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Chapter 1. The Big Picture. Chapter Goals. Describe the layers of a computer system Describe the concept of abstraction and its relationship to computing Describe the history of computer hardware and software Describe the changing role of the computer user

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Big Picture

Chapter goals
Chapter Goals

  • Describe the layers of a computer system

  • Describe the concept of abstraction and its relationship to computing

  • Describe the history of computer hardware and software

  • Describe the changing role of the computer user

  • Distinguish between systems programmers and applications programmers

  • Distinguish between computing as a tool and computing as a discipline


Computing systems
Computing Systems

Computing systems are dynamic!

What is the difference between hardwareand software?


Computing systems1
Computing Systems

HardwareThe physical elements of a computing system (printer, circuit boards, wires, keyboard…)

SoftwareThe programs that provide the instructions for a computer to execute



AbstractionA mental model that removes complex details

This is a key concept. Abstraction will reappear throughout the text – be sure you understand it!


Early history of computing
Early History of Computing


An early device to record numeric values

Blaise Pascal

Mechanical device to add, subtract, divide & multiply

Joseph Jacquard

Jacquard’s Loom, the punched card

Charles Babbage

Analytical Engine


Early history of computing1
Early History of Computing

Ada Lovelace

First Programmer, the loop

Alan Turing

Turing Machine, Artificial Intelligence Testing

Harvard Mark I, ENIAC, UNIVAC I

Early computers launch new era in mathematics, physics, engineering and economics


First generation hardware 1951 1959
First Generation Hardware (1951-1959)

Vacuum Tubes

Large, not very reliable, generated a lot of heat

Magnetic Drum

Memory device that rotated under a read/write head

Card Readers  Magnetic Tape Drives

Sequential auxiliary storage devices


Second generation hardware 1959 1965
Second Generation Hardware (1959-1965)


Replaced vacuum tube, fast, small, durable, cheap

Magnetic Cores

Replaced magnetic drums, information available instantly

Magnetic Disks

Replaced magnetic tape, data can be accessed directly


Third generation hardware 1965 1971
Third Generation Hardware (1965-1971)

Integrated Circuits

Replaced circuit boards, smaller, cheaper, faster, more reliable


Now used for memory construction


An input/output device with a keyboard and screen


Fourth generation hardware 1971
Fourth Generation Hardware (1971-?)

Large-scale Integration

Great advances in chip technology

PCs, the Commercial Market, Workstations

Personal Computers and Workstations emerge

New companies emerge: Apple, Sun, Dell …


Everyone has his/her own portable computer


Parallel computing and networking
Parallel Computing and Networking

Parallel Computing

Computers rely on interconnected central processing and/or memory units that increase processing speed


Ethernet connects small computers to share resources

File servers connect PCs in the late 1980s

ARPANET and LANs  Internet


First generation software 1951 1959
First Generation Software (1951-1959)

Machine Language

Computer programs written in binary (1s and 0s)

Assembly Languages and Translators

Programs written using mnemonics, which were translated into machine language

Programmer Changes

Programmers divide into two groups: application programmers and systems programmers


Assembly machine

Systems programmers

write the assembler


Applications programmers

use assembly language to

solve problems

Second generation software 1959 1965
Second Generation Software (1959-1965)

High-level Languages

English-like statements made programming easier:

Fortran, COBOL, Lisp



write translators for

high-level languages



use high-level

languages to

solve problems


Third generation software 1965 1971
Third Generation Software (1965-1971)

Systems Software

Utility programs

Language translators

Operating system, which decides which programs to run and when

Separation between Users and Hardware

Computer programmers write programs to be used by general public (i.e., nonprogrammers)


Fourth generation software 1971 1989
Fourth Generation Software (1971-1989)

Structured Programming




New Application Software for Users


Word processors

Database management systems


Fifth generation software 1990 present
Fifth Generation Software (1990- present)


Windows operating system and other Microsoft application programs dominate the market

Object-Oriented Design

Based on a hierarchy of data objects (i.e. Java)

World Wide Web

Allows easy global communication through the Internet

New Users

Today’s user needs no computer knowledge


Computing as a tool
Computing as a Tool

Programmer / User

Systems Programmer

(builds tools)

Applications Programmer

(uses tools)

Domain-Specific Programs

User with No

Computer Background


Computing as a discipline
Computing as a Discipline

What can be (efficiently) automated?

Four Necessary Skills

  • Algorithmic Thinking

  • Representation

  • Programming

  • Design


Computing as a discipline1
Computing as a Discipline

What do you think?

Is Computer Science a mathematical, scientific, or engineering discipline?


Systems areas of computer science
Systems Areas of Computer Science

  • Algorithms and Data Structures

  • Programming Languages

  • Architecture

  • Operating Systems

  • Software Methodology and Engineering

  • Human-Computer Communication


Application areas of computer science
Application Areas of Computer Science

  • Numerical and Symbolic Computation

  • Databases and Information Retrieval

  • Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

  • Graphics

  • Organizational Informatics

  • Bioinformatics


Ethical issues
Ethical Issues

The Digital Divide

What is it?

How does it affect you?

What is computer literacy for

your sister, the musician?

your brother, the doctor?

your sister, the kindergarten teacher?

Is it important to try to bridge the digital divide?

Who am i
Who am I?

Can you list three items on my resume?

Do you know
Do you know?

What computer company was launched in a


What is a protocol? How does this relate to


Connect computers and corn.