Chapter 2 (Participation Activities)
(2.3.2: Computer types) Specialized computer that consists mostly of a screen. Accepted answers: server, PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone.
Tablet
(2.6.2: Transistors per IC) About how many transistors per IC were there in 2010? "1 million", or "1 billion"
"1 billion" The points are near the top, which represents 1,000 * 1 million, or 1 billion. 1970 IC held about a thousand transistors; 2010 about 1 billion.
(2.6.2: Transistors per IC) About how many transistors per IC were there in 1990: "10 thousand", "1 million", or "1 billion"
"1 million" The 1990 point is near the 1 million line.
(2.6.2: Transistors per IC) About how many transistors per IC were there in 1970: "1,000", or "1,000,000"
"1,000" The y-axis units is millions. So 0.001 * 1 million is 1,000.
(2.1.4: Clock) Giga means one... "Million", or "Billion"
"Billion" Giga is a metric system prefix meaning billion. Mega means million.
(2.8.1: X) A switch is either _ or _.
(2.8.1: A switch is either on (1) or off (0)) A switch is either (on (1)) or (off (0))
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive How much L3 cache does the computer have?
3 MB MB means megabytes. Thus, 3 million bytes. Note: L3 means level 3 cache; there's actually more cache inside the processor (levels 1 and 2).
(2.4.1: The QWERTY keyboard) A typical typing speed is how many words per minute?
40 Many people who work on computers can type 60 words per minute or more. Such speed is still slower than the 100-150 words per minute that people speak, but typing is more accurate and quieter than speech-to-text converters available on some computers.
(2.2.8: USB flash drive) True or False: A USB flash drive typically has an electric cord that plugs into the wall, for electricity while storing data. (Not discussed above; make an educated guess).
False Actually, a USB port provides electricity to the drive while the drive is plugged in.
(2.7.2: Multicore and graphics processors) True or False: A "quad-core" means that the chip has two CPUs.
False "Quad" means four. A quad-core has four CPUs.
(2.7.2: Multicore and graphics processors) True or False: Viewing a word document benefits from a fast graphics processor.
False A Word document doesn't involve much graphics. Video making/viewing and video games are the programs that mainly benefit from a graphics processor.
(2.7.3: Embedded computer) True or False: A typical embedded computer in a household appliance, like in a coffeemaker, thermostat, or garage door opener, costs about the same as a desktop computer.
False A desktop computer typically costs hundreds of dollars, perhaps a thousand dollars. Clearly, the computer in a coffeemaker cannot cost that much. Embedded computers may cost as little as tens of cents or a few dollars. Of course, such computers can't run large programs or run programs as fast as desktop computers.
(2.1.2: Basic hardware) True or False: CPU stands for Central Power Unit.
False Central Processing Unit. The CPU processes data as the CPU executes program instructions.
(2.7.2: Multicore and graphics processors) True or False: Putting multiple CPUs on a single chip has been done since the 1970s.
False Chips barely could fit one small CPU in the 1970s. Moore's Law led to large chips and thus larger CPUs. Eventually, making a CPU even larger was not beneficial, so beginning around 2005, chip makers started putting two or more CPUs on a chip.
(2.5.2: CRT, LCD, and plasma displays) True or False: A 20" monitor has a horizontal width of 20 inches.
False Device size is measured diagonally from one corner of the device to the opposite corner.
(2.7.1: Server farms) True or False: Server farms are typically located within large cities.
False Server farms are huge, such as the size of a football field, so are usually located in remote areas where land is cheap. Furthermore, being remote provides more physical security too, with less chance of vandalism, intentional damage, etc.
(2.4.7: Speech input) True or False: Speech recognition software was first introduced around 2010.
False Speech recognition software has been available for many decades, but low accuracy and easy availability of keyboards limited usage.
(2.7.1: Server farms) True or False: A server farm is a collection of about 10 servers.
False The word "farm" conjures up images of a field of corn, with rows and rows of servers. Server farms typically have many thousands of servers. A 2014 article claims the largest server farm has 200,000 servers in one location (http://copperegg.com/server-farms-expand-as-cloud-industry-grows/)
(2.4.5: Touchscreen) True or False: Touchscreens are convenient for fast typing.
