Computer Hardware

Computer Applications

Computer Essentials

Hardware

Computer Hardware

Memory

OutputInput Processor

Hard disk

Flash memory

CD or DVD

Storage

Temporary Data Holding

Data Data

DataD

ataD

ata

Software Program Types

System Software: all the programs that help the computer function

operating system (OS) - including user interface

Application Software: all the programs you can use to perform a task

productivity software special-purpose programs

The Physical Components

Input devices

Processing

Output devices

Storage devices

Communications devices

Input Devices

Keyboard

Mouse, Touch pad, Joystick

Touch screen

Digital Camera, Digital Video

Microphone, Sound card

Scanner

Barcode Reader

Output Devices

Monitor, Video Adapter Card

Printer, Laser or Inkjet

Loudspeakers, Audio Output

Tactile Feedback, Braille

Bits and Bytes

bit = binary digitthe basic unit of

information1 or 0

byte = 8 bitsenough combinations (28 =

256) to store essential characters

Extended ASCII character codes

But modern computers use Unicode, which is a much greater encoding

system. It allows for encoding of all the

languages in the world.

Big & Way Big BytesByte a grouping of eight bits for instance --> 0110 0001

Kb (kilobyte) about 1000 bytes

Mb (megabyte) about one thousand Kb or one million bytes

Gb (gigabyte) about one thousand Mbor one billion bytes

Tb (terabyte) is about one thousand Gb or one trillion bytes

Port Types

Serial -

Parallel -

SCSI -

USB -

FireWire -

IrDA -

bits flow in a single line

several bits flow at once

can connect up to 8 devices, fastdata transfer, found on all Macs

can connect many devices, has hot swapping capability

like USB, higher speed & more $

infrared, line of sight

Motherboard

Printed circuit board with connectors

slots foradapter cards

slots forRAM chips

ROM chip

CPU

Memory - RAM

Stores part of operating system

Stores part of the application programs

Stores your files as you work on them

“Never too rich, never too thin, never too much RAM”

What kind of memory?

Recommendation:

Get DDR memory. It will give better performance because it allows for 2 channels between CPU and other parts.

Primary Storage – Hard disk

Size in Gigabytes

Magnetic technology

Fast access

Secondary Storage - CD/DVD

*-R - recordable burn once

*-RW - rewritable erase and burn again

650 MB for a CD

4.7 GB for a DVD

8.5 GB for Dual Layer DVDs

In-expensive

Flash memory – USB stick

Flash memory is a non-volatile computer memory that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed.

It is a technology that is primarily used in memory cards and USB flash drives for general storage and transfer of data between computers and other digital products.

Easy to use and fairly inexpensive.

Nostalgic Storage - Floppy Disks

write protection tab

linerdisk

spindle holesector hole

plastic casing

sliding metal shutterread/write opening

Then and Now

1982 - ABC 80

Made in Sweden

2007 – Macbook Pro

Made in China

Specifications

The ABC80

3 MHz CPU

16 kb memory

No hard disc

Two big floppies for storage instead

Monochrome monitor

What’s next?

“When man and machine merge”

http://www.box.net/shared/static/az0d7ic6il.pdf