Introduction to Humanities Computing
Spring 1999
Lecture Two
Introduction to Humanities Computing
François Lachance
416 326-2524 (o)
TSH 205 (drop off)
lachanc@mcmaster.ca
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
Computer & System
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Sensors
Robots
 CPU
Central Processing Unit
 Peripherals
 Peripherals
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Sensors
Robots
 CPU
Components of a Definition
 General
Purpose
 Stored-Program
 Electronic
 Binary Digits
 Calculating Machine
General Purpose
Is it dedicated to one purpose if
it can do any type of calculation?
Would a calculator be a computer?
Is a PDA like this a computer?
Stored-Program
How are programs and data
loaded into the device?
ENIAC
Programmed Manually
EDVAC
Stored-Program
Electronic
Babbage’s engines were mechanical
Does it have
gears,
vacuum
tubes,
or
chips?
Binary Digits
How is information stored and
manipulated in the computer?
Alphanumeric (Letters & Numbers)
Hi! My name is C3P0.
Decimal - 10 Possible Settings
12 23 45 01 94 89 59
Binary Digits - 2 Possible Settings
0111011010101000
Binary Digits
How is information stored and
manipulated in the computer?
Switch on/off
011010
What is hexadecimal?
From binary model...
…to machine
Types of Computer
 Mainframe
 Mini(computer)
 Workstation
(UNIX)
 Microcomputer
Personal Computer (PC)
 Laptops
& PDAs
 Game computers
 Terminals (NCs)
Other Types?
Think of the uses of computers
Is the computer just a tool?
How is it a cultural artefact?
Remind me to tell you the story about the
fan...
Some computer uses
 As
a fancy calculator
 As a fancy typewriter
 As a controller for other devices
 As an extension of your TV
 As type of toy
 As a fancy telephone
Use the OED online to look up the etymology of
“machine” -- how is a computer a machine?
Perspectives on Computers
 Types
 Uses
 Components
 When
a computer starts
 Input/Output
Computer as
city of circuits
Parts of the Computer
 System
Unit
Motherboard
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
RAM
Hard Drive and Floppy Drive
Power Supply
Daughterboards
 Keyboard
 Monitor
 Peripherals
Electricity
Data
Power Supply
Floppy Drive
Socket
Power Supply
Hard Drive
Motherboard
Monitor
Keyboard
Bus
the electric connection linking
internal components of the computer
Central Processing Unit
RAM/ROM
Data
Hard Drive
Floppy Disk Drive
Bus (PCI, SCSI, USB)
16 bit
Daughter Boards
32 bit
Modem
Monitor
Starting-up
Mac
IBM Class
Document(s)
Running
Program
Opening
Windows
(Program Manager)
Program/File Management
MS DOS
Operating System
Mac OS
Intel
(X86,Pentium)
Booting
Hardware (RAM)
Motorola
(Power PC)
Finder
Input and Output
 How
does information get into the
computer?
 How does the computer return information?
Input
Devices
Processor
CPU
Storage
Devices
Output
Devices
(Input & Output) OR (Output & Input)

Output
Screen
Printer
Speaker
Computer
Robot

Input
Keyboard
Mouse
Scanner
Microphone (Audio
digitizer)
Video digitizer
Metaphors
Memory
(Hard Drive)
Consciousness
(RAM)
The Mind - Processing = Thinking
More metaphors
Office - Processing = Working
Running, Opening, Loading
Storage
Deleting
Even more metaphors
What is your
favorite
metaphor for a
computer
?
End
Just the beginning
101 = 5