7.1 Phsical Environments

• A personal computer is intended for personal use or by a small group of individuals and is often shortened to PC.
• A personal computer consists of a CPU containing the arithmetic, logic and control circuitry on a single integrated circuit (IC).
• A personal computer contains RAM and read only memory (ROM).
• A personal computer contains a hard disk drive (HDD) and various I/O devices including display screen (monitor), keyboard and mouse.
• Computers are powerful and universally useful due to several characteristics.
• When selecting a personal computer, it is important to consider what it is going to be used for, for example graphic design, running a home business, gaming, etc.
• The amount of space available for a personal computer is important to consider, for example, an ‘all-in-one’, that is a laptop where all components are located in the same casing as the monitor, may be appropriate if space is limited.
• The optimum amount of hard disk storage capacity is dependent on what the computer is being used for, as well as how frequently it is used.
• The speed of the hard drive is dependent on whether it is a solid-state drive (SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD).
• The clock speed of the processor determines the speed in which the CPU (Central Processing Unit) retrieves and interprets instructions to carry out the tasks.
• The size and type of RAM has an impact on the response speed of the computer.
• Mobile devices include tablets, e-readers, smartwatches and smartphones.
• A computer server can be hardware or software and is used to provide centralised services such as data and/ or resources such as printers and applications, to other devices (known as clients) on a network system.
• There are different types of server, for example database, mail, print, file, etc.
• The client connected to the network sends a message to the server, for example sending a request to access email (from a mail server) or accessing an application (from an application server), and the server then responds to the request from the client, providing them with the data and/or resource requested.
• Mobile devices often have features like using cellular or Wi-Fi access to the internet, the ability to connect to other devices, a small size and light weight, a display screen, a touchscreen or keyboard, the ability to download data including apps, photographs, books, music and so on.
• Input Devices include devices such as; Microphone, Keyboard, Mouse, Eye Tracker, Controller.
• Input Devices translate the information provided by the user into data that is readable by the computer.
• Input Devices are part of the computer's hardware and can be connected wirelessly or with a cable.
• Input Devices allow information of different formats to be entered; audio, image, text, etc.
• Output Devices:

  • Allows data to be transmitted by the computer in human-friendly form.
  • Include devices such as; Monitor, Printer, Projector, Speakers, etc.
  • Part of the computer's hardware and can be connected wirelessly or with a cable.
• Processors:

  • Includes; Microprocessors and General Purpose Processors.
  • Does the fetch, decode, execute cycle.
  • Has the control unit.
• Smart/internet enabled devices are devices that are part of the IoT and are nonstandard computing devices that are connected wirelessly to a network and can transmit data.
• Examples of smart/internet enabled devices include connected appliances such as refrigerators, lights, smart speakers, and washing machines.
• Smart security systems are another type of smart/internet enabled device, which include wireless cameras and doorbells that record movement and allow remote monitoring.
• Wearable health monitors are another type of smart/internet enabled device, which can be personal monitors like the Fitbit, or monitors used by the health sector to monitor heart rates, insulin levels, and so on of patients.
• Wireless inventory trackers are a type of smart/internet enabled device that allows for real-time communication and location monitoring, which is precise, detailed, and itemised.
• Wireless inventory trackers assist warehouse management by encouraging the efficient use of space and the activities that take place in the space by considering the identified usage pattern.
• The integration of wireless inventory trackers with robotics saves time and money.
• Sensors:

  • Include; Proximity Sensors, Infrared, Temperature Sensor, Gyroscope, Motion Detector, etc.
  • All translate their data that is inputted into them into data that the computer can read.
  • Two types of sensors; Static Sensors and Dynamic Sensors.
  • Made to detect changes in the environment and responds to some output on the other system.
• Cooling:

  • Used to reduce heat.
  • Usually Fans are used but Water Cooling, Nitrogen Cooling and Mineral Oil cooling are available.
  • Results in lower temperatures which sometimes means higher speed.
  • NEEDED in a computer.
• Motherboard/Mainboard:

  • Different types of motherboards include; ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ATX, BTX, LPX, AT, Nano-ITX, Mini-ITX, etc.
  • Contains/Controls everything that a computer needs, RAM, GPU, CPU, ROM, BIOS, Memory, cooling fans, Power Supply, etc.
• An input device is any hardware that sends data to a computer. It enables the user to interact with it and control it. The user may be another computer or a measuring device, as well as a human.
• CPU is often identified as the brain of the computer.
• An output device is any type of peripheral that receives data and either displays it, projects it or produces a hard copy of the data reproduction.
• A sound card enables sound to be heard through speakers or headphones.
• There are two types of sound card, half-duplex which is purely an output device and for listening to sound, and full duplex which also allows sounds to be recorded via a microphone, making it an input and output device.
• A sound card is also referred to as an audio card or audio output device and can be either in the form of an expansion card or built into the motherboard, known as the OSC, onboard sound card.
• There are also sound cards available that connect via USB and are therefore external to the computer.
• The type of sound card selected will depend on what it will be used for.