Introduction to Computer Science
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Questions and Answers

What best describes the core activity of computer science?

  • Minimizing data representation techniques
  • Utilizing hardware to enhance physical tasks
  • Developing sole-use software applications
  • Discovering and applying algorithms (correct)

How do algorithms primarily enhance data processing?

  • By maintaining data security
  • By converting analog signals to digital
  • By increasing the data storage capacity
  • By facilitating pattern recognition (correct)

What is programming primarily concerned with?

  • Translating human thoughts into executable algorithms (correct)
  • Creating user interfaces for software
  • Designing cloud computing networks
  • Developing advanced hardware specifications

What role does abstraction play in programming languages?

<p>It enables reasoning about complex problems (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant social and ethical concern in the context of computing?

<p>The security and privacy issues surrounding digital data (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary use of punched cards when first introduced?

<p>To store patterns for weaving cloth (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which computing system marked the transition to the use of vacuum tubes?

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

What innovation in the 1950s allowed for smaller and more energy-efficient computing components?

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

When did microprocessors start to become popular in personal computing?

<p>1970s (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which company established itself as a pioneer in personal computers in 1976?

<p>Apple Computer (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant change did the introduction of the IBM PC in 1981 bring?

<p>Standardization of hardware design for desktops (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following technologies contributed to the miniaturization of computing machines?

<p>Integral circuits (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which decade did the revolution of the Internet significantly impact communication?

<p>1990s (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which early computer was known for its role in breaking German codes during World War II?

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

What role did mechanical relays play in early computing systems?

<p>Used for control in vacuum tube computers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as a set of steps that defines how a task is performed?

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

Which of the following is NOT a theme of computer science mentioned?

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

Which early computing device used the positions of beads to represent numbers?

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

Who is NOT typically associated with the early development of computing devices?

<p>Bill Gates (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which algorithm is used to find the greatest common divisor of two positive integers?

<p>Euclidean algorithm (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do programming and algorithms have in computer science?

<p>Algorithms can exist without any programming. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of algorithms as indicated by Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem?

<p>Some problems cannot be solved by algorithms. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of software in computer science?

<p>To represent algorithms. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT included as a chapter in the study outline?

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

What is considered the science of algorithms within computer science?

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

What concept refers to the distinction between external properties of an entity and its internal composition?

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

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the 'Big Ideas' that unite computer science?

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

What overarching theme reflects the necessity of computing technology in modern society?

<p>Computing Technology (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which subject is NOT mentioned as contributing to computer science?

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

Which question addresses how algorithms can produce intelligent behavior?

<p>How can algorithms be applied to produce intelligent behavior? (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which chapter deals specifically with the abstraction of data?

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

What can be considered an 'abstract tool'?

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

Which of the following best characterizes the role of algorithms in society?

<p>Algorithms can influence decision-making processes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Algorithm

A set of steps that defines how a task is performed. It's like a recipe for a computer.

Program

A representation of an algorithm in a language that a computer can understand.

Programming

The process of creating a program, essentially writing instructions for a computer.

Software

The collection of programs and the algorithms they represent. It's the software side of computing.

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Hardware

The physical components of a computer system, like the keyboard, monitor, and processing unit.

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Euclidean Algorithm

The problem of finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of two positive integers. It's a classic algorithm used in mathematics and computer science.

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Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem

A theorem that states there are some problems that cannot be solved using algorithms. It implies limitations on what computers can do.

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Abacus

An early calculating tool using beads on rods to represent numbers. A simple mechanical calculator.

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Abstraction

The act of simplifying complex systems by focusing on important features and abstracting away unnecessary details.

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Computer Science

The study of algorithms, information, computation, and how they relate to computer systems.

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Creativity

The ability to create new solutions and ideas through combining different concepts.

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Data

The collected information that is manipulated by computers.

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Internet

A global network connecting computers and devices, facilitating communication and information exchange.

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Impact (Computer Science)

The impact of computer science on society, considering its influence on various aspects of daily life.

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Algorithmically Solvable Problems

Problems suitable for algorithmic solutions, which are problems that can be systematically solved by following a set of instructions.

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Algorithm Analysis

Comparing and analyzing different algorithms based on efficiency, resource usage, and other factors.

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Punched Cards

First used in Jacquard Loom (1801) to store patterns for weaving cloth. Also used to store programs in Babbage's Analytical Engine. Popular through the 1970's.

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Stibitz's Relay Computer

Mechanical relay-based computer, created by Stibitz at Bell Laboratories in 1940. This machine used electrical switches to perform calculations.

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ENIAC

The first large-scale electronic computer, built by Mauchly and Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1940s. It used vacuum tubes for processing.

