Scribd
Upload
5K views

GR 9 Chapter 2 Hardware

Uploaded by

api-221153032
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5K views

GR 9 Chapter 2 Hardware

Uploaded by

api-221153032
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 45

Chapter 2

Hardware

(Micro-computer)

Hardware Input Devices

Keyboard
Used to input data into the computer Advantage They are very common; all computers have one and they are easy to use.

Disadvantage Easy to make mistakes if you cant type quickly.

Concept Keyboard
A pictorial keyboard which you can press. Advantage Easy to use and waterproof Disadvantage The screen can get dirty. Might need to change the pictures if your stock changes

Mouse
Enables you to control the movement of the on screen curser by moving it around a surface Advantage Easy to learn to use Accurate for selecting things Disadvantage Need a flat space next to the computer.

Tracker Ball
Like an upside down mouse, you turn it with your hand to move the pointer on the screen Advantage Ideal for using when flat space next to computer is limited Disadvantage Not supplied as standard.

Joystick
Similar to a tracker ball in operation except you have a stick which is moved rather than a rolling ball. Advantage Immediate feel of direction. Disadvantage Some people find them more difficult to use than mice.

Microphone
Used to input sound

Advantages Some systems can understand most peoples voices with voice recognition software Disadvantages Some systems need to be trained to understand each different voice.

Digital Camera
Looks very similar to a traditional camera. However, unlike photographic cameras, digital cameras do not use film Advantage No film needed. Images can be digitally manipulated Disadvantage Need to print out photographs

Scanner
Another way in which we can capture still images or text to be stored and used on a computer. Advantage Can input things from paper documents With OCR software, text can be scanned in Disadvantage Images can take up a lot of memory space.

Graphics tablet
Produces much more accurate drawings on the screen than a mouse or a pointing device could. Advantage Effective method of creating or changing diagrams and images. Disadvantage Only useful for inputting data about diagrams. Can be very sensitive to movement and difficult to get used to using

Output

Once the computer has processed all the information from the inputs then it must display or output the information in some way.

Output Devices
There are many different Output devices but the most commonly used are: Monitors Printers Speakers / Headphones Lights Plotters

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Monitors

Monitors display the information on a screen.


You can get 2 main types of monitors: 1. CRTs 2. LCDs

Printers

There are 3 types of Printers:

Dot Matrix : Ink Jets :


Laser :

Plotters

These devices produce high quality lines diagrams on paper. Architects, Engineers and Scientist often use plotters.

Speakers / Headphones

There is usually a small speaker within the computer however to increase the volume and quality of the sound we plug in external speakers which allow us to hear the music better. Headphones can be plugged into almost all computers and they enable you to listen to your music without disturbing others.

Processor Technology

Central Processor Unit

Storage and Memory Devices

There are various types of storage devices, different devices are suitable for different tasks.

ROM & RAM


The main memory of a computer is made up of a set of memory chips called ROM and RAM ~*~ ROM = Read Only Memory RAM = Random Access Memory

ROM
The instructions to start the computer are stored on this

RAM
Programs and data stored on RAM are lost when a computer is switched offThis memory is volatile memory

This sort of memory is non-volatile memory

Storage Devices
Computer memory is measured in Bytes
Units

Bit = either 0 or 1

Byte = 8 bits

Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes

Megabyte = 1000 kilobytes Kilobyte = 1000 bytes

The two main types


Main

store ( memory storage in the computer) ~*~ Backing storage ( storage on disks tape CD etc)

Hard Disk
Typical size = 120GB
Advantages Main Backing storage for files and programs Can store lots of data compared to the floppy disc Can have a second hard disk as Back-up storage Disadvantages Slow to access when compared to ram Data can Be damaged if the head crashes onto the platter

Floppy disc
Typical size = 144 MB Advantages Disadvantages
Small

thin and lightweight so easy to carry round

Cant

store that much and one Big picture will take up a lot of room Its thin so it could get damaged easily

CD-Rom
Typical size = 650mb
Advantages Data cannot Be erased you cannot lose your data Easy to carry around Cheap to produce Can Be read By a DVD drive

Disadvantages Fragile Can scratch easily this effects the data when the laser reads it Slower to access than a hard drive

DVD
Typical size = 5-17GB
Advantages large amount of storage Does not transmit viruss The prices are getting cheaper Good for storing films

Disadvantages Doesn't work in CD ROM drives More expensive than CD roms

Data Vs Information

Data: raw numbers, words, collections of unprocessed stuff Information: the organization of data into meaningful and useful terms.

A Bit about Bits


Term Byte K (kilobyte) also KB MB (megabyte) GB (gigabyte) TB (terabyte) Value A group of 8 bits. About 1000 bytes of information. Technically 1K is 1024, because 1024 is 210 Approximately 1000K, or 1 million bytes Approximately 1000MB Approximately 1 million megabytes.

You might also like