IT Application Tools in Business

Module 3: Computer hardware

WHAT IS COMPUTER HARDWARE?

Computer hardware
● is a collective term used to describe any of the physical components
of an analog or digital computer.
● The term hardware distinguishes the tangible aspects of a computing
device from software, which consists of written, machine-readable
instructions or programs that tell physical components what to do and
when to execute the instructions.

INPUT DEVICES
● Input devices are hardware components used to enter data,
instructions, or commands into a computer system. They allow users
to interact with the computer, enabling it to receive and process data
from the outside world.
○ KEYBOARD
○ BARCODE READER
○ JOYSTICK
○ MICROPHONE
○ MOUSE

KEYBOARD
● a simple device comprising keys and each key denotes either an
alphabet, number or number commands which can be given to a
computer for various actions to be performed
● it has a modified version of typewriter keys
● the keyboard is an essential input device and computer and laptops
both use keyboards to give commands to the computer

BARCODE READER
● it is a kind of an optical scanner
● it can read bar codes
● a source of light is passed through a bar code, and its aspects and
details are displayed on the screen

JOYSTICK
● it is a device which comprises a stick which is attached at an angle to
the base so that it can be moved and controlled
● mostly used to control the movement in video games
● apart from a computer system, a joystick is also used in the cockpit of
an aeroplane, wheelchairs, cranes, trucks, etc. to operate them well
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Module 3: Computer hardware

MICROPHONE
● using a microphone, sound can be stored in a device in its digital form
● it converts sound into an electrical signal
● to record or reproduce a sound created using a microphone, it needs
to be connected with an amplifier

MOUSE
● it is also known as a pointing device
● using mouse we can directly click on the various icons present on the
system and open up various files and programs
● a mouse comprises 3 buttons on the top and one trackball at the
bottom which helps in selecting and moving the mouse around,
respectively

OUTPUT DEVICES
● The output devices take care of displaying the result after data
processing by the input device. It may be in image, graphic, textual or
audio form. These devices show the visual elements on the display
○ MONITOR
○ PRINTER
○ SPEAKERS
○ PROJECTOR
○ HEADPHONES

MONITOR
● the device which displays all the icons, text, images, etc. over a
screen is called the monitor
● when we ask the computer to perform an action, the result of that
action is displayed on the monitor
● various types of monitors have also been developed over the years

TYPES OF MONITORS
1. CATHODE-RAY TUBE - The pixels make up the image on the CRT
display. The smaller pixels mean the image is more clear. Even a
single character like ‘k’ is made of numerous pixels on the screen. A
screen can have limited pixels at once, it is usually 80 by 20
characters horizontally and vertically.
2. LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (Flat-Panel Display Monitor) - These are
high-level video devices with low volume, lightweight, and low power
requirements. From wall hanging to smartwatches, they are
everywhere. There are either emissive displays or non-emissive
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Module 3: Computer hardware

displays. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are a type of non-emissive

display.

PRINTERS
● A device which makes a copy of the pictorial or textual content,
usually over a paper, is called a printer.
● For example, an author types the entire book on his/her computer and
later gets a printout of it, which is in the form of paper and is later
published.
● Multiple types of printers are also available in the market, which can
serve different purposes.

TYPES OF PRINTERS
● DOT MATRIX PRINTER
● CHAIN PRINTER
● NON-IMPACT PRINTERS
● LASER PRINTERS
● INKJET PRINTERS

SPEAKERS
● an output device that produces sound after receiving a command from
the computer.
● They support the computers as well as other hardware devices.
● Now we also have wireless speakers with bluetooth technology.

PROJECTOR
● This is an optical device that presents visuals on the screen,
stationary and moving both. They are present at movie theatres,
auditoriums, etc. It connects to the computer and displays the image
on it on a larger screen.

HEADPHONES
● Similar to speakers, this device has a lower sound frequency. They
can’t be easily heard in large areas like grounds and parks but are
only accessible to a single person using the device. A headset is
another name for them.

STORAGE DEVICES
● components used to store, retrieve, and manage digital data. They
allow computers and other digital devices to save information for both
short-term (temporary) and long-term (permanent) use. Storage
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Module 3: Computer hardware

devices hold everything from operating systems and applications to

user files like documents, photos, and videos.

KEY FUNCTIONS OF STORAGE DEVICES:

DATA STORAGE - They hold data permanently or temporarily, depending on

the device type.

DATA RETRIEVAL - Users can access and retrieve data when needed.

DATA BACKUP - Important data can be stored in secondary or external

devices for protection against loss.

TYPES OF STORAGE DEVICES:

PRIMARY STORAGE
● It is also known as internal memory and main memory. This is a
section of the CPU that holds program instructions, input data, and
intermediate results. It is generally smaller in size. RAM (Random
Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory) are examples of
primary storage.

SECONDARY STORAGE
● Secondary storage is a memory that is stored external to the
computer. It is mainly used for the permanent and long-term storage
of programs and data. Hard Disks, CDs, DVDs, Pen/Flash drives,
SSD, etc, are examples of secondary storage.

