Computer Knowledge is one of the key topic for any banking exam nowadays. And aspirants must have a thorough understanding about the same. We are bringing you a complete series on Computer Knowledge over next 10 days to help you strengthen your Computer Knowledge.
What is Computer?
Computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user and processes it under the control of set of instructions (called program), gives the result (output), and saves it for the future use.
Computers accept data (input), process that data produce output, and then store (storage) the results.
History of Computer
The first digital computer and what most people think of as a computer was called the ENIAC, built during World War II (1943-1946).But according to the History Charles Babbage is called as "father of Computer'. He invented difference engine and then analytical engine, which can store the information on punch cards during 1800's.Early computers like the ENIAC used vacuum tubes and were large (sometimes room size) and only found in businesses, Universities, or governments. Later, computers began utilizing transistors as well as smaller and cheaper parts that allowed the common person to own a computer.Atanasoff Berry Computer (ABC) was the world's first unprogramable electronic digital computer
Today, computers help make jobs that used to be complicated much simpler. For example, you can write a letter in a word processor, edit it anytime, spell check, print copies, and send it to someone across the world in a matter of seconds. All of these activities would have taken someone days, if not months, to do before computers. Also, all of the above is just a small fraction of what computers can do.
We can categorize computer according to its generation. Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer is being used. There are totally 5 generations known till date.
Following are the main five generations of Computer
First Generation:
1946-1959. Vacuum tube based computersFirst 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.computers of this generation were: ENIAC, EDVAC 23 , UNIVAC, IBM-701, IBM-650
Second Generation:
1959-1965. Transistor based Computers.Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words.High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.Computers of this generation were: IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600, UNIVAC 1108
Third Generation:
1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based computers.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 drastically 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.IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, PDP(Personal Data Processor), IBM-370/168, TDC-316
Fourth Generation:
1971-1980. VLSI (Very Large Scale Integrated) Micro Processor based computers.The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built into a single silicon chip.DEC 10, STAR 1000 27, PDP 11, CRAY-1(Super Computer), CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
Fifth Generation:
1980 onwards. ULSI microprocessor based artificial intelligence.The period of fifth generation is 1980-till date. In the fifth generation, the VLSI technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components. This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which interprets means and method of making computers think like human beings. All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation.Desktop , Laptop , Notebook , UltraBook , Chrome Book
Components of Today's Computer:
Today's computers have some or all of the below components (hardware). As technology advances, older technologies, such as a floppy disk drive and Zip drive (both shown below), are no longer required or included with computers.
Example of front of computer
Case or ChassisCase FanOptical drive: Blu-ray, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, or DVDCPU (processor)Floppy disk driveHard driveKeyboardMemory (RAM)MicrophoneMonitor, LCD, or another display deviceMotherboardMouseNetwork cardPower SupplyPrinterSound cardSpeakersVideo card