Computer Workstations and Personal Computers Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Which application is least suited for a workstation?

  • Desktop publishing
  • Engineering applications (CAD/CAM)
  • Basic word processing (correct)
  • Software development

In the context of networking, what does the term 'workstation' primarily refer to?

  • Any computer connected to a local-area network (correct)
  • Specifically diskless computers
  • Only computers running UNIX or Windows NT
  • Exclusively high-performance computers

What is the defining technological feature of a Personal Computer (PC)?

  • A large, high-resolution graphics screen
  • Microprocessor technology enabling a CPU on a single chip (correct)
  • Built-in network support
  • The use of discrete electronic components

Which of the following is a primary characteristic of personal computers?

<p>Single-user system (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a diskless workstation from a standard workstation?

<p>Absence of a disk drive (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which operating system is commonly used with workstations?

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

What is a key advantage of personal computers in a business setting?

<p>Used to produce documents like memos, reports, letters and briefs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common use for personal computers at home?

<p>Playing games (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following presents a disadvantage of using personal computers?

<p>Can lead to unemployment when used mostly in less developed countries (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the chassis in a computer system?

<p>To provide structural support for electronic components (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary intended user environment for a personal computer?

<p>Individual use (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these features is most characteristic of a workstation?

<p>High-resolution graphics screen and built-in network support (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature that distinguishes portable computers from desktop models?

<p>Compact size for portability. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates a supercomputer from a mainframe computer?

<p>A supercomputer executes a few programs as fast as possible, while a mainframe executes many programs concurrently. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinguishing feature of a tower model personal computer?

<p>Power supply, motherboard, and storage stacked vertically. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a minicomputer?

<p>It is usually smaller than a mainframe with less demanding environmental operating requirements. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which task is a personal computer LEAST likely to be used for?

<p>Controlling a city's power grid directly (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which computer type can be suitably accommodated on a tabletop?

<p>Microcomputer (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can you use if the slots in your chassis aren't enough?

<p>Expansion chassis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of microcomputers regarding their operational environment?

<p>Any room comfortable for a human is generally suitable, without needing a stabilizer or standby generator. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the cost of different types of computers?

<p>Microcomputers are the least expensive type of computer. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which invention directly influenced modern automation?

<p>Jacquard's Loom (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What statement is most accurate regarding the speed of different classes of computers?

<p>Minicomputers are faster than microcomputers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of Babbage’s Difference Engine originally intended to be?

<p>Calculating ballistic tables (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which computer type typically supports more simultaneous programs?

<p>Mainframe computer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these inventors is credited with inventing the first mechanical device capable of performing all four basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and root extraction?

<p>Gottfried Leibniz (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic distinguishes a microcomputer from mainframes and minicomputers regarding setup?

<p>Microcomputers operate efficiently without dedicated stabilizers or generators for power. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the beads strung for counting in the Orient?

<p>They marked the origin of the abacus. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the primary contribution of John Napier to the history of computing?

<p>Developing rods for mechanical multiplication, division and extracting square roots. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Pascal’s Arithmetic machine?

<p>Used for counting, adding and subtracting by turning crank (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Stonehenge?

<p>It served as a giant astronomical computer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Babbage’s Analytical Engine?

<p>Intended to be the first general-purpose Computer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with designing devices to punch data into cards and tabulate the collected data, which automated the 1890 U.S. Census?

<p>Herman Hollerith (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best characterizes Dr. Vannevar Bush's contribution to early computing?

<p>He developed an electro-mechanical analog machine. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary limitation of the ENIAC computer built by Dr. John Mauchley and Dr. J. Presper Eckert?

<p>It had limited memory storage. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is most famously known as the 'father of the Stored-Program'?

<p>Von Neumann (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which computer is recognized as the first automatic electronic computer?

<p>ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the key feature that defined the first generation of computers?

<p>The use of vacuum tube technology. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides the UNIVAC 1, which early computer was also produced in quantity and commercially available?

<p>IBM 701 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the method for programming the Mark I, computer built by Dr. Howard Aiken?

<p>It was programmed using hand-operated switch-controlled programming, instructional data. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technology is used in Fourth Generation Computers to integrate over a quarter of a million transistors into a single chip?

<p>Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which memory technologies are characterized in Fourth Generation Computers?

<p>Metal-Oxide Semiconductor and Bubble Memory (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of Fifth Generation Computers?

