NAME LAZARUS ALOIS JENYURA

REG NUMBER H220209G

PROGRAMME PHARMACY

COURSE INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE ICS 110

ASSIGNMENT 1

1. Briefly show how computers have evolved that is from generation 1 to generation 5

In the First Generation there was the use of mechanical relays which were very slow. In 1904
John Ambrose Fleming invented the thermionic valve (vacuum tube) which was developed
as an electronic switch for circuitry of the computer.

In the Second Generation needing greater speed and reliability a transistor was invented
which replaced the vacuum tube as an electronic switch. The computers were now smaller
and fast.

Then in the Third Generation integrated circuits were developed which were more fast. The
computers had increased power with lower cost and became smaller.

In the Fourth Generation a microprocessor was introduced. This is when the personal
computers were introduced.

Then finally in the Fifth Generation the computers use artificial intelligence. They use the
parallel processing method and there is use of Ultra Large Scale Integration technology.
b) What is POST and why is it important in computers? Where is POST run from the
computer?

-Power On Self Test is the initial set of diagnostics tests performed by the computer right
after it is powered on.
- It is important it makes sure all the hardware are working properly
-It is run from the system ROM

c) Write short notes on the following input devices

i. Digitizer
It is a device used to convert hand-drawn images into a format suitable for computer
processing. It is usually used when working with graphics to manipulate drawings.
ii. Scanner
It is a device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine pages and
similar sources for computer editing and display.

d) Distinguish an inkjet printer from a dot matrix printer.

INKJET PRINTER DOT MATRIX PRINTER

Smaller and more compact
Colour printing is sharp and excellent
Non impact printer
Cheap maintenance
Commonly used for homes as the unit is
smaller and ink is cheaper
Sizes ranges depending on usage
Only works best with low resolution images
Impact printer
Expensive as parts are hard to come by
Used for office uses

e) Define the following as used in storage devices.

Access Time
It is the total time it takes a computer to request data and then that data request to be met
Storage Capacity
It is how much disk space one or more storage devices provides
Cost
This is how much a storage device can be bought for and maintained

Usually a device with smaller access time and higher storage capacity cost higher hence
these three aspects are looked into when one needs to buy a device depending on what the
device is going to be used for.