What is the computer theory?

[kəm′pyüd·ər ‚thē·ə·rē] (computer science) A discipline covering the study of circuitry, logic, microprogramming, compilers, programming languages, file structures, and system architectures.

What is computation in computer science?

Computation. Computation is any type of calculation or use of computing technology in information processing. Computation is a process following a well-defined model understood and expressed as, for example, an algorithm, or a protocol. The study of computation is paramount to the discipline of computer science.

How do computers represent complex information?

Binary can be used to represent more complex, higher level abstractions, including but not limited to numbers, characters, and colors. When data is large enough computers switch to using decimal representation instead of binary, because you can represent larger numbers with fewer digits.

Where does the actual computation occur in a computer?

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) The computer does its primary work in a part of the machine we cannot see, a control center that converts data input to information output.

How has the power of a computer changed over time?

– Since the 1970s, the power of computers has doubled every year or and a half, yielding computers which are millions of times more powerful than their ancestors of a half century ago – The law states that processor speeds, or overall processing power for computers will double about every 18 month’s

Why do the laws of physics apply to computer components?

The explosion in the size of computing components can’t go on forever, given the laws of physics. Cramming more and more, smaller and smaller, faster and faster components onto computer chips will generate more and more heat. Eventually the chip will melt. Why does the law exist? – All of these are improving at (roughly) exponential rates.

What is the cause of the explosion in computing power?

The explosion in computing power comes from an explosion in the size of computing components. The explosion in the size of computing components can’t go on forever, given the laws of physics. Cramming more and more, smaller and smaller, faster and faster components onto computer chips will generate more and more heat.

How often does Intel increase the number of transistors in chips?

In other words, since 1988 up until 1997 (9 year span), Intel has been doubling the number of transistors in its microprocessors in less than every two years – The charts below show the number of transistors per chip doubling every 18 months where the transistor count = 1,000.