Fundamentos de Computación: Introduction

• Fundamentos de Computación provides an introduction to computer systems.

Introduction

• Computers were once deemed almost unnecessary, but are now indispensable in almost every facet of life.
• Globalized societies rely on computation to automatically process vast amounts of information rapidly.
• World War II was a watershed moment for technology development.
• Humans sought to build machines mirroring brain functions, sparking a significant growth phase.
• Object creation, development, and refinement simplified daily lives throughout history.
• Advances in representing, coding, and storing data led to the modern computer.
• Programming enabled the development of processes for calculations with higher speed and less effort.
• Homogeneous representation of operations and expressions became possible via a system distinct from existing numerical systems.
• Contemporary computers are made with physical and electronic components, which have evolved considerably.
• Those computers efficiently execute diverse sets of instructions, in order to solve problems in the best way.

What is a Computer and What is its Function?

• A computer is a machine capable of rapidly executing and controlling complex calculations and processes that require quick decision-making.
• Despite their vital role in modern society, computers are sometimes considered a technology of high mystery.
• Myths in literature and film portray computers with human-like or superhuman attributes to outpace human intelligence; however, computers are tools designed, programmed, and operated by people.
• Computers can perform surprising tasks by following instructions within programs created by humans.
• Computers are designed to assist humans rather than replace them. They can not make emotional judgements, disobey given directions or substitute human relationships.
• Humans need to be explicit when instructing/programming computers for simple tasks.
• Computers store large volumes of information.
• They process data rapidly and accurately.
• They represent numbers graphically.
• They simulate possible outcomes based on determined conditions.
• They can recommend or act based on results.

The Predecessors of Computers

• In ancient times, humans performed calculations through basic systems.
• Early humans relied on fingers, knots, and stones for calculations.
• The abacus, is thought to have been developed by both the Chinese and Egyptians.
• They all appeared at the same time with no evidence as to who created it first.
• The abacus is a mechanical counting instrument with a 5000-year origin. It is still used in teaching basic counting and arithmetic.
• Important predecessors include: Pascal's calculator, the Jacquard loom, Babbage's analytical engine, Hollerith's tabulating machine, the Mark I, and ENIAC.

Pascal's machine or Pascalina.

• Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) invented the Pascaline in 1642, which was a calculating machine, that used a system of geared wheels, called Pascalina.
• It is still used in basic cash registers and car odometers.
• It was used until recently in gas pumps.

The Jacquard Loom

• Joseph Marie Jacquard (1753-1871) spent free time improving working conditions for weavers working 16-hour days, and created the Jacquard loom in 1801.
• The loom used punched cards for controlling the movement of needles, yarn, and fabric to produce patterns.
• The Jacquard loom was adopted by fabric factory owners as it allowed one worker to do the work of multiple weavers in less time.
• Weavers protested Jacquard considered him a traitor

La Máquina de Babbage

• In the mid-19th century, Charles Babbage (1791-1871), from England, developed the differential machine and the analytical machine, because people, such as bankers and navigators utilized math tables for business and daily activities due to the Industrial Revolution expanding.
• Before calculating systems existed, charts were calculated manually, which led to many occurring mistakes.
• His machines were a result of Babbage's realization that his tables had many errors, and he first had the idea for the differential machine that ran on steam.
• The analytical machine was capable of doing large calculations at a precise high rate, being able to perform up to 60 operations per second.
• Babbage machines could be programmed with punched cards and automatically handle logarithm and trigonometric functions.
• Babbage designed his initial calculator in 1833, which required thousands of gears and transmissions, and was the size of a football field, which were powered by a locomotive engine.
• Other than his machines, this scientist was thinking of creating a large version of Pascal's machine, however he did not have the technology at the time.
• His inventions grew the field of computer development.
• Babbage is known as the father of computer science who inventions were discovered and fixed in the 1940s when electronic labs were already created and being worked on.
• Ada Augusta Lovelace (1816-1852), translator of Babbage's work who added her own notes, is now thought to be the first programmer of computers.

