Unit 1 Hardware and software (Topic 1)

1.1Hardware
1.1.1 Understand features and function of the contemporary digital
devices.
a) Portability
How easy it is to move a device, such as smartphone. Portable devices should
have an inbuilt battery.
b) Performance
How well and quick a device performs a task, such as a high modern pc can
work far more complex tasks than PC from 80s, due to the high speed and
memory.
c) Storage
How much data or memory a device can store, a PC has a greater storage
capacity can a mobile phone, generally as it can physically fit more space for
more memory and storage.
d) User Interface
What the user uses to use the used. Is a bride between a computer and a
human, it helps human use the computer, and computer to understand the
user.
e) Connectivity
The ability of a device to connect to other devices with or without wires. A PC
has a good connectivity because it can connect to Wi-Fi, and therefore the
internet as well as land connection, but a smartphone has better connectivity
because it can connect to Wi-Fi, but also has 3G and potentially accessibility,
as well as Bluetooth functions.
f) Media Support
Media support where a device can support media applications such as videos
or music. A mobile phone has good media support as it can play videos and
music to good quality, but a PC has better media support as generally PCs play
video and music to better quality well as play flash files.

g) Energy consumption
How much it consumes over a period of time. For example a TV consumes
more power than a monitor, as they perform similar function but the TV
would generally will have a large surface area for its screen, meaning it would
use more energy per hour than a monitor.
 h) Expansion Capacity
A device that can expand or upgrade.

i) Security features
Features that make a device more secure, from things like identity theft or
compromised bank account. For example a mobile phone has password or
pattern locks from people from accessing private materials.

Contemporary digital devices.

a) Computers
It is an electronic device that manipulates information or data, it has the
ability to store retrieved or processes data. Computers are able to type
documents and play games, and browse a web. Ex: Laptops, Tablets,
Desktops.
b) Embedded System
Combination of hardware and software design to do specific function(s).
Embedded system can be an independent system or part of a larger system.
And they microcontroller or processor based systems. Ex: MP3 players, video
gaming consoles, digital cameras, microwave ovens, washing machine.
c) Peripheral devices
A peripheral is any device which sense or receives data from the CPU.
Peripheral may be internal or external devices can either be input or output or
storage devices. Ex: Keyboards, mouse, printers, monitors.
d) Mobile Phones
A mobile phone is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls. It also
supports a verity of other services such as texting messaging, multimedia
applications, emails, internet access and more. Ex: Smartphone, and feature
phones.
e) Storage Devices
A storage device is computing hardware used for storing, knotting, or
extracting data files. They can store information permanently, or temporarily,
and can either be external or internal. Ex: USB drive, hard disk, and RAM.

1.1.2 Understand the technologies used by digital devices and how they
impact on the design and uses of devices:
a) Global Positioning System
GPS is a navigation system which make use of satellite to pin point your
position on the globe.
b) Bio metrics
They are physical or behavioural human characterises to that can use to
digitally identify a person to grand access the system, devices or data. Ex:
Voice, Fingerprint. Fast and inbuilt in mobile phones.

c) Touch Screen
A touch screen is a display device, which works as both an input and output,
which allows the user to interact with a computer by using their finger or
styles.

d) Sensors
A sensor is a device designed to measure some physical quantity in its
environment. An example might be a heat sensor that measures the
temperature in a room, or a pressure sensitive mat that detect some on
walking over it.

e) Memory

Memory is any physical device capable of storing information temporarily. Ex:

RAM.

f) Storage

Storage is a component of your computer that allows you to store and access
data on long term basis. Usually storage comes in the form of a solid state
drive, or a hard drive.

g) Battery Power
Battery Power is the capacity of a device to supply power enabling the device
to work without a power supply.

h) Miniaturisation/ processors
It is a microchip large quantity of transistors on the integrated circuit. High
transistor densities, faster performance, low power consumption, compared
to vacuum tubes.

i) RFID
Radio Frequency Identification, it is a type of wireless technology which uses
electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to
objects.
 j) NFC

Near Field Communication, it is a short range wireless technology that enables

simple and secure communication, between compatible devices which can
send and receive data.

k) QR code
Quick Response code, is the two dimensional barcode able to convey
information with the scan of a mobile device or QR scanner.

j) Connectivity

This refers of the ability of a software application or piece of equipment to

connect to another application or piece of equipment.

1.1.3 Technical convergence:

1.1.4 Embedded System:
Embedded systems are a computer hardware system that have software
designed to do a certain function. This could be done as an independent
system or it could be a part of a larger system.
a) Real time embedded system
These systems are mainly used for anything logical related. This is because this
is connected with a time period, an example of this pacemakers and aircraft
controls. It works on real time situation.

b) Standalone embedded system

These systems do not require a host system, in order to function properly,
they just use input and produce the output. Example for this system are ATM
machines and home security system.

c) Network embedded system

These systems deal with any network related design and hardware. These
systems protocols in order to exchange data between different networks
embedded system. An example for this Ethernet, which connects you to the
internet.
d) Mobile embedded system
These systems retain to any memory or device linked with a mobile phone,
these systems are used in any smart phone that exists. Wireless headphones,
Camera, uses less memory, and mainly portable.

