RUNGTA INTERNATIONAL SKILLS UNIVERSITY, BHILAI C.G.

LECTURE-WISE CONTENT PREPARATION TEMPLATE

Subject Details

Program B. TECH 1ST SEM (SoCE)

Subject Name New Age Life Skills – IT Skills

Subject Code RU-100-17-0002

Semester 1st

Unit No. 1

Faculty Member(s) Firdaush Jahan

Lecture Details (Repeat for Each Lecture)

Lecture No. 2

Duration 1 Hr.

Planned Date

1. Learning Objectives (LOs)

 Understand the different types of computers based on usage and design.

 Learn the generational evolution of computers from 1st to 5th generation.

 Advantages & Disadvantages (Generational Comparison)

2. Prerequisite Knowledge
 Basic idea of what a computer is and how it works.

 Familiarity with common digital devices like smartphones and laptops.

 3. Content To Be Delivered

Types of Computers

Type Description

Deskto Stationary computer; separate components (CPU, monitor, keyboard,

p mouse); used in offices, homes.

Laptop Portable; integrated unit with screen, keyboard, and battery; used in
offices, education, travel.

Tablet Touchscreen-based; no physical keyboard; supports virtual input;

used for browsing, reading.

Mobile Handheld computing device with touch interface; used for

communication, apps, and internet access.

Compare Desktop vs Laptop Tablets vs Mobile phones

DESKTOP LAPTOP

It needs external devices to be fully

It is an all-in-one computer system.
functional.

It is large. While it is small in size.

It can have multiple internal drives. It can have limited internal drives.

It is not portable. While it is easily portable.

While it can run on battery, AC supply, and

It runs only on the main power supply.
main power supply too.

External keyboard and mouse are The keyboard and mouse are in-built.
necessary to work. However external keyboard and mouse also
DESKTOP LAPTOP

can be used.

It has a less powerful processor except for

It has a more powerful processor.
gaming laptops.

While the range of screen sizes in laptops is

It has a wide range of screen sizes.
limited.

The repairing of desktops is easy to work While the repairing of laptops is a little
as compared to laptops. complex.

Components of the desktop can be easily The components of laptops are not easily
removed. removable.

The number of data ports are more in The number of data ports are less in
desktops. laptops.

It is relatively heavier than laptop. It is lighter as compared to desktop.

You can carry laptop while travelling as it is

It is used in homes or offices.
packaged as a single entire unit.

It costs less compared to a laptop. It costs more.

Maintenance is high because of the built-in

Maintenance is not as high as on laptops. components. Expertise is required to
manage the issues.

Setting up of desktop takes time and is

It does not take much time to setup and run.
more cumbersome than laptop.

Screen size can be 19" or more. Screen size ranges from 10" to 17".
DESKTOP LAPTOP

Power consumption is high compared to a

Power consumption is less.
laptop.

Usually memory and hard drive can only be

Easy to upgrade because of the upgraded in laptop as rest of the
removable components. components are either built-in or cannot be
removed.

Generations of Computers
1. First Generation (1940-1956): Vacuum Tubes
 The first generation of computers relied on vacuum tubes, which were
used for both circuitry and memory storage.
 These early machines were massive and primarily used for scientific
and military applications.

Vacuum Tubes

Punch cards

Key Features:
 Size: Computers were enormous, often filling entire rooms.
 Speed: Processing speed was relatively slow due to the limitations of
vacuum tubes.
  Power Consumption: These computers consumed large amounts of
electrical power, leading to high operating costs.

Examples:
 ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer): One of the
earliest general-purpose electronic computers.
 UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer): The first commercially
successful computer.

Impact: The first generation of computers laid the foundation for modern
computing by demonstrating the potential of electronic data processing.
However, their size, inefficiency, and limited capabilities hindered their
widespread use.

Advantages :

 They were capable of making arithmetic and logical operations.

 They used the electronic values in place of the key punch machines or
the unit record machines.

Disadvantages:

 They were too big in size, very slow, low level of accuracy and
reliability.
 They consumed lot of electricity, generated a lot of heat and break
down frequently.

2. Second Generation (1956-1963): Transistors

 The second generation saw the replacement of vacuum tubes with
transistors, which were smaller, more reliable, and consumed less
power.
 Transistors made computers more compact, efficient, and affordable.

Transistors
 Key Features:
 Size: Transistor-based computers were much smaller than their
predecessors.
 Speed: Processing speeds improved, making computers more practical
for commercial and research purposes.
 Reliability: Transistors were less prone to failure than vacuum tubes,
improving the overall reliability of computers.

Examples:
 IBM 7090: A highly successful transistorized computer used in scientific
and business applications.
 CDC 1604: One of the first computers to use transistors, used for
scientific calculations.

Impact: The second generation marked a significant leap in computing, as it

brought computers to a wider audience, including businesses and research
institutions. The introduction of more reliable and faster computers helped to
establish computing as an essential tool in various fields.

Advantages:

 They required very small space, were very fast and reliable and
dependable.
 They used less power and dissipated less heat and had large storage
capacity.
 They used better peripheral devices like card readers and printer etc.

Disadvantages:

 They did not have any operating system and used assembly
languages.
 They lacked in intelligence and decision making and needed constant
upkeep and maintenance.

3. Third Generation (1964-1971): Integrated Circuits

The third generation of computers introduced integrated circuits (ICs), where
multiple transistors were integrated onto a single chip. This reduced the size
of computers further, while increasing processing power and efficiency.
 Integrated Circuits

Key Features:
 Size: Integrated circuits allowed for more compact and powerful
machines.
 Speed: Computers became faster, able to process data more efficiently.
 Heat Generation: ICs produced less heat than individual transistors,
leading to improved system stability and performance.

