Current Affairs 3rd Class

       Output Devices     Any device that receives and/or displays information from a computer is called an output device. Output devices are pieces of computer hardware that allow a computer system to communicate information to a user or another system. This information can be in any form and includes text, sound, images, etc. Output devices such as a printer, video display or speaker present data from a computer to a user. Thus we see that output devices are things we use to get information out of a computer that has been held or generated within a computer. Output devices show the result after processing the data into information. We can get output in two forms - The Hard Copy Output and the Soft Copy Output. The output seen on the monitor or heard through the speakers/ headphones is the soft Copy Output. The output obtained on the paper (through printers) is called the Hard Copy Output. Since most information from a computer is output in either a visual or auditory format, the most common output devices are the monitor and speakers. These two devices provide instant feedback to the user's input, such as displaying characters as they are typed or playing a song selected from a play list. While monitors and speakers are the most common output devices, there are many others. Some examples include headphones, printers, projectors, lighting control systems, audio recording devices and robotic machines. Let's discuss about some common output devices.              Monitor   Monitor is an output device that resembles the television screen and uses a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) to display information. It is associated with a keyboard for manual input of characters and displays the information as it is keyed in. It also displays the program or application output. Thus, the monitor displays the results of the computer's activities on the screen. Like the television, monitors are also available in different sizes. The display device modern monitors is typically a TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display). It is an essential output device without which the computer cannot work. A monitor is also called a visual display unit.              Printer   Printers are output devices used to produce paper (commonly known as hardcopy) output of documents stored in an electronic form. Based on the technology used, they ran be classified as Impact and Non-Impact printers. Impact printers use the typewriting printing mechanism wherein a hammer strikes the paper through a ribbon in order to produce output. Dot-matrix and Character printers fall under this category. Non-Impact printers do not touch the paper while printing. They use chemical, heat or electrical signals to fetch the symbols on paper. Inkjet, DeskJet, Laser, Thermal printers fall under this category of printers. Printers are generally more...

         Input Devices       Input devices are any machines that help to input or feed data/instructions and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer. We can enter text, photographs or even sound using input devices. It refers to any hardware device that sends information to the computer. Without input devices a computer would simply be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, just like a TV. Input devices are interfaces which are designed to enable interaction between you and the computer. Therefore, you use input devices to put information into the computer. Everyone who uses a computer also uses an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse. Without input devices, there would be no way to interact with computers. The most common input devices are the mouse and keyboard. However, joysticks and microphones are also considered as input devices. Let's learn about some common Input Devices.              Keyboard   The keyboard is the most common input device. A 'keyboard' is a human interface device which is represented as a layout of buttons. It is a text based input device that allows the user to interact with the computer through a set of keys mounted on a board. Each button or key can be used either to input alphabets, numbers and other characters or to call upon a particular function of the computer. A keyboard is an input device, partiality modeled after the typewriter keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. A keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to produce some symbols requires pressing and holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence. While most keyboard keys produce letters, numbers or signs (characters), other keys or simultaneous key presses can produce actions or computer commands. Normally, the keyboard is used to type text and numbers into a word processor, text editor or other program. Keyboards are also used for computer gaming, either with regular keyboards or by using keyboards with special gaming features, which can speed up frequently used keystroke combinations. A keyboard is also used to give commands to the operating system of a computer, such as Control-Alt-Delete combination in Windows, which brings up a task window or shuts down the machine.            Mouse   After the keyboard, the mouse is the most common type of input device. A mouse makes the process of navigating the screen much easier than trying to use just a keyboard. A mouse usually uses a ball, light or a laser to track movement. The mouse is a small device used to point to more...

