Brief History of Computer Systems

Early Computing Devices

  • Abacus
  • Napier’s Bones
  • Pascaline
  • Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz wheel
  • Difference Engine
  • Analytical Engine
  • Tabulating machine
  • Differential Analyzer
  • Mark 1

Computer Generations

  • First Generation Computers (1940 -1956)
  • Second Generation Computers (1957 -1963)
  • Third Generation Computers (1963 -1971)
  • Fourth Generation Computers (1971 - Present)
  • Fifth Generation Computers

Understanding Systems and their Types

Natural And Artificial Systems

Natural Systems

  • Ecosystems
  • Forest Ecosystems
  • Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Grassland Ecosystems
  • Weather Systems
  • Geological Systems
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Mountain Systems
  • Hydrological Systems
  • Solar Systems
  • Biological Systems
  • Human Body
  • Coral Reef
  • Rainforest Canopy

Artificial Systems

  • Communication Systems
  • Telephone Networks
  • Internet and Computer Networks
  • Satellite Communication Systems
  • Information Systems
  • Databases
  • Software Applications
  • Transportation Systems
  • Automobiles
  • Aircraft
  • Trains and Rail Systems
  • Subways and Mass Transit
  • Energy Systems
  • Power Plants
  • Renewable Energy Systems
  • Electrical Grids
  • Manufacturing Systems
  • Factory Automation
  • Assembly Lines
  • Healthcare Systems
  • Hospital Information Systems (HIS)
  • Medical Devices

Core Components of a Computer System

Input Devices

  • Microphone
  • Scanner
  • Barcode Reader
  • Digital Camera
  • Touch Screen

System Unit

  • Motherboard
  • Microprocessor

Storage Devices

  • Hard Disk
  • Compact Disk (CD)
  • Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)
  • Memory Card
  • USB Flash Drive

Output Devices

  • Monitor
  • Printer
  • Impact Printer
  • Non-Impact Printer
  • Plotter
  • Speaker

Ports, Expansion Slots and Expansion Cards

  • Ports
  • Expansion Slots and Expansion Cards

Von Neumann Architecture

  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Registers
  • Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
  • Control Unit (CU)
  • Buses
  • Memory Unit
  • Input/Output (I/O) Controller

Data Transmission within a Computer System

  • Bus Architecture
  • Data Paths
  • Registers
  • Memory Hierarchy
  • Instruction Cycle
  • Pipeline Processing
  • Interrupts and I/O
  • Parallelism

Types and Hierarchy of Computer Memory

Memory Terminology

  • Bit
  • Byte
  • Memory Word
  • Word Size
  • Memory Built-up and Retention Power

Chip Memory

  • Magnetic Memory
  • Optical Memory

Main Memory

  • ROM (Read Only Memory)
  • RAM (Random Access Memory)
  • Cache Memory
  • Volatile and Non-Volatile Memory
  • Volatile Memory
  • Non-Volatile Memory

Software Engineering and Hardware Engineering

Software Engineering

  • Application Software Engineering
  • System Software Engineering
  • Embedded Software Engineering
  • Enterprise Software Engineering
  • Game Development

Hardware Engineering

  • Digital Hardware Engineering
  • Integrated Circuit (IC) Design
  • Computer Architecture
  • Embedded Systems Design

Computer Software

System Software

  • Operating System (OS)
  • Device Drivers
  • Utilities
  • Compiler and Assembler
  • Linkers and Loaders
  • Firmware

Application Software

  • Productivity Software
  • Business Software
  • Entertainment Software
  • Educational Software

Programming Languages

Low Level Languages

  • Machine Language
  • Assembly Language

High Level Languages (HLLs)

  • Procedural and Structured Language
  • Object-Oriented Programming Languages

Uses of Low Level Languages

  • Operating System Development
  • Device Drivers
  • Embedded Systems
  • Firmware Development
  • Real-Time Systems
  • Security Tools
  • Game Development

Uses of High Level Languages

  • Applications (Apps) Development
  • Web Development
  • Data Analysis and Science
  • Machine Learning and AI
  • Automation and Scripting
  • Game Development
  • Database Management
  • Scientific and Engineering Simulations
  • Business Software
  • Educational Tools
  • Data Communication