ST.

EDMUND’S SECONDARY SCHOOL

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

(ICT)

Components of computer
systems

FORM 1

HAKUBEZA CLETUS (Mr.)

 Introduction

Overview
This topic will introduce you to the fundamental hardware
components of a computer system. It will cover the purpose and
function of each component, including input/output devices, the
CPU, RAM, ROM, and other internal parts. Understanding these
components is essential for grasping how computers operate in
real-life situations, from personal use to industrial applications.
The first part on hardware will focus on the physical components of
a computer system, their purposes, and how they function
together to enable the computer to perform tasks.
.
 Hardware
1.2.1.1 - Identifying different computer hardware
Introduction
As discussed in the previous topic, Hardware is a general term for the
physical components that make up a computer system. This includes all
the physical elements that make up a computer or electronic system and
everything else involved that is physically tangible.
Computer systems are made up of hardware and software. Computer
hardware is made up of the parts of the computer that you can touch: its
physical components. Software is the programs, instructions and data
that controls the operation of a computer and enables the computer to
carry out a task.
The Information Processing Cycle
What is the information processing cycle?
The sequence of events in processing information, which
includes
 Input - entering data into the computer.
 Processing - performing operations on the data which turns
into information.
 Storage - means by which data is held internally before,
during and after processing.
 Output - means of producing data from within for external use
or presenting the results.
The Information Processing Cycle

Arrows show the flow of data within the computer

Main Parts of Computer Hardware System
A computer contains many
electric, electronic, and
mechanical components
known as hardware. These
components include input
devices, output devices, a
system unit, storage devices,
and communications devices.

Identify and label hardware

components.
The following are the main categories of computer hardware:
1. Input devices
2. Output devices
3. Processing unit
4. Memory devices
5. Motherboard – expansion cards
6. Power supply
7. Cooling systems
8. Peripheral devices
 Input devices
Input includes program instructions that the CPU receives after commands
are issued by the user.
An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data
and instructions, commands, or control signals into a computer. They are
essential for interacting with and controlling a computer system.
Since the computer’s processor can only understand and do things in
machine language, an input device is used to convert data from human
language to machine language.
Here are some common types of input devices and their purpose/function.
 1. Touch screen monitor
Touch screen is a video display screen that has been
sensitized to receive input from the touch of a finger.
Touchscreens are now a very common form of input
device. It allows users to interact directly with what is
displayed on a screen by touching it with a finger,
stylus, or other object.
It combines both input and output functionality in one
device. You interact by touching the screen.

Popular examples smartphones, tablets, kiosks,

ATMs, and modern laptops.
 Function of the touch screen monitor
The purpose of a touch screen monitor is to
allow users to interact directly with what is
displayed on the screen by touching it,
rather than using a mouse, keyboard, or
other input devices.
1. Faster Navigation
2. Direct Interaction
3. Ease of Use
In short, a touch screen monitor makes
computing more natural and interactive.
 2. Keyboard
Keyboards are by far the most common method used for data
entry. Keyboard is a device/board with a set of keys used to send
command into the computer system.
The most widely used input device is a keyboard.
There are different types of keyboards and of these the QWERTY
keyboard is the most popular. This name comes from the first six
letters on the top row of the alphabet keys, which spell out
‘QWERTY’.
The keyboard is connected to the computer either by using a USB
connection or by wireless connection. In the case of tablets and mobile
phones, the keyboard is often VIRTUAL or a type of TOUCHSCREEN
technology.
Newer keyboards include extra keys for special activities such as
instant web access, volume controls, and Windows shortcut keys.
A standard keyboard has 104 -108 keys for desktop computers
and 80–85 keys for laptops.

A QWERTY keyboard
A qwerty Keyboard with additional keys
 Functions of a Keyboard
 Text Input : Keying text and numbers for processing. Typing letters and
symbols for documents, emails, code, etc.
 Sending commands into computer for execution.
 Navigating through a document
 Restaurants where the checkout tills to speed up the data entry.
 Navigating the Computer: using arrow keys
 Command Execution: Using shortcuts like Ctrl + C (copy), Alt + Tab (switch
windows), etc.
 Gaming/Input Customization: In gaming or design software, specific keys
may be assigned to particular actions
 4 keyboard keypad groups
There are four (4) keypad groups on the keyboard and these
are:

Typewriter or Alphanumeric keys

These keys include the letter keys (A-Z)

and digit keys (0-9)
Numeric Keypad
It is used to enter numeric data or cursor
movement. Generally, it consists of a set
of 17 keys that are laid out in the same
configuration used by most adding
machines and calculators.

