Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

SUBJECT: ICT

CLASS:  SS 1

DATE:

TERM: 1st TERM

 
WEEK EIGHT

TOPIC: COMPUTING DEVICES II (20th Century to Date)

Reference book: Hiit @ School, Computer Studies for Senior Secondary Education.

CONTENT

UNIVAC

By the end of the 1950’s, computers were no longer one-of –a-kind hand built devices owned only by universities and government research labs. Eckert and Mauchly left university of Pennsylvania over a dispute about who owned the patents for their invention. They decided to set up their own company. Their first product was UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Machine); the first commercial (that is, mass produced) computer. UNIVAC was also the first computer to employ magnetic tape. UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer). The first model of UNIVAC was built by the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation.  The UNIVAC I was the first computer to be widely used for commercial purposes.  It is known as the first commercial computer.

PERSONAL COMPUTERS (PCs)

Personal computers come in varieties such as desktop and tower units, laptops, notebooks, PDAs and so on. In this sense, the term ‘desktop’ refers specifically to a horizontally-oriented case, usually intended to have the display screen place on top to save space on desk.

The first ‘personal computer’ was the sphere 1 computer, created in Bountiful, Utah in 1975 by computer pioneer Michael D. Wise (1949-2002). At first, Sphere 1 was sold as a kit, but was later sold as fully assembled PC, including a keyboard, a number pad, and a monitor. PCs then were generally expensive specialized computers sold for business and scientific uses. The introduction of the microprocessor, a single chip with all the circuitry that formerly occupied lager cabinets, led to the proliferation of personal computers after 1975. Early PCs generally were sold in kit form and in limited volumes, and were of interest mostly to hobbyists and technicians. Minimal programming was done with toggle switches to enter instructions, an output was provided by front panel lamps. Practical use required peripherals like keyboards, computer terminals, disk drives, and printers.

Micral N was the first commercial, non-kit microcomputer based on a microprocessor, the Intel 8008. It was built starting in 1972 and about 90,000 units were sold. In 1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sold the Apple I computer circuit board, which was fully prepared and contained about 30 chips. The first successfully mass marketed pc was the Commodore PET introduced in January 1977, which bore a striking resemblance to Sphere 1 of two years earlier. It was soon followed by TRS-80 from Radio Shack and the popular  Apple II.

TYPES OF PCs

Workstation: a workstation is a high-end personal computer designed for technician scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems. Workstations are used for tasks such as computer aided design, drafting and modeling, computation/intensive scientific and engineering calculations, image processing, architectural modeling and computer graphics for animation and motion picture visual effects.

Single unit PCs: these are the subtype of desktop computers also known as all-in-one PCs, which combine the monitor and the case of the computer within a single unit. The monitor often utilizes a touch screen as an optional method of user input; however, detached keyboard and mouse are normally still included. The inner components of the PC are often located directly behind the monitor, and many are built similar to laptops.  

CONCLUSION

Different devices finally gave birth to the design of the computer system i.e. from Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine and Analytical Engine to UNIVAC which is the first commercial computer.

EVALUATION

1. Give the full meaning of the following:

    (a)    UNIVAC (b)    PCs

2. Write briefly on UNIVAC.

READING ASSIGNMENT: HiiT @ School, Computer Studies for Senior Secondary Education. Chapter Four, pages 11-12.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

OBJECTIVES

1. ____is known as the first commercial computer.      (a) ENIAC    (b) UNIVAC      (c) EDVAC  

2.____is commonly connected to a local area network. a) Workstation b) single PCs c) UNIVAC

3. The first personal computer was created in __ a)       1975b)       1957        c)       1759
4. ______ PCs were built similar to laptops. a) single unit b) multi unit c) workstation
5. The first PC was pioneered by a) Michael D. Wise b) Eckert G. Wright c) Mauchly D. Wise

THEORY

1. Write briefly on personal computer and its types stating its features, components and uses.
2. Discuss briefly UNIVAC.