Introduction to Computing
Introduction
A computer can be defined as any electronic device that can accept data inform o f input, processes the data and gives out the processed data inform of output.
It can also be defined as any electronic device which, under the control of a stored program, can accept data in a prescribed form, processes the data and supply the results as information in a specified form.
There are three points to note in the second definition.
1. Computer is an electronic device: It is made up of electronic and electromechanical parts working together to process data. These device parts are referred to as computer hardware.
2. Computer processes data: Essentially, a computer Processes data automatically. It perform three functions in the handling of data
i. It accepts data; this is referred to as input ii. It processes the data iii. It supplies data or information; this is known as output.
3. A computer is controlled by a stored program:
A program is a set of instructions that tells the computer
What to do. The general term used to describe computer programs is software.
HISORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER
Early Aids to counting
The Fingers
In the early age of human existence, the use of fingers was the means by which counting was done. The fingers serve as a very simple device which helped in carrying out simple additions. All counting and additions were done with the ten fingers on both hands.
Stones
Using the fingers soon became inadequate exercise when numbers larger than ten were to be counted and added. Because of this, the primitive man began to use stones instead of fingers to help him do his counting and addition. Suppose he wanted to count the number of animals he owned, he built a pile of stones in which every stone stands for one animal.
This was not easy if all the stones were in a single pile. So he puts them into smaller piles of same size. He decided that the size of each pile should be ten. He picked this number because he had ten
A computer can be defined as any electronic device that can accept data inform o f input, processes the data and gives out the processed data inform of output.
It can also be defined as any electronic device which, under the control of a stored program, can accept data in a prescribed form, processes the data and supply the results as information in a specified form.
There are three points to note in the second definition.
1. Computer is an electronic device: It is made up of electronic and electromechanical parts working together to process data. These device parts are referred to as computer hardware.
2. Computer processes data: Essentially, a computer Processes data automatically. It perform three functions in the handling of data
i. It accepts data; this is referred to as input ii. It processes the data iii. It supplies data or information; this is known as output.
3. A computer is controlled by a stored program:
A program is a set of instructions that tells the computer
What to do. The general term used to describe computer programs is software.
HISORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER
Early Aids to counting
The Fingers
In the early age of human existence, the use of fingers was the means by which counting was done. The fingers serve as a very simple device which helped in carrying out simple additions. All counting and additions were done with the ten fingers on both hands.
Stones
Using the fingers soon became inadequate exercise when numbers larger than ten were to be counted and added. Because of this, the primitive man began to use stones instead of fingers to help him do his counting and addition. Suppose he wanted to count the number of animals he owned, he built a pile of stones in which every stone stands for one animal.
This was not easy if all the stones were in a single pile. So he puts them into smaller piles of same size. He decided that the size of each pile should be ten. He picked this number because he had ten