Introduction to Computing - Comprehensive Exam Review

Flashcard study set covering Modules 1 to 4 and Module 2.1 of Introduction to Computing, including key concepts, dates, definitions, and technical terminology.

How do Computer Science (CS), Information Technology (IT), and Information Systems (IS) differ in their focus?

CS focuses on designing and creating software, apps, algorithms, and computing tools; IT focuses on maintaining, installing, and securing hardware, servers, and networks; IS combines technology and business to solve company problems and boost profit.

What does the CCNA certification cover, and which vendor is it specific to?

CCNA is an associate-level networking certification covering network access, IP connectivity, and IP services; it is vendor-specific to Cisco.

What is the primary role of the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification in IT?

It prepares individuals for entry-level project management positions and is valuable to many IT teams.

How is Agentic AI defined in emerging technology trends?

Autonomous AI systems that can plan, make decisions, and execute multi-step workflows with minimal human oversight.

What is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and what problem does it solve?

RAG allows LLMs to look up external knowledge before generating an answer, which helps ground responses and reduce hallucinations.

What principles define Identity-first Security and Zero Trust?

It emphasizes least privilege, strong authentication, device/session trust checks, and continuous monitoring; Zero Trust is a model, not a product.

What is Edge Computing and what benefits does it offer?

It processes and stores data near its source to improve real-time responsiveness, reduce latency, and reduce bandwidth needs.

Who invented the Pascaline calculator in 1642 and how did it work?

Invented by Blaise Pascal, it was a mechanical and automated calculator using gears and wheels.

Which 1830 computing invention used punch cards, and who are the key historical figures associated with it?

The Analytical Engine; created by Charles Babbage and associated with Ada Lovelace, who is identified as the first programmer.

Who invented ENIAC and what was its historical significance?

Invented by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first electronic general-purpose computer.

What was the Osborne 1, when was it released, and who introduced it?

Identified as the first laptop; introduced in 1981 by Adam Osborne and EPSON.

What are the five essential elements of a computer system?

Hardware, Software, Data, Information, and Peopleware.

What is the difference between Data and Information?

Data consists of individual facts or statistics in raw form without significance; Information is the result of analyzing and interpreting data to provide meaning or knowledge.

What are the four basic computer operations in sequential order?

INPUT -> STORAGE -> PROCESSING -> OUTPUT.

Why was DARPA tasked with building ARPANET during the Cold War?

DARPA was tasked with creating a robust communication network capable of withstanding a nuclear attack by using decentralization and redundancy to avoid a single point of failure.

Who introduced TCP/IP in 1974 and what was its purpose?

Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn introduced the Internet Protocol Suite concept for sending and receiving data across interconnected networks.

Who introduced the World Wide Web in 1989 and what core concept did he outline?

British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, who outlined the concept of hypertext.

What are the distinguishing characteristics of Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0?

Web 1.0 features static websites mainly for information sharing; Web 2.0 features social media and user-generated content; Web 3.0 features ubiquity, decentralization (e.g., blockchain), AI, and semantic Web interactivity.

What two parts form a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)?

Protocol and Domain Name.

What function does the Domain Name System (DNS) perform?

DNS converts domain names into IP addresses, acting as the phonebook of the Internet.

How do HTML, CSS, and JavaScript divide responsibilities in web development?

HTML provides the standard markup for creating Web pages and displaying content; CSS controls appearance; JavaScript triggers interactive features.

What key difference distinguishes webcasts from podcasts according to the module?

Webcasts deliver audio/video using streaming technology, whereas podcasts do not use streaming technology.

What are the three core types of E-Commerce interactions?

B2C (Business-to-Consumer), C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer, such as Web auctions), and B2B (Business-to-Business).

What is the purpose of the CMOS battery on a motherboard?

It is a coin-cell battery that saves basic BIOS/UEFI settings and system time.

What historical milestones are marked by the Intel 4004 and Intel 8080 microprocessors?

Intel 4004 (1971) was the first microprocessor; Intel 8080 (1974) was the first microprocessor powerful enough to build a computer around.

What are the two primary components of a microprocessor and their respective duties?

The Control Unit (CU) fetches instructions and translates them into control signals; the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) performs arithmetic and logic operations.

What is the function of a Power Supply Unit (PSU)?

It converts AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current) to power desktop computers.

What ergonomic practice is recommended to prevent eyestrain and headaches during computer use?

Take a 15-minute break every hour, keep focus objects at a consistent distance, and clean the screen periodically.

How did Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) evolve from 1981 to 1985 in consumer software?

Xerox Star (1981) introduced the first consumer GUI; Apple Macintosh (1984) released its first GUI OS; Microsoft Windows 1.0 (1985) debuted Microsoft's first GUI.

What is the difference between General-Purpose Applications and Specialized Applications?

General-purpose applications (off-the-shelf software like word processors and spreadsheets) serve broad routine tasks, while specialized applications are tailored for specific professions or custom organization needs.