PART 16

COMPUTERS

COMPUTER

 Machine that can be programmed to process data (input) into useful information
(output)
 Electronic data processing machine capable of performing mathematical and
logical operations accurately and processing large volumes of data at high
speeds
 Processes data according to a list of internally stored instructions called
programs
 It requires four main aspects of data handling-input, processing, output and
storage
 Has the ability to handle large volumes of repetitive tasks accurately over long
period of time
 It can also communicate with its operators and with other machines

I. EARLY DEVELOPED COMPUTERS

1. ENIAC
 Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer
 The first true general purpose computer
 Vacuum tube operated computer
 Developed by William Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert in 1943

2. EDVAC
 Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer
 The first stored program computer
 The design was proposed by Mauchly and Eckert and usable in 1952

3. EDSAC
 Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator
 Makes use of one of the first assemblers known as the “Initial Orders”
 Performed its very first calculation in May,1949

4. UNIVAC
 Universal Automatic Computer
 The first commercially available computer for business application which is
based on ENIAC design

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II. CLASSIFICATIONS

1. According to Design
a. General Purpose
 Performs variety of operations
 Versatile enough to process diversified tasks

b. Special Purpose
 Performs specific operations
 Example is Automatic Tire Alignment

2. According to Application
a. Scientific
 Small volumes of data
 Performs complex calculations using sophisticated formulas

b. Business
 Large volumes of date and involve simpler calculations

3. According to size
a. Microcomputers
 Often referred to as “personal computers”
 Normally used by one person at a time
 Can be used independently or as terminal device
Types

Desktop Tower Case

Laptop computer

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b. Minicomputers
 May refer to LAN server
 Widely used in retail businesses
 Supports 2 to 50 computers

c. Mainframe Computers
 Capable of processing data at very high speeds-millions of instructions per
second and have an access to billions of characters
 Principal use is for processing vast amounts of data quickly
 Usually used as a server for bank’s ATM

MainFrame Computer

d. Supercomputers
 Largest and most powerful computer
 Process billions of instructions per seconds
 Its customers may involve agencies in the federal government
 Require for mammoth data manipulation of worldwide weather forecasting and
weapons research
 Typically house in special rooms

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III. PARTS of the COMPUTER SYSTEM

1. HARDWARE
 Physical components that make up the computer system

a. Input Devices
 Interface or group of devices where people talk to the computer

Keyboard
 The keys on the computer keyboard are arranged in much the same way as
those on the typewriter
Mouse
 Device that looks like a little bit like a mouse
 Those with ball inside is rolled on a flat surface usually the desk on which the
computer sits with the rolling movement causes a corresponding movement on
the screen through the pointer or cursor
Scanner
 Device that uses a light source to read text and images directly to the computer

1. Flatbed
 Looks and behave like a photocopier
 You lay the item to be scanned on a glass plate and the scanning head passes
below the glass
2. Sheetfed
 Looks and acts like a fax machine
 The page or item is fed into the machined scanned, then spit out on the other
end
3. Hand
 Low cost alternative
 Manual device you move over a flat surface just as you do with your PC’s
mouse.
Bar Code Reader
 Device that uses a laser beam or reflected light to read special letters, numbers
or symbols of Universal Product Codes(UPC) and other type of bar codes
Touch Screens
 Input directly from the source with human simply point to a selection in the
screen

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b. Output Devices
 Device that give out information coming from the computer
 Devices where computer interacts with the user

Monitor/Screen
 Indispensable output device similar to a television
 CRT screen uses a technology called raster-scan technology
 Computer display screen that can be used for graphics is divided into dots
called addressable because they can be addressed individually by the graphics
software
 Color screen standards include CGA (color graphics adapter) with 320 x 200
pixels, sharper EGA (enhanced graphics adapter with 640 x 350 pixels. VGA
(Video Graphics Array) has 640 x 480 pixels and SVGA (Super VGA) offers
800 x 600 pixels.

Printers
 Device that produces printed paper output, known in the computer industry as
hard copy because it is tangible and permanent

1. Impact Printer
 Use some sort of physical contact with the paper to produce an image,
physically striking paper, ribbon and print hammer together
 Dot matrix is an example which uses print head to strike an inked ribbon
against paper like a typewriter creating characters out of series of dots
 High quality impact printers print only one character at a time
2. Non –Impact Printers
 Places an image without physically touching the page
 Laser Printers use light beam to help transfer images to paper producing
extremely high quality results and also it combines a magnetic roller with
powdered ink called toner to transfer high quality characters or image onto the
papers
 Ink-Jet Printers by spraying ink from the multiple jet nozzles can print black
and white and several different colors of ink to produce excellent graphics

