Fundamentals of information technology

Q1. Define Computer.

Ans.
• A computer is a digital electronic machine that can be programmed to carry out
sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (computation) automatically. Modern
computers can perform generic sets of operations known as programs. These programs
enable computers to perform a wide range of tasks. A computer system is a "complete"
computer that includes the hardware, operating system (main software), and peripheral
equipment needed and used for "full" operation. This term may also refer to a group of
computers that are linked and function together, such as a computer network or
computer cluster.
• A broad range of industrial and consumer products use computers as control systems.
Simple special-purpose devices like microwave ovens and remote controls are included,
as are factory devices like industrial robots and computer-aided design, as well as
general-purpose devices like personal computers and mobile devices like smartphones.
Computers power the Internet, which links billions of other computers and users.
Q2. Types of Memory in computer
Ans:
• Memory is the electronic holding place for the instructions and data a computer needs to
reach quickly. It's where information is stored for immediate use. Memory is one of the basic
functions of a computer, because without it, a computer would not be able to function properly.
Memory is also used by a computer's operating system, hardware and software.
Types of memory
The types of memory in a computer exist, Primary memory and secondary memory
primary memory, often called system memory, and secondary memory, which is more commonly called
storage.

The key difference between primary and secondary memory is speed of access.

Primary memory includes ROM and RAM, and is located close to the CPU on the computer motherboard,
enabling the CPU to read data from primary memory very quickly indeed. It is used to store data that the
CPU needs imminently so that it does not have to wait for it to be delivered.
Secondary memory by contrast, is usually physically located within a separate storage device, such as a
hard disk drive or solid state drive (SSD), which is connected to the computer system either directly or
over a network. The cost per gigabyte of secondary memory is much lower, but the read and write
• Primary Memory Types: RAM and ROM
• There are two key types of primary memory:
• RAM, or random access memory
• ROM, or read-only memory
1) RAM Computer Memory
The acronym RAM stems from the fact that data stored in random access memory can be accessed – as the name suggests – in any random
order. Or, put another way, any random bit of data can be accessed just as quickly as any other bit.
The most important things to understand about RAM are that RAM memory is very fast, it can be written to as well as read, it is volatile (so
all data stored in RAM memory is lost when it loses power) and, finally, it is very expensive compared to all types of secondary memory in
terms of cost per gigabyte. It is because of the relative high cost of RAM compared to secondary memory types that most computer systems
use both primary and secondary memory.
Data that is required for imminent processing is moved to RAM where it can be accessed and modified very quickly, so that the CPU is not
kept waiting. When the data is no longer required it is shunted out to slower but cheaper secondary memory, and the RAM space that has
been freed up is filled with the next chunk of data that is about to be used.
Types of RAM
DRAM: DRAM stands for Dynamic RAM, and it is the most common type of RAM used in computers. The oldest type is known as single
data rate (SDR) DRAM, but newer computers use faster dual data rate (DDR) DRAM. DDR comes in several versions including DDR2 , DDR3,
and DDR4, which offer better performance and are more energy efficient than DDR. However different versions are incompatible, so it is
not possible to mix DDR2 with DDR3 DRAM in a computer system. DRAM consists of a transistor and a capacitor in each cell.
SRAM: SRAM stands for Static RAM, and it is a particular type of RAM which is faster than DRAM, but more expensive and bulker, having
six transistors in each cell. For those reasons SRAM is generally only used as a data cache within a CPU itself or as RAM in very high-end
server systems. A small SRAM cache of the most imminently-needed data can result in significant speed improvements in a system
The key differences between DRAM and SRAM is that SRAM is faster than DRAM – perhaps two to three times faster – but more expensive
and bulkier. SRAM is usually available in megabytes, while DRAM is purchased in gigabytes.
DRAM uses more energy than SRAM because it constantly needs to be refreshed to maintain data integrity, while SRAM – though volatile
– does not need constant refreshing when it is powered up.
• 2) ROM Computer Memory
• ROM stands for read-only memory, and the name stems from the fact that while
data can be read from this type of computer memory, data cannot normally be
written to it. It is a very fast type of computer memory which is usually installed
close to the CPU on the motherboard.ROM is a type of non-volatile memory,
which means that the data stored in ROM persists in the memory even when it
receives no power – for example when the computer is turned off. In that sense it
is similar to secondary memory, which is used for long term storage.
• When a computer is turned on, the CPU can begin reading information stored in
ROM without the need for drivers or other complex software to help it
communicate. The ROM usually contains “bootstrap code” which is the basic set
of instructions a computer needs to carry out to become aware of the operating
system stored in secondary memory, and to load parts of the operating system
into primary memory so that it can start up and become ready to use.
• ROM is also used in simpler electronic devices to store firmware which runs as
soon as the device is switched on.
• Types of ROM
• ROM is available in several different types, including PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM.
• PROM PROM stands for Programmable Read-Only Memory, and it is different from true ROM in that while a ROM is programmed (i.e.
has data written to it) during the manufacturing process, a PROM is manufactured in an empty state and then programmed later
using a PROM programmer or burner.
• EPROM EPROM stands for Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, and as the name suggests, data stored in an EPROM can be
erased and the EPROM reprogrammed. Erasing an EPROM involves removing it from the computer and exposing it to ultraviolet light
before re-burning it.
• EEPROM EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, and the distinction between EPROM and
EEPROM is that the latter can be erased and written to by the computer system it is installed in. In that sense EEPROM is not strictly
read-only. However in many cases the write process is slow, so it is normally only done to update program code such as firmware or
BIOS code on an occasional basis
• Confusingly, NAND flash memory (such as that found in USB memory sticks and solid state disk drives) is a type of EEPROM, but NAND
flash is considered to be secondary memory.
• Secondary Memory Types
• Secondary memory comprises many different storage media which can be directly attached to a computer system. These include:
hard disk drives
• solid state drives (SSDs)
• Optical (CD or DVD) drives
• Tape drives
• Secondary memory also includes:
• Storage arrays including 3D NAND flash arrays connected over a storage area network (SAN)
• Storage devices which may be connected over a conventional network (known as network attached storage, or NAS)
• Arguably cloud storage can also be called secondary memory.
• Differences between RAM and ROM
• ROM:

