For many, the best invention in history along with the Internet. Computer science is undoubtedly the invention that has had the most impact on the modern world above almost everything, since its appearance, we have advanced in discovery in all sectors .
However, for many it is a bit complicated to understand their concepts, but the reality is that it is not so much. Like every profession, there are levels that are only available to professionals, but there are others that anyone can learn as a general culture .
In this article we are going to show you what are the main concepts and terms that you should know about basic computing , so that you can have a conversation on the subject with anyone else, in addition to enriching your mental knowledge library.
Index:
What is computing and what is this technology for?
In simple words, computer science or computing is that science (yes, it is a science), which is responsible for studying the treatment of information in digital format. This requires the implementation of different equipment (hardware), and applications or programs (softwares), that work together to achieve a complete digitalization of the data .
This very simple concept has essentially allowed us to have real super powers. The first is the ability to duplicate data at pleasure without having to spend physical resources, as if it occurs in the physical world.
For example, to replicate a 500-page encyclopedia, it is necessary to manufacture another 500 pages (with all that that means for the environment), while doing the same in computing only requires extra digital resources (bites).
How does a computer system work? Components
In short, the operation of a computer system can be summarized in 3 stages; input, output and processing . These three elements are the basis of any computer system that exists, and in some ways is its main objective.
We explain each phase below:
- Input: The input phase is nothing more than the data or orders that the user indicates to the computer to execute, it is the process by which the information is captured.
- Processing: This phase is the interpretation of the data that was captured in the input phase. It is here when the computer “thinks” and analyzes the information collected.
- Output: Finally there is the output phase, which is the one in which the data that is previously transmitted is transmitted were captured and processed in the previous phases.
Of course, each of these phases has internal processes that are much more complex to explain, but what you should be clear about is that they can summarize the operation of a computer system. As for its components, this is another point that can be summarized in two parts :
- Hardware : refers to all those physical components that are tangible and with which the user interacts directly to handle the computer processes.
- Software: This refers to the internal programming of the system, they are all those intangible elements that are necessary for the data to be captured, processed and transmitted correctly.
History and evolution of computing When and who created it?
Computer science is much older than you think. Most of today’s society thinks that it was born together with the computers or the first computer, but the reality is that it comes from a long time ago .
The first vestiges of this science can be observed in the Euclid algorithm, which is an old and very efficient method that was used to calculate the greatest common factor of any number . However, the first advances that shaped the computer science we know today occurred centuries later, in the 1600s, when the first analogue calculators were invented, and we would have to wait until the 19th century, when the first programmable machines were invented .
These advances were quite vague and not as useful as we know them today. At that time, computing was used as a way to facilitate simple and repetitive tasks in areas such as administration and accounting, nothing to do with what we have now.
But all this would change in 1946, when the first computer is manufactured and with it the first information systems. Since then the growth has been colossal, with the emergence of operating systems in the 80’s and especially with the Internet , thus turning computing into the present and future of the world we know today.
What is the binary language we use to communicate with the computer?
One of the events that generated the most impact in the world of computing was the discovery of the language of binary code. The experts of the time discovered that computers and basically any digital device had its own way of communicating .
It was a set of codes that were called binary because there were only two digits; some (1) and zeros (0). Each of these digits were called bit, which would also be the smallest storage unit. In this way, each letter or image within a computer is represented by a bit string with a length equivalent to its size .
To organize things well, units of measurement were created according to the number of bits. This is how 1 bit; it is a 0 or a 1, a decabit; they are 10 zeros or ones, one hectabit; they are 100 zeros or ones, one kilobit; They are 1000 zeros or ones, and so on until we reach the terabit we know today as one of the biggest measures that exist .
You will now understand that if an image weighs 1KB, in binary numbers it is represented by 1000 zeros or ones, not to mention if it weighs 1MB, or up to 1GB. Each graphic element that you see on your computer screen, from each letter to each icon, has its representation in binary code , and the computer’s job is also to process the information in such a way that we translates it into a way we can understand.
List of the most important basic concepts you should know about computing
In addition to everything we’ve taught you so far, it’s important that you know certain basic concepts that will help you get a clearer idea of what this revolutionary science is.
Here are the highlights:
Software
We have already told you about this element before, since it is one of the most important components of computer science in general. The term software refers to all those intangible elements that work within a computer . This is the software that makes it possible to perform any task that we order to a computer.
The software is essential both for the processing and for the transmission of the data , and all the programs, network protocols and other logical elements that make it up are vital for the operation of the computing in general. You could say that this is the brain, neurons and bloodstream of a computer system.
