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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a motion processor?
What is the primary function of a motion processor?
Which technology does the image processor support to ensure accurate color representation?
Which technology does the image processor support to ensure accurate color representation?
When were machine learning processors predominantly developed?
When were machine learning processors predominantly developed?
How do motion processors contribute to video playback?
How do motion processors contribute to video playback?
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What major capability does the image processor enhance?
What major capability does the image processor enhance?
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Which function is NOT associated with a machine learning processor?
Which function is NOT associated with a machine learning processor?
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What type of file format does HEIF represent?
What type of file format does HEIF represent?
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Which functions are commonly supported by machine learning processors?
Which functions are commonly supported by machine learning processors?
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What is the primary purpose of the Floating Point Unit (FPU)?
What is the primary purpose of the Floating Point Unit (FPU)?
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How did the integration of the FPU impact processing speed?
How did the integration of the FPU impact processing speed?
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What task is primarily offloaded to the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)?
What task is primarily offloaded to the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)?
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What significant advantage does a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) provide in communications?
What significant advantage does a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) provide in communications?
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In what era was the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) introduced?
In what era was the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) introduced?
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Which advanced capabilities does the Neural Processor focus on?
Which advanced capabilities does the Neural Processor focus on?
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What was a notable feature introduced with the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) around 1991?
What was a notable feature introduced with the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) around 1991?
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Which of the following tasks is NOT typically handled by a DSP?
Which of the following tasks is NOT typically handled by a DSP?
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What was significant about the Apple II when compared to the Apple I?
What was significant about the Apple II when compared to the Apple I?
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What was one of the main features that made the IBM PC viable for business use?
What was one of the main features that made the IBM PC viable for business use?
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Which computer is known for being the first to utilize a graphical user interface (GUI)?
Which computer is known for being the first to utilize a graphical user interface (GUI)?
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What advancement in computer technology occurred during the second generation of computers?
What advancement in computer technology occurred during the second generation of computers?
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What was a defining feature of the Atari 800 compared to the Atari 400?
What was a defining feature of the Atari 800 compared to the Atari 400?
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Which type of circuitry was dominant in the first generation of computers?
Which type of circuitry was dominant in the first generation of computers?
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What component is generally associated with a computer's communication capability, which became standard after 1991?
What component is generally associated with a computer's communication capability, which became standard after 1991?
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Which characteristic is true of the Integrated Circuits generation in computers?
Which characteristic is true of the Integrated Circuits generation in computers?
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Which type of memory is volatile and loses its data when power is turned off?
Which type of memory is volatile and loses its data when power is turned off?
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What is the primary function of a proximity sensor in mobile devices?
What is the primary function of a proximity sensor in mobile devices?
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Which type of RAM is specifically used to speed up the display by graphic processors?
Which type of RAM is specifically used to speed up the display by graphic processors?
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Which of the following sensors is responsible for adjusting the screen brightness based on ambient light?
Which of the following sensors is responsible for adjusting the screen brightness based on ambient light?
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What is the role of cache RAM in a computer system?
What is the role of cache RAM in a computer system?
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Which port standard is considered new and provides faster data transfer rates?
Which port standard is considered new and provides faster data transfer rates?
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Which mobile sensor is primarily used for tracking geographic locations?
Which mobile sensor is primarily used for tracking geographic locations?
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What function does the gyroscope perform in a mobile device?
What function does the gyroscope perform in a mobile device?
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What is the primary function of the NFC Payment Sensor?
What is the primary function of the NFC Payment Sensor?
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Which sensor enhances GPS accuracy by providing altitude information?
Which sensor enhances GPS accuracy by providing altitude information?
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How does the Pressure Sensitive Display improve user interaction?
How does the Pressure Sensitive Display improve user interaction?
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What advanced feature does the Sensor for True Tone Display offer?
What advanced feature does the Sensor for True Tone Display offer?
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What is the primary purpose of the Magnetometer in a phone?
What is the primary purpose of the Magnetometer in a phone?
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Which of the following is a function of a monitor's pixel?
Which of the following is a function of a monitor's pixel?
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In what aspect ratio is the old TV standard typically measured?
In what aspect ratio is the old TV standard typically measured?
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What role does VRAM play in monitor specifications?
What role does VRAM play in monitor specifications?
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Study Notes
First Desktop Computers
- The first commercially released desktop computer was the Altair Mits 8800, released in January 1976.
- The 8800 contained an Intel 8080 CPU board and only 16K of static RAM.