• Non-volatile
• Fast to read
• Usually used in small quantities
• Cannot be written to quickly
• Used to store boot instructions or firmware
• Relatively expensive per megabyte stored compared to RAM
• RAM:

• Volatile
• Fast to read and write
• Used as system memory to store data (including program code) that the CPU needs to process
imminently
• Relatively cheap per megabyte stored compared to ROM, but relatively expensive compared to
Q3. Hardware and Software
Ans:
A computer system is divided into two categories: Hardware and Software. Hardware refers to the physical and visible
components of the system such as a monitor, CPU, keyboard and mouse. Software, on the other hand, refers to a set of
instructions which enable the hardware to perform a specific set of tasks. The software must be installed in the hardware to
function properly and similarly, the hardware must be present for the tasks to be performed. Both are interdependent, yet they
are also different from each other.

COMPUTER HARDWARE

Hardware is further divided into four main categories:

Input Devices
Output Devices
Secondary Storage Devices
Internal Components
Hardware is physical in nature and hence one can touch and see hardware
Hardware cannot be infected by Viruses The software can be infected by Viruses
Hardware will physically wear out over time Software does not wear out but it can be affected by bugs and
glitches
An example of Hardware is hard drives, monitors, CPU, scanners, printers etc. An example of software is
Windows 10, Adobe Photoshop, Google Chrome etc.
Computer Software
• What are the differences between hardware and software
• Software is a collection of procedures, instructions, documentation that tells a computer
exactly what to do or allows users to interact with a computer. Sometimes it is abbreviated as
S/W and SW, which is most important for a computer or other similar devices. Most of the
computers may be useless without software. For example, if a software program, MS-Word is
not installed into your computer, you cannot make any document that can be completed
through MS-Word. Also, you cannot surf the Internet or visit any website if your system has
no Internet browser software. Additionally, the browser could not run on the computer
without an operating system. The Google Chrome, Photoshop, MS Word, Excel, MySQL and
more are examples of software. The picture is shown below, is an example of software, which
is a picture of Google Chrome, which is an Internet software program.

• Software is a collection of instructions run on the computer, whereas hardware is a physical

device used with or on the computer. On the other hand, the software cannot be touch and
held in your hand, whereas hardware can be touch and held in your hand. Below is given a
table that holds the differences between hardware and software.
Q4. Operating system
Ans:
• An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between computer
hardware components and the user. Every computer system must have at least one operating
system to run other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need
some environment to run and perform its tasks.
• The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the
computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use any computer or mobile device without
having an operating system
• History Of OS
• Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to manage tape storage
• The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in the early 1950s for their IBM 701
• In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks
• In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed
• The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by purchasing the 86-DOS software
from a Seattle company
• The present-day popular OS Windows first came to existence in 1985 when a GUI was created and
Types of Operating System (OS)
Following are the popular types of OS (Operating System):

Batch Operating System

Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
Multiprocessing OS
Real Time OS
Distributed OS
Network OS
Mobile OS
• Batch Operating System
• Some computer processes are very lengthy and time-consuming. To speed the same process, a job with a similar type of needs are batched
together and run as a group.

• The user of a batch operating system never directly interacts with the computer. In this type of OS, every user prepares his or her job on an offline
device like a punch card and submit it to the computer operator.

• Multi-Tasking/Time-sharing Operating systems

• Time-sharing operating system enables people located at a different terminal(shell) to use a single computer system at the same time. The
processor time (CPU) which is shared among multiple users is termed as time sharing.

• Real time OS
• A real time operating system time interval to process and respond to inputs is very small. Examples: Military Software Systems, Space Software
Systems are the Real time OS example.

• Distributed Operating System

• Distributed systems use many processors located in different machines to provide very fast computation to its users.

• Network Operating System

• Network Operating System runs on a server. It provides the capability to serve to manage data, user, groups, security, application, and other
networking functions.

