Unit 4 Computers

. 17 - Hardware

Stored Programs: The Von Neumann model

The first computers had fixed programs and changing a computer program required physically
rewiring or redesigning the machine.

The idea of creating a general-purpose computer developed in 1930s and 1940s through the
work of Alan Turing and John Von Neumann.

A computer in which the processing instructions are stored in memory with the data is called a
stored-program computer or a Von Neumann architecture computer

CPU Memory Input and Output

Bus

In a Von Neumann Architecture Computer:

The hardware device that does the processing: CPU
The storage:
Memory and CPU are connected each other and to input and out devices, by group of
connecting wires called: Bus

Q: What is the function of RAM?

A temporary store for data and instructions
Q: Define term ‘Bus’
A group of connections between devices in a computer

RAM

CPU
 Silver lines on the motherboard
are BUSES

Fetch-Decode-Cycle

The fetch-decode-execute cycle is the process the computer goes through when processing
instructions. The cycle is performed constantly from boot up, until the computer is shut-down.
INPUT & OUTPUT DEVICES

INPUT DEVICES

Text & number input devices

1. Keyboard: to type letters,numbers,symbols and special characters

2. Numeric Keypad:found on the right side of keyboard, for quick entry numeric data
3. Virtual keyboard:can be used with touch-screen to enter characters

Pointing Devices

1. Mouse: Allowing user to control the cursor on the computer screen

2. Trackball: user rotate the ball with their fingers to move the cursor on the screen
3. Touchpad: It uses fingertip movements to control the cursor’s position on the screen
4. Light pen: used to draw text and diagrams or select the object with the user interface
system
5. Joystick: To play video games

Biometric devices

1. Fingerprint scanner: capture the unique pattern of finger print

2. Facial Recognition Camera: to capture and analyse a person’s facial features to verify
their identity.
3. Iris Scanner: to capture the unique pattern in a person’s iris
4. Voice Recognition: to analyse person’s voice. ( such as pitch, tone and pronunciation) to
verify their identity

Light Input device

1. Webcams or Cameras: They use either CCDs or CMOS sensors to capture digital imagery
& video.
2. Barcode Reader: to scan barcode lines.
3. Scanner: used to create digital copies of physical documents
4. OCR: used to scan printed text form physical documents and convert into machine-
readable text.
5. Light sensor: Automatic brightness adjustment on displays, Energy efficient lighting
controls and proximity sensing
 Audio

1. Microphone: Allows user to input audio data into the computer

2. Sound sensor: can detect sound levels (used in various applications, including noise
monitoring and voice activated systems)
3. Ultrasonic sensor: to detect distance or objects’ presence

Sensors

1. Temperature sensor: measure the ambient temperature and convert to electrical

signals.
2. Proximity sensor: detects the presence or absence of an object within a certain
range without physical contact.
3. Pressure sensor: measures changes in pressure and convert them into electrical
signals
4. Humidity sensor: measure the moisture level in the air and convert it into electrical
signals.
5. Accelerometers: detect changes in acceleration or motion and convert them into
electrical signals (used in smartphones for screen orientation detection, gaming
controllers)
6. Gyroscopes: detect changes in orientation or rotational movement and convert
them into electrical signals. They are used in navigation systems, drones, and virtual
reality devices.

OUTPUT DEVICES

Output devices are hardware components that allow a computer or electronic device to display
or present information to the user.

The common types of output devices include:

• Display Output

• Physical Output

• Audio Output

• Haptic Output
Display Output Devices

1. Monitor: displays visual information ( LCD or LED Technology)

2. Projector: display visual on a larger screen.
3. Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets: display immersive virtual reality environments to users.
4. Smart TVs: These are televisions equipped with internet connectivity and built-in apps
that can display online content and interactive media.
5. Digital Signage: Large screens or displays used for advertising and information purposes
in public places like airports, malls, and train stations.

Physical Output Devices

1. Printer: Printers produce hard copies of digital documents or images on paper. There
are various types of printers, including inkjet, laser, and dot matrix printers. The
common types of printers are Laser, Inkjet and Bubblejet.
2. Plotters: used in engineering, design, and architecture. They draw detailed, high-
precision graphics on paper or other materials.

3. 3D printers: create three-dimensional objects by depositing material layer by layer

based on a digital model.

Audio Output Devices

1. Speakers: produce audio output, allowing the computer to play sound, music, or
other auditory information.

2. Headphones/ Headsets: These devices provide audio output to the user and are
typically used for private listening or communication purposes.

Haptic Output Devices

1. Braille Embosser: This device is used to convert digital text into

Braille characters for visually impaired users.

2. Controller Vibration: On games controllers the device can be

programmed to vibrate in response to in-game events, giving the
user feedback.
HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

RAM
▪ Primary storage device (Main memory) referred to as RAM.
▪ It’s an integral part of a computer.
▪ Function: temporarily holding data and instructions that
CPU uses for data & instructions.
▪ RAM is typically measured in gigabytes. (GB)
▪ RAM is volatile-once power is lost all data is lost as well.
▪ It is the memory between Secondary storage & CPU>
▪ Faster than secondary storage devices.
▪ Data can be read from & written to RAM at very high speed, allowing for quick access to
the data needed by the CPU.

Writing

When the CPU saves data into memory, is called Writing

CPU uses the BUS to instruct the memory what data to save and where in the memory
to save it.

READING

When the CPU retrieves the data stored at a given address, is called reading.
CPU must specify which part of the memory to read from. Each memory location has
unique location.

Writing
Address 3 10110000
Address 2 10101010 CPU
Address 1 11110000
Address 0 10111001 Reading

ROM

▪ It’s a non-volatile memory.

▪ Programs permanently stored in ROM are known as firmware.
▪ Firmware is used to initialize the hardware components and starting the OS when
computer is switched on.
▪ Firmware is known as BIOS. ( In modern Desktop computers, BIOS is replaced by UEFI)
Cache memory
▪ Very fast memory.
▪ Very expensive
▪ Generally incorporated in the processor.
▪ It enables the processor to access data quickly whenever it is needed.
▪ It’s Between RAM and CPU.

Why cache?
Major reason for incorporating cache in system is that CPU is much faster than RAM & needs a
place to store information that can be accessed rapidly. The cache facilitates the system to
catch up with processor’s speed.

Virtual Memory

1. A Process running on the computer may need to store data in the physical memory.
2. If there is no free memory (RAM is full), the memory manger (utility program of OS) will
swap out some of the data in RAM to the swap area. (Part of Hard Disk)
3. Then, it will ‘Swap in’ the requested data into the free area.
4. Usually, the least recently used stored data is swapped out.

Disadvantages of Virtual memory

1. The read / write speed of a hard drive is much slower than RAM. (The technology of
a hard drive is not made for accessing small pieces of data at a time)
2. If the system has to depend heavily on virtual memory, it causes a significant drop in
performance.
3. Often the OS has to constantly swap information back and forth between RAM and
Hard drive, which operates all the time.it is called disk thrashing. It slows down the
execution of the programs.

NOTE: The more RAM, less virtual memory will be needed. If we want to improve
performance of a computer, The capacity of RAM must be upgraded.

PRINT Spooling: (Activity 9)

Term ‘Spooling’ means putting jobs in a special area called a buffer, in a memory or on a disk,
so that slower peripheral devices, such as printers can work at their own pace with without
slowing down the processor.