Others
 Include speakers and other peripherals

c. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 Control center that converts data input to information output
 Highly complex, extensive sets of electronic circuitry that executes stored
program instructions.
 Communicates with the Input/Output devices and storage devices like the
primary and the secondary storage
 A microprocessor on a chip is called logic chip
 Main parts includes the Control Unit and the Arithmetic Logic Unit

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TOP Bottom (pins)

CPU CHIP

Control Unit
 Contains circuitry that uses electrical signals to direct the entire computer
system to carry out, or execute, stored program instructions
 Communicate with both the Arithmetic logic unit and the memory

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

 Contains circuitry that executes arithmetic and logical operations
 Mathematically, it can perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
 Logically, it is use in comparison
 The computer can take an action based on the result of the comparison

How CPU Executes Program Instructions?

1. The control unit fetches (gets) the instruction from memory
2. The control unit decodes the instruction (decides what it means) and directs
the necessary data be moved from memory to ALU. These first 2 steps are called
instruction time, I-time
3. The ALU executes the arithmetic or logical instruction
4. ALU stores the result of this operation in memory or in a register.
Step 3 and 4 are called execution time, E-time

d. Memory
 Part of the computer that holds data and instructions for processing

Read Only Memory (ROM)

 Permanent memory
 Stores some operating system software of the computer

1. Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

 Only software built in to the computer system
 Provides control to all devices that require services of microprocessors

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2. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)

 Where the various parameters needed by the BIOS to perform its tasked are
permanently saved
3. Chipset
 Enables a set of instructions so the CPU can communicate with other parts of
the motherboard

Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Working storage of the computer system
 Volatile memory

Cache
 Relatively small amount of very fast memory that stores data and instructions
that are used frequently resulting in an improved processing speed

e. Miscellaneous Parts

Motherboard
 The main board of the computer
 Manage all transactions of data between CPU and peripherals
 Houses the CPU and the second level cache, the chipset, the BIOS, main
memory, I/O chips, ports for the keyboard, serial I/O, parallel I/O, disks and
plug-in cards.

Power Supply
 Convert high voltage AC to a lower DC voltage to power up the computer’s
electronic components
 +5 V supplies electronic circuits on motherboards, adaptor cards and peripheral
devices
 +12V is used mainly to power motors of disk device systems such as hard disk,
CD-ROM and floppy disk drive

Modems
 Allows transfer of data over standard telephone wires with other computer
users

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PORT CONNECTIONS

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2. SOFTWARE
 Refers to all programs which can assist users of a particular type of computer
to make the best use of their machines

a. Related Terminologies

Program
 Detailed list of steps or instructions which must be followed to accomplish a
certain task

Branching
 Allows us to write one program that can do different things at different times

Debugging
 Running the program to detect, locate and correct mistakes (logic errors)

Desk Checking
 Mental checking or proofreading of the program before it is run

Flowchart
 Pictorial representation of the step by step solution or diagrammatic
representation of sequence of events

Loop
 A section of a program repeat over and over again

Straight Line Program

 A program in which each step is followed by the next without any alternate
routes or paths

Subroutine
 A portion of the program which is called upon to perform a specific task.
 When the task is finished, the main part of the program is returned to.

Walkthrough
 Process in which a group of programmers-your peers review the program and
offers suggestions in a collegial way

b. Programming Languages
 Set of rules for instructing the computer what operations to perform

Machine Language
 Lowest level of programming language
 Represents data as 1’s and 0’s

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Assembly Language
 Use letters as mnemonic codes to replace the 1’s and 0’s of machine language
 Assembler program translate the assembly language into the machine
language

High Level Languages

 Use advance commands
 Written in English like manner
 A compiler converts high level into machine language

1. FORTRAN
 Formula Translation
 The first high level language introduced by IBM in 1954
 Design to execute complex formulas
2. COBOL
 Common Business Oriented Language
 Introduced in 1959 by CODASYL
 It has four divisions; identification, environment, data and procedure
3. BASIC
 Beginner’s All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
 Introduced in 1965 by Dart-mouth
 Designed to be easy for non professional programmers to learn and use
4. Pascal
 Named after French mathematician Blaise Pascal
 Developed by Nicklaus Wirth
 Design to encourage the programmer to adhere to what is consider as “
correct” programming practice
5. ADA
 Countess Ada Lovelace
 Introduced in 1980 as standard language for weapon systems
6. C
 Invented at Bell Labs
 Offers high level language features such as structured programming
 Efficient as assembly language

Very High Level Language

 Fourth generation language
 Non procedural because it defines only what the computer should do
 Query language is used to retrieve data from databases

Fifth Generation Languages

 Natural language because they resemble natural human language
 Knowledge based system

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c. Software Entrepreneurs

Steve Jobs
 Currently the CEO of Apple computers
 Formed Apple Computer together with Steve Wozniak
 Apple introduced increasingly powerful line of computers which is current
popular as Macintosh
 Lost control of Apple Computer in 1986 but went out and started NeXT
Computer, Inc.

