Chapter 1: Types and components of a computer system

1.1 Hardware and software

Hardware
 Tangible physical components of a computer system
 You can feel it or touch it
 Internal Hardware Devices:  External Hardware Devices:
o Processor o Monitor
o Motherboard o Keyboard
o RAM & ROM o Mouse
o Video & Sound Cards o Printer
o Internal Hard Disk Drives o External Storage Devices

Software
 Programs that control computer systems
 Set of instructions that make computer do something
 You cannot physically touch software
 Relates to ideas & instructions for using physical objects

Two types of software:

 Application software:
o Programs that allow the user to do specific task
o Design to carry out tasks
o Can be general purpose software or custom-made software (specialist software)
o E.g. Spread sheets, databases, word processing

 System Software:
o Programs that allow the hardware to run properly
o Control computer's hardware and application program
o Communicate with user
o E.g. Operating system, device drivers, compilers

1.2 Main components of computer systems

CPU
 Processing done by central processing unit
 Three main components:
o Control unit - coordinates input and output devices and carries out program instructions
o Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) – performs calculations and logical comparison: A < B?
o Immediate access store (IAS) - holds data and program instruction in current use

Microprocessor:
o Used instead of CPU
o Single integrated circuit

Internal/Main Memory
 Stores all data: application software, operating system,
data files
 Consists of ROM and RAM
 Both RAM and ROM are integrated chips
RAM:
o Random access memory (RAM) is an internal chip where data is stored temporarily
o Memory can be written to and read from
o RAM > ROM (usually; except washing machines)
o Stores anything that needs to be changed
o All program and data being used are on RAM
o Contents lost when computer is turned off
o Referred to as volatile memory

ROM:
o Read only memory (ROM) is memory used to store permanent information
o Used to contain configuration data for a computer etc.
o Chips cannot be altered, only read from
o Data not lost when computer is turned off
o Referred to as non-volatile memory

BIOS:
o ROM contains boot file, referred to as BIOS (basic input/output system)
o Tells computers what to do when it first starts
o Does hardware check when computer is turned on
o Then it loads operating system into RAM
o BIOS stores date, time and system configuration

Input & Output Devices

 Input devices:
o Purpose is to provide data for processing
o Data is raw facts which alone have no meaning
o Examples: keyboard, mouse
 Output devices:
o Displays result of processing
o Information is processed data which has been given
meaning
o Examples: monitor, printer

Secondary/Backing Storage
 Stores data/information & programs not being used at
current time
 Backing store device = reader or recorder
o Example: Hard disk drive
 Backing store media = hardware containing data
o Example: Hard disk
Basic Computer Model
1.3 Operating Systems

 Enables users to communicate with computer systems

 Controls operation of input, output & backing storage
 Supervises loading, running & storage of application program
 Deals with error in application programs
 Maintains security of whole computer system
 Maintains a computer log
 Two main types of interfaces: CLI & GUI

CLI - Command Line Interface

 Types commands to tell the computer what to do
o The user must know all the commands
o Must not make typing errors
 Used by technicians
 Can access everything on the computer system
 GUI users can only access places they have icons for

 Advantages
o Knowing the correct commands, this can be much faster than any other interface type
o Uses much less RAM than any other interface type
o Low resolution, cheap monitors can be used
o CLI does not require Windows to run
 Disadvantages
o Can be confusing
o Commands must be typed precisely, if there is a spelling error the command will fail
o If you mistype an instruction, it is often necessary to start all over again
o Large number of commands need to be learned

GUI - Graphical User Interface

 Uses graphics to stand for the complicated actions
 Uses icons
 Uses a mouse to selector the icons
 Screen divided into windows allows different things on each
 WIMP - Windows Icons Menus Pointers

 Advantages
o Easy to use because requires little IT knowledge
o Easy to explore and find your way around the system
o Do not have to learn complicated commands
o Exchange data between different software
o Good help facilities provided with GUIs
 Disadvantages
o Larger amount of hard disk space than other interfaces
o Significantly more memory (RAM) to run than other interface type
o GUI use more processing power than other types of interfaces
o GUI can be slow for experienced programmers to use; they find CLI much faster
1.4 Types of Computers

Desktop/Personal Computers
 Refers to general purpose computers
 PC refers to IBM compatible computers, distinguishing them from the Macs
 Made up of separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and processing unit
 Advantages
o Spare parts standardized results in low costs
o Tend to have better specifications
o Large casing allows good dissipation of heat build up
 Disadvantages
o Not portable since they are made up of separate
components
o Wiring clutters up desk space
o Necessary to copy files as they aren't portable

Laptop/Notebook Computers
 Refers to computers where monitor, keyboard, pointing device and processor together in a single
unit
 Extremely portable systems
o Low weight
o Low power consumption
o Processor doesn't generate too much heat
 Advantages
o Portable because monitor, pointing device, keyboard, processor & backing store units are together
in one box
o No trailing wires
o Full advantage of Wi-Fi
o Can link into any multimedia system
 Disadvantages
o Easy to steal
o Limited battery; need to carry charger
o Keyboard and pointing device awkward to use
o Heat dissipation is difficult due to laptop structure