        Introduction     The computer is a wonderful machine but it will be useless unless it is able to communicate with the outside world. Input / Output devices are required for users to communicate with the computer. The computer helps us to draw, type, does mathematical calculation, play games and many other things at the same time. 1'Bte-e are different devices of the computer that help it to do work. To put it simply   input devices bring information into the computer and output devices bring 'information out of a computer system.   Some commonly used Input / Output devices are listed in the following table:

Input Device	Output Device
Keyboard Mouse Joystick Scanner Light Pen Touch Screen Trackball	Monitor LCD Printer Plotter

 

          Booting Up   In your computer lab session in the school, your teacher has handed you an assignment. Once you enter the computer room, you must make your computer ready for doing work. When the computer is first turned on, the system performs a POST (Power-On Self Test) which tests various components in the computer. The POST checks the entire memory and tests the connections to the various hardware devices attached, such as the keyboard, the disk drive, etc. If any problem occurs with any of the connections to the hardware devices or with the memory, the POST program reports this on the screen. The process of loading or copying the operating system is called Booting Process. A boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the computer performs when power is switch on. The boot loader typically loads the main OS for the computer. Every time a computer is switched on, a series of steps have to be performed before the user can interact with it.                The following are the steps to work on computer

• Switch on the Power Supply Button
• Switch on the UPS
• Switch on the Monitor
• Wait for the message on the Monitor
• Then wait for the cursor on the Monitor Screen
• Computer is ready to work  

Now let us go over the steps one by one. In the computer room, first you will see the computer in an off-position.               You need to turn on the following switches to start a computer:

• Power Supply Switch: Turn on the switch at the source of the power supply. The stabilizer will start receiving the current.
• On/Off Switch of UPS: Turn on switch of UPS. The UPS is used to regulate the flow of current.
• On/Off Switch of CPU: Turn on switch of CPU. The current will start passing through the system.
• On/Off Switch of the Monitor: Turn on switch of monitor. Look at the monitor and you will see some messages. After these messages you will see the cursor on the monitor screen. Now you can begin working on the computer.
• Thus we saw the entire Booting Up process to make the computer ready to work.    

               Every time a computer performs a series of steps after switching on. The following are the steps about the process of opening computer. Arrange the given steps correctly. 1. Switch on the UPS. 2. Then wait for the cursor on more...

      Entering the Computer Room and Starting the Computer     You know how people enter in the temple or other holy places, don't you? They remove their shoes and slippers outside and walk in quietly without jostling others. Entering the computer room too should be somewhat like that before we start working on the computer.         Working in the Computer Room Computers are fragile and costly and help us in many I ways; hence you should take good care of them. Some pointes need to be remembered while using computers at your our school or home.            Do's and Don'ts Everything has some do's and don'ts. Same is the case with computer. To work on a computer you need to follow the do's and don'ts of it otherwise you cannot handle it effectively.              The following are the do's and don'ts of computer:  

• Wash and dry your hands before touching the computer as clean hands will keep the Computer clean too.
• Never eat or drink anything in the computer room as the spills and the food crumbs can spoil the keyboard and the mouse, and they will not work as they are supposed to.
• Never take chewing gum, bubble gum and other sticky things in your computer room as these things can damage the system.
• Open the door of your computer room gently and after entering, shut the door carefully,                                                            
• Keep your fingers off the screen to help it last long time and keep the clarity intact.
• We must touch the computer parts softly (i.e. Never bang on the keyboard or throw the mouse around.)
• We should handle Floppy and CD ROM disks carefully.
• Never push one another while standing close to the computer.
• Remove your shoes outside the computer room before entering inside because dust particles are very harmful.
• Keep all magnets away from the computers and the disks as they can damage the data on a disk.
• Do not keep anything (text books, pencil boxes, etc.) on the CPU such as keyboard or monitor as these parts are very delicate.
• Update your Anti-Virus software regularly to keep your computer from getting  'sick'. This is extremely important because different types of virus can enter your system through infected floppies/CDs/pen drives, etc and cause harm to your computer and you may lose your data.
• Never touch computer parts and cables especially when the switch is ON as it can be harmful both for you and for the computer.    

          more...

