Topic 1

Class AS Level
Subject IT
Chapter 1
Topic Hardware & Software
Academic Year 2023 – 2024
 School’s Vision
BFIS envisages to provide accessible, affordable and progressive
educational environment that nurtures passion for learning, desire for
advancement and sense of responsibility towards society.
 Values
Respect your parents and teachers

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 Learning Objectives
Hardware and software underpin all digital technologies. In this unit,
you will understand a range of digital technologies, understand how to
evaluate their characteristics, and understand how to select digital
components to provide solutions to today’s challenges.

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 1.1 Hardware
Contemporary digital devices:
a. computers
b. embedded systems
c. peripheral devices
d. mobile phones
e. storage devices.
 1.1.1 Features and functions:
• a. portability
• b. performance
• c. storage
• d. user interface
• e. connectivity
• f. media support
• g. energy consumption
• h. expansion capability
• i. security features
 a. portability

For a device to be portable, it needs to be easy to carry and move around. This
means that the portability of a device is directly related to its size and weight.

A portable device may also be called a handheld device or mobile device.

A portable device is any device that can easily be carried. It is a small form factor
of a computing device that is designed to be held and used in the hands. Portable
devices are becoming an increasingly important part of personal computing as the
capabilities of devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones continue to improve.
 a. portability …..
• Portable devices are primarily battery powered devices with base
computing resources in the form of a processor, memory, and storage and
network access. The latest portable devices are thin and lightweight,
making them easy to carry and hold. This was not the case for earlier
attempts at portable computers.
• Small plug-and-play devices such as USB drives, external hard disks and
webcams can also be called portable devices.
 b. performance
A high-performance device performs its job or tasks quickly. The speed at
which a device performs is determined by the speed at which it can carry
out instructions from its software. Software instructions are carried out by
the processor, which means that a faster processor will increase
performance
The performance of digital devices is increasing as the technology is
advancing. Digital devices are made more sophisticated and more user
friendly.

The performance of the Devices depend on number of factors that include:

i. Battery
ii. Portability
iii. Storage
iv. Processor
 c. storage
Files and programs are stored in storage. More available storage allows
users to store more files and programs.
There are a number of ways in which digital information can be stored,
including: online, whether locally on an agency server, or by hosted storage
through the internet, for example in cloud storage. Online storage is
characterized by quick access to the information.
in offline storage from which data can be quickly retrieved through a near-
line storage system and brought online for access. The offline storage is
typically a tape library or CD jukebox.
on removable media such as magnetic tapes, CDs, DVDs, memory cards,
flash drives (USB sticks). These 'offline' storage devices are not usually
directly accessible.
SSD has replaced HDD, SSD offers more storage and faster access rate
 d. user interface
• The means by which the user and a computer system interact, in particular
the use of input devices and software.

• In information technology, the user interface (UI) is everything designed

into an information device with which a person may interact. This can
include display screens, keyboards, a mouse and the appearance of a
desktop. It is also the way through which a user interacts with an
application or a website.
• A good user interface provides a "user-friendly" experience, allowing the
user to interact with the software or hardware in a natural and intuitive
way.
• GUI is an example of user interface
 e. connectivity

• Its a device's ability to connect to networks and other devices. Connectivity

technology means a technology service / feature provided in the device
(laptop in this case) to be able to connect with other devices and systems.
There are two types of connectivity features - wireless (wifi, bluetooth,
NFC) and wired (usb, network cable, HDMI).
• There are many ways a personal electronic device can connect to the
internet. They all use different hardware and each has a range of connection
speeds. As technology changes, faster internet connections are needed to
handle those changes.
 connectivity…….
Devices can be connected to each other through these:
Bluetooth
3G or 4G
Satellite
Cable
Cellular (Radio)
Dialup
Wifi
Infrared
 f. media support
Different devices can read data from and write data to different types of
media. Examples of media include SD and microSD flash memory cards, and
DVD. If devices do not have built-in (native) media, adapters can usually be
connected to provide connectivity to an external device into which the media
can be inserted.

Examples of digital media include software, digital images, digital video,

video game, web pages and websites, including social media, data and
databases, digital audio, such as MP3 and electronic books.