Examples:
 IBM System/360: A family of computers that demonstrated the versatility
of integrated circuits in various industries.
 PDP-8: One of the first commercially successful minicomputers, marking
a shift towards more affordable computing.

Impact: Integrated circuits revolutionized computer design, making

computers more accessible and affordable for a wide range of businesses
and industries. This generation paved the way for the development of more
advanced computing systems.

Advantages:

 The size was very small in comparison less costly and built with
thousands of transistor which were very cheap.
 They used faster better device for storage, called auxiliary backing or
secondary storage.
 They used operating system for better resource management and used
the concept of time sharing and multiple programming.

Disadvantages:

 They created lot of problems to the manufacturers at their initial stages.

 They lacked thinking power and decision making capability.
  They could not provide any insight into their internal working.

4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present): Microprocessors

The fourth generation introduced the microprocessor, which combined all the
components of a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) onto a single chip. This
innovation drastically reduced the size and cost of computers, leading to the rise of
personal computers.

Microprocessors

Key Features:
 Size: Computers became smaller and more affordable, allowing individuals to
own personal computers.
 Power: Microprocessors made computers significantly more powerful,
capable of handling more complex tasks.
 User Interfaces: The development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
made computers more user-friendly and accessible to non-experts.

Examples:
 Intel 4004: The first commercially available microprocessor, enabling the
creation of personal computers.
 Apple Macintosh: A popular personal computer that brought GUIs to a
wider audience.

Impact: The microprocessor revolutionized computing by making powerful,

affordable computers available to individuals and businesses alike. It laid the
foundation for the personal computer (PC) revolution and the rise of software
development, fundamentally changing how people interacted with
technology.

Advantages:

 They were very small in size, and cost of operation was very less.
  They were very compact faster and reliable as they used very large
scale integrated circuits.
 They were capable of facilitating the interactive on line remote
programming by which one sitting at the distant place can get his
programs executed by centrally located computer.

Disadvantages:

 They are less powerful and had less speed than the main frame
computers.
 They lacked thinking power and decision making ability.
 They had less storage capacity and needed further improvement.

5. Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond): Artificial

Intelligence

The fifth generation of computers is characterized by advancements in

artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and quantum computing. These
technologies enable computers to learn, reason, and process data in ways
similar to human cognition.

Artificial Intelligence

Key Features:
 Artificial Intelligence: AI systems are capable of performing complex
tasks such as natural language processing, image recognition, and
autonomous decision-making.
 Quantum Computing: Quantum computers use the principles of
quantum mechanics to perform calculations much faster than classical
computers, solving problems that were previously infeasible.
 Automation: The development of smart systems and robots that can
perform tasks autonomously in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and
logistics.

Examples:
 IBM Watson: An AI system that can analyze large datasets and answer
questions posed in natural language.
 Quantum Computers: Still in the experimental phase, these have the
potential to revolutionize fields such as cryptography and drug discovery.

Impact: The fifth generation is pushing the boundaries of what computers

can do, with AI and quantum computing expected to revolutionize industries
such as healthcare, finance, and logistics. These advancements have the
potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as
climate change, medical diagnostics, and sustainable energy

Advantages:

 They are oriented towards integrated data base development to

provide decision models.
 They faster very cheap and have the highest possible storage capacity.
 They have thinking power and decision making capability and thereby
they will be able to aid the executives in the management.

Disadvantages:

 They need very low level languages; they may replace the human force
and cause grievous unemployment problems.
 They may make the human brains dull and doomed.
 Generation Technology Key Features

1st (1940–56) Vacuum Tubes Bulky, high power, slow processing

2nd (1956–63) Transistors Smaller, faster, less heat

3rd (1964–71) Integrated More compact, reliable, increased

Circuits performance

4th (1971– Microprocessors Personal computers, fast processing,

Now) low cost

5th (Present– AI & ULSI Intelligent systems, robotics, natural

Future) language input

4. Example and Demonstration:

Selecting an Appropriate Computing Device Based on Task Requirements

Scenario: A university student engaged in academic activities such as

attending virtual classes, viewing recorded lectures, and submitting
assignments must choose suitable computing devices based on specific use
cases.
 The student uses a laptop because it is portable and can be carried
between home and college easily.
 A mobile phone is used to quickly check emails or messages, even while
traveling.
 A desktop computer is used at home for heavy tasks like video editing or
programming, where high speed and performance are needed.

5. Case Study:
Use of Computer Types in a University Environment

At Rungta International Skills University:

 Administrative Staff use desktop computers for database entry,

document processing, and printing official reports.

 Students use laptops for note-taking, coding, and presentations

due to their portability.

 Faculty may use desktops or laptops for research, preparing

lectures, and conducting online sessions.
  Tablets are used during workshops or events for digital
attendance, surveys, and quick browsing.

 Mobile phones are commonly used by everyone for

communication, email access, and academic apps.

This case study highlights how different departments or users prefer

different types of computers depending on their task, mobility, and
performance needs.

6. Practice Problems related to this lecture

 What is the difference between a desktop and a laptop in terms of
portability and usage?
 Why are mobile phones considered computers in modern times?
 Which generation of computers introduced Integrated Circuits (ICs)?
What advantages did they offer?
 List and briefly describe the five generations of computers along with
the primary technology used in each generation?
 Explain the different generations of computers with their advantages
and disadvantages.
 Compare each generation of computer with examples.

7. References

 https://learn.kita-project.eu/course/view.php?id=4&section=4

 https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-organization-architecture/
generations-of-computer/