COS 101: Introduction to Computing
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Questions and Answers

What replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers?

  • Resistors
  • Capacitors
  • Transistors (correct)
  • Integrated Circuits

    • Second-generation computers consumed more electricity compared to first-generation computers.

    False

    What type of memory technology was used as the primary memory in the second generation?

    Magnetic cores

    ______ allowed programmers to specify instructions in words in the second generation of computers.

    <p>Assembly language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following computer generations with their primary memory technology:

    <p>Second Generation (1954-1962) = Magnetic cores Third Generation (1963-1972) = Integrated Circuits Fourth Generation (1972-1984) = Large Scale Integrated Circuits [LSI] and Very Large Scale Integrated [VLSI] circuits Fifth Generation (1983-1990) = ULSI (Ultra Large-Scale Integration) technology Sixth Generation (1990-till date) = Gradual improvements over established systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of a computer runs programs?

    <p>CPU</p> Signup and view all the answers

    RAM is a permanent storage device.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The CPU consists of the _______ and the control unit.

    <p>Arithmetic Logic Unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does ROM stand for?

    <p>Read-only Memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the input device with its description:

    <p>Mouse = Used to send messages from the user to the computer system Scanner = Used to produce electronic copy of hard copy documents Microphone = Captures voice data and inputs it to the computer Keyboard = Peripheral device used to enter data and communicate with the system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were some of the early mechanical calculating devices mentioned in the content?

    <p>Rotating Wheel Calculator</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is regarded as the first computer programmer?

    <p>Ada Lovelace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first-generation computers used ______ as the basic components for memory and circuitry.

    <p>vacuum tubes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ENIAC was described as the first general-purpose electronic computer.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the computer device with its inventor:

    <p>Abacus = Unknown ENIAC = John W. Mauchly Analytical Engine = Charles Babbage Pascaline = Blaise Pascal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of printer is known to be much quieter than impact printers?

    <p>Non-impact Printer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Non-impact printers are faster than impact printers due to having fewer moving parts.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _______ printers can print 150 lines to 3000 lines per minute.

    <p>Line</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of printer uses electrically heated pins to produce images on special heat-sensitive paper?

    <p>Thermal Printer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the storage device with its description:

    <p>Magnetic Tape = Serial access medium used for data backup Floppy Disk = Thin circular disk for data storage with low capacity Hard Disk = Direct-access storage medium with high-speed rotating surfaces Optical Disk = Storage medium read and written by lasers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are personal computers primarily used for at home?

    <p>playing games and surfing the Internet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three types of computers based on the principles of operation?

    <p>Hybrid computers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Analog computers give approximate results due to dealing with physical quantities that vary continuously.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The main difference between computers and human beings is that human beings can perform tasks independently, while a computer requires a ________.

    <p>program</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of using computers in the Healthcare sector?

    <p>Diagnosing diseases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the hardware components of a computer system?

    <p>input devices, processors, storage devices, output devices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a Network Interface Card (NIC)?

    <p>To coordinate data transfer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Internet is a centralized network controlled by a single organization.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Analog data transmission transmits data in a continuous ________.

    <p>waveform</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the network type with its description:

    <p>Local Area Network (LAN) = Network confined to a single location Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) = Links more than one LAN within a city Wide Area Network (WAN) = Covers wide areas such as cities, states, countries, or continents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a translator in computing?

    <p>A program designed to translate instructions written in any other language into machine language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the primary goals of an operating system?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The operating system acts as an interface between computer hardware, software, and end-users.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _______ scheduling is the method by which processes are given access to system resources.

    <p>Scheduling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following Operating Systems with their names:

    <p>Mac-OS = Macintosh MS-DOS = Microsoft Disk Operating System Windows O.S. = Windows Operating System LINUX = Linux Android O.S. = Android Operating System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of application software in computing?

    <p>Consists of programs designed to solve a user problem in a particular area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A spreadsheet consists of a grid made from rows and columns.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic of a database?

    <p>Data exists permanently</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define 'microcomputers' in computing.

    <p>The smallest range of computers having less storing space and processing speed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some examples of popular search engines mentioned in the text?

    <p>Yahoo!</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The World Wide Web consists of billions of pages of hypertext documents on various topics stored on different computers on the internet.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does FTP stand for and what is its purpose?

    <p>File Transfer Protocol; FTP is an Internet utility software used to upload and download files from one computer to another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _______ is the special language used to design a web page with pictures, embedded sound, and animation.