• Mobile OS
• Mobile operating systems are those OS which is especially that are designed to power smartphones, tablets, and wearables devices.
• Functions of Operating System
• Some typical operating system functions may include managing memory, files,
processes, I/O system & devices, security, etc.

• Below are the main functions of Operating System:

• In an operating system software performs each of the function:
• Process management: Process management helps OS to create and delete processes. It also provides mechanisms for synchronization and communication among
processes.
• Memory management: Memory management module performs the task of allocation and de-allocation of memory space to programs in need of this resources.
• File management: It manages all the file-related activities such as organization storage, retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.
• Device Management: Device management keeps tracks of all devices. This module also responsible for this task is known as the I/O controller. It also performs the task of
allocation and de-allocation of the devices.
• I/O System Management: One of the main objects of any OS is to hide the peculiarities of that hardware devices from the user.
• Secondary-Storage Management: Systems have several levels of storage which includes primary storage, secondary storage, and cache storage. Instructions and data must
be stored in primary storage or cache so that a running program can reference it.
• Security: Security module protects the data and information of a computer system against malware threat and authorized access.
• Command interpretation: This module is interpreting commands given by the and acting system resources to process that commands.
• Networking: A distributed system is a group of processors which do not share memory, hardware devices, or a clock. The processors communicate with one another
through the network.
• Job accounting: Keeping track of time & resource used by various job and users.
• Communication management: Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, and another software resource of the various users of the computer systems.

Features of Operating System (OS)

• Here is a list important features of OS:
• Protected and supervisor mode
• Allows disk access and file systems Device drivers Networking Security
• Program Execution
• Memory management Virtual Memory Multitasking
• Handling I/O operations
• Manipulation of the file system
• Error Detection and handling
• Resource allocation
•
Q5. Virus and types of virus

A computer virus is a malicious piece of computer code designed to spread from

device to device. A subset of malware, these self-copying threats are usually
designed to damage a device or steal data.
Think of a biological virus – the kind that makes you sick. It’s persistently nasty,
keeps you from functioning normally, and often requires something powerful to
get rid of it. A computer virus is very similar. Designed to replicate relentlessly,
computer viruses infect your programs and files, alter the way your computer
operates or stop it from working altogether .
Some computer viruses are programmed to harm your computer by damaging
programs, deleting files, or reformatting the hard drive. Others simply replicate
themselves or flood a network with traffic, making it impossible to perform any
internet activity. Even less harmful computer viruses can significantly disrupt
your system’s performance, sapping computer memory and causing frequent
computer crashes.
Q6. Disk Operating System
Ans:
• A disk operating system (abbreviated DOS) is a computer operating system that resides on and can use a disk storage device,
such as a floppy disk, hard disk drive, or optical disc. A disk operating system must provide a file system for organizing, reading, and
writing files on the storage disk. Strictly speaking, this definition does not apply to current generations of operating systems, such as
versions of Microsoft Windows in use, and is more appropriately used only for older generations of operating systems.
• Disk operating systems were available for mainframes, minicomputers, microprocessors and home computers and were usually loaded
from the disks themselves as part of the boot process.
• In the early days of computers, there were no disk drives, floppy disks or modern flash storage devices. Early storage devices such as
delay lines, core memories, punched cards, punched tape, magnetic tape, and magnetic drums were used instead. And in the early
days of microcomputers and home computers, paper tape or audio cassette tape (see Kansas City standard) or nothing were used
instead. In the latter case, program and data entry was done at front panel switches directly into memory or through a
computer terminal / keyboard, sometimes controlled by a BASIC interpreter in ROM; when power was turned off any information was
lost.
• In the early 1960s, as disk drives became larger and more affordable, various mainframe and minicomputer vendors began introducing
disk operating systems and modifying existing operating systems to exploit disks.
• Both hard disks and floppy disk drives require software to manage rapid access to block storage of sequential and other data. For most
microcomputers, a disk drive of any kind was an optional peripheral; systems could be used with a tape drive or booted without a
storage device at all. The disk operating system component of the operating system was only needed when a disk drive was used.
• By the time IBM announced the System/360 mainframes, the concept of a disk operating system was well established. Although IBM
did offer Basic Programming Support (BPS/360) and TOS/360 for small systems, they were out of the mainstream and most customers
used either DOS/360 or OS/360.
• Most home and personal computers of the late 1970s and 1980s used a disk operating system, most often with "DOS" in the name and
simply referred to as "DOS" within their respective communities: CBM DOS for Commodore 8-bit systems, Atari DOS for the Atari 8-bit
family, TRS-DOS for the TRS-80, Apple DOS and ProDOS for the Apple II, AmigaDOS for the Amiga, and MS-DOS for IBM PC
compatibles.
• Usually, a disk operating system was loaded from a disk. Among the exceptions were Commodore, whose DOS resided on ROM chips
in the disk drives. The Lt. Kernal hard disk subsystem for the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 models stored its DOS on the disk,
as is the case with modern systems, and loaded the DOS into RAM at boot time; the British BBC Micro's optional Disc Filing System,
Q7. What are characteristics of a computer

The characteristics of the computer system are as follows −

Speed
A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared to humans
while performing mathematical calculations. Computers can process millions
(1,000,000) of instructions per second. The time taken by computers for their
operations is microseconds and nanoseconds.
Accuracy
Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy. Errors may occur due to data inconsistency or inaccuracy.

