Unit 30
Task 1 Preparation
By Prabind Billing
Hardware - Graphics Card
• A Graphics Card in a computer is used to covert video data into electronic
signals and sends them to the monitor.
• The monitor receives the graphics card signals and accepts it to turn them
into colourful and clearer images. This process occurs very quickly to
adapt videos, games, etc.
• However, a graphics card do have limits. Despite the fact that it provides
some storage for the video processing unit with the RAM and the CPU
inside a computer, it will decrease the computer and game performance.
This is because of the fact that, the graphics card is running many graphicintensive tasks or games.
• A Graphics cards are produced for computers as the users can have access
to high quality videos and images.
Hardware - Internal Memory (cache,
RAM)
• The Computer Internal Memory, including Random Access Memory (RAM)
and cache memory, is used to store the information for all the tasks you
have done on your computer . The information includes the active files
within each program.
• It is important that you keep your operating system and programs running
in order for the RAM to store all your essential information and files.
• There is a limit of how much information the RAM or cache ,memory can
store. Therefore, you will have to add more RAM in your computer to
provide more storage which increases the costs.
• Random Access Memory (RAM) and cache memory are produced for
computers in order for the users to store information that they have done
on their computer.
Hardware - Processor
• A processor is used in computers to receive input and provide the
necessary output.
• The central processor of a computer, Central Processing Unit (CPU), is
used to handle all the basic system instructions. For example, processing
mouse and keyboard input and running applications.
• The limits of a processor, CPU, is that the performance can decrease which
means that it is slow as it will take longer to receive the input and provide
the necessary output.
• A processor such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) is produced for
computers for users to be able to perform basic instructions such as
processing a mouse and keyboard input and running programs.
Hardware - CD ROM
• Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD ROM) is a type of storing data that
goes up to 1GB. This capacity allows it to store data including music and
video files.
• The CD ROM has been adapted to store the binary data of the computer.
This means that it is used to distribute the computer software that can
include games, multimedia application etc.
• However, the CD ROM has its limits. Once it is filled with data, new data
cannot be entered on it.
Hardware - Hard drive
• A hard drive is a storage device that can store many type of data including
pictures, movies, documents and applications.
• Hard drives are disks drives that are usually fixed into computers and
laptops.
• The limits of a hard drive is the size and capacity as its doesn’t provide a
lot of storage space. But, it is cheap for the size and capacity. Also, the
speed and performance is slow.
Hardware - Flash card
• Flash memory card is used for easy and fast information storage in
computers.
• It is known as a ‘solid state’ storage device because everything is
electronic rather than mechanical as there is no moving parts.
• The limits of a flash card is that it may be affected by electronic corruption
and make the entire memory card unreadable. Also, they run out quickly
because it doesn’t provide enough storage.
Hardware - USB storage devices
• A USB flash drive is a storage device that stores data. USB storage devices
are used for storage as well as to back-up and transfer computer files.
• USB storage devices has flash memory with an integrated USB (Universal
Serial Bus) interface.
• Nevertheless, USB flash drives have limitations. For instance, over a period
of time flash drives can become corrupted and unreadable similarly to
flash cards. Also, flash drives and other USB storage devices can spread
viruses and corrupt computer systems.
Input – Graphics tablet
• A graphics tablet is an input device used by artists to allow them to draw a
picture onto a computer screen without having to use a mouse or
keyboard.
• A graphics tablet consists of a flat, touch-sensitive pad and some sort of
drawing device, usually a pen.
• The limits of a graphics tablet is that it is slower than drawing on paper.
Input - Mouse
• A computer mouse is a handheld pointing device used to position a cursor
on a monitor.
• This allows the user to select items stored on a computer and perform
actions on those items. The user do this by pressing its button to "click" on
files, folders, drives or other storage devices. Once selected, these items
can be moved, opened, deleted or copied. The mouse can also be used to
select and manipulate information within a given file.
• A Computer mouse has its limitations. For instance, if the battery wears
out in a wireless mouse, it cannot be used until it has been replaced. Also,
all computer mice need a flat surface to effectively monitor and manage
user movements.
