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Chapter 1:
Types and components of computer systems 1

Learning objectives
When you have finished this chapter you will be able to:
■ define the physical components of hardware for a computer system, including identifying internal hardware devices
■ identify external hardware devices and peripherals
■ define software as programs for controlling the operation of a computer or processing of electronic data
■ define applications software
■ define and describe system software and describe operating systems which contain a command line interface (CLI) and a
graphical user interface (GUI)
■ describe the central processing unit and its role
■ describe internal memory, i.e. ROM and RAM and the differences between them
■ define input and output devices and describe the difference between them, as well as secondary/backing storage
■ describe and compare the characteristics and uses of a personal/desktop computer and a laptop computer, as standalone and
networked computers
■ describe the characteristics and uses of tablet computers and smartphones, including their ability to use wireless technology or
3G/4G technology
■ describe how emerging technologies are having an impact on everyday life.

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Overview There are many different types of hardware components,

even inside a mobile phone. Just because it is inside the
Information and communication technology (ICT) is used phone casing, doesn’t mean that you couldn’t touch it if
almost everywhere. This chapter will help you to learn and you took off the case off! Therefore it is still hardware.
to understand what different ICT systems can do and what
their effects on society are. Computer software is the opposite: you cannot touch it.
Software is a set of instructions for a computer to make it
First, you will learn about hardware and software and perform certain specific operations. You need hardware
the difference between them; next you will look at the and software for a computer system to work.
hardware components of a computer system, then at
some of the different operating systems. Finally you will
consider emerging technologies and the type of impact
Desktop and laptop computers
they have on everyday life. A desktop computer usually has a computer case and
a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse. It is called a
desktop as that is normally where it is placed. There are
also desktop computers, known as ‘all in ones’, where the
computer part is in the same case as the monitor. Neither
type is very portable.
A laptop computer has the same components as a
desktop, but the computer, monitor, keyboard and a
touchpad are integrated into a single, portable unit. In
Section 1.04 later in this chapter this will be discussed in
more detail.

2 Hardware components
The computer case contains many of the other hardware
components; it can come in various shapes and sizes, but
Figure 1.01 Typical computer system typically as a tower.
The computer case contains the motherboard on which
other components are mounted, such as the CPU, the
1.01 Hardware and software main memory and expansion slots for other hardware
There are two main components of any computer components, and the internal hard disk drive, which is a
system, such as the typical system shown in Figure 1.01: mass storage device that is used to store data files and
the hardware, and the software. In this section you software applications; there can also be an optical disk
will identify the physical parts of the hardware and drive which makes it possible to read from and write to
explore the difference between application software CDs and DVDs.
and system software.
Other hardware components typically found inside a
Computer hardware consists of the physical parts of a computer case are a sound card, a video card and a
computer system, the parts that are tangible, (that you cooling mechanism, such as a fan.
can touch). This includes the computer case, screen,
A computer system also needs input devices, such as a
keyboard, mouse, printer, pen drive, and also all the parts
keyboard and a mouse or a touchpad (also known as a
inside the computer case, for example components such
trackpad) so that the user can interact with the computer
as the hard disk drive, motherboard or video card.
via the interface. A display device such as a monitor is
also needed.
KEY TERMS Most computer hardware is divided into several types
Motherboard: a printed circuit board that allocates power to of device:
the CPU, RAM and other hardware components, and allows • An input device is used to put data into the computer.
them to communicate with each other.
Input devices can also be referred to as peripherals

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Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

and the more common ones are: keyboard, mouse, What does the CPU do?
touchpad, microphone, bar code readers, scanner, A CPU is fitted into a socket on the motherboard and it
digital camera, joystick. contains various components:
• A processor does something with the data given by • the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), where the
the input device. calculations occur:
• An output device is used to show the processor’s • logical operations, including AND, OR, NOT, etc.
results. Output devices may also be called peripherals
• bit-shifting operations, which means moving or
and examples would include printers, speakers,
‘shifting’ the positions of bits left or right (which is
plotters, projectors and display screens.
how multiplication is performed)
• A storage device keeps all the data and the software.
• arithmetic operations to add and to subtract
(because addition can be used to multiply and
KEY TERMS subtraction can be used instead of division).

