Section 1:

Types and Components of Computer Systems

1.2 the main components of computer systems

1.3 operating system
Recall~~~
• The computer systems has two main
components which when both combined
makes a computer system.
• Hardware
• Software

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Important Terms
• Data
• The collection of raw facts
• Processing
• The action required to be performed on data to convert it into result.
• Result
• The useful information after processing of data
• Information
• It is the collection of data according to a set of parameter.
• Input
• The process of collecting and entering data into computer.
• Output
• The result we get after the processing of data and taking it out of memory.

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Simple Input/ Output System

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

• Used to enter data • Processing takes • Get the output on

into computer place in the output unit
processing unit.
• Three main units
→ Memory,
Control unit, ALU

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Main Components of Computer Systems

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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.
It is a small chip inside the computer. It does all decision, calculations.
It interprets and executes the commands from the computer hardware
and software.
It controls other parts of a computer.
The speed of a CPU is measured in Hertz (HZ)

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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
CPU consists of several section:
1. Control unit (CU)
• Controls operations of other parts of CPU as well as all part of computer by sending a control
signal
2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
• Calculation, logical comparison and decision
3. Main memory
• Any data or instruction that are to be processed by CPU must be placed into main memory
(sometimes known as primary storage)
• It contains two types of memory chip, called RAM and ROM

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Random Access Memory (RAM)
• The part of computer that temporarily stores the instructions that the
computer is running, and the data it is processing
• A volatile storage device, as its contents are lost when computer’s
power is turned off.
• Written to and read from.

• The storage capacity of memory is measured in Bytes.

• When a computer are in use, its RAM will contain

• The operating system software
• The application software currently being used
• Any data that is being processed

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Read Only Memory (ROM)
• A memory used to hold and store information that needs to be permanent.

• Often used to contain a small, special piece of software: the ‘boot up’ program (run
when computer is switched on or ‘boots up’)
• This ‘boot up’ software is known as the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

• ROM is non-volatile storage, as the data it contains is never lost, even if the power
is switched off.
Carries out hardware check (all devices are
• Cannot be altered present, whether they are functional), load
OS into RAM
• Can only be read from Stores date, time and system configuration in
CMOS

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Input Devices
Devices that pass data into the computer

Examples: Keyboard, mouse, webcam

Input
Device Data In

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Output Devices
Devices that take data from the computer

Example: monitor, printer, loudspeaker

Data Out Output

Input
Data In Device
Device

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Secondary/ Backing Storing Devices
• The name for all of the devices (apart from RAM and ROM) that can store data in a
computer system.

• It is non-volatile, so data that is stored on these devices remain there safely.

• Hard disk drive

• Solid-state drive Permanently
Larger capacity
Slower data access time
Cheaper per byte
Fixed or removeable
To read data: RAM > CPU

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What is an Operating Systems?

Application

Monitor Disk Drive

Operating
System

Keyboard Mouse

Printer

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Operating System
• A special piece of software that manages the general operation of a computer
system and allow users to communicate with computer systems.
• The general tasks for a typical operating system include:
• Provides a user interface, so that we can interact with the computer
• Controlling the operation of input, output and backing storage devices
• Supervising the loading, running and storage of applications programs
• Manages applications that are running on the computer
• Dealing with errors
• Maintains security of whole computer system
• preventing unauthorised access to the system
• Manages files, helping us save our work, organise our files, find files that we have save and
load files.
• Allow communication between user and computer system (User interface)

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User Interfaces

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User Interfaces
• The system that people use to interact with a computer or able to
communicate with operating system.

• There are four main types of user interfaces

• Command-Line Interface (CLI)

• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Dialogue-based user interface
• Gesture-based user interface

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Command Line Interface (CLI)
• An older style OS → users type in commands using keyboard
• Do not make use of images, icons or graphics
• Require very little computer power
• Commands
• Entered precisely
• Remember the exact way to enter them
• Hard to use
• User is in direct communication with computer

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Common CLI commands
Command What it does
copy Copies files from one to another
location
del Deletes one or more files
format Deletes all the data on a hard disk
md Creates a new folder
rename Renames a file or folder

Remember: there are over 270 of these commands

> MKDIR Section1

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Visual (graphical) interfaces
• More popular
• Very easy to use
• Using pictures/ icons → the whole CLI code could be replaced by a single icon.
• Need more computer power

> MKDIR Section1

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Key features of GUI
Windows Icons
• Separate areas given on the screen • ‘symbol’ or small images/graphics
• Allow user to work on several tasks at the same time • Use to represent files, folders and commands
• Can be clicked to carry out a function / open a file etc.

GUI
Menus Pointers
• Allow users to select functions from a list • ‘little arrows’ that you move across the screen by
• Pop-up or drop-down directing your mouse
• Used to
• Select and use icons
• Select options found in menus
• Reposition folders and icons on the screen

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Touchscreen Interfaces
• Mobile phones
• PDA’s
• Tablets
• Input commands: icons and menus
• Allows people to use their fingers to select icons and options straight from the
device’s screen.

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Key features of a Touchscreen Interfaces

Pinching
• Pinch your fingers together across a
touchscreen to zoom into image, application
or document
• Move your fingers apart to zoom out
Rotating
• Use two fingers (up – down) → rotate an
object
Swiping
• Swipe your finger across to scroll through the
document or turn the page

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)
More user-friendly: Interact with computer using
icons (pictures, symbols)
Pointing devices is used to click on an icon to launch
application
The most common GUI is Windows Icons Menus and
Pointing device (WIMP) interface
suitable for beginners or intermediate users
→ End-user
Use up considerably more computer memory
limited to icons provided
Needs OS to operate
Command-Line Interface (CLI)
User is in direct communicate with the computer
Black screen, user need to type a command (set of
instruction) for any operations
Possible to alter computer configuration settings.
Common command driven interface is MS-DOS
e.g. To open notepad application using command
line: C:\notepad.exe
suitable for expert users.
→ programmer, analyst, technician
Needs to learn a number of commands for basic
operations
All commands need to be typed in accurately (correct
syntax) → takes time, error-prone
More difficult to edit once commands are entered.
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Examples of CLI and GUI

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Dialogue-based user interfaces
• Speech commands – human voice to give commands to computer system
• Example:
• Car > navigation system, in-car entertainment
• Home > on/off lights, operate electronic equipment

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Gesture-based interfaces
• Human interaction
• Moving of hands, heads, feet

• Moving the foot under the rear bumper of car > opens boot lid
• Hands near a window switch > opens window

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