IGCSE ICT Components of the computer 0417

Unit 1 - Components of computer

Hardware is the physical parts of the computer system – the parts that you can touch and see.

Software is a is a collection of data or computer instructions that tell the computer how to work.

System software is a computer program that is designed to run a computer's hardware and application programs.
Examples of system software is the operating systems

Applications are programs that are designed to perform a specific operation

The Difference between Hardware and Software

 Computer hardware is the physical components that make up the computer system. Hardware is useless
without software to run on it.
 Software is instructions that tell computer hardware what to do. Software is useless unless there is
hardware to run it on.
 For a computer system to be useful it has to consist of both hardware and software.

A motherboard is the main printed circuit board. It holds and allows communication between many of the crucial
electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit and memory, and provides connectors for
other peripherals

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 The CPU is the 'brain' of the computer. It is the device that carries out software instructions.
 It is plugged into a large socket on the main circuit board (the motherboard) of a computer.
 It has large fan attached to their top to keep them cool.
 The speed of a CPU is measured in Hertz (Hz) - the number of actions the CPU can perform every second.
Generally CPU runs at around 2.8GHz. That means it can perform almost 3 billion actions every second!

Main Memory / primary storage

Any data or instructions that are to be processed by the CPU must be placed into main memory .

ROM(Read Only Memory) RAM(Random Access Memory)

1) ROM is read only memory – can only be read from.
2) ROM holds instructions that need to be unchanged
such as BIOS or program cycles in a washing
machine or program instructions in games such as
game boys, play stations etc.
1) RAM is Random Access Memory where data
can be read from and written to.
2) Stores all programs and files currently being
used or the user’s work.

3) Part of the memory which stores data permanently 3) Volatile, stores data until the power to the
and cannot be changed. computer (processor) is switched ON.
4) It is small in capacity and stores programs needed 4) It has large capacity even up 2 -6 GB and retains
for the computer to Start Up. all the programs currently being used.
5) ROM is non-volatile & cannot be changed. 5) Volatile and data can be changed.

Peripheral Devices - The general name for these extra devices is ‘peripheral devices’. They are usually categorized
into input devices, output devices and storage devices.
Secondary / Backing Storage - devices that can store data in a computer system. They are non-volatile, so
data that is stored on these devices remains there safely.
Saving a file - Moving data from RAM to secondary storage for safe-keeping.

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Video card: connects to the motherboard of a computer system and generates output images to
display. Video cards are also referred to as graphics cards. Video cards include a processing unit, memory, a
cooling mechanism and connections to a display device.
Sound card: is an expansion card for producing sound on a computer that can be heard through speakers
or headphones.
Operating System - A software to manage the general operations of a computer system.
1. It provides a user interface so that we can interact with the computer
2. It manages applications that are running on the computer, starting them when the user requests, and
stopping them when they are no longer needed
3. It manages files, helping us save our work, organize our files, find files that we have saved and load files
4. It manages the computer’s memory, deciding what should be loaded into memory and what should be
removed
5. It looks after computer security, preventing unauthorized access to the system
6. It manages the computer’s input and output hardware such as printers, etc.
User Interfaces - The system to give it commands to the computer, to see the results of those commands from
the computer.
Graphical User Interface (GUI) - Don’t have to type in commands, just use mouse to select options. Easier to change,
edit action. Don’t have to learn or be familiar with a lot of commands. Easier to open or load programs.
 Windows are regions of the screen used to display information
 Icons are small pictures that are used to represent folders, software, etc.
 Menus are lists of options the user can select from
 A pointer is an arrow that can be moved around the screen and is used to select things

Command Line Interface (CLI) : The user would see nothing but a black screen. They would have to type a command
to make anything happen. The user would have to learn a set of commands so that they could make use of the
computer system. It is not very interesting look at – no visual clues to tell you what to do next. Computers were
difficult to use, so this type of interface is only really suitable for expert users.

Types of computer:
Personal Computer (PC)– It is a microprocessor technology that has been any small, relatively inexpensive
computer designed to be used by one person, at home or in an office.

A desktop computer is a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location on due to its size and power
requirements.
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A laptop computer is a small, portable personal computer having a thin LCD or LED computer screen mounted on the
inside of the upper lid of the clamshell and an alphanumeric keyboard on the inside of the lower lid. The clamshell is
opened up to use the computer.

Smartphones are a class of mobile phones and of multi-purpose mobile computing devices having stronger hardware
capabilities and extensive mobile operating.

