Short Question
Personal Computer: It is used by a single person, it is portable and mobile.
Netbook: It is a smaller version of a laptop with limited features.
PDA: It is short for personal digital assistant, a handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer.
iPad: A new handheld computing device launched by Apple Inc. The iPad is designed for consumers who want a mobile device that is bigger than a Smartphone but smaller than a laptop for entertainment multimedia.
Microcomputer: It is also called desktop, is a standard computer which is fixed at one place.
Workstation: A desktop computer that has a more powerful processor, extended memory and enhanced capabilities for performing special tasks. It is often a part of a network.
Server: A computer which is optimized to provide resources to other computers in a network. The have more powerful processors, memory and larger hard drives than other computers in the network.
Enterprise Server: It is also called mainframe system, this is usually a fast multi-user computer system used in large corporations, universities and military installations, etc.
Supercomputer: It is the most complex and costliest of all types of computers and processes complex computations and calculations. It is used for weather forecasting, complex 3D modeling, etc.
Input: It is raw data fed into the computer.
Output: It is processed information received form the computer.
Program: A set of instructions written in any computer language that performs a specific task is known as a program.
Central Processing Unit (CPU): It is the computer's processing and control circuitry that actually processes input and output.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU): The ALU carries out arithmetical and logical operations.
Machine Cycle: It is also called processing cycle, this is four-step cycle that fetches data from the memory, decodes, executes and then writes-back the result into the memory.
System Clock: An electronic circuit that synchronizes the tasks in the computer and controls the pace of the event in the computer. It generates pulses at a rapid rate, measured in millions of cycles per second.
Instruction Set: It is the primary set of commands that a microprocessor understands. It is also called command set.
Register: A register is a temporary storage location within the CPU that stores data before it could be processed and keeps track of various operations.
Bus: It is a collection of wires which connect different parts of the CPU to each other, and with the rest of the system.
Primary Memory: It is the main memory of the computer. This type of memory is used by the central processing unit while processing data and executing instructions. This is volatile memory, i.e., the content in this memory erases once the machine is switched off.
Secondary Memory: It is also called auxiliary memory, the data and the information is stored in the secondary memory once the execution of commands is over. This is a non-volatile memory, i.e., the content in this memory does not erase once the machine is switched off.
Cache Memory: A temporary storage area, placed between the processor and main memory, which maps the contents of the main memory for quick access by the processor. The cache works by storing the contents of frequently accessed RAM location and address that store frequently used data.
Dynamic RAM (DRAM): It stores information in cells which are etched onto a silicon wafer in an array of columns and rows. The intersection of a bit-line and word-line constitutes the address of the memory cell.
Static RAM (SRAM): SRAM chips are complex. A binary cell also called a flip-flop takes four or six transistor along with some wiring.
Extended Data Out RAM (EDORAM): It can send data even while receiving instructions for the next task. Therefore, it does not wait for the processing of the first task to finish before continuing to the next one.
Video RAM (VRAM): This type of VRAM is used for high-resolution displays by video adapters or 3D accelerators. It increases the overall speed of the video card.
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM): It synchronizes itself with the computers system clock to provide synchronization between the memory and the computer processor.
Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM): It is similar to SDRAM except that is has higher bandwidth, which makes it very fast.
Ferroelectric RAM (RAM): It uses a special magnetic film to store data. It has the ability to read and write data similar to DRAM, but i retains data even when power is turned off.
Rambus Dynamic RAM (RD RAM): It uses a Rambus In-line Memory Module (RIMM), which is fairly fast and similar in size and pin configuration to a standard Dual In-Line Memory Module (DRAM).
Programmable ROM (PROM): PROM is programmed on a blank chip. It can be written to, but only once. It is irreversible.
Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM): An EPROM is a variant of ROM that can be erased and reprogrammed.
Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM): EEPROM can be erased using electrical charges under software control.
Flash ROM: Flash ROM is a special type of EEPROM chip that can be erased and reprogrammed. But, the difference between the two is that, whereas EEPROM functions blocks. Therefore, it is much faster than EEPROM.
Disk: A round, flat piece of flexible material that can be electrically, magnetically, optically or mechanically influenced to hod information recorded in digital (binary) form. A disk, in most computers, is the primary means of storing data on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.
Tracks: Data on disks is recorded in concentric circular bands called tracks.
Sectors: Each track is divided into parts called sectors.
Cluster: Two or more sectors combine to form a cluster.
Disk Drive: An electromechanical device that reads from and writes to disks.
Hard Disk: It is the fixed disk that cannot be removed from its drive cabinet. A hard disk stores the compute's operating system and applications. It also provides space for the user;s data, instructions and information.
Zip Drive: A removable hard disk that uses 100 MB cartridges.
CD-ROM Drive: A read-only storage device that can only read the data encoded on CD-ROM discs. However, a variant of CD-ROM drive, called CD-RW, can write to recordable CD-ROM discs as well as read and CD-ROM.
Compact Disc (CD): An optical disc that uses laser beam to burn tiny holes on the surface of the disc to represent digital data.
Digital Video Disc (DVD): An optical disc that is capable of storing data up to 17 GB.
USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive): It is a removable and rewriteable data storage device. It consists of flash memory with a built-in Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
Blu-ray Disc: An optical disc storage medium that is made up of plastic and has a diameter of 120 mm with a thickness of 1.2 mm, the same size as a DVD or a CD.
Theoretical Questions:
Q. 1. Give at least four examples of electromechanical input devices.
Ans: Keyboard, mouse, joystick and touchpad.