Diligence
A computer can perform millions of tasks or calculations with the same consistency and accuracy. It doesn’t feel any
fatigue or lack of concentration. Its memory also makes it superior to that of human beings.

Versatility
Versatility refers to the capability of a computer to perform different kinds of works with same accuracy and efficiency.

Reliability
A computer is reliable as it gives consistent result for similar set of data i.e., if we give same set of input any number of
times, we will get the same result.

Automation

Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks without manual intervention.

Memory
A computer has built-in memory called primary memory where it stores data. Secondary storage are removable devices
Q8. Explain various input and output devices of a computer.
Ans:
An input device sends information to a computer system for processing, and an
output device reproduces or displays the results of that processing. Input devices
only allow for input of data to a computer and output devices only receive the
output of data from another device.
Input and Output devices are a major part of the computer. They are a type of
hardware device that makes up the computer system. These allow the system to
function properly with external help. They both deal with data but in different
ways.

The input allows the user to send data while the output completes the task related
to the data. These all are auxiliary devices that connect to the device and complete
all the tasks accordingly. Keyboards, mouse, scanners, etc are some of the input
devices while printers, monitors, headphones, etc are some of the output devices.
• Input Devices of Computer
• As mentioned above the input devices allow the users to send signals to the computer to
perform a certain task. The receiver at this end is the Central Processing Unit (CPU) which then
sends the signal to the output devices. Input devices further classify according to modality like
visual or audio, discrete or continuous, and is it direct or indirect.
Some of the classifications are –
1. Keyboard Devices
Keyer
Keyboard
Lighted Program Function Keyboard (LPFK)

2. Pointing Devices
• A mouse sitting on a desk.
• A computer mouse
• 3D mice
• Joysticks
• . Composite Devices

• Wii Remote
• Wii Remote with attached strap
• 4. Game controller

• Gamepad (or joypad)

• Paddle (game controller)
• Jog dial/shuttle (or knob)
• Wii Remote
• 5. Visual Devices

• Digital camera
• Digital camcorder
• Portable media player
• Webcam
• Microsoft Kinect Sensor
• Image scanner
• Fingerprint scanner
• Barcode reader
• 3D scanner
• Laser rangefinder
• Eye gaze tracker
• Medical Imaging
• Computed tomography
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Positron emission tomography
• Medical ultrasonography
• 6. Audio Input Devices

• Microphones
• MIDI keyboard or another digital musical instrument
• 1. Keyboard
• The most basic input device to enter data on the system or any other device with the help of the keys is a keyboard. They establish a connection with the
computer either by wifi or by a USB system. There are keys for everything – numbers, letters, characters, and functions.

• The typing keys are A – Z and number keys till 09. The numeric keypad has 17 keys allowing users to perform different calculations. Then there are function
keys for special computer features at the top row. The control keys have arrow signs on them allowing users to scroll on the page and select. Then there are
special-purpose keys like space, enter, shift, etc.

• There are several types of keyboards according to geographic location but the most popular one is QWERTY. The go-to keyboard of the modern-day, even the
Latin-based countries use this type of keyboard very frequently. The top six letters of the keyboard are qwerty, giving us the name of the keyboard. Many
people even think that this is the only keyboard that exists.

• 2. Mouse
• A hand-supported input device that allows users to move the cursor on the screen is a mouse. It works on a flat surface with a wheel between the left and
right buttons. Laptops have a touchpad as does the function of a mouse. The invention of the mouse took place in 1063 by Douglas C. Engelbart.

• The earliest version of the mouse had a rollerball underneath but the modern ones are made with optical technology with a light beam. The port of the mouse
connection depends on the computer and mouse type. Its advantages are –

• Easy to use
• Affordable
• Moves the cursor faster
• 3. Joystick
• Joystick is a pointing device to move the cursor on the monitor screen but not the same as a mouse. It has a spherical ball stick-type structure. It can move in
all directions and is a computer aid design mainly for gaming purposes.

• 4. Light Pen
• Again a pointing device with a pen-like structure allowing users to select on the screen and even draw on it. Photocells and optical systems are inbuilt inside
• 5. Track Ball
• A common accessory for notebooks and laptops, that works as a replacement for a mouse. With a similar structure, it has a half inserted ball which
the fingers move to send signals for cursor movement. It is kind of stationary taking very little space. It comes in a ball, button, and square shape as
well.

• 6. Scanner
• A scanner works like a photocopy machine is an input device to make information available on a pc from paper. This is mainly to manipulate the
information by converting an image into a digital form and then printing it.

• 7. Digitizer
• Responsible for converting analog information into digital form, a digitizer converts signals into numeric values stored in a computer. The computer
can now do anything with it as long as the camera is pointing out the image. A graphic tablet is also a digitizer converting graphics into binary data. It
is ideal for drawing and image manipulation applications.

