Computer Concepts - Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition, Enhanced

Computer Concepts - Illustrated
Introductory, Seventh Edition, Enhanced

UNIT B:
Computer Hardware
Objectives
Examine input devices

Review display devices
Compare printers
Introduce storage technology
Compare storage technologies
Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Enhanced
Objectives
Explore hard drive technology

Examine CDs and DVDs
Review solid-state storage
Expand your computer
Talking Points: Why recycle
computers?
Enhanced
Examining Input Devices
Input devices - input information for

computer to process
Typical input devices
 Keyboard and pointing device (mouse)

Enhanced
Keyboards
 Most have a similar structure
 Can be found on PCs, handheld devices
Keyboard includes keys or

buttons with letters, numbers, and
special words and characters

Enhanced
Desktop and notebook computer

keyboards include Navigation
keypad
 Home, End, arrow keys
 Used to move screen-based insertion
point (cursor)

Enhanced
Mouse
 Pointing device which manipulates an
on-screen pointer and other on-screen
controls

Enhanced
Mouse options -
 Mechanical mouse
• Position based on movement of ball that
rolls on pad
 Optical mouse
• Uses LED light and computer chip
 Laser mouse
• Uses laser as light source to track
movement

Enhanced
Mouse dots per inch (dpi)

 Higher dpi more sensitive and accurate
Mouse transmits signals one of two

ways
 Wired or Wireless
Most prefer optical or laser
 Durability
 Less maintenance
 Can be used on variety of surfaces
Enhanced
Other pointing devices

 Pointing stick or TrackPoint
 Touchpad or trackpad
 Trackball
 Joystick

Enhanced
Other input devices

 Touch screen technology
 Scanner
 Microphone

Enhanced
Reviewing Display Devices
Computer display system

 Main output device
Two key components

 Graphics card
 Display device such as monitor or screen
Use one of three technologies

 CRT, LCD, plasma

Enhanced
CRT Monitor(cathode ray tube)

 used to be standard
 Big and bulky
 Not typically sold with new computers
today

Enhanced
LCD (liquid crystal display)

 Produces image by manipulating light
within layer of crystal cells
Advantages include
 Display clarity
 Low radiation emission
 Portability and compactness

Enhanced
Plasma
 Creates on-screen image by illuminating
miniature colored fluorescent lights
arrayed in panel-like screen
 More expensive than LCD
 Used more for large screen venues

Enhanced
Graphics cards
 Contain graphics processing units (GPU)
• Circuitry generates signals for displaying image on
screen
 Amount of available video memory
• Key to how fast screen updates when information is
displayed
 Typically built into motherboard
 Sometimes available as small circuit board that
plugs into motherboard

Enhanced
Graphics card - key to how

images display on monitor
 Resolution
• Maximum number of horizontal and vertical
pixels displayed on screen
 Pixel (picture element)
• single point or smallest unit in image

Enhanced
Comparing Screen Resolution

Enhanced
Screen size
 Measurement in inches from one corner
of screen diagonally to opposite corner
 Typical monitor sizes
• 13” to 21”
• Larger screens exist
Viewing angle width

 How far to side you can clearly see
screen image
Enhanced
Dot pitch (dp)

 Measure of image clarity
 Smaller dp means crisper image
Dot pitch - distance in millimeters

between like-colored pixels
 Ranges from .26 mm to .23 mm
 Not customizable

Enhanced
Color depth or bit depth

 Number of colors monitor and graphics card
can display
 Most PCs can display millions of colors
Monitors can be used to watch

television
 if proper circuitry is installed
 NTSC or HDTV circuitry
• Allows PC to accept signals from antenna or cable

Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Printers
 Produce hard copy of computer-generated text
or graphical images
• Paper, labels, transparencies
 Differ in resolution and speed
 Most printers use ink-jet or laser
technologies
Specialized applications
 Impact, solid ink, thermal transfer, dye
sublimation
Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Ink-jet printers
 Sprays ink onto paper to form characters
and graphics
 Two ink cartridges: Black and color
 Small, lightweight, inexpensive
 Cartridges can be expensive and add to
printing costs

Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Laser printer
 Produces dots of light on light sensitive drum to
produce characters and graphics
 Good high-volume, good quality printing
 More expensive than ink-jet
 Color laser printers more expensive than black-
and-white
 Toner cartridges are expensive, produce more
pages than ink-jet cartridges

Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Photo printers
 Use thermal dye
 Slower output speeds than other
printers
 Produce professional-quality images on
specialized papers
 Cost of replacement cartridges should
be considered

Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Printer resolution
 Density of grid of dots that create image
 Measured in dpi (dots per inch)
• At reading distance, 900 dpi looks solid
• Good-quality printers are rated 2400 to 4800
dpi
• Magazine quality printouts are about 900 dpi
• Expensive coffee-table books are
comparable to 2400 dpi or higher

Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Pages per minute (ppm)

