Chapter 4: Hardware

Chapter 4: Hardware

1. The CPU: The Brains of the Operation

   • 1. The CPU consists of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit
   • 2. The Information Cycle
     • 1. Fetch
       • 2. Decode
         • 3. Execute
           • 4. Store
   • 3. Modern processors use pipelining and parallel processing to improve performance
   • 4. A multi-core processor consists of more than one processor on a single chip

2. Getting to know your System Unit and Motherboard

   • 1. The motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer; it provides a way for devices to attach to the computer
   • 2. Ports and connectors attach peripheral devices to a motherboard
   • 3. Information flows between the components of a computer over data buses
   • 4. The BIOS is a program stored on a chip on the motherboard that's used to start up a computer
   • 5. RAM is volatile memory that holds the operating systems, programs, and data the computer is currently using

3. A Place for Everything

   • 1. Lasers read the data on optical discs
     • CDs
     • DVDs
     • Blu-ray discs
   • 2. Hard drives store data magnetically on metal platters
   • 3. Flash memory stores data on a chip

4. What Goes In . . .

   • 1. The mouse and keyboard are the most common input devices
   • 2. Digital cameras and webcams input images and video
   • 3. Scanners convert information into a digital format
   • 4. Microphones are audio input devices

5. . . . Must Come Out

   • 1, Most personal and notebook computers have LCD monitors
   • 2. Large plasma monitors are commonly found in media centers and conference rooms
   • 3. Resolution is the number of horizontal pixels X the number of vertical pixels on a screen
   • 4. Types of video projectors
     • DLP
     • LCD
   • 5. Video cards connect monitors and projectors to a computer
   • 6. Speakers and headphones are audio output devices that connect to a sound card

6. Pick a Printer

   • 1. The most common personal printer is an inkjet printer
   • 2. The most common office printer is a laser printer
   • 3. Specialized printers
     • Dye-sub
     • Thermal printers
     • Plotters
   • 4. PictBridge is a standard that lets you connect a digital camera directly to a printer
   • 5. Three-dimensional (3D) printers can create objects such as prototypes and models

7. Adaptation: Making Technology Work for You

   • 1. Adaptive technology helps individuals with disabilities interact with technology
   • 2. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees
   • 3. Adaptive technology includes both hardware and software

8. Communicate, Communicate, COmmunicate

   • 1. A network adapter connects a computer to a network
   • 2. A modem is used for dial-up Internet access
   • 3. Digital signals carry more data and are less prone to interference than analog signals