Class Notes

Class: XI Topic: Chapter-1: Basic Computer Organization

(Contd…)
Subject: Informatics Practices

Mobile System Organization:

Modern mobile system are tiny computers in your hand. Although they have less computing
power compared to their bigger version, they handle diverse type of application such as making
calls through radio signals, offering camera utilities, handling touch sensitive screens etc.

The block diagram of a mobile system is as shown here. A mobile system’s CPU handles diverse
types of applications but has a little power compared to computers as mobile system run on
battery power.

a) Mobile Processor: This is the brain of a smart phone. The CPU receives commands,
makes instant calculations, plays audio/video, stores information and send signals
throughout the device. The CPU of a mobile system has majorly two sub processors
types: i) Communication Processing Unit (CPU) ii) Application Processing Unit (APU)
b) Display System: Is responsible for providing display facilities and touch sensitive
interface.

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 c) Camera System: This sub unit is designed to deliver a tightly bound image processing
packages and enable an improved over all picture and video experiences.
d) Mobile System Memory: A mobile system also needs memory to work. It comprises of
two types of memories RAM and ROM.
e) Storage: The external storage of a mobile system is also called expandable storage. It
comes in the form of SD cards, or micro SD cards etc.
f) Power Management Subsystem: This subsystem is responsible for providing power to a
mobile system. The mobile system works on limited power provided through an attached
batter unit.

Type of Software:

A computer system consists of hardware and software for its proper functioning. Software can be
classified broadly into two categories: a) System Software b) Application Software.

System Software: The software that controls internal computer operations.

The system software can further be classified into two categories: Operating System and
Language Processors.

Application Software: Is a set of programs necessary to carry out operations for a specified
applications.

Application software can further be sub divided into four categories:

a) Packages: Application software are required to make the computer useful for people.
Some major and most common categories of general application software (Packages) are
Word processing software, Spreadsheets, DBMS, Desktop Publishing software, Graphics,
multimedia and presentation software.
b) Utilities: Are those application programs that assists the computer by performing
housekeeping functions like backing up disk or scanning, Cleaning viruses or arranging
information, Disk defragmenter, Compression utility etc.
c) Customized software: This type of software is tailor made software according to user’s
requirement. Examples are Inventory Management system, Payroll system, Financial
Accounting etc.
d) Developer Tools: Software libraries are sets of prewritten code/function/classes etc.
available to programmers for use in the development of new code. For example Python
comes equipped with many software libraries like NumPy, SciPy, Panda Library.

ASSIGNMENTS (To be done in the note book)

1. Briefly explain the basic architecture of a computer.

Ans: Computer organization refers to logical structure of a computer describing how its
components are connected to one another, how they affect one another’s functioning and
contributes to overall performance of computer. Computers follow the „IPO‟ i.e. Input,
Process, Output (That means a certain input is processed to Generate specific output)
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2. What do you understand by input unit? What is its significance? What does
computer system consist of?

Ans: Input unit is formed by the input devices (Keyboard, mouse, MICR, OBCR etc.)
attached to the computer. Input unit is responsible for taking input and converting it into
computer understandable form (the binary code). Some common input devices are:
Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Scanner, Webcam, Joy stick, Etc.

3. What is the function of CPU in a computer system? What are its sub units?

Ans: The central processing unit (CPU) of a computer is a piece of hardware that carries out
the instructions of a computer program. It performs the basic arithmetical, logical, and
input/output operations of a computer system. The CPU is like the brains of the computer
- every instruction, no matter how simple, has to go through the CPU. So let's say you
press the letter 'k' on your keyboard and it appears on the screen - the CPU of your
computer is what makes this possible. The CPU is sometimes also referred to as the
central processor unit, or processor for short. So when you are looking at the
specifications of a computer at your local electronics store, it typically refers to the CPU
as the processor. Its sub units are:
(i) Control Unit (ii) Arithmetical and Logical Unit (ALU) (iii) Memory Unit.

4. What functions are performed by the control unit?

Ans: The CU controls and guides the interpretation, flow and manipulation of all data and
information. CU sends control signals until the required operations are done properly by
ALU and memory. Another function of CU is the program execution. It means carrying
out all the instructions stored in the program. CU gets program instruction from the
memory and executes them one after the other. CU acts as a supervisor by controlling and
guiding the operation taking place.

