Sheet 1

1. Fill in the blanks.

a. The set of instructions to perform various operation is called computer program.
b. Compute means to calculate of the computer.
c. Mechanical devices are a type of hardware component.
d. Personal computers are also called as micro-computers.
e. Combination of Analog and Digital computers are called as hybrid computers.
f. In a digital computer number and characters are represented as a series of 0’s and
1’s.
g. The primary storage unit is also called as main memory.
h. Arithmetic logic unit is a part of Central Processing Unit (CPU).
i. The unit of the computer which gives the results of the process and computations
is the Output Unit.

2. Answer in brief
a. Define a computer.
- Fast and accurate data processing system that accepts data, performs various
operations on the data, has the capability to store the data and produce the
results on the basis of detailed step by step instructions given to it.
b. What is software?
- Software is a collection of programs which utilize and enhance the capability
of the hardware.
c. What is parallel processing?
- Parallel processing where many CPUs work as one and advance in
superconductor technology which allows the flow of electricity with little or
no resistance, greatly improving the speed of information flow.
d. What is analog computer?
- In analog computers, data is recognized as a continuous measurement of a
physical property like voltage, speed, pressure etc. Readings on a dial or
graphs are obtained as the output, ex. Voltage, temperature; pressure can be
measured in this way.
e. Write 1 – 2 lines on mainframe computer.
- Main frame computers are very large computers which process data at very
high speeds of the order of several million instructions per second. They can
be linked into a network with smaller computers, microcomputers and with
each other.
f. Give any one application of modern day computers.
- ATM used in bank for electronic money transfer.
g. State in brief one or two limitations of computer.
 - Although the computers of today are highly intelligent and sophisticated, they
have their own limitations. The computer cannot think on its own, since it
does not have its own brain. It can only do what is has been programmed to
do.
- It can execute only those jobs that can be expressed as a finite set of
instructions to achieve a specific goal. Each of the steps has to be clearly
defined.
- The computers do not learn from previous experience nor can they arrive at a
conclusion without going through all the intermediate steps. However, the
impact of computers on today’s society in phenomenal and they are today an
important part of the society.
h. Define a system.
- System is defined as a group of integrated parts which are designed to achieve
a common objective.
i. Write the functions of the input unit.
- Accept information (data) and programs.
- Convert the data in a form which the computer can accept.
- Provide this converted data to the computer for further processing.
j. What is an operating system?
- Operating system is system software that manages computer hardware,
software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.
k. Write what you know about computer software and their categories.
- Software mainly consists of these computer programs, procedures and other
documentation used in the operation of a computer system. Software is a
collection of programs which utilize and enhance the capability of the
hardware.
l. Specify the electronic components used for different computer generation.
- First generation: Vacuum Tube Technology
- Second generation: Transistor
- Third generation: Integrated Circuit (IC)
- Fourth generation: Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
m. Explain the different classification of computers.
- Computers are broadly classified into two categories depending upon the logic
used in their design as:
o Analog Computers
 In analog computers, data is recognized as a continuous
measurement of a physical property like voltage, speed,
pressure etc. Readings on a dial or graphs are obtained as the
output, ex. Voltage, temperature; pressure can be measured in
this way.
o Digital Computers
 They process data by way of mathematical calculations,
comparison, sorting etc. They accept input and produce output
as discrete signals representing high (on) or low (off) voltage
state of electricity. Numbers, alphabets, symbols are all
represented as a series of 1s and 0s.
  classification of digital computers is done on the basis of their
capacity to access memory and size like:
 Personal Computers
 Hybrid Computers
 Mainframe Computers
 Super Computers
n. Draw a suitable block diagram of basic organization of a computer system
and describe them in brief.
- The basic parts of computer system are:
o Input Unit
o Central Processing Unit
o Output Unit
 Input Unit
 Input devices are the devices which are used to feed
programs and data to the computer.
 Central Processing Unit
 This is the brain of any computer system.
 The central processing unit or CPU is made of three
parts:
o Arithmetic Logic Unit
o Control Unit
o Primary Storage Unit
 Output Unit
 The output units accept the results produced by the
computer, convert them into a human readable form and
supply them to the users.

