Chapter # 1: Introduction to Computer

Q.1. What is Computer? Q.00. What is the modern idea of Stored-

Ans. Computer is an electronic device that program and who proposed it? What is the
processes data and converts it into information theory of John Von Neumann?
and gives us results accordingly. Ans. John Von Neumann gave the modern idea of
Q.2. List Some Applications of Computer. stored-program. According to him “Data and
Ans. Calculating different items in shops, printing program can be stored in the same memory. Thus
books, Control space flights and landing of the machine can itself alter either its program or
airplanes. internal data”.
Q.3. What is an ABACUS? Q.02. Describe computer development in the
Ans. Abacus was a wooden frame of horizontally decades of the 1950s and 1960s.
hanging wires and beads were moved along the Ans. In the 1950s, Magnetic Core Memory and
wires through proper laws for calculations. Transistor Circuit Elements were invented. The
Q.4. What is Napier’s Bones? computers of this era were expensive and difficult
Ans. John Napier was Scottish mathematician to use. The main devices used in this period are
created a device which uses rods to perform card readers, printer and cathode ray tubes.
arithmetic calculations that rods were called Q.03. Describe computer development in the
Napier’s Bones. decades of the 1970s and 1980s. Or Write a
Q.5. What do you know about slide rules? note on the current development of the
You can not only perform basic mathematical computer.
calculation with a modern slide roll but also Ans. In 1970 decade, personal computers were
calculate square of the number, square root, made cheap and small in size. Computer prices
logarithm, sin, cosine, and tangent. dropped sharply in 1980. Latest technology have
Q.6 What do you know about Pascale’s been used in computers that are based on artificial
Calculator? intelligence.
Ans. Pascal invented a mechanical accounting Q.14. Write a note on 1st Generation of
machine named as the Pascale’s calculator which Computer.
had a system of gears. Every gear has digits from Ans. First Generation: Vacuum tubes were
0 to 9. By moving these gears in specific order used as major component. These tubes were very
subtraction and addition were performed. expensive and burn due to quick hotness.
Q.7. What is the role of Charles Babbage in Computers of this generation were too large in
history OR write a note on Difference Engine? size and very expensive. Because of a lot of heat
Ans. Charles Babbage designed an automatic these were kept in air-conditioned rooms.
calculating machine that he named difference Limitedly used on commercial level. The
engine. It was fully automated and works with computers of this era are ENIAC, UNIVAC and
steam. It printed the results also. After ten years EDVAC.
he stop working on it. Q.15. Write a note on ENIAC. who made it?
Q.8. What is the role of Charles Babbage in Ans. ENIAC(Electronic Numerical Integrator
history ‫۔‬What is Analytical Engine? And Calculator) ‫۔‬In 1942, John P.Eckert, W.
Ans. Charles Babbage constructed an idea of Mauchly decided to build a high-speed Electronic
general purpose, fully program-controlled, computer that is known as ENIAC. It was digital
automatic mechanical digital computer that is computer that was larger and heavier in size‫ ۔‬It
called analytical engine. He proposed that this used 140 kW of electricity and could make 5000
machine was automatic work with steam and only additions per second. Its biggest problem was to
single person required to operate it. do programming with hands using switches.
Q.9. write a note on Punched Card tabulator. Q.16. What is UNIVAC.
Ans. In 1890, Herman Hollerith developed the UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer).
first electro-mechanical punched card tabulator It was made for scientific and strategic purposes.
that could read information that had been And used by US Department of State's Census.
punched into cards. Q.17. Write a note on 2nd Generation of
Q.01. What is the use of Punched Cards? Computer.
Punch cards could save data and instructions. The 1. Transistors are used as main component ‫۔‬They
computers were delivered data and instructions require less space and size of 200 transistors is
through punch card and the results were also equal to one vacuum tube. This is a low price
saved on a punch card ‫۔‬These cards are used for than vacuum tube. Transistor worked 40 times
input, output and storage. faster than vacuum tube. It was not hot like
vacuum tube. The computers of this era were
Abdul Rehman S.S.T(I.T)
Govt. Jamia Qasim-Ul-Uloom H/S Sargodha
1
 Chapter # 1: Introduction to Computer
smaller in size as compared to the first of graphs or waves.
generation. They spend less energy. The It has two distinct on / It has no distinct
processing speed was high. They used Magnetic off conditions. condition.
