BUCU002: COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

CAT

REG NO: BMMC/2018/78750

NAME: OTIENO DISMAS AULA

DATE: 02/07/2018

a) Explain the following terms as applied in

computer(10mks)
i) Computer

.A computer is a programmable machine. The two principal

characteristics of a computer are: It responds to a specific set of
instructions in a well-defined manner and it can execute a
prerecorded list of instructions (a program) .Is an electronic device
that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store,
retrieve, and process data

ii) Computer network

A computer network is a group of computer systems and other

computing hardware devices that are linked together through
communication channels to facilitate communication and resource-
sharing among a wide range of users.
iii) Software

Is Organized information in the form of operating systems,

utilities, programs, and applications that enable computers to work.

Software consists of carefully-organized instructions and code

written by programmers in any of various special computer
languages.

iv) Data

Computer data is information processed or stored by a

computer. This information may be in the form of text documents,
images, audio clips, software programs, or other types of data

v) Computer hardware

Computer hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer

and related devices. Internal hardware devices include
motherboards, hard drives, and RAM. External hardware devices
include monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, and scanners.

The internal hardware parts of a computer are often referred to as

components, while external hardware devices are usually called
peripherals. Together, they all fall under the category of computer
hardware.

b) Describe why a word processing application is important

to an organization and state any two word processing
software application you would recommend for use(4mks)
i) Security

In addition to computer passwords, many word processing

programs allow you to set passwords on documents or software. The
days are long gone when a locked file cabinet was the best security
measure. Files can be encrypted so only the intended recipient can
read them, or locked so no one can change the document. Offsite
backups of documents also mean that nothing is lost if files are
destroyed because of a disaster at the office.

ii)Collaboration
Before word processing, collaborating on a project took several
meetings, rounds of typed notes and one person to get everything in
order. Today, workers can share document revisions through an
internal computer network or use files located on a single data
server. If collaborators are located in different cities around the
world, they can use cloud computing services like Google Docs to
simultaneously work on a project online. These measures allow
projects to be finished in less time, saving the business money and
employee hours.

payroll software.

Database software.

c)Perform the following operations

i)Add binary number 101110 to 111011(2mks)

101110+111011=00111

Ii) Convert 4710 to binary (2mks)

1110101112 = 4710
d)Using appropriate examples differentiate between off-shelf
software and tailor-made software(3mks)

Off-the-shelf, an adjective that describes software or hardware

products that are ready-made and available for sale to the general
public. For example, Microsoft Office is a COTS product that is a
packaged software solution for businesses. Custom software (also
known as bespoke software or tailor-made software) is software that
is specially developed for some specific organization or other user. ...
Custom software development is often considered expensive
compared to off-the-shelf solutions or products.

e)Using a diagram,describe the major parts ,icons and tools

found on a word application window(3mks)
) Explain how secondary storage such as a hard
f

disk complements the main memory the

computer(3mks)
 Secondary memory is where programs and data are kept on a
long-term basis. Common secondary storage devices are the hard
disk and optical disks.

 The hard disk has enormous storage capacity compared to

main memory.
 The hard disk is usually contained inside the case of a
computer.
 The hard disk is used for long-term storage of programs and
data.
 Data and programs on the hard disk are organized into files.
 A file is a collection of data on the disk that has a name.

A hard disk might have a storage capacity of 500 gigabytes (room

for about 500 x 109 characters). This is about 100 times the capacity
of main memory. A hard disk is slow compared to main memory. If
the disk were the only type of memory the computer system would
slow down to a crawl. The reason for having two types of storage is
this difference in speed and capacity.

Large blocks of data are copied from disk into main memory. The
operation is slow, but lots of data is copied. Then the processor can
quickly read and write small sections of that data in main memory.
When it is done, a large block of data is written to disk.

Often, while the processor is computing with one block of data in

main memory, the next block of data from disk is read into another
section of main memory and made ready for the processor. One of
the jobs of an operating system is to manage main storage and disks
this way