False Typing on the virtual keyboard displayed on touchscreen devices is much slower than typing on a keyboard. For typing-intensive activities, either an external keyboard can be connected, or a desktop/laptop computer might be used instead.
(2.2.5: A CPU copies instructions into a cache, then runs those instructions) True or False: Since a CPU's cache is small and can't fit all of a program's instructions, repeated copying of parts between it and the computer's memory occurs.
True
(2.2.5: A CPU copies instructions into a cache, then runs those instructions) True or False: The memory stores program instructions and data.
True
(2.4.2: Common input devices) True or False: Like touch, voice (where speech is automatically converted to text by an app) is also becoming a popular input approach for text.
True
(2.4.2: Common input devices) True or False: Recently, touch screens, in which most activity consists of selecting and moving, have become popular.
True
(2.4.2: Common input devices) True or False: Touch pads commonly replace the mouse on laptops.
True
(2.4.6: Speech input) True or False: It is possible for a GPS device to do speech recognition locally.
True
(2.9.1: An assembler translates assembly language to machine language) True or False: A program in assembly language is human-readable.
True
(2.9.1: An assembler translates assembly language to machine language) True or False: A program in machine language is CPU runnable.
True
(2.9.1: An assembler translates assembly language to machine language) True or False: After an assembler translates the assembly language instructions to machine language instructions, it is then placed in memory and capable of being run/read by the CPU.
True
(2.9.1: An assembler translates assembly language to machine language) True or False: An assembler translates assembly language instructions to machine language instructions (0's and 1's)
True
(2.5.3: Inkjet and laser printers) What type of printer uses dry ink, or toner, to print images and text?
Laser A laser printer uses an electrostatically charged ink drum to pick up and place toner on the paper.
(2.7.1: Server farms) True or False: Each server gets hot, so cooling a server farm is a serious challenge.
True Feel the heat from a 100 watt light bulb; now multiply that by about 10,000. Cooling is often done with both air and liquid cooling that permeates the building, winding throughout the rows of servers.
(2.4.7: Speech input) True or False: Speech is becoming a more popular input to computing devices.
True Such increasing popularity is due in part to smartphone usage, where typing is inconvenient or even dangerous (like when driving).
(2.6.3: Clock frequency) True or False: A typical clock frequency in 1990 was between 10 and 100 MHz.
True The 1990 point is between the 10 and 100 MHz lines.
(2.1.2: Basic hardware) True or False: The CPU runs a program's instructions.
True The CPU is like a boss that controls the other hardware items.
(2.1.2: Basic hardware) True or False: The CPU (running a program) displays items on the screen by copying items from memory.
True The CPU manages most of the computer's activities: getting user input data into memory, doing calculations on data, and displaying data from memory onto the screen.
(2.7.3: Embedded computer) True or False: A computer inside a TV is considered an embedded computer.
True The computer is "embedded" inside the TV. Most embedded computers are not seen by humans.
(2.6.3: Clock frequency) True or False: A typical clock frequency in 1970 was 100 kHz.
True The y-axis units are MHz, meaning 1,000,000 Hz. So 0.1 * 1,000,000 Hz is 100,000, or 100 kHz (the k for kilo means thousand).
(2.2.6: Cache) True or False: A cache is a small fast memory on the CPU chip.
True In everyday language, a cache is a hidden storage of something like money or weapons, and is pronounced: cashay. But in computers, a cache is a quickly-accessible memory, and pronounced: cash.
(2.6.5: Shrinking ICs) True or False: Assuming an IC can halve in size every two years, the circuitry in a fingernail-sized IC in a smartphone today could in 14 years fit in an IC smaller than a grain of rice.
True In fact, size would be closer to a grain of salt. Quite tiny.
(2.2.4: Drive and memory: Program running time) A CPU accesses 100 program instructions. Each memory access takes 5 ns. All 100 instructions are in memory. What is the total time?