Cover memory to store data. IBM 7094 and It is easy to use It is difficult to use
IBM1400 are the computers of this era. It has large memory It has small memory
Q.18. Write a note on 3rd Generation of It is used in business, It is used in science,
Computer. educational institutes medical and
Ans. ICs (Integrated Circuits) are used as main and hospitals. engineering fields
component. An IC is ¼ square of inch. It consists IBM PC and Apple Slide Rule, Curvimeter,
of thousands of transistor. It reduced computer Macintosh are example Harmonic Analyzer and
size, made it fast, reliable and cheaper. It used of it. Plain meter are
less power and work speedy. It used magnetic example of it.
core memory for data storage and using high Q.23. What is Hybrid Computer?
level language. IBM 370, UNIVAC-9000 and Ans. It is the combination of analog and digital
UNIVAC-1108 are examples of computers of this computer. It consists of best features of both. It is
era. used for digital to analog and analog to digital
Q.19. Write a note on 4th Generation of conversion. These are used in hospitals for
Computer. medical checkups and to design ships, missiles
Ans. Micro Processor is used as major and military weapons etc.
component. Single microprocessor consists of Q.24. What are Classification of Computers
thousands of integrated circuits (ICs) due to According to Size?
which size and price become low. Micro- Ans. According to Size, price and speed there
processors used in various devices such as are four classification of computer 1. Super
microwave oven, cars and wrist watches. These Computers, 2. Main Frame Computers, 3. Mini
computers used semiconductors memory due to Computers, 4. Micro Computers
which internal storage capacity increased. Their Q.25. What is Super Computer?
processing speed increased, used less electricity Ans. These computers have very much higher
and become more reliable. Apple Macintosh, processing speed, memory and storage capacity.
IBM PC are example of computer of this These computers are extremely expensive. Their
generation. speed is measured in billions of instructions per
Q.20. Write a note on 5th Generation of seconds. These are used for complex processes
Computer. like weather forecasting, aircrafts & weapons
Ans. It is based on AI (Artificial Intelligence). design and as well as in atomic research. Control
Some applications of this generation are being data cyber 205, Cray T-90, Deep Blue
used which include voice recognition. The goal of Roadrunner are examples of it.
this era is to make a computer that can be input Q.26. What is Main Frame Computer?
into human language and have the ability to Ans. The much expensive, largest and the most
remember and manage themselves automatically. quickest or speedy computer are called
Q.21. How many types of Computer? mainframe computers. They have primary storage
Ans. There are three types of computer. in several hundreds of megabytes and a lot of
1. Analog Computer, 2. Digital Computer, 3. processors and operate in nano second. These are
Hybrid Computer. very powerful from micro and mini computers.
Q.22. Differentiate between Analog and Digital These computers are used in the environment
Computer? where many peoples use single CPU like airline
Digital Computer Analog Computer companies, factories, organizations etc. IBM S-
Digital computer Analog Computer uses 390, DEC 10 are examples of it.
process data in the form electronic or Q.27.What is a Terminal?
of digits by using mechanical way to A terminal is a monitor and a keyboard connected
digital circuits. solve a problem like to a mainframe computer to build a network.
changing one physical Q.28. What is Mini Computer?
quantity (pressure, Ans. Mini computers are smaller than
speed)into another mainframes in size, speed, storage and more
quantity powerful than microcomputer. It can meet the
It displays quantities in It displays the needs of several people's input and output at a
numbers. quantities in the form time. These are used as a server computer in the
Abdul Rehman S.S.T(I.T)
Govt. Jamia Qasim-Ul-Uloom H/S Sargodha
2
 Chapter # 1: Introduction to Computer
network environment. Such institute and network at their workplace. Questions answers
companies used them which cannot purchase can also entertained via email.
mainframe computers.HP-3000is an example of it Q.37. Describe the use of computer in the
Q.29. What is Micro Computer? business sector.
Ans. These are small in size and low in price. Ans. The use of computer in the business and
These are becoming powerful due to modern industrial sector is very high. Business
technology. That’s why the difference between transaction records are stored in computer
micro and minicomputer is going to end. These information systems. Records of customer bills,
are also called PC (Personal Computer). These employees are recorded. Business transactions
are commonly used in almost everywhere. IBM, through the Internet can be performed in any part
Dell & HP PCs are examples of them. of the world.
Q.30. What are the types of Micro Computer? Q.38. Explain the use of computer in banks.
