CSC429
Tutorial Task Week 4
1. State the THREE (3) principles of a Von Neumann machine.
2. Differentiate the functions of Memory Address Register (MAR), Memory Data/Buffer
Register (MDR).
1. What are the advantages of network computers in this modern day?
2. List TWO (2) zero computer generation machines that can do mathematical calculation. (FQ)
3. The characteristic of a vacuum tube can be depicted as a bulb. In your opinion, why it is easier to
represent value in binary as compared to in decimal using vacuum tube? (FQ)
4. Read the following statement and answer the following questions. (FQ)
In 1942, Mr X and Mr Y proposed an all-electronic calculating machine. The US army,
meanwhile needed to calculate complex wartime ballistics table. The result was
Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) that was built between 1943 and
1945. ENIAC is the first large-scale computer to run at electronic speed without being
slowed by any mechanical parts. For a decade, until 1955 lightning strike, ENIAC may
have run more calculations than all mankind had done up to that point.
i. In which computer generation, ENIAC is developed?
ii. Who built the ENIAC machine
iii. What is the main technology used in ENIAC machine
iv. Outline a possible solution for each of the following problem that are faced
when ENIAC is used.
Problem Solution
Produced a lot of heat
Burned out vacuum tubes
Slow Processing on accumulator
Limited programming capabilities
5. Read the following statement and answer the following questions.
a. The development of component X led to a drastic increase in speed and efficiency of
computers. Component X is a single, complete electronic semiconductor circuits
contained on pieces of silicon and sometimes called as chips. (FQ)
Figure 1: Component X
I. What is the name of component X ?
II. In which generation of computer was component X is introduced?
III. Who is the inventor of component X?
IV. State 1 input device and 1 output device that was introduced in the same
generation as component X.