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Chapter: 01 Types and Components of a Computer System Part:1

Hardware: All the physical parts of a computer that you you can see, touch and pick up. Like- input devices,
output devices, storage devices, processor etc.

Internal computer hardware:

 Motherboard: The motherboard is a printed circuit board found in all computers. It allows the
processor and other computer hardware to function and communicate with each other.

 RAM: It is the main memory of computer which is used to process data. We can change the contents
of RAM.

 ROM: It is the main memory of computer which is used to store configuration data for a computer
system.

 Video Card: A video card allows the computer to send graphical information to a video display
device such as monitor, television or projector. It is usually connected to a motherboard.

 Sound Card: A sound card is an integrated circuit board that provides a computer with the ability to
produce sound.

 HDD(Hard disk drive): One kind of magnetic disk which is used to store data permanently.

 SSD(Solid state drive): Modern computers and all tablets use newer storage systems that make use
of solid state drive technology(SSD) and are replacing HDD in many cases.

Command base
Software: The program that control the operation of a computer system.

Device driver Graphic base

Operating system

Translation program Compiler

System Software

Utility program Interpreter

Software Linker Assembler

Customize software
Application software

Package software
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System Software:
 Programs that allow the hardware to run properly
 Control computer's hardware and application program
 Communicate with user
 E.g. Operating system

Operating system: It is one kind of system software through which we can run our computer and solve
computer problems.

Functions of operating system:

 Enables users to communicate with computer systems

 Controls operation of input, output and backing storage device
 Supervises loading, running and storage of application program
 Deals with error in application programs
 Maintains security of whole computer system
 Maintains a computer log
 Main types of user interfaces: Command Line Interfaces (CLI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI)

GUI - Graphical User Interface :

 Uses graphics to stand for the complicated actions

 Use icons
 Use a mouse to selector the icons
 Screen divided into windows allowing different things on each
 WIMP - Windows Icons Menus Pointers
 Requires little IT knowledge

Advantages:

 Easy to use
 Easy to explore and find your way around the system
 Do not have to learn complicated commands
 Exchange data between different software’s
 Good help facilities provided with GUIs
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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
 GUI can be slow for experienced programmers to use, they find CLI much faster

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

Advantages:

 Knowing the correct commands, this can be much faster than any other interface type
 Uses much less memory (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 have to 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

Translation program: It is one kind of system software through which we can convert programming language
into machine code.

Types: 1. Compiler
2. Interpreter
3. Assembler

1. Compiler: It is used to convert high level language into machine code. Compiler convert whole program
at a time.
2. Interpreter: Interpreter converts high level language instruction in to machine code. Interpreter
converts line by line.
3. Assembler: Assembler convert assembly language ( Low level language) into machine code
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Utility program: It is one kind of system software which is used to maintain and control computer resources.
Ex: Antivirus

Linker:
A linker is a computer program that takes one or more object files produced by computer and combine them
into single program that can be run on a computer.

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)

Types:

1. Package Software. Ex: Ms-office

2. Customize software. Ex: School management, Library management, Bank management

Word processor: Word processing software is used to manipulate text, document, such as eassy, report.

Spreadsheet: Spreadsheet software is used to organize and manipulate numerical data. Some of the
spreadsheet function includes:

 Use of formula to carry out calculation

 Ability to produce graph
 Ability to do modeling and ‘what if’ calculation.

Database: Database software is used to organise, manipulate data. A typical database is made up of one or
more table. Each row called record and each column called a field. Some of the function includes:

 Ability to carry out queries on database data and produce report.

 Add, delete and modify data in a table.

Measuring software: Measuring software is designed to allow a computer or microprocessor to interface with
sensors so that it is possible to measure physical quantities in the real world (such as temperature)

Control software: Control software is designed to allow a computer or microprocessor to interface with
sensors so it is possible to control application (such as a chemical process) by comparing sensor data with
stored data and sending out signals to alter process parameters.
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