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Chapter 01 - COMPUTER OVERVIEW

Conceptual Question/Answers

Introduction

1. What is a Computer?
» Computer is an electronic device which manipulates the data according to the set of instructions. A
computer is used as a data processor which converts data into information.
2. What do mean by data and information? Exemplify.
» Data are the raw facts and figures that are input or fed in a computer, while, Information is the
meaningful content which is extracted from data
3. What do you mean by Information Processing Cycle?
» The process of converting data into information is known as Information Processing Cycle or Input
Process Output cycle.
4. Name the basic (functional) units (components) of a computer.
» input unit, output unit, CPU and memory
5. Draw the block diagram of the functional units of a computer.
» Draw the basic architecture of a computer.

6. State some major characteristics of computers?

» High speed, highest degree of accuracy, huge storage capacity, reliability and versatility.
7. State some limitations of computers (in comparison to the strength of a human being)?
» Lack of decision making power and Zero IQ.

Functional Units

1. What types of inputs that are given to the computer?

» Data, in form of numbers, characters, pictures, graphics, etc., and
Instructions, in form of a computer program/software or may be just a single instruction.
2. What is the function (role) of input devices?
» i) To accept or read data from attached input device.
ii) To converts these data in computer understandable form i.e., in binary form and supplies them
to the CPU for further processing.

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3. Why input data is converted in binary language for computer system?

» A computer operates electrically i.e., with two electricity signals ON and OFF. Binary language, on
the other hand, fulfils the condition of using two unique symbols 0 and 1 to represent these two
states of electricity OFF and ON respectively. Hence input data is converted in binary language,
understandable for computer system for processing instructions.
4. Why binary language is often termed as machine language?
» Binary language, consists of two unique symbols 0 and 1 which can represent the two states of
electricity OFF and ON respectively for a machine. Hence, it is termed as machine language.
5. Name some input devices
» Keyboard, mouse, scanner, bar code reader, joystick, mic etc.
6. What is the function (role) of output devices?
» i) To accept the result produced by the CPU in binary form
ii) To converts the result in binary form in human understandable form and supplies them to the
attached output device.
7. Name some input devices
» Monitor, printer, plotter, speaker, headphones etc.
8. Differentiate between input unit and output unit.
» Input unit Output unit
i) Accepts data and information from outside. i) Accepts the result produced by CPU.
ii) Converts the accepted data and information ii) Converts the result so produced by CPU in
in computer understandable form human understandable form.
9. What is the function (role) of CPU?
» The CPU is the control centre for a computer. It is the brain of the computer where it guides, directs
and governs the performance. In other words, it along with its two subunits ALU and CU, performs
the actual processing of input data to a meaningful information.
10. What is the function (role) of ALU?
» It is the unit in CPU that actually performs all the arithmetic and logical operations of data to produce
a meaningful information.
11. What is the function (role) of CU?
» i) Extracts instructions from memory, decodes and then execute them.
ii) Acts as supervisor by controlling and guiding the operation takes place.

Memory Unit

1. What is the function (role) of MU?

» i) To receive and store the data and instructions temporarily, required for processing.
ii) To store both the intermediate and final results of processing before releasing out.

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2. What do mean by memory cell?

» A memory cell may be defined as a device which can store a symbol selected from a predefined set.
3. How the memory of a computer is measured? Or, What is the measuring unit of a memory?
» The smallest unit of memory is measured in terms of one byte that represents a data item or a
character. Other higher units are Kilo Byte, Mega Byte, Giga Byte, Tera Byte, Peta Byte, Exa Byte,
Zetta Byte, Yotta Byte, Bronto Byte and Geop Byte, each of which is equal to 210 of its lower unit,
i.e., 210 Bytes = 1 KB, 210 KB = 1 MB and so on.
4. What is a nibble? What is a byte?
» A bit is an elementary unit of memory. A group of 4 bits is called a nibble and a group of 8 bits is
called a byte.