500ns 100 instrs * (5 ns/instr) = 500 ns.
(2.3.2: Computer types) Large, expensive, and rarely seen by most people. Accepted answers: server, PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone.
Server
(2.9.3: Assembly language) Why was assembly language created: "CPUs began using text rather than 0's and 1's", or "Assembley language is human-readable"
"Assembley language is human-readable" 0's and 1's are hard to comprehend, but "Input M[7]" is quite understandable.
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive What are the available drives: A spinning "Hard drive disk", "Solid-state drive", or "Both a Hard Drive disk, and a Solid-state drive"
"Both a Hard Drive disk, and a Solid-state drive" The drives listed with rpm (revolutions per minute) indicate a spinning (revolving) disk. Then there are solid-state drives also (no spinning disk, but more expensive).
(2.4.3: Mouse and touchpad) An optical mouse detects movement by... "Comparing successive photos of the surface below", "Measuring changes in an internal gyroscope", or "Measuring the amount that a small ball rotates"
"Comparing successive photos of the surface below" A small light illuminates the surface, and an optical sensor sees the reflection on the surface below.
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive If a user wants to store large numbers videos on the computer, the user should increase the size of: "Cache", "Memory", "Drive", or "All of the above"
"Drive" Drive and memory are often confused. Only drive, sometimes listed as capacity or storage, affects how many videos, photos, documents, etc. can be stored.
(2.1.4: Clock) A faster ticking clock means a program may execute... "Faster", or "Slower"
"Faster" Each tick executes perhaps one instruction, so faster ticking means faster program execution.
(2.8.5: Machine language on an early computer) Consider this photo of two women at an early computer: https://zytools.zybooks.com/zyAuthor/CS0_ComputingTechnologyForAll/10/IMAGES/embedded_image121N5ZGp-5uv2kZlZlASaMOCwSXueR1zSck2b4S5R5cyGo.png Why does the photo show two women? "Men were not allowed to be photographed in the 1940's", or "Most early programmers were women"
"Most early programmers were women" Indeed, women dominated. See this article explaining: http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2014/10/06/345799830/the-forgotten-female-programmers-who-created-modern-tech
(2.4.3: Mouse and touchpad) An optical mouse work on what amount of surfaces? "All", or "Most"
"Most" Not all surfaces have the right features or reflection for the mouse to calculate differences in successive photos of the surface. A mousepad or other item placed under the mouse can help.
(2.4.3: Mouse and touchpad) A touchpad may be used instead of a... "Mouse", or "Keyboard"
"Mouse" A laptop's built-in touchpad means no external mouse need be connected. Plus, many users prefer a touchpad, especially due to multi-finger operations.
(2.1.4: Clock) 100 MHz is _ than 2 GHz. "Faster", or "Slower"
"Slower" 100 MHz means 100 million ticks per second. 2 billion ticks per second is faster.
(2.4.3: Mouse and touchpad) A mouse is used mostly for... "Entering text", or "Working with graphical objects"
"Working with graphical objects" Graphical objects are commonly selected, moved, resized, etc., using a mouse.
(2.4.3: Mouse and touchpad) Wetting one's finger may do what to a touchpad's usefulness? "Improve", or "Worsen"
"Worsen" A touchpad is designed specifically for the conductivity of normal human skin. Water is very conductive, causing a touchpad to be too sensitive; the mouse pointer may jump around.
(2.2.3: X) More memory (RAM) means the computer will run programs faster because less copying is needed.
(2.2.3: A larger memory means less time spent copying items from drive to memory, so programs run faster) True
(2.2.3: X) True or False: Copying between drive and memory is slow, so a larger memory may mean less copying and thus faster-running programs.
(2.2.3: A larger memory means less time spent copying items from drive to memory, so programs run faster) True
(2.6.1: Moore's Law doubling of IC capacity) A typical college student is about 20 years old. About how many times more capacity does an IC have versus when the student was born, assuming capacity doubles every 2 years: "10 times more", "20 times more", "40 times more", or "1,000 times more"
1,000 times more 20 years has 10 doublings. 210 is 1,024. In a college student's short lifetime, IC's became about 1,000 times better.
