Computer Systems Basics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of a resistor in an electronic circuit?

  • To regulate current flow (correct)
  • To decrease electron flow
  • To increase voltage levels
  • To amplify signals

Which type of machine learning involves a model learning from a labelled dataset?

  • Reinforcement learning
  • Semi-supervised learning
  • Unsupervised learning
  • Supervised learning (correct)

What is the primary function of a microcontroller?

  • To modify the frequency of an electronic signal
  • To control and interact with electronic components (correct)
  • To amplify electronic signals
  • To regulate power supply

What is the term for a machine learning model that is trained on biased data and therefore produces biased results?

<p>Bias in, bias out (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of cleaning and preparing data in machine learning?

<p>To remove duplicates and invalid data (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the arrangement of connections on a breadboard?

<p>Rails and bars (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Control Unit in a CPU?

<p>Managing the flow of data and instructions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of abstraction in computational thinking?

<p>Hiding unnecessary details to focus on essential features (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between RAM and ROM?

<p>RAM is volatile, while ROM is non-volatile (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a variable in a program or algorithm?

<p>To store and manipulate data (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Operating System in managing memory?

<p>Allocating memory to different programs and managing memory allocation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the ALU in a CPU?

<p>Performing arithmetic and logical operations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Computer Systems

  • A computer is a programmable electronic device that can store, process, and communicate information.
  • Fixed computers are designed to perform a single task, while programmable computers can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks.
  • Calculators are limited to basic arithmetic operations, whereas computers can perform complex calculations and store data.

Input and Output

  • Input devices: keyboards, scanners, microphones, cameras
  • Output devices: monitors, speakers, printers, projectors

RAM and ROM

  • RAM (Random Access Memory): volatile, stores data temporarily while the computer is running
  • ROM (Read-Only Memory): non-volatile, stores data permanently, even when the computer is turned off

Secondary Storage

  • Necessary for storing large amounts of data when the computer is turned off
  • Types: magnetic (hard drives, floppy disks), optical (CDs, DVDs), solid-state (flash drives, SSDs)
  • Technologies used: magnetic, optical, solid-state

CPU

  • ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): performs mathematical operations
  • Busses: pathways for data transfer between components
  • Clock: regulates the pace of operations
  • Registers: small amounts of on-chip memory
  • Control Unit: manages data flow and instruction execution

Operating System

  • Manages memory, program execution, input/output, and user interface (GUI)
  • Manages communication between hardware and software

Binary

  • A base-2 number system using 0s and 1s
  • Convert denary (base-10) numbers to binary: division by 2, remainder becomes the binary digit
  • Convert binary to denary: sum of (binary digit * 2^n)

Binary Maths

  • Add three binary numbers together using the standard rules of arithmetic

Data Sizes

  • bit: single binary digit
  • nibble: 4 bits
  • byte: 8 bits
  • kilobyte (KB): 1024 bytes
  • megabyte (MB): 1024 KB
  • gigabyte (GB): 1024 MB
  • terabyte (TB): 1024 GB

Algorithms, Computational Thinking, and Python

  • Abstraction: breaking down complex problems into simpler parts
  • Decomposition: breaking down problems into smaller, manageable parts
  • Pattern recognition: identifying patterns to solve problems
  • Algorithm: a set of instructions to solve a problem
  • Representing Algorithms: flowcharts, pseudocode

Computational Thinking

  • Sequence: the order of steps in a program or algorithm
  • Selection: using if-else statements to make decisions
  • Iteration: using loops to repeat tasks

Python Programming

  • Variables: store and change values in a program
  • Selection: if-else statements
  • Data Types: numbers, strings, booleans
  • Iteration: while loops, for loops

AI Experience

  • AI: Artificial Intelligence, creating intelligent machines
  • Rule-based programming: using fixed rules to solve problems
  • Data-driven programming: using data to make decisions
  • Types of AI: Machine Learning, Narrow AI, General AI

Machine Learning

  • Supervised Learning: labeled data, learns to map inputs to outputs
  • Unsupervised Learning: unlabeled data, discovers patterns
  • Reinforcement Learning: learns through trial and error
  • Semi-supervised Learning: combination of supervised and unsupervised learning

AI Lifecycle

  • Defining the problem
  • Preparing Data
  • Training
  • Testing
  • Evaluating the Model

Machine Learning: Data Preparation

  • Cleaning: removing duplicates, missing, and invalid data

Machine Learning: Testing

  • Bias: testing for bias in data
  • Measuring accuracy and confidence
  • Bias in, bias out: model reflects the bias in the data

Decision Trees

  • A visualization of decisions and possible outcomes
  • Made by training a model on data

Physical Computing with Picoboards

  • Electronic Components:
    • Breadboard: for prototyping electronic circuits
    • Jumper wires: connect components
    • LED: light-emitting diode
    • Resistor: controls voltage
    • Sensor: detects changes in environment
    • Motor driver: controls motor speed
    • Power supply: provides voltage
    • Buttons: inputs
    • Buzzers: outputs

Electricity and Frequency

  • Electron flow: flow of electrons in a circuit
  • Typical voltage levels: 3.3V, 5V, 9V
  • Frequencies: Hertz (Hz), e.g., 50Hz, 60Hz

Picoboard

  • GPIO pins: for input/output
  • USB connector: connects to computer
  • CPU: central processing unit
  • LED: onboard light
  • Debug pins: for debugging
  • GND pins: ground connections
  • Power pins: power connections

Microcontrollers

  • Purposes: control devices, interact with sensors, etc.
  • Examples: robotic arms, home automation systems

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