The Hollerith Censoring Machine

• Herman Hollerith (1860-1929) created a machine that could read and mark the information of the census data in his country.
• As authorities took ten years to complete this data and the majority of the survey answers were yes or no, he created that data to include on a perforated card.
• As a result, the constructed censor machine reduce manual labor by one third by being able to store, code, as well as order information, as the census of 1890 showed.
• A total of 56 million cards was perforated within three years.
• In 1895, Hollerith added a summing function for the accounting of central railroads in New York.
• This addition was the start of commercial application, which helped the creator get introduced to businesses, and in 1896, the company Tabulating Machine Company was created.
• The company would later merge with other companies, leading to current IBM. Its first president Thomas J. Watson who had similar ideas with people like Thomas Watson.

Mark 1

• Howard Aiken (1900-1973) developed Babbage's idea with the team of scientists from Harvard and engineers from IBM in 1937.
• The end result of the studies was the calculation that was numerical on an electronic level that was an automatic controlled calculator with multiple components.
• The finished product was complete in 1944 including elements of memory arithmetic control, input of data such as punch cards and tape.

The ENIAC

• John W. Mauchly and John Presper Eckert, along with University of Pennsylvania scientists, and the U.S. Department of defense created the first electrical computer called ENIAC in 1940.
• The machine came out 5 years because of lack of resources.
• The machine was made on a vacuum tube, and included key players such as J.V Atanasoff and C..
• The machine was used for the U.S army for calculations of bullet trajectory via tables.
• 10 years later in 1951, the machine UNIVAC-I by John W. Mauchly, a universal automatic computer, also used magnetic tapes.
• The project did not have money, and was later sold to IBM, which divided the evolution of computing.
• To explain, the factors for having computers included: electronic state of the art, presence of math for variables, and monetary capital for development The last piece is associated with war.
• All in all, computing was a direct need in order to solve the issue of projectile shooting in a quick manner to give the perfect trajectory.

Generations of Computers

• First generation (1946-1958):
  • During the beginning era of computing, which is the first generation, it was not well known of computers in regards to their characteristics and abilities.
  • Study showed that 20 computers would saturate the data processing, and that all the computers between 1944 and 1947 are grouped.

First Generation Characteristics

• Included 18000 tubes that would error when heated.
• The average machines built from 200k mechanical parts and 800k metric meters of wire that were very large and required physical space.
• The AC had to be kept between 17 to 22 degrees celsius to prevent the hardware from overheating or having errors.
• Programming was done via modules ,and their memory constructed by magnetized drums
• The weight was 70-80 tons, and the length was 18-20 meters.
• The software would program in machine language on aluminum magnetic drums that had coating via MAYDEN, on which the information was recorded from points.
• Second Generation (1958-196): study shown by experts that the time period evolves the most computers
• Shows development components along with parts and sizes
• The machine was not reliable, due to the drums not having protective cover.
• Many computing companies start to rise. and computers had major upgrades such as Burrough's 500 series, and the university ATLAS.

Second Generation Characteristics

• Bulbs being replaced with transistors.
• The size reduced in half with AC cooling being not as stringent.
• The programming can do multiple processes, with the speed of it being in micro seconds.
• Third generation lasted from 1965 to 1970. With noticeable reduction of the size of the components and it ran more energy efficient
• Computer IBM 360 was a market leader in that era.
• PDP-8 of corporation Digital Equipment, created smallest machine at time

Third Generation Characteristics

• Transistor replaced by micro transistor
• Physical size reduced 60% with less AC
• Memory still internal via magnetic core, with micro second speed.
• Operating System Started to appear
• Fourth generation runs from 1971 to 1980
• Size reducing down to 80% with circuit based design of being smaller with a wider range of usage
• The micro transistor has created the integrated circuits with the function up to 64 with low AC as well as 1 3 nanoseconds
• Fourth generation is also when teams began multi programming and tele progress
• The fifth started with the announcement from major technology players such as the US in Japen in the 1981, with components that are integrated for 64 transistors
• There is little AC quality control running at 1 3 nano second speed
• Computers can run multi programming and tele communication that local

Classification of Computers by Capabilities

• Analog Computers process continuous electrical signals.
• The programming is generally specific to it, for process simulation and control.
• Digital Computers use electronic signals that use programming software
• It is considered part of computer group as 95% of computers do general tasks
• Hybrid computer has both computer and analog aspects from software for conversions

An overview of the history and evolution of computers, their increasing importance, and key advancements. From early perceptions of computers as unnecessary to their indispensable role in modern life and automated information processing. The introduction also touches on representation, coding, and data storage.