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CHAPTER 1 NOTES
Hardware
Hardware:
- Is the general term for the physical components that make up a typical computer system
- E.G: ➢ Input devices – keyboard, mouse, camera ➢ Output devices – monitor, printer, plotter
- There are two types of hardware:
- Internal – a device that is installed within the computer
- External – a device that is often externally connected to the computer to control either input or output
Software
Software:
- the program that controls the computer system and process data
- Two types of softwares: ➢ System software – programs that allow the hardware to run properly and allow the user to communicate with the computer E.G: »compilers = a computer program that translated a program written in a high-level language (HLL) into machine code, that is directly understood by the computer, so that it can be directly used by a computer to perform a required task » linkers = a computer program that takes one or more object files produced by a compiler and combines them into a single program that can be run on a computer » device drivers = a software that enables 1 or more hardware devices to communicate with the computer’s operating system (without these, a hardware device won’t work with the computer) » operating systems = a software running in computer background » utilities = a software that has been designed to carry out specific tasks on a computer, (i.e: antivirus, backup of files, disk repair) ➢ Application software – designed to allow users to complete specific tasks E.G: » word processing = used to manipulate a text document » spreadsheet = used to organise and manipulate numerical data » database (management system) = used to organize, manipulate and analyze data » control and measurement software = designed to allow a computer or microprocessor to interface with sensors » applets = are small applications that perform a single task on a device » apps = a software which can perform a fairly substantial task (i.e: video and music streaming) » video editing = allows a user the ability to manipulate videos to produce a new video » graphics editing = allows bitmap and vector images to be changed and are made up of pixels » audio editing = allows a user to edit, manipulate and generate audio data on a computer » computer-aided design (CAD) = a software used to help in the creation, manipulation, modification and analysis of a drawing/design
RAM ROM
Temporary memory device Permanent memory device Volatile Non-volatile Can be written to and read from Can only be read from Used to store data, files, programs and parts of OS in current use Used in storing start-up data (RAM AND ROM ARE INTERNAL MEMORY) Motherboard Hard drive CD/DVD Drive Central Processing Unit (CPU)/Processor Sound card Graphics card
Input and output devices
Input devices Output devices An input device is any hardware that enables data entry. An output shows the result or solution of the input after it has been processed. An input device can only send data. An output device can only receive data. Input devices are necessary for a computer to receive commands from the user for processing to be permitted. Output devices are needed in order to display the outcome of the processing that took place to the user. Input devices are complex as they need to ensure proper communication between computer and user. Output devices are simpler as they only need to display the finale.
- Input devices – are pieces of hardware that allow users to enter data into computers.
- Output device – displays the computer's output in a human-readable format. As words on a printer, for example, or moving graphics on a monitor.
Backing/Secondary Storage
- Required to permanently store significant amounts of data.
- Most commonly in form of Hard disk drives and Solid-state drives. Differentiating between internal memory and backing storage:
- RAM contents are lost when power is lost, and ROM is read-only, backing storage is permanent even without power.
- RAM and ROM are much smaller as compared to backing storage.
- RAM and ROM are significantly faster in accessing data as compared to backing storage.
- Backing storage is much cheaper than internal memory.
- Internal memories are fixed, backing storage can be fixed or portable.
- Internal memories can be directly read by the CPU, while backing storage needs to be moved into the RAM before being read by the CPU.
Dialogue-based user interfaces:
- Is when it uses the human voice to give commands to a computer system.
- E.G: In luxury modern cars, where voice activation is used to control devices such as the in-car entertainment system or satellite navigation system. Gesture-based user interfaces:
- It relies on human interaction by the moving of hands, head or even the feet.
- Gesture recognition allows humans to interface with a computer in a more natural fashion without the need for any mechanical devices.
- This type of interface uses techniques known as computer vision and image processing.
- E.G: Moving a hand near a car window switch which then automatically opens the window
Operating Systems
What is an operating system? A software that manages a computer’s basic functions, such as managing the computer’s resources, input and output peripherals, computer start up and its security. It also provides user with an interface, utilities and file management. Basic Information:
- An operating system is a software the manages the computer resources such as peripherals and memory management, multitasking, security and user interface.