• 8. Microphone
• It is an inbuilt voice input device to take in the sound signals and then convert them into digital form. It is a very common device present in
multimedia presentation and music-related applications.

• 9. Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)

• MICR is a device commonly present in banks as they deal with many cheques every day. The bank’s code number and cheque number have magnetic
ink present in them allowing machines to read the letters. This process is Magnetic Ink Character Recognition that has fewer errors and is very fast.

• 10. Optical Character Reader (OCR)

• It is also a reading device that reads printed text by scanning it character by character. It first converts them into machine-readable code and saves
them in the system memory.
• Again a reading device but to read barcode data like on goods, books, etc. It can
be a handheld scanner or a stationary one but they both scan the image by
converting it to alphanumeric value on the computer.

• 12. Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

• It is an optical scanner to recognize marks by pen and pencil and is commonly
present in educational institutions to check objective exam papers.

• Output Devices of Computer

• The output devices take care of displaying the result after data processing by the
input device. It may be in image, graphic, textual or audio form. These devices
show the visual elements on the display. The information on the screen is soft
copy and some of the important output devices are –
• 1. Monitors
• The visual display units are the most important output device responsible for showing the visual made of
pixels to the user. The pixels decide the image sharpness. There are two types of viewing screen on the
monitor:

• a. Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor

• The pixels make up the image on the CRT display. The smaller pixels mean the image is more clear. Even a
single character like ‘k’ is made of numerous pixels on the screen. A screen can have limited pixels at once, it
is usually 80 by 20 characters horizontally and vertically.

• Disadvantages of CRT Monitor −

• Large Size
• Power consumption is high

• b. Flat-Panel Display Monitor

• These are high-level video devices with low volume, lightweight, and low power requirements. From wall
hanging to smartwatches, they are everywhere. There are either emissive displays or non-emissive displays.
Emissive displays convert electrical energy into light like LEDs in plasma panels. While the non-emissive
• 2. Printers

• he primary Impact Printers

• They have a ribbon on the front which prints characters on the paper by pressing it.

• Characteristics –

• Consumable cost is less

• Noisy in nature
• Good for bulk printing
• Physical contact between paper and machine
• b. Character Printers
• These printer print only one character at a time and are of two types –

• i. Dot Matrix Printer

• They have a very economical price and are easy to use. Each character print has a dots pattern of the size (5*7, 7*9, 9*7, or 9*9) creating a complete
symbol.

• Its advantages are –

• Inexpensive
• Accessible
• Multilingual Printing
• Its disadvantages are –

• Slow Speed
• ii. Daisy Wheel
• With head lying on the wheel, the pins next to the characters form a petal shape thus giving it its name. They print nice quality characters and are
mostly present at word-processing offices that need a few letters only.
• Its advantages are –
• Reliable than the dot matrix printer
• Quality Characters
• Exchangeable Fonts
• Its disadvantages are –
• Slow in speed
• Noisy Nature
• A bit expensive
• c. Line Printers
• They print one line at a time. They are of two types –
• i. Drum Printer
• They have a drum-like shape with track division equal to paper size, like 100 width paper will have 100 tracks. Each track has a character set embossed either 48
character set, 64 or 96 characters set. Each drum prints one line and is as fast as 300 to 2000 lines per minute.
• Its advantages are –
• High speed
• Its disadvantages are
• Very Costly
• Only one set of font available in one printer
• ii. Chain Printer
• This printer uses a character chain to print like 48, 64, or 96 characters.
• Its advantages are –
• Interchangeable character fonts
• Multilingual printing
• Its disadvantages are –
• d. Non-impact PrintersThey don’t use a ribbon to print but instead print an entire page in one go.

• Characteristics of Non-impact Printers

• Very fast
• Don’t make noise
• High-Quality printing
• Many fonts and character size available
• e. Laser Printers
• These use laser lights for producing dots to form characters on a page.

• Its advantages are –

• Fast Speed
• Quality Output
• Great graphic quality
• Supports multiple fonts and size
• Its disadvantages are –

• Very Costly
• Can’t print multiple copies at a time
• Inkjet Printers
• These are the new generation printers that use the spray to print the papers. They produce high-quality characters with a focus on details.
• Its advantages are

• High quality
• Reliable
• Multiple copy printing
• Its disadvantages are –

• Expensive
• Slow compared to laser printer
• 3. Speakers
• An output device that produces sound after receiving a command from the
computer. They support the computers as well as other hardware devices. Now
we also have wireless speakers with Bluetooth technology.
• 4. Projector
• This is an optical device that presents visuals on the screen, stationary and moving both. They are present at movie theatres, auditoriums, etc. It
connects to the computer and displays the image on it on a larger screen.

• 5. Plotter
• It is a device to make graphics, prints and other vector images to give a real life illustration vibe. It is mandatory to have a graphic card to use the
device. The pen like device that comes with it helps in replicating the exact design on the computer.

