Basic Concepts of Data Processing

Question 1

What does data consist of?

Answer 1

Raw numbers and symbols that can be arranged into meaningful information.

Question 2

What is the basic data storage system?

Answer 2

Binary.

Question 3

How many digits are in a byte? How can a byte be represented?

Answer 3

8. A letter of the alphabet, a specific color, or different application preferences.

Question 4

What role does context play?

Answer 4

Context gives data meaning.

Question 5

What does ASCII stand for?

Answer 5

American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

Question 6

Who invented the pixel and in what year?

Answer 6

Russel Kirsch in the 1950s.

Question 7

What is binary?

Answer 7

This is a base 2 numbering system consisting of only ones and zeroes.

Question 8

What is a pixel?

Answer 8

A pixel is a single square which is assigned a color and used to assemble a larger image.

Question 9

Where does the term RGB come from?

Answer 9

In VGA displays we used 8-bit color (256 possible colors), 11111100, where the first three ones represented red, the second three ones represented green and the last two zeros represented blue.

Question 10

What is the process of sending a cat picture to your grandma?

Answer 10

Cat Photo, To: Grandma From: Me Cat Photo, To: 01001011 From: 11011010 Photo: 01011110, To: Grandma From: Me Cat Photo, Cat Photo.

Question 11

What are the three components that enable a computer to function?

Answer 11

Hardware, Firmware and Software.

Question 12

Explain what is the CPU, RAM, and hard drives of a computer.

Answer 12

The central processing unit is the brain of the computer processes and calculates.
Random access memory acts as short-term memory.
Hard drives store data long-term.

Question 13

What essential software is required for the functionality of the software?

Answer 13

Firmware.

Question 14

What does it mean that RAM is volatile?

Answer 14

RAM only preserves data when it has electrical power.

Question 15

What happens to data in RAM if power is lost?

Answer 15

Data is lost unless saved to the hard drive.

Question 16

What is the BIOS?

Answer 16

Basic Input Output System.

Question 17

What is another name for BIOS?

Answer 17

ROM or Read Only Memory.

Question 18

What is the characteristic of ROM?

Answer 18

It is static and cannot normally be written to.

Question 19

What is firmware?

Answer 19

Instructional software on computer chips that remains the same.

Question 20

What does the computer do first during the boot process?

Answer 20

Runs the instructions on the BIOS chip.

Question 21

What does the BIOS chip identify during booting?

Answer 21

All hardware attached to the machine.

Question 22

What does the computer do after identifying hardware?

Answer 22

Finds the operating system on the hard drive.

Question 23

What is the result of the boot process?

Answer 23

The operating system is copied into RAM.

Question 24

What do you see while a computer is booting up?

Answer 24

The logo for your computer.

Question 25

What type of devices use firmware?

Answer 25

Devices that always perform the same task.

Question 26

Fill in the blank: A _______ device does not need RAM to run different applications.

Answer 26

single-task

Question 27

What do advanced personal computers need to perform many tasks?

Answer 27

RAM and extra hard drive storage.

Question 28

What are the two main types of software?

Answer 28

* Operating systems * Applications

Question 29

Are applications mandatory for a computer's operation?

Answer 29

No, applications are optional

Question 30

Where is software typically stored?

Answer 30

Long-term storage such as hard drives

Question 31

Are both operating systems and applications updatable?

Answer 31

Yes

Question 32

Fill in the blank: Software tells the computer to do something by providing _______.

Answer 32

[instructions]

Question 33

True or False: Both operating systems and applications are stored on permanent ROM chips.

Answer 33

False

Question 34

What is an operating system (OS)?

Answer 34

The first software loaded into the RAM during the boot process.

Question 35

Why is an operating system essential for a computer?

Answer 35

It is essential for a computer to function.

Question 36

Name three examples of operating systems.

Answer 36

* Windows * Linux * MacOS

Question 37

What are the three fundamental functions provided by an OS?

Answer 37

* Provide an interface * Control hardware * Run applications (apps)

Question 38

What is the purpose of an interface in an operating system?

Answer 38

So a human being can interact with a computer.

Question 39

What would happen to the hardware in a computer system without an OS?

Answer 39

It would sit, dormant, without the OS to give it instructions.

Question 40

Why do applications need an operating system to run?

Answer 40

They are a second layer of functionality.

Question 41

Fill in the blank: Applications must be designed for a specific _______.

Answer 41

[operating system]

Question 42

What does it mean that applications are designed to work with a specific OS?

Answer 42

They are designed to work with a specific set of instructions that are part of the unique OS.

Question 43

What are applications (apps) used for?

Answer 43

To perform specific tasks

Question 44

What happens when you want to write a document?

Answer 44

You load an app

Question 45

Name three tasks that can be performed using apps.

Answer 45

* Play a game * Listen to a song * Edit photos

Question 46

What does loading an app into RAM allow you to do?

