igcse ict-chapter 1

chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

What is hardware?

The physical components that make up a typical computer system. These may include input and output devices.

What are the types of hardware?

Hardware falls into two categories:

• Internal hardware devices

• External hardware devices

Examples of Internal hardware devices

• Motherboard

• Central processing unit(CPU) / processor

• Random access memory(RAM)

• Read-only memory(ROM)

• Graphics card

• Network interface card(NIC)

• Internal storage devices(hard disk drives and solid state drives)

Examples of External hardware devices

• keyboard

• mouse

• camera

• monitor

• printer

• plotter

What is software?

The programs that control the computer system and process data

What are the types of software?

• System software

• Applications software

What is application software and some examples of it?

Software that provides the services that the user requires to solve a given task.

Examples:

• Word processing

• spreadsheet

• database

• video editing

• graphics editing

What is system software and some examples of it?

The software designed to provide a platform on which all other software can run.

Examples:

• Compilers

• Linkers

• Device Drivers

• Operating System

• Utilities

What is Digital Data?

Data that can only be understand by computers which is in a binary format(1,0)

What is Analogue Data?

Data in the real world which is not limited to two specific values.

What type of data this graph represent?

Analogue data

What type of dat this graph represent?

Digital data