• 6. Braille Reader
• Made for the blind users, this device is to process computer data in braille format. It allows users with low or no vision to recognize the data as the
braille reader put data on the paper in embossed format. They can run their fingers over it to understand everything easily.

• 7. Television
• A very common output device present in most of the households is a display output device. It portrays video and audio files on the screen according to
the user’s needs. Before we had CRT screens but now most of us use plasma displays.

• 8. Video Card
• This device goes inside the sockets of a motherboard of the computer system. It improvises the digital content appearance in other output devices. It is
very important now with many people having multiple devices just for personal use.

• 9. Global Positioning System

• A device to help users with directions, GPS uses satellite technology to track geographical location of the users. There is a continuous latitudinal and
longitudinal calculation to have an accurate result every time. Most of the vehicles and smart devices have GPS as an inbuilt feature.

• 10. Headphones
• Similar to speakers, this device has a lower sound frequency. They can’t be easily heard in large areas like grounds and parks but are only accessible to
Q8. Explain Generations of a Computer
The development of computer systems is normally discussed as the development over different generations.

With the succession of different generations, came the advancement in computer technology.

Computer Generations
Let us now discuss the development in Computer Technology over the different generations.

First Generation
The period 1940 to 1956, roughly considered as the First Generation of Computer.

The first generation computers were developed by using vacuum tube or thermionic valve machine.

The input of this system was based on punched cards and paper tape; however, the output was displayed on
printouts.

The first generation computers worked on binary-coded concept (i.e., language of 0-1). Examples: ENIAC,
EDVAC, etc.
• Second Generation
• The period 1956 to 1963 is roughly considered as the period of Second
Generation of Computers.
• The second generation computers were developed by using transistor technology.
• In comparison to the first generation, the size of second generation was smaller.
• In comparison to computers of the first generation, the computing time taken by
the computers of the second generation was lesser.
• Third Generation
• The period 1963 to 1971 is roughly considered as the period of Third Generation of computers.
• The third generation computers were developed by using the Integrated Circuit (IC) technology.

• In comparison to the computers of the second generation, the size of the computers of the third generation was smaller.
• In comparison to the computers of the second generation, the computing time taken by the computers of the third generation was
lesser.
• The maintenance cost of the computers in the third generation was also low.
• The computer system of the computers of the third generation was easier for commercial
use.
Fourth Generation
• The period 1972 to 2010 is roughly considered as the fourth generation of computers.
• The fourth generation computers were developed by using microprocessor technology

• By coming to fourth generation, computer became very small in size, it became portable.

• The machine of fourth generation started generating very low amount of heat.
• It is much faster and accuracy became more reliable.
• The production cost reduced to very low in comparison to the previous generation.
• It became available for the common people as well.
Fifth Generation
• The period 2010 to till date and beyond, roughly considered as the period of fifth
generation of computers.
• By the time, the computer generation was being categorized on the basis of
hardware only, but the fifth generation technology also included software.
• The computers of the fifth generation had high capability and large memory
capacity.
• Working with computers of this generation was fast and multiple tasks could be
performed simultaneously.
• Some of the popular advanced technologies of the fifth generation include Artificial
intelligence, Quantum computation, Nanotechnology, Parallel processing, etc.
• Q9. Explain Internal and External commands
Ans:
Internal commands are commands that are already loaded in the system. They
can be executed any time and are independent. On the other hand, external
commands are loaded when the user requests for them. Internal commands don't
require a separate process to execute them. External commands will have an
individual process.
For example most commonly used internal commands : DIR, MD, CD, TIME, DATE, COPY,
COPY CON, TYPE etc. External Commands : These are commands that are not in-built in
DOS and are not part of shell, they are only loaded in memory when they are invoked.
External Commands : Commands which aren't built into the shell. When an
external command has to be executed, the shell looks for its path given in the
PATH variable, and also a new process has to be spawned and the command
gets executed. They are usually located in /bin or /usr/bin.
There are also Batch commands or Batch files which are text files that contain a list of
internal and/or external commands which are executed in sequence when the batch file is
executed. AUTOEXEC.BAT gets executed automatically on booting.
Q10. Explain features of Word processing.
Ans:
A word processor is an electronic device (later a computer software application) for
text, composing, editing, formatting, and printing.

The word processor was a stand-alone office machine in the 1960s, combining the
keyboard text-entry and printing functions of an electric typewriter with a recording
unit, either tape or floppy disk (as used by the Wang machine) with a simple dedicated
computer processor for the editing of text.[1] Although features and designs varied
among manufacturers and models, and new features were added as technology
advanced, the first word processors typically featured a monochrome display and the
ability to save documents on memory cards or diskettes. Later models introduced
innovations such as spell-checking programs, and improved formatting options.
Typical features of a modern word processor include multiple font sets, spell
checking, grammar checking, a built-in thesaurus, automatic text correction, web
integration, HTML conversion, pre-formatted publication projects such as
newsletters and to-do lists, and much more.
Q11. Explain the steps involved in Mail merge.
• Ans :
• Mail merge consists of combining mail and letters and pre-addressed envelopes or mailing labels for mass
mailings from a form letter.[1]
• This feature is usually employed in a word processing document which contains fixed text (which is the same in
each output document) and variables (which act as placeholders that are replaced by text from the data source
word to word).
• Some word processors can insert content from a database, spreadsheet, or table into text documents.[2][3]
• It is a powerful tool for writing a personalized letter or e-mail to many people at the same time. It imports data from
another source such as a spreadsheet and then uses that to replace placeholders throughout the message with
the relevant information for each individual that is being messaged.

