A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer

Unit 7. Evolution of computers

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Computer Hardware Basics

– any physical device or equipment used in or with a computer system (anything you can see and touch).

External hardware

  • External hardware devices (peripherals) – any hardware device that is located outside the computer.
  • – a piece of hardware device which is used to enter information to a computer for processing.
  • Examples: keyboard, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad), touchscreen, joystick, microphone, light pen, webcam, speech input, etc.
    A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer
    A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer
  • – a piece of hardware device that receives information from a computer.
  • Examples: monitor, printer, scanner, speaker, display screen (tablet, smartphone …), projector, head phone, etc.

A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer
A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer
A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer

Internal hardware

  • Internal hardware devices (or internal hardware components) – any piece of hardware device that is located inside the computer.
  • Examples: CPU, hard disk drive, ROM, RAM, etc.

Computer Software Basics

  • – a set of instructions or programs that tells a computer what to do or how to perform a specific task (computer software runs on hardware).
  • Main types of software – systems software and application software.

A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer

  • – a computer program that provides users with tools to accomplish a specific task.
  • Examples of application software: word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, database management, Internet browsers, email programs, media players, accounting, pronunciation, translation, desktop publishing, enterprise, etc.

– it is designed to run a computer’s hardware and application software, and make the computer system available for use. It serves as the interface between hardware, application software, and the user.

A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer

  • Main functions of system software – allocating system resources, managing storage space, storing and retrieval of files, providing security, etc.
  • Main types of systems software – operating system, device driver, utility software, programming software, etc.

– a software that controls and coordinates the computer hardware devices and runs other software and applications on a computer. It is the main part of system software and a computer will not function without it.

  • Main functions of an operating system – booting the computer, managing system resources (CPU, memory, storage devices, printer, etc.), managing files, handling input and output, executing and providing services for application software, etc.
  • Examples of operating system: Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, Android OS, macOS, Linux, etc.

– a software program that is designed to control a particular hardware device that is attached to a computer.

  • The main purpose of device driver – it acts as a translator between the hardware device and operating systems or applications that use it.
  • It instructs computer on how to communicate with the device by translating the operating system’s instructions into a language that a device can understand in order to perform the necessary task.
  • Examples of device driver: printer driver, display driver, USB driver, sound card driver, motherboard driver, ROM driver, etc.

– a type of system software that helps set up, analyze, configure, strengthen, maintain a computer and performs a very specific task (e.g. antivirus software, backup software, memory tester, screen saver, etc.).

any physical device or equipment used in or with a computer system (anything you can see and touch).

any hardware device that is located outside the computer.

a piece of hardware device which is used to enter information to a computer for processing.

a piece of hardware device that receives information from a computer.

any piece of hardware device that is located inside the computer.

a set of instructions or programs that tells a computer what to do or how to perform a specific task (computer software runs on hardware).

a computer program that provides users with tools to accomplish a specific task.

it is designed to run a computer's hardware and application software, and make the computer system available for use. It serves as the interface between hardware, application software, and the user.

a software that controls and coordinates the computer hardware devices and runs other software and applications on a computer. It is the main part of system software and a computer will not function without it.

a software program that is designed to control a particular hardware device that is attached to a computer.

a type of system software that helps set up, analyze, configure, strengthen, maintain a computer and performs a very specific task (e.g. antivirus software, backup software, memory tester, screen saver, etc.).

Every computer is composed of two basic components: hardware and software.

  • hardware includes the Physical features, which are every part that you can either see or touch, for example: monitor, case, keyboard, mouse, and printer.
  • The part which activates the physical components cs alled software. It includes the features that responsible for directing the work to the hardware. Software can be divided int othe programs and data.

von-Neumann architecture of the computer[edit | edit source]

Von-Neumann computer consists of two main components: memory and CPU. The rest of the computer can be viewed as input/output devices for the two main components. This concept has not yet been overcome and even the latest computers still come from von-Neumann architecture. 

A component that store files for the operating system and software programs that run on the computer

von- Neumann architecture

Application Software[edit | edit source]

An application software is a computer program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities. Examples of an application include a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, a media player or a console game[1]. Applications may be connected with the computer and its system software or may be published separately, and may be coded as proprietary or open-source.

Operating System[edit | edit source]

Operating system is defined as a system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. All cpplication softwareomputer programs require an operating system to function. Operating system controls computer's hardware, run the computer's programs and organizes files.

CPU[edit | edit source]

Central processing unit. Unit that bring the instruction from memory to be executed and decodes.

Storing device[edit | edit source]

Any hardware that can hold information, temporarily or permanently. We distinguish two types of storage: a primary storage device (RAM), and a secondary storage device (hard drive). Secondary storage can be removable, internal, or external storage.

Examples of permanent computer storage:

1. Magnetic storage devices: hard drive, floppy diskette etc.

2. Optical: blu-ray disc, CD-rom disc etc.

3. Flash memory devices: memory card, memory stick, SSD

RAM[edit | edit source]

It stands for random access memory, it keeps the data and general purpose program that the compter is executing at the moment. RAM is not permanent, its contain can be changed and it is erased when the computer is off.

Motherboard[edit | edit source]

It is the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components. It has a socket for the CPU, RAM and expansion part (sound cards, graphic cards ETC) and also connects together the CPU, memory, hard drives, optical drives, video card and more.

Bits and bytes[edit | edit source]

Bit is the smallest storage unit in the computer. A bit can store just 0 or 1, which is called binary, and therefore can be stored by physical devices or systems that has two separate states. For example 2 positions, or states of an electrical switch, the two states being ‘on‘ and ‘off‘. A bit can also be described as true/ false, no/ yes etc. Notice that a bit has only two coding options, or 2 values. One bit is too small to be used, and thus computers use a larger storage unit called bytes.

Bytes- are made of bits. 8 bits are used to create 1 byte. Notice that a Byte has 28 coding options, 256 values. RAM, hard drives and flash drives, are all types of storages measured by Bytes.

Other storage units:

  • 1 KB (kilobytes)= 1024 Bytes
  • 1 MB (megabytes)= 1024 KB
  • 1 GB (gigabyte)= 1024 MB
  • 1 TB (terabyte)= 1024 GB
  • 1 PB (petabyte)= 1024 TB

Data[edit | edit source]

is any set of characters that has been gathered and translated for some purpose, usually analysis. It can be any character, including text and numbers, pictures, sound, or video. If data is not put into context, it doesn't do anything to a human or computer. Within a computer's storage, data is a collection of numbers represented as bytes that are in turn composed of bits.

Information[edit | edit source]

a meaning change data into information. For instance letter A, is only a data for an illiterate person but an information for someone who can read.

Knowledge[edit | edit source]

is a familiarity, awareness or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning. Knowledge can refer to a theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Algorithm[edit | edit source]

is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based on conducting a sequence of specified actions. A computer program can be viewed as an elaborate algorithm. In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm usually means a small procedure that solves a recurrent problem.

References[edit | edit source]

1.    "Application software". PC Magazine. Ziff Davis.

external links[edit | edit source]

http://www.computerhope.com

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/algorithm

http://www.merriam-webster.com

https://web.stanford.edu/class/cs101/bits-bytes.html