15/05/2013

ICT THEORY
RE- CAP & REVISION
(SUMMARY OF THE THEORY HANDOUT)

4 MAIN AREAS
1. HARDWARE
2. SOFTWARE
3. NETWORKS, CONNECTIVITY,
COMMUNICATION & THE INTERNET.
4. USE/MISUSE AND CARE OF
COMPUTERS

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Hardware
Hardware: is any physical part of a computer
or the group of machines!

Hardware is made up of:

(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices

Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:
(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(a) CPU & Main Memory
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices

• Main Memory: Stores Programmes.

• CPU: Controls all operations/jobs.
(So it reads data, changes it and
produces information for you to
use). It is like the Brain of the
Computer.

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Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:

(b) Input Devices

(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices

• These Devices read incoming Data

and pass it on to the CPU.
EG’s: Keyboard, Disk Drive,
Scanner, Bar Code Reader, Voice
Recognition, and Digital Camera.

Input Devices
Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:
(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices
Mouse:
Keyboard:
Bar Code Reader/Wand Reader or Scanner:
Point of Sale Terminal:
Digitiser:
Camera/Tape Recorder:
VDE/Voice Data Entry:
OCR/Optical Character Reader (optical scanner):
MICR/Magnetic Ink Character Reader:

OMR/Optical Mark Recognition/Reader:

Touch screen:
Light Pen or Stylus:

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Mouse Keyboard Bar Code/Wand Reader Point of Sale Terminal

Plotter Camera Tape Recorder Voice Data Entry

Optical Scanner Magnetic Ink Character Reader Optical Mark Reader

Touch Screen Stylus/Light Pen

Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:

(c) Output Devices

(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices

• these Accept information from the

CPU and displays the results for the
user.
• EG’s : Printer, Monitor.

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Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:
(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
Output Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices
Monitor/VDU Or Visual Display Unit:

Flat Screen Technology’s:

Printer:
Non-Impact Printer:
Impact printer:

Plotter:
Audio response:
Microfiche/film:

Speaker
Digital Projector

Monitor Flat Screen Monitor Thermal Printer Ink Jet printer

Laser Printer Dot Matrix Printer Character Printer Plotter

Audio Response Microfilm Reader Speaker Digital Projector

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Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:
(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(d) Storage Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices

• Storage Devices: these keep

information and instructions in the
Computer so that they can be used
again.
• EG’s: CD’s, Floppy Disks, Hard Drive.

Remember!!
Hardware is made up of:
Storage Devices
STORAGE :
(a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices Magnetic Disks and Disk Drives:
(c) Output Devices Floppy Disk:
(d) Storage Devices Disk cartridge:
Tape Drive:
CDROM: (Optical)
WORM CD’S (Optical)
ERASABLE CD’S:
(Optical)
USB key:
Hard Disk:
MEMORY :
Memory:
Byte:
Speed:
MIPS:
Volatile/Non-Volatile:
RAM/random Access Memory:
ROM/Read only Memory:
Storage Capacity:
Backup:

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Magnetic Disk Disk Drive Floppy Disk Disk Cartridge Tape Drive CD-ROM

WORM CD Erasable CD USB Key USB Cable Hard Disk Memory Board

RAM ROM Storage Capacity

Software
• Software: Before a computer can actually
read data, change it, and produce
information for you, it needs a set of
instructions. These instructions are in the
Software and they help the computer
carry out different jobs.
• EG’s: There are 3 main areas with
Software.
• (a)Operating Systems Software
(b)Applications/Programme Software.
• (c) Compatibility

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Software Types
• Operating Systems Software or OS: This software
supervises the overall operations of a computer.
• EG’s: IBM use DOS or Disk Operating Software, and
Apple, Macintosh, Dell, and Gateway use Windows
Operating Software.
• Applications Software (Program Software): These
are programs that you can simply buy off the shelf
from a retailer/shop like PC world. In some cases a
company may want to use specific programs, in that
case they can get the programme specially designed;
• EG’s Schools uses a Facility Programme to keep
school records, Accountants use a Payroll
Programme to do their accounts.

