Ekamai International School

A Research Project in Computer Class Grade 6 COMPUTER BASICS Deadline: 1st week of October (Class time)
Credit: After completion of this project, you will receive Computer Honor in Pathfinder Class. Use the internet to find the answers for the questions below. You may directly copy the content from the website but you have to include the website as the source of the information. Some questions are to be answered in your own words. (Use MS Word for this project. Print the file and put it in a folder, then submit on or before the deadline)

Introduction

1: Getting to Know Computers

What is a Computer?
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Differentiate Software and Hardware.

The software is differentiate hardware by, includes the physical components, such as the motherboard, chips, memory, and hard drives. Software includes the programs that run on the hardware.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

2: Understanding Operating Systems

What is an Operating System?

An operating system is a program designed to run other programs on a computer. A computers operating system is its most important program. It is considered the backbone of a computer, managing both software and hardware resources.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

What is Booting?
In computing, booting (also known as booting up) is a bootstrapping process that starts operating systems when the user turns on a computer system. A boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the computer performs when power is switched on. The boot loader typically loads the main operating system for the computer. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

What processes takes place during booting?

When a computer starts up (obviously by pressing the power button), the first thing that occurs is it sending a signal to motherboard which in turn starts the power supply. After supplying the correct amount of power to each device, it sends a signal called "Power OK" to BIOS which resides on motherboard. Once the BIOS receive the "Power OK" signal, it starts the booting process by first initializing a process called POST (Power on Self-Test). POST first check that every device has right amount of power and then it check whether the memory is not corrupted. Then it initializes each device and finally it gives control to BIOS for further booting.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

3: Understanding Applications What is an Application?

The term application is a shorter form of application program. An application program is a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another application program. Examples of applications include word processors, database programs, Web browsers, development tools, drawing, paint, image editing programs, and communication programs. Applications use the services of the computer's operating system and other supporting applications. The formal requests and means of communicating with other programs that an application program uses is called the application program interface (API).

Source: http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/application

What are the Types of Desktop Application? List down and write the description of each type?
There are countless desktop applications out there, and they fall into many different categories. Some are more full-featured (like Microsoft Word), while others may only do one or two things (like gadgets). Source: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics/3

4: Web Apps and the Cloud What is Cloud Computing?

List down at least 3 applications that are used for Cloud Computing.

All about the Desktop Computer

5: Basic Parts of a Desktop Computer (External parts)

What are the different parts of a Computer and their functions?

6: Buttons, Sockets and Slots on a Desktop Computer

Label the different Buttons, Sockets and Slots on a Desktop Computer.

7: Inside a Desktop Computer

Collect a picture of each part of a Desktop computer inside the CPU case and write the function of each part: Motherboard, Power supply, Expansion cards (video card, sound card, Bluetooth card, network card), Hard disk, and Memory.

Laptop Computers and Mobile Devices

8: Laptop Computers and Netbooks

Compare Desktop Computers to Laptop/Netbooks. Write down their similarities and differences.

9: Getting to Know Mobile Devices

What is a Mobile device? How can a Mobile device be useful for you as a student? (in your own words) Wireless Technology

10. What does wireless connection mean? 11. What are the things needed for a wireless connection? 12. Which connection is faster? Wired or Wireless? Why?

Computer Security 13: What are the things that can harm your computer or files? 14. In your own words, explain how you can protect your files from such threats?

Computer History 15. In 200 words, write a brief history of the Computer.