Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of the Republic of Moldova

Free International University of Moldova

Faculty of Informatics, Engineering and Design
Department of Information Technologies and Design
Discipline: English

Report
Theme : „Computer science. Basic computing
concepts.”

Done by the
Student gr.TIR-16: Begleț Ecaterina

Verified
by the Teacher: Azmanova Natalia

Chișinău, 2018
 The computer science is the science that studies the structure of information and the methods
of processing it with the help of the computer. The term "informatics" was introduced in 1966,
representing an abbreviation of the French information automation (automated information).

The given definition determines the fundamental notions that the computer science studies:
the computer;
information (structure of information);
information processing.

The computer is an electronic device that automatically processes the information by

executing it programs developed by man.
Information is a written, oral or other communication that enriches our knowledge of the
environment (about objects, events, situations, etc.) Unprocessed information is called data. The
processing of information means rules, methods, procedures for recording, storing, transforming,
transmitting and distributing information. The computer processes the information by executing
programs (instructions, orders) that contains these rules, methods, procedures.

The content of the information is characterized by:

 authenticity;
 fullness;
 Actuality;
 value;
 clarity;
 quantity.

The information is authentic if it reflects real facts, facts, etc. Genuine information over time can
be false, because any information possesses aging property. The information is full unless it needs to
be completed to make a decision. Only current information can bring the expected benefit. Similarly,
it is not desirable to present the information prematurely, as well as the delayed presentation. The
value of the information depends on its importance for solving a problem and how applicable it will
be. If actual and value information is unclear, it becomes useless. The information is clear if it is
expressed in a language or form known to the recipients. The amount of information characterizes its
volume and can be expressed in the number of letters, words, books; in the length and quality of the
sound; in the length and quality of video sequences, etc

The first electronic computers

Between 1937-1941, John Atanasov and his assistant, Clifford Berry, apply vacuum
technology to build fully electronic digital computers. The first electronic computer, ENIAC
(Electronic Numeric Integrator And Computer - Electronic Numeric Integrator), was launched at the
request and with the army subsidy in the US. It was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania
under the leadership of scholars Mauchly and Eckert in 1942-1945 and was inaugurated on 16
February 1946 and was in operation until 1955. This computer weighed 30 tons, 45 m long and was
built from 50,000 switches and 18,000 electronic tubes. It could execute 5,000 increments or
decreases by 10 digits per second or 400 multiples per second. Because of the tubes that burned quite
often, the orders were made twice, with interruptions in which test data was entered to detect the
burned tubes. In 1944, mathematician John von Neumann launched the idea of a registered program,
for which a computing machine must be equipped with a data and command storage device and which
must work at a high speed and must allow the simple and rapid recording of information . Thus, the
algorithm of solving a problem and algorithm processing algorithm, command sequences and data
storage algorithms appeared.

The structure and operating principles of a modern numerical calculator were proposed by John
von Neuman in 1946:
1. must have an input environment, through which an unlimited number of operands and instructions
can be entered;
2. it must have a memory, from which to read instructions and operands, and in which the results can
be memorized;
3. must have a calculation section capable of performing arithmetical and logical operations on the
operands in the memory;
4. must also have an exit environment where by an unlimited number of results can be obtained by
the user;
5. must have a command unit capable of interpreting memory instructions and capable of selecting
different modes of computer activity based on the results of the calculations.

Starting from Neumann's theory, EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Computer -

Electronic Discrete Calculator) was built. In the early 1950s, the first UNIVAC (Universal Automatic
Computer) commercial computer was delivered. That's how it started first generation of electro-nice
computers.

Evolution of electronic computers

Beginning with the first electronic computers, the evolution of computers has been so dynamic
that several generations have passed, at the time it is working on computers of the fifth generation.
Generations of computers are generally determined by the type of electronic components underlying
the manufacture of computers.

The first generation (1938-1953) was characterized by the use of electronic tubes and the
computers were designed for scientific and commercial calculations. During this time, Harvard Mark
1 and ENIAC computers are being created.
The second generation (1954-1963) was characterized by the use of the transistor for the
realization of the logic circuits. Second generation computers had about 100 complex instructions,
magnetic memory and peripheral devices. Fortan's programming language appeared in 1956, and the
Almol and Cobol (Common Business Oriented Language) languages emerged after 1960. In 1955,
the first transistor computer called TRADIC (Trainsistor DIgital Computer).
The third generation of computers (1964-1980) is characterized by the use of integrated
circuits on small scale SSI (Small Scale Integration) and medium (MSI) Medium Scale Integration.
The fourth generation of computers (1981-present) is characterized by the construction of
computers using large-scale integrated integration (LSI) and very large VLSI (Very Large Scale
Integration). The use of the microprocessor and microprogramming enabled the computers use of a
complex set of instructions and ensure an increased degree of flexibility.
Your fifth generation of computers (these coming years) are still under development. They are
based on the use of artificial intelligence, specialized integrated circuits and parallel processing. There
are some applications that are already used today, such as speech recognition. Using parallel
processing and a superconductors make artificial intelligence viable. The main goal of the fifth
generation of computers is to develop equipment capable of responding to human natural language
and capable of learning and organizing itself.

Classification of computers

The general feature of a computer includes:

 operating speed;
 the capacity of internal memory;
 the composition and capacity of external memory units;
 the composition of the input-output equipment;
 mass and gauge parameters;
 the cost.