Processor: called CPU, short for central processing unit. • the control unit (CU), to manage the various
components of the computer; the control unit reads
and interprets the instructions from memory and
changes them into signals which activate other parts of
Internal hardware devices the computer calculations.
The hardware inside the case of a computer (see Figure • the cache, to act as high-speed memory where
1.02) includes the processor or CPU which is a chip instructions and data can be copied to and retrieved.
attached to the motherboard. The processor makes
complex calculations and logical decisions, executing In order to understand how these calculations actually
computer programs, and also sends instructions to other get carried out, a little bit of knowledge about the binary 3
parts of the computer. number system is needed.

CD ROM Power cables

Power supply

CPU fan

CPU
(under fan) Motherboard

Video card
Case fan Data cable

Hard drive

Figure 1.02 The internal hardware components of a computer

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The binary number system is made up of only 0s and 1s

and is used in computing to represent whether a switch is
‘on’ or ‘off’. Think of a light switch with a ‘0’ written on the
top and a ‘1’ written on the bottom; when you turn on the
light switch, it goes from ‘0’ to ‘1’.
Computers store and process data using binary numbers.
For example, a computer stores the letter ‘B’ as 01000010.
The data is stored as a series of zeros and ones because
the computer cannot immediately understand words
like ‘hello’ or ‘teacher’, or numbers such as ‘49’; it can
only understand electrical signals being turned on or off.
These signals can stand for 0 (no signal being sent) or 1
(an electrical signal). Everything else has to be made up Figure 1.03 Hard drive
of combinations of the presence or absence of electrical
signals. The name for a single signal unit (a 0 or a 1) is a bit, External hardware devices
which is short for binary digit. There are many external devices available; the ones
By putting a number of these bits together the computer usually encountered are keyboard, mouse, trackpad,
can represent many different types of data. For example, printer, scanner.
01000001 stands for ‘A’ and 01000010 stands for ‘B’.
QUESTION 1.01
Notice that the examples of A and B that were given both
contain eight bits. This is because quite often eight bits are Make a note of all the external hardware devices your
grouped together like this. A group of bits like this is called group can think of.
4 a byte. Now explain what the devices on your list do, and make a
note of whether they are input or output devices.
KEY TERMS

Sound card: this enables the computer to send audio Software

information to an audio device, such speakers or headphones.
The set of instructions that make a computer system work
Video card: this is an internal circuit board for displaying
images from a computer onto a screen.
is called the software. However advanced or expensive the
hardware of a computer system is, it cannot do anything
unless it has instructions that it can follow that make it
work. There are two main types of software:
Other hardware components
• Systems software is essential to keep the
A video card, also known as a graphics card, can generate
computer working.
images, translate them and output them to a display.
• Applications software lets you do your day-to-day
A sound card lets you hear, record and play back sounds.
tasks on the computer. Applications software needs
The power supply converts alternating current (AC) the operating system to be able to work.
electricity from the mains supply to direct current (DC)
electricity, and then supplies it to the other components. KEY TERMS

A hard disk drive (see Figure 1.03) is for storing programs Applications software: programs that carry out operations
and data. The computer can read from and write to it. for specific applications such as word processing,
(When we say ‘read from’, it means being able to open a spreadsheets or presentations. Applications software cannot
file from the hard disk and load its contents into memory; run on its own without systems software.
‘write to’ means that we can save to the hard disk.) There
are different types of disk drives but they generally work System software
by spinning a disk and using a drive head to read/write. For System software may be classified as operating system,
hard drives a magnetic head is used. device drivers and utility software.