Main steps involved in mail merge

• There are six steps in the mail merge wizard:
1. Select the document type.
2. Start the document.
3. Select recipients.
4. Write your letter.
5. Preview your letters.
6. Complete the merge.
• How to Use Mail Merge in Microsoft Word
• In a blank Microsoft Word document, click on the Mailings tab, and in the Start Mail Merge group, click Start Mail
Merge .
• Click Step-by-Step Mail Merge Wizard .
• Select your document type.
• Select the starting document.
• Select recipients.
• Furthermore, what is step 5 of the Mail Merge process? Step five of the mail merge process is to preview the mail
merge document before you finish or complete the merge. In this step, you are in a position to find out how the
document will look like when real data is inputted.
• Also asked, what are the three main steps of mail merge process?
• The mail merging process generally requires the following steps:
1. Creating a Main Document and the Template.
2. Creating a Data Source.
3. Defining the Merge Fields in the main document.
4. Merging the Data with the main document.
5. Saving/Exporting.
• What are the three components of mail merge?
• There are three components of a Mail Merge: The main document controls the merge. It contains the fixed
information that will be in every letter and the merged codes where the variable text will be. The data source is a
Q12. Explain features of Excel.
Ans :
Features of Microsoft Excel
1. Add Header and Footer
MS Excel allows us to keep the header and footer in our spreadsheet document.
2. Find and Replace Command
MS Excel allows us to find the needed data (text and numbers) in the workbook and also replace the existing data with a new one.
3. Password Protection

It allows the user to protect their workbooks by using a password from unauthorized access to their information.
4. Data Filtering
Filtering is a quick and easy way to find and work with a subset of data in a range. A filtered range displays only the rows that meet the criteria you specify for
a column. MS Excel provides two commands for filtering ranges:
• AutoFilter; which includes filter by selection, for simple criteria
• Advanced Filter; for more complex criteria
5. Data Sorting
Data sorting is the process of arranging data in some logical order. MS Excel allows us to sort data either in ascending or descending order.
6. Built-in formulae
MS Excel has got many built-in formulae for sum, average, minimum, etc. We can use those formulae as per our needs.
7. Create different charts (Pivot Table Report)
MS Excel allows us to create different charts such as bar graph, pie- charts, line graphs, etc. This helps us to analyze and compare data very easily.
8. Automatically edits the result
MS Excel automatically edits the result if any changes are made in any of the cells.
9. Formula Auditing
Using formula auditing we can graphically display or trace the relationships between cells and formulas with blue arrows. We can trace the precedents (the
Q13. What are the features of Power point?
Ans:
MS PowerPoint is a program that is included in the Microsoft Office suite. It is used to make presentations for personal and professional purposes.
• Most of our favourite features are based on time saving and working efficiently allowing us to spend more time on the creativity within a
presentation. So here’s a rundown of our favourite features of 2010.
• 1. Animation Painter
A great tool to use when you’ve applied a complicated piece of animation to a single object. You can now copy and paste the animation you have
applied to one object straight to another.
• 2. Video Editor
We’re often provided with video clips when we’re creating presentations, many times they need some trimming to show only what the presenter
wants.
The easy to use Trim feature allows you to trim down any unwanted footage. You can use a timeline or actual time codes to make very precise edits.
Again PowerPoint has installed some nice video editing adjustments to lighten, darken or brighten footage. Be aware though if you make an edit
within 2010 it will not appear if you back save you presentation to 2007 or 2003.
• 3. Create a video of you presentation
Once we’ve created a presentation we’re often asked to find a way of handing out these presentations out without allowing them to be manipulated.
PowerPoint has now enabled the feature to output the presentation as a video. It has options that allow you to control the size of the video and timings
for each slide, encoding the video to suit your playback is also a simple process. It produces a WMV format video which can be emailed and the end
user doesn’t even need PowerPoint to view the presentation.
• 4. Automatic ribbons toolbars
Automatic ribbon toolbars are the tabs that appear when you click on a chart, shape, text, image or video that have all the effects and features
associated with the object all in one place ready to utilise. The ribbon is also fully customisable meaning you can edit existing ones or create brand
new ones with all your favourite commands on.
• 5. Transitions
The slide transitions and overall animations have been improved greatly, not only have they improved the existing ones so they are a lot smoother,
they have incorporated some new fresh ones as well. The layout on the transition ribbon is a lot easier to work with, with a transition effect window
and then an effect options drop down to control the transition even more.
• 6. Sections
Working in the live events industry being able to section your whole presentation is a great tool. You can expand
and collapse the sections very easily to help you see the presentation more clearly, you can section an individual
presentation into the most important headings, or if you have multiple speakers you can section the whole file
into those speakers allowing you to easily find a certain slide or speaker.
• 7. Cropped tool, mask feature
The crop tool has always be a favourite of ours in PowerPoint, but the added ability of allowing you to see what
you are cropping as you crop is really helpful in making precise crops. You can now also crop and then move the
image within the crop, allowing even more editing flexibility.
• 8. Effect preview
The effect preview feature saves a lot of time when working on a large presentation. We use it a lot for
previewing animation and transitions. The preview effect has been applied to all the design features within
PowerPoint though, so you can see the style applied just by holding the mouse over it rather than keep applying
each one to see if that’s the desired option. It allows you to switch between styles instantly rather than creating
two versions and comparing.
• 9. Screen shot
Another very handy little tool that allows you to take a screen shot and instantly import it into your PowerPoint
slide as an image which you can then crop and add effects to as you wish. This is useful if you’re trying to show an
image from the internet or a programme on your computer.
• 10. Smart guides
Smart guides are found in the grid and guides toolbox, they automatically show up on your slide to show you
where the object you have aligns with other objects on the slide allowing you to easily arrange objects without
using the align tools.
Q14. Explain the services of Internet.
Ans:
The Internet is a vast network of independent computer networks that
are linked together using the standard protocol TCP/TP (Transfer Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol) to serve billions of users. ... A variety of wireless and
optical networking technologies connect the Internet to our local area.
Some of the most popular internet services are :
1. Communication Services
2. Information Retrieval Services
3. World Wide Web Services
4. Web Services
5. Directory Services
6. Automatic Network Address Configuration
7. Network Management Services
8. Time Services
9. Usenet
10.NewsGroup
11.Ecommerce
Q15. Explain the components and applications of Multimedia.
Ans:
• Multimedia
•
The word 'Multimedia' is a combination of two words, 'Multi' and 'Media'. Multi means many and media means
material through which something can be transmitted or send. Multimedia combined all the media elements like text and
graphics to make the information more effective and attractive. Now I am going to write about its components.

