Introduction to computers:

1. What is a computer?
Ans. The computer is an advanced electronic device that takes raw
data as input from the user and processes these data under the
control of the set of instructions (called program) and gives the result
(output) and saves output for the future use. It can process both
numerical and non-numerical (arithmetic and logical) calculations.

2. Explain Characteristics of computers.

Ans. Characteristics of computers
The major characteristics of computer can be classified into speed,
accuracy, diligence, versatility and memory which are as follows:
1. Speed: The computer is able to process the date and give the
output in fractions of seconds such that required information is
given to the user on time enabling the user to take right
decisions on right time. A powerful computer is capable of
executing about 3 million calculations per second.
2. Accuracy: In spite of its high speed of processing, the
computers accuracy is consistently high enough which avoids
any errors. If it all there are errors, they are due to errors in
instructions given by the programmer.
3. Reliable: The output generated by the computer is very
reliable, but it is reliable only when the data, which is passing as
input to the computer and the program, which gives instructions
are correct and reliable.
4. Storage Capacity: The computer has a provision to store large
volumes of data in the small storage devices, which has the
capacity to store huge amounts of data and help the retrieval of
data an easy task.
5. Versatile: The computer performs three basic operations
1. It is capable to access and accept information through
various input-output devices from the user.
 2. It performs basic Arithmetic and Logic operations on
data as desired.
3. It  is capable, to generate the desired output in the
desired form.
6. Automation: Once the instructions fed into the computer it works
automatically without any human intervention until the completion of
execution of a program until meets logical instructions to terminate the
job.
3. What are the limitations of computers?
Ans. Limitations of Computer
1. The Computer does not work on itself, it requires set of instructions
to be provided, and else computer (Hardware) is waste.
2. Computers are not intelligent, they have to be instructed about each
and every step which they have to perform
3. Computers cannot take decisions on its own, one has to program
the computer to take an action if some conditional prevail.
  4. Computers unlike humans, cannot learn by experience.

4. Explain the block diagram of the computer.

Ans. Block Diagram of the Computer
The block diagram of the computer is as follows:

1. Input Unit:
The process of sending the data and Instructions for the processing through
some suitable devices such as Keyboard, Mouse etc. is called Input. The
devices translate the data from human understandable form into electronic
impulses which are understood by the computer.

