IGNOU BCS-11
- Computer Basics and PC Software,
Latest Solved Assignment
(July 2023 - January 2024)

Q1. (Covers Block 1)

a) A computer program consists of instructions and data on which the instruction operates. How are these instructions of a program executed by a computer? Where are these instructions and data stored during execution? What is the role played by Input/output devices?

b) Computer systems always have small RAM, yet it mostly has a large secondary memory like hard disk? Why? The access time of a hard disk is much larger than RAM, even than RAM is smaller in size than hard disk. Justify. Also, mention various types of RAM.

c) Convert the following numbers as directed
(i) 264.015(10) into binary and hexadecimal
(ii) 345611(10) into octal and binary
(iii) String “DATA STRUCTURES marks 50” to ASCII and Unicode string
(iv) 8D614E(16) to decimal and binary

d) How can you calculate the capacity of a Winchester disk given its density and speed? A disk has 10 recording surfaces. Each surface has 2000 tracks, each track has 512 sectors and each sector can store 1MB of data. Calculate the capacity of this disk.

e) Compare and contrast the following technologies:
(i) Parallel Port versus Serial Port
(ii) Light Pen versus Touch Screen
(iii) LED Monitors versus Projection Displays
(iv) Laser printers versus Inkjet printers

f) Explain the characteristics/functions of the following I/O devices:
(i) Flash Drive
(ii) Graphics Tablet
(iii) PenDrive
(iv) External Hard Disk

g) Explain the uses of following Software/Utilities:
(i) TALLY software
(ii) Defender in WINDOWS-11
(iii) Disk Fragmenter
(iv) Database software

Q2. (Covers Block 2)

a) What is client/server architecture? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Is cloud computing also a client/server architecture? Justify your answer.

b) Explain the features and uses of the following computer software:
(i) Debugger
(ii) Linkers
(iii) Editor
(iv) Spreadsheet software

c) What is the kernel of an operating system of a Computer? Explain the terms multiuser, multiprogramming and multitasking in the context of an operating system.

d) Differentiate between the following:
(i) GUI versus Voice Input
(ii) File Management system versus Input/Output control system in the context of an Operating system
(iii) A process versus a program
(iv) LINUX versus WINDOWS

e) Draw a flow chart and write an algorithm to find the sum of n numbers given as input. (You must use looping construct).

f) Define the following terms in the context of programming with the help of an example for each:
(i) Loop- statement
(ii) N-dimensional Arrays
(iii) Logical operators
(iv) Relational Operators

g) Explain the following with the help of an example/diagram, if needed:
(i) Proprietary software
(ii) Scheduling in the context of project management software
(iii) Mailmerge in MS-Word
(iv) Creating tables using a DBMS.

Q3. (Covers Block 3)

(a) Explain the following terms in the context of computer networks:
(i) Packet switching
(ii) Half Duplex transmission
(iii) Need of computer networks
(iv) Channel of data transmission.

(b) A Multinational company has its sales offices in 100 different countries of the World. It uses a computer network to collect world- wise sale and order data at its head office. What kind of network the company should make for its sales offices and head office? Justify your answer.

(c) What is TCP/IP? What is an IP address? Explain various components of IP address with the help of an example.

(d) What is a browser? How does a browser work? How does it communicate with the web server? Explain with the help of an example.

(e) How can you enhance your search results from Internet? Explain with the help of examples. List four applications of the Internet.

