Lesson 1A

Q1. What is Computer?

Ans. Computer is an electronic device that is designed to work with Information. The term computer is derived
from the Latin term ‘computare’, this means to calculate or programmable machine. Computer cannot do
anything without a Program. It represents the decimal numbers through a string of binary digits. The Word
'Computer' usually refers to the Center Processor Unit plus Internal memory.

Q2. Explain a few of the different ways in which computers can be categorized?
Ans. Computer can be categorized in following ways:

 Supercomputers
A supercomputer is a computer that has the most powerful processing power among all other
computers.
 Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computers are huge, towering machines with lots of processing power. Mainframe
computers are mostly used by corporations, government agencies, and banks – organizations that
need a way to store large quantities of information.
 Minicomputers
A minicomputer is a multiprocessing machine that can support up to about 200 users at the same
time. It’s like a less powerful mainframe computer, and is about the size of a refrigerator.
 Microcomputers
Microcomputers are smaller computers that run on microprocessors in their central processing units.
They’re meant for everyday uses that are more practical and personal than professional. E.g. Desktop
Computer
 Mobile Computers
.Mobile computers usually describe computers that are meant to be carried around and taken from
place to place. E.g. Laptops

Q3. List six types of computers that are designed for use by a single person?
Ans. Computers that are designed to be used by single person are following:

 Laptops  Tablet
 Desktops  Smart Phones
 Work Stations  Note Books

Q4. Describe the two common designs for desktop computers?

Ans. There are two common type of desktop design:

 Vertical Tower  Horizontal Flat

The more traditional desktop design features a horizontal machine module, which typically lies flat on the
table. Most users put their screen on top this flat desktop. Vertically oriented tower models became the
most popular desktop system style. This layout enables the user, if desired, to position the machine device
next to or below the desk.

Q5. How much do notebook computers typically weigh?

Ans. A personal computer that is extremely lightweight. Usually, notebook computers weigh less than 6 pounds
and are small enough to fit comfortably in a briefcase.
Q6. List four types of computers that are designed for use by organizations, and are commonly
used by multiple people at the same time?
Ans. Computers that are designed for use by organizations, and are commonly used by multiple people at the same
time are following:

 Network servers  Mini computers

 Mainframe computers  Super computers

Q7. Why are mainframe systems usually limited in the number of tasks they perform?
Ans. Main frame computers are used in large organizations such as insurance companies and banks, where many
people often have to use the same data. At any given moment, the largest mainframes will accommodate the
computing needs of thousands of users. Yet they lack versatility in what these systems give in energy.
Therefore mainframe systems are designed to perform a specific set of tasks only.

Q8. What is the most popular use for home computers?

Ans. Most popular use of home computer is internet browsing and game playing.

Q9. How are computer technologies used by the military?

Ans. Some of the most sophisticated computer technology in the world has been primarily developed for military
use. In reality, for purposes such as calculating the missile trajectory, some of the earliest digital computers
were developed, today, from payroll management to arms control, the armed forces are using the widest
array of imaginable computer hardware and software.

Q10. How are computer technologies being used to train surgeons?

Ans. E-Health is the term used by digital systems and interaction in healthcare practice. The computer uses infrared
technology to take the patient's leg readings and produce measurements and estimates, showing where the
surgeon needs to match the necessary incisions to the body orientation of the individual patient. Surgeons
can now use robotic surgical devices to perform delicate surgery and even remotely perform surgery.

Q11. How are analog computers different from digital computers?

Ans. The distinction between a digital and an analog device is the type of information they are storing. Measured
data is interpreted by analog computers. A speed meter is a common type of analog system in your vehicle.
Discrete information (digits) processed by a digital computer. 0 and 1. In this case. Digital computers are most
frequently used. PC's, electronic computers were MAC's. A big difference is that the output of an analog
computer can vary even if the input is the same. It can be very precise for a digital computer.

Q12. What is a work station? Write down its features.

Ans. A workstation is a personal high-end computer designed for technological or scientific applications. They are
usually connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems, intended primarily to be used
by one person at a time. Workstations are used for tasks such as computer-aided design, design and modeling,
computer-intensive calculations of science and engineering, image processing, architectural modeling, and
computer graphics for visual effects of animation and motion picture.

Q13. How does a dumb terminal differ from an intelligent terminal?

Ans. A stupid terminal does not have its own local processing capabilities. The machine from which it operates
might be in another room. A smart terminal has the ability to process locally, so it does more than just act as
a way to show things. Most of the old mainframe computers are attached to dumb terminals, making it
possible for many people to use one computer. A PC is a smart terminal. It can also be connected to mainframe,
which then acts as a dumb terminal, but it can also be used as a standard computer.
Q14. What is a midrange computer? Why is called so?
Ans. It is a lightweight, efficient multi-user machine with excellent memory and processing speed capabilities. It is
less powerful than a machine with mainframe, but more powerful than a Mac. It's just half of the mainframe
computer where you can connect and work at the same time about 50 terminals. It is often used for
organization at the middle level. Because it's between mainframe and PC, it's called a machine with midrange.