2. Central Processing Unit (CPU):

Once the data accepted it fed in to Central Processing Unit before the
output is generated as data has to be processed, which is done by CPU. This
unit of the computer is the brain of computer system, which does all the
processing, calculations, problem solving and controls all other functions of
all other elements of the computer. The CPU consists of the following three
distinct units namely.
i. Memory Unit:
This holds the data in in terms of Program and files. The data stored can be
accessed and used whenever required by the CPU for necessary processing.
This memory unit is usually referred as primary storage section. The units in
which memory unit is measured are known as BYTES. BYTE is the space
required to store 8 characters or alphabet or digits to any other special
character.
ii. Control Unit:
This unit which coordinates all the activities of each and every element of
computer. It decodes the instructions given by various users and it sends
commands and signals that determine the sequence of various instructions.
Through this unit does not process data but it acts as the central system for
data manipulation, as it controls the flow of data to and from the main
storage.
iii. Arithmetic and Logic Units:
This unit performs arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. It also does Logical Operations such as
comparison of numbers etc. Thus this unit helps by processing data and
taking logical decisions.
3. Output:
The processing of extracting the data from CPU through some suitable
devices is called Output. The common used output devices are VDU,
Printers, Plotter, magnetic media like floppy, hard disks etc. Characteristics
of computers
5. Explain different generations of computers.
Ans. Generations of Computers
Different Generations of computers:
The development of computers has followed different steps in the terminology used and
these steps of technological differences are called as GENERATIONS in computer
terminology. There are totally five generations of computers till today.
I. First Generation Computers (1950's)
These computers are used vacuum tubes (valves) as major electronic component the
advantage of vacuum tubes technology is that it made the advent of Electronic digital
computer vacuum tubes were only electronic devices available during those days which
made computing possible.
Some of the computers of First Generation were:
ENIAC: It was the first electronic computer built in 1946 at University of Pennsylvania,
USA by John Eckert and John Mauchy. It was named Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Calculator (ENIAC). TheENIAC was 30_ 50 feet long, weighed 30 tons, contained 18,000
vacuum tubes, 70,000 registers, 10,000 capacitors and required 150,000 watts of
electricity. Today your favorite computer is many times as powerful as ENIAC, still size is
very small.
EDVAC: It stands for Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer and was
developed in 1950. The concept of storing data and instructions inside the computer
was introduced here. This allowed much faster operation since the computer had rapid
access to both data and instructions. The other advantages of storing instruction were
that computer could do logical decision internally.
The limitations of the First Generations of computer are:
1. The operating speed was quite slow.
2. Power consumption was very high.
3. It required large space for installation.
4. The programming capability was quite low.
II. Second Generation Computers (1960's):
With the development of Transistors and their use in circuits, magnetic core for memory
storage, the vacuum tubes are replaced by transistors to arrive at 2'nd generation of
computers. The size of transistors is much smaller when compared to vacuum tubes,
they consume less power, generated less heat and faster and reliable.
Advantages:
1. Size of Computer has come down as well as power consumption.
2. The Cost of Computer reduced.
Some of the computers of the Second Generation were:
IBM 1620: Its size was smaller as compared to First Generation computers and mostly
used for scientific purpose.
IBM 1401: Its size was small to medium and used for business applications.
CDC 3600: Its size was large and is used for scientific purposes.
 III. Third Generation Computers (1970's):
The development of silicon chips, the third generation of computers came into existence. These
computers are used Integrated Circuits (IC's) of silicon chips, in the place of transistors. Each of
these IC's consist of large number of chips in very small packages.
Advantages:
The size of computers, cost, heat generation and power consumption decreased to
great extent, speed and reliability increased as compared to previous generation. These
machines used IC's with large scale Integration (LSI).
IV. Fourth Generation (1980's)
The Computers belonging to these generations used Integrated circuits with Very Large
Scale Integration (VLSI).
Advantages:
1. These computers have high processing powers, low maintenance, and high reliability
and very low power consumption.
2. The size & cost of computers come down drastically
V. Fifth Generation (Late 1990's):
These computers use optic fiber technology to handle Artificial Intelligence, expert
systems, Robotics etc., these computers have very processing speeds and are more
reliable.
6. Explain different types of computers. How are computers classified into
categories?
Ans. Computers in general can be classified into major categories based on.
Classification as per purpose of the computer:
Classification of digital computer as per the purpose of their use
i. General Purpose digital computers:
These computers are theoretically used for any type of applications. These computers
can be used in solving a business Problem and also used to solve mathematical equation
with same accuracy and consistency. Most of the computers now are general purpose
digital computers.
ii. Special Purpose Computers:
These digital computers are designed, made and used for any specific job. These are
usually used for those purposes which are critical and need great accuracy and response
like Satellite launching weather forecasting etc.
   According to the operation size of computer:
 Classification of digital computer as per size and capabilities
i. Super Computers:
These computers are characterized as being the fastest, with very high processing
speed, very large size, most powerful. There are widely used in complex scientific
applications like processing geological data, weather data, genetic engineering etc.
These computers with 16 microprocessors will recognize words up to length 64 bits and
more. The speed of calculation is up to 1.2 billion instructions/second, and they can take
input from more than 1000 individual work station.
 Ex. PARAM developed in India.
ii. Mainframe Computers:
These Computer will has capability to support many peripheral devices and terminals,
which can process several Million Instructions / second (MIPS), as well which support
1000 remote systems, these computers are mostly used for Railway reservation etc.
iii. Medium Scale (size) Computers:
These computers are mini versions of mainframe computers, they are relatively smaller
than mainframes and have less processing power than Mainframes their processing
speed support up to 200 remote systems.
iv. Mini Computers:
These computers are smaller and less experience than Mainframe and medium sized
computers. They are relatively faster it can support about 10-20 user terminals. These
computers are generally easy to use. They can handle database, statistical problems
Accounting etc.
v. Micro Computer:
These are the mostly used category of computes called as personal computers (PC's).
The word Micro suggests only the size, but not the capacity. They are capable to do all
input - output operations. They can also be connected to peripheral devices.