• Measurement of printer speed
• Color usually takes longer to print than
black-and-white
• Text prints faster than heavy graphics
• Most printers for personal or small business
print 15 to 30 ppm
Memory capacity
• More memory needed to print color and
graphics
• Laser printers: Between 64 MB and 120 MB
Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Duplex printer
 Can print both sides of paper
Duty cycle
 Proportion of time during which device is
operated
 Usually measured in pages per month
 Higher duty cycle means shorter useful
life

Enhanced
Comparing Printers
Computer connected to network

can share printer with other
computers on network
Network-enabled printer
 Connects directly to network, not single
computer
 Network connection can be wired or
wireless

Enhanced
Introducing Storage Technology
Storage technology
 Data storage systems that allow
electronic devices to store and retrieve
data
 Data storage consists of storage
medium and storage device

Enhanced
Storage medium
 Hard drive, tape, memory card, CD,
DVD or other technology that holds data

Enhanced
Storage device
 Equipment that stores and retrieves data from
storage medium
 Hard drives, card readers, tape drives, CD and DVD
drives, flash drives, solid-state drives, Zip drives

Enhanced
Hard drive
 Computers come with internal hard drive
 Can’t be moved from one computer to another
 Provide fast data access
Some storage devices are more

dependable than others
 CDs, DVDs
Flash drives and external hard drives

 Can be moved from computer to computer

Enhanced
RAM (random access memory)

 Temporary holding area for your work
and programs needed to produce your
work
 RAM - emptied when computer shuts off
 Data easily lost
• Store data on storage medium, not as likely
to lose work

Enhanced
Drive bays
 Storage “parking spaces”
• In system unit case
• Used to connect storage devices to computer
 Internal or external
When buying computer, find out:

 How many drive bays it has
 What storage devices can be connected

Enhanced
Drive bays

Enhanced
Comparing Storage Technologies
Random vs. sequential access

 Random (direct) access
• Ability to jump directly to requested data
• Hard drive, solid-state drive, CD and DVD
drives
 Sequential access
• Must read through data from beginning to
end
• Tape drive
• Slower

Enhanced
Access time
 Average time it takes computer to locate
and read data
 Measured in milliseconds
Data transfer rate

 Amount of data that can be moved from
storage medium to computer per second

Enhanced
Storage capacity
 Maximum amount of data that can be
stored on storage medium
• Measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB),
gigabytes (GB), or terabytes (TB)
 Graphics need more storage capacity
than text

Enhanced
Magnetic storage
 Magnetizes microscopic particles on disk or
tape surface
 Particle patterns are interpreted as 0s and 1s
 Provides flexibility for editing data and reusing
storage medium

Enhanced
Magnetic media
 No very durable
 Eventually loses magnetic field
 Damaged by magnetic fields, dust, mold,
smoke, heat, mechanical problems

Enhanced
Optical storage
 Stores data as light and dark spots on surface of
disk
 Light patterns are interpreted as 1s and 0s
 Advantages:
• Portable
• Quite versatile
• Less susceptible
to environmental damage

Enhanced
Solid-state storage
 Stores data in nonvolatile, erasable, low-
power chip
 Drive has no moving parts
 Very durable, portable, versatile
 Capacity does not currently match that of
hard drives

Enhanced
Why Versatility?
 Important working with other people and
other computers
 Store data and share with others using
same storage medium
Why Durability?
 Determines ability of device or media to last
so data remains accessible
 Important for traveling and carrying files

Enhanced
Exploring Hard Drive Technology
Hard drives preferred type of main

storage
 Three main reasons
• Storage capacity
• Fast access
• Economical
– 40 MG of storage costs about a penny

Enhanced
Parts of hard drive

 One or more platters on spindle with
associated read-write heads

Enhanced
Hard drives found in wide variety

of digital devices
Physical size of hard drive varies
depending on size of device

Enhanced
Factors that determine how fast

data can be made available
 Access time (measures in milliseconds)
 Rotation speed (measured in revolutions
per minute)
Hard drive platters with data are

divided into tracks and sectors
 Cylinder
• Vertical stack of tracks
Enhanced
Controller
 Circuit board that positions disk, locates
data, and interfaces with components on
system board
Hard drive
showing
Controller card

Enhanced
Adding second hard drive increases

storage, provides backup
 Data available on only one drive at a time
Hard drives
 Not as durable as many other storage
technologies
 Head crash can be caused by particles as small
as piece of dust
 Handle and transport with care
 Always have backup copies of hard drive

Enhanced
Examining CDs and DVDs
CDs and DVDs can be used to

store data
 CD (compact disc)
 DVD (digital video disc or digital versatile
disc)
Three optical digital technologies

 Read-only (ROM)
 Recordable
 Rewritable
Enhanced
CD-ROM
 Read-only technology
CD-R
 Recordable technology
CD-RW
 Rewritable technology

