Computer industry

encompasses those companies that manufacture computers and computer components, such
as microprocessors. The term computer industry is also used more broadly to include software
publishers and peripheral device manufacturers.

Information technology industry (or I.T. industry)

is typically used to refer to the companies that develop, produce, sell, or support computers,
software, and computer-related products.

IT INDUSTRIES

Equipment manufacturers

design and manufacture computer hardware and communications products, such as personal
computers, mainframe computers, PDAs, mice, monitors, storage devices, routers, scanners, and
printers.

Chipmakers

design and manufacture computer chips and circuit boards, including microprocessors, RAM,
system boards, sound cards, and graphics cards.

Software Publishers

create computer software, including applications, operating systems, and programming

languages.

Service companies

provide computer-related services, including business consulting, Web site design, Web hosting,
Internet connections, computer equipment repair, network security, and product support.

Computer retailers (sometimes called resellers)

include companies that sell computer products through retail stores, direct sales
representatives, mail-order catalogs, and Web sites.

OFFSHORING - is defined as relocating business processes, such as development and production, to

lower-cost locations in other countries

OUTSOURCING - defined as the use of components or labor from outside suppliers.

Computer Professional - any person whose primary occupation involves the design, configuration,
analysis, development, modification, testing, or security of computer hardware or software.
JOBS

System Analyst

- investigates the requirements of a business or organization, its employees, and its

customers to plan and implement new or improved computer services.

Computer Programmer

- Designs, codes, and tests computer programs. Besides, programmers modify

existing programs to meet new requirements or eliminate bugs.

Security Specialist

- Analyzes a computer system’s vulnerability to threats from viruses, worms,

unauthorized access, and physical damage. Security specialists install and configure
firewalls and antivirus software.

Data Administrator

- Analyzes a company’s data to determine the most effective way to collect and store
it.
- Create databases, data entry forms, and reports. They also define backup
procedures, provide access to authorized users, and supervise databases' day-to-day
use.

Network Specialist/ Administrator

- Plans, install, and maintains one or more local area networks. These specialists also
provide network accounts and access rights to approved users. They troubleshoot
connectivity problems and respond to requests from a network’s users for new
software. Network specialists/administrators might be responsible for maintaining a
network's security, plus they often pick up Webmaster duties to maintain an
organization’s Web site.

Computer Operator

- Computer operators monitor computer performance, install software patches and

upgrades, perform backups, and restore data as necessary.

Technical Support Specialist

- Troubleshoots hardware and software problems. Good interpersonal skills and

patience are required for this job

Website Designer

- Creates, tests, posts, and modifies Web pages. A good sense of design and artistic
talent is required for this job and an understanding of how people use graphical
user interfaces.
JOBS OUTSIDE IT DEPARTMENTS

Technical Writer

creates documentation for large programming projects and writes the online or printed user manuals
that accompany computers, peripheral devices, and software. Some technical writers work for computer
magazines, writing columns about the latest hardware products, software, and automated business
solutions.

Computer salesperson (sales rep)

sells computers. Sales reps might pay personal visits to potential corporate customers or staff the order
desk of a mail-order computer company. Sales reps’ starting salaries tend to be low but are usually
supplemented by commissions.

Quality Assurance Specialist

participates in alpha and beta test cycles of software, looking for bugs or other usability problems. This
job title sometimes refers to assembly-line workers who examine and test chips, circuit boards,
computers, and peripheral devices. An effective Q.A. specialist has a good eye for detail and a passion
for perfection.

Computer Engineer

designs and tests new hardware products, such as computer chips, circuit boards, computers, and
peripheral devices.

Manufacturing Technician

participates in the fabrication of computer chips, circuit boards, system units, or peripheral devices.
Some of these jobs require necessary screwdriver skills, whereas others require special training in
microlithography.

