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Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE ICT Your notes

Hardware & Software

Contents
Hardware
Software
Analogue & Digital Data

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Hardware
Your notes
Hardware
What is hardware?
Hardware is the physical components of a computer system
Hardware can be divided into three categories:
Internal components
Internal memory
Hardware components

Internal components
Internal components include:
Central Processing Unit (CPU) - brain of the computer
Processors - electronic circuits that process information
Motherboard - connects all important components together allowing them to communicate

Internal memory
Internal memory include:
Random Access Memory (RAM) - fast, working memory
Read-Only Memory (ROM) - holds start-up instruction for the computer

Hardware components
Hardware components include:
Graphics card (GPU) - processes images and video
Sound card - processes audio
Network Interface Card (NIC) - provides wired connection to a network
Camera - captures images or video
Internal/external storage devices - stores data permanently e.g. hard drive, USB memory stick
Input devices - allow user input e.g. mouse & keyboard

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Output devices - output results of processing e.g. monitor

WORKED EXAMPLE Your notes

A computer contains internal hardware.
Write down the most appropriate item of internal hardware to match the descriptions.
a. This handles all the system instructions
[1]
Processor / CPU [1]
b. A printed circuit board that contains the main components of the computer
[1]
Motherboard [1]
c. This generates output for the speaker
[1]
Sound card [1]
d. A type of memory where data is lost when the computer is switched off
[1]
RAM / Random Access Memory [1]

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Software
Your notes
Software
What is software?
Software is the set of programs that control the hardware; they live on the computer system but
cannot be physically touched
Software can be broken down in to two categories:
Application software
System software

What is application software?

Application software (abbreviated 'apps') is software chosen by a user to help them carry out a
specific task
Application software is installed on top of system software and is user-chosen to best suit industry
requirements
Common categories of application software include:

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Word processing: creating and editing text documents

Spreadsheet: organising and analysing data in a grid format Your notes
Database management systems: storing, retrieving and managing data in databases
Control/measurement: uses sensors to measure and control a system
Video editing: creating and modifying video files
Graphics editing: creating and modifying images
Audio editing: creating and modifying sound files
Computer-Aided Design (CAD): designing and modelling objects in 2D or 3D
What is system software?
System software is software essential for the operation of a computer system
Without system software, a user has no starting point for giving a computer instructions
System software gives users a platform to run applications and carry out tasks
Essential services carried out by system software include:
Compilers: translating high-level programming languages into machine code
Linkers: combining object files into a single executable program
Device drivers: controlling hardware components and peripherals
Operating systems: managing the computer's resources and providing a user interface
Utilities: tools for maintaining and optimising the computer's performance

WORKED EXAMPLE
Tick whether the following are examples of applications software or system software
[2]

Applications Systems

Control software

Compiler

Word processor

Device driver

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Answers

Applications (✓) System (✓) Your notes

Control software ✓

Compiler ✓

Word processing ✓

Device drivers ✓

2 marks for 4 correct ticks

1 mark for 2 or 3 correct ticks
0 marks for 0 or 1 tick

EXAM TIP
A common misconception is that control software is system software—it's actually application
software!

Operating Systems
What is an operating system?
An operating system (OS) is software that provides an interface between the user and the hardware
in a computer system
An operating system enables a system to function by:
Controlling input/output devices
Oversees loading, running and storage of application software
Deals with errors
Maintains security
Keeps a log of events

What is a user interface?

A user interface is how the user interacts with the operating system
Examples of user interfaces include:
Command Line Interface (CLI)

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Dialogue-based Your notes
Gesture-based

Feature CLI GUI Dialogue- Gesture-based

based

How do users Text-based Visual elements Spoken word Human interaction (hands,
interact? commands (WIMP) fingers, head or feet)

Examples MSDOS, Windows and Amazon Smartphones (swiping,

Raspbian Mac OS Alexa, Siri pinching, and zooming)

Advantages and disadvantages of user interfaces

Interface Advantages Disadvantages

Command line Uses fewer system resources Requires users to remember

(CLI) commands
Useful for automation of tasks
Typing errors are common
Commands are often faster to type than
navigating menus Less intuitive than GUI

Graphical (GUI) Intuitive and user-friendly Uses more system resources

Requires no previous knowledge to use
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Information is visual, making it easier to It can be slower to find and

understand execute commands
Your notes
Can be frustrating when doing
repetitive tasks

Dialogue- Can be used by people with disabilities Not always reliable

based
Intuitive Privacy concerns

Gesture-based Intuitive Precision

Can be used by people with disabilities Recognition errors
Immersive Can lead to discomfort
Faster for certain tasks Limited support

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Analogue & Digital Data

Your notes
Analogue & Digital Data
What is analogue data?
Analogue data is continuous data created from non-digital devices
Analogue data can change gradually and smoothly
Examples of analogue data include:
sound waves produced when you talk
data collected by sensors (output)

What is digital data?

Digital data is data represented in a binary format (1s and 0s)
Digital data is created and/or stored using digital devices
Examples of digital data include:
software
documents/files

Characteristics of analogue & digital data

Analogue Digital

Values change smoothly and gradually Values are limited (1s and 0s)

Quality can be lost during storage/transmission Quality is maintained during storage/transmission

Needs to be converted to digital to be used in Needs to be converted to analogue to use in

digital devices analogue devices

Easily manipulated

Analogue to digital conversion (ADC)

Analogue data must be converted to digital data so that it can be processed by a computer

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The ADC process involves taking samples (measurements) of the analogue signal and converting it to
a binary code
Your notes
The sample rate and a higher number of binary digits used in the conversion leads to a more accurate
representation of the original signal, but, takes up more space on secondary storage
Digital to analogue conversion (DAC)
Digital data must be converted to analogue data so that it can be used to control devices
The DAC process involves converting discrete digital values (1s and 0s) back into a continuous
analogue signal
The quality of the analogue signal after conversion is based on the original sample rate and number of
bits used in the digital data

WORKED EXAMPLE
A greenhouse is used to grow plants and is computer controlled. Give two reasons why data from
the sensors needs to be converted for use by a computer.
[2]
Answer
Two of:
So that the data from the sensor can be understood by the computer [1]
The output from a sensor is analogue [1]
The input to the computer is digital [1]

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