CHAPTER 2 COMPUTER HARDWARE

Questions and Answers

Which era marked the beginning of widespread commercial use of mainframe computers?

General-Purpose Mainframe and Minicomputer Era

What was the significance of the IBM 360 series introduced in 1965?

It marked the beginning of widespread commercial use of mainframe computers

What type of computer hardware became powerful enough to support thousands of online remote terminals?

Mainframe computers

What launched a spate of personal desktop productivity software tools in the 1980s and early 1990s?

Proliferation of PCs Signup and view all the answers

What type of machines were introduced in 1959 that marked the beginning of widespread commercial use of mainframe computers?

Transistorized machines Signup and view all the answers

In which era did the proliferation of PCs in the 1980s and early 1990s occur?

Personal Computer Era Signup and view all the answers

What era of computing refers to a model that provides access to a shared pool of computing resources over a network, often the Internet?

Cloud and Mobile Computing Era Signup and view all the answers

In client/server computing, what is the user point of entry?

Client Signup and view all the answers

Which type of computer typically processes and stores shared data in client/server computing?

Server Signup and view all the answers

What determined the power of personal computers according to the text?

Speed, capacity, and flexibility Signup and view all the answers

Which type of system unit contains all components including the monitor?

All-in-Ones Signup and view all the answers

What type of device is a handheld computer that extends the capabilities of cell phones?

Tablets Signup and view all the answers

Which era saw firms turning to networking standards and software tools to integrate disparate networks and applications into an enterprise-wide infrastructure?

Enterprise Computing Era Signup and view all the answers

What type of computing refers to a model that provides access to a shared pool of computing resources over a network?

"Cloud Computing Model" Signup and view all the answers

"Ultrabooks" are associated with which type of computer?

"Laptops" Signup and view all the answers

What does the term "server" refer to in client/server computing?

Both the software application and the physical computer Signup and view all the answers

What determines the power of personal computers according to the text?

Speed, capacity, and flexibility Signup and view all the answers

What type of system unit houses most of the electronic components that make up a computer system?

System Chassis Signup and view all the answers

Which type of printers uses a laser light beam to produce images?

Laser printers Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of secondary storage?

Media Signup and view all the answers

What causes tablet hunch as mentioned in the text?

Improper alignment of the user's head to the viewing surface Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) mentioned in the text?

Receive input from a controller and send back video and sound to the user Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage is volatile, meaning it loses content when the computer loses power?

RAM Signup and view all the answers

What do hard disks use to store files, as mentioned in the text?

Magnetic charges Signup and view all the answers

What causes a head crash on a hard disk, as mentioned in the text?

Contact between the read-write head and particles on the hard disk's surface Signup and view all the answers

Where are internal hard disks located as per the text?

Inside the system unit Signup and view all the answers

Which type of printer is known for being reliable, quiet, and inexpensive?

3 Signup and view all the answers

Which wireless technology is used to connect to speakers and headsets as per the text?

Bluetooth Technology Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of human factors related to things people use, mentioned in the text?

Ergonomics Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage permanently saves information for future use, as per the text?

Secondary storage Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following storage devices has no moving parts?

Solid-state drives Signup and view all the answers

What type of light is used to represent data on optical discs?

Reflected light Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cloud storage service provides applications as a service rather than a product?

Cloud Storage Service Companies Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a Storage Area Network (SAN)?

To link remote computer storage devices Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of nanotechnology in computer science?

Building materials at the nanometer scale Signup and view all the answers

Which emerging technology is expected to cause a tectonic shift in architectures and software?

Universal Memory Signup and view all the answers

In which device is silicon photonics expected to be a fundamental technology?

Exa-scale supercomputers Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory will be everywhere by 2022, according to the text?

Universal Memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the capacity range of USB Drives mentioned in the text?

<128 GB to 256 GB Signup and view all the answers

'Pits' on optical discs are responsible for determining what when light is reflected?

'1s' and '0s' Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of solid-state drives over hard disks according to the text?

Faster speed and more durability Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storage devices can hold over 128 gigabytes (GB) of data?

Optical Discs Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of input devices?

Translate data into a form that the system unit can process Signup and view all the answers

Which device uses handwriting recognition software?

Stylus Signup and view all the answers

What type of mouse has no moving parts?

Optical mouse Signup and view all the answers

What type of monitors are referred to as screens or display screens and present visual images of text and graphics?

Flat-panel monitors Signup and view all the answers

Which device recognizes special characters and marks like Magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR)?

Character and mark recognition devices Signup and view all the answers

Which type of scanners are used for routing packages by shipping companies?

