Angelee Baeza 3-14

Contents
Section 1: what is a hardware?....................................................................................................................2
Section 2: Categories of Computer..............................................................................................................3
Section 3: Types of PC................................................................................................................................4
Section 4: Input Devices..............................................................................................................................5
Section 5: Audio Input Devices...................................................................................................................7
Section 6: Output Devices...........................................................................................................................8
Section 7: Printers.....................................................................................................................................10
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Section 1: what is a hardware?

Hardware is the physical parts of a computer

Examples of hardware:
1. Keyboard – used to input information (letters, words and numbers) into your computer.

2. Monitor – used for displaying things.

3. Mouse – used to as a pointing.

4. System Unit – A device were the processing takes place.

5. CPU – The Central Processing Unit is the main processor inside of a computer.
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Section 2: Categories of Computer

The four categories of computer (by size) are:

2. Mainframe computer – A huge computer mainly used by giant companies for bulk data
processing.

3. Minicomputer – Has an in-between amount of power. Less than a mainframe but more
than a micro computer. It is also a lot more convenient and common.

4. Micro Computer – Is a small computer that has a CPU is made up out of its
microprocessor.

Supercomputer
Main frame computer

Micro computer

Minicomputer
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Section 3: Types of PC

A PC or a Personal computer is a microcomputer used for multiple different things.

Examples of PCs:

1. Desktop – Is a computer that is meant to be used on a desk top. It is usually composed of

2. Laptop – Is similar to a desktop computer but is smaller and portable.

3. Notebook – A computer that is notebook sized for easier portability.

4. Palmtop – A computer that is very light and small enough to be held with one hand.

Desktop
Laptop

Palmtop
Notebook
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Section 4: Input Devices

1. Mouse – The major pointing device

2. Joystick – A lever that gives you control over things on screen. It’s usually used for
gaming

3. Trackball – Is like an upside-down mouse

4. Track Point 11 – A small rubber cap that is found in the middle of the keyboard

5. Trackpad – A small flat rectangle shaped pad where you place your fingers to move your
cursor.

6. Light pen – A pen looking thing that shines a small light onto the screen, used to show
your exact position on the screen.

7. Graphic tablet – Works with a stylus in order to produce drawings in the computer

8. Hand-held scanner – reads a picture when dragged over it

9. Flatbed scanner – Scans and captures the picture, similar to a photocopy machine.

10. Sheet fed scanner – Feeds the original picture as the paper goes through.

11. Bar code reader – Reads the bar patterns that represents a code number for the item

12. Magnetic Stripe reader – scans information of a magnetic stripe, usually on a surface of a
card.

13. Optical Mark reader – Recognizes the position of a mark on paper

14. Optical character recognition – Identifies and processes written or printed characters

15. Magnetic-ink character recognition – Identifies a specific type of ink. It relies on the
magnetic behavior of the ink.

16. Digital camera – Stores pictures digitally

17. Smart card – Is similar in size and shape as a bank or credit card but has a microprocessor
chip in it.
 Joystick Trackball TrackPoint
Mouse Angelee Baeza 3-14

Graphic Tablet
Trackpad

Light pen

Hand-held scanner
Sheet fed scanner

Bar-code reader

Flatbed scanner

Digital camera

Smart card
Optical mark reader

Magnetic strip reader

Section 5: Audio Input Devices

Allows users to send audio information to their computer to process.

Examples of Audio Input Devices:

1. Touch-tone telephone – Makes a “beep” noise that varies in frequency depending on

2. Microphone – Is used to hear voices and sounds so that the user can give voice
commands and communicate over the internet.

3. Voice recognition – The computer recognizes our voice and produces the same words
that the user says.

4. Natural Language – When a computer processes its binary code or data into something
we can understand (English)
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Section 6: Output Devices

Any type of computer hardware that turns information into something humans can understand.

Examples of Output devices:

1. Speaker – Makes a range of sounds at various volumes

2. Sequencer – Stores and reproduces a sequence of musical notes.

3. Musical Instrument Digital Interface – Is a standard for playing sounds.

4. Monitor (VDU) – Displays information in a picture and or text form.

5. Picture Elements (Pixels) – Very minute dots that, when put together, make a picture.

6. Video card – Is in a system and controls the signals going to the monitor.

7. Cathode ray tube (CRT) – The most common type of monitor

8. Liquid crystal display – Allows the screen of a laptop or a notebook computer to be

9. Touch screen display – A two-way user interface. You place your finger on the display
and they system will respond to the touch.

10. Data Projector – Takes an image from a computer screen and projects it on a (typically
larger) separate screen.

11. Satellite Dish – A modem to connect to telephone systems and internet services.
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LDC monitor Touch screen

Projector

Satellite dish

Video card
Pixels
CRT monitor
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Section 7: Printers

Printers are machines that print out information from the computer.

Examples of Printers:

1. Dot Matrix printers – uses printer hammers so small that they’re sometimes called pins

2. Thermal Printers – Use heated wires to make dots onto the surface of a sensitive, heated
paper.

3. Inkjet Printers – Makes small dots of ink onto paper, forming pictures.

4. Laser Printer – Uses laser lights to make patterns of ink.

5. Thermal Dye Transfer Printers – Uses specific dyes that are heated until it turns into
gases.

6. Thermal Wax Transfer Printers – Puts tiny dots of molten wax of onto paper to print.
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Dot matrix printer

Laser printer
Thermal Dye Transfer Printer