Principles of Information

Systems
Eighth Edition

Chapter 3
Hardware: Input, Processing, and
Output Devices
 Why Learn About Hardware?
• Can improve productivity, increase revenue,
reduce costs, and provide better service
• Managers are expected to know about hardware
– To help define business needs
– To ask questions and evaluate options when buying
equipment

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 Introduction
• Hardware: any machinery (most of which use
digital circuits) that assists in the input, processing,
storage, and output activities of an information
system
• When making hardware decisions, businesses
must consider how the hardware can support:
– Objectives of the information system
– Goals of the organization

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 Computer Systems: Integrating The
Power of Technology
• Choosing the right computer hardware requires
understanding its relationship to the information
system and needs of the organization
• Hardware objectives are subordinate to, but
supportive of, the information system and the
current and future needs of the organization

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 Hardware Components
• Central processing unit (CPU)
• Input devices
• Output devices
• Communications devices
• Storage devices:
– Primary storage devices
– Secondary storage devices

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 Hardware Components (continued)

Figure 3.1: Hardware Components

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 Hardware Components in Action
• Step 1: Fetch instruction
• Step 2: Decode instruction
• Step 3: Execute instruction
• Step 4: Store results

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 Hardware Components in Action
(continued)

Figure 3.2: Execution of an Instruction

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 Processing and Memory Devices:
Power, Speed, and Capacity
• System unit
– Houses the components responsible for processing
(the CPU and memory)
• All other computer system devices are linked either
directly or indirectly into the system unit housing

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 Processing Characteristics and
Functions
• Machine cycle time is measured in:
– Nanoseconds (1 billionth of a second)
– Picoseconds (1 trillionth of a second)
– MIPS (millions of instructions per second)

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 Processing Characteristics and
Functions (continued)

• Clock speed: series of electronic pulses produced

at a predetermined rate that affects machine cycle
time
– Often measured in:
• Megahertz (MHz): millions of cycles per second
• Gigahertz (GHz): billions of cycles per second
• Microcode: predefined, elementary circuits and
logical operations that the processor performs
when it executes an instruction

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 Physical Characteristics of the CPU:
Moore’s Law: transistor density of chips will double
every 18 months

Figure 3.3: Moore’s Law

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Memory Characteristics and Functions
• Main memory
– Located physically close to the CPU, but not on the
CPU chip itself
– Rapidly provides data and instructions to the CPU

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 Storage Capacity

Table 3.1: Computer Storage Units

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 Types of Memory
• Random access memory (RAM)
– Temporary and volatile
• Types of RAM
– EDO (Extended Data Out)
– DRAM (Dynamic RAM)
– SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)

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 Types of Memory (continued)
• Types of nonvolatile memory
– ROM (read-only memory)
– PROM (programmable read-only memory)
– EPROM (erasable programmable read-only
memory)
• Cache memory: high-speed memory that a
processor can access more rapidly than main
memory

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 Types of Memory (continued)

Figure 3.4: Basic Types of Memory Chips

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 Types of Memory (continued)

Figure 3.5: Cache Memory

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 Multiprocessing

• Multiprocessing: simultaneous execution of

two or more instructions at the same time
• Multiprocessing using coprocessors
– Coprocessor: speeds processing by executing
specific types of instructions while the CPU works
on another processing activity

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 Parallel Computing
• Parallel computing: simultaneous execution of the
same task on multiple processors to obtain results
faster
• Massively parallel processing:
– Speeds processing by linking hundreds or thousands
of processors to operate at the same time, or in
parallel
– Each processor has its own bus, memory, disks,
copy of the operating system, and applications

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 Parallel Computing (continued)

• Different approaches to achieving parallel

computing
– Single instruction/multiple data (SIMD) parallel
processors
– Multiple instruction/multiple data (MIMD) parallel
processors
• Grid computing: use of a collection of
computers, often owned by multiple individuals
or organizations, to work in a coordinated
manner to solve a common problem
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 Secondary Storage
• Compared with memory, offers the advantages of
nonvolatility, greater capacity, and greater
economy
• Access methods, storage capacities, and portability
required are determined by the information
system’s objectives

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 Access Methods
• Sequential access: records must be retrieved in
order
– Devices used are called sequential access storage
devices (SASDs)
• Direct access: records can be retrieved in any
order
– Devices used are called direct access storage
devices (DASDs)

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 Devices
• Magnetic tapes
• Magnetic disks
• RAID (Redundant Array of
Independent/Inexpensive Disks)
• Virtual tape
• Optical disks

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 Devices (continued)
• Digital video disk (DVD)
• Holographic Versatile Disc (HVD)
• Memory cards
• Flash memory

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 Enterprise Storage Options
• Attached storage
• Network-attached storage (NAS)
• Storage area network (SAN)

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 Enterprise Storage Options
(continued)

Figure 3.9: Storage Area Network

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 Input and Output Devices: The
Gateway to Computer Systems
• Through input and output devices, people provide
data and instructions to the computer and receive
results from it
• Selection of input and output devices depends on
organizational goals and IS objectives

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 Characteristics and Functionality
• Data can be human-readable or machine-readable
• Data entry: converts human-readable data into
machine-readable form
• Data input: transfers machine-readable data into
system
• Source data automation: capturing and editing
data where the data is initially created and in a
form that can be directly input to a computer

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 Input Devices
• Personal computer input devices
– Keyboard
– Mouse
– Microphone
– QuickCam
• Speech-recognition technology
• Digital cameras
• Terminals

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 Input Devices (continued)
• Scanning devices
• Optical data readers
• Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices
• Magnetic stripe card
• Point-of-sale (POS) devices

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 Input Devices (continued)
• Automated teller machine (ATM) devices
• Pen input devices
• Touch-sensitive screens
• Bar-code scanners
• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

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 Output Devices
• Display monitors
• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
• Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
• Printers and plotters
• Digital audio player

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 Special-Purpose Input and Output
Devices
• Computer-based navigation systems
• Multiple function printers
• Eyebud screens

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 Computer System Types, Selection,
and Upgrading
• Special-purpose computers: used for limited
applications by military and scientific research
groups
• General-purpose computers: used for a wide
variety of applications

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 Computer System Types
• Handheld computers
• Portable computers
• Thin client (low-cost, centrally managed computer with
essential but limited capabilities and no extra drives, CD or DVD
drives, or expansion slots)
• Desktop computers

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 Computer System Types (continued)
• Workstations
• Servers
• Mainframe computers
• Supercomputers

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 Selecting and Upgrading Computer
Systems
• Dispose of old equipment properly
• Consider factors such as speed, cost, and
performance when upgrading
– Hard drive
– Main memory
– Printer
– DVD burners

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