Introduction to Computers, the Internet and Java Flashcards
What allows computers to perform calculations and logical decisions faster than humans?
Computers are designed to perform billions of calculations in one second, surpassing human capabilities.
What is Moore’s Law?
The observation by Gordon Moore that computer capacities, including memory and processor speeds, double approximately every one to two years.
What are examples of computer hardware?
Keyboard, screen, mouse, hard disks, memory, DVD drives, and processing units.
What innovation allows large computers to be reduced to smaller chips?
Advances in silicon chip technology have miniaturized computers, making them smaller and less expensive.
What are the two main categories of computer software?
System software (e.g., operating systems) and application software (e.g., games, web browsers).
What is the role of system software?
To manage computer hardware as an operating system.
What are the main units of computer organization?
Input unit, output unit, memory unit, logical unit, central processing unit (CPU), and secondary storage unit.
What is the function of the CPU?
To coordinate and supervise the operations of other units, such as input, memory, and output.
What is the smallest data item in a computer system?
A bit, which holds the value 0 or 1.
What is the purpose of Unicode in Java?
Unicode represents characters as patterns of 1s and 0s, supporting many world languages.
What is a database?
A collection of data organized for easy access and manipulation, often using relational models with tables, records, and fields.
What are the three general types of programming languages?
Machine languages, assembly languages, and high-level languages.
What is machine language?
A hardware-dependent language consisting of strings of numbers that perform basic operations.
What is a high-level language?
A language with statements resembling everyday English, converted to machine language by compilers.
What are examples of popular desktop operating systems?
Linux, Windows 7, and macOS.
What are the most popular mobile operating systems?
Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS.
What is the kernel in an operating system?
The core software component that provides essential services to applications.
What makes Windows a proprietary operating system?
It is exclusively controlled by Microsoft.
What is the Linux operating system known for in the context of open-source software?
It is one of the greatest successes of the open-source movement.
How does open-source software differ from proprietary software?
Open-source software is developed, maintained, and evolved by individuals and companies in exchange for the right to use the software freely, typically at no charge.
Why is open-source software often more reliable?
Its code is scrutinized by a larger audience, allowing errors to be identified and corrected faster.
What is the Linux kernel, and why is it significant?
The Linux kernel is the core of the Linux operating system, which is open-source, freely distributed, and widely used in servers, personal computers, and embedded systems.
Name two benefits Linux users enjoy.
Active debugging and improvement by developers and the ability to customize the operating system.
What inspired the graphical user interface (GUI) for the Apple Macintosh?
The GUI was inspired by Xerox PARC’s desktop computer.
Which programming language did Apple adopt from NeXT for its macOS and iOS development?
Objective-C.
What programming language introduced by Apple in 2014 is becoming the standard for iOS and macOS development?
Swift.
What is the relationship between macOS and NeXTSTEP?
macOS is a descendant of the NeXTSTEP operating system.
What is the Android operating system based on?
The Linux kernel and Java.
What was the global smartphone market share of Android in Q3 2016?
87.8%.
What organization drives innovation in Android development?
The Open Handset Alliance.
Name some devices that run Android.
Smartphones, e-readers, tablets, touch-screen kiosks, cars, and robots.
What is Fortran primarily used for?
Scientific and engineering applications requiring complex mathematical computations.
What is COBOL commonly used for?
Commercial applications that manipulate large amounts of data.
What is the purpose of the Pascal programming language?
To teach structured programming.
What is the Ada programming language known for?
Supporting object-oriented programming and being named after Lady Ada Lovelace.
What was BASIC developed for?
Familiarizing novices with programming techniques.
What are the key features of C++ compared to C?
Object-oriented programming and enhancements to the C language.
Why is Python considered extensible?
It can be extended through classes and programming interfaces.
What is the purpose of JavaScript?
To add dynamic behavior, animations, and interactivity to web pages.
What is Java’s key feature that makes it platform-independent?
Its ability to write code once and run it anywhere, thanks to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
What are the five phases of the Java development environment?
Edit, Compile, Load, Verify, and Execute.
What does the command javac do in Java?
Compiles a Java program into bytecodes.
What is bytecode in Java?
A platform-independent set of instructions executed by the JVM.
What is the role of the bytecode verifier?
It checks that bytecodes are valid and do not violate Java’s security restrictions.
What does the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) do during execution?
It executes bytecodes, often using just-in-time (JIT) compilation for faster performance.