- The Apple I, released in 1977, was an early desktop computer with a built-in keyboard.
- The Apple II, released in 1977, was the first fully realized consumer computer, including a built-in screen, keyboard, and all other essential features.
- The Apple II+ was released in 1978, featuring improved graphics and disk-booting support in the ROM.
- The Atari 400, released in 1979, was an early gaming computer with a built-in keyboard and a custom graphics and sound chip.
- The Atari 800, released in 1979, was intended to outperform the Atari 400 and included a second cartridge slot and upgradable RAM slots.
- The IBM PC, released in 1981, was the first "business" computer and highlighted its text processing capabilities.
- The Xerox Star, released in 1981, was the first GUI (graphical user interface) computer, introducing graphical elements that could be manipulated.
Hardware Generations
- Pre-modern computers (1940s) used relays, electrically operated switches.
- Vacuum tube computers (Generation 1, 1940s-1950s) used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, requiring enormous space and prone to burning out.
- Transistor computers (Generation 2, 1950s-1960s) utilized miniature semiconductors for regulating current or voltage flow.
- Integrated circuits (1960s) involved a semiconductor wafer with millions of resistors, capacitors, diodes, and transistors.
CPU and Specialized Processors
- The CPU is the central processing unit, coordinating tasks like program execution, logic operations, and system control.
- The FPU (Floating Point Unit) was created in the late 1980s to handle decimal mathematics and complex arithmetic operations.
- GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) emerged in 1991 and dedicate processing power to graphics, speeding up rendering tasks.
- DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) appeared in the mid-1990s for specialized tasks like audio signal processing, telecommunications, and digital image processing.
- Neural processors were introduced in the early 2010s for tasks requiring advanced machine learning capabilities.
- Motion processors were developed in the late 2010s to handle motion-related tasks like video compression and playback.
- Image processors were developed in the late 2010s to handle complex computational photography tasks.
- Machine learning processors were designed in the late 2010s to accelerate tasks relying on machine learning.
Memory (Primary Storage)
- RAM (Random Access Memory) is a form of read/write memory that is volatile, meaning data is lost when power is turned off.
- ROM (Read Only Memory) is nonvolatile and stores data permanently, used to start (boot) the computer and store ASCII/Unicode characters.
- VRAM (Video RAM) is used by graphic processors to speed up display.
- Cache RAM is built into the CPU, providing faster access to frequently used data.
Other Important Parts
- The bus is a channel through which data, address, and control signals are transmitted.
- Ports are connections for peripherals, including older standards like IDE, SCSI, and Parallel, as well as newer standards like USB and Thunderbolt.
- Peripherals are all components outside the processing unit, such as monitors, keyboards, and printers.
Mobile Sensors
- The proximity sensor detects when a phone is close to a user's face and disables touch input to prevent accidental inputs.
- The ambient light sensor adjusts screen brightness based on surrounding light levels.
- The accelerometer detects phone movement and direction, used for step counting, screen orientation changes, and gaming.
- The GPS sensor tracks a phone's geographic position using satellite signals.
- The gyroscope detects motion across X, Y, and Z planes, crucial for motion tracking in augmented reality, gaming, and navigation.
- The Touch ID sensor reads fingerprints for biometric security.
- The NFC payment sensor communicates with payment stations for contactless transactions.
- The barometer detects elevation changes, used for fitness apps and enhancing GPS accuracy.
- Force Touch displays detect varying levels of pressure for additional input options.
- True Tone displays automatically adjust screen color temperature based on ambient lighting.
- The magnetometer acts as a digital compass, detecting Earth's magnetic field to determine direction.
Input
- Keyboards are used for text input and include QWERTY and DVORAK layouts.
- The mouse is a pointing device that controls a cursor on a screen.
- Other input devices include microphones and cameras.
Output
- The monitor is the primary visual display, classified by term (e.g., LCD), type (e.g., flat-screen), and color (e.g., RGB).
- Printers produce hard copies of documents.
- Speakers and headphones provide sound output.
- Other output devices include projectors and plotters.
Monitor Terms
- A pixel is a single point of light on a display, representing a single color.
- Screen size refers to the viewing area measured in inches, determining the number of pixels.
- The aspect ratio describes the relationship between a display's width and height.
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Description
Explore the evolution of desktop computers from 1976 to the early 1980s. This quiz covers landmark releases including the Altair 8800, Apple I and II, Atari models, and the IBM PC. Test your knowledge of these pioneering technologies that shaped the computing landscape.
