INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

(ICT)
The emergence of computers and their application in data transfer, communication and information
sharing lead to integration of
computers and telephone facilities.
ICT refers to the integration of computers and telecommunication facilities for the purpose of
communication and information exchange.
ICT has enabled faster and reliable communication. Computers are used to produce, share and
store information.
DEFINITION OF A COMPUTER.
It is an electronic device that accepts users input (data) and transforms it under the influence of
sets of special instructions (programs) to
produce the desired output (information).
It is an electronic device since it uses small electrical signals to process information.
DATA.
Raw facts that has no meaning to the user e.g. numbers, letters and symbols.
INFORMATION
Processed data that is meaningful to the user and can be used to make a decision.
FUNCTIONS OF ICT
Communication
Information sharing
DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTERS. (COMPUTER GENERATIONS)
First generation computers (1940-1958)
Characteristics
Large in size
Made using vacuum tubes / thermionic valves
Consumes a lot of power hence broke constantly due to excessive heat.
Second generation computers (1958-1964)
Characteristics
Made using electronic devices called transistors.
Produce less heat
Faster in processing data.
Smaller in size and more reliable
Third generation computers (1964-1970)
Characteristics
Made of integrated circuits (ICs) that consists of millions of transistors fused together on an
electronic chip
Have large storage capacity
Improved processing speed
Smaller than mini computers
Fourth generation computers (1970-1990)
Characteristics
Made using large scale integrated transistors (LSI)
Faster processing
Produce less heat
Larger storage capacity
Fifth generation computers (1990 to date)
Characteristics
Made of VLSI transistors
High processing speed and power
Have special set of instructions that allow complex programs that mimic human intelligence
(artificial intelligence)
PARTS OF A COMPUTER
A computer is a collection of different components connected together in order to function as a
single entity. There are two parts that
makes up a computer.
System unit.
It’s the part that houses the brain of the computer (CPU).It also houses drives and the motherboard.
A drive is a device that enables the storage of data (read and write operations).
Types of system units.
Tower style system unit
Desktop (slim line) style system unit.
Peripheral devices
Are external devices connected to the system unit using special cables (data interface cables).
Data interface cables carry data and information to and from the devices. They are attached to the
system unit using connectors called
ports.
Common peripheral devices.
Keyboard
It is a keying device that enables the user to enter data and instructions in the computer by pressing
the keyboard keys.
Mouse
It is called a pointing device. Enables the user to issue instructions to the computer by controlling
a mouse pointer on the screen.
Monitor
It is called the screen or visual display unit .It is used to display the output.
Referred to as the monitor because it helps the user to see what is going on in the computer.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS.
Computers are classified based on:
A. Size and processing power
There are four main groups namely.
i. Super computers.
Characteristics
Fast, powerful and most expensive computers.
Perform complex calculations in a fraction of a second.
Have extreme weight hence kept in a special room
Have huge processing power hence generate a lot of heat and needs a special cooling.
Uses
Used in scientific research
Applied in aerodynamics design, simulation, petroleum research, weapon analysis.
ii. Mainframe computers.
Characteristics.
 Less powerful, less expensive than super computers.
Big in size
Process data and does complex calculations
Have large storage capacity.
Supports a variety of peripheral devices.
Found in government institutions and companies.
iii. Mini computers
Characteristics
Smaller than mainframe.
Supports fewer peripheral devices
Not powerful as mainframe computers
Cheaper than mainframe
Used in scientific laboratories, research institutions, engineering plants etc.
Adapted for functions like word processing, accounting, and database management etc.
iv. Micro computers
Characteristics
Smallest, cheapest and least powerful.
It is called a microcomputer because its CPU is a microprocessor. They are designed to be used
by one person hence referred to as a
personal computer.
Used in training institutions and business enterprise.
Types of microcomputers
Desktop computers
o Not portable
o Designed to be used while placed on an office desk.