Hardware
The hardware for its part corresponds to all those physical elements that make up a computer or computer system. In this sense they are included from the cables and connectors, to each capacitor of the motherboard and other devices. Among the basic hardware components of a computer we can identify the following :
- Monitor.
- Processor.
- RAM and ROM memories.
- Motherboard or motherboard.
- Source Power.
- Keyboard.
- Mouse.
Operating system
An operating system is a software element that manages hardware resources. In a nutshell it is the main program or set of these that allow the user to easily manage a computer.
The operating systems were slow to reach the world of computer science, but once they did they never separated, since they facilitated access to computers to users with little knowledge and information technology. In fact, much of the success of home computers is thanks to the OS. Among the main ones that exist we can identify Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS, or Ubuntu Linux .
Also in this regard we can mention the operating systems of mobile devices such as Google Android, Apple iOS or Microsoft Windows Phone .
Networks
A very important concept in computer science is that of networks. It is known as a computer network to that set of computers that connect to each other and exchange information constantly. It is this concept that makes it possible for the Internet to exist, which is a huge worldwide network that connects all computers .
Computer networks are usually classified according to their geographical scope , and can be personal (PAN), local (LAN), campus (CAN), metropolitan (MAN), broad (WAN). Another way to classify them is according to the type of connection, which can be wired for all types of networks mentioned above, or wireless (wireless).
Bit
As we mentioned earlier, one byte is the smallest unit of measurement of digital information known. This is represented by a one (1) or a zero (0) in binary code. The etymology of this word is given precisely for it, since it means “Binary Digit”. The next unit is the byte, which is also known as an octet as it corresponds to a set of eight ordered bits.
Programming
Programming refers to the activity that focuses on the creation of programmed actions in a computer system. If you think about it, a program is nothing more than a set of rules that are set so that data flows in a certain way and executes a specific action . In this sense, there are many types of programs, whose complexity is determined by the number of actions they can take.
Thanks to it, there are both softwares or programs, as well as the applications and web pages we know today. All this is done based on a source code , which is the basis of any program, which is subsequently modified to customize it and make each software different from another.
For example, all editing programs have a source code that is at least similar to some extent, that their developers then modify to make their own creations .
Programming language
A programming language is a formal language that follows a series of unique rules that allow a programmer or master to create algorithms that determine the way in which information is processed in a computer system. These basics to be able to create all the programs and websites we know today .
There are a wide variety of these, and each one works specifically to develop certain types of logical elements such as databases, tools and others.
Among the best known languages we have :
- Pyton.
- Java.
- HTML5.
- PHP.
- CSS.
- Pascal.
These are just a few, the reality is that there are dozens of languages that are classified according to the type of algorithms or programs that can be developed with them.
Processor
The processor is a hardware element that is responsible for processing all the information that enters and leaves a computer. If we compare a computer with the human body, the processor would clearly be the brain , since that is where all the input data is analyzed and then perform an output or data transmission action.
The evolution of the processors is at least curious, since one of its most important qualities is undoubtedly its power, which determines the speed with which they interpret the information.
The first processors created for the 60’s were huge, or often made up of several teams, this has changed and increasingly smaller processors have been achieved that, contrary to what is thought, are faster. It has always been about creating a processor that is as fast as the human brain, which has not been achieved so far .
RAM and ROM memories
ROM and RAM memories are two essential elements to facilitate the operation of a computer system. Both are clearly different, but one could say that they work together and that without some extent «sisters» .
The ROM or “Read only” memory is the storage of our device , it is where it is stored data of extreme importance for the operation of the operating system, as well as documents and other files of users.
This is found on the hard disk, and its name is attributed to its main function, which is to save data so that these are later read by the processor.
For its part, the RAM or “Random Access Memory” is quite different. It also saves important information for the operation of a program, but these are temporary and are constantly written and rewritten .
It is a fundamental support for the processing since it maintains volatile data so that the processor accesses them as soon as possible, and thus speeds up, redundancy, information processing to run a software.
Antivirus
Viruses are undoubtedly one of the greatest threats to computer science, since they have the quality of stealing important information or of torpedoing the operation of the system. That is why the antivirus was invented, which are programs that identify threats to later suppress them , block them and remove them from the computer.
Antispyware
An antispyware is very similar to an antivirus, with the difference that these focus on detecting threats that are a risk to the privacy of the user and the data stored on the computer.
Working together with the previous program, you get complete protection of the information we store on our computers, so that nobody can extract or view them without our permission. In fact, many developers create mixed programs that include both antivirus and antispyware.