Digital World Midterm

Question 1

Describe the evolution of everyday computer use (1980s - present)

Answer 1

Before 1980s:

• large and expensive; few people had
• mostly for high-volume processing tasks

Early 1980s
- microcomputers invented; dramatic increase in computer use

Early 1990s

• World wide web and graphical web broswer invented
• increased purchase and use of pcs

Question 2

What is a computer?

Answer 2

A programmable, electronic device; accepts, performs operations on, and stores data

Question 3

What is the IPOS cycle?

Answer 3

Describes the basic operations of a computer:

Input: entering data (2+5)
Processing: performing operations on the data (computer adds 2 and 5)
Output: Presenting the results (displays ‘7’)
Storage: saving data, programs or output for future use
Communications: sending or receiving data

Question 4

Differentiate data vs. information

Answer 4

Data: raw, unorganized facts (text, graphics, audio, video)

Information: data that is processed into meaningful form

Question 5

Describe the generations of computers.

Answer 5

First-gen (1946-1957):

• enormous, powered by vacuum tubes; generated a lot of heat
• ENIAC & UNIVAC

Second-gen (1958-1963):

• used transistors; smaller and more powerful
• punch cards and magnetic tape for input; cards and paper for output; tape for storage

Third-gen (1964-1970):

• used integrated circuits (ICs); transistors and electronic circuits on single silicon chip
• keyboard for input, monitor for output, hard drive for storage

Fourth-gen (1971-present):

• use microprocessors, core processing of entire computer on single chip
• keyboard and mice for input, monitors and printer for output, HDD, flash memory & optical discs for storage
• networks and internet developed

Fifth-gen (now and future):

• commonly defined as based on AI
• touch and voice input

Question 6

______ is the physical parts of the computer. These are differentiated into two categories, what are they?

Answer 6

Hardware
Internal (inside the system unit) and external hardware (outside the system unit; connected wired or wireless)

Question 7

Provide an example of each:
Input device
Processing device
Output device
Storage Device
Communications device

Answer 7

Input: Keyboard/Mouse
Processing: CPU/GPU
Output: Printer/Monitor
Storage: HDD/SSD
Communications: modems/routers

Question 8

What is software? What does it do? Provide examples.

Answer 8

Software is the program or instructions used to tell the computer hardware what to do; it allows the computer to operate

Software includes operating systems such as Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, etc.

Question 9

What are apps?

Answer 9

Application software (apps) perform specific tasks or applications (e.g. editing photos, playing games, writing computer programs, etc.)

Question 10

What are the six basic categories of computers?

Answer 10

• embedded computers
• mobile devices
• personal computers
• servers
• mainframe computers
• supercomputers