(f) Explain the following in the context of Internet and its applications,giving their features and uses:
(i) Search Engine
(ii) Micorsoft Edge

Q1. (Covers Block 1)

a) What is VLSI? How did it change the design of a computer system? Explain the working of von Neumann Architecture with the help a diagram. Also explain the process of execution of an instruction for a von Neumann machine.
b) What are the different standards of representing character in a computer? Name and explain any two such standards with the help of examples. List the ASCII codes of all the decimal digits.
c) Convert the following numbers as directed

(i) Decimal 197.0625 into equivalent binary and hexadecimal.
(ii) Decimal 4567654 into binary and hexadecimal
(iii) String “Character Codes of alphabets and special character $ #” to ASCII and UNICODE strings.
(iv) Hexadecimal ABCDFFED to decimal and binary
d) What is the need of ROM in a computer? How is it different to RAM? Why is cache memory needed even if a computer has RAM and ROM? Why secondary memory is needed?
e) Explain the disk layout of Hard disk and CD-ROM? Also, explain the access time of magnetic disk and CD-ROM. Which of these has smaller access time?
f) Compare and contrast the following technologies:

(i) Parallel port and Serial port
(ii) Mouse and Light pen
(iii) Voice based input and Keyboard input
(iv) Inkjet printers and Laser printers

g) Explain the characteristics/functions of the following in the context of a computer system:

(i) Proxy Server
(ii) Motherboard
(iii) Scandisk utility
(iv) My Documents

Q2. (Covers Block 2)

a) What are the key features of client/server architecture? What are the benefits of using client/server architecture? How is file sharing architecture different from client/server architecture?
b) Explain the characteristics of object-oriented programming? What are the advantages of using object-oriented programming?
c) List and explain the functions of the following in the context of software:

(i) Types of Software Licensing
(ii) Software as a service
(iii) Diagnostic programs
(iv) Perverse Software

d) Explain the following in the context of an Operating System:

(i) Graphical User Interface and Command line interface
(ii) Directory structure and its use in File Management
(iii) Input/Output Services
(iv)Process management in multitasking operating system
(v) Time Sharing system
(vi)Memory management in multi-programming operating system
e) Draw a flow chart and write an algorithm to find the sum of the digits of any two digit number given as input. (Hint: For the input number 68, the sum of digits would be 6+8=14. The key is to extract each digit.).
f) Explain the meaning and output of each line of the following program segment. How many times the loop at (ii) and (iii) will be executed?

(i) int n = 10;
int i, x=1;
(ii) for (i=1; i<=n; i=i+2)
{
(iii) x = x * i;
}
(iv)printf ("The final value is %d ", x);

g) Identify the software or type of software that will be required for the following situations. Also, explain the steps that would be performed to solve the situation in question, if applicable.

(i) A software development company maintains the list of tasks, expected time of completion of the tasks on which staff, people are working. Which software would help the company in planning and scheduling the projects.
(ii) You are planning to apply for a job in at least 10 companies. You are required to create a letter for the human resource management of each company. Identify which software and what features of that software would be used by you. Explain these features.
(iii) You want to judge the performance of each employee by finding the number of hours he/she has worked in last month. The employee attendance data (with in and out time) is available to you. This data is to be analyzed and suitable graphs are to be created to highlight individual work hours. Identify the suitable software and the features of the software that would be needed to create graphs.
(iv) You are required to create a meeting information system for an organization. This system should setup meetings for different groups of employees informing them about meeting date, meeting agenda, notes etc. What kind of software will you use for such work?

Q3. (Covers Block 3)

(a) What are the advantages of Computer Networks? Explain the following terms in the context of computer networks:

(i) Mode of transmission
(ii) Packet and Circuit Switching
(iii) Optical Fiber
(iv) Radio Wave transmission

(b) Explain the characteristics of Bus topology and Ring topology. Also explain the characteristics of LAN and WAN. List one application each of LAN and WAN.

(c) Explain the functions of the following in the context of networking:

(i) Modem
(ii) Network Interface cards
(iii) Repeaters
(iv) OSI model

(d) What is a URL and IP address? How are they related? How URL can be converted to an IP address? Explain with the help of an example. Explain how a subnet mask 255.255.255.0 will be able to help in identifying various components of an IP address.

(e) What is a search engine? What are the basic actions performed by a search engine? Explain. What would be search terms if you are looking forward to the following:

(i) List of Universities offering PhD Programme in Computer Science
(ii) List of Browsing software.
(f) Explain the following in the context of Internet and its applications:
(i) E-mail
(ii) Collaborations