Cabale, Mark Andrew M.

BSME-3A Computer Fundamentals Assignment #2

1. Explain the definition of computer and its brief history including the generations of
computer and the persons involved and its devices.
- A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has
the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. The computer as we know it today
had its beginning with a 19th century English mathematics professor name
Charles Babbage. computers can be classified into three generations. Each
generation lasted for a certain period of time,and each gave us either a new and
improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer. First generation:
1937 – 1946 - In 1937 the first electronic digital computer was built by Dr. John
V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. It was called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer
(ABC).Second generation: 1947 – 1962 - This generation of computers used
transistors instead of vacuum tubes which were more reliable. Third generation:
1963 - present - The invention of integrated circuit brought us the third generation
of computers.

2. Explain the computer data life cycle, the hardware and devices; identify input,
output and peripheral devices and its functions and proper installations of
devices.

- The data life cycle is the sequence of stages that a particular unit of data goes
through from its initial generation or capture to its eventual archival and/or
deletion at the end of its useful life. Computer hardware includes the physical
parts of a computer, such as the case, central processing unit (CPU), monitor,
mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, speakers
and motherboard. When referring to a computer, a device is any internal or external
hardware peripheral that attaches to a computer to send, receive, or process data. A
peripheral is a “device that is used to put information into or get information out of the
computer.” Input, used to interact with, or send data to the computer (mouse,
keyboards, etc.) Output, which provides output to the user from the computer
(monitors, printers, etc.)

3. Explain the definition of software and its types – the System Software and the
Application Software and what their examples are.

- Software is electronically stored data that gives instructions to a computer. 1.

System Software -A system software aids the user and the hardware to function
and interact with each other. Basically, it is a software to manage computer
hardware behavior so as to provide basic functionalities that are required by the
user. Examples: Operating System: It is the most prominent example of System
Software. It is a collection of software that handles resources and provides
general services for the other applications that run over them (Android, CentOS,
 iOS etc.) Device Drivers: It is a type of software that controls particular hardware
which is attached to the system (BIOS Driver, Display Drivers, Motherboard
Drivers etc.) Firmware: Firmware is the permanent software that is embedded
into a read-only memory (BIOS, Computer Peripherals, Consumer Applications
etc.) Programming Language Translators: These are mediator programs on
which software programs rely to translate high-level language code to simpler
machine-level code (Assign data storage, Enlist source code as well as program
details, Offer diagnostic reports etc.) Utility: Utility software is designed to aid in
analyzing, optimizing, configuring and maintaining a computer system (Avast,
Antivirus, Directory Opus, McAfee Antivirus etc.). Application Software
Application Software, also known as end-user programs or productivity programs
are software that helps the user in completing tasks such as doing online
research, jotting down notes, setting an alarm, designing graphics, keeping an
account log, doing calculations or even playing games. Examples: Word
Processors: These applications for documentation. (Abiword, Apple iWork-
Pages, Corel WordPerfect etc) Database Software: This software is used to
create and manage a database. (Clipper, dBase, FileMaker.etc.) Multimedia
Software: It is the software that is able to play, create or record images, audio or
video files (Adobe Photoshop, Inkscape, Media Monkey etc.) Education and
Reference Software: These types of software are specifically designed to
facilitate learning on a particular subject (Delta Drawing, GCompris,
Jumpstart.titles etc.) Graphics Software: As the name suggests, Graphics
Software has been devised to work with graphics as it helps the user to edit or
make changes in visual data or images (Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya,
Blender etc.) Web Browsers: These applications are used to browse the internet
(Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge etc.)

4. Discuss the definition of Internet, browsers and its examples.

- Internet is a global computer network providing a variety of information and
communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using
standardized communication protocols. Browser is a computer program with a
graphical user interface for displaying and navigating between web pages.
Examples: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera,
Konqueror, Lynx.

5. Discuss the parts of keyboard and proper finger positioning and laboratory
ergonomics
- Based on the function, the computer keyboard is grouped into five parts. They
are: Function keys- The function keys in a line at the top (F1, F2, etc.) Control
keys - The insert, home, page up keys and their opposites on the upper right
Number keys - The up, down, left-right navigation arrow keys on the lower part of
the keyboard Typing keys - The typewriter keys (letters and numbers) Movement
keys - The up, down, left-right navigation arrow keys on the lower part of the
keyboard. Your left-hand fingers should be placed over the A, S, D, and F keys
and the right-hand fingers should be placed over the J, K, L, and ; keys. These
keys are considered the home row keys. Your thumbs should either be in the air
or very lightly touching the spacebar key. Ergonomics is the science of fitting the
workstation and tools to fit the user in order to reduce musculoskeletal stresses
leading to injury and illness. Whether you will be working in a research lab for
one semester or throughout your career, there are ways to protect yourself from
ergonomic hazards common in laboratory settings. The following identify
common ergonomic risk factors. Risk factors specifc to the laboratory can be
found by reviewing the Ergonomics in the Laboratory document.
Repetition -- performing the same motion over and over again.
Awkward Body Posture -- sustained holding of a bent position of the neck, back,
hands/wrists, arms raised above shoulder level or arms extended out in front of
the body.
Force -- physical exertion or pressure applied to any part of the body while
working, such as lifting, pushing, pulling, gripping or pinching equipment or tools.
Contact Stress -- pressure on soft tissues of the body, such as the soft part of the
palm, wrist or the sides of fingers by tools and sharp edges.
Extreme Temperatures - cold air temperatures (55°F and lower) may cause loss
of dexterity proportional to exposure time.
Individual Susceptibility- Individuals may be predisposed to MSD based on their
heredity, prior injuries, other illnesses, medication, smoking, etc.