Hardware

Hardware

1. The Central Processing Unit

   • Uses of CPU
     • Brain of the Computer
     • Handles all computer data
     • Carries out 3 actions: Fetch-Decode-Execute
       • Fetch
         • Collects the data
       • Decode
         • This is where the data that was fetched is decoded
       • Execute
         • This is where the action commanded is performed
     • Clock speed and cores
       • Can complete millions of actions at once
       • Determines how fast data is processed
         • The more cores the faster data is processed
           • Slow clock speed means data is being processed slowly
       • Measured in hertz (Hz)
         • One Hz = 1 instruction each second
       • If you had a quad core processor it would multiply the amount of hertz by 4
         • So basically your computer runs nearly 4x as fast
       • Kilohertz (KHz)
         • Megahertz (MHz)
           • Gigahertz (GHz)
             • 1 billion cycles per second
           • 1 million cylces per second
         • 1000 cycles per second
     • Cache
       • Stores data that might need to be used again
       • Quicker than main memory
       • Stores very little
       • Everything stored on the Cache is lost when the computer is shutdown
   • ALU - Arithmetic Logic Unit
     • The ALU is a digital circuit used to perform arithmetic and logic operations. It represents the fundamental building block of the CPU.

2. Software

   • Types of software
     • Microsoft Word-Word Processor
     • Norton Antivirus Software-Antivirus
     • Hotmail-Email
     • World of Warcraft-Computer Game
     • Itunes-Music Software
     • LInux-Operating software
     • Application Software-Not required to run a computer
     • System Software-Often nessecary for the system to run
     • Off the shelf-Software anyone has access to and can download
     • Custom written software-Written for a specific person
     • Open source software- Often free or cheap, they can edit the fit their needs and there is often easy ways to work together on projects
   • User Interface
     • Voice Recognition
       • A voice-activated interface has an advanatage in the fact you do not need to make physical contact with phone and the phone can do specific tasks very quickly, a disadvanatage is the voice recognition software could be activated accidentaly or not recognise a voice.
       • Windows 10 has Cortana, it can be used to open programs with ease and access various files. Very good voice recognition.
       • IPhones have Siri, it can be used to open apps, call someone, and even do things such as set a date on the alarm clock. Very good voice recognition.
       • Very old voice recognition software was implemented on the PS2 and the DS however this was very poor and could only just about pick up individual words.
       • Google Translate has voice recognition software to pick up people speaking a language and then translates it, this can be useful is someone has heard a word and knows how it sounds but not what language it is or how to write it, however the voice recognition is ok at the best of times. This is a computer system in use on the google glass.
     • Types of inputs
       • Touch Screen
       • Voice Recognition
       • Mouse
       • Keyboard
       • Controller
     • Types of Outputs
       • Printer
       • MOnitor
       • Speakers
       • Robotic Arms

Imágenes y archivos del mapa