5. Distinguish between CPU and ALU?

Ans: Difference Between ALU and CPU is that arithmetic logic unit (ALU), another
component of the processor, performs arithmetic, comparison, and other operations.
While Processor also central processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer.
The main difference between CPU and ALU is that the CPU is an electronic circuit that
handles instructions to operate the computer while the ALU is a subsystem of the CPU
that performs arithmetic and logical operations.

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6. What is the function of output unit in a computer system?

Ans: Input devices are the hardware that give computers instructions. Output devices relay
the response from the computer in the form of a visual response (monitor), sound
(speakers) or media devices (CD or DVD drives). The purpose of these devices is to
translate the machine's response to a usable form for the computer user.

7. Distinguish between internal and external memory.

Ans: Internal memory is usually chips or modules that you attach directly to the motherboard.
Internal Memory is a circular disc that continuously rotates as the computer accesses its
data. External memory often comes in the form of USB flash drives; CD, DVD, and other
optical discs; and portable hard drives.

8. What are RAM and ROM? How are they alike? How are they different? What are
PROM, EPROM, EEPROM?

Ans: A ROM chip is a non-volatile storage medium, which means it does not require a
constant source of power to retain the information stored on it.
A RAM chip is volatile, which means it loses any information it is holding when the
power is turned off. Both of them are known as primary memory as they can directly
work with CPU.
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM)
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM)
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM)

9. What are major functional components of a mobile system?

Ans: Major functional components of a mobile system are-

(i) Mobile Processor
a. Communications Processing Unit
b. Application Processing Unit
c. GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
(ii) SoC (System on a chip)
(iii) Display Subsystem
a. Display Screen
b. Touch Sensitive Interface
c. Touch Sensitive Keyboards
(iv) Camera Subsystem
(v) Mobile System Memory
a. RAM
b. ROM
(vi) Storage
(vii) Power Management Subsystem
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10. Draw a block diagram depicting organization of a mobile system.

Ans:

11. What is the role of Power Management Unit in a mobile system?

Ans: This subsystem is responsible for providing power to a mobile system. The mobile
systems work on limited power provided through an attached battery unit. This system
has a battery management system that works with a battery charger and a battery unit and
provides power to the mobile system in required form.
It also contains a collection of different functions like battery charging, monitoring and
supplying many different voltages these systems require. It also contains software
controlled turn-on and turn-off feature to optimize the power consumption and battery
life.

12. What does the communication processor do?

Ans: The communication processor subsystem is responsible for making and receiving phone
calls on a mobile handset. It has a digital signal processor that helps it work with RF
Transceiver and the Audio subsystem.

13. What is GPU? How is it useful?

Ans: Graphics Processing Unit assists the CPU by handling the visuals, other graphically-rich
applications. In short, GPU handles all graphics-related chores of a mobile CPU.

14. What is system software?

Ans: The software that controls internal computer operations is called system software. It
manages all the resources of a system. Its example is Operating System.

15. Discuss the role of utility software in the context of computer performance?

Ans: Utilities are those application programs that assist the computer by performing
housekeeping functions like backing up disk or scanning/cleaning viruses or arranging
information etc. its example is Antivirus software.

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 16. What is the importance of an OS?

Ans: An operating system is a program which acts as an interface between a user and the
hardware. It manages all the resources of the computer system. It provides and
environment to the user to work with. All the application are installed after the operating
system is installed. It manages memory, processing, storage, memory etc.

17. How are software libraries useful? Name some software libraries of Python.

Ans: A software library is a predefined and available to use, suit of data and programming
code in the form of prewritten code/ functions/scripts/classes etc. that can be used in the
development of the new software programs and applications.
Some software library in python are:
(i) NumPy (numerical Python)
(ii) SciPy (Scientific Python)
(iii) Pandas Library

18. What is the utility of these software?

(a) Disk fragmentor (b) Backup software

Ans: (a) Disk fragmentor: A file is fragmented when it becomes too large for your computer
to store in a single location on a disk. When this happens, your computer splits the file
up and stores in pieces. You can use fragmented files, but it takes your computer longer
to access them.

(b) Backup software: This utility program facilitates the backing-up of disk. Back-up
means duplicating the disk information so that in case of any damage or data-loss, this
backed-up data may be used.

19. What is the difference between an interpreter and a compiler?

Ans: Interpreter: Interpreter is a type of system software that translates and executes
instructions written in a computer program line by line, unit by unit etc. It is slower in
execution because each time when you run the program translation is required.

Compiler: Compiler is another type of system software that translates and executes
instructions written in a computer program in one go. Once compiled program need not
to translate again so it works faster.

Note: ‘Content developed/prepared absolutely from home.

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