Unit 2 Computer Hardware and Software

1. Introduction to Computer
Systems
2. Component of System Unit
3. External Storage
4. Introduction to Application
Software

WUC 117 Introduction to Computing and Internet

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Expansion Card

Motherboard

CPU & Socket Expansion Slot

System Hardware
1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
Input is any data entered into the computer's memory

Input devices are types of hardware that enable us to get

programs, data, command & responses into the computer’s memory
Categories Input Devices
Key-in Input Device Keyboard
Pointing Input Devices Mouse, Trackball, Touchpad, Pointing Stick,
Joystick, Graphic Tablet, Touch Screens, Pen-
based Computing
Optical Input Devices MICR, OCR, OMR, Bar Code Readers,
Scanner
Audio Input Devices Microphone, Video Input, Digital Camera

Input Devices
1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

The keyboard allows the computer user to enter words, numbers,

punctuation, symbols, and special function commands into the
computer’s memory
Input Devices - Keyboard
1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
 Enhanced or Extended keyboard – Typically 101 keys laid out in the QWERTY
fashion; connected to the computer by a serial cable.
 Cordless keyboard – Uses infrared or radio wave signals.
 Ergonomic keyboard – Designed to help prevent Cumulative Trauma
Disorder (CTD) or damage to nerve tissues in the wrist and hand due to
repeated motion.
Enhanced / Extended Keyboard Ergonomic Keyboard

Input Devices – Types of Keyboards

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
 The mouse is the most
widely used pointing device
 A mouse is palm sized
 As the mouse is moved, its
movements are mirrored by
the on-screen pointer
Mouse buttons enable the user to initiate actions.
Clicking (left-, right-, or double-clicking) allows the
user to select an item on the screen or open a
program or dialog box
Click and drag– Holding down the left mouse button
and moving the mouse enables the user to move
objects on the screen
Input Devices – The Mouse
1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
Wheel mouse – Contains a rotating wheel used to scroll vertically within a
text document; connects to PS/2 port or USB port
Cordless mouse – Uses infrared signals to connect to the computer’s IrDA
port; it must be within sight of the receiving port

Cordless Mouse
Wheel Mouse

Input Devices – Types of Mouse

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Trackball
Joystick
Touch Screen

Pointing Stick Touch Pad

Pen

Input Devices – Other Types of Pointing Devices

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Digital Camera
Flatbed Scanner Microphone – speech
recognition

Bar Code Reader Video Conferencing Web cam

Input Devices – Alternative Input Devices

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Optical Mark Reader

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

Handheld Scanner
Sheetfed Scanner

Input Devices – Alternative Input Devices

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Output devices are peripheral devices that enable us to view or hear

the computer’s processed data
Visual output – Text, graphics, and video
Audio output – Sounds, music, and synthesized speech

Output Devices
1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Cathode Ray Tube - CRT Liquid Crystal Display - LCD

A monitor is a peripheral device which displays computer output on a screen.

Screen output is referred to as soft copy
Types of monitors:
Cathode-ray tube (CRT)
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD or flat-panel)

Output Devices - Monitors

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
CRT
Resemble televisions
Use picture tube technology
Less expensive than a LCD monitor
Take up more desk space and use more energy than LCD monitors

LCD
Cells sandwiched between two transparent layers form images
Used for notebook computers, PDAs, cellular phones, and PCs
More expensive than a CRT monitor
Take up less desk space and use less energy than CRT monitors
Types of LCD monitors:
• Passive-matrix LCD
• Active-matrix LCD
• Gas plasma display
• Field emission display

Output Devices - Monitors

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Monochrome monitors: display only one colour such as green, amber or white,
against a contrasting background, which is usually black. Where the users only see
text displayed on the screen without the colour graphics.

Grayscale monitors: display varying intensities of gray from a very light gray to
black, against a white or off-white background and are essentially a type of
monochrome monitor.

Colour monitors: it can display between16 colours and 16 million colours. And many
colour monitors can be set to work in monochrome or grayscale mode.

Output Devices – Categories of Monitors

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
A printer is a peripheral device that produces a physical
copy or hard
copy of the computer’s output.
Two basic types:
• Impact printer
• Non-impact printer

A multifunction printer combines the functions of a

non-impact printer, scanner, fax machine, and copier in
one unit

Output Devices - Printers

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
Impact Printer
•has a print head that contacts the
paper to produce a character
•uses ink ribbon
•Noisy
•produces Near-letter quality printouts
•not commonly used today
• Dot-matrix - Pins are used to
make characters
Non-Impact Printer
•most commonly used printer today
•works quietly compared to an impact printer
• Inkjet printer, also called a bubble-jet, makes
characters by inserting dots of ink onto paper
• Letter-quality printouts
• Cost of printer is inexpensive but ink is costly
• Laser printer works like a copier
• Quality determined by dots per inch (dpi)
produced
• Color printers available
• Expensive initial costs but cheaper to operate
per page
Output Devices - Printers
1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems

Dot-matrix printer Ink-jet printer Photo printer

Portable printer
Bar code printer Plotter

Output Devices - Printers

1.1 Introduction to Computer Systems
Machine voices are the product of voice synthesisers, which convert
data in main storage to vocalised sounds understandable to
humans.
There are two basic approaches to get your computer to talk:

• Synthesis by analysis, in which the device analyses the input of an actual

human voice speaking words, records the spoken sounds, and replays
them as needed.

• Synthesis by rule, where the device applies a complex set of linguistic

rules to create artificial speech

Output Devices – Voice Output

 1.2 Component of System Unit
 The motherboard provides the centralized connection
point for the computer’s components
 Most components are integrated circuits (chips)
 Chips carry electrical current and contain electronic
switches or transistors

Motherboard
1.2 Component of System Unit
5
2 3 4
6

3
7

8
11

10 9

1. Expansion card 6. Storage bays

2. Central Processing Unit 7. CD/DVD Drive
3. Power Supply 8. Floppy Drive
4. Fan 9. Zip Drive
5. Hard Drive 10. Memory (RAM)
11. Motherboard

Motherboard
 1.2 Component of System Unit
CPU is a complex set of electronic circuitry that executes program
instructions; where it consists of a control unit and an arithmetic/logic unit.
It is also known as processor or microprocessor

Central Processing Unit CPU Socket

Central Processing Unit

 1.2 Component of System Unit
Stores data and programs
(Secondary storage)
Control unit: Coordinates and
controls all parts of the computer
system

Sends data to the CPU Makes processed

(Input) Central Processing Unit information available
(Output)
Arithmetic-Logic unit: Performs Control ALU
Unit
arithmetic or logical operations
Memory

Processing

Registers: Store the most frequently

used instructions and data

Components of the CPU

 1.2 Component of System Unit
The 4-step process  machine cycle or processing cycle. The processing
cycle consists of two phases:

Instruction Cycle: I-time (Instruction Time)

Execution Cycle: E-time (Execution Time)

Principles of Processor Operation

1.2 Component of System Unit
Control unit ALU

Memory

Principles of Processor Operation