Bill Gates
 The world’s richest man
 Took a law degree in 1974 in Harvard
 Together with his friend Paul Allen, they dreamed of personal computers that
does not exist yet
 They wrote software to MITS and they keep the rights to their works and
formed their own company called Microsoft
 Microsoft at first has employed 32 people
 Gates purchased an operating system which he and his crew reworked to
produce MS-DOS – Microsoft Disk Operating System
 MS – DOS sent Microsoft to its meteoric rise

Mitch Kapor
 From disk jockey to a piano teacher to counselor to programmer
 In 1983, he introduced a software packaged called Lotus 1-2-3
 Lotus added the term integrated package that describes the software identity as
a combination of spreadsheet, graphics, database program

IV. FILE ORGANIZATION and PROCESSING

1. FILE ORGANIZATION

a. Sequential File Processing

 Records are in order according to a key field
 If a particular record in a sequential file is wanted , then all the prior records o
the file must be read before reaching the desired record

b. Direct File Processing

 Direct access
 Allows the computer to go directly to the desired record by using a record key
 Requires a device called Direct Access Storage Device
 Hashing or randomizing is the name given to the process of applying a
formula to a key to yield a number that represents the address

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c. Indexed File Processing

 Stores record in the file in sequential order but the file contains an index of keys

2. FILE PROCESSING

a. Batch Processing
 Technique in which transactions are collected in groups or batches to be
processed at the time where the computer has few online users
 A master file is a semi permanent set of records
 A transaction file contains all the changes made to the master file

b. Transaction Processing
 Technique of processing in any order they occur
 Real Time Processing means the transaction is processed fast enough for the
result to come back an be acted upon right away
 On Line Processing means that the terminals must be connected directly to
the computer

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TEST YOURSELF 16
Review Questions

1. Step by step instructions that runs the computer are________.

a. hardware
b. CPU
c. documents
d. programs

Answer d. programs

2. Desktop and personal computers are other names of:

a. microcomputers
b. minicomputers
c. mainframes
d. peripheral equipment

Answer a. minicomputers

3. The raw material hat is to be processed by the computer is called_____.

a. program
b. software
c. data
d. information

Answer c. data

4. A bar code reader is an example of

a. processing device
b. input device
c. output device
d. storage device

Answer b. input device

5. The unit that transforms data into information is the:

a. CPU
b. disk drive
c. bar code reader
d. wand reader

Answer a. CPU

6. A system whereby computers and data storage are placed in dispersed locations is known as:
a. centralized processing
b. distributed data processing
c. summarizing
d. packaged software

Answer b. distributed data processing

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7. Another name for available for purchase software is

a. secondary software
b. packaged software
c. system software
d. peripheral software

Answer b. packaged software

8. Which of the following is an acronym for a computer department?

a. MIS
b. CPU
c. PDA
d. LAN

Answer a. MIS

9. People ho prepared data for processing are:

a. programmers
b. printers
c. librarians
d. data entry operators

Answer d. data entry operators

10. Another name for memory is:

a. secondary storage
b. primary storage
c. disk storage
d. tape storage

Answer b. primary storage

11. Which is not a computer classification?

a. maxicomputer
b. microcomputer
c. minicomputer
d. mainframe

Answer a. maxicomputer

12. When all access and processing is done in one location, a computer system is said to be:
a. networked
b. centralized
c. distributed
d. linked

Answer b. centralized

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13. An input device that translates motion of a ball rolled on a flat surface to the screen is the:
a. wand reader
b. bar code reader
c. keyboard
d. mouse

Answer d. mouse

14. The most powerful computers are the_________.

a. superinis
b. supermainframes
c. supermicros
d. supercomputers

Answer d. supercomputers

15. Laser beam technology is used for_______.

a. terminals
b. optical disk
c. keyboards
d. magnetic tape

Answer b. optical disk

16. This is a small amount of very fast memory deigned for the specific purpose of speeding up the
internal transfer of data and software instructions.
a. bakes
b. cache
c. flash
d. stane

Answer b. cache

17. The complex set of electrical circuitry that executes program instructions is called the:
a. register
b. accumulator
c. central processing unit
d. bus line

