What is a computer?
A computer is a device or machine designed to collect data and process it into information.
What is a computer capable of?
- Collecting data
- Storing data in a hard disk
- Processing data in its CPU
- Display processed data on a VDU (Visual display unit)
What are the first generation of computers know for?
- From 1946 - 1959
- Operated with vacuum tubes for processing
- Programming language was machine language
- Extremely expensive and generated a lot of heat
- Utilised punch cards for input.
- Examples include UNIVAC, ENIAC
What are the second generation computers known for?
- Reigned from 1959 to 1965
- Made use of transistors in place of vacuum tubes for processing.
- Consumed less electricity and produced less heat.
- Smaller in size than 1st gen.
- Examples include UNIVAC 1800, IBM 7070, IBM 1620, IBM 7094
What were the third generation computers known for?
- From 1965 to 1971
- Upgraded to integrated circuits for processing
- Less expensive, smaller in size (no longer filled a room),
power-consuming levels reduced (no longer needed AC for heat it generated) - Introduced the use of hardware like the mouse and keyboard
- Introduced time-sharing and multiprogramming operating systems.
- Higher level programming languages (BASIC, FORTRAN-II) were used.
- Examples include IBM-360, IBM-370
- Magnetic storage devices were used for storing data
What were the fourth generation computers known for?
- Reigned from 1971 to 1980
- Made use of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration)
- Were very compact, prompting the birth of Personal Computers (PCs)
- High level programming languages such as C, C++, and DBASE were used in this generation.
- Examples include the DEC 10, CRAY-1, STAR 1000
What were fifth generation computers known for?
- 1980 to present day
- Made use of microprocessors
- Production of laptops began, leading to the likes of Notebooks and Chromebooks
- User friendly interfaces
- Multimedia functions
What is a system software?
This is a collection of computer programs designed to run and control the computer system.
What is an application software?
It is a type of computer software which solves a user’s specific need. E.g Microsoft Word, which caters to the Word Processing need of a user.
What is a suite?
A collection of application software.
What is a computer program?
It is a series of instructions dictating a computer’s behaviour.
