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Unità
1
Introduzione all’informatica
51
in English, please
unità
1
Abstract
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
Computer science is a discipline that allows information to be automatically managed
using computer systems. These systems receive input data and information which
they then process to yield results in the form of data. They are guided in this activity
by a set of statements called a program.
The term hardware is used for all of the “tangible” parts of a computer system (CPU,
memory, input and output devices). The term software is used to refer to programs.
Programs are divided into basic software (a set of programs that allow you to operate
the computer) and application software (programs for end-users). An example of
basic software is an operating system.
Computers can be divided into supercomputers, mainframes, minicomputers,
workstations and personal computers. Communication with the computer requires
the ability to speak its language, that is, binary language.
“The fundamental components of a computer are the main memory where programs
to be run are stored, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) which controls all the
computer’s functionalities and the peripherals which are the devices which enable
data to be entered and for the results produced by the computer to be viewed.
1
A megabyte is approximately one thousand bytes
T
F
2
To work, a processing system needs:
a
a color screen
b
electricity
c
a keyboard
d
a magnetic memory
3
A processing system:
a
takes input and transforms it into output
b
takes output and transforms it into input
c
uses data to transform input and output
d
uses data to transform output and input
4
Mark basic software with a B and application software with an A
a
Word processors
b
Spreadsheet
c
Compilers
d
Accounting
e
Print Command
f
Editor
Exercises
001-052_U1_SIA.indd 51
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