Laptop computers.
o It is designed to be used by placing it on the lap (hence its name)
Palmtop computers.
o Small enough to fit in the pocket and can be held in the palm when being used.
B. Purpose
They are either:
General purpose computers.
Perform a variety of tasks when loaded with appropriate programs.
Its flexibility enables it to be applied in a wide range of applications e.g. documents processing,
performing calculations, accounting e.t.c.
Special purpose computers
Designed to serve a specific function or to accomplish a task.
Its set of instructions is limited in number.
They include:
Robots
Used in manufacturing industries and production lines
Mobile phones.
Used for communication
Electronic calculators
Used to carry out calculations
C. Functionality.
It is done based on the type of data it processes.
Data can either be discrete or continuous.
Discrete data (digital data) is data represented as distinct values that have no transitional stages
over time.(0 and 1)
Continuous data (analog data) is data represented as progressively changing values over time.
Time (t)
Digital computers
Process digital data only. It converts its input in digital form for manipulation
Analog computers
Process analog data. They measure the amount of change that occurs in quantities like speed,
temperature and pressure.
Used in manufacturing process control e.g. monitoring and regulating furnace temperatures,
pressure etc.
Also used in weather stations to record and process physical quantities e.g. wind, cloud speed,
temperature etc.
Hybrid computers
Process both digital and analog data
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS
Computers process data faster.
Computers are accurate
Computers are efficient
Computers are diligent
Computers are versatile
Computers are error free
Time (t)
COMPUTER SYSTEM.
A computer system is made up of two components namely:
Hardware
Software
A computer system is a collection of three components namely hardware, software and live
ware that work together to receive, process,
manage and present information in a meaningful format.
Hardware.
Physical/tangible components that makes up a computer.
Software
A set of instructions that directs a computer on what to do. They are classified as:
System software
Application software.
Live ware (wet ware, gray ware)
Refers to human attachment to computers. It’s the user who dictates what task a computer can
perform.
COMPUTER HARDWARE
They are classified as:
Input devices
It converts users input (human language) into machine language that a computer can process.
They are classified according to the method it uses to enter data as:
Keying devices/typing devices
It converts typed numbers, letters and special characters into machine readable form before
processing. Keying devices include: traditional
keyboard, flexible keyboard, ergonomic keyboard, keypad and brailed keyboard.
Keyboards are reliable, cost effective and error free.
Pointing devices
Controls a mouse pointer or cursor on the screen. Mainly used on computers running on GUI
operating system.
Types of pointing devices
Mouse
Types of mouse include: mechanical mouse, optical mouse and cordless or wireless mouse
Uses of a mouse.
Selecting options from a menu
Issuing commands and instructions
Dragging and dropping items
Opening files and programs
Merits of a mouse
Easy and convenient to use.
Cheap
Demerits
Cannot input text
Slow for selecting menu options
Not accurate when used for drawing
Needs a flat surface to operate.
Touch pad
It is a small flat rectangular pointing device that is sensitive to pressure and motion. To move the
pointer using a touch pad slide your
fingers across the surface of the pad.
Trackball
Works like a mouse but has a ball rotated by a finger
It requires no extra space for movement.
Joystick
It is a specialized pointing device for playing computer games. The user controls the game by
varying pressure, speed and direction of the
joystick. Command buttons are used to issue commands or trigger actions
Light pen and stylus
It is a light sensitive pointing device that operates by identifying a pixel on the screen hence
pointing to the current location.
A stylus is used on touch sensitive devices such as PDA screens that recognize a hand written text.
Uses of light pens
Used as a design aid (drawing shapes)
Used to read bar codes
Used to indicate a point on the screen.
Advantages of light pens
Presents a direct mode of input
More precise than using a mouse
Demerits of a light pen
Only detects the presence and absence of light
Used only with light sensitive screens.
Pointing Stick – a pressure sensitive device shaped like a pencil eraser that is positioned between
keys on the keyboard.
Scanning devices
Scanning is the process of capturing data from an object and converting it into digital format
A scanner is a device that captures data from an object and converts it into digital format.
