Computer Keyboards and Printers Quiz

Types of Computing Devices

• Computers have been classified since their invention, categorized by how they operate (input, processing, output).
• Computers are also grouped into categories based on their electronic nature and function.
• Key computer types include: Analog, Digital, and Hybrid.

Analog Computers

• Designed for processing analog data.
• Analog data is continuous and does not have discrete values.
• Analog computers directly accept data from measuring devices, measuring continuous changes.
• Examples include speedometers, and mercury thermometers.
• These devices monitor changes in continuous electrical states (pressure, temperature, voltage, length, volume, shaft rotation).
• A petrol pump and speedometer are analog examples.
• Analog computers offer limited accuracy compared to digital devices.

Digital Computers

• Perform calculations precisely by counting numbers.
• Data is represented by discrete states ("on" and "off", yes/no, conducting/non-conducting) of electronic circuitry.
• Represented by binary numbers (1s and 0s) in the number system.
• The binary system efficiently depicts the on/off electric current states.
• All data is converted into binary form before processing.
• Generally yield more accurate results than analog devices.

Hybrid Computers

• Combine analog and digital components.
• Some units function as analog devices, requiring analog quantities.
• Other units are digital, requiring digital quantities.
• Hybrid computers offer the speed of analog computers and the memory and accuracy of digital computers.
• Used mainly in specialized applications that need to process both types of data (continuous and discrete).

Classification of Computer: Supercomputer

• A supercomputer is the most powerful computer currently available.
• Designed for processing massive amounts of information rapidly.
• Used for tasks like weather forecasting, climate research, scientific simulations, oil and gas exploration, quantum mechanics, and cryptanalysis.
• Useful in fields like nuclear research because of precision in predicting events happening on a millisecond level.

Classification of Computer: Mainframe

• The largest computers commonly used.
• Designed for processing large volumes of data at high speed.
• Commonly used by large organizations (power companies, research institutions, telecommunication companies).
• Typically used by corporations for transactions, data storage (e.g. census) and reliability in handling massive amounts of input, output, and storage.
• Accessed through terminals with a keyboard and monitor.
• These computers are located in dedicated computer rooms.
• Examples: IBM, Burroughs, BINAC, CBC Cyber series, Univac.

Classification of Computer: Minicomputer

• Mid-range computers located between mainframes and microcomputers.
• A minicomputer has all the features of a larger computer, but in a smaller physical size.
• Often multi-user systems.
• Examples: IBM's AS/400e, Honeywell 200, TI-990.

Classification of Computer: Personal Computer (PC)

• PCs are used on desks and are categorized as Desk and Tower Units (larger and can be carried; fitted on desks).
• Includes monitor, keyboard, mouse, and tower/system unit.
• Laptops/Notebooks are portable computing devices designed for easy transportation that include a screen and keyboard.
• Pocket PCs are also mobile devices, small enough to fit in a pocket or hand.

Classification of Computer: Electronic Organizers

• Electronic gadgets for managing schedules.
• Save important data like names, contact information, addresses and meeting dates.

Classification of Computer: Palmtop Computers

• Highly compact mobile devices.
• Contain many of the same components as desktop and laptop computers, however, they are designed for compact size and energy efficiency.

Classification of Computer: Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

• Compact handheld computers with touch screens.
• Operated with a stylus, though also feature a virtual keyboard for text input.
• Used as personal organizers but have expanded to include features like internet connectivity, GPS navigation, and multimedia support.

Components of a Computer System

• A computer system consists of hardware and software that must work together.
• Hardware: physical components (CPU, keyboard, printer).
• Software: set of instructions that informs the computer what to do

Hardware: Internal Components

• Motherboard
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random-access memory (RAM)
• Hard Drive
• Optical Drive
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• FireWire/USB Expansion Card.
• Power Supply
• Sound Card
• Analog Modem

Hardware: External Components

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Printer
• Scanner
• Speakers
• Monitor
• Modem

Input Devices

• Bring data and instructions to the computer.
• Commonly include keyboards, mice, lightpens, joysticks, graphic tablets, touch screens.

Input Devices: Keyboard

• Electromechanical components.
• Create specialized electronic codes when keys are pressed.
• Codes transmitted to computer units or terminals creating computer usable code.
• Common keyboard types: PC/XT, PC/AT, Enhanced, Windows, USB, Virtual keypads.

Input Devices: Other Common Examples

• Trackballs
• Pointing sticks, including touchpads.
• Light pens.
• Scanners, with varied technologies like OCR, OMR, BCR, and MICR.
• Barcode Readers, with varied widths of bars to identify items.

Output Devices

• Send information out of the computer.
• Examples include monitors, plotters, printers, projectors, and speakers.
• Can output readable data.

Output Devices: Monitors

• Display screens that produce images or text using pixels, each dot in the display screen.
• Two main types: Cathode-ray tube (CRT) - using electron beam and flat panel displays such as LCD and LEDs.
• Common types: Monochrome, Color (RGB color model), and various enhanced types (EGA, VGA, Super VGA).

Output Devices: Printers

• Produce hard copies of data.
• Categorized by print methods such as impact (makes direct contact) and non-impact ( uses other technologies, like xerographic, chemical, electrostatic, or laser).
• Common types: Dot-matrix, Laser, Plotters (like drum plotters and flatbed plotters, useful for engineering drawings; generate documents that can have a series of lines.

Output Devices: Microfilm Storage Devices

• Store and compress documents for a small footprint.
• Including microfiche, a flat sheet, and microfilm, a roll of images.

Input/Output Devices: Audio Input Devices

• Speech or human voice is used as input for the computer.
• Audio and video conferences are handled by these types of devices.
• Conversion of audio signals from microphone are transformed to digital code before being stored by computer; conversely, digital sound is converted to an analog signal in sending sound to speakers.

Input/Output Devices: Video Input Devices

• Computer receives input data from video cameras and digital cameras
• Still photos can be captured by digital cameras and video images can be from video cameras; these may be saved and compressed from an external device
• Webcams and video capture cards

Input/Output Devices: Electronic Cameras

• Can capture still images from digital cameras
• Images can be moved from the camera to an external source
• Uses ports on computers for downloading images to make changes

Input/Output Devices: Sensors

• Detect changes and output to signal the recognition of the change.
• Sensors convert electrical, physical, and other characteristics into electrical or optical signals

Input/Output Devices: Speech Recognition

• Processes spoken words into written format.

Test your knowledge on the evolution and types of computer keyboards and printers. This quiz covers key features, differences among various keyboard types, and the printing technologies available today. Suitable for anyone interested in computer hardware.