Chapter 1 Computer overview and its Basics Solutions
Question - 41 : - Explain the evolution of computing device.
Answer - 41 : -
The computing devices have evolved from simple mechanical machines like ABACUS, Napier’s Bones, Slide Rule, Pascal’s Adding and Subtraction Machine, Leibniz’s Multiplication and Dividing Machine, Jacquard Punched Card System, Babbage’s Analytical Engine and Hallerith’s Tabulating Machine, to the first electronic computer.
Question - 42 : - Explain first generation computers.
Answer - 42 : -
First generation computers were vacuum tubes based machines. These were large in size, difficult to operate and instructions were to be written in machine language. Their computation time was in milliseconds.
Question - 43 : - Explain second generation computers.
Answer - 43 : -
Second generation computers were transistor based machines. They used the stored program concept. Programs were written in assembly language. They were smaller in size, less expensive and required less maintenance than the first j generation computers. The computation time was j in microseconds.
Question - 44 : - What do you mean by fourth generation computers ?
Answer - 44 : -
Fourth generation computers used micro-processors which were designed using the LSI and VLSI technology. The computers became small,
portable, reliable and cheap. The computation time is in Pico-seconds. They became available both to the home user and for commercial use.
Question - 45 : - Explain fifth generation computers.
Answer - 45 : -
Fifth generation computers are capable of learning and self-organization. These computers use SLSI chips and have large memory requirements. They use parallel processing and are based on Artificial intelligence. The fifth generation computers are still being developing.
Question - 46 : - Explain mainframe computers.
Answer - 46 : -
Mainframe computers are multi-user, multi-programming and high performance computers. They have very high speed, very large storage capacity and can handle large workloads. Mainframe computers are generally used in centralized databases.
Question - 47 : - Write features of first generation of computers.
Answer - 47 : -
First generation of computers :
- The main component of first generation of computers were vacuum tube.
- The size of computers were very big.
- Huge consumption of electricity (approx. 60 KW).
- It was a giant machine 30 x 50 feet long, weighed 30 tons, containing 20,000 values & 70,000 resistors.
- Programming language was machine level. Example : ENIAC, UNIVAC-I, EDSAC etc.
Question - 48 : - Write features of fourth generation of computers.
Answer - 48 : -
Fourth generation of computers :
- Main component for this generation computers are VLSIC (Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits), known as microchips consisting of a packing of about 50000 transistors.
- Computer cost reduced up to a great extent.
- Faster access facility and processing speed.
- Many powerful operating systems were developed.
- Multimedia computers are in existence.
Question - 49 : - Write a short note on Herman Hollerith.
Answer - 49 : -
In 1889, Herman Hollerith invented a machine which worked on electricity for the first time. One machine was used for recording data and the other one was used for doing calculations on that recorded data. His machine was capable of reading both numbers and letters. Herman Hollerith introduced the concept of punched cards. Hollerith invented the tabulating machine that could read Information from punched cards.
Question - 50 : - What are microcomj uters ? Mention the characteristics of n crocomputers/personal computers.
Answer - 50 : -
Micro computers/Personal computers are computers that use one or more microprocessors, and contain storage and input/output facilities, usually housed within a single enclosure. These have revolutionized the computer industry because of their size and cost.
Some of the characteristics of micro-Computers/ Personal computers are as follows :
- They are cheap and easy to use.
- They have limited input and output capacities.
- They have low storage capacity.
- Visual Display Unit (VDU) or printer is used to get the output.