Transcript Fundamentals of Hardware and Software

FUNDAMENTALS OF
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
Desmond Wilson
September 2011
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
1. Appreciate the fundamental hardware
and software terminologies and
concepts;
2. Develop expertise in the operation and
use of microcomputer-based systems.
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1
• Define the term Computer
2
• Describe a general-purpose
computer system
3
• Explain the functions of the major
hardware components of a
computer system
WHAT IS A
COMPUTER?
A Computer Defined
A computer also known as the hardware, is a
device made up of a combination of electronic
and electromechanical (part electronic and part
mechanical) components, that manipulates data
according to a set of instructions
A general-purpose Computer System
A computer system includes hardware devices
and software to make the computer function.
It is a combination of six parts;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Hardware
Software
Data / Information
Procedures
People
Communications
Software
Electronic instructions that tell
hardware how to perform a task.
Software consists of a group of related programs.
Each program in turn is made up of related
instructions that perform very specific processing
tasks. Software that runs the hardware and allows the
computer to manage its resources is systems
software;
Software that is acquired to perform general business
functions is referred to as application software or a
software package.
Data / Information
Data the raw facts and figures that are processed into
information.
Information is summarized data, data with meaning
or otherwise manipulated (processed) data.
Procedures
Procedures are
descriptions of how things
are done, steps for
accomplishing a result.
Procedures for computer
systems appear in
documentation manuals,
which contain the
guidelines for using the
hardware and software.
People
People, design and develop computer
systems, operate computers, create
software, and establish procedures for
carrying out tasks.
Communications
Communications, this
becomes an element
when one computer
system needs to share
data and information
with another computer
system electronically.
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Computer
hardware
components
Units of Storage
Categories of
Computers
Trends
•
•
•
•
•
Input devices
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Output devices
Primary Storage
Secondary Storage
• Bits, nibbles, bytes, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte,
terabyte, word, word size.
• Supercomputers
• Mainframe Computers
• Mini Computers
• Microcomputers
• Input
• Output
• Storage & Communication
Computer hardware components
• Consists of:
– Input devices
– The Central Processing Unit (CPU) or processor
– Output devices
– Primary or Immediate Storage or Main Memory
– Secondary or Permanent Storage
Input devices
- used to collect data and input it into the
computer system in computer-usable form
The Central Processing Unit
• Has two main parts:
– Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
• Performs all the arithmetic and logic operations
– Control Unit (CU)
• Controls the flow and execution of data and instructions
Output devices
Provides user with opportunity to
view or hear, and recently feel
information produced by a
computer system. - either in
hardcopy form, such as printouts
from a printer, or softcopy form,
such as a display on a monitor, a TVlike screen, or sounds or music from
speakers, or resistance on a joystick
or vibrations on a body pack.
Primary Storage , Immediate Storage
or Main Memory
Primary Storage also known as
immediate storage, main storage or
memory is the area in the computer
which data is stored for quick access by
the computer’s processor
Secondary or Permanent Storage
- the means of storing software and data
in a form that is relatively permanent, or
nonvolatile.
Units of Storage
Bit - A computer stores data in combinations of 0 and 1. Storage devices are
built from bi-stable devices that can be set to 0 or 1. Each state is a binary digit
that is usually referred to as a bit.
Nibble – This is four bits or half of a byte.
Byte – A group of eight bits for example 01001011 is a byte. Every character
you type (letter, digit, symbol) takes one byte of storage.
Word – Is the basic unit for accessing computer storage. For example, a 32-bit
computer can access 32 bits of data from the computer storage in one
operation.
Word size – is a unit of measurement using the amount of bits in the word.
Computers currently have a word size of 32 bits and 64 bits. This means that
the computer can process four characters (32 bits) or eight characters (64 bits)
at a time.
Units of Storage
Unit
Abbreviation
Approximate value
Actual value
Bit
b
0 or 1
Byte
B
8 bits
KiloByte
KB
1 thousand bytes
1024 Bytes
MegaByte
MB
1 million Bytes
1024 KB = 1,048,576 bytes
GigaByte
GB
1 billion Bytes
1024 MB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
TeraByte
TB
1 trillion Bytes
1024 GB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
Computer systems can be categorized according to their
processing speed and power into:
 Supercomputers
 Mainframes
 Minicomputers
 Microcomputers
Supercomputers
A supercomputer is the fastest, most
powerful, and most expensive
computer used for applications that
require complex and sophisticated
mathematical calculations.
Typical tasks carried out by
supercomputers include weather
forecasting, space exploratory
projects, scientific and weapons
research.
Whilst supercomputers are working, they generate so much heat that they need to be
housed in specifically designed rooms with environmental controls and air conditioning
systems.
Mainframe Computers
A mainframe is a large, expensive, but
powerful computer that can handle
thousands of connected users at the
same time.
Users typically access a mainframe via a
personal computer or a terminal.