Computer System Components

5. What are the major components of a computer system?

» Hardware, OS, application program routines like compiler, linker, utility etc., firmware and
liveware/humanware.
6. Define the terms -
» a) Hardware : These are the physical tangible components of a computer system, i.e.,
components that can be seen and touched. In other words, the electronic,
electrical and mechanical equipment that makes up a computer is called
hardware.
Peripherals : These are also hardware, the devices that surround the system unit e.g.
keyboard, mouse, speakers, printers, monitors etc.
b) Software : This refers to the set of programs that govern the operation of a computer
system and makes the hardware run.
c) Firmware : These are the prewritten programs permanently stored in read-only memory that
configure the computer. These programs are not easily modifiable by the user.
d) Liveware : This is a term generally used for the people associated with and benefited from
the computer system.
7. Differentiate between software and hardware?
» Software Hardware
i) Set of instruction that tell a computer exactly i) Physical part of computer that cause
what to do. processing of data.
ii) Intangible in nature. ii) Tangible in nature.
iii) Failure is systematic. iii) Failure is random.
e.g. Microsoft office etc. e.g. Keyboard, mouse etc.

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8. How software are classified?

» i) System Software, which further classified into following subcategories:
a. Operation System
b. Language Processor
c. System Utilities
d. Device Drivers
ii) Application Software , which further classified into following subcategories:
a. General Application Software
b. Customised Application Software (Bespoke Software/Tailor made software).
Note: For other questions on Software, refer to handouts of Lesson 2

Evolution of Computer

1. What do you mean by Computers Evolution?

» Evolution of computers refers to the historical developments through which computers and
technology have passed, from the time they started to exist to their current state. Essentially, the
evolution of computers had three kinds of stages namely manual, mechanical and automatic.
2. How the historical evolution differs from technological evolution?
» The historical evolution of computers is in terms of the time period that started ever since the counting
began, while, the technological evolution is in terms of the advancement or change of technology
that is used in manufacturing the computers, precisely starts after the invention of MARK-I.
3. Illustrate briefly, the first calculating machine?
» Pascal's Adding machine or Pascaline, was the first ever calculating machine invented by Blaise Pascal
in 1642. It was made up of gears which was used for adding numbers quickly. It worked on the
principle of rotating wheels. The rotation of wheels controlled the addition and subtraction operations.
This machine is capable of carry-transfer automatically.
4. Who is known as the 'Father of Computer'? Describe the machines invented by him?
» Charles Babbage is known as the 'Father of Computer'. He first invented the differential engine in
1822, a machine used to calculate and print mathematical tables. Later in 1833, he improved it and
renamed it as Analytical engine, consisting of a punched card input, a memory and an arithmetic unit.
5. Why Analytical Engine is often called the pioneer computer?
» The Analytical Engine, invented by Charles Babbage, was the first machine designed to introduce the
basic architecture of modern computer i.e., central processing unit, storage area, memory and input-
output devices. Thus, it is called as the pioneer computer.
6. Name the first programming language. Or,
Write a short note on the first computer programming language.
» The first computer programming language is Ada, named by the US Department of Defence in 1979.
Ada Byron (Lady Lovelace), daughter of poet Lord Byran, was the first to create a program to calculate

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the Bernoulli numbers. Thus, she was regarded as the first computer programmer and also her
program Bernoulli numbers calculator as the first computer program.
7. Who devised the concept of 'Stored Programming concept' computer? Or, State the concept of
Neumann architecture?
» The concept of 'Stored Programming concept' computer was proposed by Dr. John Von Neumann.
The architecture is based on three key concepts, that are:
i) Data and instructions are stored in a single read-write memory.
ii) The memory contents are addressable by locations.
iii) Execution takes place in a sequential fashion unless modified explicitly.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
(Computing Device)

Computer Generation

1. First Generation Computer (1940 - 1956)

Characteristics : i) Used vacuum tubes as the core element.
ii) Generates considerable heat.
iii) High electricity consumption.
iv) Frequent electric failure makes it un-reliable.
v) Programming in machine and symbolic language.
vi) Used stored program concept.
Input/Output : Hardwired programs or control panels with switches
Memory Type : Magnetic drums

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Storage : Punched cards and Paper Tape

