What is a Computer and What

does it do?
• Definition
– It is an Electronic Device in which we can perform
Arithmetical and Logical task with Tremendous Speed.

ALU

Input CU Output

Memory

CPU
 What is a Computer and What does it do? Cont….

• Basically it perform the Four Operation

referred to as :
– Input : Entering data into the Computer.
– Processing : Performing Operations on the
Data.
– Output : Presenting the Result.
– Storage : Saving data, Programs or Output for
future use.
• This Progression of Input, Processing, Output &
Storage is sometime referred to as IOPS Cycle Or
the Information Processing Cycle.
 Data Vs Information
• Data – Any kind of facts or set of facts can
become Computer data. A user inputs data into
a Computer and then the computer Process it.

• Information – When data is processed into a

meaningful form it becomes Information.
 Generation Of Computers
• First – Generation Computers
(1946-1957)
– They were powered by thousands of Vacuum Tubes -
Glass Tubes that look similar to large, Cylindrical light
bulbs – that needed replacing constantly, required a
great deal of electricity, and generated a lot of heat.
– It solve only one problem at a time since they
needed to be physically rewired with cables to be
reprogrammed, it takes Several Days to Complete and
Several More Days to Check before the Computer could
be used.
 Generation Of Computers
• Second – Generation Computers
(1958 - 1963)
– It uses Transistor – a small device made of
Semiconductor material that acts like a Switch to Open
or Close Electronic Circuit – started to replace the
vacuum tube.
– This Generation Computer Physically Smaller, More
Powerful, Cheaper, More Energy-Efficient, and More
Reliable.
– Program and data were input on Punch Cards and
Magnetic Tape, Output was on Punch Card and Paper
Printouts, Magnetic Tape and Disk.
 Generation Of Computers
• Third – Generation Computers
(1964 – 1970)
– It uses Integrated Circuit (IC)
– IC incorporate many Transistors and Electronic
Circuits on a single tiny Silicon Chip.
– Smaller and More Reliable Computer in the earlier
Computer Generation.
– Keyboard and Monitor were Introduced for Input
and Output.
 Generation Of Computers
• Fourth Generation Computers
(1971 – Present)
– It uses Microprocessor – Contains the core
Processing capabilities of an entire Computer in
Single Chip.
– Keyboard and Mouse for Input, a Monitor and
Printer for Output, and Magnetic Disk & Optical
Disk for Storage.
– Computer Network, Wireless Technologies and
Internet is also Invented.
 Classification Of Computers
• Computers are available in different shapes, sizes
and weights, due to these different shapes and sizes
they perform different sorts of jobs from one
another.
• All the computers are designed by the qualified
computer architectures that design these machines
as their requirements. A home computer differs in
size and shape from the computer being used in a
hospital. Computers act as a server in large
buildings, while the computer also differs in size
and shape performing its job as a weather
forecaster.
 Classification Of Computers Cont…

• Super Computer
– Biggest in Size, Most Expensive in Price.
– It can process trillions of instructions in
seconds.
– This computer is not used as a PC in a home
neither by a student in a college.
– Governments specially use this type of
computer for their different calculations and
heavy jobs.
– It also helpful for forecasting weather reports
worldwide.
 Classification Of Computers Cont…

• Mainframes
– It can also process millions of instructions per
second and is capable of accessing billions of
data.
– It is commonly used in big hospitals, air line
reservation companies, and many other huge
companies prefer mainframe because of its
capability of retrieving data on a huge basis.
– This is normally to expensive and out of reach
from a salary-based person who wants a
computer for his home.
 Classification Of Computers Cont…

• Minicomputer
– This computer is next in line but offers less than
mainframe in work and performance.
– These are the computers which are mostly
preferred by the small type of business
personals, colleges, etc.
 Classification Of Computers Cont…

• Personal Computer
– This is the computer mostly preferred by the
home users.
– These computers are lesser in cost than all other
computers, small in size
– They are also called PCs in short for Personal
computers.
– Today this is thought to be the most popular
computer in all.
 Classification Of Computers Cont…