Types of scanners
Scanners are classified as:
Optical scanners
They capture data using optical or light technology. A light beam passes through an object and the
image is analyzed by specialized
software, which converts it to digital format for onward transmission to the computer for
processing.
Types of optical scanners
1. Optical Mark Reader.(OMR)
Detects marks made on a piece of paper using ink or a soft pencil by passing infrared beam of light
over them. The position of the mark
relative to a fixed point of reference is analyzed to determine whether it is in the required place.
Uses of OMR
Marking multiple choice questions
Analyzing responses on questionnaires.
Selecting correct number combination from a lottery.
Voter registration
Stock control in supermarkets.
Advantages of OMR
Error free
Easy to prepare data
Data is prepared on collection
Disadvantages of OMR
Data verification is difficult
Difficult to understand the document.
Document reader requires reprogramming every time a new document is used.
2. Optical Barcode Reader (OCR)
Used to capture data coded as lines of varying thickness (bar codes or Universal Product Code)
The bar code contains manufacturers and product details and the product country of manufacture.
Bar codes do not contain prices since prices keep changing from time to time.
Space represents a zero (0) a bar
represents a one (1)
3. Optical Character Reader (OBR)
Works like a human eye. It is used to read typewritten, computer printed or handwritten characters
and transforming the images into a
softcopy that can be manipulated using a word processor.
They capture images and real pictures.
Uses of OCR
 Producing turn around documents i.e. documents produced as output and reused as input by the
computer
Producing sale order forms
Stock taking forms
Advantages of OCR
Error free
Saves on stationary
Provides a faster input
Requires no precise design
Disadvantages of OCR
Expensive because of specialized technique used.
Documents should not be folded or greased.
Requires specialized typing and character formation
Magnetic scanners
Used to capture data written using magnetic ink or coded onto a magnetic strip.
Types of magnetic scanners.
1. Magnetic Ink Character Reader (MICR)
Reads characters written using magnetic ink.
Majorly used in banks to code and decode cheques.
Advantages of MICR
Difficult to forge
Robust (not affected by folding and greasing)
Demerits
Very expensive
Accepts fewer characters.
2. Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR)
Used to read data coded on a magnetic strip on a plastic card e.g. credit card.
Other input devices
Voice input
Entering data into a computer inform of speech using a microphone. The microphone is attached
to a sound card that converts the
analog signal into digital signal.
Used mainly by physically challenged persons.
Question: State five areas where voice input is applied.
Limitation of voice inputs
Homophones
Limited vocabularies
Word separation
Speakers variability
Difficult to develop.
Note: An emerging trend in voice input is the inclusion of voice tags in cell phones that allows the
user to simply store and
dial contacts.
Touch screen
Allows the user to touch the screen in order to select an item. The screen consists of infrared light.
When the user touches a location on
the screen the finger interrupts the infrared light and the commands touched is executed.
Used in banking halls, hotels, airports to give guidance
Digitizers
It is used for tracing detailed engineering drawings and architectural designs
Digital cameras
(Difference between a digital camera and an ordinary camera)
Capture data and stores images in digital format. Pictures are stored in memory cards instead of a
film.
Digital images can be directly streamed into a computer then uploaded to the internet using
webcam or a photo printer.
Interactive whiteboard (smart board)
It is a large interactive display that connects to a computer.
Computer display is projected onto the board surface, where users control the computer and write
using a pen or a finger.
Used mainly in classrooms and seminars.
Central Processing Unit.
Referred to as the processor.
It is the central part of the computer where data processing takes place.
It is regarded as the brain of the computer.
It is housed inside the system unit and mounted on a circuit board called the motherboard or system
board.
A processor consists of three functional elements i.e.
i. Control unit(CU)
It controls all activities in a computer.
It also interprets instructions fetched from the main memory and sends control signals to the ALU
instructing it
on how to execute the instructions.