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3. Match the Following
a) Very Large-scale Integration I) Second Generation (c)
b) Vacuum Tube Technology II) Fifth Generation (d)
c) Stored Program III) Fourth Generation (a)
d) Superconductor Technology IV) First Generation (b)
e) Semiconductor Technology V) Third Generation (e)

4. Write True or False

A. Expert system is an example of artificial Intelligence. (True)
B. The world’s first general purposes electronic digital computer was the Abacus.
(False)
C. The first-generation computers used machine language for programming. (True)
D. Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine. (True)
E. Personal Computer (PC) was developed in the first generations. (False)

5. Select the appropriate option

a. The number of instructions a computer can process in a given time is called its
(i) Versatility
(ii) Speed
(iii) Efficiency
(iv) Accuracy
b. Keyboard is
(i) Input devices
(ii) CPU
(iii) Output device
(iv) Storage device
c. The part of computer similar to the human brain is
(i) Floppy Disk
(ii) Printer
(iii) Central Processing Unit

QUESTIONS FOR SELF – STUDY

1. Define the terms: data, program, hardware and software.
- Data
o are a collection of discrete values that convey information, describing
quantity, quality, fact.
- Program
o set of instructions that a computer follows in order to perform a
particular task.
- Hardware
 o The hardware is the machinery itself. It is made up of the physical
parts or devices of the computer system like the electronic Integrated
Circuits (ICs), magnetic storage media and other mechanical devices
like input devices, output devices etc.
- Software
o Software mainly consists of these computer programs, procedures and
other documentation used in the operation of a computer system.
Software is a collection of programs which utilize and enhance the
capability of the hardware.
2. List and explain in brief the characteristics of computers
- Speed
o The speed of a computer is measured in terms of the number of
instructions that it can perform or execute in a second.
- Accuracy
o Computers are very accurate. They are capable of executing hundreds
of instructions without any errors. They do not make mistakes in their
computations. They perform each and every calculation with the same
accuracy.
- Efficiency
o The efficiency of computers does not decrease with age. The
computers can perform repeated tasks with the same efficiency any
number of times without exhausting their selves.
- Storage
o Computers are capable of storing large amounts of data in their storage
devices. These dev ices occupy very less space and can store millions
of characters in condensed forms. These storage devices typically
include floppy disks, tapes, hard disks, CDs etc, the data stored on
these devices can be retrieved and reused whenever it is required in
future.
- Versatility
o Computers are very versatile. They are capable not only of performing
complex mathematical tasks of science and engineering, but also other
non-numerical operations fielding air-line reservation, electricity bills,
data base management etc.
3. What constitutes a computer system?
- The basic parts of computer system are:
o Input Unit
o The Central Processing Unit
o Output Unit
4. Write short notes on Fourth Generation of Computers, Limitations of
computers.
- Fourth Generation
o The general features of the fourth generation computers were:
 Use of Very Large-Scale Integration.
 The size of the computer got reduced.
 Introduction of Personal Computers.
 - Limitations of computers
o Although the computers of today are highly intelligent and
sophisticated, they have their own limitations. The computer cannot
think on its own, since it does not have its own brain. It can only do
what is has been programmed to do.
5. Explain the classification of computers on the basis of their capacity to access
memory and size.
- Personal Computers
o they have smallest memory and less power.
- Hybrid Computers
o hybrid Computers are a combination of Analog and Digital computers.
They combine the speed of analog computers and accuracy of digital
computers. They are mostly used in specialized applications where the
input data is in an analog form i.e. measurement. This is converted into
digital form for further processing. The computers accept data from
sensors and produce output using conventional input/output devices.
- Mainframe Computers
o Main frame computers are very large computers which process data at
very high speeds of the order of several million instructions per
second.
- Super Computers
o A super computer is the fastest, most powerful and most expensive
computer which is used for complex tasks that require a lot of
computational power. Super computers have multiple processors which
process multiple instructions at the same time. This is known as
parallel processing. These computers are widely used in very advanced
applications.
6. List the applications of computers.
- Scientific, Engineering and Research.
- Business
- Medicine
- Information
- Education
- Games and Entertainment