INSTRUCTION
ON HARDWARE
AND SOFTWARE.
INPUT DEVICES
InputDevices: devices
that input information
into the computer
such as a keyboard,
mouse, scanner, and
digital camera.
OUTPUT DEVICES
Output:devices that
output information
from the computer
such as a printer and
monitor.
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
Computer Hardware
would include all the
parts of a computer.
Computer Software
includes the
programs that are
installed.. Or the
instructions for
completing tasks.
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
CPU (Central Processing Unit) also called the
Microprocessor or “The Brain” of the Computer.
Processor speed: The speed at which a
microprocessor executes instructions. This is
usually measured in megahertz (MHz).
Brands of Processors include:
Pentium
Celeron
MAC
AMD
Cyrix
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
Computer chip: also called the
microprocessor may contain
an entire processing unit.
Computer chips contain
millions of transistors. They are
small pieces of semi-
conducting material (silicon).
An integrated circuit is
embedded in the silicon.
Computers are made of many
chips on a circuit board.
DATA STORAGE DEVICES
The hard-drive is a mechanical
storage device typically located
internally.
Fast recording and recovery
of data
Large storage capacity
Magnetic
Primary storage device for
data and programs
Speed is measured in R.P.M.’s
(Revolutions per minute)
DATA STORAGE DEVICES
(CONT’D)
CD-ROM (compact disk
read only memory)
An optical device read
by a diode laser
DATA STORAGE DEVICES
(CONT’D)
Floppy diskette is
magnetic storage
device for small
amounts of data
(1.44MB).
FLASH drive is a
compact and portable
electronic storage
device.
USB (plug and play)
supported
COMPUTER MEMORY
RAM (random access
memory) stores data that is
processing. This type of
memory is erased when the
computer is turned off.
ROM (read only memory)
contains special instructions
for the computer to operate.
Cache memory increases the
speed of the processor by
recording and anticipating
instructions.
GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE
(GUI)
GUI (Graphic User Interface) is a set of
images and icons seen on the desktop
used to operate a program.
The GUI makes the programs loaded on
the computer easier to access and use.
Basic Windows GUI
Icons are small pictures that represent
files, commands, or windows.
Windows is a GUI operating system.
VIDEO CARDS
Video cards plug into the
motherboard and are used
to display video.
VRAM is video memory that
enhances the refreshment
rate of the image.
Video cards have chipsets
that can increase the speed
of video display.
PORTS AND PERIPHERALS
Ports are an interface between the computer and
another peripheral device such as a disk drive, mouse,
printer, modem, monitor, camera, FLASH drive or
keyboard.
Examples:
Serial
Parallel
hot-wire
USB
PORTS AND PERIPHERALS
Peripherals are devices
that plug into a computer
and are not housed
internally.
Examples:
Printers
Scanners
Cameras
LAN AND WAN
LAN: are networks usually in
the same company or
building. The Local Area
Network is connected via
telephone lines or radio
waves. Most LANs connect
workstations.
WAN: are systems of LANs
that are connected. (Wide-
area network)
BANDWIDTH AND BAUD RATE
Bandwidth is how much
information can be carried
in a given time period
(usually a second) over a
wired or wireless
communications link.
Baud rate is the rate at
which information is
transferred in a
communication channel.
MULTITASKING AND
MULTIPROCESSING
Multitasking is the ability to
execute more than one task
(program) at the same time.
Only one CPU is used but
switches from one program
to another.
In multiprocessing, more
than one CPU is used to
complete a task. Example:
network rendering.
MULTIMEDIA
Multimedia software
programs include sound,
pictures, video, text, and
hypertext to create
presentations.
Software includes:
PowerPoint
Macromedia Director
FLASH
RESOLUTION
Screen resolution is measured in pixel per inch
(ppi), and printer resolution is measured in dots
per inch (dpi).
Computer screen resolution is approximately 72
ppi.
Width x Height (Pixels) Video Display
640 x 480 Low Resolution
800 x 600 Medium Resolution
1600 x 1200 High Resolution
RESOLUTION
Resolution refers to the
number of pixels (picture
elements) in the monitor
image.
Increased resolution uses
more computer resources
but increases the visual
clarity of the display.
COMPUTER MEMORY
Computer memory is binary (0 or 1) (on or off).
The byte is the standard unit of measurement.
A byte is composed of 8 bits (binary digits).
Typical units of measurement:
1 KB (kilobyte) = 1000 bytes
1 MB (megabyte) =1000 kilobytes or 1 million
bytes
1 GB (gigabyte) =1000 megabytes or 1 billion
bytes
1 Tb(Terabyte)= 1000 gigabytes or 1 trillon
FILE MANAGEMENT
Saving files - know the difference
between “save” and “save as”.
“Save” will save the open document
over the saved document while
“save as” creates a new document if
you rename the document. Save
often so work will not be lost.
Exporting – converts a native format
to a non-native file format used in
various software programs. In vector
programs, file types may be
exported.
FILE MANAGEMENT
Different programs have different file extensions.
Naming files - avoid the following characters in naming files:
Examples:
@
*
.
Understand the parts of a path name.
Example: C:\SciVis\movie.avi
Drive designator Directory or folder File name File extension
FILE MANAGEMENT
Merging files - in 3D
graphics, bringing an
outside file into an open
file (another name for
this may be loading or
replacing objects in the
workspace).
Importing files - bringing
a converted non-native
format file into an open
file.
THE END