RANKS

1. Robotics Engineer - play a vital role in customer experience, revenue growth, and risk mitigation in
several industries.
2. Cyber Security Specialist - keep computer information secure in this time of phishing, digital
attacks, malware, viruses, and hacking.
3. Customer Success Specialist - proactively working to understand client needs.
4. Data Scientist - spot trends before they trend, understand enormous amounts of data, and provide
valuable insights.
5. Sales Development Specialist - tasked with retaining customers and identifying potential
customers.
6. Full Stack Engineer - Front-end web development and software development
7. DevOps Engineer - tasked with delivering new software, services, and applications to almost every
industry.
8. Data Engineer - deals with the pipelines, data workflow management, and the modeling of data
analysis. They’re tasked with building, testing, and maintaining data systems.
9. JavaScript Developer - tasked with building and implementing front-end logic, which will define the
important visual aspects of platforms.
10. Cloud Engineer - deal with the design, planning, management, maintenance, and support of cloud
systems, which seem to keep on growing.

Situations that require computer professionals to make ethical decisions often involve:

• Software copyrights

• Privacy

• Conflict of interest

• Use of work computers

• Software Quality

• Hacking

• Social responsibilities

How do I make ethical decisions?

Talk to people whose judgment you respect.

Consider what the most ethical person you know would decide to do.

Think about what you would do if your actions were made public.

Look at the problem from the opposite perspective.

Consult a code of professional ethics.

HISTORY OF COMPUTER

Manual Calculator- a device that assists in the process of numeric calculations, but requires the human
operator to keep track of the algorithm.

 Abacus – uses beads to represent numbers.

 Napier’s Bones - consisted of several rods, divided into ten squares, each labeled with
two numbers. The rods were positioned according to the numbers in a calculation, and
the result was determined by adding values shown in a specific location on the rods.
 Slide Rule - developed by an English mathematician named William Oughtred in 1621
Mechanical Calculator - implements algorithms autonomously. To work a mechanical calculator, the
operator simply enters the numbers for a calculation, and then pulls a lever or turns a wheel to carry out
the calculation.

 Schickard’s Calculator – a series of interlocking gears, each of the ten spokes on a gear
represented a digit. (Wilhelm Schickard 1623)
 Pascaline - A mechanical device that could be used to perform addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. (Blaise Pascal 1642)
 Leibniz Calculator - created by a German baron named Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz 1673.
 De Colmar’s Arithmometer - operated under manual power by turning a crank or pulling a lever.
(Thomas de Colmar)

THE BEGINNING OF COMPUTER

1801: Jacquard Loom

1822: Charles Babbage (Difference Engine that would operate using steam power)

1834: Charles Babbage (Analytical Engine)

1890: Herman Hollerith (Hollerith Tabulating Machine)

1936: Alan Turing (Turing Machine)

1937: J.V Atanasoff (build the first computer without gears, cams, belts, or shafts)

1939: David Packard and Bill Hewlett (Hewlett-Packard)

1941: Atanasoff and Clifford Berry (Atanasoff-Berry Computer)

1943-1944: John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) )
(grandfather of digital computer)

1946: Mauchly and Presper (UNIVAC)

• 1947: William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain of Bell Laboratories invented the transistor.

• 1953: Grace Hopper develops the first computer language COBOL. Thomas Johnson Watson Jr., son of
IBM CEO Thomas Johnson Watson Sr., conceives the IBM 701 EDPM to help the United Nations keep
tabs on Korea during the war.

• 1954: The FORTRAN programming language (FORmula TRANslation) is developed by a team of

programmers at IBM led by John Backus, according to the University of Michigan.

• 1958: Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce unveil the integrated circuit, known as the computer chip.

• 1964: Douglas Engelbart shows a prototype of the modern computer, with a mouse and a graphical
user interface (GUI).

• 1974-1977: A number of personal computers hit the market, including Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair, IBM
5100, Radio Shack's TRS-80 — affectionately known as the "Trash 80" — and the Commodore PET.
GENERATION OF COMPUTERS

First Generation (1940-1956) – Vacuum Tubes and Machine Language

Second Generation (1956) – Transistors, Operating System and programming language compilers

Third Generation (1964-1971) – Integrated Circuit, Minicomputers

Fourth Generation (1972-present) – Microprocessor

Fifth Generation (2010-present) – AI (Artificial Intelligence)

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

According to Purpose - There are some needs that are specified to a particular environment or a
particular user whereas, many needs are desired by every user of the computer.

o General Purpose Computer

o Special Purpose Computer

Data Handling - There are essentially two different types of computer processing. Each is made possible
by a different kind of circuitry, and each is suitable for different purposes.

o Digital Computer – numeric representation (binary 0 and 1)

o Analog Computer – physical quantities
o Hybrid Computer – incorporate analog and digital

Size and Functionality - Computers are classified into different types depending on the memory size,
cost, and processing speed. The performance of a computer involves the speed of processing data,
storage capacity and ability to handle input and output devices.