Digital devices support different kind of media depending on their

functionality.
 g. energy consumption

• Digital devices require electricity to work. One benefit of lower energy

consumption in digital devices is a longer battery life. Due to the rising
cost of electricity and pressure from customers and governments to be
more environmentally responsible, manufacturers are creating digital
devices that consume less energy.
 h. expansion capability

• Some PCs allow user to install additional components. Some smart

phones and tablet devices have expansion slots to allow them to make use
of flash memory cards.

• Systems can be expanded by using ports such as USB ports. These allow
the user to connect extra devices called peripheral devices.
 i. security features.

• The data stored on digital devices may be private, valuable or both. This
means the data need to have security features to keep the user’s data safe.

• Data can be kept secure by the following ways:

• i. Software security
• Ii. Physical security
1.1.2 Understand the technologies used by digital devices and how
they impact on the design and uses of devices:
a. Global Positioning System (GPS)
b. biometrics
c. touchscreen
d. sensor
e. memory
f. storage
g. battery power
h. miniaturisation
i. processors
j. radio-frequency identification (RFID)
k. near-field communication (NFC)
l. quick response (QR) code

 a. Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Global positioning system uses radio signal from satellites to show your exact
position on the Earth on a special place of equipment.

• GPS satellites orbit around 20km above Earth and are accurate to within 5 meters
• Navigation aids make use of GPS signals to calculate the exact position of a
device.
• GPS does not need internet connectivity in order to work. However, navigation
aids need internet connectivity to update map data.
 Uses of GPS
Global positioning system applications generally fall into 5 major categories:
1. Location - determining a position
2. Navigation - getting from one location to another
3. Tracking - monitoring object or personal movement
4. Mapping - creating maps of the world
5. Timing - bringing precise timing to the world

Some of the applications that GPS systems are currently being used for around the
world include mining, aviation, surveying, agriculture, marine, recreation, and military.
 b. biometrics
Biometrics is the process by which a person's unique physical and other traits are
detected and recorded by an electronic device or system as a means of confirming
identity.
Biometric scanners work by measuring part of the unique physical characteristics of a
user.
Examples of biometric scanners are:
 i. Fingerprint recognition
Ii. Facial recognition
Iii. Voice recognition
Iv. Iris recognition
 Biometrics ….
Advantages:
i. Easier for users than passwords because you don’t need to memorize passwords
Ii. More secure than other methods which makes the identification theft much less likely
Iii. Are not restricted by language barrier

Disadvantages:
i. May cause privacy and security concerns as detailed personal information is stored
electronically
ii. Make some people uncomfortable
 c. touchscreen

• A touchscreen is not just an output device; it’s a two way user interface. You can
interact with the computer or phone by touching pictures or words on the screen.

• Touch screens are used in many devices including smartphones, tablet devices,
smartphones and desktop computers.
• There are two types of Touchscreens:
• i. Resistive
• ii. Capacitive
i. Resistive screen:
The pressure causes the two layers underneath the screen to touch and
make a connection. These screens are harder to read because more
layers reflect more light. In addition they can recognize one touch at a
time, so they are not suitable for multi touch applications.

Capacitive screen:
There is a layer of capacitive material, when a user touches the screen,
a small amount of charge flows away from their finger as humans are
conductive. This allows the computer to calculate the precise location
at which the screen was touched. Capacitive screens are often used in
smartphones.
 d. sensor

• Sensors are used to input data from the surroundings environment into the
computer.
• They can automatically input data without the need for human action.
• Sensors usually sense information in analog form, that is then converted in
digital form using the ADC. Which is then processed by the computer or
micro-controller
• Sensors are extensively used in data logging and control applications
There are many types of sensors and they have a wide variety of uses.
Here are some common types of sensors:
i. Pressure sensor
Ii. Light sensor
Iii. Temperature sensor
Iv. Moisture and humidity sensor
V. Motion sensor

Sensors are essential in applications such as

i. Automatic washing machines
Ii. Air conditioning systems
Iii. Central heating system
Iv. Computer controlled greenhouse
Advantages of using sensors:
i. they can be placed in remote or dangerous places
Ii. They can monitor continuously
Iii. They remove the possibility for human error
Iv. They can record data that people do don’t sense or do not sense
accurately