MaxiCode readers Signup and view all the answers

What type of input devices provide an intuitive interface by accepting pointing gestures and converting them into machine-readable input?

Pointing devices Signup and view all the answers

Which device captures images digitally and stores them in memory?

Digital camera Signup and view all the answers

What type of readers contain photo-electric cells that scan or read bar codes or the zebra striped marks printed on product containers?

Wand readers Signup and view all the answers

What type of voice recognition systems use a microphone, sound card, and special software to operate computers and create documents using voice commands?

Smartphones Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of output devices?

Convert processed data to a form we can understand Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the system board or main board in a computer system?

Controlling communication for the entire computer system Signup and view all the answers

Which component is considered the 'brain' of the computer?

Central Processing Unit (CPU) Signup and view all the answers

What does RAM stand for in the context of computer hardware?

Random Access Memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of ROM in a computer system?

Store information provided by the manufacturer that cannot be changed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of flash memory in a computer system?

Combines features of RAM and ROM, providing startup information and BIOS Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of expansion slots in a computer system?

Provide a connection point for specialized cards or circuit boards to expand the computer's capabilities Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of bus lines in a computer system?

Provide pathways to support communication among electronic components Signup and view all the answers

What are ports used for in a computer system?

Connect external devices to the system unit for input or output purposes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of standard ports in a computer system?

Connect commonly used devices like keyboards, mice, printers, and storage devices Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of cables in a computer system?

Connect external devices to the system unit via the ports Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of power supply in a computer system?

Converting alternating current (AC) from wall outlets or batteries into direct current (DC) power needed by computers Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'digital electronic signals' in a computer system?

Two-state binary signals consisting of only two digits: on (1) and off (0) Signup and view all the answers

What does a byte consist of in a computer system?

8 bits grouped together Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Era of Mainframe Computers

The era of widespread commercial use of mainframe computers began with the introduction of the IBM 704 in 1959.
The IBM 360 series, launched in 1965, was significant for unifying various computing tasks, enhancing compatibility, and introducing virtual memory.

Computer Hardware and Remote Connectivity

Powerful hardware, capable of supporting thousands of online remote terminals, emerged during the 1960s and 1970s.
Personal desktop productivity software tools surged in the 1980s and early 1990s due to the PC proliferation.

Client/Server Computing

The user point of entry in client/server computing is typically a client device.
In this model, shared data is primarily processed and stored on server computers.

Personal Computer Power

The power of personal computers is influenced by processor speed, memory capacity, and storage capabilities.
The system unit may contain all components, including the monitor.
Desktop computers and laptops, including "Ultrabooks," fall into this category.

Storage Technologies

Secondary storage is characterized by its permanency in retaining data even when powered off.
Volatile storage, such as RAM, loses content when the power goes out.
Hard disks utilize magnetic storage to maintain files.
Head crashes occur due to physical contact between the read/write head and the disk surface.

Printing Technologies

Laser printers use a laser light beam for image production, known for speed and quality.
Inkjet printers are favored for being quiet and cost-effective.

Drones and Technologies

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are primarily utilized for aerial surveillance and delivery.
Wireless technologies like Bluetooth are used for connecting speakers and headsets.

Human-Computer Interaction

The study of human factors relates to the optimization of how people interact with technology.

Cloud Storage and Networking

Cloud computing refers to accessing shared computing resources over networks, especially the Internet.
A Storage Area Network (SAN) serves to enhance data storage efficiency and scalability.

Emerging Technologies

Nanotechnology is focused on manipulating matter at an atomic scale within computer science.
Silicon photonics is anticipated to be a crucial component in future computing devices.

Memory and Storage Devices

By 2022, solid-state drive (SSD) technology was expected to become ubiquitous across devices.
USB drives have a capacity range typically exceeding 128 gigabytes.
Flash memory serves as quick-access storage in computers.

Input and Output Devices

Input devices convert physical user actions into digital signals, including mice and handwriting recognition devices.
Output devices, including monitors and printers, relay information to the user.

Computer System Components

The system board, or main board, connects all components and serves as the central hub.
The central processing unit (CPU) is referred to as the 'brain' of the computer.
RAM (Random Access Memory) provides temporary storage for active processes, while ROM (Read-Only Memory) retains permanent instructions.
Expansion slots enable the installation of additional components, while bus lines facilitate communication between them.

Data Representation

Digital electronic signals represent binary data comprehensible to computer systems.
A byte consists of eight bits, forming the basic unit of data storage.

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