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Unità
1
Introduzione all’informatica
13
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
the binary language.
There are programming languages (like human language) that allow you to write
programs. In order to be executed by the computer, programs must be translated
by the compilers into machine language (which can be understood by the computer).
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
5
Natural languages are used for human communication
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F
6
High-level languages depend on the computer hardware
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F
7
Low-level languages are independent from the computer hardware
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F
Exercises
001-014_U1_PW.indd 13
07/03/