Q.2. Explain the processing cycle of a Control Unit.
Ans: The Control Unit manages four basic operations:
Q.4. Give at least six examples of output devices.
Ans: Popular output devices are:
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM): It synchronizes itself with the computers system clock to provide synchronization between the memory and the computer processor.
Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM): It is similar to SDRAM except that is has higher bandwidth, which makes it very fast.
Ferroelectric RAM (RAM): It uses a special magnetic film to store data. It has the ability to read and write data similar to DRAM, but i retains data even when power is turned off.
Rambus Dynamic RAM (RD RAM): It uses a Rambus In-line Memory Module (RIMM), which is fairly fast and similar in size and pin configuration to a standard Dual In-Line Memory Module (DRAM).
Programmable ROM (PROM): PROM is programmed on a blank chip. It can be written to, but only once. It is irreversible.
Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM): An EPROM is a variant of ROM that can be erased and reprogrammed.
Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM): EEPROM can be erased using electrical charges under software control.
Flash ROM: Flash ROM is a special type of EEPROM chip that can be erased and reprogrammed. But, the difference between the two is that, whereas EEPROM functions blocks. Therefore, it is much faster than EEPROM.
Disk: A round, flat piece of flexible material that can be electrically, magnetically, optically or mechanically influenced to hod information recorded in digital (binary) form. A disk, in most computers, is the primary means of storing data on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.
Tracks: Data on disks is recorded in concentric circular bands called tracks.
Sectors: Each track is divided into parts called sectors.
Cluster: Two or more sectors combine to form a cluster.
Disk Drive: An electromechanical device that reads from and writes to disks.
Hard Disk: It is the fixed disk that cannot be removed from its drive cabinet. A hard disk stores the compute's operating system and applications. It also provides space for the user;s data, instructions and information.
Zip Drive: A removable hard disk that uses 100 MB cartridges.
CD-ROM Drive: A read-only storage device that can only read the data encoded on CD-ROM discs. However, a variant of CD-ROM drive, called CD-RW, can write to recordable CD-ROM discs as well as read and CD-ROM.
Compact Disc (CD): An optical disc that uses laser beam to burn tiny holes on the surface of the disc to represent digital data.
Digital Video Disc (DVD): An optical disc that is capable of storing data up to 17 GB.
USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive): It is a removable and rewriteable data storage device. It consists of flash memory with a built-in Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
Blu-ray Disc: An optical disc storage medium that is made up of plastic and has a diameter of 120 mm with a thickness of 1.2 mm, the same size as a DVD or a CD.
Q. 1. Give at least four examples of electromechanical input devices.
Ans: Keyboard, mouse, joystick and touchpad.
Q.2. Explain the processing cycle of a Control Unit.
Ans: The Control Unit manages four basic operations:
- Fetch: Obtaining program instruction form the computer's memory
- Decode: Deciphering the program instructions
- Execute: Carrying out the requested action
- Write-back: Entering the results into the memory
This four-step cycle is called a Machine Cycle or the processing Cycle.
Q.3. How is the address bus different from the data bus?
Ans: Each bus consists of two parts-a data bus and an address bus. The data bus transfers data whereas the address bus transfers information about where the data should go.
Q.4. Give at least six examples of output devices.
Ans: Popular output devices are:
- Video Adapters
- Monitors
- Printers
- Plotters
- Sound Cards
- Speakers
Q.5. Why should you constantly save your work while operating the computer?
Ans: RAM is used by the CPU to read and write data and instructions while executing a program. Thus, the contents of the RAM keep changing constantly. Hence, it is not considered as permanent memory. That is why it is so important to frequently save work on a computer because memory. That is why it is so important to frequently save work on a computer because if the computer gets turned off due to any reason, than the RAM will lose all the work done.
Q.9. Give at least three examples of external storage devices.
Ans:
- Compact disc
- Digital video disc
- Pen derive
Q.7. Give at least Six examples of Personal Computer used today.
Ans: Some of the popular types of personal Computer used today are:
- Laptop
- Notebooks
- Palmtops
- iPads
- Tablets
- Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
Q.8. Describe a workstation
Ans: The workstation is basically a desktop computer that has a more powerful processor, extended memory and enhanced capabilities for performing special tasks. It is often a part of a network. Workstation are typically found in scientific, industrial, and business environments. They are many used for CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Designing/Computer Aided Manufacturing ) and other scientific applications.
Q.9. Name at least three supercomputers developed in India.
Ans: Param Yuva, EKA and SAGA 220 are some of the supercomputers produced by India.
Q.10. List at least five characteristics of computers and explain them in brief.
Ans: The five main characteristics of computers are:
Speed: A computer is capable of executing trillions of instructions in a second. Higher the processing speed, more advanced and efficient is the computer considered. The speed of the computer is measured in Megahertz (MHz).
Storage: Computers have their own memory units. A memory unit can store large amount of data and information, which can be retrieved within a nanosecond from the memory of the computer. Bigger the storage, better is the computer considered.
Automatic: Computer are automatic machines. Once they receive the instructions, they perform the task flawlessly, provided that the program is error-free.
Accuracy: A computer system is an efficient machine. It has the capability to give accurate results, provided that the input given is correct. Errors occur due to human inefficiency.
Versatile: A computer can perform various activities, form simple calculation to complex 3D modeling of space laboratories, etc. Communication between computers (Networks) has impacted nearly all applications in most types of industries.
