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Module 1: Computer Systems: Basic Components: Required

The document discusses the basic components of computer systems: 1) Input devices like keyboards and mice that allow data to enter the system. 2) Output devices like monitors and printers that present data to users. 3) Memory, arithmetic/logic units, and control units that process instructions and data. 4) Storage files that hold data on devices like hard drives in a non-usable format. It also categorizes computer systems into microcomputers, midrange computers, mainframes, and supercomputers based on their processing power, operating systems, and intended uses. Microcomputers are used for personal computing, midrange for specific applications, mainframes for large businesses, and supercomputers for scientific calculations.

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35 views

Module 1: Computer Systems: Basic Components: Required

The document discusses the basic components of computer systems: 1) Input devices like keyboards and mice that allow data to enter the system. 2) Output devices like monitors and printers that present data to users. 3) Memory, arithmetic/logic units, and control units that process instructions and data. 4) Storage files that hold data on devices like hard drives in a non-usable format. It also categorizes computer systems into microcomputers, midrange computers, mainframes, and supercomputers based on their processing power, operating systems, and intended uses. Microcomputers are used for personal computing, midrange for specific applications, mainframes for large businesses, and supercomputers for scientific calculations.

Uploaded by

asim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 1: Computer systems: Basic components

Readings
Required
• Chapter 2 in Managing Information Technology, pp. 19-33
Andriole, S. J. (2012). Seven indisputable technology trends that will define 2015.
Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 30(4), 61-72.

For Your Success & Learning Objectives


Check the Interactive Lecture in Schoology.

1. Basic components of computer systems


Six key building blocks comprise all digital computer systems:
• Input
• Output
• Memory
• Arithmetic/logic unit
• Control
• Files

Read the components of these building blocks in greater detail:


Input:
Input devices are quite self-explanatory; they are how data enters the computer
system. You use input devices with every interaction at a computer. Examples of input
devices are a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, an audio device such as a
microphone, or a video device such as a camera. Recent innovations in input devices
include the smartphone, the wireless keyboard, and the wireless mouse.
Output:
Output devices present data in a usable format. Typical output devices we work with
daily might be printers, PC screens, terminal screens, smartphones, and other mobile
devices. Integrating wireless connectivity to output devices greatly enhances our
ability to access data in our virtual work environments.
Arithmetic/Logic, Control, and Memory
The central processing unit (CPU) is where the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the
control unit reside. When a user instructs the computer to run an application by
clicking on an icon from the desktop, the Control unit accesses the program residing
on disk, transfers the program or a portion of the program into Memory where the

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software resides while executing. If the program instructions require calculations or
decisions to be made, the ALU executes those instructions and returns control to the
Control unit to execute the next instructions in sequence. If the instruction to be
executed communicates with an input or output device, the control passes the
necessary instruction set to either the input or output units for execution. Upon
completion of the input or output, execution management returns to the control unit.
Files
Files within a computer system are where data are stored either temporarily or
permanently on secondary storage devices. A few examples of file storage are data
storage units, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, optical disk, and numerous other forms of
online and offline magnetic storage devices. While the files units provide input and
output capabilities, they are not considered input or output devices because the data
residing on the storage devices is not in a usable format for presentation to an end
user. Only after a program reads the data from the files units can the data be
presented in a usable format.

Most computer systems’ enhancements with which users are familiar include:
• Faster CPUs and more of them
• Larger memory sizes and faster memory speeds
• Large amounts of primary (online) and secondary (offline) file storage
• Enhanced network connectivity through both wired and wireless interfaces

However, computer vendors do not enhance technology just for the sake of the
technology itself. The fundamental driver behind advances in hardware technology is
to provide customers with the capability to perform their work more efficiently and
effectively. As you read the assigned readings in the next modules, reflect on what
might be the business drivers for using new hardware, software, and networking
technologies. If the technology does not support the needs of the business, then
adopting the technology is ill-advised as it creates no business value.

2. Types of computer systems


Computer systems fall into four broad categories based on CPU type, systems size,
operating systems used, and specific functional uses. The four categories are
microcomputers, midrange computers, mainframes, and supercomputers. As the
capabilities of computer hardware and operating systems continue to increase, the
lines separating the four primary categories become fuzzy. Therefore any discussion
around computer systems capabilities must be tempered with a realistic assessment

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of the current IT industry.

Microcomputers are used for personal computing. Often times they are the “client”
in a “client-server” environment. These computers are typically used for small
business processing. Microcomputers can be desktop PCs, laptops, notebooks,
handheld computers or personal digital assistants, including tablet PCs. Two major
platforms used today include the PC platform (most often with a version of Microsoft
Windows installed) and Apple Microcomputers or Macs. Recently, PCs use the Linux
operating system as well.

Back in the 1980s, midrange computers consisted of two types of computers systems:
workstations and minicomputers. Workstations were microcomputers with more
powerful chips than PCs. They were typically used for specific applications, like
computer-aided design (CAD), office automation, accounting functions, etc.
Midrange computers can also serve as a server for client-server applications.
The low-end midrange machines are essentially high-powered PCs. They are typically
built on Intel Pentium, Celeron, Xeon, or AMD processers. Very often, low-end
midrange machines run Windows Server Software and the Linux operating system.
The high-end midrange machines are powered by RISC processors or top-of-the-line
Intel or AMD processors. The high-end midrange systems more often run Linux or
some variation of UNIX.

Mainframes are typically used for large business processing. They are oftentimes
larger servers with a wide range of applications served through an enterprise.
Mainframe computers are very often used in major corporations and government
agencies. Their major strength is versatility in application processing. They are great
workhorses for online and batch processing, integrated enterprise systems,
engineering and scientific applications, network control, and systems development
environments. Some of the major players today include IBM, Fujitsu, and Unisys.

Supercomputers are generally used for numerically sensitive scientific calculations.


Sometimes known as “number-crunchers” they run at speeds of 250K MFLOPS
(Million Floating-point Operations Per Second) High-end supercomputers are
typically only located in government or research and development labs at major
universities. One of the fastest supercomputers (IBM Blue Gene/P) has 294,912
processors and can achieve a speed of 1 petaflop!

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View the following video for more about supercomputers.

Technology will continue to make consumers' lives easier and more productive—at
home and at work. And consumers themselves will be a major force behind
technology's direction and continued advancements. Technological advancement is
no longer driven from a Steve Jobs mindset.

The late Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple, believed that customers only wanted a
faster, cheaper version of what they already had ,thus limiting innovation from the
computer vendors to incremental changes to functionality. Jobs felt that radical
product innovation had to come from the vendor essentially telling the customers
what they needed. This strategy is why Apple chose to build the Macintosh PC rather
than invest in incremental changes to the Apple IIe.

Current customers are more sophisticated technology users. They may not speak the
“tech talk” but they are more adept at communicating their personal and business
needs so technologists can create innovative solutions.

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