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Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

KEY TERMS KEY TERMS

Device driver: a program that controls devices such Linker: a computer program that takes files generated by a
as printers. compiler and then combines them into a single file that can
Command line interface: a way of interacting with a be executed.
computer via keyboard input at a prompt on the screen. Compiler: a computer program that converts source code
Graphical user interface (GUI): an intuitive way of into a language that can be understood by a computer.
communicating with a computer through a colourful screen Utilities: part of the system software that can analyse,
by clicking on icons using a mouse or trackpad. configure, optimise and maintain a computer.

An operating system, therefore, provides a platform for • Utility software, which is programs that help make
application programs to run. As a user, one of the ways your computer work more efficiently or that add
you can interact with the operating system is through functionality. Utilities may include programs such as
a graphical user interface (GUI), such as Windows; it antivirus software, backup facilities, disk repair such
allows you to enter commands by pointing at icons or as a defragmenter, file management, security and
objects that appear on the screen, and then clicking networking programs.
on them.
• Graphical user interface.
A different way of interacting with the operating system is
• A shell, which is an interface to allow you to access the
by using a command line interface (CLI). This allows the
services contained in an operating system.
use of commands such as COPY and RENAME for copying
files and changing their names. The commands are • BIOS (basic input and output system). The BIOS
accepted and executed by a part of the operating translates the operating system commands into action
system called the command processor or command by the hardware. Without the BIOS the operating
line interpreter. system cannot communicate with the hardware. 5

• A hypervisor to let you install more than one

operating system on a computer if you wish. It can
divide the resources such as the CPU, RAM and so on
in the physical computing environment into two or
more smaller independent ‘virtual machines’; each
virtual machine can run its own operating system,
where it appears as if the virtual machine has its own
Figure 1.04 Command line interface showing prompt
CPU and RAM.

Now you know that the operating system creates an • A bootloader, which is a little bit of code that is the first
interface between you and the hardware, here is a list thing to run when you switch on. It then ‘boots up’ or
of some of the things that the operating system might starts the operating system.
also include:
General purpose software
• The ability to load programs.
Here are a few examples of general purpose software
• Device drivers to run hardware peripherals such applications that you may use in your daily work, and how
as printers. they can be used:
• Linkers: in most programming languages you can • Word processing applications are used to produce
break down a large program into different pieces letters, reports and memos.
of code (or modules), to make the task simpler;
• Database programs are used to store and
the linker puts these modules together so that the
retrieve information.
program can run.
• Spreadsheet applications are used for tasks that
involve calculations or graphs and charts.

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• Presentation applications are used to create slide Input and output devices
shows and presentations. Input and output devices are looked at in more detail in
• Desktop publishing (DTP) packages are used to Chapter 2, but to help you start thinking about them, try
produce posters, newsletters and magazines. the following question.
• Photo-editing software used with photographs from a
digital camera or a scanned image to edit the image. QUESTION 1.03
• Video editing software
a Create two columns with the labels ‘Input’ and
• Graphics programs are used for artwork. ‘Output’. Now enter each of the following devices into
• Computer aided design packages are used to produce the appropriate column.
detailed designs and plans. Monitor Projector Digital camera
• Communications software such as web browsers and Scanner Touch screen Gamepad
email programs are used to access the internet and Webcam Modem Joystick
send and receive email. Touchpad Trackerball Keyboard
• Web page editors are used to create web pages. Microphone Cameras MIDI keyboard
• Audio production and editing programs are a common Printer Speakers Mouse
way of producing high quality music at low cost. Plotter Bar code reade Burglar alarm
• Applet is a little program that can perform interactive b Now you have done that, draw a circle around two of
animations or other simple tasks. the words that could be both input and output!
• App. (which is short for application) and is usually
associated with use on a smartphone, tablet, or other
mobile device. Processor
6 Sometimes, general purpose programs (also known as People often use the word ‘processor’ to refer to the
off-the-shelf software) are combined into one integrated central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. A
package so that they can be bought together. Word microprocessor is a single integrated circuit (chip) that
processing, spreadsheet and presentation programs are performs the functions of a CPU. Microprocessors are
often bundled together in this way. used to control devices such as washing machines, video
players and burglar alarms.
Some organisations prefer to have software specially
written for them so they can have the exact software EXTENSION ACTIVITY 1.01
features that they need. This type of custom-made
software may include applications for payroll, accounts, a Try to list as many other home devices with a
stock control, route planning, the travel industry or microprocessor as you can.
weather forecasting. b Investigate the use of microprocessors in
household devices. In what way do they help?
QUESTION 1.02 What are the disadvantages?

