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Types and Components of

Computer Systems
Hardware & Software
ts Hardware
er
They are the physical components that make up a computer system

You can feel it or touch it

Hardware can be internal or external
Internal Hardware Devices:
Processor
Motherboard

f RAM & ROM

Video & Sound Cards
of Internal Hard Disk Drives
External Hardware Devices:

Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Printer

External Storage Devices

tion Software
Programs that control computer systems
nt
Set of instructions that make the computer do something
You cannot physically touch software
Relates to ideas & instructions for using physical objects
Two types of software:

Application software:
Programs that allow the user to do specific task
Design to carry out tasks
Can be general purpose software or custom-made software
(specialist software)
E.g. Spread sheets, databases, word processing
System Software:
 Programs that allow the hardware to run properly
Control computer's hardware and application program
Communicate with user
E.g. Operating system, device drivers, compilers

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The Main Components of Computer

Systems
f
CPU
of Processing done by central processing unit
Three main components:

Control unit - coordinates input and output devices and carries out
program instructions

Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) - performs calculations and logical

comparison: A < B?
Immediate access store (IAS) - holds data and program instruction in

current use
tion
Microprocessor:

nt Used instead of CPU

Single integrated circuit

Internal/Main Memory
Stores all data: application software, operating system, data files

Consists of ROM and RAM

Both RAM and ROM are integrated chips

RAM:

Random access memory (RAM) is an internal chip where data is

stored temporarily

Memory can be written to and read from

RAM > ROM (usually; except washing machines)
 Stores anything that needs to be changed

All program and data being used are on RAM

Contents lost when computer is turned off

Referred to as volatile memory

ROM:

Read only memory (ROM) is memory used to store permanent

information

Used to contain configuration data for a computer etc.

Chips cannot be altered, only read from

ts Data not lost when computer is turned off

er
Referred to as non-volatile memory
BIOS:

ROM contains boot file, referred to as BIOS (basic input/output

system)

Tells computers what to do when it first starts

Does hardware check when computer is turned on

Then it loads operating system into RAM

f
BIOS stores date, time and system configuration

of  

Input & Output Devices

Input devices:
Purpose is to provide data for processing

Data is raw facts which alone have no meaning

Examples: keyboard, mouse

Output devices:

tion Displays result of processing

Information is processed data which has been given meaning

nt Examples: monitor, printer

Secondary/Backing Storage
Stores data/information & programs not being used at current time

Backing store device = reader or recorder

Example: Hard disk drive
Backing store media = hardware containing data
Example: Hard disk

Basic Computer Model

ts
er
Operating Systems
Enables users to communicate with computer systems

Controls operation of input, output & backing storage

Supervises loading, running & storage of application program
Deals with error in application programs
Maintains security of whole computer system

Maintains a computer log

f
Two main types of interfaces: CLI & GUI
of
CLI - Command Line Interface
Types commands to tell the computer what to do

The user must know all the commands

Must not make typing errors
Used by technicians

Can access everything on the computer system

GUI users can only access places they have icons for
Advantages
tion
Knowing the correct commands, this can be much faster than any
nt other interface type
Uses much less RAM than any other interface type
Low resolution, cheap monitors can be used

CLI does not require Windows to run

Disadvantages
Can be confusing
Commands must be typed precisely, if there is a spelling error the

command will fail

If you mistype an instruction, it is often necessary to start all over
again

Large number of commands need to be learned

 GUI - Graphical User Interface
Uses graphics to stand for the complicated actions

Uses icons
Uses a mouse to select the icons
Screen divided into windows allows different things on each

WIMP - Windows Icons Menus Pointers

Advantages
Easy to use because requires little IT knowledge
Easy to explore and find your way around the system
ts Do not have to learn complicated commands
er
Exchange data between different software
Good help facilities provided with GUIs

Disadvantages
Larger amount of hard disk space than other interfaces
Significantly more memory (RAM) to run than other interface type
GUI use more processing power than other types of interfaces

f GUI can be slow for experienced programmers to use, they find CLI
much faster
of

Types of Computers
Desktop/Personal Computers
Refers to general purpose computers
PC refers to IBM compatible computers, distinguishing them from the

Macs
tion
Made up of separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and processing unit

nt Advantages

Spare parts standardized results in low costs

Tend to have better specifications
Large casing allows good dissipation of heat build up
Disadvantages

Not portable since they are made up of separate components

Wiring clutters up desk space
Necessary to copy files as they aren't portable

Laptop/Notebook Computers
Refers to computers where monitor, keyboard, pointing device and
processor together in a single unit
 Extremely portable systems
Low weight

Low power consumption

Processor doesn't generate too much heat
Advantages

Portable because monitor, pointing device, keyboard, processor &

backing store units are together in one box
No trailing wires

Full advantage of Wi-Fi

ts Can link into any multimedia system

er
Disadvantages
Easy to steal
Limited battery; need to carry charger
Keyboard and pointing device awkward to use

Heat dissipation is difficult due to laptop structure

Tablet Computer
f These are small hand-held devices that can perform many functions that
PCs & laptops do
of
Often use touch screens to operate
On-screen virtual keyboard replaces physical keyboard
Often used by graphic designers to digitalize their content with a stylus
pen
Can be used like a PC and/or a Smartphone
Advantages:
Small light & portable