5. Explain about Primary memory.

6. Explain about secondary memory.

7. Explain different input and output devices.

8. What are the applications of Computers?

Applications of Computers

Computers have their application or utility everywhere. We find their applications in almost every
sphere of life–particularly in fields where computations are required to be done at a very fast speed and
where data is so complicated that the human brain finds it difficult to cope up with.

As you must be aware, computer now-a-days are being used almost in every department to do the work
at a greater speed and accuracy. They can keep the record of all the employees and prepare their pay
bill in a matter of minutes every month. They can keep automatic checks on the stock of a particular
item. Some of the prominent areas of computer applications are:

1. Tourism:
Hotels use computers to speed up billing and checkout the availability of rooms. So is the case with
railways and airline reservations for booking tickets. Architects can display their scale models on a
computer and study them from various angles and perspectives. Structural problems can now be solved
quickly and accurately.

2. Banks:

Banks also have started using computers extensively. Terminals are provided in the branch and the main
computer is located centrally. This enables the branches to use the central computer system for
information on things such as current balance, deposits, overdrafts, interest charges, etc. MICR encoded
cheques can be read and sorted out with a speed of 3000 cheques per minute by computers as
compared to hours taken by manual sorting. Electronic funds transfer (EFT) allows a person to transfer
funds through computer signals over wires and telephone lines making the work possible in a very short
time.

3. Industry:

Computers are finding their greatest use in factories and industries of all kinds. They have taken over the
work ranging from monotonous and risky jobs like welding to highly complex jobs such as process
control. Drills, saws and entire assembly lines can be computerized. Moreover, quality control tests and
the manufacturing of products, which require a lot of refinement, are done with the help of computers.
Not only has this, Thermal Power Plants, Oil refineries and chemical industries fully depended on
computerized control systems because in such industries the lag between two major events may be just
a fraction of a second.

4. Transportation:

Today computers have made it possible for planes to land in foggy and stormy atmosphere also. The
aircraft has a variety of sensors, which measure the plane’s altitude, position, speed, height and
direction. Computer use all this information to keep the plane flying in the right direction. In fact, the
Auto–pilot feature has made the work of pilot much easy.

5. Education:

Computers have proved to be excellent teachers. They can possess the knowledge given to them by the
experts and teach you with all the patience in the world. You may like to repeat a lesson hundred times,
go ahead, you may get tired but the computer will keep on teaching you. Computer based instructions
(CBI) and Computer Aided Learning (CAL) are common tools used for teaching. Computer based
encyclopedia such as Britannica provide you enormous amount of information on anything.

6. Entertainment:

Computers are also great entertainers. Many computer games are available which are like the
traditional games like chess, football, cricket, etc. Dungeons and dragons provide the opportunity to test
your memory and ability to think. Other games like Braino and Volcano test your knowledge.

7. Health Care:

Computers are making health care more efficient and accurate while helping providers bring down
costs. Many different health care procedures now involve computers, from ultrasound and magnetic
resonance imaging, to laser eye surgery and fetal monitoring. Surgeons now can use robotic surgical
devices co perform delicate operations, and even to conduct surgeries remotely. New virtual-reality
technologies are being used to train new surgeons in cutting-edge techniques, without cutting an actual
patient.

8. Small Business:

Many of today’s successful small companies simply could not exist without computer technology. Each
year, hundreds of thousands of individual’s launch businesses based from their homes or in small-office
locations. They rely on inexpensive computers and software not only to perform basic work functions,
but to manage and grow their companies. These tools enable business owners to handle tasks— such as
daily accounting chores, inventory management, marketing, payroll, and many others.

9. Communications:

Electronic mail (e-mail) continues to be the most popular use for computers, because it allows family
members to communicate with one another, and to stay in contact with friends and coworkers.

10. Graphics and Multimedia Products:

Complex graphics and page-layout programs require a great deal of system resources, and a desktop
system's large monitor reduces eye fatigue. Even though many portable computers have multimedia
features, you can get the most for your money with a desktop system. Large screens make multimedia
programs easier to see, and stereo-type speakers optimize sound quality.