It coordinates input, storage and output operations.
ii. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
It performs arithmetic and logical operations on data as directed by the control unit. It compares
two or more
values whether they are less than, equal to, greater than e.tc.
Data to be executed by the ALU is temporarily held in a special purpose memory called the
register.
iii. Main memory (MM)
Stores data and instructions that is directly accessible to the processor.
Functional elements of the CPU
Types of main memories
1. Random Access Memory (RAM)
Referred to as the working memory. It’s the most common memory.
Its contents are read directly regardless of storage sequence.
Its function is to hold instructions and data needed by running applications.
It’s a temporary storage that holds data entered into the computer for processing.
Characteristics of RAM
It is a volatile memory (its contents are lost when power goes off.
Holds data temporarily before processing.
 Data can be read and written to.
Its contents are user defined (user dictates what is stored in it)
Types of RAM
i. Static RAM
Located inside the microprocessor.
It is a fast type of memory that holds contents for a long time provided power is on.
It is used on special purpose memories because of its efficiency (cache’ memory)
A cache’ memory is used to enhance the processing speed of the computer by holding data and
instructions that are required by the
processor.
Characteristics of SRAM
Faster access by the CU
Its contents does not require refreshment
Its large in size
It’s expensive
ii. Dynamic RAM
A slower type of RAM.
Holds data for a short time even when power is on hence require constant refreshing to maintain
its contents.
It is referred to as dynamic because of its tendency to lose stored charge through leaking even with
constant power supply.
Characteristics of DRAM
Requires constant refreshment to avoid losing its content.
Offers slower access time compared to SRAM.
Cheaper than SRAM
2. Read Only Memory (ROM)
Stores programmed instructions and data permanently or semi permanently.
Data stored in ROM are those that should remain unchanged for a long period of time.
ROM is used to store firmware from hardware manufacturer.
Characteristics of ROM
Data can be read but not written to.
Its non volatile (does not lose its content even when power goes off.
Stores data permanently
Its contents cannot be modified.
Types of ROM
i. Mask ROM (MROM)
Written once by the manufacturer and cannot be changed.
ii. Programmable ROM (PROM)
Allows the user to write once. After programming it assumes the roles of MROM
iii. Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM)
Allows the user to erase its contents and reprogram it as many times as possible. Its contents are
erased by exposing it to ultra violet rays
through a quartz window.
iv. Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM)
Allows the user to also erase its contents by using electricity and reprogramming it as many times
as possible.
3. Special purpose memories.
They are memories embedded in a microprocessor used to enhance the processing speed of the
computer.
They include:
Buffers
They are special memories found on input and output devices.input data is held in the input buffer
whereas output data is held in the
output buffer.
e.g. a computer printer have buffers that can store massive documents sent by the CPU for printing
hence freeing the CPU to perform
other tasks.
Registers
They are high speed memory locations used to hold data and instructions temporarily before and
after processing.
Registers hold one piece of data at a time. They are used to hold data temporarily hence enabling
the ALU to manipulate data at
high speed.
Types of registers.
Program counter
Holds memory address of instructions to be fetched next.
Instruction register
Holds the instructions that is currently being processed.
Accumulator
Holds results of the last processing steps of the ALU.
Address register
Holds the address of the next piece of data to be fetched for processing
Storage register
Holds a piece of data that is on its way to and from the CPU.
Cache memories
It is a fast type of RAM used to optimize system performance by increasing the processing speed
of a computer. They are labeled as: level 1, level 2 and level 3 cache memories.
Memory capacities
Memory and storage capacity is measured in bytes.
A byte is equivalent to a single character, symbol, number and space between words.
MY HOUSE has 8 bytes.
Memory quantities include: Kilobyte, Megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte
Types of processors.
There are two types of processors namely:
Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)
Made of complex instructions micro coded into the processor.
Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
Uses fewer instructions set than CISC hence less costly.
Processor speed / clock speed
It is the speed at which a processor executes instructions.
