INTRODUCTION ABOUT COMPUTER

1. What is a computer?

A computer is a program machine that carried out what it has been instuctured to do.

     2. Generation of computer:

a). Pre computer and early computer ( before 1940s): Abucus

ENIAC

a). The first generation (1940 - 1950): Vacuum Tube


• first electric computer used vacuum tube, they was huge and complex. The first general purpose computer was the ENIAC  (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) in 1945. It took up 167 square meters, weighed 27 tons, and consuming 150 kilowatts of power. it used by US Army to calculate and Design Hydrogen.

• The other similar with this computer  of this era included german Z3, ten British Colossus computers, LEO, Harvard Mark I, and UNIVAC. UNIVAC used in 1950.

b). The second generation (1950 - 1964): Transistors.

• The vacuum tubes have been placed by transistors. Most the computer used IBM 1401
• This is a computer that has high level language such as COBOL, FORTRAN.

c). The third generation (1964 - 1974): Integrated circuit (IC)
combine thousands of transitor, entire circur on one computer.
d). The fourth generation (1974 - present): VLSI/ ULSI
e). The fifth generation ( now and future): 
Base on artificial intelligence.

  3. Categories of computer: depend on size, capa,..

• embedded computer: mini computer into a specific product for a specific purpose such as DVD, washing machine,...
• Mobile computer:
• Pesonal computer: is a copmuter using for a single user at a time.
• Midrange:
• Mainframe:  is expensive, very powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousand of connected users simultaneously.

Ex: use for company to control all computer in that company.

• super computer: the fastest, most powerful, most expensive computer. Use for complex computation and processing.