(2.2.2: Drive and memory) Match the CPU actions. All items are initially stored on the drive: A. Copy Resume.doc to memory B. Copy Resume.doc back to drive, then copy CoverLetter.doc to memory. C. Continue running program from memory, which accesses Resume.doc in memory. D. Copy word processor program from drive to memory. E. Run the program from memory. 1. ___ | Prepare to run a word processor program. 2. ___ | Begin running the word processor program. 3. ___ | The program needs a document named Resume.doc. Prepare to access that document. 4. ___ | The program accesses Resume.doc 5. ___ | The program now needs a document named CoverLetter.doc, but there's no room in memory.
1. D - Copy word processor program from drive to memory. 2. E - Run the program from memory. 3. A - Copy Resume.doc to memory 4. C - Continue running program from memory, which accesses Resume.doc in memory. 5. B - Copy Resume.doc back to drive, then copy CoverLetter.doc to memory. 1. Copy word processor program from drive to memory. | Prepare to run a word processor program. 2. Run the program from memory. | Begin running the word processor program. 3. Copy Resume.doc to memory | The program needs a document named Resume.doc. Prepare to access that document. 4. Continue running program from memory, which accesses Resume.doc in memory. | The program accesses Resume.doc 5. Copy Resume.doc back to drive, then copy CoverLetter.doc to memory. | The program now needs a document named CoverLetter.doc, but there's no room in memory.
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive How much memory does the computer have?
4 GB GB means gigabytes. So the computer has 4 billion bytes of memory.
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive How much drive does the computer have?
500 GB 500 billion bytes. So the computer has over 100 times more drive than memory.
(2.2.4: Drive and memory: Program running time) A CPU accesses 100 program instructions. Each memory access takes 5 ns. The memory can only hold 50 instructions. The first 50 instructions are already in memory. Replacing those 50 by the next 50 takes 400 ns. What is the total time?
900ns 50 instrs * (5 ns / instr) + 400 ns + 50 instrs * (5 ns / instr) = 250 + 400 + 250 = 900 ns.
(2.5.1: Display technology) In what type of monitor does an electron gun emit a high-speed beam of electrons toward a vacuum tube, which then causes targeted areas of the monitor to glow: "CRT", "LCD", or "Plasma"
CRT CRT monitors have a funnel shape to house the electron gun. Early CRT models contained a single electron gun to illuminate red, green, and blue pixels. Later CRT models contained three electron guns. Each electron gun was responsible for a single color (red, green, and blue) so images could be updated faster.
(2.5.4: Data projector basics) What type of projector passes light through a color wheel to generate red, green, and blue light: "LCD", or "DLP"
DLP The red, green, and blue light is then passed to thousands of small mirrors that tilt to reflect the light to various locations on a screen. The colored dots combine to form the pixels that make up an image.
(2.5.2: CRT, LCD, and plasma displays) True or False: A 23" monitor with an aspect ratio of 4:3 will have the same width as a 23" monitor with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
False 23" refers to the monitor's diagonal measurement. The same size monitor with different aspect ratios will have different widths and heights.
(2.2.8: USB flash drive) True or False: A USB flash drive is typically built into a computer.
False A USB flash drive is typically a small (about 1-inch) portable device that can be plugged into a computer's USB port.
(2.2.8: USB flash drive) True or False: A USB flash drive loses data when electricity is turned off.
False A USB flash drive's main purpose is to keep data without electricity, so that data can be copied to another computer.
(2.2.6: Cache) True or False: If a CPU's program is like a chef's recipe, then a cache is like a cookbook of recipes.
False A cache would instead be like a tiny paper that a chef keeps nearby, having just a portion of the entire recipe.
(2.7.2: Multicore and graphics processors) True or False: A graphics processor means that a general CPU is running special software for fast graphics display.
False A graphics processor is not a general CPU, but rather a CPU whose hardware has been specially designed to do the calculations needed for high-quality graphics.