It is measured in hertz (kilohertz, megahertz and gigahertz)
Functional organization of the CPU.
A bus is an electrical pathway that allows different elements of the computer to communicate with
one another.
Types of buses.
Control buses
Are unidirectional buses that carry commands signals from the microprocessor to other parts of
the system?
Contains address of the memory location to be acted by the microprocessor.
It is wide to enable it to address many devices as possible.
Majorly used for timing and control operations.
Address bus
Are unidirectional buses from the microprocessor to external devices?
They are used to locate storage positions in the memory where the next instruction data to be
processed is to be found.
Data bus
Are bidirectional buses that carry information and data to and from the CPU. It determines the
width of the microprocessor?
The size of the data bus is an indication of the information moving capability of its chip.
It’s where actual data transfer takes place.
Output devices
Are peripheral devices that a computer uses to give out information produced after processing.
It receives data inform of electrical / pulses from the CPU and converts it into information.
The output can be read, looked at or listened to.
Classification of output devices.
Hardcopy output devices
They are devices that produce tangible output.
Information recorded on physical medium e.g. paper or films is called hardcopy output.
This devices include:
Printers
Produces information on a piece of paper.
The quality of printout depends on the printing mechanism.
Factors used to classify printers.
Print speed
Print mechanism (impact or non impact)
The way a document is produced.(line, character and page printers)
Impact printers
Are printers that print by striking mechanism. They strike a piece of paper in order to form an
imprint on it.
They include: dot matrix, daisy wheel printers
Impact printers are cheap to purchase but produce low quality printouts.
Non impact printers.
Are printers whose head elements do not come into contact with the stationary.
They print by thermal,ink or laser technology.
They include:ink jet printers,thermal printers,laser printers.
Impact printers are expensive to purchase but produces quality printouts.
They are also high speed printers.
Plotters
They are used to produce large graphical, architectural and engineering output e.g.
diagrams,maps,billboards e.t.c.
Computer output on microfilms
Facsimile machines.
Factors to consider when selecting a printer.
Print quality
Purchasing Cost
Running cost
Compatibility
Type of interface
Nature of reports e.t.c.
Soft copy output devices
Are devices that produce intangible output.
An intangible output is an output that cannot be touched or felt but can be seen or heard.
These devices include:
Monitors (Visual Display Unit) or the screen.
It displays typed data and graphics
It displays information inform of texts, pictures and video.
They include:
Cathode ray Tube (CRT)
Made up of an electron gun that shoots electrons to the screen
Electron gun shoots electrons vertically and horizontally on the screen with the help of deflecting
plates.
The screen is coated with phosphor that has three primary colours (Red, Blue and green.)
The phosphor glows when an electron hits the screen hence illuminating it.
CRT is bulky and consumes a lot of heat
They are also fragile and sensitive to water that may cause short circuits.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Made up of two sheets of polarized and flexible plastic material and a layer of liquid crystals
between them.
They are portable, less bulky and consume less power.
Made based on two technologies: active matrix and passive matrix.
Gas plasma Display (GPD)
Made using gas (neon).Their images do not suffer from angle distortions.
Monitor display terminologies.
Pixel
Stands for picture elements.
They are tiny dots used to from images displayed on the screen.
A pixel has three primary colours.
It can also be the smallest area of the screen which the computer can change.
Resolution
It’s a measure of how fine the details are on the screen.
A higher resolution screen requires more pixels hence more clear.
The number of pixels per inch on the screen measured in dot per inch.
Screens are classified as: low, medium and high resolution screens.
Refresh rate
The measure of number of times per second the screen is redrawn (refreshed)
It is done to avoid flickers on the screen
Display size
It is the diagonal length of the screen measured from top right to bottom left.
Colour depth
The number of colours displayed by a pixel measured in bits.
Bandwidth
The range of signal frequencies that a monitor can handle.
It determines the amount of data that can be transmitted per second.
Convergence
Clarity and sharpness of each pixel on the screen.
