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Computer: Definition and History

Computer: Definition and History. Lin Zhong ELEC101, Rice University. What makes a computer?. What did you do to the NXT, indeed?. lab1.nxc. Compiler. lab1.rxe. Program as understood by NXT. What does it take NXT to achieve it?. Interface to receive your instructions

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Computer: Definition and History

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  1. Computer: Definition and History Lin Zhong ELEC101, Rice University

  2. What makes a computer?

  3. What did you do to the NXT, indeed?

  4. lab1.nxc Compiler lab1.rxe

  5. Program as understood by NXT

  6. What does it take NXT to achieve it? • Interface to receive your instructions • Store your instructions • Execute your instructions • Sense • Calculate • Actuate

  7. Computer: definition • Programmable machine that receives input, storesand automatically manipulates data, and provides output in a useful format • Wikipedia

  8. Elementary functions of computer • Communication • Input • Output • Storage • Processing (calculation/manipulation)

  9. Computer: definition • Programmable machine that receives input, storesand automatically manipulates data, and provides output in a useful format • Wikipedia

  10. Key features of computer • Programmable • Take new instructions • Automatic • Involving human as little as possible • Useful • Serve a human purpose

  11. Questions to answer • Why does NXT accept instructions in 0s and 1s? • How does NXT store instructions? • How does NXT interpret the instructions?

  12. Key concepts • State, data, and information • Computing • How to store, change, and communicate information • Analog signal vs. digital signal • State in various incarnations

  13. State vs. Data vs. Information • State • The physical property of a physical entity • Data • State measurement properly represented • Information • “Meanings” carried by signal/data • Can be measured (entropy) • Subjective • Objective

  14. Computing • Human function • Process information • Store information • Communication information • Physical realization • Modification (Processing) of a state • Storage of a state • Communication of a state

  15. The world is analog • Analog states • Continuous in both time and amplitude • Temperature as example • Practical challenges to analog state • For example, tell a friend about the classroom temperature

  16. Analog to digital: Quantization Amplitude Time Discrete value, continuous time Why could the information loss be fine?

  17. Analog to digital: Sampling Amplitude Time Discrete time, continuous value Why could the information loss be fine?

  18. Digital signal Amplitude Time Discrete value, discrete time

  19. Era of mechanical states Chinese abacus

  20. Punched card based “computers” • Two states: presence or absence of hole

  21. Jacquard loom (1801) • Punched cards control positions of hooks for weaving • More: fairground organ, player piano,….,

  22. Mechanical computer • Charles Babbage (1791-1871) • Difference Engine • Analytical Engine • First programmable computer • First programmer (Ada Lovelace) WWW

  23. Mechanical calculator (1900s to 1960s) 1958 1964

  24. 1966

  25. Problems with mechanical states • To change a state • To store a state • To communicate a state

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