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Types and components of computer systems

In this chapter you will learn about:
• Hardware
• Software
• Analogue and digital data
• Central processing unit (CPU)
• Internal memory (RAM and ROM)
• Input and output devices
• Backing store
• Operating systems
• Types of computers – desktop computers and mobile computers (laptop, smartphone,
tablet and phablet)
• Emerging technologies – artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (virtual and
augmented)
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1.1 Hardware and software

1.1.1 Hardware
• Hardware is the general term for the physical components that make up a typical
computer system.
• Hardware falls into two categories:
• Internal hardware
• External hardware (will be discussed in chapter 2)
• Examples of external hardware
• Keyboard
• Mouse input devices
• Camera
• Monitor
• Printer output devices
• plotter
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1.1 Hardware and software

1.1.1 Hardware
• Examples of internal hardware devices
• motherboard
• Central processing unit (CPU)
• Random access memory (RAM)
• Read only memory (ROM)
• Graphics card
• Sound card
• Network interface card (NIC)
• Internal storage devices (hard disk drive and solid-state drive)
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Internal computer hardware

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Internal computer hardware

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1.1 Hardware and software

1.1.2 Software
• Software is the general term used for the programs that control the computer
system and process data.
• Software falls into two categories:
• Application software
(programs that allow the user to do specific tasks)
• System software
(programs that allows the hardware to run properly and allow the user to
communicate with the computer)
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Application software
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Application software
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System software
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1.2 Main components of computer systems

Processor CPU and

Input devices Output devices
internal memory

Secondary storage
devices

Examples of input, output and secondary storage devices

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1.2 Main components of computer systems

1.2.1 CPU
• Is the part of the computer that interprets and executes the commands from
the computer hardware and software
• The CPU/microprocessor is made up of a control unit, which controls the input
and output devices; an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), which carries out
calculations and makes logical decisions, and small memory locations called
registers.
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1.2 Main components of computer systems

1.2.2 Internal memory

The main differences between RAM and ROM
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1.2 Main components of computer systems

1.2.3 Input and output devices
• Input devices are used to enter data into the computer system for processing
by the processor
• Output devices are used to output the results of processing the input data
The main differences between input and output devices
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1.2 Main components of computer systems

1.2.4 Backing storage
• This storage other than internal memory (RAM and ROM) and it normally takes
the form of the internal hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD)
The main differences between backing storage and internal memory
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1.3 Operating systems

To enable computer systems to function and to allow users to communicate
with computer systems, special software, known as (OS) have been developed
1.3.1 user interfaces
• Command line interface (CLI)
• Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Dialogue-based user interface
• Gesture-based user interface
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1.3.1 User interface

Command line interface (CLI)
• Requires a user to type in instructions to choose options from menus, open
software, etc (used by programmer, analyst or technician)
• Sample of CLI code
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1.3.1 User interface

Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Allow a user to interact with a computer using pictures or symbols (icons)
rather than having to type in a number of commands (used by end-user)
• Screen image showing icons
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1.3.1 User interface

The below table summarizes the main advantages and disadvantages of CLI and
GUI
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1.3.1 User interface

Dialogue-based user interface
• Use the human voice to give commands to a computer system.
• smart voice activated devices
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1.3.1 User interface

Gesture-based interfaces
• Rely on human interaction by the moving of hands, head or even the feet.
• This type of interface uses techniques known as computer vision and image
processing
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1.3.1 User interface

The below table summarizes the main advantages and disadvantages of
dialogue-base and gesture-based interfaces.
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1.4 types of computer

1.4.1Desktop computers
• Made up of a number of separate components which makes them not very
portable
• The main uses of desktop computers includes
• Office and business work
• Educational use
• Gaming device
• General entertainment
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Desktop computer
• The advantages of desktop computers over laptop computers are:
• Easier and less expensive, to upgrade or expand.
• Power consumption is not critical
• Internet access can be more stable because they have a wired internet
connection
• Are in fixed location, there is less like hood of them being damaged or stolen
• Spare parts and connections tend to be standardized, which results in lower
cost
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Desktop computer
• The disadvantages when compared to laptop computers:
• They are not portable because they are made up of separate components
• More complicated because all the components need to be hooked up by
wiring
• It is necessary to copy files on for example a memory stick when you want to
do some work elsewhere
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1.4.2 Mobile computers

• Fall into four categories:
• Laptop computers
• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Phablets
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Laptop (or notebook)

• Refer to a type of computer where the monitor, keyboard, pointing devices

and processor are all together on one single unit.
• The main uses of laptop computers:
• Office and business work
• Educational use
• Gaming device
• General entertainment
• Used in control and monitoring
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Laptop (or notebook)

• Laptop computers have advantages when compared to desktop computers
• More portable than desktop computes
• No trailing wires because everything in one single unit
• They take up much less room on a disk
• Take full advantage of Wi-Fi features
• They can link into any multimedia system
• Laptop computers have disadvantages when compared to desktop computers
• They are easier to steal
• They have limited battery life
• The keyboard and pointing devices can be more awkward to use
• Not always possible to upgrade them
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smartphones

• Allow normal phone calls to be made, but also have an operating system allowing
them to run a number of computer applications known as apps or applets
• Advantages of smartphones
• They are very small in size and lightweight so they are very easy to carry and
have on your person at all time
• You can use them to make phone calls but also connect to the internet while
on the move
• Because they use Wi-Fi and mobile phone networks they can be used
anywhere
• They have reasonable battery life compared to laptops
• They have apps which make use of sensor data this can provide services that
are not available on desktops or laptops
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smartphones
• disadvantages of smartphones
• Small screen make pages difficult to read
• It is more difficult and slower when typing things in
• Web browsing and photography can quickly drain the battery
• Memory size is not very large when compared to laptop and desktop
• Not all websites features are compatible with smartphone OS
• It is much easier to lose a smartphone or for it to be stolen compared to
desktop and laptop
• The data transfer rate using mobile phone networks can be slower than
with Wi-Fi
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Tablets
• They work in a similar way to a smartphone. They use touch screen technology and
don’t have a conventional keyboard. The keyboard is virtual.
• Advantages of tablets compared to laptops
• Very fast to switch on
• Fully portable - they are so lightweight that they can be carried anywhere
• Use touch screen technology so they are simple to use and do not need any
other input devices
• Can use several apps as standard
• Not much heat – they use solid-state technology
• Battery life of a tablet is a lot longer
• When the power button is pressed, it goes into standby, but remains
connected to the internet so the user still hears alerts when email are received
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Tablets
• disadvantages of tablets compared to laptops
• More expensive when compared to laptops
• They have limited memory or storage when compared to laptop
• If 3G/4G/5G mobile phone networks are used, they can be expensive to run
if the internet is being access frequently
• Typing on a touch screen can be slow and error prone compared to
standard keyboard
• Transferring of files often has to be done through an application atore, lack
of drag and drop facility can prove to be irritating to users
• Laptops tend to support more types of file format than tablets and are also
better equipped to run different types of a software
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phablet
• Some of the latest smartphones have been designed as a hybrid between a
tablet and a smartphone; these are referred as a phablet.
• They have much larger screens than a smartphone but are smaller than a tablet
• All the features of a smartphones also applied to phablet together with the
typical features of a tablet.
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• The main uses of smartphones, tablets and phablets include:

• Entertainment
• Gaming
• As a camera or video camera
• Internet use
• Global positioning system GPS
• Calendar functions
• Telephone banking
• Voice over internet protocol VOIP
• Instant access to social networks
• Instant messaging
• Office and business management
• Educational use
• Remotely control device