- Operating systems allow components to communicate with each other and enables the computer to run software applications Features of Operating System:
- Provides a platform to run application software
- Allows communication between the user and the computer (use of HCI)
- Allows to manage the security (user accounts, password protection)
- Enables hardware to communicate with OS Common OS: ▪ Android ▪ Mac OS ▪ DOS ▪ iOS ▪ Linux ▪ Windows ▪ Unix
Advantages Disadvantages
- They can be taken anywhere
- No trailing wires because all components are in 1 single unit
- Has full advantage of Wi-Fi
- Can link to any multimedia system - Since easier portable, easier to steal - Limited battery life so the user needs to carry a heavy adaptor - It can be awkward to use keyboard and pointing devices Tablets: They work similarly to a smartphone. The only main difference is that they are much somewhat bigger in size as compared to a smartphone o High definition, anti-glare displays o Front & back facing cameras o Lower weight & longer battery life o Bluetooth connection to devices o Has sensors: ➢ Proximity – detect if the device is close to something ➢ Accelerometer – detects movement & orientation of the device ➢ Can use sophisticated speech-recognition systems Advantages Disadvantages
- Very fast to switch on/off
- Fully portable
- Touch – screen technology
- Can use many apps
- Long battery life
- Doesn’t generate heat
- Have limited memory or storage
- Expensive to run
- Typing on a touch screen can be slow
- Tablet doesn’t support many file formats compared to laptop
Smartphones: o Allow normal phone calls to be made o Have an OS (such as iOS or Android) o The OS allow them to run a number of compiler applications (known as apps or applets) o They communicate with the internet either by using Wi-Fi hotspot or using 3G/4G/5G phone networks Function Advantages Disadvantages
- Send/receive email
- Surf the net
- Use of GPS
- Calendar functions & telephone banking
- VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)
- Streaming music/videos
- Access to social network
- Instant messaging
- Very small size – easily fit
- Use to make calls
- Use Wi-Fi anywhere
- 100 of apps can be installed
- Reasonable to battery life - Small screens make pages difficult to read - Web-browsing drains battery - Can be easily stolen because of its small size Phablets:
- Some of the latest smartphones have been designed as a hybrid between a tablet and a smartphone; these are referred to as a phablet. They have much larger screens than a smartphone but are smaller than a tablet.
Emerging Technologies
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
- It is an application or machine which carries out a task that requires some degree of intelligence
- E.G: ❖ the use of language ❖ recognizing a person’s face ❖ the ability to operate machinery, such as a car, airplane, train, and so on ❖ analyzing data to predict the outcome of a future event, for example weather forecasting. Advantages Disadvantages
- Helps in safety and quality of services and products
- Can carry out dangerous tasks
- Can work non-stop
- Have higher productivity and greater consistency
- Can cause higher unemployment (job losses)
- Loss of basic skills due to dependency on technology
- Can be prone to viruses
- Repairing costs can be high Extended Reality (XR): Refers to real and virtual combined environment E.G:
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Mixed Reality (MR) Augmented reality (AR):
- Allows the user to experience the relationship between digital (virtual) and physical (real) worlds
- Virtual details and objects are overlaid onto the real world
- The real world is enhanced with digital details, (i.e: images, texts and animation)
- The user can experience this through special goggles or through phones
- The user isn’t isolated from the real world and is still able to interact and see what’s happening in front of them
- E.G: Pokémon GO! = it overlays digital creatures onto the real world
Impact on the following areas:
- safety and rescue operations’ (can provide 3D images of an area for a rescue mission)
- entertainment (you can interact with your favorite characters at home)
- shopping and retail (getting a better look at a car before purchasing) healthcare (better understanding of a patient’s body). Virtual Reality (VR):
- Enables an entirely new world to be created
- Unlike AR, this has no link to the actual surroundings of the user.
- It requires the user to be specially equipped with a VR headset, joystick, and headphones. Impact on the following areas:
- Military applications (training to operate a new tank)
- Educational purposes (looking at ancient buildings)
- Healthcare (a diagnostic tool to recommend treatment)
- Media (interactive special effects in a movie)
- Scientific visualization (part of molecular structures/cells)
- Entertainment (different types of games using the VR set)
- Fashion (doinh fashion show before the actual event, i.e: rechecking clothes and the venue)
- Heritage (allowing users to walk up close to a historical monument)
- Business (training courses)
- Construction/Engineering (seeing how new designs would look like in the existing environment
- Sport (a golfer can use VR to improve their skills)
- Medicine (teaching operation procedures)
