Chapter 1

Types and Components of a Computer System

Previous Class
Hardware
Different Hardware
Software
Difference
Hardware: Hardware is the general term for the physical components that
make up a typical computer system.

Software: Software is the general term used for the programs that control
the computer system and process data.
Categories
Application Software

System Software
 Application Software
Application software provides the services that the user requires to solve a given task.
Some of the Application Softwares
some of the other Application Softwares
Control and measurement software
Apps and Applets
Application Software - pg 5
Reading/Writing task
Write down a few points on the following Application Software:
● word processing
● spreadsheet
● database (management system)
● control and measurement software
● apps and applets
● video editing
● graphics editing
● audio editing
● computer-aided design (CAD).
Word processing
used to manipulate a text document, such as an essay or a report.
Some of the functions:
● creating, editing, saving and manipulating text
● copy and paste functions
● spell checkers and thesaurus
● import photos/images into a structured page format
● translation into foreign language.
Spreadsheet
used to organise and manipulate numerical data
Numbers are organised on a grid of lettered columns and numbered rows.
Some of the functions:
● use of formulae to carry out calculations
● ability to produce graphs
● ability to do modelling and 'what if' calculations
Database (management system)
used to organise, manipulate and analyse data
made up of one or more tables
row is called a 'record' and each column is called a 'field.'
Some of the functions:
● ability to carry out queries on database data and produce a report
(DBMS)
● add, delete and modify data in a table.
Apps and applets
Applets: Applets are small applications that perform a single task on a device
(they are usually embedded in an HTML page on a website and can be
executed from within a browser).
Apps:
Apps refer to software which can perform a fairly substantial task.
Control and measurement software
allow a computer or microprocessor to interface with sensors so that it is
possible to:
● measure physical quantities in the real world (such as temperatures)
● control applications (such as a chemical process) by comparing sensor
data with stored data and sending out signals to alter process
parameters (for example, open a valve to add acid and change the pH).
Computer-aided design (CAD) software
used to help in the creation, manipulation, modification and analysis of a
drawing/design
used to produce 2D or 3D diagrams which:
● can be rotated to view the drawing from any angle
● can produce full dimensions
● can be used to estimate manufacturing costs of the final product
● predict any structural problems.
Audio editing software
allows a user to edit, manipulate ● fading in/out
and generate audio data on a ● combine multiple sound tracks
computer. ● noise reduction
● to create another version of
It allows the user to alter:
the sound track (for example, a
● length of track continuous loop or phone ring
● start/stop time of track tone).
● conversion between audio file
formats
● volume of track
Video editing software
allows a user the ability to manipulate videos to produce a new video.
Essentially it includes:
● rearranging, adding and/or removing sections of video clips and/or
audio clips
● applying colour correction, filters and other video enhancements
● creating transitions between clips in the video footage.
Graphics editing software
Graphics editing software allows bitmap and vector images to be changed.
Bitmap images are made up of pixels which contain information about image
brightness and colour. Bitmap graphics editors can change the pixels to
produce a different image. Vector graphic editors operate in a different way
and do not use pixels. This type of software manipulates lines, curves and
text to alter the stored image as required. Both types of editing software are
chosen depending on the format of the original image.
 System Software
System software is the software designed to provide a platform on which all other
software can run.
Some of the System Software
some of the other System Softwares
Linkers
Utilities
System Software - pg 6
Reading/Writing task
Write down a few point on the following System Software:
● compilers
● linkers
● device drivers
● operating systems
● utilities.
Compiler
● translates a program written in a high-level language (HLL) into machine
code
● original program is called the source code and the code after
compilation is called the object code
● Once compiled, the machine code can be used again and again
Some of the examples are:
Linkers
● a computer program that takes one or more object files (modules) and
combines them into a single program
● it allows the program to be broken up into small more manageable sub-
tasks
Device driver
● Device driver is the name given to software that enables one or more
hardware devices to communicate with the computer’s operating
system
● Without drivers, a hardware device might not work
● As soon as a device is plugged into the USB port of a computer, the
operating system looks for the appropriate driver
Some of the devices that may require driver:
Operating systems (OS)
● software running in the background
● Without the OS, most computers would be very user-unfriendly
Operating systems allow:
● input/output operations
● users to communicate with the computer (for example, Windows)
● error handling to take place
● the loading and running of programs to occur
● managing of security (for example, user accounts, log on passwords).
Utilities
They are programs that help to manage, maintain and control computer
resources.

● antivirus ● file management

● anti-spyware ● security
● backup of files ● screensavers
● disk repair ● disk defragmenter
Answer the following questions
Write down about the following:
1. Compiler
2. Linkers
3. Device Driver
4. Operating System
5. Utilities