Computing I Honor - Basic

Vocational Activities

Requirements

  1. Research the history of computers and write a report of at least 250 words with the results of the research.

    Answer: You must hand the instructor a report of at least 250 words on the history of computers, covering: the Chinese abacus (3000 BC), Charles Babbage's analytical engine (1837), the ENIAC (1946) the first electronic computer, the transistor (1947), the Altair 8800 microcomputer (1975), the IBM PC (1981), the emergence of the internet (the 1990s) and the era of smartphones (from the iPhone in 2007). — The history of computers has five generations: vacuum tubes (1940s), transistors (1950s), integrated circuits (1960s), microprocessors (1970s) and AI/distributed computing (1980s onward). The ENIAC weighed 30 tons and occupied 167 m². Today a cell phone has millions of times more processing power.

  2. Define the following terms:
    • Hardware;
    • Software;
    • Operating system;
    • Driver;
    • Hard disk (HD) and SSD;
    • RAM memory;
    • ROM memory.

    Answer: 1) Hardware: it is the entire physical part of the computer, that is, the components you can touch — motherboard, processor, power supply, memory, disks, case, keyboard and monitor. 2) Software: these are the programs and instructions that run on the computer, the logical part that tells the hardware what to do (systems, applications, games). 3) Operating system: it is the base software that manages all the computer's resources (memory, processor, files and devices) and serves as a bridge between the user and the hardware. Examples: Windows, Linux and macOS. 4) Driver: it is software that connects the operating system to a specific device (printer, video card, mouse), teaching the system to communicate correctly with that equipment. 5) Hard disk (HD) and SSD: these are permanent storage devices, where the system, the programs and the files are kept even with the computer turned off. The HD records the data on spinning magnetic disks, while the SSD uses electronic memory (flash), with no moving parts, being much faster and quieter. 6) RAM: it is the computer's working memory (random access memory), where the programs and data in use at the moment are kept. It is fast, but volatile — it loses all its content when the computer is turned off. 7) ROM: it is read-only memory, recorded at the factory, which holds basic, permanent instructions of the equipment (such as the startup program). Its content is not erased when the computer is turned off. — Hardware without software is inert; software without hardware does not run. SSDs are up to 10x faster than HDs because they have no moving parts. RAM is erased when turned off; ROM (and its relatives BIOS/UEFI) preserves essential instructions for the computer to start even without power.

  3. Present to the examiner:
    • How to protect your computer from dirt;
    • What is preventive computer maintenance?;
    • Know how to correctly turn a computer on and off

    Answer: You must present to the instructor: to protect from dirt, keep the computer in a clean environment, use a cover when it is off, avoid eating/drinking nearby and clean the exterior with a dry cloth; preventive maintenance is the regular care to avoid problems (clean the inside of the case every 6 months, update the antivirus, eliminate temporary files, make backups). — Cutting power directly at the outlet can corrupt system files because the OS was still writing data to disk. That is why the correct procedure warns the system to shut down services first. Internal cleaning of the case is important because dust accumulated in the cooler overheats the processor.

  4. Describe the function of the following equipment:
    • Keyboard;
    • Mouse;
    • Monitor;
    • Printer;
    • Scanner;
    • CPU;
    • Cables;
    • Modem;
    • Router.

    Answer: 1) Keyboard: an input device used to enter text and commands into the computer by means of keys. 2) Mouse: an input device that controls the cursor on the screen, allowing you to click, select and drag items. 3) Monitor: an output device that displays on the screen images, texts and information generated by the computer. 4) Printer: an output device that transfers digital content onto paper (text and images). 5) Scanner: an input device that digitizes physical documents and images, turning them into files on the computer. 6) CPU: the central processing unit, the "brain" of the computer, which executes calculations and instructions from the programs. The term is also used popularly to refer to the case that houses the components. 7) Cables: conductors that connect the equipment to one another and to power, transmitting data or electricity (power, USB, HDMI, network cables, etc.). 8) Modem: equipment that connects the computer or the network to the internet, converting the signal from the provider (telephone, fiber, cable) into a usable digital signal and vice versa. 9) Router: equipment that distributes the internet connection to several devices at the same time, creating a local network (wired or Wi-Fi) and directing the data to the right destination. — Each piece of equipment has a specific role. The CPU is the 'brain' — Intel and AMD dominate the market. The modem brings internet from the provider; the router distributes it inside the home (some modern devices combine the two). A scanner can be flatbed, sheet-fed or portable; printers today are mostly multifunction (printer + scanner + copier).

  5. Demonstrate the following:
    • Create a folder on the desktop and rename it;
    • Copy a folder from one location to another;
    • Move a folder from one location to another;
    • Create a shortcut to a file or folder;
    • Delete a file and empty the recycle bin;
    • Organize the files in a folder by name, modification date and size.

    Answer: You must demonstrate to the instructor: 1) Create a folder — right-click on the desktop, New > Folder, and rename it with F2; 2) Copy — right-click > Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) at the destination; 3) Move — Cut (Ctrl+X) and Paste (Ctrl+V) at the destination, or drag; 4) Shortcut — right-click > Send to > Desktop. 5) Delete and empty the recycle bin — select the file and press Delete (it goes to the Recycle Bin); then right-click on the Recycle Bin > Empty Recycle Bin to delete it for good; 6) Organize the files — inside the folder, right-click > Sort by (or View > Sort by) and choose Name, Date modified or Size. — Keyboard shortcuts save time: Ctrl+C copies, Ctrl+X cuts, Ctrl+V pastes, Ctrl+Z undoes, Delete sends to the recycle bin and Shift+Delete deletes permanently. The recycle bin retains files by default until you empty it — protecting against accidental deletions. F2 renames the selected item.