Monday, September 24, 2001		IT Bookshelf

Computer Science (For Class XII, PSEB, Punjab) By Pavitra Choudhury, Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana. Pages 206. Rs 75.

WITH the introduction of computer science at the school level as a separate subject, many authors have come up with books, covering syllabus prescribed by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). Written by teacher of computer science at Army School, Chandimandir, Panchkula, the book has been divided into 10 units that cover the PSEB Class XII syllabus in its sixteen chapters.

The first chapter deals with the concept and aspects of Boolean algebra, which is used to solve relay logic problems. Various types of theorem have been explained with the help of diagrams and tables.

Taking up languages, the next chapter makes a brief review of C++ concepts, which had been discussed in Class XI in detail. C++ is an object-oriented programming language, which is helpful in executing various computing software operations. The book also has a separate chapter on file organisation and handling in C++. The method used to "represent and store the records on a file" is called file organisation. Various methods and types of files have been explained with the help of solved examples.

The eighth unit deals with database concepts. A database is a "collection of related information which is available to many users." The chapter explains various ways to view databases, different data models and roles of relational operation on database, etc.

In an organisation, networking plays an important role. A computer network provides two-way data communications. In a chapter, "Data Communication and Computer Networks," the author discusses the basic elements of communications system. Computers are classified on the basis of geographical spread. Comparison between these types of networks, i.e., local area network (LAN), metropolitan area network (MAN) and wide area network has been explained through a geometrical figure and table.

The good-old COBOL has also found a place in the book even though it has become obsolete now, may be to give an insight to students into the evolution of languages. Introduced in 1961, COBOL-85 is the latest version. A chapter discusses the history of COBOL, its coding format, structure, data division, editing, etc.

The book has a question-and-answer format, which can be helpful to students, particularly with examinations in mind. A few questions that have appeared in earlier CBSE exams have also been answered. Written in an easy-to-understand language, the book can be helpful in learning the basic concepts of computer science.