Computer Fundamentals and History Flashcards

A set of question-and-answer flashcards based on the provided computer history, hardware, software, and system architecture lecture notes.

What is the earliest known mechanical calculating tool used by ancient civilizations for basic arithmetic operations?

The Abacus.

Why is Charles Babbage known as the "Father of Computing"?

For inventing the Mechanical Difference Engine and designing the Analytical Engine, which laid the foundation for modern programmable computers.

How do digital computers process data compared to analog computers?

Digital computers process data using discrete values or binary code (0s and 1s), whereas analog computers process continuous signals.

How did Joseph Marie Jacquard's invention influence computer data input methods?

The Jacquard Loom used punched cards to automate complex textile patterns, a concept that later inspired computer data input methods.

Who is recognized as the world's first computer programmer, and what was her contribution?

Ada Lovelace; she created an algorithm intended for execution on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

What is a hybrid computer?

A computer system that combines the speed of analog computing (for continuous physical values) with the precision and storage of digital computing.

What were the characteristics and drawbacks of 1st Generation computer hardware?

1st Generation computers used vacuum tubes (e.g., ENIAC) as foundational switching technology, which were large, generated massive amounts of heat, and were prone to burning out.

What component replaced vacuum tubes in 2nd Generation computing, and what were its benefits?

Transistors; they made computers smaller, faster, cheaper, and vastly more energy-efficient.

What key hardware advance defined 3rd Generation computing?

Integrated Circuits (ICs), which combined hundreds or thousands of transistors onto a single silicon chip.

What innovation in 4th Generation computing spawned personal computing (PCs)?

Microprocessors, which placed the entire Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit chip.

Which concepts and technologies define 5th Generation computing?

Artificial Intelligence (AI), parallel processing, natural language processing, neural networks, advanced robotics, and quantum computing.

What is the role of system software, and what are key examples?

System software runs a computer's hardware and manages system operations; examples include Operating Systems, Device Drivers, and Utilities.

What is the function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?

It is the primary CPU component responsible for performing arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction) and logical comparisons (AND, OR, NOT).

What is the function of the CPU's Control Unit (CU)?

It directs operations, manages signal flow between system parts, and controls the execution of program instructions.

What is the Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle?

The fundamental sequence of steps the CPU repeatedly executes to process data: fetching instructions from memory, interpreting them, and executing the operation.

How does cache memory improve CPU processing speed?

Cache memory stores frequently accessed instructions right next to or inside the CPU core, bypassing the slower main RAM retrieval path.

What is the difference between a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and a Solid State Drive (SSD)?

An HDD is a non-volatile secondary storage device using spinning magnetic platters, while an SSD is a high-speed non-volatile storage device utilizing integrated flash memory circuits with no moving parts.

What software is required for a hardware component to communicate properly with the Operating System?

Its corresponding Device Driver (system software).

What interface is capable of transmitting uncompressed video and audio simultaneously over a single cable?

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface).

What component interconnects all primary computer hardware components (CPU, RAM, storage) through data buses?

The motherboard.

What feature in Google Docs allows reviewers to propose edits without directly altering original text?

Suggesting Mode.

What is the logical order for the hardware assembly procedure?

Position hardware -> Connect peripherals & monitors -> Connect network cables -> Connect power supply -> Power on system to verify.