Enhanced
DVD-R and DVD+R

 Recordable DVD formats
DVD-RW and DVD+RW

 Rewritable formats
Why so many?
 One standard has not emerged as
industry leader

Enhanced
Computer CD-ROM or DVD-ROM

 Discs cannot have data added, erased,
or changed
To record data one or more times

 Need recordable media (one time use)
 Rewritable (multiple session use) discs

Enhanced
Good idea to have CD or DVD

drive
 Create music CDs or DVDs
 CD drives can’t read DVDs
 Most DVDs can read DVDs or CDs
Several types of CD and DVD

drives
 Can be used for different purposes

Enhanced
CD or DVD Drive Capabilities

Enhanced
Rewritable CD and DVD drives

 Not acceptable replacement for hard
drive
 Saving, accessing, modifying data is
much slower
 Capacity is inadequate when compared
to hard drives

Enhanced
CD and DVD drives use laser

technology to read data

Enhanced
Make your own CDs

 Need proper hardware, media
CD-R or DVD-R
 Must put all data on disc in one session
Rewritable technology
 Can record in multiple sessions

Enhanced
Handling CDs and DVDs

Enhanced
Reviewing Solid-State Storage
Solid-state storage
 Portable and durable
 Provides fast data access
 Uses very little power
 Used in consumer devices
• Digital cameras, MP3 players, notebooks,
PDAs, cell phones

Enhanced
Solid-state storage suitable for

many needs
 Can hold hundreds of photos
 Store MP3 files
 Portable computing
Data can be erased so card can

be reused

Enhanced
How does it work?

 Nonvolatile, erasable, low-power chip
stores data
 Circuitry arranged in grid
• Each cell holding transistors that act as gates
• Open gates represent 1, closed represents 0
Chip retains data without external

power

Enhanced
Several types of solid-state

memory cards
 CompactFlash cards (CF)
 MultiMedia cards (MMC)
 SecureDigital cards (SD)
 SmartMedia cards

Enhanced
Card reader
 Transfers data to and from computer
 Can stand alone, or be part of system
unit

Enhanced
USB flash drive

 Portable storage device with built-in
connector that plugs into USB port
 Small and durable
 Can be carried on key ring
U3 drive or U3 smart drive

 Special USB flash drive
preconfigured to play automatically
when connected to computer

Enhanced
Expanding Your Computer
Expanding
 Increase / improve capabilities of
computer
 Add peripherals
• Scanners, mouse, cameras, graphics tablets,
etc.
 Add or upgrade sound cards, video
cards, etc.

Enhanced
Most peripherals can be added

using external USB port

Enhanced
Expansion cards can be added /

upgraded to enhance functionality
 Graphics card
 Modem card
 Sound card
 Network card
Also called expansion boards,

controller cards, or adapters

Enhanced
An expansion card
 Small circuit board that provides
computer ability to control input, storage,
or output devices
Data bus
 Circuits over which data travels from one
component to another

Enhanced
Expansion bus
 Segment of data bus between RAM and
peripheral devices
 Allows data to travel through expansion slots,
cards, ports, and cables

Enhanced
Expansion slot
 Long, narrow socket on motherboard into which
expansion card is plugged
PCMCIA slot
 External expansion slot for PC

Enhanced
Expansion ports
 Connectors that
pass data in and out
of computer or
peripheral device

Enhanced
Device driver
 Software that sets up communication
between computer and device or card
 Each device or card needs one
 Directions supplied with device or card
includes instructions for installing device
driver

Enhanced
Talking Points:
Why recycle computers?
500 million computers were obsolete
by 2007
About 1 billion floppy discs, CDs, and
DVDs end up in landfills every year
Computer parts contain toxins like
lead, phosphorous, and mercury
 Monitors can contain up to six pounds of
lead

Enhanced
Talking Points:
Why recycle computers?
Instead of throwing away
 Sell it
 Donate it to school, church, or
community program
 Have it hauled away by professional
recycling firm
 Send it back to manufacturer

Enhanced

Computer Concepts - Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition, Enhanced

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Computer Concepts - Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition, Enhanced

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Computer Concepts - Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition, Enhanced

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Computer Concepts - Illustrated

Introductory, Seventh Edition, Enhanced

Examine input devices

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Explore hard drive technology

Input devices - input information for

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Keyboard includes keys or

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Desktop and notebook computer

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Mouse dots per inch (dpi)

Mouse transmits signals one of two

Other pointing devices

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Other input devices

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer display system

Two key components

Use one of three technologies

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

CRT Monitor(cathode ray tube)

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

LCD (liquid crystal display)

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Graphics card - key to how

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Comparing Screen Resolution

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Viewing angle width

Dot pitch (dp)

Dot pitch - distance in millimeters

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Color depth or bit depth

Monitors can be used to watch

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Pages per minute (ppm)

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer connected to network

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Some storage devices are more

Flash drives and external hard drives

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

RAM (random access memory)

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

When buying computer, find out:

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,

Computer Concepts – Illustrated Introductory, Seventh Edition,