0- What is Computer? Ans: Computers are human made electronic machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions, or given programs.
- What is the name of the machine which is also treated as first computer from beginning of computer generation? Ans: ABACUS is a machine which is treated as a first computer in generation of computers. It is also being used by the students in today’s life for fast calculation.
- When was started the era of modern computers? Ans: The generation of modern computers was started from1942 and occupy lot of space and uses vacuum tubes to control and amplify electronic signals.
- In which year second generation was started and what was the main invention in this generation? Ans: Second generation of computer started from 1955 with the invention of “Transistors”. These were smaller and less expensive as compared to first generation computers.
- When did the chip based computers invent? Ans: The third generation computers replace transistors with integrated circuits popularly known as “Chips” from 1958.
- When microprocessor was introduced? Ans: The advent of microprocessor chip marked the beginning of fourth generation computers from 1975 onwards.
- What is the new advancement in the fifth generation? Ans: The fifth generation computing devices are based on artificial intelligence and are still in development, though there are features like voice recognition, face recognition, finger print recognition, gesture recognition etc. are being used today.
- What is data? Ans: Data are raw facts and figures. These raw values could be numbers, characters, transactions, dates, true/false values, symbols or readings from sensors.
- What do you mean by Information? Ans: Information is data that has been processed by a computer. It is what the computer outputs. Information has a context which makes it meaningful.
- What is the basic division of a computer system? Ans: A computer system consist four basic units; input unit, storage unit, central processing unit and output unit.
- What is the role of input unit? Ans: Input unit is used for entering data and programs into the computer system by the user for processing.
- Why storage/memory unit is so important? Ans: Storage/memory unit is used for storing data and instructions before and after processing. It provides us storage to save our data for long time.
- Which unit of computer is used for producing the output? Ans: The output unit is used for storing the result as output produced by the computer after processing.
- Which unit is responsible for calculations and processing of the computer instructions? Ans: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) takes data and instructions from the storage unit and makes all sorts of calculations based on the instructions given and the type of data provided. CPU includes Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control unit (CU).
- What is the use of ALU and CU? Ans: CPU includes two units: Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and control unit (CU).
- ALU: All calculations and comparisons, based on the instructions provided, are carried out within the ALU.
- CU: Controlling of all operations like input, processing and output are performed by control unit.
- What is Booting process? Ans: Booting is a startup sequence that starts the operating system of a computer when it is turned on.
- Define followings:
- Digital Computer
- Analog Computer
- Hybrid Computer
- Supercomputer
- Mainframe Computers
- Minicomputers
- Microcomputers
Ans:
(i) Digital Computer: Computers designed by using the binary digital number system are called digital computers which can count and accept numbers and letters through various input devices.
(ii) Analog Computer: The Analog computers which process data input in a continuous form (unbroken flow of information).
(iii) Hybrid Computer: A combination of the Analog and digital computers can be called hybrid computers.
(iv) Supercomputers: Supercomputers are largest and fastest computers can process 64 bits or more at a time.
(v) Mainframes: Mainframes are less powerful and cheaper than supercomputers. Mainframe can process several MIPS. More than 1000 remote terminals can be supported and have large on-line secondary storage capacity.
(vi) Minicomputers: Medium size computers can be called minicomputers. This type of computer performs data processing activities in the same way as the Mainframe but not on a smaller scale. The cost of minis is lower. A minicomputer can typically support 10 to 12 terminals.
(vii) Microcomputers Extremely small computers can be called microcomputers which consisting of a microprocessor and associated storage and I/O devices. They are also called Personal Computer systems.
- What is Computer hardware? Ans: Computer Hardware refers to the parts of a computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it, such as- mouse, motherboard, keyboard, monitor, hard-disk, etc.
- What is Computer software? Ans: Computer Software refers to the instructions, or programs, for direct interaction with hardware for processing.
- What are the types of computer software? Ans: Computer software are basically two types:
- System software
- Application software.
