Hardware and Mobile Devices

Basic anatomy of a computer : Computer hardware components include the

processor (CPU), memory, address and data bus, and input/output devices

central processing unit (CPU): The part of a computer that sequences

and executes instructions.

memory: A component of the computer that provides the processor

with a working storage area to hold program instructions and data.
Output Devices
input/output device: A computer component that provides data and
instructions to the computer and receives results from it.

bus: A set of electronic circuits used to route data and instructions to

and from the various components of a computer
Central Processing Unit (CPU):
clock speed: A series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate that
affects machine cycle time.

gigahertz (GHz): A unit of frequency that is equal to one billion cycles per second; a
measure of clock speed.
Execution of an Instruction

(1) In the instruction phase, a program’s

instructions and any necessary data
are read into the processor.

(2) The instruction is then decoded by

the control unit of the CPU so that
the central processor can understand
what to do.

(3) In the execution phase, the

arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
component of the CPU does what it is
instructed to do, making either an
arithmetic computation or a logical
comparison.

(4) The results are then stored in the The instruction and execution phases
registers or memory. together make up one machine cycle.
PROCESSOR FAMILY : is a set of processors from the same manufacturer that have similar features and
capabilities. (x86 – Intel, AMD, VIA; Intel Atom; ARM (Android, iOS)

instruction set architecture (ISA): A basic set of commands (opcodes) that the processor can execute
(compare, add, in, jump, jump if, load, out, store

MULTIPROCESSING: The simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time.

coprocessor: The part of the computer that speeds processing by executing specific types of instructions
while the CPU works on another processing activity.

multicore processor: A microprocessor that has two or more independent processing units, called cores,
which are capable of sequencing and executing instructions.

parallel computing: The simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors to obtain results
faster.

massively parallel processing system: A system that speeds processing by linking hundreds or thousands
of processors to operate at the same time, or in parallel, with each processor having its own bus, memory,
disks, copy of the operating system, and applications
Parallel computing: The simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors to obtain results
faster.

massively parallel processing system: A system that speeds processing by linking hundreds or thousands of
processors to operate at the same time, or in parallel, with each processor having its bus, memory, disks, copy of
the operating system, and application

grid computing: The use of a collection of computers, often owned by multiple individuals or organizations, that
work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem

Manufacturing Processor

integrated circuit (IC) OR chip: A set of electronic circuits on one small piece of semiconductor material,
normally silicon.

semiconductor fabrication plant: A factory where integrated circuits are manufactured; also called a fab or a
foundry.
MEMORY
main memory: The component of a computer that provides the CPU with a working storage area for
program instructions and data

byte (B): Eight bits that together represent a single character of data.
Types of Memory

A. Random Access Memory (RAM): A form of memory in which instructions or data can be temporarily stored

RAM comes in many varieties:

Static random access memory (SRAM) is byte-addressable storage used for high-speed registers and caches;

Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is byte-addressable storage used for the main memory
random access memory (DDR SDRAM) is an improved form of DRAM that effectively doubles the rate at which
data can be moved in and out of main memory

Double data rate synchronous dynamic is an improved form of DRAM that effectively doubles the rate at
which data can be moved in and out of main memory. DDR has been superseded by second-, third-, and fourth-
generation DDR called DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4
B. Cache Memory: A type of highspeed memory that a processor can access more rapidly than main memory

Cache memory : Processors can access this

type of high-speed memory faster than main
memory.

Located on or near the CPU chip, cache

memory works with main memory.

A cache controller determines how often

the data is used, transfers frequently used
data to cache memory, and then deletes the
data when it goes out of use

Relative speed of various types of storage

The closer memory is to the CPU, the
faster the CPU can access it.
Read-only memory (ROM), another type of memory, is nonvolatile, meaning that its contents are not
lost if the power is turned off or interrupted.

ROM provides permanent storage for data and instructions that do not change, such as programs and
data from the computer manufacturer, including the instructions that tell the computer how to start
up when power is turned on.

ROM memory also comes in a couple of varieties.

Programmable read-only memory (PROM) is used to hold data and instructions that can never be
changed.

Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is user-modifiable read-only

memory that can be erased and reprogrammed repeatedly through the application of higher-than-
normal electrical voltage.

EEPROM requires data to be written or erased 1 byte at a time

Secondary Data Storage Device

secondary storage: A device that stores large amounts of data, instructions, and
information more permanently than allowed with main memory.
Magnetic Secondary Storage Devices

magnetic tape: A type of sequential secondary storage medium, now used primarily for storing
backups of critical organizational data in the event of a disaster.

Robotic tape backup system: The National Center for Atmospheric Research uses a robotic
tape backup system to back up a fleet of supercomputers that solve the world’s most
computationally intensive climate-modeling problems

hard disk drive (HDD): A direct access storage device used to store and retrieve
data from rapidly rotating disks coated with magnetic material.

redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks (RAID): A method of storing data that

generates extra bits of data from existing data, allowing the system to create a
“reconstruction map” so that if a hard drive fails, the system can rebuild lost data
virtual tape: A storage device for less frequently needed data. With virtual tape systems, data
appears to be stored entirely on tape cartridges, although some parts of it might actually be
located on faster hard disks

Optical Secondary Storage Devices

optical storage device: A form of data storage that uses lasers to read and write data
compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM): A common form of optical disc on
which data cannot be modified once it has been recorded.

digital video disc (DVD): A form of optical disc storage that looks like a CD but that can
store more data and access it more quickly.