TERTIARY STORAGE
● Tertiary Memory is a type of Memory that is rarely used in personal
computers and due to this, tertiary memory is not considered to be an
important one. Tertiary memory works automatically without human
intervention.

CATEGORIES OF STORAGE DEVICES

PRIMARY STORAGE DEVICES

● used to temporarily hold data that the computer is actively using.
These devices are directly accessible by the CPU, making them
extremely fast. However, the data is typically volatile, meaning it’s lost
when the device is powered off.
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RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is used to store data that is actively
being processed by the CPU. The more RAM a system has, the more data it
can handle at once.

SRAM (Static RAM): This is faster than DRAM because it doesn't need to be
refreshed regularly, but it is more expensive. SRAM is typically used in cache
memory.

DRAM (Dynamic RAM): This is slower and needs to be refreshed thousands

of times per second, but it is less expensive and is the most common type of
RAM used in computers.

SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM): This type of RAM is synchronized

with the system clock, which improves performance by reducing waiting times
for synchronization with the CPU.

ROM (Read-Only Memory): ROM is a non-volatile memory, meaning it

retains its contents even when the power is off. ROM stores the firmware
(basic instructions) that allows the computer to boot up and perform basic
functions.

PROM (Programmable ROM): Can be programmed once by the user, but

after programming, the data cannot be changed.

EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM): Can be erased using UV light and

reprogrammed.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM): Can be erased and

rewritten using electrical signals, allowing for easier updates to firmware.

MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES

● Magnetic storage devices use magnetism to store data. These
devices store data as tiny magnetized regions on a disk or tape. They
are generally slower than other forms of storage but offer a large
amount of storage capacity.

Floppy Disk: An older storage device with a small capacity (usually 1.44 MB).
It’s rarely used today due to its low capacity and slow access times.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD): A popular magnetic storage device that stores large
amounts of data on spinning platters. It’s widely used for storing files and
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Module 3: Computer hardware

applications on computers. The access time is slower compared to SSDs, but

HDDs provide larger capacities at lower costs.

Magnetic Card: Often used for financial transactions, these cards store small
amounts of data that can be read by card readers. Examples include credit
cards and hotel keycards.

Tape Cassette: Used for data backup and archiving. While tapes are slow to
access and read, they offer enormous capacity and are commonly used in
enterprise settings for long-term data storage.

SuperDisk: A high-capacity alternative to floppy disks, offering larger storage

(around 120 MB), though it’s largely obsolete now.

FLASH MEMORY DEVICES

● Flash memory is a non-volatile type of storage, meaning that it retains
data even when the power is turned off. Flash memory is faster and
more durable than magnetic storage because it has no moving parts.

Pen Drive (USB Flash Drive): A small, portable device used to store and
transfer data. It connects via a USB port and is highly portable, making it ideal
for transferring files between computers.

SSD (Solid State Drive): A storage device that uses flash memory to provide
faster data access speeds compared to traditional hard drives. SSDs are
faster and more reliable than HDDs, as they have no moving parts. They are
widely used in laptops and servers.

SD Card (Secure Digital Card): A small, portable memory card used in

cameras, smartphones, and other electronic devices for storage.

Memory Card: Similar to SD cards, memory cards are used in various

portable devices like gaming consoles and phones.

Multimedia Card (MMC): An older type of memory card that was used in
devices like digital cameras and mobile phones, though it has largely been
replaced by SD cards.
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Module 3: Computer hardware

OPTICAL STORAGE DEVICES

● Optical storage devices use lasers to read and write data. Data is
stored as tiny pits and lands on the surface of the disc, which are
interpreted by a laser.

CD (Compact Disc): A widely used optical storage format, primarily for music
and software. CDs store around 700 MB of data.

CD-R (Recordable): Can be written to once.

CD-RW (Rewritable): Can be erased and rewritten multiple times.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): Similar to CDs but with more capacity (up to 4.7
GB for a single-layer DVD). DVDs are commonly used for movies and larger
software programs.

DVD-R (Recordable): Can be written to once.

DVD-RW (Rewritable): Can be erased and rewritten multiple times.

Blu-ray Disc: Offers much larger storage capacity (25 GB for a single- layer
disc) and is primarily used for high-definition video and data storage. Blu-ray
discs are commonly used for HD movies and large data backups.

CLOUD AND VIRTUAL STORAGE

● Cloud and virtual storage store data remotely and can be accessed
from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud storage is provided
by companies that host servers, allowing users to upload and
download files as needed.

Cloud Storage: This involves storing data on servers hosted by third- party
service providers like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive. Cloud
storage is flexible, allowing users to access their data from anywhere with an
internet connection.

Virtual Storage: Virtual storage uses software to pool resources from multiple
physical storage devices, making it appear as a single storage device. This is
commonly used in enterprise environments for scalability and data
management. Virtual storage allows for efficient data management and
backup solutions.