Understanding Computer

Systems
Part 1
The Computer Systems and its Components
● A computer system consists of hardware components that have been carefully chosen
so that they work well together and software components or programs that run in the
computer.
● The main software component is itself an operating system that manages and
provides services to other programs that can be run in the computer.
Three Major Components of a Computer System
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Humanware

● While hardware and software components co-exist to make up the actual computer,
the humanware component adds in the human face to bring the complete computer
into a functional and productive existence. When installed separately, each may be
useful to an extent but incapable of achieving complete computing potential.
Hardware and software need the human factor in order to make input and
connectivity possible.
Computer Hardware
● This refers to the physical components of a computer, what can be seen and touched,
or any part that is tangible. It consists of interconnected devices that control the
operations of a computer. Examples include:
○ Processor
○ Memory
○ Input devices
○ Output devices
○ Storage devices
○ Other computer peripherals
Computer Software
● Software refers to the instructions, programs, data, and protocols which run on
hardware.
● It can be divided into two major categories:
○ System Software
○ Application Software
System Software
● This is also commonly known as an operating system (OS). The system manages
other software and devices inside the computer.
● In a typical setup, the operating system is like the motherboard for software. It is the
first thing that is installed, followed by applications and utility software. Three
popular operating systems for traditional computers include Windows, Mac OS X,
and Linux.
● Popular mobile operating systems include Android OS, iPhone OS, Windows Phone
OS, and Firefox OS.
Application Software
● This is designed for end users. This software is meant to perform a specialized
assignment and output useful information.
○ Word Processing- Microsoft Word
○ Spreadsheets – Microsoft Excel
○ Computer presentations – Microsoft PowerPoint
○ Database Management – Microsoft Access
○ Desktop Publishing – Adobe Pagemaker and Microsoft Publisher
○ Graphics – AUTOCAD
○ Multimedia – Macromedia
○ Entertainment – Jet Audio Player, Nero Player, NBA Live, Counter Strike, DOTA
○ Other popular examples include Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, and AutoCad.
Humanware / Peopleware
● Humanware refers to the user experience of hardware and software. More
specifically, it is about the infrastructure of a system being designed based on the
needs and interests of a user.
● Typically, a great deal of testing is done on a software package to ensure that its
productivity enhances the end user’s experience.
● Humanware is ultimately the interaction that produces a useful output. The directives
of a user is what creates documents, records music, and communicates to other
computer systems.
● Both hardware and software are complemented by the works of a human to produce a
fully functional computer system.
Data
● Data can be classified as formatted data, text, image, audio and video.
○ Formatted Data – includes the numerical or alphabetical data.
○ Text– is a series of letters, numbers and other characters.
○ Image– is data in the form of picture, a graph, or a hand-drawn picture.
○ Audio– is data in the form of sounds.
○ Video – combined pictures that are displayed to portray action.
Sources
● https://www.techtarget.com/searchwindowsserver/definition/system#:~:text=A%20co
mputer%20system%20consists%20of,be%20run%20in%20the%20computer
.
● https://turbofuture.com/computers/Components-of-Computer
● https://www.techbeamers.com/software-development-life-cycle-sdlc/
Thank you