Advantages of a desktop computer, as compared to a laptop computer:

• Desktop computers have more power and more features, are easier and less expensive, to upgrade & offer a
better overall value.
• Desktop computers have a more comfortable keyboard and a much easier to use mouse, larger monitors.
• Desktop computers are generally easier, and less expensive, to repair.
• Desktop computers have a lower risk of theft, which means less chance of losing your data and having to pay
to replace your computer.

Advantages of a laptop computer, as compared to a desktop computer:

• Laptop computers are highly portable and allow you to use your computer almost anywhere, take up less
room on a desk and can be put away when not in use.
• Laptop computers have a single cord to deal with with rather than the multiple
cords associated with desktop computer use.
But.. It needs recharging often and keyboard and mouse is not so easy to handle.

Advantages of tablets pc:

• Portable, light weight, smaller in sizes, a flexible screen, an attractive design, handwriting recognition
• Can be used as a GPS navigation device, mostly offers the same functionality as a normal computer; has
gesture recognition; a powerful pen recognition; ideal when you are in a conference;
• Can be laid flat on the working surface; great and handy for note taking;
• A multi-touch tablet permits you to interact with all the subject matter material quickly;
• Enables Wireless facility, connection to the internet from anywhere; you can continue and finish their work
while in transit;
• Serve as an organizer to professional with much less paper on hand; good for a project presentation; longer
battery lifetime
• Provide a very powerful audio recording;

Disadvantages of tablets pc:

• Hardware is prone to damage; the screen size is too small in comparison with a laptop; higher cost;
• Traditional keyboards are much more comfortable; less number of ports;
• Potential screen damages and repair costs
• Cannot hold huge amounts of data;

Advantages of smart phones

• It has the ability to browse full websites with large amount of data and it will appear the same way as it is in
the desktop browser.
• It has QWERTY keyboard which is similar to the computer keyboard.
• It has application that can help you create and edit documents.
• It has GPS which can be used to locate place that are new to you. When traveling to unknown places it is a
good idea to have a GPS to help you find the place you’re looking for. Smart phones will help makes your
tour navigable.
• It will send messages and also email messages. Some smart phone can support multiple accounts depending
on the make and model.
• Allows you to link to social network and helps in communication

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Disadvantages of smart phones
• It is not durable especially when not taken good care of.
• It is very expensive to buy compared to other phones.
• More complex when it comes to operating because of the many applications which need to be mastered to
avoid confusion when operating it.
• It can only work efficiently where there is accessible internet connection when it comes to browsing .
• It cannot be used to store large amount of data due to their storage memory. You cannot depends on smart
phone for all your work you will all need a computer to do some tasks.

Impact of emerging technologies:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence exhibited by machines or software in contrast to the natural
intelligence displayed by humans.
• Quantum cryptography: This method is used in secure communication. Cryptography is the process of
encrypting data, or converting plain text into scrambled text so that only someone who has the right “key”
can read it. Quantum cryptography, by extension, simply uses the principles of quantum mechanics to
encrypt data and transmit it in a way that cannot be hacked.
• Computer-assisted translation: Is a form of language translation in which a human translator uses computer
software to support and facilitate the translation process.

• Holographic imaging: These are usually intended for displaying three-dimensional images. Holography is a
photographic technique that records the light scattered from an object, and then presents it in a way that
appears three-dimensional.

• Virtual reality: A computer-simulated life that replicates an environment that simulates physical presence in
places in the real world or imagined worlds. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are
immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds. By simulating as many senses as possible, such as vision,
hearing and touch. creates a convincing, interactive world for the user.

• Augmented reality: AR technology then renders the 3D graphics as they would appear from the viewpoint of
the camera, superimposing the computer-generated images over a user’s view of the real world

Impact of emerging technologies:

• More accurate documents- Spell checkers can quickly scan your word processed documents
and automatically find spelling errors.
• A more multilingual society- Anyone with an Internet connection can access tools such as Google
Translate and the vast collection of language databases that the tools can search through.
• Quicker and more efficient translations- Foreign visitors to countries can be communicated with much
easier through these CAT tools.
Improved security - Credit cards, ID cards, software and some bank notes include holograms as a way of
trying to prevent forged duplicates being created.
• Better movie experiences- Hollywood have been using 3D imaging within the production of movies for
many years. These provide the viewer with a much more immersive experience.
• Greater data storage- Companies have already produced discs that use holographic layers that each have the
potential to hold a massive 3.9 terabytes.
• Improved medical surgeons- Surgeons can be trained using virtual patients. This allows them to practice
over and over until they have perfected a particular surgery without risk to a real patient.
• Larger and stronger buildings- Virtual buildings allow architects to walk around to experience what the
building would look like when completed and check for potential errors before the actual building is
constructed.
• More realistic education- VR can give students the opportunity to learn in a much more interactive way.