Wearables Computer – carrying of the body

Microcomputer – also called personal computer

Minicomputer – faster and more powerful than a microcomputer

Mainframe – more powerful than minicomputer

Super Computer – largest and fastest computer

USE OF COMPUTERS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS

Home - Home Budget, Entertainment, Source of Information and Communication, Smart Home.

Education – Distance Learning, Writing, Keep Records, Testing

Business – Marketing, Stock Exchange

Medical Field – Medical Records, Monitoring, Research, Diagnosis, Surgery.

Transportation – Cars, Traffic Lights, GPS, Airplanes, Public Transportation, Self-Driving Cars.

Scientific Research – Complex Data Analysis, Solving Mathematical Equations, Prediction Modeling.

Computer - a device or set of devices that work under the control of a stored program, and
automatically accepts and processes data to provide information.

Characteristics

Automatic – minimum human intervention

Re-Programmable – it stores instruction

A data Processor – carries out operation

People – most important element of computer system

Data and Information - Data is the name given to facts while information is processed and useful data
that is relevant, accurate, up to date, and can be used to make decisions.

Input- This is the process of entering data and programs into the computer system.

Processing- The task of performing operations like arithmetic and logical operations is called processing.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Storage- The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as storage.

Output- This is a process of producing results from the data for getting useful information.

CPU
Control Unit- All operations like input, processing, and output are performed by the control unit.

1. Fetch the Instruction from the Main Memory

2. Decode the Instruction
3. Fetch Data from Main Memory
4. Execute the Instruction
5. Store Result

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - as its name implies, it is the portion of the CPU which performs arithmetic
and logical operations on the binary data.

Registers - A register is a small high-speed memory inside the CPU. It is used to store temporary results.
 Accumulator- This is the most frequently used register used to store data taken from memory.
It is indifferent numbers in different microprocessors.
 Memory Address Registers (MAR)- These hold the address of the location to be accessed from
memory. MAR and MDR (Memory Data Register) together facilitate the communication of the
CPU and the main memory.
 Memory Data Registers (MDR)- These contain data to be written into or to be read out from the
addressed location.
 General Purpose Registers- These are numbered R0, R1, R2….Rn-1, and used to store
temporary data during any ongoing operation. Its content can be accessed by assembly
programming.
 Program Counter (PC)- It is used to keep track of the execution of the program.
 Instruction Register (IR)- The IR holds the instruction which is just about to be executed.

Clock- A circuit in a processor that generates a regular sequence of electronic pulses used to
synchronize operations of the processor’s components.

The Memory
Memory refers to computer components, devices, and recording media that retain digital data
used for computing for some interval of time. Computer memory includes internal and external
memory.

Internal Memory- The internal memory is accessible by a processor without the use of the
input-output channels.

 Cache Memory - acts as a buffer.

Main Memory (Main Storage)- Main memory is addressable storage from which instructions and other
data may be loaded directly into registers for subsequent execution or processing. The storage capacity
of the main memory is the total amount of stored information that the memory can hold. It is expressed
as several bits or bytes. Main memory consists of the following:
 Random Access Memory (RAM): The primary storage is referred to as random access memory
(RAM) because it is possible to randomly select and use any location of the memory directly
store and retrieve data. It is also called read/write memory. The storage of data and
instructions inside the primary storage temporarily disappears from RAM as soon as the power
to the computer is switched off.
 Read Only Memory (ROM): There is another memory in computers which is called Read Only
Memory (ROM). The storage of the programs and data in the ROM is permanent. The ROM can
only be read by the CPU, but it cannot be changed.
 External Memory-The external memory holds information too large for storage in main
memory. Information on external memory can only be accessed by the CPU if it is first
transferred to the main memory. External memory is slow and virtually unlimited in capacity. It
retains information when the computer is switched off and is used to keep a permanent copy of
programs and data. The following are examples of external memory:
o Hard disk
o Solid-State Drive
o Floppy Disk
o Optical Disk
o Memory Stick (Flash Drive)
o Memory Cards