DAR ES SALAAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

COURSE: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

STUDENT NAME: ALBERT FREDY
MODULE NAME: COMPUTER BASICS AND APPLICATION
MODULE CODE: ITT04111
CLASS: OD23ETE
ASSIGNMENT 01

1. What is a computer?
A computer is an electronic machine that inputs data, stores, process and perform different tasks based
on instructions provided by programs or user then outputs the information.
2. Why is a computer referred as an electronic devices?
Because it’s made up of millions of semi conductor devices such as transistors and integrated circuits
that are assigned to perform a different functions in the computer.
3. Write down two comprehensive paragraph of the history of computer?
Charles Babbage known as the father of the computer who brought the idea of a computer but
unfortunately couldn’t made it. In 1939 the first Computer like a machine was invented by Professor
Harvard Aken and named as Mark 1. Since then different advancement have been made up to first
generation of computer (1945 – 1956) where the computers used vacuum tubes as the technology,
computers were very large in size, there were very slow in processing of data , used punched cards to
input data in the computer ,consumed a lot of electrical power and produced excessive heat. Second
Generation of computers (1957 – 1963) The technology used was tiny solid electronic element known as
Transistors, they were more fast than the first generation computers, they were smaller in size compared
to the first generation, they consumed less power, produced less heat compared to the first generation
and used punched cards as an input device.
Third Generation of Computers (1964 – 1979), Technology used was integrated circuits made up of
millions of transistors and diode on a single chip known as silicon chip , The processing speed was fast
compared to the second Generation which were able to process millions of instructions in seconds,
consumed less power compared to the second Generation, they were smaller in size compared to the
second generation, they consumed less power compared to the second generation, they were able to
support remote communication , Magnetic disk were developed for storage purposes and keyboards as
an input device. Example of computer is 8 bit Microcomputer. Fourth Generation of Computer ( 1979 –
1989) The technology used was large scale integrated circuits which comprises of tiny circuits and
transistors also known as microprocessor, they were small in size compared to third generation, they
were faster in data processing up to 50 millions of instructions per second, they had large storage
capacity up to Gigabyte, they consumed less power Example is 16 bit microcomputer. Fifth Generation
(1990 – Up to present) Technology used are parallel processor which is also known as artificial
intelligence, Computers have high processing speed and power, Computer are smaller in size compared
to all generation except for the super computers , computers are able to be connected by internet ,
different input devices were used such as mouse, microphone, joysticks, different output devices were
used are used such as printer, speaker and consume less power.
4. Define the following terms as used in computer system.
a) Data
Data is unprocessed piece of fact that needs processing to produce meaning ful information.
b) Programs
Programs are software that contains different instructions that assist the user in different task in the
computer
c) Data processing
Data processing is a task in the computer that changes unprocessed facts ( data) to useful
information and is performed in the CPU.
d) Information
Information is organized pieces of data that give an meaningful statement.
5. List five (5) advantages of a computerized system over manual system.
I. Accuracy .
II. Efficiency.
III. Multi tasking.
 IV. High speed in different tasks
V. It’s work continuously with getting tired .
6. Briefly explain the mean of peripherals devices and mention any three devices and their functions in
the computer.
Peripheral devices are devices that are located outside the central processing unit ( CPU ) but are under
control of CPU. Examples of peripheral devices are keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, screen.
• Keyboard; Typing text into the computer.
• Mouse; used for pointing on the monitor.
• Printer; output information inform of hard copy.
7. Give 2 common examples of secondary storage devices
I. Hard disks
II. Flash disk drive
8. Discuss different types of Computers in term of their capacities, uses and limitations.
i. Super computers
• Super computers are the largest, fastest and most powerful computers
• Super computers are used for complex scientific application such as in weather
forecasting, petroleum research and defense and weapon analysis.
• Super computers are most expensive computers. Super computers produce a lot of heat
such that they need special cooling systems .
ii. Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe Computers are Less powerful , large in size but smaller than super computers
and are faster but less than super computers.
• Mainframe Computers are used for general purpose such in the government, banking
systems, in airline reservation systems mainly is to store large information from the
organization and companies.
• Mainframe Computers are also very expressive to purchase and maintain. Mainframe
Computers are large in size i.e are not able to move from one point to another.
iii. Mini Computers
• Mini Computers are Less powerful than Mainframe computers, less costly in terms of
manufacturing and maintenance than Mainframe computers and low data processing
than Mainframe computers.
• Mini Computers are used in scientific laboratories to keep data, used in smaller
institution such as network servers, used in insurance and bank companies for
accounting purposes.
• Mini Computers handle less data capacity compared to Mainframe Computers and low
data processing compared to Mainframe computers.
iv. Micro Computers
