ICT Paper 1 - Topic 1

• Hardware


  The physical components of a computer system
• Internal components


  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Processor
  • Motherboard
• Random Access Memory (RAM)

  Temporary storage for running programs and data; it is volatile, meaning data is lost when the computer is turned off
• Read-Only Memory (ROM)


  Permanent storage for essential data, like the computer's BIOS; it is non-volatile, meaning data is retained even when the computer is turned off
• Hardware components


  • Graphics card
  • Sound card
  • Network Interface Card (NIC)
  • Camera
  • Internal/external storage devices
  • Input devices
  • Output devices
• Software


  Programs that control the operation of a computer or the processing of electronic data
• Application software


  • Word processing
  • Spreadsheet
  • Database management systems
  • Control/measurement
  • Applets and apps
  • Video editing
  • Graphics editing
  • Audio editing
  • Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• System software


  • Compilers
  • Linkers
  • Device drivers
  • Operating systems
  • Utilities
• Command Line Interface (CLI)


  Text-based interface where users type commands to perform tasks
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)


  Visual-based interface with icons, windows, and menus where users interact with the system using a mouse and keyboard
• Dialogue-based interface


  Users communicate with the system through text or voice, and the system responds with appropriate actions or feedback
• Gesture-based interface


  Users interact with the system through physical gestures, requiring a camera or sensor to detect movements
• CLI has a steeper learning curve compared to GUI

  GUI is more resource-intensive than CLI
• Analogue data


  Continuous and varies smoothly over time
• Digital data


  Discrete and represented in binary form (0s and 1s)
• Analogue data can have any value within a range


  Digital data has a limited set of values
• Digital data is less prone to noise and distortion compared to analogue data


  Digital data can be easily manipulated, stored, and transmitted by computers
• Analogue-to-digital conversion (ADC)


  The process of converting analogue data to digital data so it can be processed by a computer
• Digital-to-analogue conversion (DAC)


  The process of converting digital data to analogue data so it can be used to control devices
• Analogue data must be converted to digital data so it can be processed by a computer
• Digital data must be converted to analogue data so it can be used to control devices