Theory Flashcards

1
Q

What is the concept of information technology?

A

It is the combination of computing and telecommunications

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2
Q

What must a device do in order to fall under I.T.?

A

It must get data, process, store, output and share information

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3
Q

I.T. can also be the study of …?

A

Devices, programs or systems

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4
Q

I.T. can be used to

A

1) Generate info in different forms(text, graphics, audio etc.)
2) To send info from one location to another

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5
Q

What is a general purpose computer?

A

It is one that given the appropriate application and required time, should be able to perform most common computing tasks

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6
Q

How is a general purpose computer able to perform a wide variety of operations?

A

It can store and execute different programs in its internal storage

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7
Q

Examples of general purpose computers

A

Personal computers, including desktops, notebooks, laptop, smartphones, and tablets.

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8
Q

What is the difference between mainframes and supercomputers?

A

Mainframes do smaller task which involves lots of data while a supercomputer usually calculates one or two big tasks

Mainframe divides its processing power into smaller tasks (which involves lots of data) among several users and programs at the same time (multiprocessing). A supercomputer runs very few programs(one or two big tasks) at the same time so that these programs can run as quick as possible.

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9
Q

Where can a supercomputer be used?

A

NASA
(sending rockets, accurate calculation.)

military ships

weather simulation

nuclear research

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10
Q

Where can a mainframes be used?

A
In banks(electronic banking) for processing customers accounts 
ATM

Insurance companies

By utility companies for processing telephone, water and electricity bills

By airlines for making flight arrangements

Anything that is data driven

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11
Q

What is a desktop system?

A

Devices that stay on top of your desk.

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12
Q

What are mobile devices?

A

Devices that are portable

Eg. Tablet, laptop

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13
Q

Which type of computer is fast and can be used to solve a very large problem requiring mathematical skill and accuracy ?

A

Supercomputers

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14
Q

Which type of computer is used to solve a smaller problem driven by data ?

A

Mainframe

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15
Q

What are the different types of computers?

A
  1. Supercomputers
  2. Mainframes
  3. Desktop systems
  4. Mobile devices
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16
Q

What are embedded devices?

A

An appliance or a machine which has a computer processor built into it and this processor automates some or all of its operations.

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17
Q

Where can embedded systems be found?

A
  1. The sound and navigation system of a car
  2. The controller in an aeroplane
  3. Calculators
  4. The processing unit in a washing machine or microwave oven
  5. AC unit
  6. GPS
  7. Digital watch
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18
Q

What does IoT (devices) stand for?

A

Internet of Things

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19
Q

What does PC stand for?

A

Personal computer

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20
Q

The type of computer with the greatest processing power

A

Supercomputer

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21
Q

Has various processing speeds

A

Embedded systems

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22
Q

Types of computer that are not portable

A

mainframes, supercomputers

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23
Q

Portability varies for

A

embedded systems

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24
Q

Types of computers that are portable?

A
  1. mobile computers

2. desktops

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25
Q

Has the largest storage capacity

and why

A

Mainframes

because it is using, storing and driven by data.

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26
Q

Has the least amount of storage capacity

and why

A

embedded systems

because it tends to hold data long enough to do the calculation to give the result then move on.

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27
Q

Storage capacity (largest to smallest)

A
  1. mainframe
  2. supercomputer
  3. desktop computers
  4. mobile computers
  5. embedded systems
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28
Q

Processing power (fastest to slowest)

A
  1. supercomputer
  2. mainframe
  3. desktop PCs
  4. mobile computers
  5. embedded systems (varies)
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29
Q

What other names does the processing cycle have?

A
  1. Hardware components of a computer system
  2. Input process output diagram
  3. Input Processing Output Storage (IPOS) cycle
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30
Q

The order of the processing cycle

A

Input device&raquo_space; Random Access Memory (RAM)&raquo_space; The Processor(CPU)&raquo_space;Secondary Storage&raquo_space; Output device

31
Q

What is the function of RAM?

the receptionist

A

It put things in the processor (CPU), receive things from the processor

Put thing in secondary storage or read things from secondary storage

32
Q

What does hardware components of a laptop mean?

A

Physical parts of the computer you can touch

33
Q

What are classification of devices in the processing cycle?

A

Input, storage,output and processing

34
Q

What goes in and out of the processing cycle?

