Computer is a digital and an electronic device that accepts, process(manipulates data), stores and as commanded by a user and outputs

it if required to meaningful information. Input accepts Process manipulates Output USER Storage

Information: Is data with meaning. INPUT Input is information provided to the computer by the user, environment or another computer. Input device: device that provides information to the computter Examples -Images, words and symbols, voice, signals from another computer, temperature, speed or pressure from sensors. PROCESSING is the manipulation of data. Data: These are raw facts. Software/ computer programme: instructions that tell a computer what to do Examples: Editing pictures, drawin graphs, arithematic calculations. OUTPUT Information produced by the computer Output device: is a device that displays, prints or transmits information Examples Sound, hard copy from fax, printed work images on a monitor MEMORY AND STORAGE Memory: is an area of a computer that temporarily holds data that is being processed o waiting to be processed e.g ram

Storage:area where data is kept permanently while not needed for processing e.g rom MEMORY 2 types of memories; Primary memory and Secondary memory. Primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast ie RAM. Secondary memory are physical devices for program and data storage which are slow to access but offer higher memory capacity. Primary memory RAM Short term memory( temporarily) Lower memory capacity Volatile Faster to access More cost effective RAM Volatile Data can be randomly accessed( written to and read) Secondary memory HDD, CD, DVD, Flash drives Long term memory (permanently) unless data is erased. Higher memory capacity Non- volatile Slow to access Less cost effective ROM Non volatile Can only be read not written to

VIRTUAL MEMORY Memory that is used on the HDD wen the RAMz memory is used up. CMOS Is an chip on the motherbod that is powered by a cmos battery and store information on time and date. It is non volaitile ram chip. BIOS It is a chip on the mother bod that contains a programme that helps the computer processor interact and control the other components in a computer. ROM BIOS: has instructions that tell a computer how to access disk drives, finds and loads the OS to the ram. Parts of a Computer System -Hardware -Software -Data -User

Components of a computer(5/6) -Input/Output devices(hardware) -Software -User -C PU(hardware) -Memory(RAM) -Storage(HDD) -Data

Computer architecture refers to the relationship of the sub components of a computer hardware. Concerned with how the central processing Unit acts and how it accesses computer memory.
Input devices

Control Unit

CPU

Output devices

ALU

MEMORY External Storage

CPU The CPU is the hardware within a computer system which carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetical, logical and input/output operations of the system. 2 typical components of a CPU are the ALU, which performs arithmetic and logical operations and the control unit, which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

HARDWARE Refers to the physical parts or components of computer. Hardware include Input devices[ Keyboard, Mouse], Output devices [ Monitor, Printer], Storage devices [ Flash disks]. Computer case[ CPU, RAM, Powersupply, Motherboard, Soundcard], Data ports [ ehternet, firewire, parallel port, serial port, universal serial bus] A peripheral is a device connected to a computer but not part of it. Absence does not stop a computer from functioning. Categories of computer hardware Processor Memory Input and Output Storage Communication

SOFTWARE Instructions that tell what a computer do. Software in contrast with hardware cannot be touched. Types of software (i) (ii) (iii) System software Programming software Application software

System Software Is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware to provide basic functionality and to provide a platform for running application software. Eg Device drivers Operating systems Utilities

Operating system

Collection of software that manages computer hardware resources by allowing the parts of a computer to work together. Multi tasking Application software -Monitor -Printer Functions -Recognizing input devices -Renders displays -Provides a platform for use of Application software -Makes sure that different programs run at the same time without interference -Self diagnostic to check that the computer is working well. APPLICATION SOFTWARE Set of programs that allow a computer to perform a specific data processing job to the user. DATA Consists of raw facts that a computer can be manipulated and processed into information USERS People operate a computer. THE INTERNET The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide. Operating System -Mouse, Keyboard