a When you are on the internet, you are using a specific

type of software. What is its generic name?
b Make a list of the advantages of custom-made Main or internal memory
software over off-the-shelf software. A very important part of a CPU is the main memory. This is
used to store all the data and instructions currently being
used. The main memory is sometimes called other names,
such as internal memory, primary memory or immediate
1.02 The main components of access store (IAS).
computer systems The random access memory (RAM) is attached to the
In this section you will learn the roles that different motherboard; it is where software currently in use and
hardware components perform in a basic computer system, documents that you are currently working on are stored
in order to understand the differences between them. whilst you are using them.

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Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

Read-only memory (ROM) stores instructions for your if there was only ROM, because we could not change its
computer to start up when you switch on. The contents of contents. So another sort of memory is needed.
ROM can’t be changed.
This other form of memory is called random access
memory (RAM). All the programs in current use are stored
KEY TERMS here, as well as all the data currently in use.
Random access memory: known as RAM, stores data and Think of RAM as a worktop or desk. Before you start work
applications while they are being used. It only stores them you may get out your laptop, your textbook, a notepad and
while the computer is on, but when you turn the computer off,
a pen and put them all onto your desk. This is like starting
everything in the RAM is lost. This is known as being volatile.
the program you want by clicking on its icon to put it into
Read-only memory: known as ROM, this has data
RAM; you may then open the file you want, which means
preinstalled onto it that cannot be removed. Unlike RAM,
ROM keeps its contents when the computer is turned off. It is you click on its name and the drive where it is stored to also
therefore known as being non-volatile. put it into RAM. As with the example of the desk, you now
have everything out that you need to do your work.
Normally a computer’s RAM is much bigger than its
ROM because it needs to hold far more. However, the
CPU ROM ROM is bigger in some computer systems; these include
Start up everyday microprocessor-controlled devices such as
instructions washing machines.
NOTE: Don’t confuse main memory ROM with a CD ROM or
DVD ROM; they are different.

QUESTION 1.04
7
RAM ROM and RAM are types of memory found in computers.
Programms and
a What does ROM stand for and what does it do?
data being used
at the moment. b What does RAM stand for and what does it do?
c What is the main difference between ROM and RAM?
d Write an explanation of the difference between
Figure 1.05 ROM and RAM volatile and non-volatile computer memory.

The main memory is volatile. This means that when the

computer is switched off, it will forget everything. So when Backing storage
you next switch on nothing will happen until you have A storage device is used to store programs and data
reloaded all the programs and the document you were when the processor is turned off. The programs and data
working on. In order to reload the programs and data, the must be put back into the processor’s memory when
computer must be switched on and running. This means needed for use.
that when you switch it on, the computer must already Storage devices are sometimes called backing store,
have some software in it so that it can start up. That secondary storage or external storage; these all mean
startup software is stored in a special type of main memory the same thing.
called read only memory (ROM; see Figure 1.05). ROM
cannot be changed, even by switching off the power. KEY TERMS

ROM would be useless for doing work or running backing store: a secondary storage device for data.
programs, though, because we normally want to change External storage device: data storage that is separate from
things. If you use a word processor to type up a piece of the computer, it usually plugs into a USB port on the computer.
coursework for school, then want to check your emails or Secondary storage device: sometimes called external
play a game, it becomes necessary to change the set of memory, this is non-volatile memory (does not lose stored
instructions used by the computer. This couldn’t be done data when the computer is switched off); an example would
be a pen drive.

