Everything you need to know about computer !
Q. 1. What do you mean by computer?
Ans. Computer refers to an electronic device that can transmit, store and process information or data in a desired form.
Q. 2. Define Bioinformatics.
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Ans. The computer aided study of biology particularly genetics and molecular biology is called bioinformatics. Now the science of bioinformatics is gaining increasing importance in life science especially in the field of molecular biology and plant genetic resources. It is the interface between computer and biology. In other words, it is the application of information technology in the study of biology. It has wide applications in handling data related to plant genetic resources.
Q. 3. What are types of computers?
Ans. Based on size and capacity, computers are of four types, viz.:
(i) Super computers.
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(ii) Mainframe computers,
(iii) Minicomputers, and
(iv) Microcomputers.
Q. 4. What is super computer?
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Ans. Super computers have extremely large storage capacity. Its speed is at least 10 times faster than other computers. Such computers are generally used for large scale numerical problems in scientific and engineering disciplines. These computers can process billions of instructions per second.
Q. 5. What are mainframe computers?
Ans. Mainframe computers can also process data at very high speeds i.e., hundreds of million instructions per second and they are quite expensive. Normally, they are used in banking, airlines and railways, etc. for their applications.
Q. 6. What do you mean by mini computers?
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Ans. Mini computers are lower to mainframe computers in terms of speed and storage capacity. They are also less expensive than mainframe computers. Some of the features of mainframes will not be available in mini computers. Hence, their performance also will be less than that of mainframes.
Q. 12. What is a tablet computer?
Ans. A tablet computer, or a tablet, is a mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant. A tablet PC is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touch screen interface. It is smaller than a notebook computer but larger than a smart phone. It is a type of notebook computer that has an LCD screen on which the user can write using a special-purpose pen, or stylus. The handwriting is digitized and can be converted to standard text through handwriting recognition, or it can remain as handwritten text. Tablet PCs also typically have a keyboard and/or a mouse for input.
A tablet computer may be of three types, viz.:
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(i) Convertible,
(ii) Hybrid, and
(iii) Rugged.
Q. 13. What is convertible tablet computer?
Ans. It has typically a display that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded to close, screen up, over the integrated keyboard. Convertible models may allow user input through a variety of methods in addition to the hardware keyboard, including natural handwriting with a stylus or digital pen and typing through a screen-based software keyboard.
Q. 14. What is hybrid tablet computer?
Ans. It is like a regular notebook but with a removable display that functions independently as a slate.
Q. 15. Define rugged tablet computer.
Ans. It is a slate-like model that is designed to withstand rough handling and extreme conditions. Rugged tablets are usually encased in a protective shell and have shock-protected hard drives.
Q. 16. Describe architecture of a microprocessor.
Ans. A microcomputer consists of four components, viz.:
i. Microprocessor,
ii. Input,
iii. Output and
iv. Memory.
These components are organized around a common communication path called bus. The entire group of components is called a system or a microcomputer system.
A brief description of various computer components is presented as follows:
Q. 17. Define microprocessor.
Ans. It is a semiconductor device consisting of electronic logic circuits. It is manufactured by using either large or very large scale integration technique.
It performs computing functions and consists of three units, viz.:
(i) Arithmetic logic unit,
(ii) Register unit and
(iii) Control unit.
Q. 18. What is Arithmetic Logic Unit?
Ans. In this area of microprocessor, computing functions are performed on data. The ALU performs arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction and logic operations. Results are stored either in register or in memory or sent to output devices.
Q. 19. Define Register Unit.
Ans. This area of microprocessor consists of various registers which are used primarily to store data temporarily during execution of program.
Q. 20. What is control unit?
Ans. The control unit provides necessary timing and control signals to all the operations in microprocessor. It controls the flow of data between the microprocessor and peripherals (including memory).
Q. 21. What do you mean by memory?
Ans. This is a medium or device that stores binary information such as instructions and data, and provides that information to the microprocessor as and when necessary.
The memory is of two types, viz.:
i. Read only memory (ROM) and
ii. Read and write memory.
These are defined as follows:
i. ROM (Read Only Memory):
A memory that stores binary information’s during the operation of computer. This memory is used as writing pad to write user programs and data. The information stored in this memory can be read only.
ii. Read/ Write Memory):
It is also known as random access memory (RAM) and user memory. The information stored in this memory can be read and altered easily.
Q. 22. What is input device?
Ans. A device that transfers information from outside world to the computer, it includes key board.
Q. 23. What is output device?
Ans. Computer devices that transfer information from computer to outside world, it includes monitor and printer. The input and output devices of computer are jointly known as peripherals.
Q. 24. Define bit.
Ans. A binary digit, 0 and 1.
Q. 25. What do you mean by Byte?
Ans. A group of eight bits.
Q. 26. What is Bus?
Ans. A group of lines used to transfer bits between the microprocessor and the components of computer system.
Q. 27. What is hardware?
Ans. The physical components of computer, such as key board, processing unit, monitor, mouse and printer.
Q. 28. What do you mean by software?
Ans. A group of program written for the computer, to perform a task.
Q. 29. What is nibble?
Ans. A group of four bits.
Q. 30. What is a program?
Ans. A set of instructions written in specific sequences for the computer to accomplish a given task.
Q. 31. What is word?
Ans. A group of bits the computer can recognize and process at a time.
Q. 32. What are external storage devices?
Ans. Various media that are used to store information temporarily and transfer the same from one computer to another are referred to as external storage devices. Such devices are not permanently fixed inside a computer.
Q. 33. What are advantages of external storage devices?
Ans. There are several advantages of external storage devices as given below:
(i) External storage devices provide additional storage other than that available in computer.
