Week 10 (5th to 9th October 2009))

BASIC COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER HARDWARE

Computer hardware are all physical devices that make up a computer. They are the parts of a
computer that you can feel/touch. Hardware sometime is referred to as computer system

There are about six categories of computer hardware

Input devices: Tools used to enter information and commands into the computer. They enable
people to use the computer as well as enable computers to sense their environments. Input
devices can be used for three types of tasks
 Control e.g. using an input device to select an option in a mobile phone
 Active data entry e.g. using an input device to enter data for processing
 Passive data entry e.g. data entry without active participation of a user for example
smoke alarm system

There are various types of input devices

Type example
Keyboard Data processing, point of sale
Pointing device Mouse, light pen, joystick etc
Formatted text reader Bar code reader etc
Image capture Scanner, digital camera, digital
camcorder
Instrumentation Robotic controller
Sensor Microphone, pressure sensor etc

Output devices: These are hardware devices that are used to show, hear or recognise results of
data processing
Monitor, print out
Storage devices: Tools used to store information for later use

Primary Secondary
Volatile RAM
Non-volatile ROM Disks, CDs, DVDs,
Flash

Processing unit: The central processing unit (CPU) is the actual hardware that process data,
read and react to software instruction and coordinate all other hardware

Telecommunication: device for sending and receiving information from other devices outside
the computer. Example is modem

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Connecting device: ports for connecting other hardware devices e.g. USB, printer etc

Types of Microcomputers

Use of computer differ significantly for example student needs, sales person needs, marketing
manager and scientists needs differ significantly
Computer manufacture computers to meets these various types of needs

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

Notebook laptop computer
Desktop computer
Minicomputer
Mainframe computer
Supercomputer