Speakers
It is a sound output device used to produce sounds such as beebs, audio or digital.
Applied mainly as a learning aid.
Light emitting diode (LED)
Indicators used to display light when an electric current is passed through it.
Alerts the user when there is a problem in the system.
Liquid crystal display projectors (LCD )
Display output from a computer onto a white screen.
Used to present information to a large audience
Storage devices
Are devices used to store, programs and information for a long time.
Also known as backing devices and are used when data and information need to be stored for a
long time.
Data is read and written to a backing storage.
To write data means moving data / copying data from the main storage (computer) to a backing
storage.
To read data means moving data from a backing storage to the computer for use.
Data is read and written to using devices known as drives.
Characteristics of backing storage.
Data is accessed using read / write heads that transfers data.
It has a slower access than the main storage.
They are non volatile i.e. data is stored on the medium until it is deleted.
Note: a backing store has either a serial access or a direct access.
Direct access is where data is accessed regardless of its storage location.
Serial access is where preceding data must be accessed before the actual data.
Secondary storage devices are classified as:
Removable storage devices
Fixed storage devices
Based on technology it uses to store data.
Removable storage devices.
Are devices not housed inside the system unit.
They have drives for reading and writing data to them.
The drives are operated by a program known as the drivers.
Drivers are programs that aid the drive to read and write data.
Types of removable storage medium.
 Magnetic tapes
Floppy disks
Optical disks
Solid state devices (memory cards and flash disks)
Magnetic tapes.
Made of a thin ribbon of Mylar coated with iron oxide to provide the magnetism.
The Mylar is housed inside a plastic cartridge for protection against environmental factors like
dust and moisture.
Data is read and written to using it using a tape drive.
They include. Reel to reel tapes, cassette tapes and cartridge tapes.It stores data linearly.
Merits
Light and easy to carry
High capacity storage
Low cost
Stores sequential files for batch processing.
Stored data is compact and easy to store for a long time.
Demerits
Slow due to its linear storage.
Wastage of storage space due to the presence of inter record gap (IRG)
Dust, moisture and humidity can distort stored data.
Magnetic disks.
It’s a flat circular disk .
Has a disk platter for storing data. Data is read using a magnetic process.
Types of magnetic disk:
Floppy disk
Hard disk
Characteristics of magnetic disks.
Data can be read and written to from a disk
Disks provide direct access to data
Area within a disk is bound by two edges of a sector to form a block that forms the unit for
reading and writing data.
Each surface holds data in concentric tracks
It has two surfaces or sides for storing data.
Access time is the time taken to read or write data on a disk. It is characterized by:
Seek time – the time taken by the read / write head to locate the right track that contains required
data.
Rotational delay – time taken for the drive motor to spin the read / write head until the right
contents are aligned directly below
the read / write head.
Data transfer time – time taken for data to be transferred to the main storage.
Zip disk
It’s a higher capacity floppy disk that holds 250 MB of data.
Used for backing and archiving personal data.
Other disks include: jazz disk, high capacity floppy and laser servo 120 super disk.
Care of magnetic tapes.
To avoid accidental loss of data or information held on magnetic media care should be a priority.
 Never expose it to strong fields because magnetic dipoles will be disoriented leading to erasure
of data.
Never expose it to excess heat that will make it loose magnetism leading to data loss.
Never drop it on a hard surface since this weakens magnetism.
Never bend or fold a magnetic medium.
Do not place heavy objects on its top.
Do not touch magnetic surface of a disk.
Do not remove a medium from the disk while still being accessed by the computer since this
may result to loss of data.
Optical storage media.
Reads and write data using a laser beam which is a very strong concentrated light.
Optical disks are becoming popular due to:
Their large storage capacity.
Ability to store data permanently.
Types of optical disk.
Compact disk
Digital versatile disk.
Optical card
Optical tape.
Compact disk.
Hold large quantities of data and information i.e. 750 MB.
Used to store data and information that requires large storage space e.g. video clips,softwares and
sounds.
