Introduction to Computers
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Introduction to Computers

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Questions and Answers

Which statement accurately describes output devices?

  • They are used to feed data into the CPU.
  • They generate input commands for programs.
  • They are only used for printing documents.
  • They present information in a format readable by humans. (correct)

    • What is one limitation of computers mentioned in the content?

  • They can outperform humans in creativity.
  • They can operate without any programming.
  • They have unlimited storage capacity.
  • They are incapable of correcting wrong instructions autonomously. (correct)

    • What capability allows computers to handle repetitive tasks over long periods?

  • Processing data at fast speed. (correct)
  • Perfect accuracy in execution.
  • Mathematical operations.
  • Storing variety of information.

    • What characteristic differentiates a computer from other machines?

    <p>It performs both mathematical and logical operations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which device is not considered an input device?

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

    When was the Chinese abacus developed?

    <p>About 5000 years ago.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a unique ability of computers listed in the characteristics section?

    <p>To store and recall information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of computers?

    <p>They can innovate without human input.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which computer is considered the first fully automatic computer?

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

    What was the primary function of the Atanasoff Berry Computer?

    <p>Solving large systems of simultaneous equations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the primary developers of the ENIAC?

    <p>John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant innovation was introduced with the EDVAC?

    <p>The concept of a stored program</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which computer is known for being the first commercial computer?

    <p>UNIVAC I</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key feature of the Colossus computer?

    <p>It was a special purpose electronic computer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which generation of computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry?

    <p>1st generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant limitation of the ENIAC in terms of programming?

    <p>It required physical reconnections and switch flipping to program.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the contents of RAM when the computer is turned off?

    <p>The contents are lost.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes ROM?

    <p>It retains its contents even when powered off.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are bits primarily used to represent in computer components?

    <p>Patterns of ones and zeros.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many bits are grouped together to form a byte?

    <p>Eight bits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does ASCII stand for?

    <p>American Standard Code for Information Interchange.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which memory system can represent more characters than a byte?

    <p>Unicode.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of using only ones and zeros in modern circuitry?

    <p>It is due to the binary nature of electronic switches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unit of measurement is primarily used for large amounts of digital data storage?

    <p>Bytes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) drives?

    <p>To integrate the drive controller directly on the drive itself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of cable is generally used for connecting SATA devices?

    <p>A long, thin, 7-pin SATA cable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which category does a printer fall under according to peripherals?

    <p>Output device</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do I/O ports play in peripheral connectivity?

    <p>They provide access to the data bus of the computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered a type of peripheral?

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

    What is the main purpose of input devices?

    <p>To send data or instructions to the computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A keyboard is an example of which type of device?

    <p>Input device</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does SATA generally refer to?

    <p>The types of cables and connections used for data storage devices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of spreadsheets as described?

    <p>Perform statistical and numerical analysis of data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which software is primarily used for creating web sites?

    <p>Microsoft FrontPage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the capabilities of databases mentioned?

    <p>Store and convert data into information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes desktop publishing (DTP) from standard word processing?

    <p>DTP places more emphasis on page layout and diagram integration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which application is specifically classified as a web browser?

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

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Computer

    • A computer is a machine that can perform mathematical and logical operations
    • It is electronic, automatic, and can store and recall information
    • Computers can process data at high speed with accuracy
    • They can store a vast amount of information and handle repetitive tasks over long periods
    • Computers can communicate with operators and other machines
    • A computer can only execute tasks programmed by a human
    • Computers can detect, but cannot correct, wrong instructions
    • They are prone to occasional breakdowns or malfunctions

    History of Computers

    • The Chinese abacus was developed around 5000 years ago
    • The electromechanical ASCC, or Mark I, was built by Howard H. Aiken at IBM and delivered to Harvard in February 1944
    • Mark I was the first fully automatic computer, requiring no human intervention
    • Mark I is considered the beginning of the modern computer era
    • The ABC, or Atanasoff Berry Computer, was the first digital electronic computer built between 1937 and 1942 by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry
    • ABC used punched cards for input/output, vacuum tubes for processing binary data, and rotating capacitor drums for data storage
    • ABC was designed to solve large systems of simultaneous equations
    • The Colossus was a special-purpose electronic computer developed by Alan Turing and Max Newman in England starting in 1943
    • ENIAC, or Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator, was the first general-purpose electronic computer
    • ENIAC was developed by John Mauchly and J Presper Eckert
    • ENIAC weighed 30 tons, used 18,000 vacuum tubes and consumed 200 kilowatts of power
    • ENIAC could be programmed by manually reconnecting cables and flipping switches
    • EDVAC, or Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer, was the first stored program computer developed by John Von Neumann
    • EDSAC, or Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer, was inspired by EDVAC and developed by Maurice Wilkes at the University of Cambridge
    • EDSAC was the second operational electronic digital stored program computer
    • UNIVAC I, or Universal Automatic Computer, was the first commercial computer
    • UNIVAC I was developed by John Mauchly and J Presper Eckert
    • UNIVAC I was made by the Remmington Rand Corporation

    Generations of Modern Computers

    • First generation computers (1940s-1950s) used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory
    • First-generation machines were large, expensive to operate, consumed a lot of electricity and generated heat

    Memory

    • RAM is volatile: Data is lost when the computer is switched off
    • ROM is non-volatile: Data is not lost when the computer is switched off
    • RAM contents can be changed or deleted
    • ROM contents cannot be changed or deleted

    Memory Measurement

    • Bits are individual ones and zeros used to represent data and instructions in computer components
    • Bytes are groups of eight bits
    • ASCII represents the Western alphabet and special characters in a single byte
    • Unicode uses two bytes to represent all alphabets of the world

    Units of Memory

    • Memory is measured in multiples of 2
    • These units are used to represent large numbers of bytes used for storage

    Peripherals

    • Peripherals are devices attached to a computer system to enhance its capabilities
    • Peripherals include input, output, storage and communication devices
    • Peripherals access the data bus through ports

    Input Devices

    • Devices that send data or instructions to the computer
    • Examples include keyboards, mice, scanners, microphones

    Keyboard

    • The most familiar input device
    • Users type directly into the computer
    • Different keyboard layouts exist due to variations in language

    Output Devices

    • Devices that write data into output media readable by humans
    • Examples include monitors, printers, speakers

    Storage Devices

    • Devices that store data into secondary storage
    • Examples include hard drives, SSDs, optical drives

    Software Applications

    • Word processing: Ami Pro, Corel WordPerfect
    • Spreadsheet: OpenOffice Calc, StarCalc, Microsoft Excel, Quattro Pro, Lotus 123
    • Presentation: OpenOffice Impress, StarImpress, KPresenter, Microsoft PowerPoint
    • Database: Sybase, MySQL, Microsoft Access
    • Email client: Evolution, KMail, Microsoft Outlook
    • Web browser: Mozilla, Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer
    • Desktop publishing/DTP: Microsoft Publisher, Page Maker
    • Web development: Dreamweaver, Microsoft FrontPage
    • Graphics and imaging: The GIMP, Adobe Photoshop

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    Description

    Explore the basic concepts and history of computers in this quiz. Learn about their functions, evolution, and the significant milestones that shaped modern computing. Test your knowledge on how computers work and their historical developments from the abacus to early digital machines.

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