Input – Digital camera
• Digital cameras take images electronically in a way that allows users to
edit and share.
• Digital cameras functions by the digital sensor sending the visual
information to a memory card in the camera, where it is stored until it is
needed or erased.
• The limitations of digital cameras are that a hard disk failure can result in
photos getting lost because the user didn’t backed them up. Also, a
corrupted memory card may result in lost photos. The battery running out
means that the user cannot take any more photographs until it is
recharged. Moreover, the storage size of the digital cameras aren't big
enough as they will soon fill up. Therefore, this leaves the user with the
option to of extending their storage space with a hard drive or extra
memory card. Increase in storage space costs the user which is not
satisfying to them.
Input – Scanner
• A scanner is used for storing digital images and use on computer.
Document scanners can covert paper documents to digital formats.
• However, it has limitations as the user has to keep a high volume scanner
running at peak performance. In order to do this, the owner will need to
replace the lamps regularly and perform maintenance on the camera and
lens as well. This maintenance can be quite costly.
Input - Printer
• The purpose of a printer is to print documents, pictures etc. from a
computer or laptop onto paper. The files are stored electronically.
• The limits of all printers is that it can run out of colour ink. Therefore this
forces the owner to purchase more colour ink. Also, printers are quite slow
to print and the files are wet which means that it needs time to dry.
Output technology – Computer
monitor
• The purpose of a computer monitor is to display text and graphics
produced by computer applications. Also, computer monitors is used to
provide a visual interface for computer users.
• Computer monitors works by using Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology
to covert information from a computer's graphics card to a visual image by
modifying light as it passes through liquid crystals.
• Computer monitors has its limits. For example, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
monitors have low refreshing ability known as the flickering effect. This
lowers productivity because the user has to wait for some time for the
monitor to respond to a command.
Output technology – Mobile phone
• The purpose of mobile phones is to provide unlimited telephone
connection in order for the user to contact friends and family by phone
calls, text messaging etc.
• Users can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while in
motion over a large-scale distance.
• However, mobile phones have limitations. For instance, the users are
limited by their provider's service. This means that they cannot use their
phone where your provider does not their service. Also, you cannot view
the person you’re speaking to.
Output technology - Tablets
• A tablet is a one-piece mobile computer that is operated by touchscreen.
• Tablets has its limits due to the size of them for portability, it does not
come with optical drives for use with CDs and DVDs.
Output technology - Plotter
• A plotter is a device that prints graphical plots, usually connected to a
computer.
• Plotters use pens to be used in the purpose of printing line art.
• But, plotters have many limitations. Plotters are slow as they take a lot of
time to produce a print. The performance and quality are quite poor as
they are not able to print photo-quality images.
Software – Vector based
• Vector graphics are consists of paths, which are defined by a start and end
point, along with other points, curves, and angles along the way. A path
can be a line, a square, a triangle, or a curvy shape. These paths can be
used to create simple drawings or complex diagrams.
• Vector Based software has many limitations. For example, the drawing
image containing trapping information can only be scaled up to 20% larger
or smaller. Also, thin lines in vector images may disappear if you reduce
the size too much. Vector image is time consuming and also specific talent
must be needed to create it. Photographs cannot be taken as vector
images. It must be drawn by the artist, and must be editing in software
like Adobe illustrator. Lastly, the location of each vector, need to be stored
separately.
Software – Photo manipulation
• Photo manipulation is the process of changing a photo using a computer
software to improve the look, beauty and readability of the image. This
helps the users to produce a unique picture.
• Photo manipulation software offer sophisticated features which makes it
difficult for beginners to use as its mainly used for professionals. Also, it is
expensive.
Software – Image viewers
• The purpose of Image viewers is to offer image editing features such as
crop, rotate, colour balance adjustment, and brightness and contrast
controls.
• Image viewers are slow as the performance are not up to a high standard
and the ‘Undo’ tool is limited.
Software – File conversion
• The purpose of a file conversion is to convert documents and images into
files in order to be readable as they can be stored or printed.
• The limitations of file conversion are large file size, impossibility of context
search and content reuse.