Major Computers : ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC, UNIVAC-I
2. Second Generation Computer (1956 - 1963)
Characteristics : i) Used transistor circuit as the core element.
ii) Generate lesser heat than 1st generation.
iii) Low electricity consumption than 1st Generation.
iv) More reliable and faster than 1st generation
v) Programming in machine as well as assembly language.
vi) Use of magnetic tapes and disks as core primary memory.
Input/Output : Teletypewriters and punched cards
Memory Type : Magnetic Core
Storage : Magnetic Tape and Hard Disk
Major Computers : IBM 1400 and 1700 series, Control Data (CDC) series, RCA 501, UNIVAC
1108, ATLAS and ICL 1901 etc.
3. Third Generation Computer (1964 - 1971)
Characteristics : i) Developed and use Integrated circuit (IC) as core element.
ii) Computers are smaller, fast and more reliable
iii) Minicomputer, Magnetic disk secondary storage developed.
iv) Uses multi-programming OS and High-level language.
v) Size of main memory reaches to 4 MB and storage to 100 MB.
Input/Output : Keyboards, printers
Memory Type : Core Memory and DRAM chips
Storage : Hard-Disk, Floppy Disk
Major Computers : IBM-360 series, IBM-370/168, ICL-1900 series, ICL-2900, Honeywell
Model 316, Honeywell-6000 series, PDA-11/45 etc.
4. Fourth Generation Computer (1971 - Present)
Characteristics : i) LSI (Large Scale Integrated) and VLSI (Very Large Scale Integrated)
replaced the MSI.
ii) Portable and microcomputer series such as IBM and APPLE
developed.
iii) Development of different type secondary storage with high storage
capacity (up to Tera Bytes) and fast access.
iv) Development in data communication, electronic spreadsheets, DBMS
etc.
v) Programming in HLL, 4GLSs.

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Input/Output : Keyboards, mouse, joysticks, printers, plotters, speakers etc.

Memory Type : Memory chips
Storage : Hard-Disk, Floppy Disk, CD, DVD, flash memory, blue-ray discs etc.
Major Computers : Pentium series, Power PC, AMD, Apple Macintosh IBM, Dell, RISC etc.
5. Fifth Generation Computer (Present and Beyond)
Characteristics : i) Use of organic chips as core element.
ii) Implementation of artificial intelligence.
iii) Large data storage facility.
iv) Personal computers with high speed processing capacity.
v) Parallel-processing, processors are grouped to function as one large
group processor.
vi) Superconductors, through which electricity travels without any
resistance, resulting in faster transfer of information between the
components of a computer.
Input/Output : Keyboards, mouse, joysticks, printers, plotters, speakers, voice
input/output, sensors etc.
Memory Type : Organic chips
Storage : Hard-Disk, Floppy Disk, CD, DVD, flash memory, blue-ray discs, clouds
etc.
Major Computers : i) Intelligent systems used to control the route of a missile
ii) Defence system that fend off attacks
iii) Word processor that could be controlled by means of speech
recognition etc.
iv) Robotics like sofia etc.
1. Write any two major innovations in -
a) 1st generation computer : i) Vacuum tubes for internal operations
ii) Programs stored in computer memory
b) 2nd generation computer : i) Solid-state-device, transistors
ii) Magnetic core memory
c) 3rd generation computer : i) Integrated Circuitry
ii) Faster input-output devices
d) 4th generation computer : i) Portable, microcomputer series
ii) Fast access high storage memory
e) 5th generation computer : i) Organic chips as core element.
ii) Artificial intelligence

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2. What is I.C. (Integrated Circuit)?

» An I.C. or 'integrated circuit' is a wafer thin slice of extremely purified silicon crystals chip, consisting
transistors, resistors and capacitors along with the associated circuitry encapsulated in a small
package with many leads.
3. Who invented I.C.?
» It was invented by Jack Kilby in 1958.
4. What is the size of an I.C.?
» It varies from -
i) Small Scale integrated (SSI) circuits of 10 transistors per chip,
ii) Medium Scale integrated (MSI) circuits of 100 transistors per chip
iii) Very Large Scale integrated (VLSI) circuits of 50000 transistors per chip.

