Computer defination,generation,classification

 

Unit-1

1. Define computers?

A computer is a programmable machine or device that performs pre-defined or

programmed computations or controls operations that are expressible in numerical or logical

terms at high speed and with great accuracy

2. Why computer is known as data processing system?

Any process that uses a computer program will enter data and summarize, analyze or

otherwise convert data into usable information. The process may be automated and run on a

computer. It involves recording, analyzing, sorting, summarizing, calculating, disseminating and storing data. Thus Computer is known as data processing system.

3. What is Data and Information?

Data - Data is the fact or raw material for the information processing.

Information – The processed data is called information.

4. What are the basic operations of Computer?

It accepts data or instructions by way of input., It stores data., It can process data as

required by the user., It gives results in the form of output., It controls all operations inside a

computer.

5. Give the applications computer?

Word Processing, Internet, Desktop publishing, Digital video or audio composition,

Mathematical Calculations, Robotics, Weather analysis

6. What are the characteristics of computers?

Speed, Accuracy, Automation, Endurance, Versatility, Storage, Cost Reduction.

7. How will you classify computer systems?

Based on physical size, performance and application areas, we can generally divide

computers into four major categories:

Micro computer, Mini Computer, Mainframe computer and Super Computer.

8. Specify the Electronic components used for different computer generations. Generations

Electronic Components

I Generation Vacuum tubes, II Generation Transistors, III Generation Integrated Circuits,

IV Generation Microprocessors, V Generation Artificial Intelligence

9. Define Software and Hardware?

Computer instructions or data, anything that can be stored electronically is software.

Computer hardware - (computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical

components making up a computer system hardware.

10. What are the languages used in computer generations.

Generations Languages used

I Generation Machine Language, II Generation Assemble Language, Mnemonics, III

Generation High Level Language, BASIC, PASCAL, COBOL, FORTRON, IV

generation 4GL, V Generation Artificial Intelligence.

11. Expand ENIVAC, ABC, EDVAC, EDSAC and UNIVAC.

ENIAC – Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator, ABC – Atanasoff and Berry

Computer, EDVAC – Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Calculator, EDSAC –

Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, UNIVAC – UNIversal Automatic

Computer.

12. Who is the father of computer? Why?

Charles Babbage is the father of computer, because the parts and working principle of

the Analytical Engine, which is invented by Charles Babbage is similar to today’s computer.

13. Expand COBOL, BASIC, FORTRON and IBM.

COBOL – Common Business Oriented Language, BASIC - Beginner’s All Purpose

Symbolic Instruction Code, FORTRON – FORmula TRANslation, IBM – International

Business Machine.

14. Expand IC, SSI, MSI, LSI, and VLSI.

IC – Integrated Circuit, SSI - Small Scale Integration, MSI - Medium Scale Integration.

LSI - Large Scale Integration, VLSI - Very Large Scale Integration.

15. What are the components of the computer systems?

Basic components of the computer system are Input Unit, Central Processing Unit,

Secondary Storage Unit and Output Unit.

16. What are the functions in the input unit?

An input device is a device that is used to input data or information into a computer.

Some examples of input devices include:

Keyboards, Computer mice, Light Pen, Digitizer, Touchpad, Trackball, Image scanner,

Webcam, Video capture / tuner cards, Microphones, MIDI instruments.

17. What are the functions in the output unit?

In computers, a unit which delivers information from the computer to an external device

or from internal storage to external storage.

Speakers, Printer, Headphone, Monitor (or) Visual Display Unit (VDU), Plotter.

18. What is an ALU?

Arithmetic logic unit, the part of a computer that performs all arithmetic computations,

such as addition and multiplication, and all logical operations such s comparison operations.

The ALU is one component of the CPU (central processing unit).

19. Define Clients and Servers.

A client is generally a single-user PC or workstation that provides a highly user-friendly

interface to the end user. It runs client processes, which send service requests to the server.

A server is generally a relatively large computer that manages a shared resource and

provides a set of shared user services to the clients. It runs the server process, which services

client requests for use of the resource managed by the server. The network may be single

LAN or WAN or an internet of networks.

20. What is a CPU?

The CPU (central processing unit) is the part of a computer controls the interpretation

and execution of instructions. Generally, the CPU is a single microchip.The CPU, clock and main

memory make up a computer. A complete computer system requires the addition of control units,

input, output and storage devices and an operating system.

21. What is meant by generation in computer terminology?

Generation is the period of years in which the computers are enhanced as previous.

22. Define personal computers?

A small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. In price,

personal computers range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. All are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip.

Example:

Businesses use personal computers for word processing, accounting, desktop

publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database management applications.

 At home, the most popular use for personal computers is for playing games.

23. Define Mainframe computer? Give the name of any one mainframe computer.

Mainframes are computers used mainly by large organizations for critical applications,

typically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise

resource planning, and financial processing.. Mainframe is an industry term for a large

computer. And because of the sheer development costs, mainframes are typically manufactured by large companies such as IBM, Amdahl, Hitachi.

Ex. ENIAC, UNIVAC

24. Define Mini computers?

A mini computer is a multi-user or time-sharing system. It is used for medium scale data

processing such as Bank account processing, Payroll processing etc., Mini computer process

greater storage capacity and larger memories as compared to micro computer.

25. Define super computer?

The fastest type of computer. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for

specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations.For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer.

26. What is a volatile and non-volatile memory?

Volatile memory: also known as volatile storage is computer memory that requires

power to maintain the stored information, unlike non-volatile memory which does not require

a maintained power supply. It has been less popularly known as temporary memory.

Non-volatile memory: nonvolatile memory, NVM or non-volatile storage, is computer

memory that can retain the stored information even when not powered.

27. Define (1) Nibble (2) Bit (3) Byte?

(1) In computers and digital technology, a nibble is four binary digits or half of an eightbit

byte. A nibble can be conveniently represented by one hexadecimal digit.

(2) A bit (short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit has a

Single binary value, either 0 or 1. Although computers usually provide instructions that can test and manipulate bits, they generally are designed to store data and execute instructions in

bit multiples called bytes.

(3) In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long. A

byte is the unit most computers use to represent a character such as a letter, number, or

typographic symbol (for example, "g", "5", or "?"). A byte can also hold a string of bits

that need to be used in some larger unit for application purposes.