Ans. It has following types. Desktop Computer, Ans. Powerful computers are used to make
Pocket Computer and Laptop Computer. millions of transactions in banks. Computerized
Q.31. What is Desktop Computer? banking is one of the best ways to attract new
Ans. These are the most commonly used customers. Online banking make banking
computers. It uses LINUX, UNIX and transactions more easy. money can be withdrawn
WINDOWS operating system. Its two popular at any time, through ATM and can also transfer it
types are APPLE and Personal Computer (PC). to another person's account.
Q.32. What is Laptop Computer? Q.39. Write benefits of online banking.
Ans. A laptop computer is a portable computer Ans. Ease, Ubiquity, transactions speed,
that can be taken from one place to another. Its performance.
operating system is just like a desktop computer. Q.40. Write benefits of computer in the
It has floppy drives are CD-ROM drives also. retailing sector.
Laptops also compare the computer as notebook Ans. The computer system allows you to quickly
computers. It also has a large size keyboard, a create item bills. Computer accepts credit card
mouse or touch pad and LCD. It consumes very and the customer can buy items without money.
small electricity. Due to the small size and light Q.41. What is meant by UPC?
weight، they become popular among the Ans. UPC is short form of Universal Production
computer users. They have light rechargeable Code. It is a sequence of lines that are read by the
batteries in them. A typical laptop computer has Bar Code reader. The price of the item is
all the facilities available in microcomputer. presented in this code.
Q.33. What is Pocket Computer? Q.42. What is meant by computer simulation?
Ans. Pocket Computer is also called Palmtop or Describe its benefits.
Handheld‫ ۔‬It can easily be picked up in hand. It Ans. Computer simulation means such a program
has very small size battery, which can be that describe a physical process or something in
recharge. It has a small-sized keyboard and a virtual way. It is used to get informed of a
specific operating system. Input is given them specific environment before enter in it physically.
from a specific pen or touch sensitive screen. The aircrafts simulation is used to train new
Q.34. Explain the use of computer in pilots. The river simulation is used to check the
education. power of the dams before making the dam.
Ans. Educational institutions are using computer Students can make difficult and dangerous
to learn from primary to university level. There experiments through it.
are a large number of knowledge-sharing Q.43. Describe the use of computer& Internet
programs available for each subject. Online tests in the entertainment..
are becoming popular, such as GAT, SAT etc. Ans. Computer plays an important part in
Q.35. What is DISTANCE LEARNING? entertainment. Games can be played on computer
Ans. In this system students do not need to come & internet. Songs, movies and dramas can be
to the educational institutions. Content to read is watched. Live matches can be watched through
available through internet and computer and the Internet. Online gaming competitions are
students are contacted through the same channel. becoming popular.
Its example is Virtual University. Q.44. Describe the use of computer in music
Q.36. What is meant by the virtual classroom? industry.
Ans. In virtual classroom teacher delivers lectures Ans. Computer is used to make high-quality
at his place and students can listen it through the music in small time. New software is helping to
make music more easily.
Abdul Rehman S.S.T(I.T)
Govt. Jamia Qasim-Ul-Uloom H/S Sargodha
3
 Chapter # 1: Introduction to Computer
Q.45. Describe the use of computer in Low Level Language High Level Language
PUBLISHING. These languages are These languages are
Ans. The computer is being used too much in the quite close to the quite close the human
publishing (printing) sector. Documents can be processor. languages.
written and saved on the computer. MS Word and It is important to know It is not important to
in page applications are used for it. These the hardware for it. know the hardware for
documents can be sent from one place to another it.
via the email. Create a program in it Create a program in it
Q.46. Describe the use of the computer in the is difficult task. is easy task.
library. It is difficult to find It is easy to find errors
Ans. Computer software’s are used to keep the errors in it. in it.
records of books and members in the library. machine language and FORTRAN, BASIC,
Books information, Author name, date of assembly language are C/C++ and VB are
issuance can be obtained in seconds. Notes are examples of it examples of it
issued to the member if book let's get down from Q.52 . What is Machine Language?
the scheduled date and generate fine also. Ans. It is also called binary language because
Q.47. Describe the positive & Negative impacts every instruction in Machine language consists of
of computer and Internet on society. a series of 0s and 1s (binary code) that a
Ans. The positive impacts of computer and computer can understand and execute directly. It
Internet on society are as follow. is a computer native language. It is difficult to
* Business * Online Banking * Entertainment understand, debug & modify.