• Notebook Computers
– Having a small size and low weight the Notebook is
easy to carry to anywhere.
– This is easy to carry around and preferred by
students and business people to meet their
assignments and other necessary tasks.
– The approach of this computer is also the same as
the Personal computer. It can store the same
amount of data and having a memory of the same
size as that of a personal computer. One can say
that it is the replacement of personal desktop
 Limitations of Computers
• It must be check and repair time to time.
• It cannot function alone without help
from Human.
• It cannot think on its own.
• It only understand the Computer
Language to execute Command.
 Hardware and Software
• Hardware
– The Physical Parts of Computer which are tangible are
collectively referred as hardware. Ex- Monitor,
Keyboard, Mouse, Printer etc.
• Software
– The instruction or programs used with computer are
called software. There are two type of Software.
• Application Software –for Specific Purpose (MS Office, VB,
Notepad etc.)
• System Software – for giving the instruction to the hardware.
(O.S., Drivers)
 Computer Peripherals
• Keyboard
• Mouse These are Some
• Monitor Peripheral Or I/O
• Scanner Devices Which is
Commonly used in
• Printer Computer
• Light Pen
• Joystick
• Head Phone
• Web Camera
 Memory Management
• Memory can be divided in two Part.
– Primary Memory
• RAM –it is volatile
– Static & Dynamic RAM
• ROM – it is non- volatile
– PROM, EPROM, EEPROM
– Secondary Memory
• Hard Disk, Floppy Disk, Compact Disk, Magnetic
Disk, Magnetic Tape.
 What is a Network ?
• A Network is a Connected System
of Objects or People.
• Computer Network
– It is a Collection of
Computers and Other hardware
devices connected together so
that network users can share
hardware, software, and data
as well as electronically
communicate with each other.
 Uses of Computer Network
• Simultaneous Access

• Sharing of Peripheral Devices

• Streamlined Personal Communications

• Easier Backup Process

 Components of Network
(Networking Hardware)
To Establish a computer Network
various hardware are required ;
To Connect multiple network
together or to connect a computer
or network to the internet. Some
of the most common types of
networking hardware's are :
 Components of Network Cont..
• Network Adaptor or NIC
(Network interface Card)
– It is used to connects the PC
physically to the Network in order
to send outgoing data from the PC
and to receive all incoming data
sent via network to PC.
– To connect a PC to an Ethernet
(IEEE802.3 i.e. Institute of
Electrical and Electronics
Engineering) network using twisted
pair cabling with RJ 11 Connector
and Ethernet network adaptor with
RJ 45 Connector would be used.
 Components of Network Cont..
• Modem
– It is the term used for a device
that connects a computer to the
internet.
– The name Comes form the term
Modulation and Demodulation.
– Modulation refers to converting
digital signals to analog form so
they can be transmitted over analog
media such as telephone lines.
– Demodulation refers to the
translation from analog form back to
digital form.
 Modem Cont..

There are various types of Modem

used:
• Conventional dial-up modem
– Used to transmit and receive data
via regular telephone lines max
speed is 56kbps.
• ISDN (Integrated Service
Digital Network)
– Used to transmit and receive data
via ordinary telephone lines, but
by combining signals its max speed
is up to 128kbps.
 Types of Modem Cont..

• DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines)

– Used to transmit and receive data
over standard telephone lines.
– Use a technology that does not tie
up your telephone lines, so you
can use the Internet and make
voice calls at the same time.
– Data transmission is much faster
then Previous one.
– It speed degrades as the distance
get closer.
 Types of Modem Cont..

• Cable Modem
– Used to connect a PC to a cable
Internet Services similar to a
cable TV services, max speed
around 1.5Mbps
• Satellite Modem
– Used to transmit and receive via a
Personal Satellite dish.
– It is little slower than both DSL
and Cable Transmissions, but they
have the advantages to being able
to be used in rural areas.
 Components of Network Cont..

• HUB
– It is least sophisticated and
transmit all data received to all
network nodes connected to hub.
Consequently, with a hub, the
network capacity is shared among
the nodes.
• Switches
– A Switch identifies the device for
which the data is intended and
sends the network data to that
node only.
– It allows each node on the network
to use the full capacity of the
Network.
 Components of Network Cont..