    <p>HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the web browser with its name:

    <p>Safari = Apple's web browser Firefox = Mozilla's web browser Google Chrome = Google's web browser Internet Explorer = Microsoft's web browser</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Brief History of Computing

    • The computer has a profound impact on our lives, and its development is a long process
    • The development of computers can be divided into three directions: miniaturization, speed, and affordability

    Early History of Computing

    • Abacus (2500 BC): the first known calculating machine used for counting, addition, and subtraction
    • Slide Rule (1633 AD): invented by William Oughtred, used for multiplication and division by method of addition and subtraction
    • Napier's Bones (1614 AD): invented by John Napier, used for multiplication and division by reducing complexity to simpler operations
    • Rotating Wheel Calculator (1642 AD): developed by Blaise Pascal, a predecessor to today's electronic calculator

    20th Century Devices

    • Differential Analyzer (1920s-1930s): developed by Vannerver Bush, an analog computer that solved differential equations
    • Harvard Mark 1 (1944): developed by Howard Aiken, an electromechanical machine that was the world's first computer
    • ENIAC (1946): developed by John W. Mauchly, the first general-purpose electronic computer that used vacuum tubes
    • EDSAC (1949): developed by Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, a binary electronic computer that used stored-program concept
    • UNIVAC (1951): developed by Eckert and Mauchly, the first commercial computer that handled numbers and alphabet characters

    Generations of Computers

    • First Generation (1937-1953): used vacuum tubes, large, expensive, and unreliable
      • Features: vacuum tube components, large in size, consumed a lot of energy, generated a lot of heat
      • Examples: abacus, Pascaline, UNIVAC, ENIAC, EDVAC
    • Second Generation (1954-1962): used transistors, smaller, faster, and more reliable
      • Features: transistor components, smaller in size, consumed less energy, generated less heat, supported machine and assembly languages
      • Examples: IBM 1620, TADIC, IBM 704, IBM 7030, IBM 7094
    • Third Generation (1963-1972): used integrated circuits, even smaller, faster, and more reliable
      • Features: integrated circuit components, even smaller in size, consumed less energy, generated less heat, supported high-level languages
      • Examples: IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, PDP, IBM-370/168, TDC-316
    • Fourth Generation (1972-1984): used large-scale integrated circuits and very large-scale integrated circuits
      • Features: microprocessor components, very small in size, very cheap, easily available, portable, and reliable
      • Examples: DEC 10, STAR 1000, PDP 1, CRAY-11, CRAY-X-MP, APPLE 1, IBM PC, MACINTOSH
    • Fifth Generation (1983-1990): based on parallel processing hardware and artificial intelligence software
      • Features: ultra-large-scale integration technology, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, parallel processing
      • Examples: IBM PC-AT, Intel 80486, video toaster
    • Sixth Generation (1990-till date): marked by gradual improvements over established systems
      • Features: World Wide Web, HTML, Web TV, DVD, YouTube, and many more
      • Examples: Power Book by Apple, Pentium microprocessors by Intel, Sun Ultra workstation

    What is a Computer?

    • A computer is an electronic device that can: accept data, process data according to specified rules, provide information in a useful format, and store results for future use

    • It is an automatic machine capable of processing data and producing information### Information and Computers

    • Information is data that is processed and presented in an organized manner.

    • Examples of information include names of students in alphabetical order, total and average marks calculated and presented in a tabular form.

    Computer Functionalities

    • A computer works as an Input-Process-Output (IPO) system.
    • The five functions of a computer are:
      • Input: taking data as input and command from the input device to the computer.
      • Processing: converting input data into required output form with the help of computer program and hardware.
      • Output: generating output which is displayed by the computer to the user, either in hard copy or soft copy.
      • Storage: storing data/instructions in its memory and using them as required inside or outside the computer.
      • Control: controlling all the above four steps.

    Advantages of Computers

    • High speed: computers can perform millions of calculations in a few seconds.
    • Accuracy: computers perform thousands of operations with 100% accuracy provided the input is correct.
    • Storage capability: computers have much more storage capacity than human beings.
    • Diligence: computers can perform jobs for a long time obediently, free from monotony, tiredness, and lack of concentration.
    • Versatility: computers can be used to solve multiple tasks in various domains at the same time.
    • Reliability: computers do exactly what they are told to do without human intervention.
    • Automation: computers can perform a given task automatically under the control of a stored program.
    • Communication: computers can connect to share resources.
    • Power: the larger the word length of a computer, the more powerful it becomes.
    • Paperless processing: data can be processed using computers instead of papers.

    Disadvantages of Computers

    • No IQ: a computer cannot take any decision on its own.
    • No self-correction: a computer cannot correct any wrong instruction fed in by an operator.
    • Dependency: a computer functions only when programmed; thus, it is fully dependent on humans.
    • No decision-making: a computer cannot decide how it is to be programmed or provide input.
    • No feeling: computers have no feelings or emotions and so cannot make judgments based on feeling, taste, experience, and knowledge.