Answer c. central processing unit

18. A bus line consist of_______.

a. registers
b. parallel data paths
c. accumulators
d. arithmetic operators

Answer b. parallel data paths

19. The primary storage units are also known as:

a. storage registers
b. mass storage

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c. accumulators
d. memory

Answer d. memory

20. Data and instructions are put into primary storage by:
a. memory
b. secondary storage
c. the control unit
d. the ALU

Answer c. the control unit

21. Registers that collect the results of computations are________.

a. general purpose
b. storage registers
c. main storage
d. accumulators

Answer d. accumulators

22. During E-time, the ALU_______.

a. examines the instruction
b. executes the instruction
c. enters the instructions
d. elicits the instructions

Answer b. executes the instruction

23. When the control unit directs the ALU to perform an operation on the data, the machine cycle is
involved I its_______.
a. first step
b. second step
c. third step
d. fourth step

Answer c. third step

24. Computer operations are synchronized by:

a. the CPU clock
b. the binary system
c. the octal system
d. E-time

Answer a. the CPU clock

25. What is a logic chip?

a. PROM
b. microprocessor
c. memory
d. ROM
Answer b. microprocessor

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26. Data is represented o a computer by means of a two-state on/off system called_______.

a. a word
b. a byte
c. the binary system
d. RAM

Answer c. the binary system

27. Memory capacity may be expressed in_______.

a. microseconds
b. bits
c. kilobytes
d. cycles

Answer c. kilobytes

28. A type of computer that is faster because it has fewer instructions:

a. symbolic
b. ASCII-8
c. RISC
d. ROM burner

Answer c. RISC

29. An emerging technology that provides non-volatile memory chips is:

a. flash memory
b. CMOS
c. PROM
d. CISC

Answer a. flash memory

30. The data coding scheme that is American Standard is:

a. ASCII
b. SIMM
c. KB
d. gigabyte

Answer a. ASCII

31. An organic chip is called a ______.

a. storage chip
b. microchip
c. biochip
d. silicon chip

Answer c. biochip

32. Entering data into the system as a by product of the activity that generates the data is called:
a. source data automation
b. discrete word system

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c. CAD/CAM
d. MICR entry

Answer a. source data automation

33. The rate of screen refreshment is called________.

a. pixel speed
b. bit-map speed
c. raster rate
d. scan rate

Answer d. scan rate

34. Imaging uses what device to input data?

a. scanner
b. bar code reader
c. icon
d. tablet

Answer a. scanner

35. A printer that forms characters from a series of dots is called_______.

a. dot matrix
b. MICR
c. scanner
d. plotter

Answer a. dot matrix

36. The density of data stored on magnetic tape is expressed as:

a. units per inch
b. tracks per inch
c. packs per inch
d. bytes per inch

Answer d. bytes per inch

37. Assigning more sectors to outer disk tracks is called:

a. zone recording
b. data transfer
c. randomizing
d. sectoring

Answer a. zone recording

38. The ability to return a changed disk record to its original location is called:
a. magneto optical
b. multimedia
c. rotational delay
d. updating in place

Answer d. updating in place

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39. Processing transactions in groups is called:

a. data transfer
b. transaction processing
c. head switching
d. batch processing

Answer d. batch processing

40. Hashing to get an address is the process of applying formula to a_______.

a. key
b. file
c. record
d. character

Answer a. key

41. The time required for the access arm get into position over a particular track is_______.
a. rotational delay
b. seek time
c. data transfer
d. head switching

Answer b. seek time

42. The speed with which a disk can find data being sought is called:
a. access time
b. direct time
c. data transfer time
d. cylinder time

Answer a. access time

43. A way of physically organizing data on a disk pack to minimize seek time uses________.
a. sequential file
b. the cylinder method
c. removable hard disk cartridge
d. Winchester technology

Answer b. the cylinder method

44. Centralized processing but with the access from terminals is known as
a. teleprocessing system
b. telecommuting
c. ring network
d. dial up system

Answer a. teleprocessing system

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45. The presence of both data and its related instructions in an object is_____.
a. C++
b. orientation
c. encapsulation
d. inheritance

Answer c. encapsulation

46. During the development of a program, drawing a flow chart is a means to:
a. plan the solution
b. define the problem
c. code the program
d. define the problem

Answer a. plan the solution

47. The process of detecting, locating and correcting logic errors is called
a. desk checking
b. debugging
c. translating
d. documenting

Answer b. debugging

48. The ability of an object to interpret a message using its own method is called______.
a. polymorphism
b. inheritance
c. encapsulation
d. messaging

Answer a. polymorphism

49. The lowest level of programming language is the________.

a. non procedural language
b. BASIC
c. assembly language
d. machine language

Answer d. machine language

50. The language Smalltalk is_________.

a. procedural oriented
b. problem oriented]
c. document oriented
d. object oriented

Answer d. object oriented

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