What is Hardware
Refers to objects that you can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips. In contrast, software is untouchable. Software exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols, but it has no substance.
A digital camera is used in the same way as a traditional camera, but instead of storing images on rolls of film which have to be developed, the images are stored digitally in memory housed within the camera. are easily transferred to your computer, and can then be manipulated within any graphics programmes installed on your PC.
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.
Types Of Hardware
System Unit
The "System unit" is the name given to the main PC box which houses the various elements which go together to make up the PC. Within the System unit is the computer system's motherboard, which contains all the main components, such as the CPU. The system unit also houses items such as the hard disc, the floppy disc and the CD ROM drives etc. System units come in two types, the tower version, or a desktop version, which is designed to sit on your desk with your monitor on top of the system unit.
The "System unit" is the name given to the main PC box which houses the various elements which go together to make up the PC. Within the System unit is the computer system's motherboard, which contains all the main components, such as the CPU. The system unit also houses items such as the hard disc, the floppy disc and the CD ROM drives etc. System units come in two types, the tower version, or a desktop version, which is designed to sit on your desk with your monitor on top of the system unit.Motherboard
The Motherboard is contained inside your system unit and all the vital computer systems plug directly into the motherboard. The CPU is normally housed on your motherboard along with all other electronic components. Other items such as the hard disc are attached to the system board, either directly or via cables. These boards are getting smaller and smaller as the components become more integrated. If you open up a modern system you will find that it is mainly full of air.
The Motherboard is contained inside your system unit and all the vital computer systems plug directly into the motherboard. The CPU is normally housed on your motherboard along with all other electronic components. Other items such as the hard disc are attached to the system board, either directly or via cables. These boards are getting smaller and smaller as the components become more integrated. If you open up a modern system you will find that it is mainly full of air.Hard Disk
The hard disk is typically the fastest and largest in terms of data, for example 40 -80 GB storage device in a PC. It is the main storage device and is found inside the System Unit.
The hard disk is typically the fastest and largest in terms of data, for example 40 -80 GB storage device in a PC. It is the main storage device and is found inside the System Unit. ROM BIOS
The "Read Only Memory Basic Input Output System" chip is a chip located on the computer's motherboard, which contains software. This software performs a variety of tasks. When you first switch on the computer the ROM-BIOS software performs a self-diagnostic to check that the computer is working ok. This software then loads your operating system from the disk into the RAM.
Input Devices
These are some of the main items used for inputting data into a computer.
The Mouse
The mouse came into common use on a PC with the introduction of the Microsoft Windows operating system. the operating system (DOS) would normally be controlled via the keyboard. These days you need to be a competent mouse user. There are many different types of mouse; the newer types have a small wheel on it which when combined with the correct software allows you fine control over the use of your software.
The Keyboard
The keyboard is the most common way of entering data into the computer. a number of different types. The quality of the keyboard is an important consideration when buying a computer; it should be robust and easy to use.
Tracker Balls
A tracker ball is an alternative to the traditional mouse and is favoured by graphic designers. give much finer control over the movement of the items on the screen. They may take a bit of getting used to, but they offer a greater flexibility.
Scanners
With a scanner you can scan printed material and convert it into a file format which may be used within the PC. scan pictures and then manipulate these inside the PC using a graphics application. You can scan printed text which can be manipulated and edited within your word processor. There are a number of specialist programmes called OCR (Optical Character Recognition) programmes which are specifically designed for converting printed text into editable text within your applications.
Touch Pads
A touch pad is a desktop device and responds to pressure. conjunction with a special pen they can be used by graphic artists wishing to create original, digital artwork.
Light Pens
A light pen is used to allow users to point to areas on the screen and is often used to select menu choices.
Joysticks
Many games require a joystick to play the game. any different types, but it may be worth investing in a good quality one that is strong to withstand the rough treatment it will get from the kids while they are playing the games and one that can respond to movement in three axis directions.
Microphones
It takes an awful lot of CPU processing power to convert the spoken word into text which appears on screen. allow you to talk to a PC and see text appear on screen. Though not perfect this is a key technology of the future.
Web Cams
You can now use a small digital movie camera (a web cam) mounted on the PC monitor to allow two way communication involving not just text communication, but sound and video as well. yet considered to be a standard piece of PC kit, it probably soon will be.
Digital Cameras
A digital camera is used in the same way as a traditional camera, but instead of storing images on rolls of film which have to be developed, the images are stored digitally in memory housed within the camera. are easily transferred to your computer, and can then be manipulated within any graphics programmes installed on your PC.
CPU
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is normally an Intel Pentium (or equivalent) and it is one of the most important components within your computer. It determines how fast your computer will run and is measured by its MHz or GHz speed. Thus, a 2 GHz Pentium is much faster than say a 1GHz Pentium CPU. It is the CPU which performs all the calculations within the computer, when running programmes such as word processors, spreadsheets and databases.
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is normally an Intel Pentium (or equivalent) and it is one of the most important components within your computer. It determines how fast your computer will run and is measured by its MHz or GHz speed. Thus, a 2 GHz Pentium is much faster than say a 1GHz Pentium CPU. It is the CPU which performs all the calculations within the computer, when running programmes such as word processors, spreadsheets and databases.RAM
The RAM (Random Access Memory) inside your computer is where the operating system is loaded when you switch on your computer and also where your applications are copied to when you start an application, such as a word processor or database programme. When you create data, (e.g. letters and pictures), these are initially created and held in RAM and then copied to disk when you save the data. So obviously the more RAM you have installed in your computer, the better. These days you will regularly find over 128 Megabytes of RAM installed.
The RAM (Random Access Memory) inside your computer is where the operating system is loaded when you switch on your computer and also where your applications are copied to when you start an application, such as a word processor or database programme. When you create data, (e.g. letters and pictures), these are initially created and held in RAM and then copied to disk when you save the data. So obviously the more RAM you have installed in your computer, the better. These days you will regularly find over 128 Megabytes of RAM installed.CD-ROM
The CD ROM is a special type of memory which does not allow the contents to be altered (written to), only read. Once written the contents of the CD cannot be changed. Also ROM us not volatile - you do not need to supply power to your CDs for them to retain the information!
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COMPUTER AND THEIR PARTS
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