    Computer Hardware Components

    • A computer is made up of two constituents: hardware and software.
    • The term hardware refers to all the physical devices, or components, that a computer is made of.
    • A computer is not one single device, but a system of devices that all work together.
    • The five major categories of hardware components are:
      • Processing devices
      • Secondary storage devices
      • Input devices
      • Main memory
      • Output devices

    Processing Devices

    • The processing unit consists of the central processing unit (CPU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU), control unit, and main memory.
    • The CPU is the part of a computer that runs programs.
    • ALU is where all arithmetic operations and logical functions are performed.
    • The main memory stores data, program instructions, internal results, and final output temporarily before it is sent to an appropriate output device.

    Input Devices

    • Input devices collect data and send it to the computer.
    • Examples of input devices include:
      • Keyboard
      • Mouse
      • Scanner
      • Microphone
      • Digital camera
      • Bar code reader
      • Light pen
      • Touch sensitive screen
      • Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)
      • Magnetic reader
      • Optical character recognition (OCR)
      • Optical mark reading and recognition (OMR)
      • Smart cards
      • Notes taker
      • Microphone

    Output Devices

    • Output devices present information from a computer.
    • Examples of output devices include:
      • Monitors
      • Printers
      • Disk drives
      • CD recorders
      • Speakers
      • Plotters
      • Projectors

    Monitors

    • A monitor is a commonly used output device.
    • Monitors provide a visual display of data.
    • Types of monitors include:
      • CRT monitor
      • LCD monitor
      • Laptop screen

    Printers

    • A printer is an output device that prints text or images on paper or other media.
    • Types of printers include:
      • Impact printers
      • Non-impact printers
      • Line printers
      • Dot matrix printers
      • Thermal printers
      • Laser printers
      • Inkjet printers### Storage Devices
    • Secondary storage is a type of memory that can hold data for long periods, even when there is no power to the computer.
    • Secondary storage devices:
      • Magnetic tapes
      • Floppy disks
      • Hard disks
      • Optical disks (e.g. CD, DVD, Blu-ray)
    • Characteristics of secondary storage devices:
      • Access time: the time required to reach a storage location and obtain its contents
      • Hard disk:
        • Magnetic disk with high-speed rotating surfaces
        • Data is arranged in concentric rings (tracks) and sectors
        • Read and write heads are combined into a single head unit
        • Smallest unit that can be written to or read from the disk is a sector
      • Magnetic tape:
        • A recording medium consisting of a thin tape with a magnetic coating
        • Data is stored in frames across the width of the tape
        • Frames are grouped into blocks or records separated by gaps
      • Floppy disk:
        • A thin circular disk for data storage
        • Rotates at 360 rpm
        • Data is recorded in tracks and sectors
        • Can be write-protected
      • Optical disk:
        • A storage medium from which data is read and written using lasers
        • Random access storage medium
        • CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk - Read-Only Memory

    Computer Software

    • Software refers to various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices.
    • Categories of software:
      • System software:
        • Operate, control, and extend the processing capabilities of the computer
        • Provide an environment to run application programs
        • Examples: operating system, translators, utility programs
      • Application software:
        • Designed to solve a user problem in a particular area
        • Examples: word processing, spreadsheet, database management

    Operating System (OS)

    • An integrated set of specialized programs that manage the overall operations of a computer.
    • Primary goals of the OS:
      • Optimize resources
      • Provide a user-friendly environment
    • Functions of the OS:
      • Process management
      • Memory management
      • Device (I/O) management
      • File management
      • Job scheduling
      • Interpretation of commands and instructions
      • Monitoring performance
      • Security management

    Application Software

    • General-purpose application programs:
      • Developed to suit the needs of research workers/scientists in different fields
      • Examples: word processor, spreadsheet, database management system, graphics
    • Word processing software:
      • Enables creating, editing, formatting, storing, and printing text and graphics
      • Examples: Microsoft Word, WordStar, WordPerfect
    • Spreadsheet software:
      • Computer equivalent of a paper worksheet to organize numeric data
      • Examples: Lotus 1-2-3, Corel's QuattroPro, MS Excel

    Database Applications

    • A collection of related information about a particular subject stored in a way that can easily be accessed, managed, and updated.
    • Examples: computerized banking system, automated teller machine, airlines, and railway reservation system
    • Database management systems:
      • MS-Access
      • ORACLE
      • MySQL

    Types of Computer

    • Classification of computers based on size, speed, and computing power:
      • Microcomputers
      • Minicomputers
      • Mainframe computers
      • Supercomputers
    • Microcomputers:
      • Smallest range of computers with less storing space and processing speed
      • Examples: personal computers, workstations, desktops, laptops, PDAs
    • Workstations:
      • Desktop computers used for engineering or graphic applications
      • Characteristics: high processor speed, high-resolution graphics screen, large amount of RAM, inbuilt network support, graphical user interface

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    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of computing, including the history of computers, computer components, input/output devices, and hardware and software concepts.

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