* What is computer?

> Computer is an electronic machine which can accept data, store it, process it to
produce some meaningful information and can deliver it to the user. The computer does
all these functions with the help of some stored program (software) in its memory.

* What are the five functions that can be done by computer?

>
i) Inputting (The process of entering data and instruction to the computer system)
ii) Storing ( Storing data & program such that they can be available for current & future use)
iii) Processing ( It means arithmetic & logical operation on input data to get output)
iv) Outputting ( Conveying the final result to the user as a printed report or visual display)
v) Controlling (Directing the above all 4 functions systematically and timely )

* Why computer is called EDP ?

>. Although the original idea for inventing computer is to develop fast calculating device,
but more than 80% of work done by computer today is non mathematical or non numeric
in nature. Today, computer is used to process data like text, number, sound, picture as per
user’s requirements with the help of software. Using computer, user can write text, do
business calculation, present project work, maintain database, edit music, play virtual
game, edit photo and video, communicate with other computer and can share resources
and information etc. So, computer is also called Electronic Data Processor (EDP).

* What are data, processing and information?

> Data are raw facts or unorganized facts collected for a purpose.
Processing is applying arithmetical and logical operations on data to get desired useful
information .
Information is the processed data or organized data. It is obtained by applying
arithmetic and logical operation on data. It is directly useful to the user.
For example, a student got marks in an examination as – Physics (76/100), chemistry
(92/100), Mathematics (87/100) and if we want to know his percentage in PCM, then
after processing we will get the useful information is 85%.

* Write some activity where computer is used.

* Write some advantages of using computer.
* Write some limitations of computer.
* What is the difference between computer and other electronic devices like calculator,
TV etc ?
* What Charles Babbage machine? What is Von Neumann Architecture?
* Write a brief history of computer?

* What is computer?
> The computer is an electronic machine which can accept data, store it for present or
future use, process it to produce some useful information under the control of some
stored program and can deliver it to the user.

* Explain the terms: - Data, Processing, Information and Program.

> Data are raw facts or unorganized facts which can be processed to produce some useful
result or information.
Processing is applying arithmetic or logical operation on data such that some useful
result or information can be obtained from the data.
Information is processed data which is useful to the user.

Suppose we want to know the average of the numbers 3,5,10. Then the
numbers 3,5,10 are data. The mathematical operation “Average = ( 3+5+10 ) / 3 ” is the
processing. The result 6 is the useful result or information for us.

As computer is a machine, it can’t do anything of its own. It needs step

by step logical instructions to perform a certain task from the user which can also be
understood by it electronic parts. The step by step and logical instructions that are
provided to a computer to perform a certain task is as a whole called Program. Suppose
we want to find out average of three numbers, then the program for it may look like—

10 INPUT A,B,C

20 LET M=(A+B+C)/3

30 PRINT M

40 END

* Why computer is called EDP ?

>. Although the original idea for inventing computer is to develop fast calculating device,
but more than 80% of work done by computer today is non mathematical or non numeric
in nature. Today, computer is used to process four types of data i.e. text, number, sound,
and picture with the help of software. So, computer is also called Electronic Data
Processor (EDP). Using computer, user can write text, do business calculation, present
project work, maintain database, edit music, edit photo and video, play virtual games,
communicate with other computer and can share resources and information etc.