CHAPTER1 COMPUTER
SCIENCE DEFINATIONS
The hardware is the physical electronic and electrical
components that make up the computer system. For
example, these include the motherboard, a keyboard and
a monitor. In this section, we explain terms relating to
hardware devices that we use throughout the rest of the
text.
Peripheral devices are hardware devices that are
outside the central processing unit (CPU). They are
normally connected to the computer by internal wiring
(buses), cables or wireless technology. A printer is
obviously a peripheral as it is separate from the
computer.
Definitions and purposes of software types:
Software is the set of instructions that make the computer
hardware usable. These sets of instructions are known as
“programs”
Operating system software is the set of instructions that make the hardware of
the computer available for use. It includes programs:
● that allow the user to communicate with the computer
● that control the movement of data around the computer
● that turn instructions that people can understand into instructions that a
computer understands.
Applications software is a set of
instructions designed to make the
computer do something for the user. For
example, the user might want to write a
letter, create a report or create a slide
show presentation.
Software that can be used for many tasks is
called generic applications software
or general purpose applications
software.
SUMMARY
● Hardware is the physical components that make up the computer system.
● An input device is a physical component that transmits data to the computer.
● A storage device is a physical component that stores data for use by the computer.
● An output device is a physical component displays data transmitted from the
computer.
● Operating system software comprises the programs that make the computer
hardware available for use, often unseen by the user.
● Generic/general purpose applications software comprises programs that can
be used for many tasks, such as a word processor, spreadsheet software and database
software
1.Software is the set of instructions (programs) that make the computer
hardware usable.