Q15. How is computer technology used in education?

Ans. People and businesses around the world have used modern technology. Technology has become so prevalent
that the use of computer technology has been adopted by many educational institutions to make teaching
students simpler. Computer technology has provided a huge hands-on opportunity to students and has also
provided long-distance learning to students who do not have a way to travel. Students will benefit from using
computer technology in school as long as the ability is appropriately used. Students should keep in touch,
allowing them to work together to solve problems.
 Lesson 1B
Q1. List the four parts of a complete computer system?
Ans. The main four parts a computer system are:

 Input device  CPU

 Output device  Memory

Q2. What are the four phases of the information processing cycle?
Ans.

Q3. Identify four categories of computer hardware?

Ans. Computer devices can be divided into four distinct categories:

 Input Devices - raw data input.

 Processing Devices- processing instructions for raw data into information.
 Output devices- Disseminate information and data.
 Storage devices- storage of data and information.

Q4. List four units of measure for computer memory and storage, not including the byte.
Ans.
S.No. Unit & Description

1
Bit (Binary Digit)
A binary digit is logical 0 and 1 representing a passive or an active state of a
component in an electric circuit.
2
Nibble
 A group of 4 bits is called nibble.
3
Byte
A group of 8 bits is called byte. A byte is the smallest unit, which can represent a data
item or a character.
4
Word
A computer word, like a byte, is a group of fixed number of bits processed as a unit,
which varies from computer to computer but is fixed for each computer.
The length of a computer word is called word-size or word length. It may be as small
as 8 bits or may be as long as 96 bits. A computer stores the information in the form
of computer words.

Q5. What are the two most common input and output devices??
Ans. Two most common Input and output devices are:

Input Devices Output Devices

 Keyboard  LCD/Monitor
 Mouse  Printer

Q6. Name and differentiate the two main categories of storage devices?
Ans. The two main kinds of storage are random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). Read only
memory is permanent unless someone deletes it, it is used during computer boot up. While random access
memory is the computer's temporary data store which disappears once the computer is switched off, it is used
to run different application and system software.

Q7. Name and differentiate the two main categories of computer software?
Ans. There are two types of computer software which are:

 Application Software – Software of a specific 3rd party application which is installed according to user
requirement. A user can directly interact with application software. E.g. Notepad
 System Software – Software necessary for proper functioning of computer. When operating system is
installed system is also installed with it. A user can’t directly interact with system software. E.g. Device
drivers

Q8. What is the difference between data and information?

Ans. Data is raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed. Data can be something simple and seemingly
random and useless until it is organized. But when data is processed, organized, structured or presented in a
given context so as to make it useful, it becomes Information. Without data, information cannot be
processed.

Q9. What is a fundamental difference between data and programs?

Ans. Data is just raw fact, which adds no meaning to a statement or it does not help in any decision making
purposes. Program is collection of some instructions, which perform some task and provides us with some
desirable output whenever executed by computer.
Q10. List five tasks a user may be responsible for, when working with a personal computer?
Ans.
 To save files, data or record progress.
 Playing games & listening music
 For communication sending and receiving mails
 Doing projects
 Creating new programs

Q11. What is Hardware? Give examples?

Ans. Hardware is any physical device used in or with computer. . Hardware is what makes a computer work. A
CPU processes information and that information can be stored in RAM or on a hard drive. A sound card
provides sound to speakers, and a video card provides an image to a monitor. Each of these are examples of
hardware components.

Q12. What is Software? Give examples.

Ans. Software is a collection of code installed onto computer's hard drive. All software utilizes at least one hardware
device to operate. For example, a video game, which is software, uses the computer processor (CPU), memory
(RAM), hard drive, and video card to run. Word processing software uses the computer processor, memory,
and hard drive to create and save documents.

Q13. Write down the units of measure for computer memory and storage?
Ans.

1 kilobyte (KB) 1,024 bytes

1 megabyte (MB) 1,048,576 bytes

1 gigabyte (GB) 1,073,741,824 bytes

1 terabyte (TB) 1,099,511,627,776 bytes

1 petabyte (PB) 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes

Q14. Explain the terms "hard copy" and "soft copy"?

Ans. Soft copy is an electronic document that is not printed on paper but is present in a digital form like in USB
drives and computers, etc. A Soft copy is not physically present and it is mostly used for private and personal
use. Whereas hard copy is a digital document file, printed on paper. A hard copy is physical copy of the
information which is mostly used for official purposes.

Q15. What is an Operating System? Give examples?

Ans. An operating system is a powerful, and usually large, program that controls and manages the hardware and
other software on a computer. All computers and computer-like devices require operating systems, including
laptop, tablet, desktop, smartphone, smartwatch, and router.

For Example, for computers the Microsoft has many operating systems like Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows
7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. In smart phones there is Google’s Android and Apple's macOS and some
other OS are Chrome OS, BlackBerry Tablet OS etc.