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Categories of Computers and Computer Languages

I. Answer the following questions:

Q.1. What are embedded computers?

Ans: A computer that is integrated into another device is called an embedded computer. It performs
a specific function of that device. It is also referred to as a microcontroller. Embedded computers
have been used in modern TV sets, motor vehicles, telephone, digital cameras, washing machines,
microwaves and dishwashers. More devices that employ embedded computers are PDAs, printers,
DVD players, ATMs, thermostats, calculators, digital watches and MP3 players.

Q.2. What are the various categories of computers and on what basis are they categorized?

Ans: The various categories of computers are microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframe

Q.3. Give two examples and uses of supercomputers.

Ans: Supercomputers are the most powerful in terms of processing speed and memory. They can
execute trillions of instructions per second. They are very expensive and are used for scientific
research, weather forecasting, underground studies, aircraft designing and so on. Cray-1 and IBM’s
Blue Gene/L are examples of supercomputers.

Q.4. What are mobile computers? Describe any two.

Ans: Mobile computers are the smallest computers designed to be carried around by their users.
They can be taken from place to place. They are user-friendly, lightweight and very convenient.
Netbooks, e-book readers, tablets, smartphones, PMPs and so on are some types of mobile
computers.

Smartphones: A smartphone is a combination of a mobile phone and a computer system. You can
use a smartphone to check your email, book a ticket, locate places, or shop online.

Tablets: Tablets are portable computers that use a touchscreen interface. It is typically larger than a
smartphone and smaller than a netbook computer. Apple’s iPad, Microsoft Surface are examples of
tablets.

Q.5. What are the languages that a computer can understand?

Ans: The languages that a computer can understand can be divided into four categories:

1. First and Second generation languages (these are Low-level languages – LLL)

2. Third generation languages (these are High-level languages)

3. Fourth generation languages

4. Fifth generation languages (these are the Artificial Intelligence-based languages)

Q.6. What are the features of Machine Language?

1. It is machine dependent.

2. It is the only language that is directly understood by a computer.

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3. It is difficult to use, as the programmer has to remember machine codes.

Q.7. What are the features of Assembly Language?

1. It is machine dependent.

2. It is easier for human beings to understand as compared to machine language.

3. It is easy to locate and correct errors.

4. Execution of programs is slower as compared to machine language.

Q.8. What are the features of High-level Language?

1. It is user-friendly.

2. It uses English words and mathematical operators, which are easier to learn.

3. It has to be converted into machine language, which is time consuming.

Q.6. What are the features of Fourth Generation Languages?

1. It is machine dependent.

2. It is more user-friendly as compared to a third generation language.

3. It has a very high speed of execution as compared to the languages of previous generations.

4. It makes programming easier.

Q.7. Why are high-level languages easier to learn and use?

Ans: High-level languages are easier to learn and use as they are similar to human languages. So they
are easier to read and write.

Q.8. What are Fifth generation languages used for?

Ans: Fifth generation languages are used for developing Artificial Intelligence-based programs. Its
primary goal is to eliminate the need of implementing an algorithm to solve a problem. The fifth
generation languages are designed to make the computer solve a given problem on its own without
any interference of the programmer. Its ultimate aim is to make computers behave, think, and react
as human beings. Robots are an example of systems working with Artificial Intelligence. Some fifth
generation languages are Mercury, OPSS and Prolog.

Q.9. Why does a computer need a translator?

Ans: A computer needs a translator to convert a high-level language or assembly language into a
computer-understandable language.

Q.10. Why is a translator used?

Ans: A translator is used to convert one form of language to another so that a computer understands
the instructions it receives. Source-code is sent to a translator that converts it into machine code.

Q.11. How many types of Translators are there? Name them.

Ans: There are three types of Translators – Assembler, Compiler and Interpreter.