Computer Classification –

a) Basis of purpose

1. Explain briefly how computers are classified on basis of their purpose.

» i) Special-Purpose Computer:
a) Designed to work on a specific task, hence are very efficient, but not versatile.
b) Instructions are permanently stored in the machine chips.
ii) General-Purpose Computer:
a) Designed to work on multi-programs, hence used in countless applications.
b) Instructions are input at the time of execution and thus are very versatile.
2. Distinguish between general-purpose and special-purpose computers?
» Special purpose General purpose
i) Designed to solve a specific problem i) Designed to solve various type of problems.
ii) Instructions are permanently stored in the ii) Instructions are input at the time of
machine chips. execution
iii) Are not versatile iii) Versatile
e.g. Cruise Control computer e.g. PC, Laptop etc.

b) Basis of operation

1. Explain briefly how computers are classified on basis of their operation.

» i) Digital Computer, works upon discontinuous data or discrete quantities. E.g. calculator etc.
ii) Analog Computer, works upon continuous physical quantities such as voltage, current,
temperature etc. E.g. electronic weighing scale, speedometer, voltmeter etc.
iii) Hybrid Computer, combined form of features of both the analog and digital computers, where
some parts of a calculation takes place in analog manner and rest in digital manner.

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E.g. in hospital, analog part is used to measure a patient’s heart beats, temperature and other
vital sign and later these measurements are converted into number and supplied to digital
component.
2. Distinguish between Digital computer and Analog computer?
» Digital Analog
i) Works upon discrete quantities i) Works upon physical quantities
ii) Operates by counting digits ii) Operates by measuring rather than counting
iii) Extremely fast rate of operation iii) Slow rate of operation.
iv) Accuracy is better iv) Accuracy is poor.
3. Why digital computer is more accurate than an analog computer?
» The digital computer is usually more accurate than the analog computer, since the accuracy of an
analog computer is fixed by the measuring devices used in the computer.
4. What is the correlation among digital, analog, general-purpose and special-purpose computers?
» Most of the digital computers are general-purpose whereas analog are special-purpose computers.

c) Basis of performance (size)

1. What are the different types of digital computers based on their performance?
» Microcomputers, mini computers, mainframe computers and super computers.
2. How computers are classified on basis of their performance (size)?
» i) Embedded Computers E.g., phones, digital cameras, music players etc.
ii) Micro Computers E.g. PDAs, Laptop (Notebooks), Desktop (PC) computers and Work Stations.
iii) Mini Computers E.g. PDP-11, VAX, 7500 MAGNUM etc.
iv) Mainframe Computers E.g. CDC 6600, IBM4381 etc.
v) Super Computers E.g. PARAM, ANURAG etc.
3. Name the major categories of microcomputer.
» i) Mobile/Handheld Computers E.g. smartphones etc.
ii) Programmable Computers or PDAs
iii) Laptop and Desktop Computers
iv) Workstations
4. Name some super computers produced in India?
» PARAM series by CDAC, PACE by ANURAG, Flosolver Mk3 etc.
5. What is the relation between micro-processor and microcomputer?
» A microprocessor is a processor whose all components are on a single integrated-circuit chip. A
microcomputer is the computer whose CPU itself is a microprocessor.

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Expand

IPO : Information Processing Cycle

CPU : Central Processing Unit
ALU : Arithmetic Logical Unit
CU : Control Unit
ENIAC : Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator
EDVAC : Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
EDSAC : Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator
UNIVAC : UNIVersal Automatic Computer
IBM : International Business Machine
CDC : Control Data Corporation
RCA : Root Cause Analysis
ATLAS : Automatically Tuned Linear Algebra Software
ICL : International Computers Limited
PDA : Personal Data Processor
IC : Integrated circuit
SSI : Small Scale Integrated
MSI : Medium Scale Integrated
LSI : Large Scale Integrated
VLSI : Very Large Scale Integrated
SRAM : Static Random-Access Memory
DRAM : Dynamic Random-Access Memory
DBMS : Database Management System
HLL : High Level Language
CD : Compact Disc
DVD : Digital Video Disc
AMD : Advanced Micro Devices
RISC : Reduced Instruction Set Computer
PDP : Programmed Data Processor
VAX : Virtual Address eXtension
MAGNUM : Migraine Awareness Group A National Understanding For Migraineurs
CRAY : Completely Redundant Array of Yuppies.
LCD : Liquid-Crystal Display
Wi-Fi : Wireless Fidelity
PARAM : Parallel Machine
CDAC : Centre for Development and Advanced Computing
PACE : Primary-Alternate-Contingency and Emergency

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