Function Keys F1 – F12

The twelve function keys are present on
the keyboard which are arranged in a
row at the top of the keyboard. Each
function key has unique meaning and is
used for some specific purpose.
 Arrow/Navigation keys

(They are marked with arrows on them,

pointing in four different directions.)

Control keys:
These keys provide cursor and screen control like arrow keys. Control keys also
include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl),
Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc).

Special Purpose keys: Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and
Print Screen.
Other Special character keys (semicolon (;), comma (,), dot (.) etc.)
 Common useful keyboard shortcuts
Sn Shortcut Functionality
1 Ctrl + A Select All
2 CTRL+ C Copy
3 CTRL+X Cut
4 CTRL+V Paste
5 CTRL+Z Undo
6 Windows Logo Display or hide the Start menu
7 CTRL+P Open the Print dialog box
8 CTRL+W Close the current window
9 ESC Cancel the current task
10 Ctrl + U Underline
3. Pointing devices
A. Mouse
The selection of an application/file often requires the user to ‘click’ on an
icon. Selection of the icon is usually done with a POINTING DEVICE (such as
a MOUSE or a TRACKERBALL) or by using a touchscreen.
A Mouse is most popular pointing device. It is a very famous cursor-control
device having a small palm size box with a round ball at its base which
senses the movement of mouse and sends corresponding signals to CPU
when the mouse buttons are pressed. The mouse is probably still the most
common pointing device today.
 When mouse is connected to the computer, an arrow sign
appears on the monitor screen. This sign is called Mouse
Pointer.

Mouse Pointer

Generally, a mouse has two buttons called left and right button and a wheel is present
between the buttons. Mouse can be used to control the position of cursor on screen, but it
cannot be used to enter text into the computer unless when using on-screen keyboard.
• The user controls the position of a pointer
on the screen by moving the mouse
around.
• Recent developments have produced
the optical mouse (where movement is
detected by reflected light rather than
the position of a moving ball) and the
cordless mouse (which is an example of a
wireless device).
B. Touchpad
A touchpad is a small, flat, square pad below
the space bar. It is used as a pointing device
in many laptops computers. As you move
your finger across the trackpad’s surface, the
pointer moves across the screen.
Since the touchpad is integrated into the
laptop computer there is no need for a
separate mouse – this aids the portability.
They also have buttons under the touchpad
which serve the same function as the left
and right buttons of the mouse. Their uses are
the same as those of a mouse.
C. Trackball
A trackball is like an upside-down mouse. The ball is on the top
of the device and you move it with your thumb. It is easier to
use for people with limited hand/wrist movement. The user
controls the pointer on the screen by rotating the ball with their
hand.
C. Light pen
 Light pen (or wand) is an input device shaped like a pen that can be
used to draw on a computer screen or to point at objects. They
contain sensors that send signals to a computer whenever light
changes are detected.
 Light pens are often used by engineers, graphic designers, and
illustrators. They also are used in the health, food service, and chemical
fields. A digital pen is a writing instrument that allows users to write on
paper and send the writing as an image file to the computer.
D. Joystick/Game pad controller
A joystick is a lever that gives you similar control to a mouse but
its behavior is slightly different. Joysticks can be used separately
or can be built into game pads. Buttons are used to make
selections. They are used in video/computer games and in
simulators.
 Function of a pointing devices
 They are used for controlling the position of a pointer on the screen to
allow selection from a menu or selecting an icon and for scrolling up
and down/left to right.
 They are very useful when editing images, for example controlling the
size and position of a drawing pasted into a document.
 They can be used for grouping, moving and deleting files.
 Opening, closing and minimizing software.
4. Scanner
Scanner is an input device which works more like a photocopy machine. It
is used when some information is available on a paper and it is to be
transferred to the hard drive of the computer for further manipulation.
Scanners use light-sensing (optical) equipment to translate images of text,
drawings, or photos into digital form. The images can then be processed by
a computer, displayed on a monitor, stored on a storage device, or
transmitted to another computer.
These images can be edited before they are printed.
 Biometric Scanners
• There is an increasing trend towards using biometric data from
people in order to identify them. Special devices are needed to
capture the biometric data which is then passed onto the computer
for processing and identification.
• Biometric authentication methods can also be used to identify you at
school, library, work by allowing you to log in using 'fingerprint
registration 'or iris for employees and students checking in and out of
the premises. Smart Mobile phones too has the same feature.
 5. Microphone
A Microphone is an input device used to
send audio into the computer system. It is
allows a user to speak to the computer to
enter data and instructions into the
computer system. The microphone is used for
various applications like adding sound to a
multimedia presentation or for mixing music.

