types of computer systems (1.1)

• Hardware


  The physical parts of the computer system that can be touched and seen. Could be internal or external.
• Motherboard


  A printed circuit board found in all computers that allows the processor and other computer hardware to function and communicate with each other. Contains sockets and slots to connect other components.
• Random Access Memory (RAM)


  An internal chip where data is temporarily stored when running applications. Its contents are lost when power is turned off, so it is a volatile or temporary memory.
• Read-Only Memory (ROM)


  Memory used to store permanent information that cannot be altered. The information stored on ROM chips is not lost even when power is turned off, so it is a non-volatile memory.
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)


  An electronic circuit board in a computer that can execute instructions from a computer program. It has an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) and a control unit (CU).
• Network Interface Card (NIC)


  A component that allows a computer or device to be connected to a network, either wired or wireless. Each NIC has a unique MAC address.
• Graphics card


  Allows the computer to send graphical information to a video display device. It usually connects to the motherboard and is made up of a processing unit, memory unit, cooling mechanism, and display connections.
• Sound card


  An integrated circuit board that provides a computer with the ability to produce sounds that can be heard through speakers or headphones, and to record sound input from a microphone.
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) / Solid State Drive (SSD)


  HDDs are magnetic storage devices for data, files, and software. SSDs use solid-state technology and are replacing HDDs in many cases.
• Software


  A collection of instructions that can be 'run' on a computer to tell it what to do. It is not a physical thing but just a bunch of codes.
• Examples of software


  • Operating systems (e.g. Windows, Mac OS)
  • Applications (e.g. Word, Excel, CAD)
  • Instructions controlling a robot
• Applications software


  Provides the services that the user requires to solve a given task (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics editing).
• System software


  Software designed to provide a platform on which all other software can run (e.g. compilers, linkers, device drivers, operating systems, utilities).

  allow the hardware to run properly and allow the user to communicate with the computer
• Operating system (OS)


  Software running in the background that manages the basic functions of the computer, allowing input/output, user communication, error handling, program loading and running, and security management.
• Utilities


  Software designed to carry out specific tasks to manage, maintain and control computer resources (e.g. antivirus, backup, disk repair, file management, security).
• Device driver


  Software that enables hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating system. Without drivers, hardware devices would be unable to work with the computer.
• Compiler


  A computer program that translates a high-level language (HLL) program into machine code that can be directly used by a computer.
• Linker


  A computer program that takes one or more object files produced by a compiler and combines them into a single program that can be run on a computer.
• Computers can only understand data in binary format (0s and 1s), which is referred to as digital data. However, data in the real world is actually analogue in nature, changing smoothly from one value to the next.
• Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC)


  Hardware that converts analogue data into digital data for a computer.
• Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC)


  Hardware that converts digital data from a computer into analogue form to control a device.
• Word processing

  used to produce letters, reports and memos
• Spread Sheet

  used for tasks that involve calculations or graphs and charts
• Database management

  used to store and retrieve information in database
• Presentation application

  used to create slide shows and presentation
• Graphics editing software

  used to create artwork, or with photographs from a digital camera or a scanned image to edit the image
• Video editing software

  used to produce and edit video
• Computer-aided design (CAD)

  used to produce detailed technical designs and plans
• Audio production and editing programs

  a common way of producing high quality music at low cost
• Communications software

  web browsers and email programs, used to access the internet and send and receive email
• Control software

  used to control devices such as fire alarms and mechanical devices.
• Measurement software

  used to capture and log data from sensors eg. temperature, pressure, light intensity.
• An Applet

  a small program that can perform one or few simple tasks
• App

  associated with use on a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device.
• System Software

  allow the hardware to run properly and allow the user to communicate with the computer
• Examples of hardware devices that require drivers

  1. Printers
  2. Memory sticks
  3. mouse
  4. CD Drivers
• Examples of HLL

  1. Java
  2. Python
  3. visual basic
  4. fortran
  5. C++
  6. alglo