1. Chapter 1 An Overview of Personal Computers
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
Chapter 1 An Overview of Personal Computers
1.1 The Roles of Computers
1.2 History of Modern Computers
1.3 Family of Computers
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2. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.1 The Roles of Computers
Three characteristics of computers
speed
reliability
storage capacity
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3. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
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4. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
First Generation Computers
Time:
based on vacuum tube
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5. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
First Generation Computers
Example: ENIAC
Characteristics
enormous, expensive, unreliable
generate a large amount of heat
magnetic drums for memory
relied on machine language
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6. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
First Generation Computers
First commercial computer: UNIVAC
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7. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Second Generation Computers
Time:
based on transistor
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8. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Second Generation Computers
Generate a great deal of heat
Early supercomputers were developed using transistors.
handle enormous amount of data
expensive for commercial organisations
Characteristics
use assembly language
consisted of all components associated with modern computers
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9. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Third Generation Computers
Time:
based on small-scale Integrated Circuit (IC)
miniaturised transistors placed on semiconductor
greatly increase the computational power, efficiency and reliability
IC chip
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10. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Third Generation Computers
Characteristics
Smaller and cheaper than predecessors
Operating systems are used to run different programs simultaneously
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11. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Fourth Generation Computers
Time: Present
Large-Scale Integration (LSI):
hundreds of components could be fit onto a chip
Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI):
hundreds of thousands of components are squeezed onto a chip
VLSI chip
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12. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Fourth Generation Computers
microprocessor
released by Intel in 1971
incorporated CPU, memory, I/O controls on a single chip
low cost
used in many everyday household items
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13. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Fourth Generation Computers
Development
IBM introduced Personal Computer (PC) in 1981
Macintosh offered an operating system with Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Direct wiring (Local Area Network) and communication data lines
Internet: Users can exchange information throughout networked terminals
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14. 1.2 History of Modern Computer
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.2 History of Modern Computer
Fifth Generation Computers
based on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
making computer think and behave like humans
applications: voice recognition
Parallel processing: increase the computational power
Superconductor technology: improve the speed of data flow
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15. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
Four categories
personal computers
minicomputers
mainframe computers
supercomputers
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16. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
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17. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
Personal Computers (microcomputers)
Portable PC
palmtop computer
tablet PC
notebook
subnotebook
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18. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
Personal Computers (microcomputers)
Non-portable PC
workstations
desktop computer
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19. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
Servers
share files, software applications and other resources (printers, storage device) over a computer network
large memory capacity and secondary storage
server
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20. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
minicomputers
Minicomputers
for specific tasks (e.g. engineering calculations and process control applications)
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21. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
Mainframe Computers
handle thousands of users
store large amounts of data
process transaction at a very high rate
mainframe computers
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22. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
1.3 Family of Computers
supercomputers
Supercomputers
for special applications that require high computation capability
e.g. weather forecasting, engineering design and testing
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23. Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
END
Computer and Information Technology for HKCEE
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