INPUT UNIT

An input unit of a computer perform the following functions

 It accepts (or reads) instructions and data from outside world

 It converts these instructions and data in computer acceptable form
 It supplies the converted instructions and data to the computer for further processing

Examples:

 Keyboard – Mouse – Stylus - Game controller – Microphone - Touch screens - Touch sensitive
pad - Biometric device - Card reader - Barcode reader – Scanner - Webcam

OUTPUT UNIT
An output unit of a computer performs the following functions

 It accepts the results produced by the computer, which are in coded form and hence, cannot be
easily understand by us
 It converts these coded results to human acceptable (readable) form
 It supplies the converted results to outside world

Examples:

Monitors - LCD/LEDs - Touch screens – Printer – Speakers – Headphones – Projector - Force feedback
control ers - Interactive whiteboards

Storage unit
A storage unit of a computer holds (or stores) the following

 Data and instructions required for processing (received from input devices)
 Intermediate results for processing
 Final results of processing, before they are released to an output device

Types

 Primary storage
 Secondary storage

Primary Storage
 it is also called RAM (Random Access Memory)
 it is used to hold running program instructions, data and intermediate results
 it is Fast in operation
 it has Small capacity
  it is Expensive
 it is Volatile (loses data on power dissipation)

Secondary Storage
 it is also called ROM (Read Only Memory)
 it is used to hold stored program instructions and data
 it is Slower than primary storage
 it has Large capacity
 It is lot cheaper that primary storage
 it has Retains data even without power

Secondary Storage Devices

 Magnetic Tape
 Magnetic Disk
 Optical Disk
 Flash Drive and Memory Cards

CPU

 The CPU is the brain of a computer, containing all the circuitry needed to process input, store

data, and output results.

 The CPU is constantly following instructions of computer programs that tell it which data to

process and how to process it. Without a CPU, we could not run programs on a computer.

Control unit
 A control unit or CU is circuitry that directs operations within a
computer's processor.
 It lets the computer's logic unit, memory, and both input and output
devices know how to respond to instructions received from a program.
Computer Hardware:
Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer. Computer Hardware is any part of
the computer that we can touch these parts. These are the primary electronic devices used to
build up the computer.
Examples of hardware in a computer are the Processor, Memory Devices, Monitor, Printer,
Keyboard, Mouse, and the Central Processing Unit.

Computer Software:
Software is a collection of instructions, procedures, and documentation that performs different
tasks on a computer system. we can say also Computer Software is a programming code
executed on a computer processor. The code can be machine-level code or the code written
for an operating system.
Examples of software are Ms Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Chrome, Photoshop, MySQL,
etc.

Adapter card
 Also called an expansion card or accessory card
 Enhances the functionality to a computer system or provides connections to external devices

Expansion slot
 Also called expansion port is an opening, or socket, on the motherboard where an expansion
card can be inserted

 With Plug and Play, the computer automatically configures cards and other devices as you install
them

Motherboard
 Main circuit board in a system unit, also called system board

 It holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a
system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory

 It also provides connectors for other peripherals (adapter cards, processor chips, and memory
chips).

Bus
Channel (wire) that allows devices inside computer to communicate with each other (system bus
connects processor and RAM)

Bus width determines number of bits transmitted at one time

Word size is the number of bits processor can interpret and execute at a given time

Ports and Connectors

凝 Port connects external devices to system unit

凝 Connector joins cable to peripheral

凝 Both male and female ports

Serial port
凝 Transmits one bit of data at a time, one after the other

凝 Connects slow-speed devices, such as mouse, keyboard

Parallel port
凝 Can transfer more than one bit at a time

凝 Connects devices such as a printer

USB port
凝 USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is the most common port you find on a computer

凝 Used for data transfer between devices, attaching and charging peripherals and can connect up
to 127 different peripherals together with a single connector type

System Software
凝 A set of programs that control the operations of the computer

凝 Serves as the interface between the user, the application software, and the computer’s
hardware

凝 It is the most important software, a bridge between user and machine

凝 Also called the Operating System

凝 Windows 10, Ubuntu, MacOS

Application software
凝 Most common type of software that is designed to accomplish a specific task

凝 Software that makes users more productive

凝 Covers most common uses of computers

凝 MS Word, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer

Software Distribution Methods

凝 Packaged software, mass-produced by large organizations

凝 Custom software, performs functions specific to a business or industry

凝 Open source software, provided for use, modification, and redistribution

凝 Shareware, distributed free for trial period

凝 Freeware, copyrighted software provided at no cost

凝 Public-domain software, freeware with no copyright restrictions

Types of Software
Business software
凝 Software that assists people in becoming more effective and efficient

凝 Examples of business software are;

凝 Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Oracle, Microsoft Project, QuickBooks, Peachtree, SAP

Word processing software

凝 Allows users to create and manipulate text and graphics

凝 What is spreadsheet software?

凝 Organizes data

凝 Performs calculations and recalculates when data changes

Database software
凝 Allows you to create and manage data

凝 Add, change, delete, sort, and retrieve data

Presentation/graphics software
凝 Used to create visual aids for presentations

凝 A presentation is sometimes called a slideshow

Project management software

凝 Allows you to plan, schedule, track, and analyze the events, resources, and costs of a project

Accounting software
凝 Helps companies record and report their financial transactions

Enterprise computing software

凝 Large organizations require special computing solutions

凝 Each functional unit has specialized software requirements