Theory Flashcards
What is the concept of information technology?
It is the combination of computing and telecommunications
What must a device do in order to fall under I.T.?
It must get data, process, store, output and share information
I.T. can also be the study of …?
Devices, programs or systems
I.T. can be used to
1) Generate info in different forms(text, graphics, audio etc.)
2) To send info from one location to another
What is a general purpose computer?
It is one that given the appropriate application and required time, should be able to perform most common computing tasks
How is a general purpose computer able to perform a wide variety of operations?
It can store and execute different programs in its internal storage
Examples of general purpose computers
Personal computers, including desktops, notebooks, laptop, smartphones, and tablets.
What is the difference between mainframes and supercomputers?
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.
Where can a supercomputer be used?
NASA
(sending rockets, accurate calculation.)
military ships
weather simulation
nuclear research
Where can a mainframes be used?
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
What is a desktop system?
Devices that stay on top of your desk.
What are mobile devices?
Devices that are portable
Eg. Tablet, laptop
Which type of computer is fast and can be used to solve a very large problem requiring mathematical skill and accuracy ?
Supercomputers
Which type of computer is used to solve a smaller problem driven by data ?
Mainframe
What are the different types of computers?
- Supercomputers
- Mainframes
- Desktop systems
- Mobile devices
What are embedded devices?
An appliance or a machine which has a computer processor built into it and this processor automates some or all of its operations.
Where can embedded systems be found?
- The sound and navigation system of a car
- The controller in an aeroplane
- Calculators
- The processing unit in a washing machine or microwave oven
- AC unit
- GPS
- Digital watch
What does IoT (devices) stand for?
Internet of Things
What does PC stand for?
Personal computer
The type of computer with the greatest processing power
Supercomputer
Has various processing speeds
Embedded systems
Types of computer that are not portable
mainframes, supercomputers
Portability varies for
embedded systems
Types of computers that are portable?
- mobile computers
2. desktops
Has the largest storage capacity
and why
Mainframes
because it is using, storing and driven by data.
Has the least amount of storage capacity
and why
embedded systems
because it tends to hold data long enough to do the calculation to give the result then move on.
Storage capacity (largest to smallest)
- mainframe
- supercomputer
- desktop computers
- mobile computers
- embedded systems
Processing power (fastest to slowest)
- supercomputer
- mainframe
- desktop PCs
- mobile computers
- embedded systems (varies)
What other names does the processing cycle have?
- Hardware components of a computer system
- Input process output diagram
- Input Processing Output Storage (IPOS) cycle
The order of the processing cycle
Input device»_space; Random Access Memory (RAM)»_space; The Processor(CPU)»_space;Secondary Storage»_space; Output device
What is the function of RAM?
the receptionist
It put things in the processor (CPU), receive things from the processor
Put thing in secondary storage or read things from secondary storage
What does hardware components of a laptop mean?
Physical parts of the computer you can touch
What are classification of devices in the processing cycle?
Input, storage,output and processing
What goes in and out of the processing cycle?
Data goes in and information comes out
The two main components of the processor
1) control unit
2) arithmetic/logic unit
Processor speed is measured in _____
hertz
The processor is also known as the ______
central processing unit (CPU)
Differentiate between data and information
Data is raw unprocessed facts while information is processed data.
Optical mark reader(OMR), mouse, joystick, scanner, bar code reader, light-pen, sensors, touch screens(tablets, ATM) are examples of _____ devices
input
Speakers, headphones, earphones are examples of _______ output devices
audible
Monitors, microfilm, printers(lasers, 3D printers, inkjet) are examples of ______ output devices
visual
Cray is a _____ manufacturer
supercomputer
Laptops, notebooks, netbooks, smartphones, tablets and game consoles are examples of _____ devices
mobile
Special purposes systems such as controllers in microwave, car ignition systems, answering machines are examples of ______ devices
embedded
The most critical component of the computer
Central processing unit / the processor
Why is the CPU known as the brain of the computer?
It controls the operations of all other components
In microcomputers the processor is known as a
microprocessor
The five functions all digital computers must carry out
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
Define CPU
The processor is a silicon chip containing the electronic circuits which is responsible for executing instructions
Define computer
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.
The functions of the control unit (6)
the supervisor
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
Define microprocessor
A single chip which contains the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the control unit (CU).
Define microcomputer
An electronic device with a microprocessor as its CPU
In modern computers the CPU speed is measured in
gigahertz or megahertz
Role of the arithmetic/logic unit
the worker
Execute/responsible for all calculations (mathematical operations)
Carries out/responsible for all comparisons (logical operations)
Role of the arithmetic/logic unit(3)
the worker
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
The CPU also contains tiny memory modules called
registers
Function of registers (2)
1) Holds the data that is in the CPU
2) Stores one single piece of data at a time
Microprocessor manufacturers (5)
- Samsung
- AMD
- HP
- Intel
- IBM
What happens during processing?
The computer processes data and performs tasks according to instructions stored in the computer’s memory.
Define computer
A computer is an electronic machine that manipulates data according to a set of instructions called a program
Define peripheral devices
pieces of computer hardware that are connected to the computer either internally or externally
Examples of input peripheral devices (3)
keyboard mouse joystick OMR - optical mark reader OCR - optical character reader
Examples of storage peripheral devices
magnetic tape drive
hard drive
floppy drive
Examples of output peripheral devices
speakers
dot matrix, laser and ink jet printers
VDU - visual display unit: monitor
Portability (most >least)
mobile computers
embedded devices
desktop PC’s
supercomputer, mainframe
The categories of computer hardware system
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
Manual devices
Allows user to explicitly give instruction to the computer
Automatic devices
Sends data to computer with minimal effort
Manual devices example (2)
keyboard
mouse
Automatic device example
scanner digital scales finger print scanner ATM *camera voice data entry (VDE)
Define input devices
Any hardware device that allows data to be entered into a computer, allowing you to interact with and control it.
Define pointing devices
an input device that allows the user to control a pointer on the screen
Example of pointing devices
joystick trackball mouse light-pen touchpad
