Computer Hardware

The Importance of Computers

• People depend on computers to handle all kinds of tasks.

  • When a person pays a bill online, buys gasoline, or withdraws money from a bank, computers handle the transactions.

• Laptops and tablet PCs allow people to work outside the office.

• Handheld devices track appointments, telephone numbers, and other data.

• Most businesses consider computers to be essential.

  • A computer is an electronic device that accepts, processes, stores, and outputs data at high speeds, based on programmed instructions.

    • A personal computer, or PC, is a small computer that is intended to be used by one person.

    • A desktop computer is a personal computer that is small enough to fit in an individual workspace.

• In most companies, computers are linked through either a central mainframe computer or a network.

• A mainframe is a fast, powerful computer with a large storage capacity.

• A well-organized computer workstation is important for both business and home use.

• Ergonomics are design factors for the workplace that are intended to maximize productivity by minimizing a worker’s discomfort.

• E-learning, or electronic learning, is the process of learning online.

  • With e-learning, workers can be trained in an efficient and cost- effective way.

Parts of a Computer System

• A computer system includes three main parts: hardware, software, and data.

• The physical components of a computer system are the hardware.

• Computer systems include at least four hardware elements: a microprocessor; memory; input and output devices; and data storage devices.

  • A microprocessor is a small computer chip. It is the brain of a computer.

    • It is also called the central processing unit (CPU), or microchip.

  • Memory is hardware that stores information for instant retrieval and processing.

    • It can be thought of as a kind of scratch pad.

    • The computer uses its random access memory (RAM) to hold all the data and instructions required during operations.

  • An input device is hardware that is used for entering data into a machine, such as a computer.

    • Input devices include keyboards, computer mice, touchpads, joysticks, and scanners.

  • An output device is hardware that is used for producing results from a machine.

    • Output devices include computer monitors, printers, fax machines, and speakers.

  • There are a variety of devices for storing large amounts of data.

    • Data storage devices—which include hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and DVD drives—save information for later use.

Computer Software

Software Programs

• Software is a computer program that contains a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

  • Software is also referred to as a program or an application.

• An operating system is software that controls the operation of a computer and directs the processing of programs.

• A suite is a collection of integrated application programs or software applications that works as a single program

• Word processing is the writing, editing, and production of documents, such as letters and reports, through the use of a computer program.

  • Word-processing software, such as Microsoft Word, is used to create, edit, and print documents.

• A spreadsheet program is a computerized worksheet for entering and charting data.

  • Sales figures, quantities, prices, and production costs can be listed and compared with a spreadsheet.

• A database management program is used to store data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval.

• A presentation program includes software for creating slide shows for presentations

• Desktop publishing software is used to produce publications such as reports, newsletters, and magazines.

• Accounting software helps people keep accurate records and prepare reports.

• Communications software allows access to databases, accounts, schedules, and other shared files.

• Speech recognition software allows a user to enter text and give commands to the computer by speaking into a microphone.

• Groupware is project management software.

  • It provides tools for groups of users on a computer network to plan, develop, and complete a project

• There are three categories of groupware: communication tools, conferencing tools, and collaborative management (or coordination) tools.

  • Communication tools send messages, files, data, or documents between people.

  • Conferencing tools also facilitate the sharing of information, but in a more interactive way.

  • Collaborative management tools facilitate and manage group activities.