Disadvantages of using sensor:

i. Sensors cannot interpret the data
Ii. Sensors detect a very restricted range of the different types of data
 e. memory

• Memory is often called main memory or primary storage

• Memory can be accessed faster than secondary storage. Memory is used to store instructions
so that the processor can fetch the instructions quickly in order to process them

• There are three types of memory:

• i. Random access memory [ RAM ]
• Ii. Read only memory [ ROM ]
• Iii. Flash memory
Software is loaded into RAM from a computer’s storage. The processor
then fetches software instructions from memory and executes them.

RAM is volatile, which means the data stored in RAM will be lost
when system is turned off
RAM is used to store the programs that are in use. The more RAM that
is available the more programs can rum at the same time.

ROM stores data permanently, meaning that data is not lost when the
power is turned off
Types of ROM are EPROM and EEPROM

Flash memory is a type of EEPROM and is non-volatile. Because of its

low power consumption flash memory is used in SSDs. Flash memory
is often used as removable storage in USB drives and SD cards
 f. storage
Secondary Storage is often referred to as “storage”. However, it should not
be confused with primary storage or main memory, which are terms used
to refer RAM or ROM.
Storage is a process through which digital data is saved within a data
storage device by means of computing technology. Storage is a mechanism
that enables a computer to retain data, either temporarily or permanently.

Secondary storage is non-volatile

Secondary storage is used for:

i. Storing a document for future use
ii. Storing an application, ready to be loaded in RAM when the user opens
the application
iii. Virtual memory
There are three types of storage devices:
i. HDD : contains hard disk media
ii. SSD: referred to as flash drive contain flash memory media
iii. Optical disk drives: it contains optical disk media

A hard disk is part of a unit -- often called a disk drive, hard drive or hard
disk drive -- that stores and provides relatively quick access to large amounts
of data on an electromagnetically charged surface or set of surfaces. Today's
computers typically come with a hard disk that can contain from billions to
trillions of bytes of storage.

Hard disks are made up of many concentric platters. These platters make up a
cylinder that spins on a central spindle. A read/write head moves on an arm
across tracks on the platter. The amount of time that read/write head takes to
access is determined by how fast the cylinder of the platters spin and how fast
the head is moved across the tracks.
 Flash memory
• It has the ability to be electronically reprogrammed and erased. It is often found
in USB flash drives, MP3 players, digital cameras and solid-state drives. Flash
memory is a type of electronically erasable programmable read
only memory(EEPROM), but may also be a standalone memory storage device
such as a USB drive.

• Flash memory is more energy efficient than hard disks as they do not have
moving parts. They are more robust than the hard disks, which makes them
more suitable for portable devices,
 Optical storage media
Types of optical storage media include:
CDs: can store up to 700 MB od data
DVDs: can store up to 4.7 GB of data on a single later disk
Blu-ray: are similar to CDs and DVDs it uses violet laser light and stores
data at greater density. Single sided desk can store 25GB of data

Recordable optical media is known as CD-R or DVD-R

Rewritable optical media is known CD-RW or DVD-RW
 Magnetic tape
• Magnetic tape is a large capacity, serial access medium. Because it
is a serial access medium, accessing individual files on a tape
is slow.

Tapes are used where large amounts of data need to be stored, but
where quick access to individual files is not required. A typical use is
for data back-up (lots of data, but rarely only accessed in an
emergency)
 Network attached storage (NAS)
 An NAS device is a storage device connected to a network that allows storage and retrieval
of data from a central location for authorised network users and varied clients. NAS devices
are flexible and scale out, meaning that as you need additional storage, you can add to what
you have. NAS is like having a private cloud in the office. It’s faster, less expensive and
provides all the benefits of a public cloud on site, giving you complete control.
 NAS systems are perfect for SMBs.
 Simple to operate, a dedicated IT professional is often not required
 Lower cost
 Easy data backup, so it’s always accessible when you need it
 Good at centralising data storage in a safe, reliable way