• Routers
– Routers are even smarter-they pass
data on to the intended receipt
only.
– They can plan a path through
multiple routers to ensure the
data reaches its destination in
the most efficient manner
possible.
– It used in LAN,MAN and Internet.
 Components of Network Cont..

• Wireless Access Point

– It is a device that functions
similar to a hub, but it is used
to connect wireless devices to a
wired network.
• Gateway
– A gateway is a device to connect
two dissimilar network, such as
two networks using different
networking communications
Protocols.
 Components of Network Cont..

• Bridge
– A bridge is a device that connect
two network based on similar
technology.
– Such as a LAN in one city and a
similar LAN in another.
– It can also be used to partition
one large LAN in to two smaller
ones.
 Components of Network Cont..

• Repeaters
Devices that amplify signals along a
network.

• Multiplexers
combines the transmissions from various
devices and sends them as one message

• Concentrator
type of multiplexer where individuals
messages are active instead of being sent as
a single message
 Components of Network Cont..

• Communication Protocols
- It is an agreed upon standard for
transmitting data between two devices on a
network.
- Protocols specify how devices physically
connect to a network, how data is packaged
for transmission, how receiving devices
acknowledge signals and how errors are
handled.
- Common Protocols Ethernet and Token Ring
(wired networks) Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
(wireless) TCP/IP and WAP (Internet)
 Components of Network Cont..
• Ethernet

- most widely used wired networking protocol

developed in 1970

- used in LANs

- speed – 10Mbps – 10Gbps

- Ethernet uses a set of procedures known as

CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access
Collision Detection)
 Components of Network Cont..
Token Ring

- LAN protocol developed by IBM

- Used with ring networks
- Uses a packet – Token (data + address)
- Token carries data to recipient.
- if token is free, any computer can take
it and attach message to it and send it.
- Eliminates collision.
- Speed 4-16 Mbps
 Components of Network Cont..
• Wi-Fi (802.11)

- Wireless Fidelity
- Developed in 1990s
- standard for wireless networks in the
home or office and connecting to Internet
- Connection to Internet via Hotspot –
geographical area covered by Wi-Fi
wireless access point.
- Designed for medium range data transfers
- speed – 11 Mbps – 100Mbps
 Components of Network Cont..
• Bluetooth
- wireless technology using radio waves
frequency band of 2.4GHz
- designed for short range communication
(less than 10 meters)
- appropriate for communication between
mobile devices, computer and peripheral
devices.
- Speed – upto 3Mbps
- Two bluetooth enabled devices recognise
each other and establish a piconet.
- 8 devices can use the same piconet
- One device – Master and others slaves
 Components of Network Cont..
• TCP/IP
- Transmission Control Protocol / Internet
Protocol
- Protocol for Internet developed in
1970s

• WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)

- standard for delivering content to
mobile devices, smart phones and pagers
- uses cellular telephone network
- content can be web content, email
- uses WAP enabled browser - microbrowser
 Types of Networks
• LAN (Local Area Network)
– It is a network that covers
relatively small geographical
areas.
– Such as home, office building or
school.
– The device on the network can be
connected with either wired or
wireless communication media.
– It distinguished from other kinds
of network by three Characteristics
- Their size, Their Transmission
technology and Their Topology.
 Types of Network cont…

• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

– It is basically a bigger version
of a LAN and normally uses similar
technology.
– It might cover a group of near by
corporate offices or a city and
might be either private or public.
– It support both data and voice and
might even be related to the local
cable television network.
 Types of Network cont…

• WAN (Wide Area Network)

– This network covers a large
geographical area, often a country
and continent.
– It consists of two or more LANs,
which could be relatively closer
to one another or far apart.
– It may be publicly accessible,
like the internet, or may be
privately owned and operated
 Communication Media or
Transmission Media
• Twisted Pair Cable
– It consist of two insulated copper
wires, typically about 1mm thick.
– The wires are twisted together in
a helical form, just like a DNA
molecule. The purpose of twisting
the wires is to reduces from
similar pairs close by.
– It is the less expensive type of
networking cable and has been in
use the longest like telephone
wire.
 Transmission Media Cont…

• Coaxial Cable (coax)

