Fundamental Principles of

Computer Systems

Unit B, Objective 3.01 & 3.02

Computer Hardware

A computer is an electronic device that processes information in the form of data very rapidly.

A computer system consists of hardware and software components.

Hardware is the physical equipment of a computer system

Input Devices

A device that is used to put information

into a computer system for use or storage.

Input Devices

Keyboard Mouse Trackballs Digitizing tablets/

Touch pads Scanner Webcam

Modem Voice recognition Sensors Touch Screens Joysticks/ Game pads Numerical Keypad Stylus

Output Devices

A device used to visually display, or transfer information into either a hard copy, audio or a physical component.

Output Devices

Robot (Mills & Arms) Voice recognition Sound card Speakers

Monitor Laser printer Inkjet printer Plotter Modem

Modems

A modem is both an input and output device.

The word modem is derived from two words modulation and demodulation.

Modulation

Modulation is when the information is combined with the carrier wave.

This allows the information to be sent through telephone wires and fiber optic wires, etc.

Demodulation

Demodulation is when the carrier wave is separated from the information received by the computer.

Storage Devices

A device used to store a variety of information.

Magnetic MediaStorage Devices

Metal oxides are placed on a plastic base so that when a magnetic head passes over them they may become magnetized. The pattern created is a digital binary code.

This technique is known as writing data.

Examples: Floppy drive Hard drive Zip drive

Optical Disk Storage Devices

A device used to store data in which a laser is used to write and retrieve the information from the media.

Examples:

CD-ROM CD-RW DVD-ROM DVD-RW

More Storage Devices

Memory Read Only Memory

(ROM) Random Access

Memory (RAM)

Portable Memory USB drives (Jump) Smart drives Compact flash Secure digital Flash sticks

Hard copy

CPU

The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer system that includes control and arithmetic logic.

The rate at which it processes information is often referred to as speed and is measured in hertz.

Networking

Is the connecting of two or more computers together to share information and resources.

Types of Networks

LAN - Local Area NetworkThese are usually a two or more computers connected together within a single building or plant.*Intranet – network within a network.

WAN – Wide Area Network This network consist of a group of computers that are

located in various buildings, which are connected by either phone lines, T1 or T3 connections or the Internet itself. *Internet – world wide web.

Types of LAN Networks

Peer-to-Peer Client/Server Bus (Ethernet)

Types of WAN Networks

Internet Information Databases – FBI, IRS, DMV,

Naturalization Bureau (citizenship)

Bus (Ethernet)

Software

A computer system uses software which is a set of instructions that controls the actions of the machine.

Types of Software

Operating software is a bridge between the computer hardware and application software.

Application software is comprised of a variety of software programs that processes data into information.

Operating Software

There are a variety of platforms available today.

Windows OS Unix Linux

Application Software

Database Management Desktop Publishing Graphics Multimedia Networking Spreadsheets Word Processing

DATA

Data is the information that is put into the computer, stored and taking out of the computer.

Data must be input through devices in to

the computer. These are called peripherals.

Binary

The counting system used by a computer for data storage/ retrieval is called binary or base 2.

The data is represented by a one or zero which

is the smallest piece of information called a bit.ON (1) or OFF (0)

Eight bits of information is equal to one byte.

 

Image Files

Graphic programs create images consisting of a pattern of dots

or pixels known as Bitmaps.

Vector based images are stored in mathematical terms as a shape or

object, with properties and a location.

ASCII

The American Standard Code of Information is a numbering system used to represent alpha numeric characters.

ASCII Code is used to convert letters to binary code.

Connecting To The Internet

5 Components are essential to connect to the internet or the world wide web Computer Modem Medium Internet Service Provider (ISP) Phone Connection or Satellite Connection

Internet Connections

There are 3 basic types of internet connections: Dial up DSL Tier 1 or broadband

Internet Tracking Internet Protocol Address – IP Address

Google: Internet Protocol Tracker. Select this link: www.ip-adress.com/ip_tracer

What is your IP Address? What is your IP latitude and longitude? What is you IP postal code? What type Internet connection do you have? What is your upload and download speed? What type browser and operating system used?

Select Who am I from the Start Menu on your computer: