Chapter 1 - Types and components of computer systems

Internal hardware and external hardware

Hardware - Physical components that you can touch

• Internal : Motherboard, NIC, CPU, Graphic Card, RAM, ROM

• External : Monitor, Speaker, Mouse, Keyboard

Software - Programs that can control the computer

• Application : Powerpoint, Excel, Word, VB, Office, MS Access, Photoshop

• System : Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Compiler

How to use word processing?

• Can type and insert text into the computer and print out the paper style

How to use spreadsheet?

• Can type and insert text and numbers for calculations using formulas.

Database

• Organize, manipulate and analyze data.

Apps and Applets

• Small applications that perform a single task on a device.

Control and measurement software

• Designed to allow a computer or microprocessor with sensors to measure or control.

Audio editing software

• Can edit sound and produce sound.

Video editing software

• Can edit video and produce videos.

Graphic editing software

• Can edit pictures and produce pictures.

System Software

• Compiler

• Linkers

• Device driver

• Utilities

• Operating Systems (OS)

Analogue and digital data

• Computers only understand data in a binary format (digital data)

• Data in the real world is analogue data in nature.

• Physical data changes to digital by using ADC.

• Binary format changes to analogue data by using DAC.

Main components of computer systems (Processing of computers)

Input

• Keyboard

• Mouse

• Microphone

Processing

• CPU

-  ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

-  CU (Control Unit)

-  MU (Memory Unit)

Output

• Speaker

• Monitor

• Projector

Main components of computer system

• CPU - Part of the computer

   - Interprets and executes the commands from the computer

• ALU - For calculating in the computer

• CU - Control the flow of data processing

• MU - Saving the data

Internal memory

• Random Access Memory (RAM) 

• internal chip

• temporarily

• Read-Only Memory (ROM)

• Memory

• Permanent

Difference between RAM and ROM

• RAM

• Temporary

• Volatile

• Written to and read from

• Store data, files, programs, part of operating systems

• Increased in size to improve operational speed

• ROM

• Permanent

• Non-volatile

• Read-Only

• Stor BIOS and other data

Input and Output devices

• Input - Insert data into the computer

• Output - You can see data from the computer

Backing storage - store large amounts of data

• Ram and ROM

• Internal backing storage 

• HDD (hard disk drive)

• SSD (solid-state drive)

• Key feature of a backing storage - must store data permanently

Operating Systems - to allow users to communicate with computer systems

• General tasks

• Control input, output and backing storage devices

• Supervising the loading, running and storage

• Dealing with errors

• Maintaining security

• Maintaining a computer log

• Allowing communication between user and the computer system

User Interface

• Command line interface (CLI)

• Graphical user interface (GUI)

• Dialogue-based user interface

• Gesture-based user interface

• CLI 

• Type instructions to choose options from menus, open software

• Number of commands that need to be typed

• GUI

• Allows the user to interact with a computer using pictures or symbols (icons). (End User).

Who would use each type of interface?

• CLI - programmers, system analyst, needs direct communication with the computer

• GUI - End user who don’t need to learn coding

Difference between CLI and GUI

• CLI

• Type instructions to choose options

• Need to learn coding

• GUI

• Allows the user to interact with a computer using icons

• No need to learn coding

Advantages and Disadvantages of CLI

• Advantages

• User is in direct communication with the computer

• Not restricted to a number of predetermined options

• Possible to alter computer configuration settings

• Can control the computer

• Disadvantages

• Learn a number of commands to carry out basic operations

• All commands need to be types in

• Error-prone

• Each command must be typed in using the correct format

• Need to learn coding using correct format to not be error-prone

Advantages and Disadvantages of GUI

• Advantages

• No need to learn coding

• User-friendly

• Can control the pointer and icons

• Disadvantages

• Cannot control the inside of the computer

• Slower to execute commands

• User is limited to the icons provided on the screen

• Don’t know how to solve errors

Types of computers

• Desktop

• Mobile Computers (Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet, Phablet)

Desktop Computers

• Desktop usually refers to a general purpose computer that is made up of separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and processor unit.

Advantages of Desktop computers

• Can store large amounts of data

• Can replace the accessories easily

• Spare parts are lower costs

• Easier and less expensive to upgrade or expand

• Internet access can be more stable because of wired internet connection

Disadvantages of Desktop computers

• Takes large amount of space on desk

• Not portable because they are made up of separate components

• Harder to copy files

Uses of desktop computers

• At home for entertainment, education and work

• At office for work and organization

• Use as a gaming device

Laptop Computers

• Monitor, keyboard, pointing device and processor are all together in one single unit

Features of Laptop computers

• Lightweight

• Low power

• Low heat output

Advantages of Laptop computers

• Portable

• Takes less space than desktop

Disadvantages of Laptop computers

• Expensive to repair

• Less powerful than desktop

• Limited battery life

Smartphones

• Allow phone calls, have an operating system and allow applications to run on a phone.

Features of smartphones

• High-definition, anti-glare displays

• Front and back-facing cameras

• Lower weight and longer battery life than laptops

• Make use of flash(solid state) memory and cloud storage

Advantages of smartphones

• Lightweight and portable

• Can run computer applications on it

• Connect internet

• Make phone calls

• Reasonable battery life compared to laptops

Disadvantages of smartphones

• Small screen and keyboard

• Can’t open all websites

• Mobile data is slower than wi-fi

Tablets

• Similar to smartphones and can use touch-screen

Advantages of tablets

• Very fast to switch on

• Fully portable

• Can use several apps

• Solid-state technology

• Battery life of a tablet is longer

Disadvantages of tablets

• Expensive

• Limited memory or storage when compared to a laptop

• Touch-screen is slow at typing than standard keyboard

• Transferring of files often has to be done through an application software

Phablets

• Larger screens than smartphones

• Latest smartphone

• Can use like a computer style

• Smaller than tablet

Advantages of phablets

• Larger screen

• Can run computer apps

Disadvantages of phablets

• Smaller than tablets

• Can’t store as much as laptops

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• AI is a machine or application which carries out a task that requires some degree of intelligence.

• The use of language

• Recognising a person’s face

• The ability to operate machinery, such as a car, airplane, train and so on

• Analyzing data to predict the outcome of a future event, for example weather forecasting

Advantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI) / The Impact of AI

• Robots may not injure a human through action or inaction

• Robots must obey order given by humans without question

• Robots must protect itself unless it conflicts with the two laws above

• Can do 24/7

• No human error

Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Setting and maintaining fees are expensive

• Human laziness from depending on technology

• Unemployment

• Can see technological errors

• Loss of skills for human

Extended Reality (XR)

• Refers to real and virtual combined environments

• Term for all immersive technologies

Augmented Reality (AR)

• Relationship between digital(virtual) and physical(real) worlds.

• Virtual information and objects are overleaf onto real-world situations

• AR world through special goggles or via smartphone / phablet screens.

• Ex. Pokemon Go game

Virtual Reality (VR)

• Real world environment into a virtual(unreal) digital environment

• The user is fully immersed in a simulated digital world

• Must wear a VR headset or a head-mounted display which allows a 360` view of the virtual world

• Technology can be used in medicine, construction, engineering and the military