A

Data goes in and information comes out

35
Q

The two main components of the processor

A

1) control unit

2) arithmetic/logic unit

36
Q

Processor speed is measured in _____

A

hertz

37
Q

The processor is also known as the ______

A

central processing unit (CPU)

38
Q

Differentiate between data and information

A

Data is raw unprocessed facts while information is processed data.

39
Q

Optical mark reader(OMR), mouse, joystick, scanner, bar code reader, light-pen, sensors, touch screens(tablets, ATM) are examples of _____ devices

A

input

40
Q

Speakers, headphones, earphones are examples of _______ output devices

A

audible

41
Q

Monitors, microfilm, printers(lasers, 3D printers, inkjet) are examples of ______ output devices

A

visual

42
Q

Cray is a _____ manufacturer

A

supercomputer

43
Q

Laptops, notebooks, netbooks, smartphones, tablets and game consoles are examples of _____ devices

A

mobile

44
Q

Special purposes systems such as controllers in microwave, car ignition systems, answering machines are examples of ______ devices

A

embedded

45
Q

The most critical component of the computer

A

Central processing unit / the processor

46
Q

Why is the CPU known as the brain of the computer?

A

It controls the operations of all other components

47
Q

In microcomputers the processor is known as a

A

microprocessor

48
Q

The five functions all digital computers must carry out

A

1) Take data as input
2) Store the data/instructions in its memory and use them as required
3) Process the data and convert it into useful information
4) Generates the output
5) Control all of the above four steps

49
Q

Define CPU

A

The processor is a silicon chip containing the electronic circuits which is responsible for executing instructions

50
Q

Define computer

A

A computer is an electronic data processing device, which accepts and stores data input, processes the data and generates the output in a required format.

51
Q

The functions of the control unit (6)

the supervisor

A

1) Controls the operation of all the other components
2) Fetch the instructions from memory
3) Direct the flow of data through the computer
4) Coordinates the operations of all peripherals ( input and output devices)
5) Interpret/Carry out software instructions
6) Direct other devices what to do

52
Q

Define microprocessor

A

A single chip which contains the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the control unit (CU).

53
Q

Define microcomputer

A

An electronic device with a microprocessor as its CPU

54
Q

In modern computers the CPU speed is measured in

A

gigahertz or megahertz

55
Q

Role of the arithmetic/logic unit

the worker

A

Execute/responsible for all calculations (mathematical operations)
Carries out/responsible for all comparisons (logical operations)

56
Q

Role of the arithmetic/logic unit(3)

the worker

A

1) Execute/responsible for all calculations (mathematical operations)
2) Carries out/responsible for all comparisons (logical operations)
3) Stores the data presently being operated on

57
Q

The CPU also contains tiny memory modules called

A

registers

58
Q

Function of registers (2)

A

1) Holds the data that is in the CPU

2) Stores one single piece of data at a time

59
Q

Microprocessor manufacturers (5)

A
  1. Samsung
  2. AMD
  3. HP
  4. Intel
  5. IBM
60
Q

What happens during processing?

A

The computer processes data and performs tasks according to instructions stored in the computer’s memory.

61
Q

Define computer

A

A computer is an electronic machine that manipulates data according to a set of instructions called a program

62
Q

Define peripheral devices

A

pieces of computer hardware that are connected to the computer either internally or externally

63
Q

Examples of input peripheral devices (3)

A
keyboard
mouse
joystick
OMR - optical mark reader
OCR - optical character reader
64
Q

Examples of storage peripheral devices

A

magnetic tape drive
hard drive
floppy drive

65
Q

Examples of output peripheral devices

A

speakers
dot matrix, laser and ink jet printers
VDU - visual display unit: monitor

66
Q

Portability (most >least)

A

mobile computers
embedded devices
desktop PC’s
supercomputer, mainframe

67
Q

The categories of computer hardware system

A

1) CPU
2) input devices, allows data o be entered into the computer
3) output devices, use for sending out (outputting) data from the computer
4) storage devices

68
Q

Manual devices

A

Allows user to explicitly give instruction to the computer

69
Q

Automatic devices

A

Sends data to computer with minimal effort

70
Q

Manual devices example (2)

A

keyboard

mouse

71
Q

Automatic device example

A
scanner
digital scales
finger print scanner
ATM
*camera
voice data entry (VDE)
72
Q

Define input devices

A

Any hardware device that allows data to be entered into a computer, allowing you to interact with and control it.

73
Q

Define pointing devices

A

an input device that allows the user to control a pointer on the screen

74
Q

Example of pointing devices

A
joystick
trackball 
mouse
light-pen 
touchpad