AS/A2 computing 2013 July batch

[Ravichandran]

Dear students of Block 6 AS computing, welcome to the computing class. I am your facilitator Dr.Ravichandran ( you can call me Dr.Ravi), I will be your course facilitator for AS computing and A2 computing. I will start communicating with you in this discussion forum - where you can start posting your queries and useful resources.

You are highly encouraged to interact with me and also with your peers as the class begins from 30th July 2013.

All the best and keep moving. Do not hesitate to ask and send your queries if you have one.

Regards,

Dr.Ravichandran

i HAVE ATTACHED THE SYLLABUS TOO.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE ATTACHMENT FILE.

[Yuganesh]

Dr.Ravi 

I 've learned that primary memory in a computer is divided into 2 catagories ROM ( Read only memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory).Ram is  said to be volatile while ROM stores permanent memory.Next, computer flow diagram consist of alu,memory unit,control unit,input and output unit. Input unit serves to accept or send data from the user to the computer processor. Output unit functions to output the result from the computer processor.

[Raid Syamil]

During the final computing lesson last week, we learned about Random Access Memory(RAM), Read only Memory(ROM), Programmable ROM(PROM) and Erasable PROM(EPROM). We learned about their differences and how they are used today. I have the same question as Ariel. What is the difference between GDDR3, GDDR4 and GDDR5 RAM?

[Maizatul Akmal Mohamad]

last time during theory class, i learnt lots of new things that i never knew before. here's my notes. (do correct me if i'm wrong)

input unit/device - device used to accept data from the user and process it using the computer processor

output unit - is used to output the result from the computer processor

magnetic floppy-data stored in random access

cassette player and magnetic tape -data sored in sequence access

[Mohd Afif Farhan b. Mat Said]

 several things about the differences between magnetic tape and floppy disk had been learnt during the first class of theory,, here are an example of each device

[Muhammad Aiman bin Hashim]

Greetings Dr. Ravi,

In the last class, we pretty much learnt about the storage system of a computer, RAM which is volatile, and the ROMs which is permanent. But how do these units stores data ? Do they do it like the floppies, as in magnetizing and demagnetize the iron strip ? 

[Ravichandran]

[Ariel Logujin Takom]

Today we learnt about the multiple Operating System available. Will update with more info about it later :)

[Ariel Logujin Takom]

6 types of Operating System

1) Batch processing 

2) Real-time processing

3) On-line processing

4) Off-line processing

5) Multi-user Operating System

6) Single-user Operating System 

[Mohd Afif Farhan b. Mat Said]

Dr. Ravi, you had asked us how the old previous computer work without an external storage. i think it is just depend on an internal storage like RAM and etc and cannot store large data. is it right?

[Ravichandran]

Yuga,

                Please note, Primary memory refer to only the Main memory of the computer, which is addressed as RAM. So you first sentence is not correct.

Ravi

Yuganesh said:

Dr.Ravi 

I 've learned that primary memory in a computer is divided into 2 catagories ROM ( Read only memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory).Ram is  said to be volatile while ROM stores permanent memory.Next, computer flow diagram consist of alu,memory unit,control unit,input and output unit. Input unit serves to accept or send data from the user to the computer processor. Output unit functions to output the result from the computer processor.

[Ravichandran]

Farhan, You are almost right,

These types of computer are called dummy terminals, they just have a floppy drive or in some cases they dont have that too. So they have a big centralized system from where they would access the required application and thus the are also called as file sharing or distributed system. This is just for you general knowledge, no one would ask in AS computing. However, File sharing and Distributed system might help to answer some questions.

Regards,

Dr.Ravi

Mohd Afif Farhan b. Mat Said said:

Dr. Ravi, you had asked us how the old previous computer work without an external storage. i think it is just depend on an internal storage like RAM and etc and cannot store large data. is it right?

[Ariel Logujin Takom]

Today we're learning User-Interface. So far, we've learnt 3 types:
1) Form-Based User Interface

2) Graphical User Interface

Remember : GUI uses WIMP.
W - Windows
 I - Icons 

M - Menus

P - Pointers

3) Menu-Based Interface

- All options are predefined

- User cannot enter wrong data

4) Command Line User Interface

- User must be a technical person ( User are expected to know the commands prior to using CLUI )

- It is a TEXT-BASED  interface

- The most difficult user-interface.