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Generations of Computers and Digital Techniques

The document outlines the first four generations of computers, highlighting their technological advancements from vacuum tubes to personal computing. It also discusses the advantages of digital techniques over analog, such as greater flexibility and precision. Additionally, the document includes exercises on converting numbers between different numeral systems.

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rachelwangrq2
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4 views11 pages

Generations of Computers and Digital Techniques

The document outlines the first four generations of computers, highlighting their technological advancements from vacuum tubes to personal computing. It also discusses the advantages of digital techniques over analog, such as greater flexibility and precision. Additionally, the document includes exercises on converting numbers between different numeral systems.

Uploaded by

rachelwangrq2
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Coen/Elen 921c

Homework 1 Solution
Chapter 0

1. List first 4 generations of computers and what characterized them.

Gen 1: 1940s & 1950s; vacuum tube technology; very slow; physically large;
Requires lots of power
Gen 2: Late 1950s; discrete transistor; smaller; faster; lower power requirements
Gen 3: Late 1960s and 1970s; Integrated Circuit (IC) technology; substantial size
Reduction; Reduced power requirements; Appearance of minicomputers –
This allowed computer technology to become available medium and even
Small businesses.
Gen 4: Late 1970s & 1980s; LSI and later VLSI technology; Personal computing
Now available; Much smaller; Further reduction in power requirements;
Substantially increased capabilities.

Note: time frames are approximate, just to give the era.

2. What are some of the advantages of digital techniques over analog techniques?

 Greater flexibility, especially where changes or future upgrades are needed.


 More processing capability than analog counterparts.
 Numeric information can be represented with greater precision and range.
 Information storage and retrieval functionality is more easily implemented.
 Error detection and correction are easily implemented (parity, Hamming codes, etc.)
 Miniaturization is arguably easier with digital solutions.

Chapter 1

Textbook: 1.1 (A+B. A-B only), 1.4 , 1.5 , 1.7 , 1.8 , 1.10 , 1.14 , 1.15 , 1.20

1
2
1.4 Convert each of the following decimal numbers to binary, octal, and hexadecimal numbers.

3
4
1.5 Convert each of the following binary numbers to octal, hexadecimal, and decimal numbers using
the most appropriate conversion method.

(a) 1101
001 101 1101
1 5 = (15)8 D = (D)16

23 + 22 + 20 = 8 + 4 + 1 = (13)10

(b) 101110
101 110 0010 1110
5 6 = (56)8 2 E = (2E)16

25 + 23 + 22 + 21 = 32 + 8 + 4 + 2 = (46)10

(c) 0.101
.101 .1010
.5 = (.5)8 .A = (.A)16

2-1 + 2-3 = .5 + .125 = (.625)10

(d) 0.01101
.011 010 .0110 1000
.3 2 = (.32)8 .6 8 = (.68)16

2-2 + 2-3+ 2-5 = .25 + .125 + .03125 = (.40625)10

(e) 10101.11
010 101.110 0001 0101 . 1100
2 5 . 6 = (25.6)8 1 5 . C = (15.C)16

24 + 22 + 20 + 2-1 + 2-2 = 16 + 4 + 1 + .5 + .25 = (21.75)10

(f) 10110110.001
010 110 110 . 001 1011 0110 . 0010
2 6 6 . 1 = (266.1)8 B 6 . 2 = (B6.2)16

27 + 25 + 24 + 22 + 21 + 2-3 = 128 + 32 + 16 + 4 + 1 + .125 = (181.125)10

5
1.7 Convert each of the following hexadecimal numbers to binary, octal, and decimal using the most
appropriate conversion method.

6
1.8 Find the two's complement of each of the following binary numbers assuming n = 8 .

7
8
9
10
11

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