Computer Abbreviations

What is Computing?

Computing is an area of digital information, which includes the processes of collecting, storing, processing, transferring and disseminating data.

The term is the combination of the words information and automatic, so it can be summarized as information processed by automatic means.

Information technology, its innovations and its devices are part of all areas of our life and serve as a tool for work, study and entertainment.

What is basic computing?

Basic computing teaches the fundamental concepts of computers, important notions that make life and work organization easier.

Nowadays, basic computer knowledge is a common requirement for many job vacancies. Having basic computer skills means knowing:

use a computer;
access the Internet;
use browsers and search engines;
create and save files;
organize folders;
create basic spreadsheets and charts;
connect devices via USB cable;
understand the computer’s operating system.

The most important basic concepts

To understand the basics of computing, you need to know that there are two basic types of devices: hardware and software.

Hardware is the machine, made up of electronic components and all the parts and peripherals that are part of the computer. It can be a desktop (desktop) or laptop (laptop) computer.

Software is as important as hardware, it is the programs developed to make the computer work and perform activities.

Other basic computing concepts are:

operating system : it is the most important software, which makes the computer work and allows other programs to be installed and to work;
CPU : another very important part, responsible for processing the data stored on the computer;
monitor : is the computer screen;
RAM memory : memory used for storage, it has different capacities according to the type of computer;
hard disk (HD) : device where all the computer’s data and programs are stored;
motherboard : responsible for the joint operation of the computer;
processor : device that processes computer data;
External HD : portable data storage device with large capacity, connected by cable with USB port;
USB : is the cable input port for connecting to other devices such as printers or chargers;
pen drive : is a portable data storage device, it is used to save documents and transfer them to other computers.

What is informatics for?

As it is a very vast area, which encompasses research and the creation of different technologies, information technology facilitates the lives and activities of people and society as a whole. It puts technology at the service of people and simplifies work and study activities, as well as being a source of entertainment (films and games, for example).

Information technology makes it easier and faster to deal with information. Creating, improving, accessing, storing and distributing data or any type of information is easier and faster.

Computer science covers many areas of activity, such as:

schedule;
systems analysis;
hardware development;
information technology (IT);
computer maintenance;
artificial intelligence.

These are just a few examples, since information technology is present in our daily lives and in almost all the activities we do daily.

How did computing come about?

The history of computing begins before the appearance of the first prototype of a computer, which was only created in the early 1930s. The principle that led to the development of this type of technology is much older, when the need to create a device that could do calculations quickly.

The creation of the first calculator, which was based on mathematical algorithms and was invented by French mathematician Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) in 1642 is recognized as the first creation of computer science. Pascal’s creation was called Pascaline.

The Third Industrial Revolution (between the 1950s and 1970s) represents a fundamental moment in the history of information technology. At that time, advanced technologies emerged that later originated and popularized personal computers, digital files, the internet and virtual communication that we know today.

The English mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954) created the first concepts of computer science and the use of algorithms.

ENIAC: the first digital computer

The Electronic Numeral Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was the world’s first digital computer, but it was nothing like the computers we know today.

It weighed about 30 tons and occupied a space of 150 m ² and, despite its size, it had only 200 bits of memory.

It was developed during World War II (1939-1945) and began operating in 1947. It was created by John William Mauchly (1907-1980) and John Presper Eckert (1919-1995).

It was commissioned and used by the US Army to process data on tactical research. It operated with a manual card punching system and had the capacity to do up to 5000 operations per second and was in operation for ten years.

Summary of the evolution of computing in four periods

The history of computing can be told by the evolution of computers. It is divided into four stages, called generations:

First generation (1951/1959): The first computers had many problems, such as high power consumption, low processing speed and low memory. Even so, they represented the advance of information technology in the 1950s. ENIAC is part of this first generation.
Second generation (1959/1965): second generation computers became a little smaller and already consumed less energy, but still took up large spaces and had similar problems as the first generation. They were the first computers used in commercial activities.
Third Generation (1965/1975): computers became even lighter and smaller and were enhanced with important technological innovations, such as the chip. They were faster devices with more processing and storage capacity. It was during this period that the first personal computers appeared.
Fourth generation (1975 onwards): from the 1970s onwards, the evolution of computing has been rapid, with the creation of numerous technologies and devices that are increasingly faster, smarter and more efficient, and the commercialization of computers has grown as never before. Internet and robotics are two areas that emerged at this time.

List of Acronyms Related to Computer