MODULE 2 : Part 1INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE & SOFTWARE

Module Objectives

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

– identify the terms and concept related to computer

hardware and software

– identify the five basic unit of a computer

– identify the two types of computer software

– explain the differences between application software and

system software

Hardware Vs. Software ???

• Hardware - the physical parts or components of a computer that we can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, monitor, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips.

• Software - untouchable. Software exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols, but it has no substance.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/hardware.html

Hardware Vs. Software ???

• Books provide a useful analogy. • The pages and the ink are the hardware,

while the words, sentences, paragraphs, and the overall meaning are the software.

• A computer without software is like a book full of blank pages – you need software to make the computer useful

just as you need words to make a book meaningful

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/hardware.html

Basic Unit of a Computer

Basic Unit of a Computer

1. Input Unit• consist of hardware used to enter data and

instructions• “Receiving” section of computer• Obtains data from input devices– Usually a keyboard, mouse, disk or scanner

• Places data at disposal of other units

Basic Unit of a Computer

2. System Unit• Case containing electronic components used to

process data

Basic Unit of a Computer

• There are 2 main components on a motherboard:

System Unit

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)

also called a processor electronic component that

interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate the computer

• MEMORY (RAM) electronic component that

store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions

Retains info that has already been processed until can be sent to output unit

Often called memory, primary memory, or random access memory (RAM)

Basic Unit of A Computer

3. Output Unit• Hardware that conveys information to one or more

user• “Shipping” section of computer• Puts processed data/info on various output devices – Monitor (screens), printers, projector, speakers• Makes info available outside the computer

Basic Unit of a Computer

• Storage Media - physical material on

which a computer keeps data, instructions & information

• Storage Device - computer hardware that

records an/or retrieves items to and from storage media.

4. Storage Unit• Holds data, instructions, and information for future

use.

Storage Unit

• Storage DeviceCard readerCD-ROM Drive/

DVD-ROM Drivehard diskExternal/removable

hard diskUSB flash drive

• Storage Mediamemory cardOptical Disc

(CD-ROM/DVD-ROM )hard diskUSB flash driveSmart cardCloud storage

Basic Unit of a Computer

5. Communication Unit• hardware component that enables a computer

to send (transmit) and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers.

• E.g.: modem

(digital modem-cable, isdn, wireless modem, wireless access points)

Basic Computer Hardware

http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/techindx.htm

Inside the computer…

• Series of instructions or programs that process data • Two types :

– System software• Used mainly by the computer

– Application software• Used only by the user

• The purpose of software is to cause a task, process, or computation to be performed.

• A task can include the retrieval, storage, or display of information.

• A computer system requires software to make the best use of its capabilities and to solve problems

What is Software?

• Enables application software to interact with computer hardware

• A “Background” software manage internal computer resources and coordinate the application software requests with computer hardware without user interaction

• Operating system software• Most important system software• Executes application software• Stores data and programs• manages all the overall operation of the computer system• I.e. Eg. Window XP, Windows 7, Linux, UNIX, Sun

Solaris, Mac OS X Mavericks

What is System Software?

• Windows platform (XP, Vista, 7, 8) is currently the dominating OS for the personal computer.

• By Microsoft.

Popular Operating SystemWindows OS

Popular Operating SystemMac OS

• The main operating system for the Apple Macintosh.

• The most advanced version is Mac OS X Mavericks.

• Previous version includes Mac OS X Lion and 9.0.

Popular Operating SystemLinux OS

• Open Source operating system

• Many distributions/versions

• Red Hat 9.0, Mandrake, SuSE, Lindows, Knoppix and many others

• General-purpose programs

– Some types: Browsers, Spreadsheet,

Database management systems,

presentation graphics, word processor

– i.e Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word,

PowerPoint

• Special-purpose programs

– Custom written for specialized tasks– written for an organization’s or business

type’s specific purpose – i.e. Online Registration System

•End-user software enter commands and typically interact with

application programs.

What is Application Software?

Word processor Spreadsheets Databases

Communications Others - GroupwarePresentation

Application Software