COMPUTER BASICS

NOTES
1.1 Write a short list of where computers are being used.

1.2 How do computers vary from one another?

1.3 What is a computer?

1.4 What are the four functions of the Information Processing Cycle? Describe each briefly.
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1.5 Write the five beginning terms and their definitions in your notes.
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1.6 What three things make a computer powerful? Explain.

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2.1 What are the six types of personal or micro computers?

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Servers:
2.2 What is a server?

2.3 How is a server different that a regular computer?

Minicomputers:
2.4 What is a minicomputer?

Main Frames:
2.5 What is a main frame? What sort of special environment does it require?

Supercomputers:
What is a supercomputer used for? What is their cost?

3.1 What is input?

3.2 What are four types of input?

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3.3 What is the main input device we see on a computer?

3.4 What are the special ones called and what special keys do they have?

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 Pointing Devices:
Make a table of the seven pointing devices, an explanation of their function and a column for the
advantages and disadvantages.

DEVICE DESCRIPTION FUNCTION ADVANTAGE/

DISADVANTAGE

Input Terminals:
3.4 What is a terminal?

3.5 What are other names of a terminal?

3.6 What is a dumb terminal?

3.7 What is a smart terminal?

3.8 What is a Point-of-Sale terminal?

Multimedia Input:
3.9 What is meant by multimedia?

3.10 What are the three types of inputs?

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3.11 What are the three types of inputs that are considered video inputs?
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Data Automation:
3.12 What are the first and second goals of data automation?

3.13 What are the seven types of data automation devices and explain each briefly. (You may want
to put this in a table.)
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Processing:
What is processing?

Digital Data:
3.16 What is meant by digital storages?

System Unit
Using the drawing tools in Word (see your teacher for assistance if needed), draw the boxes as
shown and label them with the appropriate names. Insert a text box to the left and write a brief
description of each of the functions of the boxes on the left.
Processor Speed
4.1 What is processor speed affected by?

4.2 State a definition and example of each factor.

4.3 Physical Components:

4.4 What is a microprocessor?

4.5 What is meant by ROM?

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4.6 Where is the microprocessor located?

4.7 What is meant by RAM?

5.1 What is output?

5.2 What are the two types of output?

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5.3 What are the three categories of output? Give examples of each.
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Printer Features

5.3 What is meant by a WYSIWYG?

5.4 How is the speed of a printer measured?

5.5 What is meant by printer resolution and how is it measured?

5.6 What abilities does a printer have?

Printer Types

5.7 What are the two types of printers and give examples of each?

5.8 What are the main things to consider when purchasing a printer?

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Screen Features
5.9 What are 4 other names for a computer screen?
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5.10 What are the factors to consider when purchasing a monitor and explain each briefly?

Other Devices

5.11 List the four other devices that are considered special Equipment
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5.12 What is storage?

Magnetic Disks

6.2 What are the types of magnetic disks and how do they differ?

Disk Capacity

6.3 What are the three factors that affect the disk capacity?

Caring for disks

6.4 What are the three things that you shouldn't do or should avoid when caring for a diskette?

6.5 What are the key things you should always do regarding floppy care/use?

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Caring For Data

6.6 What does it mean when they say they write on the disk optically?

6.7 What is the most common type of optical disk today?

6.8 What does it's initials mean?

6.9 What kind of CD's are important if you want to change the type of information on it?

6.10 What is better about CD's compared to floppies?

6.11 What are the disadvantages of CD's

7.1 What is computer communication?

7.2 What are the various terms associated with computer communications and explain each briefly.

Transmission Media

7.3 What is meant by transmission media?

7.4 What are the differences between microwave, satellite and wireless?

Networks

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7.5 What is a network?

7.6 What are the advantages and disadvantages of a network?

7.7 What is a LAN? What does it mean?

7.8 What is a WAN? What does it mean?

Functions

7.9 What are the three types of network configuration patterns? Draw a diagram of each type.
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7.10 What is the difference between a file and client server?

7.11 Define the terms:

Gateway –

Bridge –

Router -

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