BUSINESS DATA PROCESSING I & INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY. A RESEARCH PROJECT MATERIAL ON COMPUTER SCIENCE

Preface

The dynamic business environment made possible by the rapid advancement in information communication technology brought about by the internet and other computer communication technology has no doubt cause students and other user to learn their application.

For those interested in Business Data Processing and other user, this book is intended to serve as an introduction to Data Processing. But before going into Business Data Processing, It is important that the readers be exposed to various application both hardware and software that made this process possible.

This book details the history of computers and many evolution in this field from Vacuum tub to transistors and to Silicon. The book also show types of computers, Analog and Digital with various categories of computers. Components of hardware and several soft ware application were also discussed for the benefit of the students.

 Data processing Principles and practice together with input output devices, the DP personnel and their functions is detailed. Word processing which treated Microsoft office package and other items are also treated.

Lastly this book dealt with Data Communications and communication networks including the internet and how it has revolutionized and brought many changes to our lives in this era.

This book is written with students of higher learning in mind, it is in line with   both the National  Board of Technical Education  (NBTC) programmes and National University Commission Programmes.

Chapter 1

THE HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

The first commercial computers became available in the early 1950s. Since then, computers and computer use have gone through a rapid evolution. But before that time, computers and computing devices developed slowly. This listing takes a brief look at both the early and modern history of computers.

THE EARLY HISTORY OF COMPUTING AND DATA PROCESSING

People have been trying to find easier ways of doing calculations for thousands of years. The Abacus, invented over 2500 years ago, was one of the first efforts. The first mechanical calculator was invented by Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, in 1642.

Babbage’s Analytical Engine