Chapter

3
Computer Hardware

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 Learning Objectives

1. Identify the major types and uses of

microcomputer, midrange, and
mainframe computer systems.

2. Outline the major technologies and uses

of computer peripherals for input, output,
and storage.

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 What is a Computer?

Definition:
• All computers are systems of input,
processing, output, storage, and control
components.

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 Types of Computer Systems

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 Hardware Organized by System Functions

• Input Devices convert data into electronic

form for direct entry or through a
telecommunications network into a
computer system

• Processing Components primarily the

Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU) - perform
arithmetic and logic functions on “registers” to
execute software instructions
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 Hardware Organized by System Functions

• Output Devices convert electronic information

produced by the computer system into human-
intelligible form for presentation to end users

• Storage Devices store data and software

instructions needed for processing

• Control Components primarily the CPU’s

Control Unit which interprets software
instructions and transmits directions that control
the activities of the other components of the
computer system
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 Computer Processing Speeds

• Millisecond – thousandth of a second

• Microsecond – millionth of a second

• Nanosecond – billionth of a second

• Picosecond – trillionth of a second

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 Computer Clock Speeds

• MIPS – million instructions per second

• Megahertz (MHz) – millions of cycles per

second

• Gigahertz (GHz) – billions of cycles per

second

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 Throughput

Definition:
• Ability of a microprocessor to perform useful
computation or data processing assignments
during a given period of time

Depends on:
• Buses – size of circuitry paths that interconnect
microprocessor components
• Registers – that process instructions
• Cache – high-speed memory
• Specialized Processors
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 Computer Peripherals

Definition:
• Generic name given to all input, output,
and secondary storage devices that are
part of a computer system, but are not
part of the CPU.

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 Peripherals Advice

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 Input Technologies

• Keyboard
• Pointing Devices
• Pen-Based Computing
• Speech Recognition Systems
• Optical Scanning
• Magnetic cards (Buzzcards)

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 Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Definition:
• Icons, menus, windows, buttons, bars, etc
used for user selection

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 Output Technologies

• Video Output (Monitor)

• CRT
• LCD

• Printed Output
• Ink Jet
• LaserJet

• Voice Response (GPS)

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 Storage Trade-Offs

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 Binary Representation

Definition:
• Data are processed and stored in a
computer system through the presence or
absence of electronic or magnetic signals
in the computer’s circuitry or in the media
it uses

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 Bit vs. Byte

• Bit – binary digit, which can have a value

of either zero or one

• Byte – basic grouping of bits that the

computer operates as a single unit,
typically eight bits

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 Storage Capacities

• Kilobyte (KB) – one thousand bytes

• Megabytes (MB) – one million bytes
• Gigabytes (GB) – one billion bytes
• Terabytes (TB) – one trillion bytes
• Petabytes (PB) – one quadrillion bytes

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 RAM vs. ROM

• Random Access Memory (RAM) – each

memory position can be both sensed and
changed

• Read Only Memory (ROM) – can be read

but not erased or overwritten. Firmware.

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 Chapter

4
Computer Software

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 Learning Objectives

1. Understand the major types of

application and system software.
2. Outline the functions of an operating
system.
3. Describe the main uses of computer
programming software, tools, and
languages.

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 What is Software?

Definition:
• Various kinds of programs (instructions)
used to operate computers and related
devices

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 Types of Software

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 How is Software Developed?

• Custom Software – software applications

that are developed within an organization
for use by that organization

• Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS)

Software – software that is developed by
a software developer with the intention of
selling the software in multiple copies

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 Web Browser

Definition:
• Software interface used to point and click
through the hyperlinked resources of the
Internet

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 Electronic Mail & Instant Messaging

• Electronic Mail – software used to send

and receive electronic messages and file
attachments via the Internet, intranets or
extranets

• Instant Messaging (IM) – software used to

send and receive electronic messages
instantly to facilitate real time
communication and collaboration

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 Word Processing & Desktop Publishing

• Word Processing – software that supports

the creation, editing, revision and printing
of documents

• Desktop Publishing (DTP) – software that

supports the production of materials that
look professionally published

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 Electronic Spreadsheets

Definition:
• Software that supports the development
of electronic worksheets consisting of
rows and columns
used for business
analysis, planning
and modeling

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 Presentation Graphics

Definition:
• Software that helps convert numeric data
into graphics displays and prepare
multimedia presentations including
graphics, photos,
animation, and
video clips

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 Personal Information Manager (PIM)

Definition:
• Software for end user productivity and
collaboration

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 Groupware

Definition:
• Software that helps workgroups and
teams work together to accomplish group
assignments

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 Software Alternatives

• Purchase Commercial Off-The-Shelf

(COTS) software

• Application Service Providers –

companies that own, operate, and
maintain application software and the
computer system resources required to
offer the use of the application software
for a fee as a service over the Internet

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 System Software

• System Management Programs – programs that

manage the hardware, software, network, and
data resources of computer systems during the
execution of various information processing jobs
of end users (Windows XP)

• System Development Programs – programs

that help users develop information system
programs and procedures and prepare user
programs for computer processing (Visual
Basic)
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 Operating System

Definition:
• An integrated system of programs that
manages the operations of the CPU,
controls the input/output and storage
resources and activities of the computer
system, and provides various support
services as the computer executes the
application programs of users

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 Operating System Functions

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 User Interface

Definition:
• The part of the operating system that
allows you to communicate with it so you
can load programs, access files, and
accomplish other tasks
• Command-Driven
• Menu-Driven
• Graphical User Interfaces

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 Programming Languages

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 Web Languages

• HTML – a page description language that

creates hypertext or hypermedia documents

• XML – describes the contents of Web pages by

applying identifying tags or contextual labels to
the data in Web documents

• Java – an object-oriented programming

language that is simple, secure and platform
independent

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