The computer system have 4 parts:
- Hardware (the computer and its physical
parts).
- Software (programs and OS).
- Data (information)
- User (people)
Hardware
• They are the physical components of computer, such
as monitor, CPU, memories, wiring, keyboard, etc.
(If the computer was you, hardware will be your hands, veins, mouth, heart,
muscles,…)
• Everything that can be touched.
Hardware
• Computers use the same basic
hardware.
• Hardware is categorized into 4
types:
I. Input and output devices.
II. Processing devices.
III. Memory devices.
IV. Storage devices.
Processing devices
Central Processing Unit
(CPU): It is the main
component in a computer, it
is like a brain.
It interprets the instructions
from programs and
processes data, as well as
They are large scale
managing the entire system.
integrated circuits in
packages with hundreds
of connecting pins.
Most computers have multiple processors.
Memory devices
They store data or programs. There are 2 types:
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Its contents can be changed.
• It temporally stores the data that the computer is
using.
• Data are deleted when the computer is turned off.
• More RAM results in a faster system.
Memory devices
Read Only Memory (ROM)
• It stores data that the
computer uses to work when
we turn it on, it is not
deleted when the computer
is turned off.
• Its contents can only be
read.
• It holds the computer boot
directions.
Input and output devices
They allow the user to communicate the computer
with the rest of the world.
There are 3 types:
1.Input devices Accept data:
Keyboard: it is used to enter
information into the computer
and for giving commands.
Mouse: it is used to control the
on-screen pointer by pointing and
clicking, double-clicking, or
dragging objects on the screen.
Input and output devices
2. Output devices deliver data
Monitor/Screen: a display screen to provide
“output” to the user. It is where you view
the information your are working on.
Printer: it produces a hard copy on paper. It
gives information to the user in printed form.
Speaker: it is used to generate or reproduce
voice, music, and other sounds.
Input and output devices
3. Input and output devices.
Modem: the place where the computer
is connected to the phone line. Stick USB.
Smartphones: they allow us to transfer files
and information from/to computers.
Input and output devices
Input and output devices are
connected to the ports.
Ports can be:
1. Serial: it is transmitted one bit
after the other one. For
example keyboard, or mouse.
2. Parallel: various bits are
transmitted simultaneously. For
example printer.
The most popular port these
days is the USB (Universal
Serial Bus)
Storage devices
• There are 3 types:
1.- Magnetic storage: Information is stored
through the magnetic arrangement of particles in the
device. Examples:
a) Floppy disks: also called a diskette or just
disk.
b) Hard disks (hard drive):They can be
external or internal
Storage devices
2.- Optical storage: information is encoded by
means of microscopic grooves on the surface. For
instance:
a. DVDs: it is an optical disc with a 4.7 gigabyte
storage capacity on a single slide.
b.Blu-ray: it is an optical disc format designed to
display high definition video and store large
amounts of data.
Storages devices
evolution
Software
• It is the set of programs or intructions that start
up the computer and process data so that we can
use it.
(If the computer was you, software will be the languages you
speak, your thinking skills, etc.)
Software
There are 2 types:
a) Operating system (OS) is system
software that manages computer hardware and
software resources and provides common services
for computer programs.
Application programs usually require an operating
system to function.
The most common OS are: Windows, MacOs and
Linux.
Software
b) Application software: it is a computer
program designed to perform a group
of coordinated functions or activities
for the benefit of the user, such as Word,
PPT, games, Skype, etc.
Computer data
When we use a computer, first we need an input
device to introduce the information into the
computer.
Then, the computer gets this information and
translates it into binary code (its language) to
process it.
Each of these binary digits are called a bit.
A bit is the smallest unit to represent information in
a computer. It can be 1 or 0.
A byte is a group of 8 bits.
Computer data
onvert decimal numbers into binary numbers: code or enco
Computer data
Convert binary numbers into decimal numbers: Decode
Computer users
Role depends on ability:
• Setup the system
• Install software
• Manage files
• Maintain the system
“Userless” computers:
• Run with no user input
• Automated systems
• IA
Summary
User manages the applications.
The applications need the
operative system to work.
The OS manages computer
hardware and software in order
to provide what user wants to
do.