SMB is small and midsize business

 RAID (Redundant array of independent
disks)
• Stands for "Redundant Array of Independent Disks." RAID is a method of
storing data on multiple hard disks. When disks are arranged in a RAID
configuration, the computer sees them all as one large disk.
• However, they operate much more efficiently than a single hard drive. Since
the data is spread out over multiple disks, the reading and writing operations
can take place on multiple disks at once. This can speed up hard drive access
time significantly. Multiple hard drives may not improve hard disk
performance as much as multiple processors may enhance the CPU
performance, but it is based on a similar logic.
RAID
 g. battery power

• With the move from analog to digital devices, new demands are being placed on the
battery. Unlike analog equipment that draws a predictable and steady current, digital
devices load the battery with short, high current bursts.
• Batteries have enabled the use of portable electronic devices, including smartphones,
laptops, tablets, e-book readers, and global positioning system (GPS) devices.

• Since batteries are frequently the primary energy source in portable devices, they can
significantly affect the devices' uptime and overall performance and thus the user's
experience.
 h. miniaturization

• Miniaturization is the trend to manufacture ever smaller mechanical, optical and

electronic products and devices.
• Examples include miniaturization of mobile phones, computers and vehicle engine
downsizing.
• We can say that miniaturization refers to the evolution of electronic devices as they
become smaller, faster and more efficient.
• Benefits of miniaturization is portability, size reduction, lowered operational cost
 i. processors

• A processor is an integrated electronic circuit that performs the calculations that run a
computer. A processor performs arithmetical, logical, input/output (I/O) and other
basic instructions that are passed from an operating system (OS). Most other
processes are dependent on the operations of a processor.
• The terms processor, CPU and microprocessor are commonly linked
• A processor is made up of one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs). These carry
out software instructions.
• A processor or micro-processor is the 'brain' of a computer system. It is the processor
that controls the working of all of the hardware and software.
 j. radio-frequency identification (RFID)

 Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is the use of radio waves to read and capture
information stored on a tag attached to an object.
 A tag can be read from up to several feet away and does not need to be within direct
line-of-sight of the reader to be tracked.
 RFID is a short range wireless communication method, and NFC is a branch of RFID.
 RFID tags are cheap and small, they can be included in a variety of objects such as
cards, key fobs and smartphones.
 They contain a unique identification number (ID) that is linked to records in a
database. This unique ID stored on the card links to account information stored in a
database.
 k. near-field communication (NFC)

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. Essentially, it's a way for your phone to
interact with something in close proximity. It provides a wireless connection
between your device and another.
This allows for two-way communication, with both devices involved being able to
send and receive information. This NFC connection does not rely on Wi-Fi,
3G, LTE or otherwise, and it doesn't cost anything to use.
NFC does have one major advantage: faster connectivity. Due to the use of inductive
coupling, and the absence of manual pairing, it takes less than one tenth of a second
to establish a connection between two devices. While modern Bluetooth connects
pretty fast, NFC is still super handy for certain scenarios. Namely mobile payments.
 l. quick response (QR) code

• A QR code (short for "quick response" code) is a type of barcode that contains a matrix
of dots. It can be scanned using a QR scanner or a smartphone with built-in camera.
• Once scanned, software on the device converts the dots within the code into numbers or
a string of characters. For example, scanning a QR code with your phone might open a
URL in your phone's web browser.
• All QR codes have a square shape and include three square outlines in the bottom-left,
top-left, and top-right corners. These square outlines define the orientation of the code.
The dots within the QR code contain format and version information as well as the
content itself.
 m. connectivity

• Its a device's ability to connect to networks and other devices. Connectivity

technology means a technology service / feature provided in the device
(laptop in this case) to be able to connect with other devices and systems.
There are two types of connectivity features - wireless (wifi, bluetooth,
NFC) and wired (usb, network cable, HDMI).
• There are many ways a personal electronic device can connect to the
internet. They all use different hardware and each has a range of connection
speeds. As technology changes, faster internet connections are needed to
handle those changes.
 connectivity…….
Devices can be connected to each other through these:
Bluetooth
NFC
3G or 4G
Satellite
Cable
Cellular (Radio)
Dialup
Wifi
Infrared
Question & Answer Session

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Thank You

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