Software Programs Operating Systems ICONS

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Compatibility
• Compatible/incompatible Disks: A Disk
that is prepared for one OS may not work
on another OS.
• For Example: Word Perfect for Windows
may not work in Macintosh, you may have
to get the Macintosh version.
• In this case they are incompatible or, they
cannot be used together. If you can use a
disk in two different Operating Systems,
then they are compatible

Networks-
Includes Connectivity, Communciation, & Internet
• Network: this is the idea that computer resources in
an area can be shared by linking them. It is shared by
an Integrated Computer System
(integrated/interconnected).
• For Example: Your computer room in school may have
20 computers but only 1 printer, if for example 10 of
these computers can send documents to the 1 printer
to print, then they are sharing the resource or sharing
the 1 printer. Files can also be shared using a network.
A large computer called a server is used to help share
files and information on the network for many people
to use.

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Networks
• There are 2 types of Networks: LAN and
WAN.
• WAN: This network is used to transfer and
share information over a great distance,
for example, from one country to another
country.
• LAN: A Local Area Network is used to
transfer and share information and
resources when computers are close to one
another. For Example, in a LAN the
network may connect devices within a room
or building.

Networks
RING STAR BUS

Commonly used and they use a All devices use a computer/Node and Computers/Nodes share the same bus
Server/Host. All Server/Host, but not necessarily or channel for transmitting to
computers/Node are connected each other. other computers/nodes or
in a loop. Servers/hosts.

Messages pass from Node to Node If one node is down, it is just by Nodes can access a Host as well as
before it reaches its destination. passed. each other.

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Ring Network Star Network Bus Network

Connectivity
• Connectivity: Telephone lines move
wave signals called analogue signals.
However if a Modem (modulator-
Demodulator) is used, it can change
digital signals (from a computer)
into wave/analogue signals so that
information can be sent over phone
lines.

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Communication
• Communication: in order for this
information to be sent, it needs to go
through a suitable communication
channel, or a cable.
• EG’s:Twisted pair Cable, Coaxial Cable, Fibre
Optic

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Internet

• The Internet: allows you to connect with 1000’s of

Networks worldwide.
• For example: you can access thousands of databases
including, newspapers, journals, magazines,
Universities, government agencies, businesses.
• An ISP or and Internet Service Provider will provide
the customer with access to the internet, e.g. Eircom
or NTL.
• ISDN: Some use a dial up connection called an ISDN
Line or Integrated Systems Digital Network. Dial up
lines are becoming less common, as they are slower.

The Internet
• The World Wide Web or WWW helps you to connect with any web
page; you can type in an address in the top address bar called the
URL or Universal Resource Locator.

• HTTP or Hyper Text Transfer Protocol will help you to search in

this address bar. HTML or Hyper Text Mark up Language is the
Language the internet often uses to carry out commands.

• A hyperlink is a blue link that connects you to another page.

• A search engine e.g. Google or Yahoo will help you to search for
something by typing in words instead of a full address.

• Video Conferencing: this allows full motion video and sound to be

transmitted over telephone lines. The sound is captured by
microphones, it is sent to the listener at a high speed.

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Computer Care
• Ergonomics: This refers to any Health and Safety issues relating to
PC Use. For Example: In your work area: To Reduce Screen Glare,
place a screen over your monitor. To reduce sound pollution in your
office, place sound absorbing materials on furniture, walls, ceilings
and floors.
• To prevent discomfort and permanent injury, create an
ergonomically designed workstation/Desk Area, for Example:
(a) Your arm angle in keyboarding should be 15-30 Degrees below your
line of sight
(b) The Screen should be 3-4 times brighter than the room, to avoid
eye strain.
(c) Your forearms should be horizontal, your lower back should have
support, you should have an adjustable chair, and your feet should
be flat on the floor.
(d) You should have a wrist rest to prevent Repetitive Strain Injury.

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Computer Care
Care of Floppy Diskettes:
• Any disk can become ‘corrupt’ and will not
work if not looked after properly, so you
should always keep a back up, or a second
copy of the information somewhere else.
• Keep the Disk safe in a box or container.
• When writing on the Label, do so, before you
place the label on the disk, as it could damage
it.

Computers V’s People

ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTING DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTING

1. Fast: high Speed of getting Information. 1. Cost: may be Expensive to start with.

1. Accurate: It is almost 100% accurate/correct. 1. Errors: There may be Mistakes inside the
programme.

1. Compact Storage: No filing Cabinets needed all info on 1. Training Costs: Training Staff may be time
PC. consuming and expensive.

1. Presentation: Clear, Neat Work. 1. Virus: If a computer gets a Virus, you may loose
everything.

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