Solid State Secondary Storage Devices

Solid state storage device (SSD): A storage device that stores data in memory chips rather
than on hard disk drives or optical media.

These memory chips require less power and provide much faster data access than magnetic
data storage devices. (ex. Universal Serial Bus (USB))
Enterprise Storage Options
store the large amounts of data created throughout an organization.

Attached Storage
Attached storage methods include all the options just discussed—tape, hard
disk drives (including RAID devices), virtual tape systems, optical devices, and
solid state secondary storage devices—which are connected directly to a single
computer. Attached storage methods, though simple and cost effective for
single users and small groups, do not allow systems to share storage, and they
make it difficult to back up data.
Network-Attached Storage (NAS): A hard disk drive storage device that is
set up with its own
network address and provides file-based storage services to other devices
Storage Area Network (SAN): A high-speed, special-purpose network that
on the network
integrates different types of data storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives,
magnetic tape, solid state secondary storage devices) into a single storage
system and connects that to computing resources across an entire organization.
Storage as a Service: A data storage model where a data storage service
provider rents space to individuals and organizations.
Data Entry and Input
data entry: Converting human readable data into a machine-readable
form.
data input: Transferring machine readable data into the system
source data automation: Capturing and editing data where it is initially created
and in a form that can be
directly entered into a computer, thus, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Common Personal Computer Input Devices
A keyboard and a computer mouse are common devices used for entry and input of
data, such as characters, text, and basic commands. Some companies manufacture
keyboards that are smore comfortable, more easily adjusted, and faster to use than
standard keyboards.
speech-recognition technology : Input devices that recognize human speech.

magnetic stripe card: A type of card that stores a limited

Scanning Devices amount of data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-
Optical Data Readers based particles contained in a band on the card.

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

smart card: A credit card embedded with a computer
(MICR) Devices
chip that contains key consumer and account data; smart
Chip Cards card users must either enter their PIN (chip-and-PIN) or
sign (chip-and-sign) for each transaction to be approved.
contactless payment card: A card with an embedded chip that only needs to be held
close to a terminal to transfer its data; no PIN number needs to be entered.

point-of-sale (POS) device: A device used to enter data into a computer system

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Devices

Bar-Code Scanners
radio frequency identification (RFID): A technology that employs a microchip with an
antenna to broadcast its unique identifier and location to receivers.
Pen Input Devices
Touch Screens
Output Devices
are designed to provide the right information to the right person in the right format
at the right time (Small T.V. monitor, calculator, pocket video games, laptop
computers, an advertisement board in elevator)

Ex. LCD: Small T.V. monitor, calculator,

pocket video games, laptop computers, an
advertisement board in elevator

Ex. LED : indicator lamps, automobile brake

lights, billboards and signs
computer graphics card: A component of a computer that takes binary data from the
CPU and translates it into an image you see on your display device.

graphics processing unit (GPU): A powerful processing chip that renders images on the
screen display

3D printer: 3D print technology is making it possible to print objects ranging from

everyday objects to houses

bioprinting: The use of 3D printers to build human parts and organs from actual human
cells.

Digital Audio Players

digital audio player: A device that can store, organize, and play digital music files.
MP3: A standard format for compressing a sound sequence into a small file.

E-Book Readers
- The digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book.
Special-purpose computers are used for limited applications, for example, by
military, government, and scientific research groups such as the CIA and NASA
General-purpose computers are used for a variety of applications, including the business applications.
General-purpose computer systems can be divided into two major groups: systems used by one user at a
time and systems used by multiple concurrent users.
Portable Computers
portable computer: A computer small enough to carry easily. (wearable computers,
smartphones, laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, and tablets)
wearable computer: An electronic device capable of storing and processing data that is
incorporated into a person’s clothing or personal accessories (ex. Companies like Apple,
FitBit, Google, Huawei, LG, Pebble, Samsung, Sony, TomTom, Xiaomi, and others offer
health-tracking wrist bands or smart watches that can capture a wide range of data,
including distance covered, elevation climbed, pace, calories burned, continuous heart
rate, and quality of sleep. )
Smartphones

With system on a chip, all the critical components of the smartphone are located in a
relatively small area, making the device faster and more energy efficient and
reducing assembly costs.

tablet: A portable, lightweight computer with no keyboard that allows you to roam
the office, home, or factory floor carrying the device like a clipboard.
Thin Clients, Desktops, and Workstations
Nonportable single-user computers include thin client computers, desktop computers, nettop, and
workstations.
A thin client is a low-cost, centrally managed computer with no internal or external
attached drives for data storage. These computers have limited capabilities and perform
only essential applications, so they remain “thin” in terms of the client applications
they include.
desktop computer: A nonportable computer that fits on a desktop and provides sufficient
computing power,
memory,
nettop: A and
verystorage for most business
small, inexpensive desktopcomputing
computertasks.
typically used for Internet access, email,
accessing
Web-based applications,
workstations: document
A more powerful processing,
personal and used
computer audio/video playback computing,
for mathematical
computer-assisted
design, and other high-end processing but still small enough to fit on a desktop
Servers, Mainframes, and Supercomputers
server: A computer employed by many users to perform a specific task, such as running network or
Internet applications
scalability: The ability to increase the processing capability of a computer system so that it can
handle more users, more data, or more transactions in a given period.