(ii) Data can be transported easily from one place to another.
(iii) It is useful to store software and data that is not needed frequently.
(iv) External storage also works as data back-up.
(v) This back up may prove useful at times such as fire or theft because important data is not lost.
Q. 34. What are commonly used external storage devices?
Ans. The commonly used external storage devices include floppy disk, compact disk, digital versatile disk, USB storage devices, SD cards, etc.
Q. 35. What is Floppy Disk?
Ans. It is a thin plastic disk coated with magnetic oxide and looks like a phonograph. It is available in various sizes. Floppy disk has been replaced by other better storage devices such as CD, DVD, USB, SD card and external storage hard disk. Now floppy disks are no more in common use.
Q. 36. What do you mean by compact disk?
Ans. Compact disk is commonly known as CD. The speed of compact disk is much less than a hard disk. The storage capacity is 700 MB.
There are three types of CDs as discussed below:
(i) CD-ROM:
It is compact disk read only memory. It can be read only.
(ii) CD-Recordable:
It was invented in 1990s. Using CD-R it is possible to write data once on a disk.
(iii) CD-Rewritable:
There is a limit on how many times a CD-RW can be written. Presently this limit is 1000 times. CD-RW drives are compatible with CD- ROM and CD-R.
Q. 37. What do you mean by Digital Versatile Disk?
Ans. It is commonly known as DVD. Its speed is much faster than CD but not as fast as hard disk. The standard DVD-5 technology has a storage capacity of 4.7 GB. The storage capacity changes with the standard used. Its storage capacity (4.7 GB) is much higher than a CD (700 MB). It is achieved by a number of design changes.
Q. 38. What is USB Storage Device?
Ans. This is a very handy storage device which has replaced floppy disk and is easy to carry. It is known as pen drive, handy drive and thumb drive. Now pen drives are widely used by all type of users such as students, teachers, scientists and business man. Pen drive is available in various capacities such as 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB.
Q. 39. What do you mean by Secured Digital Card?
Ans. This is commonly called as SD card, it is an ultra-small flash memory card designed to provide high-capacity memory in a small size. SD cards are used in many small portable devices such as digital video camcorders, digital cameras, handheld computers, audio players and mobile phones. SD cards are in use since 1999.
They are available in capacities between 16 Megabytes and 1 Gigabyte. An SD card typically measures 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm and weighs approximately 2grams. SD cards are of different capacities and some of them combine input/output functions with data storage. USB pen drives and other storage like High Capacity SD cards (SDHC) use flash memory to store information.
Q. 40. What do you mean by external hard disk?
Ans. A hard disk drive (HDD; also hard drive, hard disk, or disk drive) is a device for storing and retrieving digital information, primarily computer data. Hard disks have very high speed, storage capacity and reliability. Hard disk is generally permanently fixed in the computer. Now external hard disks are available in various capacities. Such data storage disks are now being used by students, teachers and researchers.
Q. 41. What are various computers programs used in genetics and plant breeding?
Ans. Various micro-soft programs which are commonly used in crop improvement (genetics and plant breeding) include Microsoft Word (M.S. Word), Microsoft Excel (M.S, Excel), Microsoft Power Point (M.S. Power Point) and Internet.
Q. 42. What do you mean by M.S. Word?
Ans. It is a very useful program for preparation of annual reports, project reports, writing research papers, varietal information system, plant genetic resources data base, etc.
Q. 43. What do you mean by M.S. Excel?
Ans. It is a software program which is useful for various types of statistical and biometrical analyses. It can also be used for graphical and diagrammatic display of experimental results.
Q. 44. What do you mean by M.S. Power Point?
Ans. It is a software program which is widely used for preparation of slides and presentation of results in various scientific meetings.
Q. 45. What is Internet?
Ans. It is very much useful in searching literature, chatting and online transactions.
Q. 46. What are various applications of computers in genetics and plant breeding?
Ans. Bioinformatics or computer aided programs have wide practical applications in genetics and plant breeding.
Some important applications of bioinformatics in plant breeding and genetics include:
(i) Varietal information system,
(ii) Plant genetic resources data base,
(iii) Biometrical analysis,
(iv) Storage and retrieval of data,
(v) Studies on plant modeling,
(vi) Pedigree analysis,
(vii) Preparation of reports,
(viii) Updating of information,
(ix) Diagrammatic representation, and
(x) Planning of breeding programs.
Q. 47. What are advantages of computers?
Ans. There are several advantages of bioinformatics in crop improvement programs.
Some important advantages are listed as follows:
(i) High Speed:
The computers have very high speed. The calculations that take months together can be performed in few minutes with the help of computers.
(ii) High Accuracy:
The computer aided programs have very high level of accuracy. A computer practically never commits mistake on its own. The computer error results due to error in the programming and handling.
(iii) Better Planning:
Computer aided programs help in better planning of experiments and systematizing the information of PGR and breeding experiments.
(iv) Large Storage Capacity:
Computers have very large storage capacity. The huge data of PGR and breeding experiments can be easily stored in computer memory and other storage devices. Results of long term experiments can be stored in systematic manner.
(v) Pictorial Presentation:
Computer aided programs permit pictorial presentation of various reports and research papers which make them more attractive,
Q. 48. Define key board.
Ans. It is an input device that is used for entering alpha-numeric characters from outside world into computer memory.
Q. 49. What is mouse?
Ans. It is an input device that is used for pointing and selecting options. It controls the movement of cursor and execution of various programs.
Q. 50. What is printer?
Ans. It is an output device that is used for transferring data from computer memory to the outside world that is paper.
Q. 51. What is monitor?
Ans. It is an output device or video screen that displays output data to the user.