WEEK 3

This trimester, my schedule is very comfortable, I am satisfied with my time management and my first lecture of Computer & Internet is on Wednesday at 8:00am to 10:00am. This is the best time to study, because I am very energetic and enthusiastic to study, because I just had my breakfast, I had my shower and so on... Moreover, our lecturer is funny, I mean his lectures are not boring, that is why I appreciate it.

cheerfulness and power in the morning

So, on Wednesday of 6th February, I came to class on time, and I was ready to study.

In that lecture, we began our topic from: "Who invented the computer?" 

"Who invented the computer?" 

And our lecturer said that there are a lot of variants and until today I don't know who exactly created and invented the computer.

* Charles Babbage, 1791-1871

* John von Neumann, 1903-1957

* Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662

EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERS.

During that class, we also learned about the Computer Generation History. I learned about the Evolution of Computers. There are five generations: 

Vacuum Tube (First Generation 1940-1950)

- UNIVAC [1950].
- ENIAC [1945].

Transistors (Second Generation, 1950-1964)

- IBM1401 mainframe.

Integrated Circuits "IC" (Third Generation , 1964-1974)

- Microprocessor chips combines thousands of transistors, entire circuit on one computer chip.

VLSI / ULSI Forth generation (1974-present)

- VLSI = Very Large-Scale Integration.
- ULSI = Ultra Large Scale Integration.

Artificial Intelligent Computers (now and future) 

- Based on artificial intelligence - computers can think, reason and learn.

- Nanotechnology.

COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE 

We also learned about computer architecture. It is the field of study of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that satisfy functional performance and cost goals. 

In Computer Architecture there are 5 basic components:

• Input
• Output
• Memory
• Control
• Data Path

COMPUTER CATEGORIES

Later on, we also learned about the categories of computer, there are six Categories of Computer:

• Embedded Computers  (Mini computers embedded into a specific product for specific function)
• Mobile devices/computers  (Small computer that fits on your hand, contain built-in computing or Internet capabilities) 
• Personal Computers (Fully functioning portable or desktop computers)
• Mid-range Servers (Physically likes small cabinet, hosting data and programs available to a small group of users) 
• Mainframes (is a large, expensive, very powerful computers that can handle thousands of connected users)
• Supercomputers (The fastest, most powerful, and most expensive category of computers)

COMPUTER PROCESSING POWER

The main important thing that I understood that if we compare the computers there is a big difference between their powers.

For example, speed of the computer is measured in hertz (Hz) i.e. cycles per second.

Capacity is measured in bytes (B) where

1 byte = 8 bits (binary digits) = 1 character.

Hard disk capacity (MB- megabytes, GB – gigabytes)

Moreover, the display on computer is also divided in qualities. It given by the numbers of pixels (picture elements).

WEEK 2

From what I have learnt in classes of week 2, I revised about computers. We learnt about what does computer mean and why we should use it. Actually, I already knew about it, but I got more new information's and moreover I revised about computers.

Computer - is a programmable machine that carries out what it has been instructed to do.

PC (Personal Computer)

As we know, computers are not a living things. It has been created by humans. So it has own command or operations which gives us desired results. So, we learned the basic operations of computer.

Actually, there are four main operations, such as:

* Input

* Processing

* Output

* Storage

One more operation: 
* Communication.

The five activities in graph above forms the information processing cycle.

Computer Components:

• Hardware – the physical parts (the electrical, electronic or mechanical parts of a computer)
• Software – the set of instructions/ programs (also known as a program – a series of related instructions, organized for a common purpose. It tells the computer what task to perform and how to do it)  

Others:

• People
• Data/ Information

Also in week 2, I learned about the Number Systems. There are 4 types of number systems:

• Decimal Number Systems (It uses ten numerals to form a string of numbers. The values are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9)
• Binary Number Systems (It uses two numerals/ digits to form a string of numbers. They are 0 and 1. Also known as BITS)
• Octal Number Systems (It uses eight numerals to form a string of numbers. They are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 )
• Hexadecimal Number Systems (It uses sixteen symbols (numerals + letters) to form a string of numbers. They are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D and E. Also known as Hex)

Example: Let me show you one of the examples how to convert and use number systems, for instance let's take conversion from Binary to Decimal:
Convert 11012 to Decimal.
How? Use this table and multiply the digits with the position values

11012  = (1x 23) + (1x 22) + (0 x 21) + (1x 20)

          = (1x 8) + (1x 4) + (0 x 1) + (1x1)

          = 8 + 4 + 0 + 1 =   13

Therefore, 11012 = 1310

So, in class on Thursday we also did in class activity, our lecturer gave us the task. The task was to solve the examples which were related about Number Systems, we had to convert them. Based on that task, I have practiced and understood this topic better.

  

WEEK 1

My first week on Computer & Internet subject was funny. We had only one lecture class in week 1. Because in 24th of January it was public holiday, that is why we didn't study. My first lecture was one day before the public holiday, in 23.01.2013.

Actually, in first class we introduced ourselves to our new group and lecturer. Our lecturer's name is Azamuddin AB Rahman.

Later on we had Ice-Breaking Session, we already got know each other, so later lecturer explained us why we should study ICT, what does it consists of and so on. I understood that we need it is:

A generic course for your future studies programmed, either in IT-related field, Business or others.

WHAT is the course all about?

Moreover we were informed about:

1. Lecture Schedule

1. Assessment Components

1. Assignments which are going to be in this trimester

1. Learning Portfolio & Blog Development

1. and etc...

In addition, in my first class of Computer and Internet we passed about the rules and regulations in class:

No phones

• Don't make noise during the class.
• Don't be late to class.
• No phone calls, sms in class.
• Do not copying and plagiarizing the assignments. 
• Respect the lecturer and follow the instructions.
• We are allowed to use our laptops during lectures

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

"Asking whether computers can think is like asking if submarines can swim" - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra  

Assalamu Aleikum,my name is Chika! I am from Kyrgyzstan and I am 19. I came to Malaysia in January, 2012. I am studying in AIU and in August,2012 I successfully finished my IEP studies  and now I am doing my Foundation Studies!

As a person, I know myself well but I couldn't describe myself fully, I think others see in me more than I do. As being said: "onlooker sees most of the game".

During my life I was interested in a lot of activities. I can say that I am various person. I like sport, travelling, music, humor and information technology as well. So, when I first time arrived to AIU, I decided to choose IT department, however last semester I have chosen Introduction to Information Technology (IT) and I understood that Information Technology is not easy as it seems, it is not only computers, software, games and so on. I understood that IT subject needs hard-working and desire. So, now I am not sure which department am I going to choose in my Degree Studies. The time will show us, Inshallah...

For my first semester in Foundation Studies, I studied not hard as I should do. :( However, I got a lot of new information and experience, especially on Information Technology  In this subject we did a lot of individual assignments, group assignments, projects, class activities and so on. The lectures were really interesting and sometimes funny. The lecturer was Ms. Nur Khairunnisha Zaina. For this subject, I got "A" and I am really satisfied with my mark. I really got interested in Information Technology.

So, for this semester I have chosen Introduction to Computer and Internet. I hope that this subject also will be very interesting and cognitive, because, as I mentioned I am interested in IT, so it will be very enjoyable subject for me.