(2.4.5: Touchscreen) True or False: A touchscreen can be used effectively with a finger, pen, stick, and many other objects.
False A touchscreen's electronics are designed to work with human skin. Most other objects don't have the right electrical conductivity.
(2.1.2: Basic hardware) True or False: When a user types on a keyboard, the typed characters are stored directly on a computer screen.
False Actually, the characters are stored in a memory. The memory is the main place for data.
(2.1.4: Clock) True or False: Computer designers can set a computer's clock tick rate to as fast as they want.
False Electrical signals can only travel so fast through a computer chip's switches and wires. Plus, a designer may choose a slower clock to reduce electrical cost and lengthen battery life.
(2.5.5: Common audio output) True or False: Users must purchase separate speakers to listen to audio from a laptop.
False Laptops already contain internal speakers, so users do not need to add external speakers to play music, video, or games. But external speakers will provide better quality audio.
(2.5.2: CRT, LCD, and plasma displays) True or False: Resolution is reported as the total number of pixels contained in a monitor.
False Resolution is reported as H x W, where H is the number of horizontal pixels within a line and W is the total number of lines. The H and W values are multiplied together to determine the total number of pixels.
(2.3.1: Computer type comparison) Servers and PCs typically are designed to be run from electricity coming from wall outlets or batteries.
False Servers and PCs rarely run from batteries.
(2.3.1: Computer type comparison) Compared to PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, servers consume very little electrical power.
False Servers typically focus on speed, and thus consume much electrical power, perhaps consuming hundreds of Watts. PCs strike a balance and typically operate under 100 Watts. Laptops consume even less power for longer battery life.
(2.6.3: Clock frequency) True or False: The sole way to make computers run programs faster is by increasing clock frequency.
False Shrinking circuits also enables more complex CPUs that do more computation per clock tick, more CPUs on a chip, more cache, and more memory, which all improve speed.
(2.4.7: Speech input) True or False: Speech recognition software is about as accurate as typing.
False Speech recognition is hard. Converting to different words is very common. Modern speech recognition apps try to understand sentence context to help get the words right.
(2.5.4: Data projector basics) What is the name for a type of cable connector used to connect a laptop to a data projector. "HDMI", or "Lumens"
HDMI Numerous consumer electronic devices such as televisions, cable boxes, and gaming systems use HDMI cables because HDMI cables yield higher quality images compared to VGA cables.
(2.5.1: Display technology) In what type of monitor is Voltage applied to liquid crystals, which causes the crystals to untwist and allow light to pass through colored filters: "CRT", "LCD", or "Plasma"
LCD Monitors became significantly thinner because the electron gun was no longer needed. The smaller size and lower power consumption enabled the use of electronic displays in a wide variety of consumer goods.
(2.3.2: Computer types) Usually as capable as a desktop PC, but designed to be portable. Accepted answers: server, PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone.
Laptop
(2.6.1: Moore's Law doubling of IC capacity) People often underestimate how quickly repeated doubling grows. Try answering this question with a quick guess: If you earn $1 today, $2 tomorrow, $4 the next day, etc., about how much will you earn in a year: "$10,000", "$100,000", "$10 million", "$1 billion", or "More money than exists"
More money than exists 2^365 is a number with over one hundred zeroes at the end.
(2.3.2: Computer types) Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975 to write software for this computer type, a type that was just starting to appear in homes at that time. Accepted answers: server, PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone.
PC
(2.5.3: Inkjet and laser printers) Printer speed is measured in...
PPM Laser printer speeds range from 12 to 45 ppm, while inkjet printer speeds range from 6 to 20 ppm.
(2.5.1: Display technology) In what type of monitor does a grid of electrodes apply voltage to tiny gas filled cells, which causes the cells to glow: "CRT", "LCD", or "Plasma"
Plasma The gas filled cells within a plasma monitor stop emitting light once voltage is removed. A benefit of plasma monitors is the ability to display fast moving objects across a screen. In contrast, LCD technology has a small delay associated with rotating the polarizing filters to change the pixel color. Low end LCD monitors may suffer from motion blur, where fast moving objects may look blurry.