Following these features, modern computers can be categorized into 4 categories:

a) microcomputers
b) mini-computers
c) mainframe
d) supercomputers

Microcomputers:
- electronic computing equipment whose architecture is built around a processor (UCP - central
processing unit);
- Relatively simple UCP architecture;
- slow but diverse peripherals, easy to install and configure;
- relatively slow processing speed (0.5-4 MIPS - millions of instructions per second);
- limited memory capacity (640 KB - 64 MB) with addressing capability up to GB;
- individual or network work;
- reduced costs.

Minicomputers
- electronic computing equipment built according to a classical technology with a modular
structure capable of meeting an organization's work requirements;
- simultaneous work of several users;
- one or more processors;
- high storage capacity;
- processing speed 1-10 MIPS;
- fast peripheral units.
Mainframe
- electronic equipment designed to meet the work requirements of large organizations;
- very fast, multi-processor central units;
- very fast internal and external memory and high capacity;
- very fast peripherals;
- processing speed 10-100 MIPS;
- thousands of terminals connected to the mainframe;
- tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Supercomputers
- electronic computing equipment with very large hardware and software resources used in top
branches (defense industry, research, aeronautics);
- speed above 1000 MIPS;
- costs at the level of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Depending on the scope of activity in which they are used, computers can be
classified into:

a) Workstation - a computer dedicated to a specific activity such as graphics, design, video and audio
processing, etc. It is designed to quickly and optimally perform its basic function and acceptable other
functions;
b) Office computer - dedicated to office activities. It is designed to perform multiple, office-specific
functions with acceptable speed and reliability;
c) The home computer - is designed to fulfill a wide range of functions, with a speed and acceptable
reliability, putting the entertainment function (games, movies, music, etc.) at the forefront;
d) Server - computer that performs the task of coordinating an activity on a network. By type the
activity that the server manages can be fileserver, database server, Internet, e-mail (mail server), etc.;
e) Laptop or Notebook - a portable computer designed to serve permanent residents motion. Laptops
are generally designed to use office software, but they can also be made models dedicated to
specialized activities (design, audio processing, servers, etc.)

A computing system (SC) is a set of hardware (devices) and software components (operating
system and specialized programs) that provide user services for coordinating and controlling the
execution of operations through programs.

Hardware is the total physical components of a computer. These are unnecessary without
software, which is all the software that facilitates user access and performs data processing operations.
To enter data into the computer for processing and to enter the computer connects to various input
devices (keyboard, scanner, mouse, etc.), output equipment (monitor, printer, etc.)

Software is the set of programs that controls the correct and efficient operation of the hard
elements (it is in the form of concepts and symbols, it has no substance).
 Input peripheral devices:
Keyboard - represents one of the standard peripherals, it is the most used, being the main
device with which the data is inserted into the computer and is included in the minimum equipment
of a computer. It includes five key categories: text input keys (alphanumeric), numeric keys, cursor
movement keys, function keys, special keys.
The mouse - input device, an integral part of the graphical interface that controls the pointer
movement on a display screen. It is of small size, can be moved on a rigid surface and has at least one
button with different uses, depending on the program to be executed. In particular, the mouse is
important for the graphical user interface. because the options and objects can be scored and then
clicked with the mouse button.
Trackball - Input device that can be considered a mouse on the back: Move the cursor by
rotating the ball with your fingers or hands. A trackball usually has one or three buttons placed near
the ball.
Touchpad - is a small touch sensitive surface, used as a scoring device on some portable
computers. Moving the pointer to the screen is done by moving your finger over the pad.
Scanner - a device that can read text or images printed on paper and convert information into
a form that the computer can use.

Peripheral output devices:

Monitor - is the standard output device. The quality of a monitor is determined by:
size - diagonal dimension, measured in toles (1 tol = 2,54 cm); resolution - measured in pixels (image
points); the higher the resolution, the higher the quality;
Frequency - measured in Hertz, shows how many times per second a new image is generated
on the screen; ergonomic look - refers to the quality of radiation emitted by the computer, given that
the long time at P.C. causes eye discomfort.
Printer - device that displays text or images on paper;
Plotter (tracer) - a special device for drawing paper plans and drawings using a pencil;
Speakers - are used as sound output devices connected to the sound card of a P.C.

Input-output devices

The modem - a device that allows the computer to transmit data over the telephone lines. The
information processed by the computer is stored digitally, while the information transmitted through
the telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analogue waves. The modem converts data from one
form to another;
Touch screen - display type, covered with a touch-sensitive, transparent touch film, scoring
and selecting on-screen elements with your fingers.

Use of computers in different fields of activity. Computers are used in many areas: government,
medicine, education, business, etc.
 There are software applications developed for domains such as:

Administrative area (including government) - computers are used in decision-making, tax

collection, electronic voting, where people can vote without moving to polling stations;
Business environments - a field in which computers gain a wider applicability due to the
speed at which decisions need to be made, the large amount of information that can influence these
decisions, the volume of data that is being circulated (word processors, spreadsheets, salaries,
accounting or statistical evidence, computer assisted design, e-mail, web browsing, etc.);
Aviation and transport - for traffic management;
Banking - where computers are used to calculate interest rates, register deposits or loans,
create and manage customer databases, etc .;
The medical field - when drawing up the database of patients in a hospital or medical clinic,
in the analysis laboratories, in detecting abnormalities that a doctor could not find out with his naked
eye, the coordination of the activity of the ambulance service, etc .;
The educational field - with the help of the computer, one can learn from home without having
to travel to a certain educational institution and without depending on a specific program (information
and lessons through the Internet or on educational CDs). Applications in this area: word processing
and spreadsheet programs, presentation or drawing programs, computer training applications,
databases, time schedule, e-mail, web browsing, etc;