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1.03 Operating systems you get WIMP. Graphical user interfaces are sometimes
called WIMPs.
You have read that the software programs are what ‘bring
the computer to life’ and that the software that controls Pointing using a mouse and clicking on icons is simple to
your computer is called the operating system (OS) or do and requires little IT knowledge, so a GUI is an interface
system software. that can be used by a young child or by someone who
knows little about computers.
The OS manages all of the software and hardware of the
computer system. However, there are many different types A command line interface (CLI) is also an interface for
of OS. The three most common are Microsoft Windows for communicating with a computer (see Figure 1.04).
PCs, Apple OS X for Macintosh (Mac) computers, and Linux. However, this time you have to type in specific commands
to tell the computer what to do. This is far more difficult to
MS Windows comes preloaded on most personal use for two main reasons:
computers; OS X comes preloaded on all new Mac
computers; Linux is an open-source operating system • The user must know all the commands.
which means that it can be modified and redistributed. • The user must be careful not to make any typing errors,
otherwise the computer will not be able to understand
User interfaces the commands and carry them out.
The operating system is the set of programs that do all
CLIs are used by people like technicians looking after
of the things needed to make a computer work. One of
computer systems. The technicians know the commands
its programs controls what users see on the screen. This
and are able in this way to access the whole of the system.
is called the interface or (in full) the human–computer
However, someone using a GUI can normally only get to
interface (HCI).
places on the system that they have been given icons for.
There are many different types of interface. Which one is
QUESTION 1.05
8 chosen depends on:
• the jobs that the computer has to do Many other types of user interface can be used on
computer systems.
• the type of user and their abilities.
a Find out about menu-based interfaces and form-
You will have seen that a GUI uses graphics to stand based interfaces. For a menu-based interface, find an
for more complicated actions that the user wants the information system at a local train station or bank. For
computer to carry out (see Figure 1.06). a form-based interface, look at a typical website for
booking a hotel room.
b Write down what you have found for each one,
explaining why they are used in that situation.
c Discuss with members of the class what experience
they may have of different user interfaces.
d What types of user interfaces are used by different
people in school? Discuss why they are needed.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY 1.02

a Try to find out about some more types of interface.

What, for example, is a ‘natural language’ interface?
Figure 1.06 A graphical user interface
b Are the type of user and the job that is to be done the
only factors dictating what a computer interface will
Typically, GUIs use icons to represent things that can be look like?
done. You can point at the icon on the screen with the
c A washing machine uses a computer processor to
cursor you control with the mouse. The screen can be control the wash cycle. What does the user interface
divided into different areas which can have different things look like? Why is it not a GUI?
in them; these areas are called windows. Put the four
d What kind of user interface does a camera have?
elements (windows, icons, mouse, pointer) together and

