Introduction to Computer Systems

Question 1

What is a computer?

Answer 1

An electronic device that:

1. has one or more chips, memory, and storage that enables it to operate under a program’s control
2. accepts user - supplied data
3. manipulates data with programmed instructions
4. produces results from data manipulation
5. stores data for future use

Question 2

What is a Microcomputer?

Answer 2

Introduced in early 1980’s, also called a personal computer or PC

Question 3

At what rate can today’s PC’s process instructions?

Answer 3

billions of instructions per second

Question 4

At what rate can supercomputers process instructions?

Answer 4

quadrillions of instructions per second

Question 5

What is Hardware?

Answer 5

all system unit components plus connected devices

Question 6

What is a Peripheral Device?

Answer 6

A connected device outside of the computer

Question 7

What are some examples of a peripheral device?

Answer 7

keyboard

mouse

webcam

printer

Question 8

What are some examples of essential components of a personal computer system?

Answer 8

monitor

internal hard disk drive

Question 9

What is an input device?

Answer 9

Any hardware component that lets you perform one or more input operations for a desktop PC.

Question 10

What are the most common input devices?

Answer 10

keyboard

mouse

Question 11

What is the most common input device for a laptop PC?

Answer 11

touchpad

Question 12

What is the most common input device on a tablet?

Answer 12

touch sensitive screen

Question 13

What is a virtual keyboard?

Answer 13

enables you to type without having a physical keyboard

Question 14

How do you use a virtual keyboard?

Answer 14

Type by clicking or tapping the virtual keys on the screen

Question 15

Which device are virtual keyboards commonly used?

Answer 15

mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones