1.1.3 Computing Facts

Computer Categories

Hardware - The physical components that compose a computer system or network.

• Keyboard, mouse. monitor, and printer

• Connectors and cables

• Hard disk drives

• Circuit boards

  
  

Software - Instructions or data that are stored electronically, either on a hard drive or a special chip.

• Operating systems

• Program applications

• Hardware drivers (special programs that tell the operating system how to use the hardware

• Firmware (special type of software that is embedded in the read-only memory of a hardware component. A BIOS chip is an example of firmware.)

Computer Functions

Input - the movement of data or commands to the internal computer hardware.

• Standard input devices

  • Mouse

  • Keyboard

  • Joystick

• Gaming input devices

  • Game controller

  • Joystick

• Media input devices

  • Scanner

  • DIgital camera

  • Webcam

• Audio input devices

  • Microphone

  • MIDI controller

Processing - The flow of data through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions.

• Central processing unit (CPU)

• Random-access memory (RAM) RAM is considered volatile memory because it is non-persistent.

Storage devices - Devices that contain non-volatile memory for saving or maintaining data.

• Hard disk drives

• Solid-state drives

• Optical drives (CD-ROM, DVD;ROM, and Blu-ray)

• Flash drives

Output - The process of the computer presenting, displaying, or otherwise giving data

• Video

• Audio

• Printing

Networking and communications - The practice of connecting two or more computers to transfer data

• Connecting media

  • Copper cables

  • Radio signals

• Connection devices

  • Routers

  • Switches

Hardware Components

Componentization

• Each part is a field replaceable unit (FRU)

• Keeps maintenance costs low

Standardization

• Components from different manufactures are interchangeable.if they meet specified standards