• Micro Computers are smaller in size compared to Mini and Mainframe Computers, Micro
Computers are Less powerful i.e can be connected to only few peripheral devices , Micro
Computers processes small amount of data compared to Mini Computers.
• Micro Computers are used in learning institution such as in schools, used in small
business enterprises and Micro Computers are also used in many offices such as
communication offices servers.
• Micro Computers are Less powerful in terms of performing different tasks in the
computer and Micro Computers have less storage capacity than any other types of
computers.
9. Discuss the impact of the use of computers on people and organization at large
• Creation of employment opportunities.
The use of computers have developed many careers in our daily life such careers are
web designer, software engineer, computer technician and computer engineer. Which
 enable people to earn their incomes
• Computers have simplified different works , Example is in Accounting and banking where
due to the use of different programs such as Microsoft excel have simplified the work for
many people and it’s done by single computer.
• Computer have led to unemployment mainly in industrial sector.
Due to use of computers in production area many people have lost their employment
due to efficiency of computers. Examples a work can be done by 5 people but due to the
use of computer four people may lose their job.
• Computers have increased the efficiency of different activities in different sectors.
Due to Computer Aided learning has increased the efficiency in teaching and learning in
learning institution
Due to Computer Aided design has increased the efficiency in designing sector of
different structures.
10. Briefly explain computer input devices, processing unit, storage devices and output devices.
• Input devices these are devices that enters data in form of texts, pictures and sound in
the computer system. Examples of input devices are keyboard, mouse and microphone.
• Processing unit is a special unit in the central processing unit which performs different
instructions provided by the program and performing different arithmetic and logical
operations
• Storage unit is a special unit in the computer system which has the ability and capacity
to keep , store and retrieve data can be either temporary or permanent storage.
Examples of storage devices are hard disks , flash disk and CD .
• Output devices are devices that removes information from any computing devices
inform of hard copy, sound and soft copy outside of any computing system. Examples are
printer, speaker and monitor.
11. Clearly differentiate between the term RAM and ROM as related to the computer system.
RAM is a temporary memory that’s stores only actively programs and instructions performed on the
computer system. WHILE ROM is a permanent memory that retains it’s content when the computer
system is ON or OFF . Example of content is starting procedure of a computer.
12. State three methods of classifying computers . In each case list different types of Computers
I. Classification of computers in terms of their physical size and processing speed.
• Examples are Super Computers, Mainframe Computers , Mini Computers and Micro
Computers.
II. Classification of computer in terms of operating principals/ Functionality.
• Examples are Analogue Computers, Digital Computers, hybrid computers .
III. Classification of computers according to purposes.
• Examples are Special purpose computer, General purpose computer and Dedicated
purposes Computers.
13. Differentiate the following types of Computers.
A). Super Computers and Mainframe Computers
Super Computers are the fastest, expensive to manufacture, and have fastest data processing.
WHILE Mainframe computers are computers are computers are less expensive, less fast and less
speed than super computers.
B). Mini Computers and Personal Computers
Mini Computers are computers that can be operated by 6 users at a time and high processing
speed. WHILE Personal Computers are computers that supports one user at a time and low
processing speed.
C). Special purpose computer and General purpose computer
Special purpose computer are computers based in doing a particular function such as in
calculating, production . WHILE General purpose computers are computers that are designed to
 perform a variety of tasks such as a computer can perform calculation, communication, playing
games.
D). Desktop computer and laptop computers.
Desktop computers are computers in which hardware components are separated but are
connected by the CPU making it not portable. WHILE laptop Computers are computers that all
hardware components are compacted and placed together that makes it portable.
14. Briefly describe terms “ Analogue” and “Digital Computers ” as used in computer science.
Analogue computers are computers that’s operates in continuous data such as temperature, humidity,
speed and pressure. WHILE Digital Computers are computers that operates based in 2 states that is “1”
and “0” or “ ON “ and “ OFF “.
15. Give three examples of special purpose computers.
I. Calculator
II. Computers in production areas
III Computer used in digital watches .
16. Name any four classes of computers based on size and complexity.
I. Super Computers
II. Mainframe Computers
III. Mini Computers
IV. Micro Computers.
17. What is meant by the term `booting up’ ?
Booting up means starting or restarting the computer system.
18. Differentiate between cold booting and warm booting.
Cold booting means starting a computer. WHILE warm booting means restarting the computer.
19. Complete the abbreviation ‘post’ in computer technology and briefly explain it’s purpose .
POST – Power on Self Test . Purpose of POST is to verify if all hardware components such as CPU ,
Memory, BIOS are functioning properly during starting and restarting of the computer and also it’s
detect any problem within the hardware components and displays it’s error message to help the user to
rectify the problem.
20. Give two types of keyboards found in the current market.
A. Mechanical keyboards
B. Membrane keyboards.