Microphones can be connected directly to a

computer. Sounds can be inputted and then
manipulated. The input sound is converted to
an analogue signal and then converted into
a digital signal.
 Uses of microphone
• To input speech/sounds to be used in various
applications for example in presentation, films or
music.
• Input in voice –recognition software (for example,
some cars now have voice- activated systems to
switch on the lights, turn the radio volume up, etc.
• Conversion of speech into text that can be used
in, for example, a word processor
• Recognition of commands (e.g. some cars now
have voice-activated systems to switch on the
lights, turn up the radio volume, etc.).
6. Webcam
 Web cameras (webcams) are small
digital cameras which are attached to
computers so that still and motion
digital images can be ‘captured’ and
used.
 They are often used in conjunction with
the Internet so that people can video
conference. (Seeing each other while
you talk). Whatever information the
webcam picks is transmitted directly to
the computer. Many computer systems
now have webcams built into their
monitors as standards.
 7. Digital Camera
 Input device used to take pictures and store directly into the computer in
digital form.
 Digital cameras have largely replaced traditional film-based cameras. The
images are stored on a memory card and be transferred to a computer
by:
• directly reading the memory card (by slotting it into a card reader
attached to a computer or a printer)
• Connecting the camera to the computer using a USB port.
• Using wireless data transfer(Wi-Fi or Bluetooth)
 The images are uploaded from the camera and stored in a file on the computer where
they can be edited and enhanced in graphics software, the user then can select which
photos to upload. The images are then available for printing out as photos or for
uploading on the internet.
Advantages of digital cameras
• Easier to produce better-quality
photographs than with a traditional
camera.
• Easier and faster to upload
photographs to a computer.
• No need to develop film or print
out photographs anymore.
• Memory cards can store several
hundred photographs.
8. Remote Control
A remote control is an input device
that is used on many devices such
as televisions, video players,
garage doors, hi-fi music systems,
multimedia projectors and satellite
receivers (decoders).

It is used to control the operation of

other devices remotely using
infrared signals.
9. Sensors
 A sensor is an input device that collects
specific data directly from the
environment and transmits it to a
computer. Although you are unlikely to
see such input devices connected to a
PC in an office, they exist all around us,
often in nearly invisible form and as part
of some larger electronic system.
 Sensors can be used to detect all kinds
of things: speed, movement, weight,
pressure, temperature, humidity, wind,
and current, fog, gas, smoke, light,
shapes, images, and so on.
 10. Bar code reader/scanner
 Bar Code Reader is a device used for
reading bar coded data (data in form
of light and dark lines). Bar coded data
is generally used in labeling goods.
 It uses laser beams to read bar codes.
 Another type of barcode is the quick
response (QR) code. This is made up of
matrix of filled in dark squares on a light
background. Today, smart phones use
QR Code scans too.
 Most items in shops and super markets
in Zambia have a bar code printed or
affixed on them.
 11. Magnetic stripe readers
 These are used to read information on the
magnetic stripe found on, for example the
back of a credit or debit card.
 The stripe contains useful information, for
example: account number, sort code,
expiry date and start date.
 Data entry is faster compared with keying
in using a keyboard or keypad.
 The system is error free, since no typing is
involved.
 Chip and PIN readers are similar to smart
card readers, but are used at EFTPOS
terminals.
Assessment
 Output devices

To be continued …