Introduction to Humanities Computing Spring 1999 Lecture Two

Introduction to Humanities Computing François Lachance (o) TSH 205 (drop off)

Types of Computers Yes / No ? One who computes; a calculator, reckoner; spec. a person employed to make calculations in an observatory, in surveying, etc. Oxford English Dictionary

Types of Computers Yes ! One who computes; a calculator, reckoner; spec. a person employed to make calculations in an observatory, in surveying, etc. Oxford English Dictionary ?

A 20th century definition A calculating-machine; Especially an automatic electronic device for performing mathematical or logical operations

Computer & System

F Peripherals Monitor Keyboard Mouse Sensors Robots F CPU Central Processing Unit F Peripherals Monitor Keyboard Mouse Sensors Robots F CPU

Components of a Definition F General Purpose F Stored-Program F Electronic F Binary Digits F Calculating Machine

General Purpose Is a PDA like this a computer? Is it dedicated to one purpose if it can do any type of calculation? Would a calculator be a computer?

Stored-Program How are programs and data loaded into the device? ENIAC Programmed Manually EDVAC Stored-Program

Electronic Does it have gears, vacuum tubes, or chips? Babbage’s engines were mechanical

Binary Digits How is information stored and manipulated in the computer? Hi! My name is C3P Alphanumeric (Letters & Numbers) Decimal - 10 Possible Settings Binary Digits - 2 Possible Settings

Binary Digits How is information stored and manipulated in the computer? Switch on/off What is hexadecimal?

From binary model... …to machine

Types of Computer F Mainframe F Mini(computer) F Workstation (UNIX) F Microcomputer Personal Computer (PC) F Laptops & PDAs F Game computers F Terminals (NCs) Other Types?

Think of the uses of computers Remind me to tell you the story about the fan... Is the computer just a tool? How is it a cultural artefact?

Some computer uses F As a fancy calculator F As a fancy typewriter F As a controller for other devices F As an extension of your TV F As type of toy F As a fancy telephone Use the OED online to look up the etymology of “machine” -- how is a computer a machine?

Perspectives on Computers F Types F Uses F Components F When a computer starts F Input/Output Computer as city of circuits

F System Unit Motherboard FCPU (Central Processing Unit) FRAM Hard Drive and Floppy Drive Power Supply Daughterboards F Keyboard F Monitor F Peripherals Parts of the Computer

Power Supply Socket Power Supply Motherboard Hard Drive Floppy Drive Monitor Keyboard Electricity Data

Bus Bus (PCI, SCSI, USB) Central Processing Unit RAM/ROM Hard Drive Daughter Boards Floppy Disk Drive ModemMonitor the electric connection linking internal components of the computer Data 16 bit 32 bit

Starting-up Hardware (RAM) IBM Class Intel (X86,Pentium) Mac Motorola (Power PC) Mac OS MS DOS Operating System Program/File Management Windows (Program Manager) Finder Program Document(s) Booting Running Opening

Input and Output F How does information get into the computer? F How does the computer return information? Input Devices Storage Devices Output Devices Processor CPU

(Input & Output) OR (Output & Input) F Output Screen Printer Speaker Computer Robot F Input Keyboard Mouse Scanner Microphone (Audio digitizer) Video digitizer

Metaphors The Mind - Processing = Thinking MemoryConsciousness (Hard Drive)(RAM)

More metaphors Office - Processing = Working Deleting Running, Opening, Loading Storage

Even more metaphors What is your favorite metaphor for a computer ?

End Just the beginning 101 = 5