1. What are computers? A computer is a programmable machine.

The two principal characteristics of a computer are It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well defined manner It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions.

2. What are major components of a computer? Central processing unit, memory, input device, output device, and mass storage device are major components of a computer.

3. What are the different types of computers? Personal computer, Workstation, Minicomputer, Main frame and super computer are different types of computers.

4. What are the characteristics of computers? Word length, Speed, Storage, Accuracy, Versatility, Automation and Diligence are characteristics of computers.

5. What do you mean by word length of a computer? The number of bits that a computer can process at a time in parallel is called word length. Commonly used word lengths are 8,16,32, or 64 bits.

6. What are major functions of a computer? A computer does mainly the following four functions Receive Input Process information Produce Output Store Information

7. What is the function of the memory? Memory is a part of the microcomputer that holds data for processing, instructions for processing the data and information.

8. What are registers and how are they important? Registers are a sort of special hi-speed staging areas that hold data and instructions temporarily during processing. Their contents can therefore be handled much faster than the contents of the memory.

9. What is an auxiliary storage device? Auxiliary storage also known as auxiliary memory or secondary storage is the memory that supplements the main storage. It is a long term, non-volatile memory.

10. What are the major auxiliary storage devices for a computer? The major auxiliary storage devices for a computer are magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, floppy disks, hard disks etc.

11. What is the difference between a random access device and a sequential access device? In sequential access media, the data stored in the media can only be read in sequence and to get a particular point on the media you have to go through all the preceding points. But in case of random access, access any point at random without passing through intervening points.

12. What are different types of magnetic tapes? Half inch, quarter inch, 8mm Helical scan, 4mm DAT are types of magnetic tapes.

13. What are the advantages and disadvantages of magnetic tapes? Advantages It is cheaper in cost It provides large storage capacities ranging from few hundred KBs to several GBs.
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Disadvantages Accessing data on tapes is much slower than accessing data on disks.

14. What is a floppy disk, how is it different from a hard disk and what are the different types? Floppy disk is a soft magnetic disk. Unlike most hard disks, floppy disks are portable, because can remove them from a disk drive. Types of floppy disk: 5 inch 3 inch

15. What are the different kinds of input devices? Keyboard, Mouse, Trackball, Joystick, Digitizing Tablet, Scanners, Digital Camera, Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, Optical Character recognition, Optical Mark Recognition, Bar Code Reader, Speech Input devices, Touch Screen, Touch pad and Light pen are kinds of input devices.

16. What is so special about ergonomic keyboards? Ergonomic keyboards are designed for reducing the strain while typing with the aim to prevent stress related injuries.

17. What is Joystick and what is its most common use? A joystick is similar to a mouse, except that with a mouse the cursor stops moving as soon as stop moving the mouse. With a joystick, the pointer continues moving in the direction the joystick is pointing. Joysticks are used mostly for computer games and CAD/CAM systems.

18. What is the function of a scanner and what are the different types of scanners? Scanner is an input device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and translate the information into a form that the computer can use. Types of scanners:
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Half page scanners or hand held scanners Sheet-fed scanners Flatbed scanners

19. What is an output device? An output device is any machine capable of representing information from a computer.

20. What are major output devices for a computer? Major output devices are printers, monitors, plotters, loud speakers etc.,

21. What are the different types of monitors? Based on Colour Monochrome Grayscale Colour

Based on Signals Digital Analog

22. What are the different video standards? VGA, SVGA, 8514/A, XGA, TI 34010 are different video standards.

23. What are the different types of printers? Daisy wheel printer Dot-matrix printer Ink-jet printer
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Laser printer LCD & LED printer Line printer Thermal printer

24. What is the difference between impact and non-impact printers? The most important difference between impact and non-impact printers is that impact printers are much noisier but are useful for making multiple copies like carbon copies.

25. What is the difference between a laser printer and an LCD printer? LCD printer is similar to a laser printer but uses liquid crystals rather than a laser to produce an image on the drum.

26. What are thermal printers? Thermal printers are printers that produce images by pushing electrically heated pins against special heat-sensitive paper. They are inexpensive and used in most calculators and fax machines.

27. What is a plotter? Plotter is a device that draws pictures on paper based on commands from a computer.

28. What are the different types of software? Systems software Applications software

29. What is computer software? Computer software is a set of instructions or data.

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30. What is systems software? System software consists of low-level programs that interact with the computer at a very basic level. This includes operating system, compilers and utilities for managing computer resources.

31. What is a word processor? A word processor is a program that enables to perform word processing functions. Word processors use a computer to create, edit and print documents.

32. What is database management system? A DBMS is a collection of programs that enable to store, modify and extract information from a database.