CHAPTER 1
Evolution of Computers
A
1. Microcomputers
2. Hardware, software
3. firmware
4. smartphone, phone
5. notebook, mobile
B
1. (c) Developer
2. (d) Oracle Forms
3. (e) Oracle Reports
4. (a) Mainframe computer
5. (b) Supercomputer
C
1. PlayStation 3 Xbox Wii
2. VAX PDP-11
3. Mobile devices
4. Adobe Dreamweaver
5. SQL
D
1. Translator
2. Mnemonic, machine language
3. Common Business Oriented Language
4. Interpreters
5. linker
E
1 (a) Minicomputers: Minicomputers are bigger and powerful than microcomputers. They are faster and have more
memory. They are used in offices to connect many computers and support 4 to 200 users simultaneously.
HP 2100, MicroVAX 3100 and PDP-8 are some examples of minicomputers.
(b) Mainframe computers: Mainframe computers are large and have many terminals connected with a network. These
are used in big organisations to handle a huge amount of data. More than a hundred users can use them
at the same time. They have faster speed and larger storage capacity than minicomputers. They are mostly
used for business and scientific research purposes. They are very expensive and used in large
organisations like science laboratories, business organisations and stock exchange markets.
IBM Z series, PDP-10 and System Z10 are examples of mainframe computers.
(c) Supercomputers: Supercomputers are the most powerful computers with a high processing speed. They are very
expensive. They are used for weather forecasting and defence purposes, such as to control satellites and
missiles. India has produced many supercomputers. PARAM is one of them.
CRAY-1, CRAY-2 and Sunway TaihuLight are some more examples of supercomputers.
2 Some commonly used microcomputers are described below.
Desktop computer: The computer that we keep on a desk is a desktop computer. It is designed in a way that
it fits comfortably on top of a desk. We cannot carry it around easily. This computer is commonly seen in different
places such as homes, shops and schools.
Laptop: A laptop is smaller than a desktop computer. It is so small that we can keep it on our lap and work. It
is also known as a notebook computer. We can carry it easily to any place. It also works on battery. Nowadays,
laptops are commonly used computers.
Tablet PC: A tablet PC is a notebook or a slate-shaped mobile computer. It has a touch screen that allows
users to operate without a keyboard and a mouse.
Palmtop: A palmtop is a small computer that fits in your palm. It has similar features to a computer. It has a
small screen, and the keyboard is compressed. Some palmtops use a pen as an input device instead of a keyboard.
Handheld devices: Handheld devices are small devices that can be held in the user’s hand. They are
extremely convenient to carry. Smartphones are examples of handheld devices. These devices are also called
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The touch-enabled display screen works as the input device.
3. Advantages of machine code
It is very fast as it is executed directly by the CPU.
There is no need for translation.
Disadvantages of machine code
The simplest of instructions need lengthy coding and programming.
The programming is tedious and error-prone.
Each processor has its machine code.
Programs written for one machine do not work on a different or newer model.
Advantages of assembly code
It is easier to read and write than 1GL.
It is easy to identify errors and rectify them in 2GL.
It can be easily modified.
Disadvantages of assembly code
It needs an extra assembler program to translate the program into a machine language.
It is specific to a particular computer.
Assembly language programs cannot be reused on different models of computers.
It does not reduce the size of a program.
A line of assembly code is usually translated into a machine code line.
5 Fourth-generation language (4GL) has further refined high-level languages to make them
similar to a natural language. The purpose of 4GLs is to reduce programming time, effort and cost by offering
different methods of generating code automatically from a more straightforward framework.
Some common types of 4GLs are listed below.
Database Query Languages: Structured Query Language (SQL), NATURAL
Report Generators: Report Builder, Oracle Reports
Rapid Application Development Tools: PowerBuilder, Oracle Forms
Table Driven Codeless Programming: eDeveloper
GUI/Web Development Tools: Cold Fusion