Typical users of mainframes include
banks, police insurance companies, and
airlines with sophisticated reservation
systems.
Mainframe computers need to be operated by specialist, trained staff. They are usually
kept in an air-conditioned rooms away from the office or factory floor.
Minicomputers
A minicomputer is often used in situations
where a microcomputer is not powerful
enough but a mainframe is too expensive.
Minicomputers are also known as mid-range
servers, which can normally support up to
several thousands users at the same time.
Users typically access a minicomputer via a
personal computer or a terminal.
Microcomputers
A microcomputer is a
computer that can
perform all of its input,
process, output, and
storage activities by itself.
Microcomputers are often known as personal
computers (PC).
Microcomputers include desktop computers, tower
model computers, notebook computers, handheld
computers, and Internet appliances.
Trends
Body Movement Input Devices
Input Devices of the Future
Get ready to cast aside your keyboard
and mouse. Future computer input
devices will rely heavily on the
movements of our eyes, head, hands,
body and the words that we speak.
But are you ready for a computer that
can read your mind? let's check out
the latest developments in computerhuman interaction...
Brain-Computer Interface Devices
Body Movement Input Devices
Body movement input devices are
perhaps the easiest step to take in
terms of evolving input device
technology. These devices will track
eye, foot or body position with a
magnetic tracker or 3D tracker and
mirror those movements on your
computer screen. These devices are
already in development, and some
demographics are already using them.
For example, people with mobility
disabilities like paralysis or MS, can use
head position trackers to help them
use their computers.
Brain-Computer Interface Devices
The most fantastic of all future input
devices has to be the brain wave detection
input device. To use this device you will
simply have to think about what you want
your computer to do and the computer
will respond accordingly. It will have
sensors that will be able to receive your
brain waves and interpret them as a
computer command. Can you imagine,
composing a term paper or business
report just by thinking about what you
want to write? Already there are some
devices that use EEG and biofeedback
technology to detect brain waves and
create brain-computer interfaces.
Output devices of the Future
Shokpress Light Pen Future Computer Technology
Have a look at these pictures and all you get to see is few pens
with hidden cams like device in them? But in reality its not that
simple case ladies and gentlemen.
You are getting a chance of sneaking into a potential technology
that could one day be very important for the future of computing.
The light signaling and sensing technology could be a complete
replacement of current computer input and output devices like
monitor and keywords.
This pen sort of instrument produces both the monitor
as well as the keyboard on flat surfaces from where you
can just carry out the normal operations you do on your
conventional desktop and laptop PCs.
In the revolution of miniature of computers, the
scientists are ahead with photonic technology. see the
forthcoming computers within our pockets. It seems like
Bill Gates was right a couple of years ago when he said:
"You haven't seen anything yet."
Storage & Communication devices
Cobalto concept phone
http://thenextweb.com/2010/01/01/avatartakes-1-petabyte-storage-space-equivalent-32year-long-mp3/
holographic technology
http://www.petabyteharddrive.net/
Communication Devices
It is a technique that
allows the light
scattered from an
object to be recorded
and later reconstructed.
The image changes as
the position and
orientation of the
viewing system changes
in exactly the same way
as if the objects were
still present, thus
making the recorded
image (hologram)
appear three
dimensional.
With the hologram, no special glasses are needed and the number of perspectives is only
limited by the number of cameras used. Another striking feature is that multiple persons
can simultaneously use without any need to stand at a particular location. To create the
hologram, cameras take color images at multiple angles and send them over an Ethernet
line. So if we talk about video conferencing, the users sitting on one of the sides will see
the side view, those sitting in the front will be seeing the front view and those at the
Cobalto concept
phone projects
high definition
3D holograms
into the air
Cobalto is a concept almost impossible to imagine. Instead of using a simple screen, the
phone projects high definition 3D holograms into the air- allowing the user to interact with
it in thousands of ways. The phone’s design is mesmerizing- no buttons are present; it
simply consists of a transparent glass display and a metal frame. The sleek and minimalistic
design promise mobility and convenience. No special glasses are required to view the
phenomenon- turn on the device to view projected 3D images. The phone provides all the
features found in normal phones, whether it be maps, music, or video. The addition of
holograms though, make normal activities much more exciting. With holograms,
technology such as 3D conferencing is possible- when a call is made a 3D holographic
representation of the person pops up. This would make calls much more realistic and
efficient. The user interacts with the phone by using either numeric keys or an iPod like
dial. The phone gives us a glimpse of the power of tomorrow’s technology.
Resources
Bellefield High School website Assignments & Handouts link:
http://bellefieldhigh.webs.com/assignmentshandouts.htm
ICT content module:
http://www.teach-ict.com/ecdl/module_1/module_1.htm
On Petabytes : http://www.petabyteharddrive.net/
Wearable computers:
http://www.futureconverged.com/Home/tabid/204/articleType/Ar
ticleView/articleId/484/Wearable-Computing.aspx