Chapter 1B

Looking Inside the

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Parts of the Computer System
• Computer systems have four parts
– Hardware
– Software
– Data
– User

1B-2
 Parts of the Computer System
• Hardware
– Mechanical devices in the computer
– Anything that can be touched
• Software
– Tell the computer what to do
– Also called a program
– Thousands of programs exist

1B-3
 Parts of the Computer System
• Data
– Pieces of unstructured information
– Also called raw facts
• Example- Fruits basket having nos. of fruits
– Computer organize and present data
• Users
– People operating the computer
– Most important part
– Tell the computer what to do
• Example- writing code to prepare the calculator in
language like C++ etc.
• Pass instruction to print the page
1B-4
 Information Processing Cycle
• Steps followed to process data
• Input
• Processing
• Output
• Storage

1B-5
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Computers use the same basic
hardware
• Hardware categorized into four types

1B-6
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Processing devices
– Brains of the computer
– Carries out instructions from the program
– Manipulate the data
– Most computers have several processors
– Central Processing Unit (CPU)
– Processors made of silicon and copper

1B-7
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Memory devices
– Stores data or programs
– Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Volatile
– Volatile memory is a type of storage whose
contents are erased when the system's
power is turned off or interrupted.
• Stores current data and programs
• More RAM results in a faster system

1B-8
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Memory devices
– Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Permanent storage of programs
• Holds the computer boot directions
– non-volatile storage is a type of computer
memory that can retain stored information even
after power is removed.

1B-9
 • Another example of Rom:
• ROM is mostly used for firmware updates. A simple example of
ROM is the cartridge used with video game consoles, which
allows one system to run multiple games.

Note: Types of Rams and Rom's will be Discussed in the upcoming Chapters
1B-10
1B-11
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Input and output devices
– Allows the user to interact
– Input devices accept data
• Keyboard, mouse
– Output devices deliver data
• Monitor, printer, speaker
– Some devices are input and output
• Touch screens

1B-12
 Essential Computer Hardware
• Storage devices
– Hold data and programs permanently
– Different from RAM
– Magnetic storage
• Floppy and hard drive
• Uses a magnet to access data
– Optical storage
• CD and DVD drives
• Uses a laser to access data

1B-13
 Floppy Inside

1B-14
 Software Runs The Machine
• Tells the computer what to do
• Reason people purchase computers
• Two types
– System software (OS, Utility Programs)
– Application software

1B-15
 Software Runs The Machine
• System software
– Most important software
– Operating system
• Windows (Different Vesions)
– Network operating system (OS)
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows server 2016 and up
– Utility
• Symantec AntiVirus

1B-16
 Software Runs The Machine
• Application software
– Accomplishes a specific task
– Most common type of software
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS Power Point
• Outlook (email, calendar, and many more)
– Covers most common uses of computers

1B-17
 Computer data
• Fact with no meaning on its own
• Stored using the binary number system
• Data can be organized into files

1B-18
 Computer users
• Role depends on ability
– Setup the system
– Install software
– Mange files
– Maintain the system
• “Userless” computers
– Run with no user input
– Automated systems

1B-19
 Chapter 1B

End of Chapter

McGraw-Hill Technology Education Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.