         Software     Software is a collection of code and instructions that tell a computer and/or hardware how to operate. It can be compared to the human brain which works and controls our body. A set of instructions for a particular work given to the computer is called a program. Software is a set of programs that you install on your computer to help us to do different kinds of work including games, word processing programs, WordPad and Logo. Software is of two kinds: Applications Software (games, word processors) and Systems Software (programs which make the computer run). The most important piece of software on your computer is the operating system. The operating system lets you communicate with various computer parts and control how the computer and its accessories work. Without an operating system, you cannot open any files, use a printer or see anything on the screen.                  Mcgra and Lara are discussing about software. Read their conversation and identify who is correct. Mcgra: Software is a term primarily used for digitally stored data such as computer programs and other kinds of information read and written by computers. Lara: Today, software includes data that has not traditionally been associated with computer such as film, tapes and records. (A) Mcgra is correct                                         (B) Lara is correct (C) Both are partially correct                       (D) Both are correct (E) None of them are correct.     Answer: (D) Explanation Correct Option: (D) Both of them are correct. Therefore, option (D) is correct. Incorrect Options: (A) Not only Mcgra is correct but Lara is also correct. Therefore, option (A) is incorrect. (B) Not only Lara is correct but Mcgra is also correct. Therefore, option (B) is incorrect. (C) Both of them are fully correct. Therefore, option (C) is incorrect. (E) None of them are incorrect. Therefore, option (E) is incorrect.          Match the following:                 A                                                   B 1. Application Software                            i.   Websites                                                                                     ii. Word processors 2. System software                                    iii. Games                                                             more...

 

• Hardware

  Hardware refers to the physical components of the computer that run the software such as hard drive, motherboard, video and sound cards, monitor, printer, keyboard and mouse. It also includes removable storage devices such as a CD Rom Drive or Zip Drive. It is a physical device that you're able to touch and see. For example, the monitor of a computer is used for viewing text or the mouse is used for navigating and these are considered as computer hardware is the actual body of the computer system, comprising the system unit and all the elements that you can plug into it, such as your keyboard. Your computer's hardware determines which type of operating system you can use.       Given below are the statements about hardware. Select the correct statements.

Hardware is a general term used for the physical artifacts of a technology.

Hardware may mean the physical components of a computer system, in the form of computer hardware.

Hardware historically means the metal parts and fittings that are used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, long lasting, etc.

(A) 1 and 3                                                          (B) 2 and 3 (C) Only 3                                                            (D) All of these (E) None of these   Answer: (D) Correct Option: (D) All the given statements are correct about hardware. Therefore, option (D) is correct. Incorrect Options: (A) Not only statements 1 and 3 are correct but 2 is also correct. Therefore, option (B) is incorrect. (B) Not only statements 2 and 3 are correct but 1 is also correct. Therefore, option (B) is incorrect. (C) Only statement 3 is not correct but statements 2 and 3 are also correct. Therefore, option (C) is incorrect. (E) None of the given statements are incorrect. Therefore, option (E) is incorrect.     Fill in the blanks:

Modern ____ stores typically sell equipment such as keys, locks, handles, etc., especially when they are made of metal. .

________ is a large rectangular board with integrated circuitry that connects the rest of the parts of the computer including the CPU, the RAM, the disk drives as well as any peripherals.

______ is a device to input text and characters by depressing buttons and similar to a typewriter.

      (A) Tools, keyboard and mouse                 (B) Motherboard, CPU and keyboard (C) Hardware, motherboard and keyboard (D) Keyboard, CPU and hardware (E) Hardware, keyboard and motherboard   Answer: (C) Explanation Correct Option: (C) Options in (C) are arranged properly. Therefore, option (C) is correct. Incorrect Options: (A) Options given in (A) are incorrect. Therefore, option (A) is incorrect. (B) Options given in (B) are incorrect. Therefore, option (B) is incorrect.  (D) Options given in (D) are incorrect. Therefore, option (D) is incorrect. (E) Options given in (E) are not properly arranged. Therefore, option (E) is incorrect.

       Introduction     Can you tell me the difference between our body and our feelings? Our body is hard and we can touch it, move it but what about our feelings? We cannot touch our feelings. Computers are also made in the same way. It consists of two parts, one is hardware and another is software. One without the other is of no use. To run a computer both hardware and software are necessary. Hardware is the thing that you can see and touch and things which cannot be touched are called software. Hardware includes every computer-related object that you can physically touch and handle like disks, screens, keyboards, printers, chips, wires, central processing unit, floppies, USB ports, pen drives, etc. Software includes every computer-related program that you cannot feel with the physical senses for example. Games, Paint, Operating system, an Anti-virus program, etc. When we play a game on the monitor's screen, the monitor is hardware and we can touch it but we cannot touch the game even though we know it is there. Thus we see that the game is software. We will study the difference between hardware and software in greater detail.  

