electronic Spreadsheet

            -software that are equipped with rows and columns where data may be entered and processed automatically or tabulated.

            Examples:

                             VisiCalc          Quattro             Lotus 123

                            Supercalc        Ms Works        Excel

                             *VisiCalc- the first Spreadsheet      

Database

            -programs that can be use to organize data in a customized way.

            Examples:

                             Ms Access       Foxbase          Oracle

                             Dbase              MySQL           Lotus Approach                     

Utility Programs

·        Virus checking and cleaning.

·        Security using identification and passwords.

·        File and hard disk management for efficiency and storage.

·        Customizing the computer to the user’s requirements.

·        Setting peripheral devices to the user’s requirements.

Utilities

            -computer programs that perform a particular function related to computer system management and maintenance.

            Examples:

1.     Anti-virus Software

2.     Data comprehension Software

3.     Disk optimization Software

4.     Disk backup Software

5.     Disk cleaner

Entertainment Software

            -specially designed for fun and relaxation.

            Examples:

                             Real Player         WinAmp         QuickTime

                             Windows Media Player              VLC Media

Multimedia, Desktop and Image Editing Software

            -used to create graphics and publications and to edit images.

            Examples:

                             Adobe Photoshop            Adobe Pagemaker

                             Corel Draw                      Publisher

            Now, we already understand how important the software is, so without it, our computers will not be able to run and operate,

HistoRy of cmputers..

As we know, computers today have progressed greatly over thousands of years. From the first counting and adding machine to the use of paper memory, computers continue to grow with technology.
Present Computer

 Humans

-the earliest counting was with our fingers, we are easily learn on how to count on just simple counting numbers.

     Abacus

- the oldest known form of computing. And the oldest surviving abacus was discovered in 300 B.C.

- users moved beads to perform calculations to be easily identified the numbers.

     Pascaline

- the first digital computer

- used hand-spun mechanical wheels to input numbers then outputted them as the answer

- invented by Blaise Pascal

     Step Reckoner

- invented by Gottfried Leibniz as an improvement on Pascal’s machine.

     Difference Engine

- a mechanical calculator that operated automatically.

- Invented by Charles Babbage.

     Analytical Engine

- first fully automatic calculating machine constructed by British computing pioneer Charles Babbage.

-The input( programs and data) was to be provided to the machine via punched cards.

- for output, the machine would have a printer, a curve plotter and a bell.

- also be able to punch numbers onto cards to be read in later.

- can store data in the memory and performs logical comparison.

      Punched Cards

- Herman Hollerith created the first punched card machine in 1890, more than a hundred years ago.

-machines used punched cards to read data and store for future use. 
The 1^st Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes
        Characteristics of 1^st Generation Computers
               -Big and clumsy
               -Electricity consumption is high
               -Electronic failure occurred regularly
               -Not very reliable
             -Large air conditioners was necessary because the computers -generated heat
               -Batch processing
               -Solves problems one at a time
               -Used vacuum tubes magnetic drums for memory
               -Rely on punch cards for storage
ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Calculator)
        -Made in 1942 as a means of calculating weapon trajectory in WW II.
       -Used vacuum tubes and 1,800 sq. ft of space and 180,00 watts of electricity.                          

        -Considered as the first high- speed computer.

       -Its design and construction were financed by the United States Army during WW II.

       -First used in the calculations of hydrogen bombs conceived and designed by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert of the University of Pennsylvania.

       -Computers 1900 addition per second.
UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer)
       -1^st Commercial Computer
      -First intended for the Bureau of Census which paid for much of the development and then was out of production.

EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer)
       -Addition time was 864 microseconds (2.9 milliseconds).

       -Had almost 6,000 vacuum tubes
       -Was installed in Building 328 at the Ballistics Research Laboratory.

Mark I

ASCC (Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator)
       -Developed by IBM and Howard Aiken
       -Electro-mechanical computer
      -Could do three additions or subtractions in a second. A multiplication took six seconds, a division took 15.3 seconds, and a logarithm or a trigonometric function took over one minute.
      - Very reliable, much more so than early electronic computers.

The 2^nd Generation (1956-1963) Transistors
       Characteristics
             -Smaller
             -No warm- up time
             -Lass energy
             -Less heat
             -Faster
             -More reliable
             -Uses binary tape
             -Uses magnetic core

Magnetic Core Memory
             -AJ Wang created a system of storing computer memory on magnetic disks in 1949. The disks could be polarized one way or the other and store larger amounts of data.
              1 transistor = 40 vacuum tubes
            -Could be stored the computer’s memory itself which was another great advantage.
           -As this time of second generation computers many high level programming languages were developed such as Common Business- Oriented Language (COBOL) and Formula Transistor (FORTRAN) which are still used for some application of modern computers.

UNIVAC III
            -Used primarily by business, university, and government.
      1963, Mini- computer: PDP-8
            -The first successful minicomputer
            -As large as a fridge and used transistors and magnetic core memory.
      1964L Real-time reservation system
            -IBM developed a real-time computerized ticket reservation system for American Airways
           -Smaller than SAGE and was called SABRE (Semi-Automatic Business-Related Environment).

The 3^rd Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits
             -Used SILICON CHIPS called SEMI- CONDUCTORS
           -Increased speed and efficiency use keyboard, mouse, OS and applications
            -Reliability, Compactness, Low- cost
            -Power consumption lower
            -High- level languages appeared

Integrated Circuits
           -Contains of hundreds of thousands of micro- miniature electronic circuit components, mainly transistors, packed and interconnected in layers beneath the surface.
             1 semi- conductor chip = millions of transistors

IBM (International Business Machine Corp.)
          -Specifically designed to handle high- speed data processing for scientific applications.
           -Estimated that each day in use, the model 91, would solve more than 1,000 problems involving about 200 billion calculations.
            -16.6 million additions a second

The 4^th Generation (1971 to Present) Microprocessors
            -Integrated circuits, smaller and faster
            -Micro computer series such as IBM and APPLE developed

            -Great development in data communication

            -Different types of secondary memory with high storage capacity and fast access developed

           -Intel developed the first microprocessor- a CPU on a microchip. It was called the 4004 and consisted of 2,250 transistors capable of processing 4 bits at a rate of 60,000 transactions/ second.

Intel 4004

           -Was made in 1993, the first microprocessor

           -It held 2,250 transistors (many of today’s household computers have over 400 million).

Graphical User Interface

          -Were added in the 1980s to add an easier environment for the user.

 

So now, we already know how the computer start was until it grew and had so many advantages and improvements to us.