HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

1. EXTERNAL HARDWARE

   • Monitor
   • Keyboard
   • Mouse
   • Microphone
   • Printer
   • Speakers

2. INTERNAL HARDWARE

   • CPU
   • Soundcard
   • Motherboard
   • RAM
   • Fan
   • Hard disk

3. SOFTWARE

   • Software - the applications and programming instructions that tell your computer what to do and enable you to use it for things such as playing games, listening to music etc.
   • EXAMPLES
     • Operating system
     • Utilities
     • User interface

4. PERIPHERALS

   • Any hardware device which connects to the computer and is controlled by the CPU
   • EXAMPLES
     • Monitor
     • Keyboard
     • Mouse
     • Printer
     • Scanner

5. COMPUTER SYSTEMS

   • MICROPROCESSOR
     • An electric circuit or chip that can process data, perform calculations and act upon the results by issuing instructions.
       • (it is the processing chip which makes the computer or electronic device work)
     • IN THE HOME
       • Washing machines
       • Microwave cookers
       • Dishwashers
       • Fridges
       • DVD players
     • AT WORK
       • Lifts
       • Automatic doors
       • Air conditioning system
       • Photocopiers
     • IN EVERYDAY LIFE
       • Mobile phones
       • Digital cameras
       • Traffic light systems
   • TYPES OF COMPUTER
     • SUPERCOMPUTERS
       • Fastest and most expensive computers in the world
       • Mainly used by large universities who do a lot of reseach, weather modelling etc
       • Large organisations such as pharmaceutical companies
     • MAINFRAMES
       • Large, powerful computers that can carry out many different tasks for many different people at the same time
       • Slower than supercomputers but are less expensive
       • Used by large companies such as;
         • Utility companies e.g. gas and electricity suppliers to calculate customer bills
         • Banks - for managing thousands of customers accounts each day
         • Insurance companies - for keeping track of policies and claims
     • PERSONAL COMPUTERS
       • Powerful and relatively inexpensive
       • Used for;
         • Running office applications such as word processors, spreadsheets and databases
         • For CAD design such as designing kitchens
         • Editing videos
     • LAPTOPS
       • A portable computer which is mobile and small enough to carry around with you
       • Disadvantages