(a) (i) State three ways of classifying computers.
(ii) Differentiate between digital and analog computers.
(b) List three positive impacts of ICT on the society.
(c) Give two types of information transmission medium.
Explanation
(a)(i) Classification of computers: (a) On the basis of size and capacity (Super computer, mainframe, mini frame amd micro computer) (b) On the basis of purpose (General and special purpose) (c) On the basis of hardware design and type (Analog computer, Digital computer and hybrid computer)
(ii) Differences between digital and analog computers: (a) Analog computer works with continuous value these types of systems process works with continuous data (b) Analog computer has very low or limited memory and it can store less amount of data. *Digital (a) Digital computers work with discrete values or these types of system process discrete data (b) Digital computer has very high memory, it can store large amount of data (c) Analog computer has no state digital computer has on and off (d) Analog computers are less reliable than digital computers while digital computers are more reliable than analog computers (e) Analog computers depend upon physical variations while digital computers do not depend upon physical variations (f) Analog computers provide result with less accuracy as compared to digital computers (g) Digital computers provide results with higher accuracy as compared to analog computer. (h) Analog computers are difficult to use while digital computers are not so difficult to use (i) Analog computers have complex architecture while digital computers do not have have complex architecture (j) Readability of analog computer is low while readability of digital computer is high (k) Analog computers show the results in terms of voltage signals while digital computers show the result in computer display screen (l) Power consumption is analog computer is high while power consumption in digital computer is low (m) Analog computers are usually special purpose devices while digital computers can be general purpose devices
(b) Impacts of ICT on the society: (i) Access to information; Increase in access to information and services that has accompanied the growth of the internet. Some of the positive aspect of this increased access are better and often cheaper, communications, such as VOIP phone and instant messaging (ii) New tools. new opportunities; ICT gives access to new tools that did not previously exist like digital cameras, photo-editing software and high quality printers, screen magnification or screen reading software enable partially sighted or blind people to work with ordinary text rather than Braille. (iii) Communication: Cost saving by using e.g VOIP instead of normal telephone, email/messaging instead of post, videos conferencing instead of travelling to meetings, e-commerce web sites instead of sales catalogue, access to lrger evne worldwide markets.
(c) Types of Information transmission medium: Writing, Printing, Fax, Television, Satellite, Internet, GSM, Oral, Town crier