3.1.1: Components of a computer system

3.1.1: Components of a computer system

1. Hardware

   • Physical Components of a computer
   • Peripheral Devices
     • Input device
       • Any device that lets you enter data
       • Allows you to supply information from an external source to your computer to then be processed or stored
     • Output device
       • Any device that presents output from a computer
       • An output device renders (in any appropriate format) the data that is held on the storage device
     • Storage Device
       • Hardware for holding programs or data
       • A storage device holds data (for differing lengths of time) that it has recieved from software and input devices
     • Hardware devices outside of the processor, often connected via wires.

2. Software

   • The programs that tell the computer what to do based on user input or an event.
   • Two important types
     • Systems Software
       • Instructions that make the hardware available for use.
       • Includes programs that allows humans to interact with the computer, programs that control the movement of data and programs that turn human language commands into ones that the computer can recognise.
     • Applications packages
       • A piece of software designed to carry out a specific task that is useful for the user.
       • Word processing software and powerpoint are examples of application packages.

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