Embedded system components

a) Hardware
Hardware consists of processors, timers and memories. Hardware that is used
in embedded system, must be microprocessor based. Timers are used in most
hardware that are included in embedded system. The memory that is
incorporated in embedded systems are usually ROMS.

b) Application Software
These are one or more programs that are designed for the users, EX: gaming
console- web browser, file opener.

c) Real-time operating system

RTOS, these are the most important aspects of embedded system. This is
because it makes embedded systems be able to run multiple tasks
concurrently. It also provides security, privacy, and solutions, to any system
requirements.

Characteristics of embedded system

Multi operational, Real time operational, User interface, Specific algorithm,
Specific function
*Algorithm in case it will create a program, so for example solving a problem with
a solution, function is an inbuilt commands.

Props Cones
Smaller size Difficult to change features
Portability Issues of scalability
Low power operation Limitation of hardware
Real time responses Applied for specific purpose, only
work for a single feature
Reduced cost
1.1.5 Understand the concept of and need for firmware:
Firmware is a software that provides instruction that are necessary to control
a device’s specific hardware.
Types of firmware
a) Low level firmware
It is often stored on non-volatile read only chips, such as ROM, it can’t be re-
written or updated. Devices with low level firmware only has one time low
level read only memory
b) High level firmware
It allows update, so it is more complex than low level firmware. For example in
computers high level firmware comes in flash memory chips.
c) Subsystem firmware
It often comes as a part of an embedded system it also can update and more
complex than low level firmware.

Applications of firmware:
Personal computing, Storage devices, mobile devices, and automobiles, home
appliances, smart cards.
Firmware is direct to hardware than operating system, and does less work
than firmware.

Difference between hardware and software:

Firmware is software that provides basic machine instructions that allow the
hardware to function and communicate with other software running on a
device. Firmware provides low-level control for a device's hardware. For this
reason, it is sometimes called "software for hardware." Another distinguishing
feature is that firmware is not generally designed to be user friendly.

Software is designed for users to interact with to accomplish specific tasks. It

sits above the firmware, abstracted from the hardware, and uses the firmware
to communicate with the underlying hardware. Software is more complex and
not as bound to the underlying hardware.

1.1.6 Understand factors that can be used to assess the performance of

digital devices:
a) Speed
It involves processor speed clocks per cycle, performance increases with
speed
 b) Capacity
It consider memory or storage devices
c) Portability
Ability of easy is it to carry the device
d) Bandwidth
The ability of transferring data speed.
e) Power efficiency
Good performance is provided when the battery life is in high power, so that
more work and features can be done.
1.1.7 Data file size:
8 bits = 1 byte, 1024 byte = 1 kilo byte, 1024 kilobyte = 1 megabyte, 1024
megabyte = terabyte, 1024 terabyte = 1 petabyte, 1024 petabyte = 1exabyte,
1024 Exabyte = 1 zeta byte, 1024 zeta byte = 1 yottabyte

A=25MB, b= 2 mins, (*60) 120 sec

0.208Mb/sec
A = 134GB, 134*1024= 137216mb, b = 7mb/sec
137216/7= 19602.29
1.1.8 Be able to use and convert between binary and denary as defined
by the International Electro technical Commission (IEC).

Binary to decimal conversation:

File Size in Computer

IEC=USING 1000S, SI international system of units. = USING 1024
1 bit = 4 nibble, byte = 8bits, or 2 nibble, kibibyte, mebibyte, gibibyte, tebibyte

Binary to decimal conversation:

1.1.9 Be able to select digital devices to meet the needs and
requirement of individuals and organisations.
So unlike old days we no longer have to depend on letter and postal system,
we have emails which is more secure and faster, and also very cheap. Also
social networking media softwares help people share more information, in
their day to day life, also jobs such as gamers and streamers mainly depend on
these types, for example to announce about the meat up about an old school
party, it will be really hard to share the info to each student, rather we have
groups and other features. Private messaging software has bought many
improvement in our day to day conversation, where we can more securely
share and connect to our friends, even if they are abroad, however these
features are only available with a digital device and a good network,
increasing the digital divide. Furthermore conferencing software and other
software allows many of us to work or study from home, avoiding to travel,
however these software makes us not meet our friends in physical reducing
our social interaction skills. Furthermore most business are moving mainly to
virtual sites for example even a small bakery shop owner, should know to
market his products online, or get or share opinions from his customers, also
more importantly make his product available online to purchase, increasing
his customers.
1.2 Software
A program enabling the user to perform a specific task, role of a bridge. Software
is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute
specific tasks

System Software
Is a type of computer program that designs to run computers hardware and
application programs.
System is used to manage the computer its self.
Operating System
Device Drivers
Firmware
Programming language translators
Utilities.
Application Software