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II. Define:

a. the first computer:

The first computer was a huge machine. It could only do simple calculations.

b. microcomputers:

Microcomputers are the computers that work on a single microprocessor. It is used by a single
person at the time. Personal computers used in offices, schools and homes are microcomputers. Dell,
Apple and HP are some manufactures of microcomputers.

c. Microprocessor:

A microprocessor is a miniature electronic device (chip) that contains all the components of a CPU
necessary to perform the functions of a computer.

d. Mainframe Computers:

Mainframe computers are very large and expensive computers. They have a very large memory and
can store even more data than minicomputers. More than a hundred users can be connected
through a mainframe computer. They can carry out a number of tasks for many people at the same
time. They are mostly used in big hospitals, airlines and banks. IBM Z series is an example of a
mainframe computer.

e. Netbook:

A netbook is a low-power notebook computer that is smaller than a laptop. It usually does not have a
DVD drive. The ASUS Eee PC is an example of a netbook.

f. PMP:

A Portable Media Player (PMP) is an electronic device that stores and plays audio, images, videos and
so on.

g. Machine language or First Generation Language:

Machine language is the basic computer language. It is also the first programming language
developed for computers. Each instruction is written in the form of 0s and 1s. Instructions given in
any other language are first converted into machine language so that the computer can understand
it. That is why machine language programs are executed very quickly.

h. Assembly Language or Second Generation Language:

Assembly Language has the same structure and set of commands as that of machine language.
However, it uses numbers, symbols and abbreviations in place of 0s and 1s. Each computer has its
own assembly language depending on its hardware. That is why a program written in assembly
language for one type of computer will not run on another type of computer.

i. High-level Languages or Third Generation Languages:

High-level Languages are similar to human languages. They are easier to read and write. Some high-
level languages are C, C++, C#, FORmula, TRANslation (FORTRAN), Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code (BASIC) and Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL).

j. Fourth Generation Languages:

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The fourth generation languages (4GLs) are modern high-level languages. 4 GLs are designed to
reduce the overall time, effort, and cost of software development. These were developed to get
closer to human language in terms of thinking and conceptualization than any previous generation
languages. Some Fourth Generation Languages are PL/SQL, FoxPro, Stata and Oracle.

k. source code:

A program written in a high-level language is called source code.

l. machine code:

Machine code is the converted code that the computer can easily understand. Before the code is
ready for execution, there is a process of checking for errors. The program can remove any errors
that are detected in the source code.

III. Differentiate between:

a. minicomputers and microcomputers

Minicomputers Microcomputers
1. Minicomputers have more processing power. 1. Microcomputers have less processing power.
2. They have more memory and can therefore 2. They have less memory and can therefore
store more data. store less data.
3. CDC 1700 and HP 3000 are examples of 3. Personal computers used in offices, schools
minicomputers. and homes are examples of microcomputers.

b. an interpreter and a compiler

Compiler Interpreter
1. It performs the translation of a program as a 1. It translate the code line by line.
whole.
2. Errors are reported after the entire program 2. It stops translation when the first error is
is translated. So, the process of removing encountered. So, the process of removing
errors becomes difficult and time consuming. errors becomes easy and quick.
3. Programming languages, such as C and C++ 3. Programming languages, such as Python,
use compilers. BASIC and Ruby use interpreters.

IV. Who am I?

1. I am a small handheld electronic device for reading books. E-book

2. I am a computer and my other name is microcontroller. Microcomputer

3. I am the smallest computer you can carry with you. Mobile phone

4. I am a miniature electronic device that contains all the components of a CPU.

Microprocessor

5. I can execute trillions of instructions per second. Supercomputers

6. C, C++ and C# are types of which computer language. High-level language

7. I am a converted code that a machine can easily understand. Machine code

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8. I am the program written in a high-level language. Source code

V. Fill in the blanks:

1. The Low-level languages use either binary form or a form very similar to it.

2. There are two types of Low-level languages – Machine language and Assembly language.

3. The three language processors that translate a high-level language into a low-level language are an
assembler, a compiler and an interpreter.

4. The binary number system uses only 2 single digits. (0s and 1s)

5. Computer languages can be classified into five generations.

6. Fifth generation languages are used for developing Artificial Intelligence-based programs.

7. The language that us directly understood by a computer is machine language.

8. A language processor that translates an entire program written in a high-level language into a
machine language in one go is compiler.

9. Interpreter translates one line of a program at a time and reports the error once it is encountered.

VI. Write True or False:

1. Supercomputers are the most powerful computers in terms of processing speed and memory. True

2. Laptops and Tablets are referred to as microcomputers. True

3. Fourth-generation languages are machine independent. True

4. IBM Z series is an example of a mainframe computer. True

5. You can use a smartphone to check your email, book a ticket, locate places or shop online. True

VII. Identify different types of computer languages and write them under the appropriate category:

3GLs 4GLs 5GLs