COMPUTER COMPONENTS; COMP. FUNDAMENTALS

A COMPUTER IS an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.

HARDWARE is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard or mouse.

It is comprised of core components (such as the processor, memory and storage) and peripherals (such as input/output devices).

HARDWARE IS USED TO CARRY OUT THESE PROCESSES

  • Accepting input

  • Processing that input

  • Producing output information

  • Storing data and/or information for later use

FIVE CATEGORIES OF HARDWARE:

  1. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) – The component of the computer that controls the interpretation and execution of instructions. INCLUDES:

    • The CU (Control Unit) - Directs the operations of the CPU

    • ALU (Arithmetic logic Unit) - Performs calculations and logic operations 

    • Memory Unit - Component that stores data, instructions and info

  2. INPUT DEVICES get data into a computer. A mouse, a keyboard and a scanner are all input devices.

  3. OUTPUT DEVICES get processed information out of a computer, for example to a printer, computer screen or even to speakers.

  4. MEMORY enables a computer to temporarily store instructions and data.

  5. STORAGE MEDIA include hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and USB flash memory sticks, while the storage devices include hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives and DVD drives.

PERIPHERAL DEVICES are controlled by the CPU but are not in it. Input, output and storage devices may be peripheral devices.

SOFTWARE is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers, games, and word processors.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

  1. Embedded computer

  2. Mobile devices

  3. Mobile computers

  4. Personal computers

  5. Game consoles

  6. Servers

  7. Mainframes

  8. Supercomputers

ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER USAGE

  • Increased speed when finishing tasks

  • Consistency and accuracy of results produced

  • Enhanced storage capabilities

  • Reliability that organizations can depend on.

DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER USAGE

  • Easier security breaches and data loss

  • High initial set up cost

IPO PRINCIPLE: Input – Processing – Output

These three steps describe the basic principle and sequence of data processing.

INPUT is the data the computer receives for processing

PROCESSING is when the recorded data is processed using computer programs, transforming recorded data into useful information for the user.

OUTPUT is the data the computer sends out in human-readable form

NOTE BRIEFLY: USB sticks, external hard disks, and touchscreens simultaneously

function as input and output devices.

THE IPOS CYCLE represents the four basic tasks of any computer: Input, Processing, Output, Storage

STORAGE is a non-volatile device that holds data until it is deleted or overwritten

SECONDARY STORAGE is the permanent placement of information on a device, but can also refer to temporary storage in some form of memory (RAM, etc)