*Education etc. Q.53 . Write a note on Assembly Language.
The negative impacts of computer and Ans. It is a low level language .It is the second
Internet on society are as follow. generation language. It is also near to machine
1. Wastage of time :People waste time using language. In assembly language, the statements
games on the computer and using Facebook every are written in tinny name of English characters
time on the Internet. (named as mnemonics) that are easier to read and
2.Data Security : Very important and secret write the program as compared to machine
information are stored on some computers, illegal language.
access to this information generates security Q.54 . Write a note on FORTRAN.
issues. Ans. FORTRAN short form of (Formula
3. Computer Virus: Important information in Translation). It is a high level language. It was
computer can be damage or lost due to computer developed in 1957 for IBM computers to solve
viruses. mathematical, scientific and engineering
4. Unemployment: computer can do everyday problems.
life work of many people in small time with less Q.55 . Write a note on BASIC?
people due to which rate of unemployment Ans. BASIC is short form of “ Beginners All-
increases. Purpose Symbolic Instructions Code”. It is
Q.48. What is a Computer Program? developed by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz in
Ans. The set of instructions given to computer to 1964. It is a high level language and very simple
perform a specific task is called computer and easy. It is designed to teach the students basic
program. concepts of programing.
Q.49. What is Programming Language? Q.56 . Describe BASIC design principles. Tell
Ans. The programming language describes a the benefits of the BASIC?
format for writing instructions in a specific order Ans. It's easy to use for new people. It is a
which is executed by the computer. Programming common purpose language. Tells errors in a clear
language is a source of communication with and friendly manner. Users do not need to know
computer. the computer's hardware. Providing modern
Q.51. How many types of Programming facilities for professionals.
Languages? Q.57 . Write a note on COBOL.
Ans. There are two types of programing Ans. COBOL (Common Business Oriented
languages. 1. Low Level Languages, 2. High Language). It is a high level language and was
Level Languages specifically developed for business purpose. Its
Q.50. Differentiate between Low level and statements are like English grammar which
High level Languages? makes it easy to learn.
Abdul Rehman S.S.T(I.T)
Govt. Jamia Qasim-Ul-Uloom H/S Sargodha
4
 Chapter # 1: Introduction to Computer
Q.58 . Write a note on LISP. Q.65 . Differentiate between compiler and
Ans. LISP stands for List Processing. It is a high interpreter?
level language and was developed for artificial Interpreter Compiler
intelligence. It has specific and unique syntax. It An interpreter reads a The compiler converts
has ability to make changes in itself. single line of the the whole program into
Q.59 . Write a note on PASCAL. program and converts a machine code at once.
Ans. It is a high level language. It was developed it into the machine
in 1970's. The features of COBOL, FORTRAN code.
and Algol were combined in it. It is a successful Interpreter does not Compiler creates an
programming language and is made for business create an object file. object file.
and scientific use. Through it processing Through it processing
Q.60 . Write a note on VB. speed of the program speed of the program is
Ans. It is a high level language. VB (Visual is slow fast
Basic) was developed by Microsoft. This Interpreter tells about The compiler tells about
language provide graphical environment to the errors after reading the errors after reading
create a program and graphical user interface. the single line If there the entire program
Now a day it is widely used. is an error in that line.
Q.61 . Write a note on C. Q.66 . Write a note on Assembler.
Ans. In 1972 Denis richi developed it. It is a high Ans. Assembler is a program that converts the
level language. It is used to create operating program written in assembly language into a
system and for compiler construction. machine code.
Q.62 . Write a note on C++. Q.67 . Write the name of some applications of
Ans Another new version of C is C++ which is computer ?
created on the basis of OOP (Object Oriented Ans. MS WORD, MS EXCEL, MS POWER
Programing). POINT, PAINT and WINDOW MEDIA
Q.63 . Write a note on JAVA. PLAYER etc.
Ans. It is a high level language. Sun Microsystem
developed it. It is used to control microprocessors
used in cable receiver VCR & Toaster. It gives
the facilities of networking, graphical user
interface and programing.
Q.64 . What are Language Translators?
Ans Language Translators are the system
software that transforms a program written in
high levels into the machine code. These software
programs check out the errors of the program and
optimize the code. It has three types. Assembler,
Compiler and Interpreter.

Abdul Rehman S.S.T(I.T)

Govt. Jamia Qasim-Ul-Uloom H/S Sargodha
5