(2.4.1: The QWERTY keyboard) The most commonly used computer keyboard has what type of arrangement?
QWERTY The keyboard is known by those first 6 letters in the top row of letters.
(2.8.5: Machine language on an early computer) Consider this photo of two women at an early computer: https://zytools.zybooks.com/zyAuthor/CS0_ComputingTechnologyForAll/10/IMAGES/embedded_image121N5ZGp-5uv2kZlZlASaMOCwSXueR1zSck2b4S5R5cyGo.png What is the woman on the right likely doing? "Reading out loud the 0's and 1's to be programmed into the computer", "Writing a new program for the computer", or "Text messaging a friend"
Reading out loud the 0's and 1's to be programmed into the computer. The paper she is holding likely has the entire program to be entered, in the form of 0's and 1's. The women on the left is likely entering those 0's and 1's.
(2.8.5: Machine language on an early computer) Consider this photo of two women at an early computer: https://zytools.zybooks.com/zyAuthor/CS0_ComputingTechnologyForAll/10/IMAGES/embedded_image121N5ZGp-5uv2kZlZlASaMOCwSXueR1zSck2b4S5R5cyGo.png What is the woman on the left likely doing: "Observing o's and 1's being output by the computer", "Setting 0's and 1's to represent the computer's machine instructions or data", or "Taking a break"
Setting 0's and 1's to represent the computer's machine instructions or data. Programming early computers was done directly with 0's and 1's.
(2.4.1: The QWERTY keyboard) The QWERTY keyboard was designed to help people type... (answer either faster or slower).
Slower The keyboard arrangement was created in the days of typewriters. Typing too fast could cause keys to get stuck, so common letter combinations were spaced out to slow the typists down. Today, typing faster would be better, but the QWERTY arrangement seems too commonplace to change.
(2.5.4: Data projector basics) A short throw data projector is ideal for spaces of which size: "Small", or "Large"
Small Short throw projectors are designed for small spaces, so that the projector can be placed closer to a screen while still projecting a large image.
(2.3.2: Computer types) The smallest discussed computer type. Accepted answers: server, PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone.
Smartphone
(2.2.1: A drive stores items even without power. A CPU copies parts of items from drive to memory first, then runs from memory.) True or False: Accessing memory is faster than accessing a drive.
True
(2.2.1: A drive stores items even without power. A CPU copies parts of items from drive to memory first, then runs from memory.) True or False: Accessing memory is faster, but memory is expensive, and thus much smaller than a drive. As a result, a CPU copies needed parts into memory first, then runs.
True
(2.1.3: A faster clock ticking rate (frequency) generally means a faster running program.) Each clock tick may cause one program instruction to run, therefore a faster clock means a faster running program.
True
(2.2.1: A drive stores items even without power. A CPU copies parts of items from drive to memory first, then runs from memory.) True or False: Programs, documents, photos, and the like are all stored on the drive because, unlike memory, a drive doesn't lose all its data when electricity is turned off.
True
(2.2.5: A CPU copies instructions into a cache, then runs those instructions) True or False: The CPU copies a few instructions from the memory into a small cache, and then runs those instructions.
True
(2.4.2: Common input devices) True or False: Typing on a touch screen is done by pressing buttons on a virtual keyboard on the screen.
True
(2.4.2: Common input devices) True or False: Users can provide input to computer applications via a keyboard for typing text.
True
(2.4.2: Common input devices) True or False: Users can use a mouse for selecting and moving graphical objects.
True
(2.4.4: Touchscreen) True or False: A finger with gloves may not be detected by a touchscreen.
True
(2.4.4: Touchscreen) True or False: A wet finger may cause multiple points to be generated on a touchscreen.
True
(2.4.4: Touchscreen) True or False: Touching the screen of a touchscreen with a finger will cause an electrical reaction at that unique point on the screen.
True
(2.4.6: Speech input) True or False: Apps like Siri do speech recognition by sending their audio to a server, which can run more powerful speech recognition.
True
(2.6.3: Clock frequency) True or False: A typical clock frequency in 2005 was over 1 GHz.
