Chapter 1: What is a Computer?

What does a computer do?
1. 1. Computers are programmable machines
2. 2. Four steps to the information processing cycle (IPC)
  1. 1) Input
  2. 2) Processing
  3. 3) Storage
  4. 4) Output
3. 3. The IPC converts raw data into useful information
4. 4. Artificual intelligence is concerned with making computers behave like humans
A brief history of computers
1. 1. First-generation computers used vacuum tubes
2. 2. Second-generation computers used transistors
3. 3. Third-generation computers used integrated circuits (chips)
4. 4. Fourth-generation computers use microprocessors
5. 5. Moore's Law states that the number of transistors that can be placed on an integrated circuit doubles roughly every 2 years - today it is closer to every 18 months
Bits and bytes
1. 1. Computers use binary (base 2) number system
2. 2. ASCII and Unicode are binary code character sets
3. 3. A bit is the smallest unit of digital information
4. 4. A byte is equal to 8 bits and represents 1 character
Let's get personal
1. 1. Desktop computers give you the most bang for your buck
2. 2. Notebook or laptop computers are portable PCs
3. 3. Subnotebooks and netbooks are specialized notebook computers
4. 4. Tablets fall somewhere between notebooks and smartphones
5. 5. The primary difference between a Mac and a PC is the software
Beyond the desktop
1. 1. Smartphones and tablets are handheld mobile devices
2. 2. GPS is a satellite-based navigation system
3. 3. Wearables are computers worn on the body
4. 4. Today's video game consoles are eighth-generation systems with high-end graphics and processing
Multiuser computers
1. 1. Servers provide services such as file and print sharing and email to client computers
2. 2. Minicomputers have largely been replaced by midsized servers that can support hundreds of concurrent users
3. 3. Mainframes and enterprise servers can process millions of transactions in a day
4. 4. Supercomputers perform complex mathematical calculations for such things as weather forecasting and medical research
5. 5. Distributed, grid, and volunteer computing distribute processing tasks across multiple computers
Ubiquitous computing
1. 1. Ubiquitous computing is technology that's invisible to us
2. 2. Embedded computers are found in everything from traffic lights to dishwashers
3. 3. The convergence of technology allows us to carry a single multifunction device that can do the job of many separate devices

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Chapter 1: What is a Computer?

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	Created by Karina Lozano about 9 years ago