<p>Combining theories in computer science, electronics, and communications (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a computer from a single-purpose machine like a typewriter or calculator?

<p>Capability of processing large volumes of information through programs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Fourth Generation Computers?

<p>Human-like logical reasoning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which class of computers combines features of digital and analog computers?

<p>Hybrid Computers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of computers over conventional traditional methods of data processing?

<p>Ability to store repetitive tasks accurately (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a characteristic of Fifth Generation Computers?

<p>Utilization of expert systems (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Flashcards

Supercomputer

A powerful computer designed to execute a few programs extremely fast, focusing on speed over multitasking.

Mainframe

A large-scale computer built for high-volume, concurrent processing of multiple programs.

Mini-computer

A computer smaller than a mainframe, with less processing power and memory, often used for specific tasks or smaller businesses.

Micro-computer

A compact computer designed for individual use and typically affordable, often used for personal computing.

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Concurrent processing

The ability to run multiple programs concurrently, executing instructions from different programs at the same time.

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Processing speed

The speed at which a computer can execute instructions, often measured in cycles per second.

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Memory

The amount of data a computer can store and access.

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Peripheral devices

Devices connected to a computer, such as printers, scanners, and storage devices.

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Personal Computer (PC)

A computer designed for a single user, typically used for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, games, and internet browsing. It utilizes microprocessor technology, which allows for efficient processing.

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Workstation

A specialized computer, often used in engineering, design, and scientific applications. It's characterized by a powerful processor, high-quality graphics, and a large amount of RAM.

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Diskless Workstation

A type of workstation that does not have a built-in disk drive.

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Workstation (Networking)

A computer system that is connected to a local-area network (LAN).

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Microprocessor

The central processing unit (CPU) of a computer, responsible for executing instructions.

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Memory (PC)

A type of memory used in computers, typically in the range of 128kb to 256kb.

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Capacity (PC)

A type of storage used in computers, typically in the range of MB to GB.

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Size (PC)

The physical size of a computer.

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Napier's Bones

A mechanical device invented by John Napier in 1617 for multiplication, division, and calculating square roots.

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Pascal's Arithmetic Machine

A mechanical calculator created by Blaise Pascal in 1642 that used gears and wheels to perform basic arithmetic operations, resembling a modern adding machine.

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Jacquard's Loom

An automated loom invented by Joseph Jacquard in 1804 that used punched cards to control weaving patterns, considered a precursor to modern automation.

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Babbage's Difference Engine

A machine designed by Charles Babbage in 1812 to calculate tables for ballistic trajectories, which incorporated ideas later used in modern computers.

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Babbage's Analytical Engine

A groundbreaking invention by Charles Babbage in 1834 that was intended to be the first general-purpose computer, but never fully constructed during his lifetime.

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First US Patent for a Mechanical Calculator (1875)

The first U.S. patent for a mechanical calculator, granted to Frank Stephen Baldwin.

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Desktop Computers

Computers designed for personal use, typically smaller and less powerful than servers.

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Portable Computers

Computers small enough to carry around, including notebooks, subnotebooks, hand-helds, and PDAs.

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Chassis

The metal or plastic case that houses the computer's components.

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Motherboard

A board within the chassis containing slots for expansion cards, the CPU, and other vital components.

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Tower Model PC

A tower-shaped computer where the power supply, motherboard, and drives are stacked on top of each other.

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Expansion Cards

Cards that plug into the motherboard to add functionality to the computer, like network cards, sound cards, etc.

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Expansion Chassis

An additional chassis that provides more slots for expansion cards, used when a computer has run out of slots.

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Tabulating Machine

A machine designed by Herman Hollerith in 1885 that could process data punched onto cards, used for the 1890 U.S. Census.

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ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer)

The first electronic computer, built by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry in 1940-1942.

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Mark I

The largest electromechanical calculator ever built, created by Howard Aiken in 1937-1944. It was used in the Manhattan Project.

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ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Calculator)

The first all-electronic computer, built by John Mauchley and J. Presper Eckert in 1945. This computer had 18,000 vacuum tubes.

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Stored-Program Concept

The concept, credited to John von Neumann, of storing both instructions and data in the computer's memory.

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First Generation Computers

The first generation of computers, from 1951-1958, used vacuum tubes for processing and were characterized by the use of the Stored-Program Concept.

