ICT

UKC
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

(a) Define hardware, giving examples

(b) Define software, giving examples

(c) Describe the difference between hardware and software

(d) Identify the main components of a general-purpose computer: central

processing unit, main/internal memory (including ROM and RAM)
Hardware or Software?
• You have 2 minutes to discuss with the person sitting next to you, which is hardware
and which is software…
Hardware
1. Printer -
Software
2. Adobe Acrobat -
Software
3. Windows 7 -

Hardware
4. Motherboard -
Hardware
5. Scanner -
Software
6. Graphics Driver -
Definitions…
• Hardware is a general term for the physical components that make up a computer system.

• Write down 3 examples of hardware.

• Software is a general term for the programs that control the computer system.

• Write down 3 examples of software.

• For a computer system to be useful it has to consist of both hardware and software.
ACTIVITY - I
With the person sitting next to you...
You have 2 minutes to discuss and label the diagram below:

Backing Storage Input Main Memory

Process Output
Title: Components of a Computer System

Draw the following diagram in your book:

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

MAIN
MEMORY

BACKING
STORAGE
ACTIVITY - 2
Matching Up…
◦ In pairs match each device to it’s type and description
◦ For example:
Scanner
Input
Used to convert
images on paper
into digital format
 Answers… It is made up of buttons called keys. The keys are arranged into different sections. The most
Keyboard Input common type is known as a QWERTY.

A pointing device which controls what happens on the screen. The left button is usually used for
Mouse Input selecting and the right button brings up menus.

The pictures displayed on it are made up of pixels. The two most commonly used ones are known
Monitor Output as CRT’s and TFT’s.

These are used to create a hard copy of your work. Most produce their output on paper. They
Printer Output come in colour and black and white.

Central Processing The brain of the computer where all the searching, sorting, calculating and decision making takes
Unit Process place.

Main This is volatile memory. The data is held on a chip, but only temporarily. The data disappears if the
RAM Memory power is switched off.

Main The data stored is not erased when the power is switched off - it is permanent. This is called non
ROM Memory volatile memory.

Memory Backing They are small, lightweight and rewritable. They consist of a small printed circuit board which is
Stick Storage encased in plastic or metal casing.

Backing They can be written to once and are used in all modern computers. They have a large storage
DVD Storage capacity.
Components of a Computer System
• You will be looking at input, output and storage devices later in the course.

• For the rest of this lesson we will look at the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Main Memory.

• What do you think the CPU does?

Central Processing Unit
• The CPU is the brain of the computer.

• It is the device that carries out software instructions.

• The Pentium processor made by Intel is an example of a CPU.

• CPUs usually plug into a large socket on the main circuit board (the motherboard) of a computer.

• They get very hot when they are operating so usually have a large fan attached to their top
to keep them cool.
 Main Memory
◦ The CPU needs to store data whilst its carrying out the processing required.

◦ The data or instructions that are to be processed by the CPU must be placed into main memory.

◦ Memory can be classed into two types:

RAM and ROM
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Random Access Memory (RAM) is the part of the computer that temporarily stores the
instructions that the computer is running, and the data it is processing.

• RAM is a volatile storage device. This means that if the computer’s power is turned off the
contents of RAM disappear and are lost.

• When a computer is in use, its RAM will contain:

– The operating system software
– The application software currently being used
– Any data that is being processed
 RAM – Notes from Mark Schemes
• Random Access Memory

• A temporary store of data

• Holds the data that is currently being used by the user

• It is volatile so data is lost when the computer is turned off

• It can be read from or written to

• The data in RAM can be changed

• It is needed so that users are able to make changes to the data they are working on/to store the program or data they are
currently using
 Read-Only Memory (ROM)
• Read-Only Memory (ROM) is used in most computers to
hold a small piece of software: the 'boot up' program.

• This 'boot up' software is known as the BIOS (Basic Input

Output System), it checks the computer’s hardware and
then loads the operating system.

• ROM is non-volatile storage. This means that the data it

contains is never lost, even if the power is switched off.
 ROM Notes from Mark Schemes
• Read Only Memory

• It is non-volatile so not lost when the computer is turned off

• Stores things such as: BIOS, Programs in washing machine, program

instructions for games

• The data cannot be changed

• It is used so that programs/coding/software can be stored

permanently/cannot be changed
 Lesson Summary
This lesson we looked at:

✓ What hardware and software are

✓ Some examples of them

✓ The main components of a computer system

✓ The CPU

✓ Main Memory – RAM and ROM

Plenary Questions – What is…

Physical Components
Hardware =

◦Software = Programs

◦CPU = The Brain

Past Exam Questions
• RAM – So that users are able to make changes to the data they are working on/to store the program or data they are
currently using (1)

• ROM – So that programs/coding/software can be stored permanently/cannot be changed (1)

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Exam Paper Question