REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA

MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA LA EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR

INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO DE TECNOLOGÍA “ANTONIO JOSÉ DE SUCRE”

ESCUELA DE INFORMÁTICA

CÁTEDRA: INGLÉS I

THE

COMPUTER

JESÚS MIGUEL RODRÍGUEZ MORA

C.I. 24.350.346

SECCIÓN A

SEPTEMBER, 2012

INDEX

Page

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………..... 1

WORK…………………………………………………………………………... 2

CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………..... 13

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………… 14

INTRODUCTION

Actually computers have made big contributions to many areas of the

knowledge, the science has wondered the world with its advances and that

influences a lot in technology.

 A computer is an electronic machine that receives and proceses data to

make it useful. The main characteristic of a computer is that it’s a general purpose

machine that can make a lot of works according to the possibilities that gives the

programming language and the hardware unlike calculators for example

This work aims to the study of computers, history, definition, parts, which

and how are the modern computers among other points that will be discussed

below.

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WORK

Definition.

Technically, a computer is a programmable machine. This means it can

execute a programmed list of instructions and respond to new instructions that it is

given. Today, however, the term is most often used to refer to the desktop and

laptop computers that most people use. When referring to a desktop model, the

term "computer" technically only refers to the computer itself -- not the monitor,

keyboard, and mouse. Still, it is acceptable to refer to everything together as the

computer. If you want to be really technical, the box that holds the computer is

called the "system unit."

Some of the major parts of a personal computer (or PC) include the

motherboard, CPU, memory (or RAM), hard drive, and video card. While personal

computers are by far the most common type of computers today, there are several

other types of computers. For example, a "minicomputer" is a powerful computer

that can support many users at once. A "mainframe" is a large, high-powered

computer that can perform billions of calculations from multiple sources at one

time. Finally, a "supercomputer" is a machine that can process billions of

instructions a second and is used to calculate extremely complex calculations.

History of computers

Computers have been around for quite a few years.  Many parents were

probably around in 1951 when the first computer was bought by a business firm. 

Computers have changed so rapidly many people cannot keep up with changes.

One newspaper tried to relate how the fast changes in computer technology would

look to a similar pace in the auto industry:

"Had the automobile developed at a pace (equal) to that of the computer

during the past twenty years, today a Rolls Royce would cost less than $3.00, get 3

million miles to the gallon, deliver enough power to drive (the ship) the Queen

Elizabeth II, and six of them would fit on the head of a pin!"

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These changes have occurred so rapidly that many people do not know how

our modern computer got its start.

Since ancient times, people have had ways to deal

with data and numbers.  Early people tied knots in

rope and carved marks on clay tablets to keep track of livestock and trade.  Some

people considered the 5000 year old ABACUS-- a frame with beads strung on

wires to be the first true computing aid.

As trade and tax system grew in complexity, people saw that faster, more

reliable and exact tools were needed for doing math and keeping records.

In the mid-1600, Blaise Pascal and his father, who was a tax officer himself, were

working on taxes for the French government in

Paris.  The two spent hours figuring and refiguring

taxes that each citizen owed.  Young Blaise decided

in 1642 to build an adding and subtraction machine

that could aide in such a tedious and time

consuming process.  The machine Blaise made had

a set of eight gears that worked together much like

an odometer keeps track of a car's mileage. 

His machine encountered many of problems.  For one, it was

always breaking down.  Second, the machine was slow and extremely costly.  And

third, people were afraid to use the machine thinking it might replace their jobs. 

Pascal later became famous for math and philosophy, but he is still remembering

for his role in computer technology.  In his honor, there is a computer language

named Pascal.

The next big step for computers arrived in the 1830's when Charles

Babbage decided to build a machine to help him complete and print mathematical

tables.  Babbage was a mathematician who taught at Cambridge University in

England.  He began planning his calculating machine calling it the Analytical

Engine.  The idea for this machine was amazingly like the computer we know

today.  It was to read a program from punched cards, figure and store the answers

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to different problems, and print the answer on paper. 

Babbage died before he could complete the machine. 

However because of his remarkable ideas and work,

Babbage is known as the Father of Computers.

The next huge step for computers came when Herman Hollerith entered a

contest given by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The contest was to see who could build

a machine that would count and record information faster.  Hollerith, a young man

working for the Bureau built a machine called the Tabulating Machine that read

and sorted data from punched cards.  The holes punched in the cards matched

each person's answers to questions.  For example, married, single, and divorces

were answers on the cards.  The Tabulator read the punched cards as they passed

over tiny brushes.  Each time a brush found a hole, it completed an electrical

circuit.  This caused special counting dials to increase the data for that answer.