Tablet Computer
 These are small hand-held devices that can perform many functions that PCs & laptops do
 Often use touch screens to operate
 On-screen virtual keyboard replaces physical keyboard
 Often used by graphic designers to digitalize their content with a stylus pen
 Can be used like a PC and/or a Smartphone
 Advantages:
o Small light & portable
o Built in cameras for photos & videos
o Touchscreen can be used with a stylus pen
o Long battery life
 Disadvantages:
o Less storage spaces
o Lacks power of laptop/PC
o Digital keyboard can be difficult to use
o Touchscreen may be difficult to use for detailed work

Smartphone
 Modern phones that can perform similar tasks to all the above
 Main use of smartphones is social media & day-to-day planning
 Use varies from person to person
 Advantages:
o Smallest lightest most portable
o Integrated/virtual keyboard
o Often the least expensive device
o More practical for day-to-day use
 Disadvantages:
o Small screen may be difficult to use
o Not as powerful as other devices
o Often has the lowest battery life
o Small size makes it easy to steal/lose

1.5 Impact of emerging technologies

 This is technology that is being newly developed

 These can have several impacts on our society

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 Technology that focuses on creating a computer system that can closely mimic or simulate human
intelligence
 AI can be used to:
o Enhance video games and computer tactics
o Help decision making steps in expert systems
o Make robots to imitate human behaviour
o Understand different human languages
 Impact on everyday life:
o Can be used to accurately predict hazardous weather conditions and signal warnings automatically
o Take over menial tasks for humans; increasing our leisure time
o Can be used for safer automated travel; cars that can drive and park by themselves
o Increases home safety by being able to tell the difference between owner & intruder; call
authorities automatically
o Improved medical care as decision making skills and precision can be enhanced

Biometrics
 A part of a person’s body is used to identify that
individual
 Can be:
o Fingerprints
o Retina
o Iris
o Face
o Voice
 These are all unique to everyone thus can be used as an authentication technique
 Must be added initially to a system to use as identification
 Impacts on everyday life:
o Better security at the airport since most use at least one form of biometric check if not more
o Increased security in certain places as only authorized personnel can gain entry
o Reduced vehicle theft since newer car doors come with a fingerprint lock on the door handle
o More secure mobile devices as most now have some sort of biometrics integrated into them

Vision Enhancement
 LVES: low vision enhancement systems: video projected inside a headset in front of the user’s
eyes. Brings the objects closer for the viewer.
 NVE: Night vision enhancement: amplifies visible and infrared light. Light passed through image
intensifier tube where light is converted to electrons, then amplified (increase in no.) and then light
up screen with phosphor dust.

Robotics
 Programmed machinery widely used to do physically demanding tasks
 Can be automated or manually operated
 Used to perform several tasks:
o Dangerous jobs such as bomb disposal
o Exploring extreme environments such as volcanoes
o Repetitive manufacturing jobs such as welding
o Moving heavy objects such as large engines
 Impacts on everyday life:
o Increased personal time since robots can take over domestic chores
o Increased manufacturing efficiency since robots are much faster and less expensive than human
labour
o Unemployment as robots replace humans in autonomous jobs
o Safer working environments since robots can perform tasks that are too dangerous for humans

Quantum Cryptography
 Technology that allows messages and data to be sent with complete privacy; basically, advanced
encryption
 Older encryption is based on mathematics, but this new tech uses physics
 Makes it much more complex to decrypt
 Impacts on everyday life:
o Completely secure voting ensuring that votes cannot be tampered with or changed
o Completely secure communication eliminating the risk of being read/heard by the wrong
eyes/ears
o Completely secure bank transactions so money goes exactly where it is intended
o Completely secure personal information preventing hackers access to intrusive details about a
person

Computer Assisted Translation (CAT)

 When human translators use computer software to help in the translation process
 Can reduce translation time
 May not be 100% accurate
 Common CAT tools:
o Spell checkers
o Translation memory software
o Language search-engine software
 Impacts on everyday life:
o More accurate documents since most software can automatically detect errors
o More multilingual society since anyone with an internet connection can now essentially learn
multiple languages using translators
o Quicker translations

3D & Holographic Imaging

 Technology that makes images appear to be 3-dimensional by adding a layer of depth
 Holograms use 2 regular 2D images and manipulate them to produce a 3-dimensional image
 Different laser beams are used to record the 2D images onto a single photographic plate
 This creates an illusion of one 3D images
 Impact on everyday life:
o Improved security since majority of credit/ID cards & bank notes use holograms to prevent forgery
o Better movie experiences since 3D viewing can provide more immersive experience for the
audience
o Greater data storage since holographic layers can potentially decrease the thickness of disc
storage

Virtual Reality (VR)

 When computers create an artificial environment that users can virtually interact with
 Uses:
o Allow architects to walk around a virtual version of their design
o Training soldiers for combat by allowing them to fight against virtual enemies
o Training surgeons by allowing them to operate on virtual patients
o Playing games and enhance the level of immersion
 General VR equipment:
o Eye goggles that produce 3D images to develop the artificial environment
o Special gloves or controllers to perform precise action inside the simulation
o Headphones to control what is heard in the virtual world
o Powerful computer to run the entire VR system in real-time
 Impacts on everyday life:
o Improved medical surgeons/soldiers
o Stronger buildings
o Treatment of phobias as certain situations can be treated using simulations
o More realistic education as students can learn in a more interactive environment

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