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1.04 Types of computer Although all tablets can connect to the internet using WiFi,
you can also get tablets that let you use 3G or 4G mobile
There are different types of computers that perform a internet connections. This type of tablet is often described
huge variety of roles. In this section you will learn about a as cellular. The disadvantage of this is the added cost:
variety of computers and you will compare the roles that the initial price to buy the tablet will be greater, as well as
they can perform. having to pay a monthly amount for the service.
In the 1990s, portable computers became popular and If you have WiFi at home then you can browse the
became known as laptops. Because they are more internet on your tablet, as you can anywhere else that
portable than desktops they have many advantages WiFi is available. For many, WiFi-only tablets are sufficient
for mobile work but they are not as portable as tablets. because you can download content onto your tablet
Laptops have the power and flexibility of desktops, but that you can use if you are going to be away from a WiFi
because of the weight and size of a laptop, tablets are far connection. If, however, you need to keep up to date with
more portable. emails when you are out and about, a 3G or 4G version
will be necessary. Then you can browse the internet even
Desktop computers are generally used at fixed locations.
when you cannot find any convenient WiFi hotspots.
Both desktop and laptop computers can be connected
to a network. Imagine if you had one or more computers A smartphone is a multifunctioning mobile phone. Packed
or laptops, you could create a home network so that you into its tiny case can be a camera, a web browser, a
would only need one printer; it would also mean that high-density display, a lot of storage space, a micro SD
you can share files with other computers on the network. card slot and a touch screen. Like the tablet, you can
You will read much more about computer networks in download apps and access the internet quickly; you can
Chapter 4. use a smartphone for email, browsing the internet, playing
music and watching movies (even though the screen is
Tablet computers became a mass-market product in 2010. rather small). You can also use it for GPS (Global Positioning
A tablet is a computer that is internet-enabled and small System) navigation, and speech recognition (which helps 9
enough to be handheld. It has a touch screen display with the fact that the keyboard is rather small to use quickly); it
the circuitry and battery together in a single unit. It can also has a camera and camcorder capabilities.
also have sensors, cameras, a microphone and a speaker.
A smartphone, like a tablet, uses cut-down applications,
Tablets can run application software, generally known as
known as apps, which are available for almost every subject
‘apps’. Tablets are simple to use as well as being light to area you can think of: medical and fitness monitoring, star
carry around; they provide you with access to the internet recognition, word processing, spreadsheets and charting,
and apps very quickly after turning on. playing games; the list is endless.

a b

Figure 1.07 Portable computing: (a) a laptop (b) a tablet

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Not all tablets, smartphones and laptops have the same specifications but the table below shows possible advantages
and disadvantages that they may have.

Devices Advantages Disadvantages Main uses

Tablets Quick to turn on Can be expensive Portable entertainment
Portable Not all have expandable memory. Some lack Web browsing
Easy to use cellular connectivity or have expensive contracts Games
Lots of apps to choose from Amount of battery life Reading
Ability to transfer data Speed of data transfer and compatibility Email
Video calls
Smartphones Pocket sized Small screens can make reading difficult Multifunctional device
  Can make calls, and send Web browsing can drain the battery quickly you can easily keep
texts and emails Typing on a small touch screen may be slow with you
3G/4G connectivity to access Amount of battery life
the web from most places Speed of data transfer and compatibility
Lots of apps available
Ability to transfer data
Laptops Excellent for work functions Larger and heavier than a tablet or smartphone Using applications
Full-size keyboard Slower to start than tablets software of all types
Very large storage capacity Amount of battery life
Personal Easy to upgrade Not portable Work and home
computers Usually have a larger screen Take up a lot of space applications
10 than a laptop Watching TV and films

Table 1.01 Summary of computer types

The advantages and disadvantages of each type of Machines that are programmed to think and act in part as
computer are summarised in Table 1.01. human beings are already affecting our lives in many ways.
There are already robotic cleaners available for home
QUESTION 1.06 use that can clean floors and carpets and manoeuvre
themselves around furniture and other obstacles. Some of
a Look at Table 1.01 and make a note of any more
advantages or disadvantages you can think of for
the other examples of emerging technologies described in
smartphones and for tablets. this section also include aspects of artificial intelligence.
b Explain the context where each of the four computer
types discussed above would be used, and who would Driverless cars
use it. Driverless cars are guided by GPS, WiFi and spatial laser
sensors (see Figure 1.08). A car without a driver? What

1.05 Impact of emerging technologies

Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that
are able to perform tasks that would normally be carried
out by humans or where a task is too dangerous or boring
and repetitive to be done by humans. Therefore AI needs
to be able to react like humans. Examples of this are voice
recognition and language translation, but there are many
more applications to consider.
Figure 1.08 A driverless car

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