Forms of compact disks.
a) Compact disk ROM
b) Compact disk recordable (CD-R)
c) Compact disk Re-writable (CD-RW)
Compact disk ROM
It about 12cm in diameter.
Data is written using a powerful laser beam that burns patterns in the surface in form of bits and
bumps.
Data is read back using a relatively low power laser to detect the patterns in the surface.
Allows data to be recorded once and read as many times as possible
Compact disk recordable. (CD R)
Coated with a special dye which changes colour to represent data when burned using a laser beam.
Data is written to it once and read as many times as possible.
Note:CD ROM and CD R are regarded to as WORMs i.e. written once and read as many times
as possible
Compact disk re-writable (CD RW)
Allows the user to record, erase and rewrite new information as many times as possible.
Digital versatile disk. (DVD)
Holds 4.7 GB of memory to 17 GB.
Suitable for recording motion pictures and movies.
They offer better sound and picture quality.
Optical card
Resembles an MICR card that reads data and writes information optically on a stripe.
Used in banks and business organizations to record customers details.
Merits
Optical tape.
Stores data using optical technology.
Solid state storage devices.
Are non-volatile storage devices that use intergraded circuits to store information.
They have no moving parts.
They include: memory sticks and cards and flash disk or flash pens.
Fixed storage devices (hard disk)
Made up of metallic disk platters with a read / write head in a protected metal case.
Has a larger storage capacity.
Structure
Several plates are mounted together to form a disk pack.
The read /write head floats between the surfaces of the platters, held in vacuum enabling it to spin
around quickly.
Plates are held in position by a spindle that rotates.
The spindle drives the motor to spin the disk packs plates’ surface past the read / write heads for
read and write operations.
There are two disk drive units namely: fixed disk units and exchangeable disk units.
Advantages of hard disks.
Has a larger storage capacity.
Offers faster access to data
It is more reliable than floppy disks.
Offers efficient data transfer.
Can be partitioned in to logical units for storing data.
Demerits
Cannot be removed before opening the system.
.Prone to viruses that may crash the disk
Diagram of a hard disk.
Power supply and peripheral device interfacing.
Power supply
Computers are connected to A.C power supply and converted to D.C power since internal
components used D.C power.
Computer interface is a connection between a computer CPU and external peripheral devices
operated under it. (Peripheral device
interfacing)
A computer port is a special connecter on a P.C usually at the back. These ports are used to
connect devices like printers, modems,
keyboards and mouse.
Types of computer interface
Parallel interface / port (centronic port or line printer one LPT 1)
Transfers data using 8 parallel conductors at a time. It a 25 pin D shaped connector
Used to connect printers, scanners e.tc.
It transmits data faster over a short distance but offers only a one-way communication.
Serial interface / port (COM 1 or COM 2) or RS 232 port.
They are of two types 25 pin or 9 pins. It transmits data one bit at a time. Slower than parallel
cables. Offer a two-way communication.
Used for interconnections since it supports transmission of data over a long distance. Use to
connect mouse and some special printers.
Ps / 2
Used to connect the mouse and keyboard. It is a 5 pin DIN or 6 pin mini DIN connector.
Universal serial bus (USB)small computer system interface
It is a standard serial interface. It connects almost all peripheral devices from printers to mobile
phones. It transmits one bit of data at a time.
Has very high speed of data transmission and provides quality data transmission over a short
distance. There are two types of USBs namely: low speed USB and High-speed USB.
Note: USB devices can be connected to a root hub.
Video graphic array interface
Used to connect to the monitor or projector. Its shaped like letter D
Small computer system interface
Transmit data in parallel and it faster. Connects to multiple devices
Audio interface
Connects to speakers and microphones
Fire wire interface
Transmits data faster and used for streaming videos from a digital camera
Infrared or Bluetooth interface
Uses infrared to connect to infrared devices. Bluetooth is a wireless interface that uses short range
broadcast to connect to any Bluetooth
enabled device.