Answer 46

Use it for your task

Question 47

Fill in the blank: Applications are also considered _______ because they provide specific instructions to the hardware.

Answer 47

software

Question 48

What must be established besides coming up with words and symbols in programming?

Answer 48

The correct ordering of the symbols and words ## Footnote This is essential for the instructions to make sense, similar to syntax in human languages.

Question 49

What does syntax in programming refer to?

Answer 49

Rules for the correct order of words and symbols ## Footnote It includes rules on when certain symbols can be used, akin to punctuation in English.

Question 50

What is the significance of the order of words in programming instructions?

Answer 50

It must be correct; otherwise, it results in a jumble ## Footnote Just like a random arrangement of words in a sentence makes little sense.

Question 51

What is the purpose of the special code '\n' in the Java code example?

Answer 51

It means: insert an End of Line here ## Footnote This allows the text to be displayed on the next line in the dialog box.

Question 52

What is the role of syntax in computer programming?

Answer 52

It is crucial; if one character or symbol is out of place, the code will not work ## Footnote Computers do not guess; they require exact instructions.

Question 53

Fill in the blank: If you took the words of a sentence and put them in a random order, it would be ignoring proper _______.

Answer 53

[syntax]

Question 54

True or False: Computers can guess what the programmer intended if the syntax is incorrect.

Answer 54

False ## Footnote Computers require precise syntax to function correctly.

Question 55

What does the line of code 'foodItem = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(...)' represent in Java?

Answer 55

An assignment statement ## Footnote It assigns the result of a dialog box to the variable foodItem.

Question 56

What is semantics in programming?

Answer 56

The correct meaning or intention behind the code

Question 57

What problem arises when the code does something different than intended?

Answer 57

A semantics problem

Question 58

What is a skill that experienced coders use to prevent semantics problems?

Answer 58

Adding comments to code

Question 59

Why are comments in code helpful?

Answer 59

They describe what the code is doing in a certain section

Question 60

What is the challenge with advanced programs consisting of thousands of lines of code?

Answer 60

They are difficult to work with without comments

Question 61

How is a computer language similar to a human language?

Answer 61

Both have words, symbols, and specific rules for use

Question 62

What must you do to convey a concept in programming?

Answer 62

Assemble a message that makes sense

Question 63

What is the benefit of learning one computer language?

Answer 63

The concepts and functionality are similar, making others easier to learn

Question 64

What can help in understanding the semantics of programming languages?

Answer 64

Thinking like a computer

Question 65

Why is precision important in computer code?

Answer 65

To achieve the proper results

Question 66

Fill in the blank: In programming, being precise and exact yields better _______.

Answer 66

results

Question 67

True or False: The sentence 'One day I ate a hot dog in my underwear' is semantically clear.

Answer 67

False

Question 68

What does the ambiguity in the sentence 'One day I ate a hot dog in my underwear' illustrate?

Answer 68

The need for clarity in programming code

Question 69

What are the four eras of computing?

Answer 69

1940s-1960s: Behemoths - Huge machine used mostly by governments. 1960s-1980s: Business - Computers that are used by individuals in business. 1980s-2000s: Graphical - The dawn of the graphical user interface and digital imagery. 2000s-Today: Portable - Minituarization

Question 70

What are Behemoths in the context of computing?

Answer 70

Enormous computers built with vacuum tubes and wires that took up entire rooms

Question 71

How was input typically entered into Behemoths?

Answer 71

By flipping switches and turning dials

Question 72

What was the common output method for Behemoths?

Answer 72

Lights or punched holes on paper

Question 73

What primary function did Behemoths serve?

Answer 73

To perform large mathematical computations or work with large amounts of numerical data

Question 74

Which computer did the U.S. Census Bureau purchase in 1951?

Answer 74

UNIVAC

Question 75

What was the purpose of the UNIVAC purchased by the U.S. Census Bureau?

Answer 75

To help with counting the population of the United States

Question 76

What does ENIAC stand for?

Answer 76

Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer

Question 77

When did ENIAC begin operation?

Answer 77

1946

Question 78

Who programmed the ENIAC?

Answer 78

A team of six female operators

Question 79

True or False: Behemoths were small computers that could fit on a desk.

Answer 79

False

Question 80

Fill in the blank: The first general-purpose computer is _______.

Answer 80

ENIAC

Question 81

What type of output did business owned computers have?

Answer 81

They used a teletype-terminal that would output text.

Question 82

Fill in the blanks : Eventually, in the 1970’s, “-------” were created with monochrome CRT screens.

Answer 82

dumb terminals

Question 83

How were dumb terminals connected?

Answer 83

They didnt have a cpu or ram so they were connected to the mainframe via electrical signals.

Question 84

What is the mainframe?

Answer 84

A large, powerful, centralized computer.

Question 85

When did the use of GUIs start?

Answer 85

1980s