Components of Multimedia
•
The various components of multimedia are Text, Audio, Graphics, Video and Animation. All these components work
together to represent information in an effective and easy manner.

1)Text: Text is the most common medium of representing the information. In multimedia, text is mostly use for titles,
headlines,menu etc. The most commonly used software for viewing text files are Microsoft Word, Notepad, Word pad
etc. Mostly the text files are formatted with ,DOC, TXT etc extension.

2)Audio: In multimedia audio means related with recording, playing etc. Audio is an important components of multimedia
because this component increase the understandability and improves the clarity of the concept. audio includes speech,
music etc. The commonly used software for playing audio files are:
i) Quick Time
ii) Real player
iii) Windows Media Player
3)Graphics: Every multimedia presentation is based on graphics. The used of graphics in multimedia makes the
concept more effective and presentable.the commonly used software for viewing graphics are windows Picture,
Internet Explorer etc. The commonly used graphics editing software is Adobe Photoshop through which graphics
can be edited easily and can be make effective and attractive.

4)Video: Video means moving pictures with sound. It is the best way to communicate with each other. In
multimedia it is used to makes the information more presentable and it saves a large amount of time. The
commonly used software for viewing videos are:
i) Quick Time
ii) Window Media Player
iii) Real Player

5)Animation: In computer animation is used to make changes to the images so that the sequence of the images
appears to be moving pictures. An animated sequence shows a number of frames per second to produce an
effect of motion in the user's eye. Some of the commonly used software for viewing animation are:
i) Internet Explorer
ii) Windows Pictures
iii) Fax Viewer

These are the components of Multimedia. Now I am going to talk about its applications.
• Application of multimedia

• Nowadays the application of Multimedia are observed in various fields such as Education, Entertainment,Business and so
on. To communicate the message in the form of picture, sound, video, animation is the primary role of multimedia. Some of
the application of multimedia are as follows:
• 1)Multimedia in Education: Multimedia is becoming popular in the field of education. It is commonly used to prepare study
material for the students and also provide them proper understanding of different subjects.Nowadays Edutainment, a
combination of Education and Entertainment has become very popular. This system provides learning as well as provides
entertainment to the user.
• 2)Multimedia in Entertainment: Computer graphics techniques are now commonly use in making movies and games. this
increase the growth of multimedia.

i)Movies: Multimedia used in movies gives a special audio and video effect. Today multimedia has totally changed the art of
making movies in the world. Difficult effect, action are only possible through multimedia.
• ii)Games: Multimedia used in games by using computer graphics, animation, videos have changed the gaming experience.
Presently, games provides fast action, 3-D effects and high quality sound effects which is only possible through multimedia.

3)Multimedia in Business: Today multimedia is used in every aspect of business. These are some of the applications:

i)Videoconferencing: This system enables to communicate using audio and video between two different locations through
their computers.When the information is sent across the world, this technology provides cost benefits to the business which
saves their time, energy and money.

ii)Marketing and advertisement: Nowadays different advertisement and marketing ideas about any product on television and
internet is possible with multimedia.