Applications of Information and
Communication Technologies
Lecture 1
Presented by
Dr. Muhammad Umar Javed
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science 1
Introduction
Course:
• Credit Hours: 3
Exams:
• Mid term: After 7 weeks
• Final: After 15 weeks
Attendance:
• Must be above 80%
Resources
• Livesley, R. K. (2017). An Introduction to Automatic Digital Computers. Cambridge University Press.
• Zawacki-Richter, O., & Latchem, C. (2018). Exploring four decades of research in Computers &
Education. Computers & Education, 122, 136-152..
• Sinha, P. K., & Sinha, P. (2010). Computer fundamentals. BPB publications.
• Goel, A. (2010). Computer fundamentals. Pearson Education India.
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Definition of ICT
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Information
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Communication
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Technology
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Evolution of Computers
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Classification of Computers
• Depending upon their speed and memory size, computers are classified
into following four main groups.
• Super Computers
• Mainframe Computers
• Mini Computers
• Micro Computers
Super Computer
• Super computer is the most powerful and fastest, and also very expensive.
• It was developed in 1980s.
• It is used to process large amount of data and to solve the complicated scientific
problems.
• It can perform more than one trillions calculations per second.
• It has large number of processors connected in parallel. So, parallel processing is
done in this computer.
• In a single super computer thousands of users can be connected at the same time
and the super computer handles the work of each user separately.
Applications of Super Computer
• The super computers are used in large organizations, research laboratories,
aerospace centers, large industrial units, etc.
• Super computers are mainly used for
• Weather forecasting
• Aircraft design
• Online banking
• To control industrial units.
• Nuclear scientists use super computers to create and analyze models of nuclear
fission and fusions, predicting the actions and reactions of millions of atoms they
interact.
Examples of Super Computer
• Examples of super computer are:
• CRAY-1
• CRAY-2
• Control data CYBER 205
• ETA-10 etc.
Mainframe Computer
• It is general purpose computer that is designed to process large amount of data
with very high speed.
• It accepts large amount of data form different terminals and multiple users and
process them at same time.
• More than 100 users are allowed to work in this system.
• It is applicable for large organization with multi-users, e.g., large business
organizations, department of examinations, etc.
• It uses several CPU for data processing
Applications of Mainframe Computer
• Credit card processing
• Bank Account Management
• Marketing
• Business data processing in large organization
• Air traffic control system
• Industrial design
Examples of Mainframe Computer
• IBM S/390
• IBM S/709
• ICL 39
• CDC 6600
Micro Computer
• Most popular general purpose computers which are mostly used on day to
day work are microcomputers.
• These are popular as Home PC or Personal Computer (PC) because these
are single user computers and mostly used for personal use and application.
• Desktop computers, laptops, gaming consoles, sound and navigation system
of a car, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablets and smartphones are all
types of microcomputers.
• These support many higher level application cost and easy in operation.
Micro Computer
Well-known manufactures of microcomputers are
• Dell
• Apple
• Samsung
• Sony
• Toshiba
• HP
• Lenovo
Characteristics of Micro Computer
• Fast speed and accuracy
• Small in size
• Easy to operate
• Easy to move
• Cheaper
• We can use desktop computers as a single user and multi-user environment
Mini Computer
• Mini computers are medium sized computer.
• The capabilities of minicomputer are between mainframe and personal
computer
• So, these are popular as middle ranged computer.
• It is costlier than microcomputer.
Mini Computer
Applications of Mini Computer
• It is used in university, middle range business organizations to process
complex data.
• It is also used in scientific research
• Instrumentation system
• Engineering analysis
• Industrial process monitoring and control etc.
Examples of Mini Computer
• PDP-11
• VAX
• HP 3000
• Prime 9755 etc.
• 7500 MAGNUM
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