Computing

Computing

1. Software

   • Includes: System software, Apps and Utilities
   • Definition: Programs that run on a computer which control and make use of hardware
   • Loaded in RAM
   • Fetched and executed one after another by the CPU
   • System software
     • Operating systems and interfaces
     • Drivers
     • Firmware
     • Servers
     • Utilities
   • Operating Systems
     • Definition: A large collection of programs that tells the hardware what to do
     • Windows, iOS, Android
     • Manages computer memory
     • Provides a GUI
     • Manages Hardware

2. Fundamentals of a computer system

   • Definition: An integrated collection of parts which work together for a common purpose.
   • Input -- Processes -- Outputs
   • Includes: Input devices, Outputs devices, Storage, A processor, Software
   • Expert systems
     • 3 computer parts
       • Designed to behave like a human expert
       • A knowledge base
       • An inference engine

3. Computer Hardware

   • Definition: Physical parts to a computer that are controlled by software
   • Monitor, Keyboard, mouse, ect.
   • Types of hardware
     • Input devices
       • Hardware that inputs information in the computer E.g. Keyboard
     • Output devices
       • Hardware that outputs information E.g. Monitor
     • Storage devices
       • Hardware that stores information E.g. Portable HDD
       • Sometimes call "Secondary storage", can be used to transfer information or backup a computer

4. Representation of Data in a computer system

   • All information is converted into binary for the computer to understand
     • Only uses 1's and 0's
   • ASCII
   • Unicode