Computing Flashcards

What is the definition of an information system?

A complete interconnected environment that turns raw data into useful information.

The five parts of an information system are people, hardware, software, _____, and data.

procedures

In planning an information system, what is the primary objective of analyzing the 'people' component?

To determine the requirements and what users need to accomplish.

What physical components are categorized as 'hardware' in an information system?

Circuit boards, silicon chips, transistors, and input/output devices.

What is the primary function of 'software' within a computer system?

To provide the programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do.

In an information system, what are 'procedures'?

The specific steps people follow to interact with and run the software.

How does 'data' relate to computer programs in an information system?

Data is the raw material that computer programs operate upon, store, and recall.

What is the Basic Input Output System (BIOS)?

The most basic level of software that helps the computer start up and tests hardware.

Why is BIOS software stored on a read-only chip on the motherboard?

To prevent it from being accidentally changed or corrupted.

What is the role of the Operating System (OS) regarding computer activities?

It manages all computer activities and hardware communication after startup.

Which software type provides the interface humans use to communicate commands to the computer?

The Operating System (OS).

How does an Operating System manage files?

By controlling and managing the file storage system.

What is 'Utility' software?

Programs that perform useful services like optimizing storage, backing up files, or ensuring security.

Software designed for the interest of a human user, such as for productivity or entertainment, is called _____ software.

application

What is the specific purpose of 'Productivity' software?

To help humans perform business or personal enrichment tasks.

Microsoft Office is considered a productivity _____.

suite

What are the four steps of the Information Processing Cycle?

Input, Processing, Output, and Storage.

In the Information Processing Cycle, what is the function of 'Input'?

To help humans put data into the computer.

Which step of the Information Processing Cycle involves moving and calculating data using the motherboard and processor?

Processing

What is the purpose of 'Output' components in the processing cycle?

To provide the results of data processing to human users.

In the context of computer components, what is 'Storage'?

Electronic components that hold software and data until it is needed.

What is a 'bit' in computer science?

The smallest unit of data, represented as a single binary digit (0 or 1).

A grouping of 8 bits into a single unit is called a _____.

byte

In binary representation, what physical state does the digit 1 correspond to?

An 'ON' signal where current flows.

In binary representation, what physical state does the digit 0 correspond to?

An 'OFF' signal where no current flows.

The binary number system is a base-2 system where place values are based on _____.

powers of 2

How many bytes are contained in 1 KB?

1,024 bytes

What is the decimal equivalent of the binary byte 11111111_{2}?

255

What is the decimal value of the binary number 0101_{2}?

5

What is the decimal value of the binary number 1010_{2}?

10

What is the decimal value of the binary number 1111_{2}?

15

What is the decimal value of the binary number 10100_{2}?

20

What is the decimal value of the binary number 11001_{2}?

25

What does the acronym ASCII stand for?

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

How many unique characters does the standard ASCII encode?

128 characters

How many bits per character does standard ASCII use for its numerical mapping?

7 bits

What range of numerical values does ASCII assign to letters, numbers, and punctuation?

0 to 127

In ASCII, what is the decimal value for the uppercase character 'A'?

65

In ASCII, what is the decimal value for the lowercase character 'a'?

97

In ASCII, what is the decimal value for the digit '0'?

48

In ASCII, what decimal value represents a space (SPC)?

32

How many bits are required to store the 5-character word 'HELLO' in computer memory using standard byte storage?

40 bits

Which Python function is used to retrieve the ASCII value of a character?

ord()

ASCII plays an integral role in networking protocols such as HTTP and _____.

FTP

What is Boolean logic?

A mathematical system where variables have only two possible values: True (1) or False (0).

Who is the English mathematician credited with inventing Boolean algebra?

George Boole

What are the three basic Boolean logic operators?

AND, OR, and NOT.

Under what condition does an AND gate produce an output of 1?

Only when BOTH inputs are 1.

Under what condition does an OR gate produce an output of 1?

When at least ONE input is 1

What is the function of a NOT gate?

It inverts the input, flipping 0 to 1 and 1 to 0

What are logic gates in a physical sense?

Physical circuits that implement Boolean operations.

Combined gates like NAND, NOR, and _____ are created by combining basic Boolean operations.

XOR

If A = 1 and B = 0, what is the result of the expression A AND B?

0 (False)

If A = 1 and B = 0, what is the result of the expression A OR B?

1 (True)

Computer systems are often described as layers of hardware, OS, machine code, and applications to provide _____.

abstraction