Thanks to Hollerith's machine, instead of taking seven and a half years to

count the census information it only took three years, even with 13 million more

people since the last census.  Happy with his success, Hollerith formed the

Tabulating Machine Company in 1896.  The company later was sold in 1911.  And

in 1912 his company became the International Business Machines Corporation,

better know today as IBM.

The First Electric Powered Computer 

What is considered to be the first computer was made in 1944 by Harvard's

Professor Howard Aiken.  The Mark I computer was very much like the design of

Charles Babbage's having mainly mechanical parts, but with some electronic

parts.  His machine was designed to be programmed to do many computer jobs. 

This all-purpose machine is what we now know as the PC or personal computer. 

The Mark I was the first computer financed by IBM and was about 50 feet

long and 8 feet tall.  It used mechanical switches to open and close its electric

circuits.  It contained over 500 miles of wire and 750,000 parts.

The First All Electronic Computer 

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The first all electronic computer was the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical

Integrator and Computer).  ENIAC was a general purpose digital

computer built in 1946 by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly.  The

ENIAC contained over 18,000 vacuum tubes (used instead of the

mechanical switches of the Mark I) and was 1000 times faster than the

Mark I.  In twenty seconds, ENIAC could do a math problem that would

have taken 40 hours for one person to finish.  The ENIAC was built the time of

World War II had as its first job to calculate the feasibility of a design for the

hydrogen bomb.  The ENIAC was 100 feet long and 10 feet tall.

More Modern Computers 

A more modern type computer began with  John von Neumann's 

development of software written in binary code.  It was von Neumann who began

the practice of storing data and instructions in binary code and initiated the use of

memory to store data, as well as programs. A computer called the

EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Computer) was built using binary code

in 1950.  Before the EDVAC, computers like the ENIAC could do only one task

then they had to be rewired to perform a different task or program.  The EDVAC's

concept of storing different programs on punched cards instead of rewiring

computers led to the computers that we know today.

While the modern computer is far better and faster than the EDVAC of its

time, computers of today would not have been possible with the knowledge and

work of many great inventors and pioneers. 

Characteristics:

Man developed computers so that it could perform intricate operations such

as calculation and data processing or entertain him. Today, computers are

everywhere—in our offices, homes, appliances and automobiles—the list is

endless. Much of the world's infrastructure runs on computers, and the computers

have profoundly changed our lives, mostly for the better. Let us discuss some of

the characteristics of a computer, which make it an essential part of every

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emerging technology and such a desirable tool in human development.

Speed: The computers process data at an extremely fast rate, i.e. at millions or

billions of instructions per second. In a few seconds, a computer can perform a

huge task that a normal human being may take days or even years to complete.

The speed of a computer is measured in megahertz (MHz), that is, one million

instructions per second.

Accuracy: Besides being efficient, the computers are also very accurate. The level

of accuracy depends on the instructions and the type of machines being used.

Since we know that the computer is capable of doing only what it is instructed to

do, faulty instructions for processing the data automatically lead to faulty results.

The faulty results due to faulty instructions or incorrect input data are known

as GIGO, that is, garbage in garbage out.

Reliability: Generally, reliability is the measurement of the performance of a

computer, which is measured against some predetermined standard for operation

without any failure. The major reason behind the reliability of the computers is that,

at hardware level, it does not require any human intervention between its

processing operations. Moreover, computers have built-in diagnostic capabilities,

which help in continuous monitoring of the system.

Storage Capability: Computers can store large amounts of data and it can recall

the required information almost instantaneously. The memory of the computer is

relatively small and it can hold only a certain amount of information. Therefore, the

data are stored on storage devices such as magnetic tape or disks. The data from

these devices can be accessed and brought into the main memory of the

computer, as and when required, for processing.

Versatility: Computers are quite versatile in nature. They can perform multiple

tasks simultaneously with equal ease. For example, at one moment it can be used

to prepare a letter, at the other moment it can be used to play music and in

between one can print a document as well. All this work is possible by changing

the program (sequence of instructions for computers).

Diligence: Computer, being a machine, does not suffer from the human traits of

tiredness and lack of concentration. If four million calculations have to be

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performed, then the computer will perform the last four-millionth calculation with the

same accuracy and speed as the first calculation.

Resource Sharing: In the initial stages of development, computer used to be an

isolated machine. With the tremendous growth in computer technologies, today's

computers have the capability to connect with each other. This has made the

sharing of costly resources like printers possible. Apart from device sharing, data

and information can also be shared among groups of computers, thus creating a

large information and knowledge base.

