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Information &
Communication
Technology
Half Term Summary (Theory)
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Hardware
Hardware consists of the
physical components of a
computer system
Categories of hardware:
• Internal
• external
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Internal hardware devices
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
motherboard
CPU/processor
random access memory (RAM)
read-only memory (ROM)
graphics card
sound card
network interface card (NIC)
hard disk drive and solid-state drive.
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Motherboard – Internal hardware
• A printed circuit board found in all
computers.
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CPU/Processor – Internal hardware
the part of the computer that interprets and executes the commands from the
computer hardware and software.
The two main components of a CPU are:
• arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), where arithmetic and logical
operations are carried out
• control unit (CU) which takes instructions the decodes and executes
the instructions.
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RAM and ROM– Internal
hardware
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Wireless connection
medium
NIC – Internal hardware
A network interface card (NIC) is a component that
allows a computer or any other device to be connected to
a network. it can be wired or wireless.
wired
connectio
n medium
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Graphics Card – Internal hardware
A graphics card allows the
computer to send graphical
information to a video display
device such as a monitor, television,
or projector.
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Sound Card – Internal hardware
A sound card is an integrated circuit board
that provides a computer with the ability to
produce sounds.
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External hardware
Mouse, keyboard, printer,
game- controller, scanner,
webcam, etc…
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Software
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Software
Programs (or set of instructions) that control
the computer system and process data.
Categories of software;
System software
Application software
System software is the
software designed to
provide a platform on which
all other software can run.
Applications software
provides the services that
the user requires to solve
a given task.
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Examples of system and application
Software
Application Software examples
• Word processing (e.g. MS Word,
Google Doc, iWord etc,
• Spreadsheet(e.g. MS-Excel,
Google Sheet etc.)
• Database (e.g. MS Access,
• apps and applets (e.g.
snapchat)
• graphics editing software
(e.g. Photoshop, CorelDraw
etc.)
Examples of system software
Compilers, linkers, device
driver, operating system,
and utilities.
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Digital Analogue
and data
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Year
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Digital
data
the only data understand by the
computer which is in a binary format
(that is, a base 2 number system
where only the values 0 and 1 can be
used).
it can only have discrete,
discontinuous values.
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Analogue
physical data that
data
changes smoothly from
one value to the next,
and not in discrete
steps as with digital
data.
If analogue data is being sent to a computer, it must first be converted into
digital data; this is done by hardware known as an analogue to
digital converter ADC, if otherwise, it uses
digital to analogue converter DAC.
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Main components of computer
systems
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The main components of a computer system are;
•
•
•
•
CPU (check slide 5)
Internal Memory (check slide 6)
Input and Output Devices
Backing Storage
Input Devices:
Main
components
ofa user
computer
An input device
is any hardware
device that allows
to enter data or instructions
into a computer directly.
systems
• Examples are; Keyboard, mouse, game controller, joystick,
driving wheel, digital cameras, microphones, light pens,
remote control, scanner, touchscreen, sensors, barcode
reader, optical character readers, etc.
SUMMER Term |
2024/2025 Academic
Year
The main components of a computer system are;
•
•
•
•
CPU (check slide 5)
Internal Memory (check slide 6)
Input and Output Devices
Backing Storage
Output Devices:
Main
of the
computer
An output device
is anycomponents
hardware device that takes
output data from a computer
and puts it into
a human-readable format or uses it to control another device.
systems
• Examples are; monitor, touchscreen, printer, speaker,
multimedia projectors, graph plotters, 3D printers,
actuators etc..
SUMMER Term |
2024/2025 Academic
Year
The main components of a computer system are;
•
•
•
•
CPU (check slide 5)
Internal Memory (check slide 6)
Input and Output Devices
Backing Storage
BackingMain
Storage:
components of computer
backing storage is the computer’s main internal storage where the applications
systems
software, disk
operating system and files (for example, text, photo or music) are stored
• Examples are; hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD),
Blu-ray discs. etc..
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Operating System
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Operating
System
An operating system (OS) is system software that
manages computer hardware and software resources,
and provides common services for computer programs
Examples;
for smartphone – iOS, Android etc..
for PC – Windows, MacOS, Linux, DOS etc..
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2024/2025 Academic
Year
User interface (of an
OS)
Command Line Interface (CLI):
A text-based, where user types commands.
Graphical User Interface (GUI): allows the user to
interact with a computer using WIMP (windows icons menu
and pointing device)
Dialogue-based Interface:
prompts or voice-based input (e.g., ATM).
Gesture-based Interface:
controlled by physical gestures (e.g., swipe).
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Types of Operating
System
1. Single-user, Single-tasking
2. Single-user, Multi-tasking
3. Multi-user
4. Real-time OS
5. Distributed OS
6. Mobile OS
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Comparing Operating
Systems
Type
Description
Example
Single-user
One user at a time
Windows 10
Multi-user
Multiple users simultaneously
UNIX
Real-time
Quick response time
Airbag system
Distributed
Uses multiple computers
Google servers
Mobile
For smartphones
Android, iOS
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