Computer and Information Technology for (HKCEE) Module B

1.1The Roles of Computers

1.2History of Modern Computers
1.3Family of Computers
 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.1 The Roles of Computers

Three characteristics of computers
speed
reliability
storage capacity

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

First Generation Computers
Time: 1946 - 1957
based on vacuum tube

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

First Generation Computers
Example: ENIAC
Characteristics
enormous, expensive, unreliable
generate a large amount of heat
magnetic drums for memory
relied on machine language

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

First Generation Computers
First commercial computer: UNIVAC

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Second Generation Computers
Time: 1958 - 1964
based on transistor

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Second Generation Computers
Generate a great deal of heat
Early supercomputers were developed using
transistors.
handle enormous amount of data
expensive for commercial organisations
Characteristics
use assembly language
consisted of all components associated with modern
computers

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Third Generation Computers
Time: 1958 - 1964
based on small-scale Integrated
Circuit (IC)
miniaturised transistors placed on
semiconductor
greatly increase the computational
power, efficiency and reliability
IC chip

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 Computer and Information
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Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Third Generation Computers
Characteristics
Smaller and cheaper than predecessors
Operating systems are used to run different programs
simultaneously

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Fourth Generation Computers
Time: 1971 - Present
Large-Scale Integration (LSI):
hundreds of components could be
fit onto a chip
Very Large-Scale Integration
(VLSI):
hundreds of thousands of
VLSI chip
components are squeezed onto a
chip

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Fourth Generation Computers
microprocessor
released by Intel in 1971
incorporated CPU, memory, I/O controls on a single
chip
low cost
used in many everyday household items

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Fourth Generation Computers
Development
IBM introduced Personal Computer (PC) in 1981
Macintosh offered an operating system with Graphical
User Interface (GUI)
Direct wiring (Local Area Network) and
communication data lines
Internet: Users can exchange information throughout
networked terminals

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.2 History of Modern Computer

Fifth Generation Computers
based on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
making computer think and behave like humans
applications: voice recognition
Parallel processing: increase the computational
power
Superconductor technology: improve the speed
of data flow

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 Computer and Information
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1.3 Family of Computers

Four categories
personal computers
minicomputers
mainframe computers
supercomputers

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.3 Family of Computers

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.3 Family of Computers

Personal Computers (microcomputers)
Portable PC

palmtop notebook subnotebook

computer tablet PC

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 Computer and Information
Technology for (HKCEE)
Module B: Part A

1.3 Family of Computers

Personal Computers (microcomputers)
Non-portable PC

workstations
desktop
computer

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 Computer and Information
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Module B: Part A

1.3 Family of Computers

Servers
share files, software applications
and other resources (printers,
storage device) over a computer
network
large memory capacity and
secondary storage server

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 Computer and Information
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Module B: Part A

1.3 Family of Computers

Minicomputers
for specific tasks (e.g. engineering
calculations and process control
applications)

minicomputers

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 Computer and Information
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1.3 Family of Computers

Mainframe Computers
handle thousands of users
store large amounts of data
process transaction at a
very high rate

mainframe computers

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 Computer and Information
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1.3 Family of Computers

Supercomputers
for special applications that
require high computation
capability
e.g. weather forecasting,
engineering design and
testing supercomputers

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Computer and Information Technology for (HKCEE) Module B

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