Computer has certain limitations also. As a machine, it can perform only

what it is programmed to do; nothing more and nothing less. In addition, it needs

well-defined instructions to perform any operation. Therefore, computers are

unable to give any conclusion without going through intermediate steps. Besides,

the use of a computer is restricted to certain areas where qualitative considerations

are important. For instance, it can make plans based on situations and information

though it cannot foresee whether they will succeed or not.

Although processing has become less tedious with the development of

computers, it is still time-consuming and an expensive job. Sometimes, a program

works properly for some period and then suddenly produces incorrect output. This

happens because of an error in the instruction provided by the user. Therefore,

computer parts require regular checking and maintenance to give correct results.

Furthermore, computers need to be installed in a dust-free place. Generally, some

parts of the computers get heated up due to heavy processing. Therefore, an

ambient temperature of the computer system should be maintained.

Capabilities and limitations

- Capabilities:

o It is extremely fast, accurate and reliable it has speed reaching up to 100 million

operations per second.

o It can handle large volumes of repetitive tasks and accuracy make the computer

very ideal for this kind of tasks.

o It can store large amounts of information and can recall instantly.

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A computer keeps on store large amounts of data and information in its memory.

o It can communicate with its operators and with other machines. It is capable of

interactive processing in which the user is put in direct communications

with machine.

- Limitations

o No Self Intelligence, today, a computer is able to do a work which is impossible

for man. Computers are used to do risky and dangerous work and where sharp

actually is needed. But it does not have any intelligence of its own. It works

according to the instruction only.

o No Decision-Making power, Computer cannot take any decision of its own. It

does only those tasks which are already instructed to it.

o No learning power, computer has no learning power. Once you

give instructions to a computer how to perform a task, the very task is cannot

perform if you do not give it any instructions for the next time. For example, when

you are taught how to solve a problem and it same type of problem is given to you

to solve, then you can do it because you have learned how to solve the problem. 

Hardware

Your PC (Personal Computer) is a system, consisting of many components.

Some of those components, like Windows XP, and all your other programs, are

software. The stuff you can actually see and touch, and would likely break if you

threw it out a fifth-story window, is hardware.

Not everybody has exactly the same

hardware. But those of you who have a

desktop system, like the example shown in

Figure 1, probably have most of the

components shown in that same figure. Those

of you with notebook computers probably have

most of the same components. Only in your

case the components are all integrated into a single book-sized portable unit.

The system unit is the actual computer; everything else is called

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a peripheral device. Your computer's system unit probably has at least one floppy

disk drive, and one CD or DVD drive, into which you can insert floppy disks and

CDs. There's another disk drive, called the hard disk inside the system unit, as

shown in Figure 2. You can't remove that disk, or even see it. But it's there. And

everything that's currently "in your computer" is actually stored on that hard disk.

(We know this because there is no place else inside the computer where you can

store information!).

The floppy drive and CD drive are often referred to as drives with removable

media or removable drives for short, because you can remove whatever disk is

currently in the drive, and replace it with

another. Your computer's hard disk can

store as much information as tens of

thousands of floppy disks, so don't worry

about running out of space on your hard

disk any time soon. As a rule, you want to

store everything you create or download

on your hard disk. Use the floppy disks

and CDs to send copies of files through

the mail, or to make backup copies of

important items.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

There's too much "stuff" on your computer's hard disk to use it all at the

same time. During the average session sitting at the computer, you'll probably use

only a small amount of all that's available. The stuff you're working with at any

given moment is stored in random access memory (often abbreviated RAM, and

often called simply "memory"). The advantage using RAM to store whatever you're

working on at the moment is that RAM is very fast. Much faster than any disk. For

you, "fast" translates to less time waiting and more time being productive. 

So if RAM is so fast, why not put everything in it? Why has a hard disk at

all? The answer to that lies in the fact that RAM is volatile. As soon as the

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computer is shut off, whether intentionally or by an accidental power outage,

everything in RAM disappears, just as quickly as a light bulb goes out when the

plug is pulled. So you don't want to rely on RAM to hold everything. A disk, on the

other hand, holds its information whether the power is on or off.

The Hard Disk

All of the information that's "in your computer", so to speak, is stored on your

computer's hard disk. You never see that actual hard disk because it's sealed

inside a special housing and needs to stay that way. Unlike RAM, which is volatile,

the hard disk can hold information forever -- with or without electricity. Most

modern hard disks have tens of billions of bytes of storage space on them. Which,

in English, means that you can create, save, and download files for months or

years without using up all the storage space it provides?

In the unlikely event that you do manage to fill up your hard disk, Windows

will start showing a little message on the screen that reads "You are running low on

disk space" well in advance of any problems.  In fact, if that message appears, it

won't until you're down to about 800 MB of free space. And 800 MB of empty

space is equal to about 600 blank floppy disks. That's still plenty of room!

