General Knowledge & General Awareness Notes: Computers

COMPUTER

- The computer is the system of that electronic device through which various informations are processed on the basis of a definite set of instructions called program and mathematical (numerical) and non-mathematical both types of informations are processed.
- The first mechanical computer was composed or fabricated by Blaise Pascal in 1642 and it is called Pascalene.
- But in 1833, Charles Babbage first time conceived an automatic calculator or computer.
- Charles Babbage is called the father of modern computer.
- Herman made an electronic tabulating machine based on punch cards which operates automatically.
- In 1937, first mechanical computer Mark-I was fabricated by Howard Akeen.
- The most outstanding contribution in the development of modern computer goes to John Von Newmaan who brought the 2nd revolution in the area of computer in 1951
- He discovered EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer) and utilised the stored program and the binary number system in the computer.

FUNCTIONS OF A COMPUTER
- 1. Collection and composition (input) of datas;
2. Storage of datas.
3. Processing of datas.
4. Retrieval or output of the proccessed informations and datas. UNITS OF COMPUTER
1. Input unit.
2. Central processing unit–CPU.
3. External Memory unit.
4. Output unit.
- The CPU of the computer is called brain of the computer and sometimes CPU is also called Micro Processor of the computer.
- The data is entered through the input unit in the computer and through the central processing unit with the help of External Memory Unit datas are arranged and processed.
- Ultimately by the output unit these datas or informations are issued or released.

PARTS OF COMPUTER
- Monitor : The monitor of the computer is like a television in which the picture appears in the form of doted points on the screen and these are called pixels.
- Hard Disc and Floppy Disc : The Hard Disc is the permanent disc in the computers while the Floppy Disc is the disc utilised when datas or informations are to be transferred from one computer to another.
- Mouse : The mouse of the computer is like the remote control of TV through which computer is directly regulated or controlled without utilising the key-board.
- Printer : The printer is a device which prints any documents or processed informations of the computer.

SOME HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGES
1. FORTRAN : This language was developed for solving the m athem atical fo rm ulae v ery quickly and conveniently.
2. COBOL : This language was developed for the commerical purposes. For the processing of this language a group of sentences is selected called paragraph and all paragraphs composed are called a section, while all sections composed are called a division.
3. BASIC : In basic a definite part of the prescribed instruction is only inserted in the computer.
4. ALGOL : This was basically fabricated and designed for the complex algebraic calculations.
5. PASCAL : It is an amplified and modified form of ALGOL.
6. COMAL : This computer language is used for the students of secondary level.
7. LOGO : This language is used for children and kids for drawing Graphic line diagrams.
8. PROLOG : This language is developed in 1973 in France and is used for Artificial Intelligence which is capable and equivalent to the logical program.
9. FORTH : This language was invented by Charles Mure which is frequently used in all types of the works in the computer.

COMPUTER VIRUS
- The computer virus is an electronic code which is used to abolish or erradicate the inclusive informations or programs of the computer.
- Some important computer viruses are Micheleanjalo, Dork Avangor, kilo, filip, Macmug, Scores, Casecade, Jeruslem, Date crime, Coloumbs crime, Internet virus, Pachcom, Pach EXE, COM-EXE, Marizuana, C-brain, bloody, Chenge Mungu and Desi etc.

COMPUTER NETWORKING
- There are two types of networkings which are usually occur—Local Area Networking (LAN) and Wide Area Networking (WAN).
- By LAN all the computers of the same buildings are connected like the computers of university premises, computers of offices etc.
- By WAN all the comptuers of a large area are connected like the computers of all the offices of a city or town etc.
- In India a very large computer network namely INDONET has been installing through which all the main towns and cities has to be interlinked.

COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY
- Bit : The bit is a unit of measurement of the electronic data. One bit is either 0 or 1 but not both. On composing 8 bits, 1 byte is formed.
- Bug : The Bug is the error in the computer program or system and its eradication is called Debug.
- Byte : Total eight bits compose a byte. Thus 8 bits = 1 byte.
- CD-ROM : A CD like of music CD in which data can be stored substantially called CD-ROM. In a CD with comparison to floppy extremely more datas can be stored but one problem in it is that one time recorded data can not be deleted or modified.
- Chip : It is a thin slice on which by a special mechanism a circuit is designed which is normally made from Silicon.
- Memory System : The place where computer data and program are temporarily kept is called Memory system. Usually memory is implied from RAM.
- Modem : The device which converts digital signals into analogue signals and vice-versa is called Modem.
- RAM : It is Random Access Memory (a place) where datas to be processed are kept temporarily and it is unstable memory.
- ROM : It is Read Only Memory and it is stable or Nonvalatile memory which doesn't ended after power off.
- Scanner : It is a device through which graphic image is transformed to digital image and the scanners are of usually two types one desktop and another hand operating.

PROGRAMING
- Computers perform phenomenal feats of calculation, but they do not do so in a complicated way.
- They actually carry out very simple operations, such as addition and subtraction.
- They achieve their fantastic computing power by carrying out these operations at incredible speed.
- The programme, or set of instructions for operating the computer, is therefore written as a sequence of very simple steps.

Several computer languages have been developed for different applications, including BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN and PASCAL. Writing programmes is very skilled and time-consuming work.
- But for most typical computer applications ready-written programmes are available, called 'packages'.