In
this chapter we will learn about hardware and software. (easy I know).
Data Hierachy, Computer Organization, Machine, Assembly and High-level
languages. Intro to object oreniented technology, OS, Programming
languages, C++ dev enviroment. Testing applications, web 2.0, Future
C++:TR1, the new C++ standard. Keeping up to date. Wrap-up.
Lets get started: Damn that was a lot to type.
First we need to point out that the software makes the hardware work.
Software is all around us in our phones(we will talk about this later on OS). Computers, Iphone apps and GPS. So what is a computer? A
computer is just a device that can calculate operations and make
logical decisions much faster than humans can.A computer can preform
more calculations in one second than a human can in one lifetime. For
further information about this I recommend a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a7XQmEBK5Q
This
is a great video for understanding inputs and outputs for switches and
gates. Gates are for operations. And ----> output----> Or --->
Not
more
than likely we won't work with transistors, but it is a good example
for the way we can see the operations in real time. This is a big long
process of confusing math 1's and 0's or binary. Look up a youtube video
on binary code.
Programs
Computers run instructions and process data from computer program built by you the programmer.
Evolution
The
evolotion of computers is phenominal at one point we had computers that
filled entire rooms. Take a look at some of the technology on Star-trek
notice the communicator (cell phone much?). Anyway we got off track now
we have mini computers like the Rasberry pi, Android mini pc. Right now
you can buy both of these for under 50 dollars. Silicone is one of the
most abundant pieces of material out there it is made from sand people.
Come on sand?
Computer
chips(silicone- Microprocessors) are in the heart of everything game
controllers, anti-lock breaks in cars, navagation systems.
Moores Law
Ok this is not a very hard law like the robot laws it is as simple as this.
Bill: "Hey do you remember when they made 520mb flash drives."
Bob: "That was a few years ago the lowest one i got is 8gb."
Bill:"Yeah I remember paying 35 dollars for a 1 gb usb flashdrive."
Bob: "Yeah we got ripped off"
Bill: "Yeah Moore really screwed us."
-----------
end scene
--------------
Ok
so while the two programmer twins(bill and bob) are off getting lunch
we will make sense of what they where talking about. Moores law of
course the capabilities of information systems improve but get cheaper.
Older computers get outdated quickly. (That is when you put DSL on
them). I recently put DSL(Damn small Linux) On a older 1998 computer. It
became as functional as a newish netbook. See my notes on linux if you
need help with instalation.
Data Hiearchy--Just google it I will say think of it this way we have bytes, bits, files and memory items.
Logical Units
Logical unit | Description
Input
unit - This “receiving” section obtains information (data and computer
programs) from input devices and places it at the disposal of the other
units for processing. Most information is entered into computers through
keyboards, touch screens and mouse devices. Other forms of input
include speaking to your computer, scanning images and barcodes, reading
from secondary storage devices (like hard drives, DVD drives, Blu-ray
DiscTM drives and USB flash drives—also called “thumb drives” or “memory
sticks”), receiving video from a webcam andhaving your computer receive
information from the Internet (such as when you download videos from
YouTubeTM or e-books from Amazon). Newer forms of input include reading
position data from a GPS device, and motion and orietation information
from an accelerometer in a smartphone or game controller.
-----------------------------------------------------
Output
unit - This “shipping” section takes information that the computer has
processed and places it on various output devices to make it available
for use outside the computer. Most information that’s output from
computers today is displayed on screens, printed on paper, played as
audio or video on portable media players (such as Apple’s popular iPods)
and giant screens in sports stadiums,transmitted over the Internet or
used to control other devices, such as robots and “intelligent”
appliances.
----------------------------------------------------------
Memory unit -This rapid-access, relatively low-capacity “warehouse” section retains
information
that has been entered through the input unit, making it immediately
available for processing when needed. The memory unit also retains
processed information until it can be placed on output devices by the
output unit. Information in the memory unit is volatile—it’s typically
lost when the computer’s power is turned off. The memory unit is often
called either memory or primary memory. Typical main memories on desktop
and notebook computers contain between 1 GB and 8 GB (GB stands for
gigabytes; a gigabyte is approximately one billion bytes).
---------------------------------------------------------------
Arithmetic This “manufacturing” section performs calculations, such as addition, subtrac-
and logic unit tion, multiplication and division. It also contains the decision mechanisms
(ALU)
that allow the computer, for example, to compare two items from the
memory unit to determine whether they’re equal. In today’s systems, the
ALU is usually implemented as part of the next logical unit, the CPU.
--------------------------------------------------------
Central
Processor Unit- This “administrative” section coordinates and
supervises the operation of the processing other sections. The CPU tells
the input unit when information should be read unit (CPU) into the
memory unit, tells the ALU when information from the memory unit should
be used in calculations and tells the output unit when to send
information from the memory unit to certain output devices. Many of
today’s computers have multiple CPUs and, hence, can perform many
operations simultaneously. A multi-core processor implements multiple
processors on a single integrated-circuit chip—a dual-core processor has
two CPUs and a quad core processor has four CPUs. Today’s desktop
computers have processors that can execute billions of instructions per
second.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Secondary
Storage This is the long-term, high-capacity “warehousing” section.
Programs or data storage unit not actively being used by the other units
normally are placed on secondary drive untill they are needed later.
(Dietel & Dietel, Chapter 1.4, 2012).
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