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Mas 121 Key Points
Mas 121 Key Points
Mas 121 Key Points
Computer invention started with the analytical engine envisioned by Charles Babbage
following the mathematical ideas by George Boole.
Computer Classification:
a. Personal Computer: small, single user, based on a microprocessor and it has a
keyboard, monitor and a storage device.
b. Workstation: powerful, single user, has a more powerful microprocessor and higher
quality monitor.
c. Minicomputer: multi-user computer capable of supporting 10-hundreds of users
simultaneously.
d. Mainframe: poweful multi-user, capable of supporting hundreds to thousands of
users simultaneously.
e. Supercomputer: fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions
per second.
The Hardware
The wires, transistors and circuit of a computer is the hardware and this consist of the
System Unit, the motherboard, chipset, input and output devices.
- The System Unit houses the CPU, memory modules, expansion slots etc. Other
devices such as the monitor, keyboard, mouse are linked directly or indirectly into the
system unit.
- The Motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer, it contains the CPU, the
basic input/output system (BIOS), memory, mass storage interfaces, controllers for
the keyboard, disk drive and display screen etc.
- The Chipset is a critical part of any computer because it plays a role i determining
the feature a computer can support.
- Storage Devices that can store data and programs.
The Software
Any set of machine readable instructions that directs a computer’s processor to perform
specific operations.
BIOS acts as interface between the hardware and the operating system, it provides access
to the system hardware and allows you control your computer’s hardware settings amongst
other things.
ROM (Read Only Memory): it is non-volatile, it contains permanently written data called
the firmware (BIOS lives here). Iit also contains programs that direct the computer to load its
operating system and related files when the computer is powered on.
Types of ROM
- PROM: Programmable Read Only Memory cannot be changed or revise its program
- EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory can only ne erased or reused
by shining high intensity UV light through it.
- EEPROM: Electrical Erasable Read Only Memory under high voltage.
- FROM: Flash Read Only Memory
- CACHE: high speed memory area placed between the processor and the system
memory.
RAM( Random Access Memory): primary storage also called internal storage, it serves as
the computer workspace.
Types of RAM;
- DRAM: Dynamic Random Acess Memory which has two types namely:
a. SDRAM: Synchronous Dynamic Acess Memory
b. DDR SDRAM: Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Access Memory
- SRAM: Static Random Acess Memory
● Hard Disk: contains the RAM. Without enough RAM, the operating system swap out
storage space with the hard disk.
● Microprocessor: the heart and brain of a PC
● Mass Storage Device: allows a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data
such as disk drives and tape drives.
● Input device; the means through which data and instructions enter a computer and
they include:
- Scanner
- Mouse
- Keyboard
- Touchpad
- Lightpen
- Joystick
- Webcam
- Digital Camera
- microphone
● Output device: they include
- Printer: some types of printers include laser, inkjet, dot matrix
- Monitor
- Projector
- Touch screen
a. Twisted Pair Wire: this consists of two strands of insulated copper wire
twisted around each other and then covered in another layer of plastic wire
insulation. It has two types unshielded twisted pair and shielded twisted
pair. They can be very slow and don't protect against electrical interference
such as noise and they don't carry too much data.
b. Coaxial Cable: consist of insulated copper wire wrapped in a solid or
braided metal shield then in an external cover. It is widely used for Cable TV
and connects parts of a LAN over longer distances. It resists nouse and can
carry voice and data at a faster rate and longer range like 128mbps.
c. Fibre Optic Cable: consist of hundreds of thousands of thin strands of glass
that transmit pulsating beams of light. These strands look like human hair and
can transmit billions of pulses which each 'ON' representing 1 bit. Each strand
ina cable is 1.2 inches thick and support up to 500,000 conversations. The
light pulses are not affected by interferences in the environment. It is lightee
but very expensive and cannot bend around tight corners.
d. Graded index plastic optical fibre: it is cheaper and lighter than F.O.C and
can transmit a trillion bits per second
- Wireless:
a. Microwave Systems: transmit voice and data through the atmosphere at high
frequency data radio waves. Radio waves transmit messages from ground
based station and satellite communication system. Satellite dishes are victims
of radio waves and they must be put in 'line of sight' before data can be
transmitted. Line if sight means there must be unobstructed view between the
transmitter and receiver. This is why microwave stations needs to be placed
within 25-30 miles of each other within no obstruction in between.
b. Satellite System: it brought about sky station called communication satellite
and they are microwave relay stations in orbit around the earth. Orbit satellite
has solar power receiver and transmitter also called transponder that receives
signals, amplify them and retransmit them to another earth station. Satellite
contains many communication channels and receives both analog and digital
signals from earth stations.Satellite System is usually positioned 800 miles
above the earth.
GPS: global navigation satellite system that provides location and time synchronization. It
helps you find a place or monitor a place or person. It is the global series of connected earth
orbiting sequences.
- GPS Uses
1. For locating a place or person
2. For navigation
3. Mapping
4. Tracking
5. Timing
1. Transmission Rates: the higher the 'frequency', the wider the 'bandwidth', the faster
the data transmission.
- Frequency: the amount of data that can be transmitted on a channel. It is
expressed in 'hertz', one circle per second equals one hertz. The more
circles, the more hertz, the more data that will be transmitted.
- Bandwidth: it is the difference between the highest and lowest frequency
2. Line Configuration: makes use of point to point or multiple points through principal
configuration(ways of connecting)
- Point to Point: connect the sender to the receiver of data, like a terminal to a
personal computer.
- Multiple Point: connect several computers to a terminal.
3. Serial vs Parallel Transmission: data is transmitted either serially or in parallel.
- Serial Data Transmission: data is transmitted sequentially, in beats i.e one
after the other. Most computer data follows this way.
- Parallel Data Transmission: data is transmitted in two separate lines
simultaneously. It is faster than serial, more efficient e.g from a PC processor
to a printer.
4. Direction of Transmission: when two computers are in communication of which data
can follow in 3 ways which are:
a. Simplex Transmission: data can travel in only one direction e.g Traditional TV
broadcast from the station to an antenna. There's no return signal.
b. Half Duplex: data travels in two directions but only one direction at a time e.g
it is used in marine radios where both parties take turns in talking.
c. Full Duplex: data is transmitted back and forth at the same time e.g two
people talking and listening on a mobile phone at the same time
5. Packet Switching: data takes some many routes at the same time.
a. Multiplexer: devices that matches serial low signals to one high speed signal.
b. Concentrators: a piece of hardware that enables several devices connect to a single
device and it collects data in a temporary storage.
c. Front-End Processor: a smaller computer that is connected to a larger computer and
assists with communication functions. It transmits and receives messages over the
communication channels, corrects errors and relieves the larger computer of routine
tasks.
7. Protocols: they are sets of conventions governing the exchange of data between
hardware or software components in a communication network. They are used in diplomatic
areas and if there's no organization, data will be lost, jammed or not delivered to the
receiver.
- Types of Protocols
a. Physical: when connecting a computer to a light source and it charges.
b. Data Link: data transmission from node to node.
c. Network: routes data to different networks
d. Transport: ensures delivery of complete messages
e. Session: it gives a timeline and order to data transmission.
f. Presentation: rules of data transmission
g. Application: purpose of communicating
Convergence
It can mean many things, in one sense it refers to the interlinking of computing, ICT,
communication network and media content that occurred during the development and
popularization of the internet. It also refers to the products, services and activities that have
emerged in digital media space.