Hardware and Software (Information via CCSU)

Hardware

The physical components of a computer system

Software

Programs and data used by a physical computer

Example of Hardware

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Example of Software

Operating Systems (OS)

Downloaded Programs

Applications

Main Memory

Connected directly with the processor, makes easy and fast data changes, holds active data, needs electric power to hold information, relatively low capacity.

Secondary Memory

Connected to the main memory through a bus, easy but comparatively slow data changes, stores inactive data, does not need electric power to store data, relatively high capacity.

CPU

Central Processing Unit

What is the processor

Also called CPU, does the fundamental computing tasks and controls all other components of the computer.

Are there different ways to store software?

No. Programs and other data are all stored in the same way.

Applications Programs

Used by people to get work done

Systems Programs

Used by the computer to keep all hardware and software running together smoothly

Operating System

System program that starts up applications, runs them, and manages their resources.

Network

Grouping of multiple computers that exchange data. All computers on a network must have the same protocol to understand how to transmit and receive data.

Why does a computer need a clock?

Synchronize time between measurements of binary to ensure that changes occur only between measurements.

How are clock ticks measured?

Hertz (Hz). One clock tick per second is one binary check per second measured as one Hz.

Binary

Two states

Bit

A single 0 or 1 value.

Analog

Signal that continuously changes value

Digital

Something that stores and processes data in terms of two states