Extended Learning Module A
Computer Hardware and
Software
1
Introduction

Information technology (IT) – computer-based tool
that people use to work with information and support the
information and information-processing needs of an
organization.

Hardware – the ______ ________ that make up a
computer.

Software – the set of _________ that your hardware
executes to carry out a specific task for you.
2
A Quick Tour of Technology

Six categories of hardware
5.
_______ device _______ device Storage device
Central processing unit (CPU) RAM, or
random access memory,
__________ device -
6.
Connecting device –
1.
2.
3.
4.
3
Trends in Computer System
Capabilities
First
Generation
Second
Generation
Third
Generation
Fourth
Generation
Fifth
Generation
Trend: Toward Smaller, Faster, More Reliable, and Less Costly
Vacuum
Tubes
Solid-State
Integrated
Circuits
LSI, VLSI
Microprocessors
Greater
Power,
Smaller
Footprint
Trend: Toward Easy to Purchase, and Easy to Maintain
4
Categories of Computers By Size

_______________ – a small hand-held computer

______________ - a fully functional computer

Desktop computer - the most popular choice for
that helps you surf the Web and perform simple tasks
such as note taking, calendaring, appointment
scheduling, and maintaining an address book.
designed to be carried around and run on battery
power.
personal computing needs.
5
Categories of Computers By Size
Minicomputers, Mainframe Computers, and
Supercomputers
6
A Quick Tour of Technology

Software types include:

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Application software - solves specific
problems or perform specific tasks.
System software - handles tasks specific
to technology management.


Operating system software - controls
application software and manages hardware
devices.
Utility software - provides additional
functionality to the operating system.
7
Trends in Computer Software
First
Second
Third
Generation Generation Generation
Fourth
Generation
Fifth
Generation
Trend: Toward Easy-to-Use Multipurpose Network-Enabled Application
Packages for Productivity and Collaboration
User-Written
Programs
Machine
Languages
Packaged
Programs
Symbolic
Languages
Operating
Systems
High-Level
Languages
DBMS
Fourth-Generation
Languages
Microcomputer
Packages
Natural &
Object-Oriented
Languages
Multipurpose
Graphic- Interface
Network-Enabled
Expert-Assisted
Packages
Trend: Toward Visual or Conversational Programming Languages and
Tools
8
Software: Your Intellectual Interface
Application Software

Application software is used to meet
specific information-processing needs,
including such things as:





Payroll
Customer relationship management
Project management
Training
Word processing and many others.
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Software: Your Intellectual Interface
Application Software

Personal productivity
software - performs personal
tasks, including such things as
creating:
 Memos
 Graphs
 Slide presentations
Team Work
Buying Personal
Productivity
Software Suites
(p. 49)
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Software: Your Intellectual Interface
Application Software





Word processing – Spreadsheet –
Presentation – Desktop publishing
Personal information management (PIM) –
Web authoring –
Graphics – Communications Database
management system (DBMS)
Personal finance.
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Software: Your Intellectual Interface
Application Software

___________ market software

Horizontal __________ software
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Software: Your Intellectual Interface
System Software


Operating system software - controls application
software and manages how hardware devices work
together.
__________- allows you to work with more than one
piece of software at a time.

Utility software - adds additional functionality to the

_____________ - utility software that scans for and
operating system.
often eliminates viruses in RAM and storage devices.
13
Software: Your Intellectual Interface
System Software

Uninstaller software – utility
software that removes software from
your hard disk.

Disk optimization software – utility
software that organizes information on
your hard disk.
14
Software: Your Intellectual Interface
Personal Operating Systems

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
Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro
Microsoft Windows 2000 Me
Microsoft Windows XP Home
Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Mac OS.
Linux –
15
Top 10 Signs You Need a New
Computer

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10. That burning smell whenever you boot up.
9. Can't find replacement vacuum tubes.
8. Te damnd kybrd dosnt wrk.
7. You have so little memory your computer forgets everything you
type in.
6. You don't "surf" the Web, you drown.
5. Your favourite punch-card outlet just went out of business.
4. You keep getting calls from the curator at the Smithsonian.
3. Your computer crashes every time you sneeze.
2. You're still using 5.25" floppy disks for mass storage.
1. Your cell phone can play better games than your PC.
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Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Common Input Devices

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Keyboard
Trackball
Point-of-sale
(POS)
Pointing stick
Microphone
Touchpad





Mouse
Bar code reader
Touch screen
Optical mark
recognition
(OMR)
Scanner
17
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Common Output Devices


CRTs
Flat-panel displays
–.


Resolution of a
screen–
Dot pitch
18
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Common Output Devices

Resolution of a
printer - the
number of dots per
inch (dpi) it
produces, which is
the same principle
as the resolution in
monitors.
19
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Common Output Devices

Inkjet printers – make images

Laser printers – form images

Multifunction printers – scan,
by forcing ink droplets through
nozzles.
using an electrostatic process.
copy, and fax, as well as print.
20
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Characteristics of CPUs and RAM

Central processing unit (CPU) - the actual
hardware that interprets and executes the
software instructions and coordinates how all
the other hardware devices work together.

RAM, or random access memory, -
temporary storage that holds the information,
the application software, and the operating
system software.
21
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Characteristics of CPUs and RAM



CPU speeds
CPU cycles determine how fast a CPU executes
software instructions.
More cycles means faster processing (and more
cost.)


Megahertz (MHz) - the number of millions of CPU cycles
per second.
Gigahertz (GHz) - the number of billions of CPU cycles per
second.
22
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Characteristics of CPUs and RAM

RAM capacity is expressed in bytes.
23
Moore’s Law
24
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Common Storage Devices

Storage device capacities are measured
in terms of bytes.

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
Megabyte (MB or M or Meg) – is
roughly 1 million bytes.
Gigabyte (GB or Gig) - roughly 1 billion
characters.
Terabyte (TB) - roughly 1 trillion bytes.
25
Storage Trends
Primary
Storage
First
Generation
Second
Generation
Third
Generation
Magnetic
Drum
Magnetic
Core
Magnetic
Core
Fourth
Generation
Fifth
Generation
VLSI
LSI
Semiconductor Semiconductor
Memory Chips Memory Chips
Trend: Towards Large Capacities Using Smaller Microelectronic Circuits
Secondary
Storage
Magnetic Tape Magnetic Tape
Magnetic Drum Magnetic Disk
Magnetic Disk
Magnetic Tape
Magnetic Disk
Optical Disk
Magnetic Tape
Optical Disk
Magnetic Disk
Trend: Towards Massive Capacities Using Magnetic and Optical Media
26
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Common Storage Devices

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Floppy disk
High-capacity floppy disk
Hard disk
CD-ROM
CD-R (compact disc – recordable)
CD-RW (compact disc – rewritable)
DVD-ROM –
DVD-R –
DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM, or DVD+RW
27
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Telecommunications Devices
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Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Telecommunications Devices

Types of modems include:

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Telephone modem
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem
Cable modem
Satellite modem
Module E covers these in more detail.
29
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Telecommunications Devices

Communication software includes:
 Connectivity software – enables you to
use your computer to “dial up” or connect
to another computer.
 Web browser software – enables you to
surf the Web.
 E-mail software – enables you to
electronically communicate with other
people by sending and receiving e-mail.
30
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Connecting Devices
31
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Connecting Devices


Different hardware devices require
different kinds of ports and connectors.
_________- the plug-ins found on the
outside of your system box (usually in
the back) into which you plug a
connector.
32
Hardware: Your Physical Interface
Ports
Keyboard and mouse ports
____ port
Serial port
__________ port
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