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UNIVAC I

The first commercially available computer, developed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchley, part of the first generation of computers.

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IBM 701

The first computer to be produced in quantity and commercially available, created by IBM in 1951. It was part of the first generation of computers and used vacuum tubes.

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Fourth Generation Computer

A computer that utilizes Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) technology, featuring a high density of transistors on a single chip, leading to increased computing power and speed.

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Fifth Generation Computer

A computer that employs technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, expert systems, and knowledge-based systems, focusing on advanced capabilities and automation.

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Analog Computer

A computer that processes data in the form of continuous, analog signals, typically used for real-time applications.

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Digital Computer

A computer that processes data in the form of discrete digital signals, representing information as 0s and 1s.

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Hybrid Computer

A computer that combines both analog and digital processing capabilities, utilizing the strengths of each type.

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Multiprogramming

The ability of a computer to execute multiple programs concurrently, sharing the processing resources among them.

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Virtual Storage

A technique that allows a computer to access data from multiple sources, including local storage and remote servers, virtually expanding its memory.

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MOS Memory

A type of computer memory that uses metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) to store data, offering faster and cheaper storage compared to core memory.

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Study Notes

Historical Development of the Computer System

  • Computers evolved from a desire to count, compute, and store information
  • Early computers were large and bulky, but technology advanced significantly in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to smaller devices.
  • Computer history is tied to the development of hardware technologies spanning from the Stone Age to the modern era
  • A chronological listing of key events in computing is presented in the following section.

Summary of the History of Computing

  • 1500 BCE: Greece - used sand trays and pebbles for counting; Orient - used the Abacus
  • 1617: John Napier - developed Napier's rods for multiplication, division, and square roots
  • 1642: Blaise Pascal - invented the first mechanical adding machine
  • 1673: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz - modified Pascal's design to include multiplication and division
  • 1804: Joseph Marie Jacquard - developed the Jacquard Loom, using punched cards for automatic weaving.
  • 1812-1871: Charles Babbage - designed the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine, conceptualizing a general-purpose computer.
  • 1875: Frank Stephen Baldwin - received a US patent for a calculating machine
  • 1885-1896: Herman Hollerith - designed a system for automating the 1890 US Census.

Computer Generations

  • First Generation (1951-1958): Vacuum tube technology; large, expensive, and power-hungry computers designed for specific tasks. Examples include ENIAC and UNIVAC I
  • Second Generation (1959-1964): Transistor technology replacing vacuum tubes, reducing size and improving performance. Characterized by improved efficiency and reduced size relative to first-gen. Language for coding began to emerge.
  • Third Generation (1965-1970): Integrated Circuits (ICs) significantly reduced size, increased speed, and expanded capabilities. Computers became smaller, less expensive, and more sophisticated
  • Fourth Generation (1971-1990): Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) resulted in powerful microprocessors. Characterized by significantly smaller size, greater efficiency, and versatility.
  • Fifth Generation (1990-Present): Characterized by artificial intelligence, expert systems, and other advanced technologies, marking a further increase in processing capabilities as well as versatility.

Classification of Computers

  • By Type: Digital, Analog, Hybrid
  • By Purpose: Special purpose (e.g., air traffic control), General purpose (e.g., using a spreadsheet program)
  • By Size: Supercomputer, Mainframe, Minicomputer, Microcomputer

Types of Personal Computers

  • Tower Model: Components stacked; offers more space for additional storage.
  • Desktop Model: Fits on a desk, typically with the monitor on top.
  • Notebook Computer: Portable and lightweight, primarily used for personal use
  • Laptop Computer: Compact portable computers
  • Subnotebook Computer: Sleeker and smaller than full-sized laptops, typically less powerful
  • Micro Computers: Small, single-user devices, often found in home and small businesses.

Computers and their Uses

  • Personal computers are generally used for personal tasks, but their use in business has grown substantially
  • Larger computers are used for massive data processing, which are used in government or large corporations
  • PCs are widely used for personal tasks (e.g., document preparation and use of various applications software)
  • PCs in businesses are used for work-related functions, including word processing and accounting.
  • Workstations allow users to accomplish their work, including desktop publishing and engineering tasks.

Computer Ethics

  • There are ethical considerations that need to be followed when working with or around computers
  • Unethical uses can include harming others, interfering with their computer work or violating their privacy
  • Respectful use such as observing computer labor rules is important.

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