– It has better shielding that
twisted Pairs, so it can span
longer distance higher speeds.
– Two kinds of coaxial cable widely
used : 50ohm cable is commonly
used for digital transmission.
75-ohm cable, is commonly used for
analog transmission.
– It consist of a stiff copper wire
as the core, surrounded by an
insulating material. The outer
conductor is covered in a
protective plastic sheath.
 Transmission Media Cont…

• Fiber-Optics Cable
– It is the newest and fastest wired
transmission medium.
– It uses core glass or plastic
fiber strands, each about the
thickness of human hair, to
transfer data represented by light
pulses.
– The max speed is billion or even
trillions of data bits per
seconds.
 Transmission Media Cont…

Wireless Network Transmission Media

• Broadcast Radio Transmissions

- called RF (Radio Frequency)

- Transmitter is used to send radio signals

through the air, a receiver with an antenna
accepts the data at the other end.

- short range (Bluetooth) medium range (Wi-

fi) and long range (fixed wireless Internet
Access)
 Transmission Media Cont…

• Microwave Transmission
- Microwaves are high frequency, high speed
radio signals.
- They can be sent via microwave stations
or satellites.
- Can transmit large amount of data at high
speed.
- Microwaves can travel in a straight line
only.
- Microwave stations are earth based
stations placed on tall buildings,
mountains etc.
- Microwaves can also exchange data with
satellites
 Transmission Media Cont…

• Satellite Transmission

- space based devices placed into orbit

around the earth to receive and transmit
microwave signals to and from earth.

- They can send and receive data from

variety of devices such as personal
satellite dishes for TV and Internet, GPS
receivers, satellite phones

- LEO (Low Earth Orbit)- Telephone

- MEO (Medium Earth Orbit)- Internet and
GPS
 Transmission Media Cont…

• Cellular Radio Transmissions

- form of broadcast radio designed for use

with cellular telephones.

- Transmission takes place via cellular

towers.

- Cellular service areas are divided into

honeycomb shaped zones called cells (2-10
miles distance and 1 tower)
 Network Topologies

• Bus Topology
• Star Topology
• Ring Topology
• Tree Topology
• Mash Topology
 Network Topologies Cont…
• Bus Topology
– It has no central hub.
– It consist of a central cable to which
all network devices are attached.
– It is similar to ring networks except
that the ends are not connected.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
Bus Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
Easy toLimits on cable length and
implement Workstation numbers
Low Cost Difficult to isolate
network faults
A cable fault affects all
workstations
As the number of
workstations increase, the
speed of the network slows
down
 Network Topologies Cont…
• Star Topology
– It is a oldest topology for
Computer Network
– It consists of a central device to
which all the computers and other
devices in the network connected,
forming a star shape.
– It provide the facility of time –
sharing i.e. Centralized computing

HUB
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
Star Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
Easy to add newHub failure cripples
workstations all workstations
connected to that
hub

Centralized control Hubs are slightly

more expensive than
thin-Ethernet
Centralized
network /hub
monitoring
 Network Topologies Cont…
• Ring Topology
– It is a less common alternative to the
star and bus topology.
– It do not have central hub.
– The computer and other network devices
are connected in a ring formation from
one device to next.
– Data travels from one device to
another around the ring in one
direction only using token passing.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of
Ring Topology
Advantages Disadvantages
Cable failures affectCostly Wiring
limited users
Equal access for allDifficult
users Connections
Each workstation hasExpensive
full access speed toAdaptor Cards
the ring
As workstation numbers
increase performance
diminishes slightly
 Network Topologies Cont…

• Tree Topology
– Also known as a 'Hierarchical
topology‘.
– It is a combination of Star and Bus
topology. A typical scenario is: a
file server is connected to a
backbone cable (e.g. coaxial) that
runs through the building, from
which switches are connected,
branching out to workstations.
 Network Topologies Cont…
• Mash Topology
– In this topology only one possible
path from one node to another node.
If any cable in that path is broken,
the nodes cannot communicate.
– It uses lots of cables to connect
every node with every other node.
– It is very expensive to wire up, but
if any cable fails, there are many
other ways for two nodes to
communicate.
Thank you