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Transistor

A small, energy-efficient semiconductor. They replaced vacuum tubes in the 1950s, marking a significant advancement in computing.

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Integrated Circuits (ICs)

A tiny chip containing multiple transistors, allowing for complex circuits. They became increasingly powerful throughout the 1960s and 1970s with the development of VLSI.

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CPU (Central Processing Unit)

A crucial component in computing that executes instructions and processes data.

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Early Personal Computers

The early era of personal computers, where hobbyists built their machines. Apple Computer was established in 1976, and IBM introduced the PC in 1981.

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Internet Revolution

A revolutionary technology that transformed communication and information access. It combines the World Wide Web, search engines, and miniaturized computing devices.

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Embedded Computing

Tiny computers designed to perform specific tasks, often found in everyday devices such as GPS systems or car engines.

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Smartphones

Mobile phones that combine computing capabilities with communication features. They are powerful devices that have become essential to modern life.

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Creativity in Computer Science

Computer science is inherently creative! Programmers discover and apply algorithms, which are like recipes that computers follow. This creative process extends into designing new ways to express ourselves digitally, like creating music or art with code.

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How Computers Represent Data

Computers can represent any information that can be broken down into smaller pieces and assigned a numerical value. This allows computers to store and process various types of data, including numbers, text, images, sounds, and videos.

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What is Programming?

Programming involves explaining what you want the computer to do in a language it understands. It's like translating your ideas into a set of instructions that the computer can execute. This is done through programming languages, which provide a way to represent algorithms in a form that the computer can process.

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Impact of internet on information

The internet has a powerful impact on how we store, retrieve, and share information. It's like a giant library where everyone can access and share knowledge. However, it also raises issues related to privacy and security as our data becomes more interconnected online.

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Social Impact of Technology

The use of technology has a significant influence on our society, raising questions about privacy, security, and social impact. For example, large databases raise concerns about data privacy, while the rise of artificial intelligence brings questions about ethics and potential consequences of advanced automation.

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Study Notes

Introduction to Computer Science

  • Computer science is a discipline encompassing algorithms, data, and applications.
  • This overview covers fundamental concepts and themes.
  • Algorithms are crucial; they define how tasks are performed.
  • Programming involves creating programs based on algorithms.
  • Software represents programs and their embedded algorithms.
  • Hardware comprises the physical machinery.

The Role of Algorithms

  • An algorithm is a sequence of steps, defining how tasks are performed.
  • A program is an algorithm's representation.
  • Programming is the process of developing a program.
  • Software consists of programs plus their algorithms.
  • Hardware is the physical computing machinery.

History of Algorithms

  • The study of algorithms originated in mathematics.
  • Examples include long division and the Euclidean Algorithm.
  • Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem highlights limitations of algorithms. Some problems are unsolvable algorithmically.

History of Computing

  • Early computing devices included the abacus and gear-based machines.
  • Pioneers like Blaise Pascal, Wilhelm Leibniz, Charles Babbage, and Ada Lovelace contributed.
  • Modern pioneers like Alan Turing and Margaret Hamilton were vital in advancing the field.

Data Storage

  • Punched cards were historically used for data storage, notably in the Jacquard Loom (1801) and Babbage's Analytical Engine.
  • Gear positions were another early method of storing data.

Early Computers

  • Early computers leveraged mechanical relays and vacuum tubes.
  • Key figures and milestones include: Stibitz at Bell Labs (1940), the Mark I (1944), the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (1937-1941), and the Colossus (1940s) and ENIAC (1940s).

###Transistors and Integrated Circuits

  • Transistors emerged, leading to miniaturization and reduced power consumption.
  • Integrated circuits (ICs) packed multiple transistors onto a single chip.

###Personal Computers

  • Hobbyists built early personal computers.
  • Apple Computer and IBM's PC introduction (1976 and 1981) were pivotal.
  • PCs became a ubiquitous computing standard.
  • Microsoft software became a leading choice for PCs.

End of the 20th Century

  • The internet revolutionized communications and information access.
  • Miniaturization of computing devices, including embedded systems and smartphones, further expanded the reach of computer technology.

###Outline of Study

  • The course material will cover topics such as data storage, manipulation, operating systems, networking, and programming languages.
  • Other topics include software engineering, data abstraction, computer graphics, artificial intelligence and computational theory.

Overarching Themes

  • The book emphasizes the broad impact of computing technology in modern society, highlighting applications and their social consequences.
  • The seven key components unify the scope of the subject; Algorithms, Abstraction, Creativity, Data, Programming, Internet, and Impact.

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