Built in cameras for photos & videos

tion
Touchscreen can be used with a stylus pen
nt Long battery life
Disadvantages:
Less storage spaces
Lacks power of laptop/PC
Digital keyboard can be difficult to use

Touchscreen may be difficult to use for detailed work

Smartphone
Modern phones that can perform similar tasks to all the above
Main use of smartphones is social media & day-to-day planning

Use varies from person to person

Advantages:
 Smallest lightest most portable

Integrated/virtual keyboard
Often the least expensive device
More practical for day-to-day use
Disadvantages:
Small screen may be difficult to use
Not as powerful as other devices
Often has the lowest battery life

Small size makes it easy to steal/lose

ts
er
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of

Impact of Emerging Technologies

This is technology that is being newly developed
These can have several impacts on our society

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technology that focuses on creating a computer system that can closely
tion mimic or simulate human intelligence
AI can be used to:
nt
Enhance video games and computer tactics

Help decision making steps in expert systems

Make robots to imitate human behaviour
Understand different human languages
Impact on everyday life:
Can be used to accurately predict hazardous weather conditions and
signal warnings automatically
Take over menial tasks for humans; increasing our leisure time

Can be used for safer automated travel; cars that can drive and park
by themselves
 Increases home safety by being able to tell the difference between
owner & intruder; call authorities automatically
Improved medical care as decision making skills and precision can be

enhanced

Biometrics
A part of a person’s body is used to identify that individual

Can be:
Fingerprints
Retina
ts Iris
er
Face
Voice
These are all unique to everyone thus can be used as an authentication
technique

Must be added initially to a system to use as identification

Impacts on everyday life:

f Better security at the airport since most use at least one form of
biometric check if not more
of
Increased security in certain places as only authorized personnel can
gain entry
Reduced vehicle theft since newer car doors come with a fingerprint

lock on the door handle

More secure mobile devices as most now have some sort of
biometrics integrated into them

Vision Enhancement
tion LVES: low vision enhancement systems: video projected inside a headset
in front of the user’s eyes. Brings the objects closer for the viewer.
nt
NVE: Night vision enhancement: amplifies visible and infrared light. Light
passed through image intensifier tube where light is converted to
electrons, then amplified (increase in no.) and then light up screen with
phosphor dust.

Robotics
Programmed machinery widely used to do physically demanding tasks
Can be automated or manually operated
Used to perform several tasks:

Dangerous jobs such as bomb disposal

Exploring extreme environments such as volcanoes
Repetitive manufacturing jobs such as welding
 Moving heavy objects such as large engines
Impacts on everyday life:
Increased personal time since robots can take over domestic chores
Increased manufacturing efficiency since robots are much faster and

less expensive than human labour

Unemployment as robots replace humans in autonomous jobs
Safer working environments since robots can perform tasks that are
too dangerous for humans

Quantum Cryptography
ts Technology that allows messages and data to be sent with complete
er
privacy; basically, advanced encryption
Older encryption is based on mathematics, but this new tech uses
physics
Makes it much more complex to decrypt
Impacts on everyday life:

Completely secure voting ensuring that votes cannot be tampered

f with or changed
Completely secure communication eliminating the risk of being
of
read/heard by the wrong eyes/ears
Completely secure bank transactions so money goes exactly where it
is intended
Completely secure personal information preventing hackers access

to intrusive details about a person

Computer Assisted Translation (CAT)

When human translators use computer software to help in the

tion translation process

Can reduce translation time

nt
May not be 100% accurate
Common CAT tools:
Spell checkers
Translation memory software
Language search-engine software
Impacts on everyday life:

More accurate documents since most software can automatically

detect errors
More multilingual society since anyone with an internet connection
can now essentially learn multiple languages using translators
Quicker translations
 3D & Holographic Imaging
Technology that makes images appear to be 3- dimensional by adding a
layer of depth
Holograms use 2 regular 2D images and manipulate them to produce a
3-dimensional image
Different laser beams are used to record the 2D images onto a single
photographic plate

This creates an illusion of one 3D images

Impact on everyday life:
ts Improved security since majority of credit/ID cards & bank notes use
er
holograms to prevent forgery
Better movie experiences since 3D viewing can provide a more
immersive experience for the audience
Greater data storage since holographic layers can potentially

decrease the thickness of disc storage

Virtual Reality (VR)

f When computers create an artificial environment that users can virtually
interact with
of
Uses:
Allow architects to walk around a virtual version of their design
Training soldiers for combat by allowing them to fight against virtual
enemies
Training surgeons by allowing them to operate on virtual patients
Playing games and enhance the level of immersion
General VR equipment:

tion Eye goggles that produce 3D images to develop the artificial

environment
nt
Special gloves or controllers to perform precise actions inside the
simulation
Headphones to control what is heard in the virtual world
Powerful computer to run the entire VR system in real time
Impacts on everyday life:

Improved medical surgeons/soldiers

Stronger buildings
Treatment of phobias as certain situations can be treated using
simulations
More realistic education as students can learn in a more interactive
environment