       The Fifth Generation Computers     You must have seen robots on the TV or in movies and marveled at how similar they are to human beings in spite of being a machine. This technique which allows a machine to think and decide on its own, just like human beings will be the main feature of the 5th generation computers.     The 5th generation computers are those computers that are used in a satellite. The computers of the next generation will have millions of transistors on one chip and will perform over a billion calculations in a single second. There is no end in sight for the computer movement. Even today, man is working hard to bring out the 5th generation of computers. These computers will have the capability of thinking on their own like a man and can work on their own without the user with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence). These computers use different types of complex circuits and many microprocessors. The 21st century will see better, faster, smaller and smarter computers. The 5th generation computers will be used in robotics, defense, etc. They will be more reliable and intelligent machines. 5th generation computers are characterized by highly complex computers where programming skills is not necessary for the user. Technology of the 5th generation computers has already come to use in a few areas of the world                Comparison Table of the Different Generations of the Computer:  

	1ST  Generation	2nd  Generation	3rd  Generation	4th  Generation	5th  Generation
Component Used	Vacuum Tubes	Transistors	Integrated Circuits	Micro Processor	Artificial Intelligence
Examples	ENIAC, UNIVAC -1	ATLAS, IBM-700	IBM360/370 NCR395	Pentium, Power PC	Used in Satellites

               Fill in the blanks: 1. The _______ computers are those computers that are used in a satellite. 2. 5th Generation computers are capable of thinking and working on their own like____ with the help of_______ 3. These computers use millions and millions of transistors on one _________ (A) 4th generation, Human, Artificial Intelligence and Board (B) 5th generation, Man, Artificial Intelligence and Chip (C) 5th generation, Man, Automatic Intelligence and Chip (D) more...

    The Fourth Generation Computers (1976-Present)    The fourth generation computers are the modern computers that we use now-a-day. These computers use very complex circuits called LSIC (Large Scale integrated Circuits) and have a Microprocessor chip in them. The fourth generation computers can be identified with the use of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integrated technology). After 1971, this technology made it possible to put all the main electric components of a computer system onto a single chip, which was called the Microprocessor. Ted Hoff, employed by Intel invented a chip, the size of a pencil eraser that could do all the computing and logic work of a computer. The number of circuits per chip range from 1000 to several hundred thousands. The benefit of using the microprocessor was that the cost was further reduced as well as its size, computers became faster than before and they had a very large storage capacity. Example of the Fourth Generation computers are Mini Computers and Micro Computers such as Pentium, Power PC, IBM 4300, ICE 2900, etc. The other main features are that semiconductor memories replaced magnetic core memories. The hard-disks are available of the sizes up to 200 GB. The RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) technology gives storage up to thousands of GB. Application of computers has increased in various areas like visualization, parallel computing, multimedia, etc. Computers of the fourth generation are very reliable and accurate and use friendly high level languages.                      William and Johnson are discussing about 4th generation computers. Read the conversation and identify who is correct. William : 4th generation computers are the modern computers that we are using today. These computer use very complex circuits called LSIC and have a Microprocessor chip in them. Johnson : The main benefit of using the microprocessor was that the cost of computer has further reduced and the main feature is that their semiconductor memory has been replaced by the magnetic core memories. (A) William is correct, Johnson is incorrect (B) Johnson is correct, William is incorrect (C) Johnson is partially correct where as William is fully correct (D) Both of them are correct (E) None of them are correct     Answer: (D) Explanation Correct Option: (D) Both of them are correct. William and Johnson have shared the right information. Incorrect Options: (A) Statements of Johnson are also correct. Therefore, option (A) is incorrect. (B) Statements of William are also correct. Therefore, option (B) is incorrect. (C) Both of them are fully correct. Therefore, option (C) is incorrect. (E) None of them are incorrect. Therefore, option (E) is incorrect.          Application of computers has increased in various areas. Which of the given areas is/are correct? (A) Visualization                                               (B) Parallel computing (C) Multimedia                   more...