True 1,000 * 1 MHz is 1 GHz (the M for Mega means million, the G for Giga means billion). Note that clock frequency has stopped following Moore's Law since about 2000.
(2.6.5: Shrinking ICs) True or False: Assuming an IC can halve in size every two years, that IC can be about 128 times smaller in just 14 years.
True 14 years sees 7 halvings. 1 / (27) is 1/128.
(2.3.1: Computer type comparison) Between servers, PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, servers are the most expensive computer type.
True A server may cost many thousands of dollars, a PC or laptop typically around a thousand dollars, and tablets and phones typically several hundred dollars.
(2.4.5: Touchscreen) True or False: A touchscreen is a touch-sensitive device layered on top of a display.
True Allowing a user to point directly to a graphical object is more intuitive to the user than using a separate mouse or touchpad, and eliminates the need for an external input device also.
(2.2.6: Cache) True or False: The larger a cache, the faster a program may run.
True Copying items from memory to cache is slow, so a larger cache means less-frequent copying.
(2.1.4: Clock) True or False: A computer chip with a fast clock may get very hot to the touch.
True Every time the clock ticks, millions of switches consume electricity to execute an instruction, generating heat. A fast computer chip might be 200 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to cook an egg on; and why a laptop may burn a person's lap.
(2.1.2: Basic hardware) True or False: Today, computers like tablets, book readers, and smartphones combine the keyboard and screen in a single device.
True New screen technologies recognize what screen area is being touched, so the keyboard can be drawn on the screen, thus reducing computer size and cost.
(2.3.1: Computer type comparison) Smartphones tend to be slower than servers, PCs, laptops, and tablets,
True Smartphone computers must focus on small size and low power, so smartphone CPUs are usually simpler, and have less memory too.
(2.4.5: Touchscreen) True or False: A stylus is a special physical pointer designed to work with touchscreens.
True Some pens come with a stylus on the non-writing side.
(2.2.6: Cache) True or False: If a CPU's data is like a person's phonebook, then a cache is like the person writing a phone number on his hand.
True The number on the hand is nearby and quickly accessible, but space is limited so the whole phonebook can't be written there.
(2.1.4: Clock) True or False: Many computers have a fan that blows room air over a computer's CPU chip to keep the chip cool.
True Those fans can be big and loud. Portable devices like tablets or smartphones usually use slower clocks and special low-power chips to avoid needing a fan (and for longer battery life).
(2.2.6: Cache) True or False: A CPU can access an item from cache faster than from memory.
True Typically, a cache access requires just 1 clock tick, whereas a memory access may require multiple ticks like 4, 6, or even 10.
(2.5.2: CRT, LCD, and plasma displays) True or False: A widescreen monitor has an aspect ratio of 16:9 or greater.
True Widescreen displays are popular for watching movies and television, as these mediums are typically filmed with a wider aspect ratio. A variety of aspect ratios exist, such as 5:4 or 6:10, so black bars may appear around an image to fill in any differences in size between the original image and displayed image.
(2.4.1: The QWERTY keyboard) Most keyboards interface with a desktop computer via what kind of port?
USB USB is a popular port for connecting various devices to a computer.
(2.5.3: Inkjet and laser printers) A color inkjet printer typically contains separate ink cartridges for cyan, magenta, black, and...
Yellow In projected light mediums, such as a television or computer monitor, color values are described using RGB (red, green, blue) values. In reflected light mediums, such as ink or paint, color values are described using CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) values.
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive Yes or No: Can the drive size be increased?
Yes The drive can be as large as 1 TB (terabyte), so 1 trillion bytes. Of course, that will cost more.
(2.2.7: Computer specifications) MacBook Pro (laptop) Processor - Intel Core I5 processor with 3 MB L3 Cache Memory - 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory Configurable to 8 GB Storage - 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive Configurable options: 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive 128 GB solid-state drive 256 GB solid-state drive 512 GB solid-state drive Yes or No: Can the memory size be increased beyond 4 GB?
Yes The memory can be configured to 8 GB.