The Mouse

Obviously you know how to use your mouse,

since you must have used it to get here. But let's

take a look at the facts and buzzwords anyway.

Your mouse probably has at least two buttons on it.

The button on the left is called the primary mouse

button, the button on the right is called

the secondary mouse button or just the right mouse

button. I'll just refer to them as the left and right mouse buttons. Many mice have a

small wheel between the two mouse buttons

The idea is to rest your hand comfortably on the

mouse, with your index finger touching (but not

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pressing on) the left mouse button. Then, as you move the mouse, the mouse

pointer (the little arrow on the screen) moves in the same direction. When moving

the mouse, try to keep the buttons aimed toward the monitor -- don't "twist" the

mouse as that just makes it all the harder to control the position of the mouse

pointer.

If you find yourself reaching too far to get the mouse pointer where you want

it to be on the screen, just pick up the mouse, move it to where it's comfortable to

hold it, and place it back down on the mousepad or desk. The buzzwords that

describe how you use the mouse are as follows:

Point: To point to an item means to move the mouse pointer so that it's touching

the item.

Click: Point to the item, then tap (press and release) the left mouse button.

Double-click: Point to the item, and tap the left mouse button twice in rapid

succession - click-click as fast as you can.

Right-click: Point to the item, then tap the mouse button on the right.

Drag: Point to an item, then hold down the left mouse button as you move the

mouse. To drop the item, release the left mouse button.

Right-drag: Point to an item, then hold down the right mouse button as you move

the mouse. To drop the item, release the right mouse button.

The Keyboard

Like the mouse, the keyboard is a

means of interacting with your computer.

You really only need to use the keyboard

when you're typing text. Most of the keys on the keyboard are laid out like the keys

on a typewriter. But there are some special keys like Esc (Escape), Ctrl (Control),

and Alt (Alternate). There are also some keys across the top of the keyboard

labeled F1, F2, F3, and so forth. Those are called the function keys, and the exact

role they play depends on which program you happen to be using at the moment.

Most keyboards also have a numeric keypad with the keys laid out like the

keys on a typical adding machine. If you're accustomed to using an adding

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machine, you might want to use the numeric keypad, rather than the numbers

across the top of the keyboard, to type numbers. It doesn't really matter which keys

you use. The numeric keypad is just there as a convenience to people who are

accustomed to adding machines.

Most keyboards also contain a set of navigation keys. You can use the

navigation keys to move around around through text on the screen. The navigation

keys won't move the mouse pointer. Only the mouse moves the mouse pointer.

On smaller keyboards where space is limited, such as on a notebook

computer, the navigation keys and numeric keypad might be one in the same.

There will be a Num Lock key on the keypad. When the Num Lock key is "on", the

numeric keypad keys type numbers. When the Num Lock key is "off", the

navigation keys come into play. The Num Lock key acts as a toggle. Which is to

say, when you tap it, it switches to the opposite state. For example, if Num Lock is

on, tapping that key turns it off. If Num Lock is off, tapping that key turns Num Lock

on.

Combination Keystrokes (Shortcut keys)

Those mysterious Ctrl and Alt keys are often used in combination with other

keys to perform some task. We often refer to these combination keystrokes as

shortcut keys, because they provide an alternative to using the mouse to select

menu options in programs. Shortcut keys are always expressed as:

key1+key2

Where the idea is to hold down key1, tap key2, then release key1. For

example, to press Ctrl+Esc hold down the Ctrl key (usually with your pinkie), tap

the Esc key, then release the Ctrl key. To press Alt+F you hold down the Alt key,

tap the letter F, and then release the Alt key.

CONCLUSION

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After the realization of the previous work we obtained as a conclusion that a

computer is a programmable machine. Some of the major parts of a personal

computer or PC include the motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive, and video

card. While personal computers are by far the most common type of computers

today, there are several other types of computers.

Today, computers are everywhere, in our offices, homes, appliances and

automobiles, the list is endless. Much of the world's infrastructure runs on

computers, and the computers have profoundly changed our lives, mostly for the

better. Let us discuss some of the characteristics of a computer, which make it an

essential part of every emerging technology and such a desirable tool in human

development.

13

REFERENCES

http://www.techterms.com/definition/computer

http://www.crews.org/curriculum/ex/compsci/articles/history.htm

http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/electrical-engineering/computer-

engineering/9788131760307/introduction-to-computers/section_1.2

http://www.blurtit.com/q249926.html

http://worldcomputerarticle.blogspot.com/2010/04/limitation-of-computer.html

http://www.coolnerds.com/newbies/hardware/hardware.htm

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