The Importance of the Computer as a Tool for Data Processing The computer is a very unique electronic device and has certain features and characteristics that distinguish it from other machines. These include: Speed: Computers are very fast; they can perform tens of millions of operations per second. This is necessary for predicting weather forecasts, […]
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Definition of Data Processing Data processing is the process of producing meaningful information by collecting all items of data together and performing operations on them to extract information. Data processing can also be described as a series of actions or operations that convert or manipulate data into useful information. Data processing involves the systematic recording,
Generations of Computers Generation of computers is the developmental stages that the computer has gone through. There are 5 generations of computers and their accompanying innovations. First Generation – Vacuum Tubes (1940 – 1956) First generation computers were those manufactured between 1940s and 1950s. The computers used the stored program concept. First generation computers were associated
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JOHN VON NEUMANN’S MACHINE In 1945, mathematician John von Neumann undertook a study of computation that demonstrated that a computer could have a simple, fixed structure, yet be able to execute any kind of computation given properly programmed control without the need for hardware modification. Von Neumann contributed a new understanding of how practical fast
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Electro-mechanical Counting Devices JOSEPH JACQUARD’S LOOM The Jacquard machine is a device fitted to a power loom that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles with such complex patterns as brocade, damask and matelassé. It was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804. The loom was controlled by a chain of cards, a number of punched
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Electro-mechanical Counting Devices These are counting devices that could be operated both electrically and mechanically. Electro-mechanical devices include the following: Speeding Clock Blaise Pascal machine Gottfried Leibniz Machine SPEEDING CLOCK OR CALCULATING CLOCK In 1623 and 1624, reported his design and construction of what he referred to as an arithmetical instrument that he has
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Mechanical Counting and Calculating Devices As a result of the disadvantages of the early counting devices, more advanced mechanical counting and calculating devices were invented. Some of these devices are; Abacus (Chinese) Napier’s Bone (John Napier) Slide Rule (William Oughtred) THE ABACUS The Abacus is made up of beads threaded on iron rods. The
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HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS: EARLY COUNTING DEVICES Definition and Examples of Early Counting Devices Early counting devices are devices that were used in the early days to perform arithmetic operations such as addition of numbers, subtraction and multiplication. These devices were used for the usual barter trade of the early days. Examples of early counting devices are fingers, toes, stones, sticks, pebbles, cowries among others.
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MODERN METHODS OF TRANSMITTING INFORMATION With modern inventions in communication, many ancient methods have been replaced with more efficient modern ways of transmitting information. These include the following: Printing Telephone Global Systems for Mobile communication (GSM) Telex Radio Television Facsimile (Fax) Satellite Internet, etc. Printing Information transmission by printing involves the production of information on
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Oral method This is one of the oldest methods of transmitting information. It is the era of our great grandfathers when information was sent to people only through the use of the mouth. Drum beating Beating the drums was a simple method of information transmission across distances. Explorers, fearfully making their way through a jungle,
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