Basic Computer
Hardware and
Software.
V103.01
Material obtained from summer workshop in Guildford County
Input Devices
• Input Devices: devices that input information into the
computer such as a keyboard, mouse, scanner, and
digital camera.
Output Devices
• Output: devices that output information from the
computer such as a printer and monitor.
Hardware and Software
• Computer Hardware would include all the parts of a
computer.
• Computer Software includes the programs that are
installed.. Or the instructions for completing tasks.
Central Processing Unit
• CPU (Central Processing Unit) also called the Microprocessor or “The Brain” of the Computer.
• Processor speed: The speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions. This is usually measured in megahertz
(MHz).
• Brands of Processors include:
• Pentium
• Celeron
• MAC
• AMD
• Cyrix
Central Processing Unit
• Computer chip: also called the microprocessor may contain an entire
processing unit.
• Computer chips contain millions of transistors. They are small pieces of semi-
conducting material (silicon).
• An integrated circuit is embedded in the silicon. Computers are made of many
chips on a circuit board.
Data Storage Devices
• The hard-drive is a mechanical storage device typically located internally.
• Fast recording and recovery of data
• Large storage capacity
• Magnetic
• Primary storage device for data and
programs
• Speed is measured in R.P.M.’s
(Revolutions per minute)
Data Storage Devices (cont’d)
• CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory)
• An optical device read by a
diode laser
Data Storage Devices (cont’d)
Floppy diskette is magnetic
storage device for small
amounts of data (1.44MB).
FLASH drive is a compact and
portable electronic storage
device.
USB (plug and play) supported
Computer Memory
• RAM (random access memory) stores data that is processing. This type
of memory is erased when the computer is turned off.
• ROM (read only memory) contains special instructions for the
computer to operate.
• Cache memory increases the speed of the processor by recording and
anticipating instructions.
Graphic User Interface (GUI)
• GUI (Graphic User Interface) is a set of images and icons seen on the desktop used to operate a
program.
• The GUI makes the programs loaded on the
computer easier to access and use. Basic
Windows GUI
• Icons are small pictures that represent files,
commands, or windows.
• Windows is a GUI operating system.
Video Cards
• Video cards plug into the motherboard and are used to display video.
• VRAM is video memory that enhances the refreshment rate of the
image.
• Video cards have chipsets that can increase the speed of video display.
Ports and Peripherals
Ports are an interface between the computer and another peripheral
device such as a disk drive, mouse, printer, modem, monitor, camera,
FLASH drive or keyboard.
Examples:
Serial
Parallel
hot-wire
USB
Ports and Peripherals
Peripherals are devices that plug
into a computer and are not
housed internally.
Examples:
Printers
Scanners
Cameras
LAN and WAN
• LAN: are networks usually in the same company or building. The Local
Area Network is connected via telephone lines or radio waves. Most
LANs connect workstations.
• WAN: are systems of LANs that are connected. (Wide-area network)
Bandwidth and Baud Rate
• Bandwidth is how much information can be carried in a given time
period (usually a second) over a wired or wireless communications
link.
• Baud rate is the rate at which information is transferred in a
communication channel.
Multitasking and Multiprocessing
• Multitasking is the ability to execute more than one task (program) at
the same time. Only one CPU is used but switches from one program to
another.
• In multiprocessing, more than one CPU is used to complete a task.
Example: network rendering.
Multimedia
• Multimedia software programs include sound, pictures, video, text,
and hypertext to create presentations.
Software includes:
PowerPoint
Macromedia Director
FLASH
Resolution
• Screen resolution is measured in pixel per inch (ppi), and printer resolution is measured in dots
per inch (dpi).
• Computer screen resolution is approximately 72 ppi.
Width x Height (Pixels) Video Display
640 x 480 Low Resolution
800 x 600 Medium Resolution
1600 x 1200 High Resolution
Resolution
• Resolution refers to the number of pixels (picture elements) in the
monitor image.
• Increased resolution uses more computer resources but increases the
visual clarity of the display.
Computer Memory
• Computer memory is binary (0 or 1) (on or off).
• The byte is the standard unit of measurement.
• A byte is composed of 8 bits (binary digits).
• Typical units of measurement:
• 1 KB (kilobyte) = 1000 bytes
• 1 MB (megabyte) =1000 kilobytes or 1 million bytes
• 1 GB (gigabyte) =1000 megabytes or 1 billion bytes
1 Tb(Terabyte)= 1000 gigabytes or 1 trillon
File Management
• Saving files - know the difference between “save” and “save as”. “Save” will save the
open document over the saved document while “save as” creates a new document if you
rename the document. Save often so work will not be lost.
• Exporting – converts a native format to a non-native file format used in various software
programs. In vector programs, file types may be exported.
File Management
• Different programs have different file extensions.
• Naming files - avoid the following characters in naming files:
Examples:
• @
• *
• .
• Understand the parts of a path name.
Example: C:\SciVis\movie.avi
Drive designator Directory or folder File name File extension
File Management
• Merging files - in 3D graphics, bringing an outside file into an
open file (another name for this may be loading or replacing
objects in the workspace).
• Importing files - bringing a converted non-native format file
into an open file.
The End
