Ist 1020 CH2

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
HARDWARE
2.1 Classification of Computer Hardware

In the simplest terms, hardware is the physical parts associated with a
computer.
It includes the electronic, magnetic, and mechanical devices i.e. the

monitor, keyboard, printer, micro chip boards, floppy drives, cables
and physical pieces of a system.
Computer Hardware classified as follows:

• Input Devices
• Processing Devices
• Output Devices
• Storage Devices
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INPUT STORAGE
PROCESS OUTPUT
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CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE
2.2 Input Devices

Definition
• Input devices are machines that generate input for the computer.
• Input devices are controlled by the user.
• Examples of input devices from the picture below are the keyboard
and the mouse.
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2.2 Input Devices… Cont.
2.2 Input Devices… Cont.
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2.2.1 Types of Keyboard
a) Qwerty Keyboard
• The QWERTY keyboard with enhanced features is standard with

most modern personal computers
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Dvorak Keyboard
• Puts the most commonly used keys at “home keys”

• Reduces distance of finger stretches
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Specialty Keyboards
• Laptops
• PDAs
• Wireless
• Ergonomic
PDA
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2.2.3 Types of Input

Computer input can be in either of the following formats:
• Data is the raw facts given to the computer.
• Programs are the sets of instructions that direct the computer. These
can be selected from a menu of commands like "Open" on the File
menu. or chosen by clicking on a command button.
• User response is the user's answer to the computer's question, such
as choosing OK, YES, or NO or by typing in text, for example the
name of a file.
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2.2.4 Data validation

• Data input into the computer has to be validated to ensure that it is
accurate before it is processed.
• Importance of accurate data: GIGO = Garbage In, Garbage Out
• Simply put this means that the conclusions drawn from the
information processed are no better than the data they are based
on.
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2.3 Processing Devices

There are two processing devices that make up the central processing
Unit.
The Arithmetic Logic Unit – This is the part that executes the
computer's commands.
The Control Unit –The control unit is the part of the computer fetches
commands for execution. It takes several fetch and execution cycles to
do even a simple addition of two numbers.
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What is a Microprocessor?
Volume Check!
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How Does It Work
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HARDWARE
The Machine Cycle

The process of converting data into information is known as the
machine cycle. It takes place as follows:
Fetch - get an instruction from the main memory
Decode - translate it into computer commands
Execute – carry out the command on the data
Store - write the result to Main Memory
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Inside a Chip
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Making Computers Faster
• Pipelining: The CPU processes more than one

instruction at a time
Fetch Decode Execute Store
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Fetch Decode Execut e Store
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2.4 Output Devices

Definition
Output devices are machines that display information from the
computer.
Output devices are controlled by the computer.
After the processor translates the information from the input devices,
the output devices deliver the information to the user.
Examples of output devices from the picture below are the monitor and
the speakers.
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Types of output
Computer output can be classified as follows:
Soft Copy – Intangible output such as output displayed on screen
Hard Copy –Tangible output such as output on printed paper
Others - sound output, voice output, video output, virtual reality, and
simulation devices. This includes: speaker, etc.
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CRT Monitors
• Uses picture tube technology

• Screen size – Diagonal measurement of
the screen (15, 17, 19, 21)
• Resolution – Sharpness of the image
determined by the number pixels that the
screen can display (800 x 600, 1024 x 768,
1600 x 1200)
• Refresh rate – Speed at which the screen
is refreshed (60Hz, 75Hz) Faster rate
equals less flicker.
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Printers
Types of Printers
The most common types of printers are:
Daisy wheel - These printers work like a typewriter.
Inside the printer is a wheel with a raised
impression (Shown) of each character in the
alphabet and most common punctuation.
Dot-matrix (impact) - Characters or graphics are

created by using a cluster of pins. These pins press
an inked ribbon to the paper to create a dot. Each
character or image is made out of a series of dots.
Adv - usually cheap
- durable
Disavd - slow and noisy,
- Poor output quality
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Ink-jet printers - The print head sprays drops of liquid

ink onto the page.
Adv - Better image quality
- Faster than dot-matrix printers
Disavd - Printouts can smear if gotten wet.
Laser printers –A roller is charged with electricity, and

then a laser is used to remove the charge from portions
of the roller.
Powdered ink (toner) sticks to the parts of the roller
that were hit by the laser.
Then the ink is baked into the paper using a heater.
Adv - High quality output
- Very fast.
- Quiet.
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There are other printers that are not so common such as:
LCD & LED - Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid crystals or light-
emitting diodes rather than a laser to produce an image on the drum.
Thermal Printers: An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated

pins against heat-sensitive paper. Thermal printers are widely used in
calculators and fax machines.
Classification of printers:
Printers can be classified by
1. The speed of printing:
Character printers – Print one character at a time. E.g. daisy wheel
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Line printer - Print one line at a time. Contains a chain of characters or
pins that print an entire line at one time. Line printers are very fast, but
produce low-quality print.
Page printers - Print one page at a time. E.g. Laser Printer
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Classification of printers:
2. Method of printing
Impact Printers – Printer touches the printed media E.g. daisy wheel.
Advantage – They are not costly
- Can use multiple-copy paper
Disadvantage - Such printers are very noisy

- Poor quality graphics
Non Impact printers - Printer doesn’t touch printed media E.g. Laser
Advantage - Such printers are not noisy
- Good quality graphics
Disadvantage – They are costly

- Cannot use multiple-copy paper
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Things to Consider When Choosing a Printer

• Speed is needed
• Quality of output needed
• Size of printer
• Multiple or Single copies
• Color Needed
• Cost of the printer
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2.5 Storage Devices

These refer to devices used for storing data or computer instructions.
They are divided into two:
Main memory
Secondary memory
1. Main memory: this is used for holding data and instructions required
immediately by the CPU.
RAM Random Access Memory (Virtual Memory)– Hold data while it is
being processed.
• When the power goes that information is lost hence is referred to as
volatile memory.
ROM - Read Only Memory - They hold data that is needed to run the
computer.
• Their contents can be read but cannot be erased i.e. are permanent.
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2. Secondary memory: It is used for storing backup information that

is not needed immediately by the CPU. They are characterized by
slow access of information, higher capacity and lower cost.
Examples: hard disk, floppy disk, CD, Flash disk etc.
Magnetic Disks
Floppy Disks
Hard Disk
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How the Hard Disk Drive Work
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Parts of a floppy disk
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Disk Formatting
Before using a magnetic disk it has to be formatted. Formatting divides
the disk into areas called Tracks and sectors.
Tracks - A circular ring on one side of the disk.
Tracks
Sectors - A wedge-shape piece of the disk, shown in yellow.
Cylinders - A cylinder is a set of matched tracks.
Cylinder
This concept is not for floppies, they have only one disk. A hard disk
however has several disks.
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Hard Disk
Hard disks are sealed in air-tight cases. Hence their problems are very
few.
Most problems occur when the read/write head damages the metal
disk by hitting or even just touching it. This is called a head crash.
The goal thus to protect the read/write head.
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How the Hard Disk Crashes
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Caring for data:

Write protect - This keeps your files from being overwritten with new
ones.
– For floppies - using the write protect notch.
– For Hard disks - make files Read-Only and/or Hidden.
Backup - Make multiple copies of important data often.
Anti-virus - Use an antivirus program continuously.
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CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFROMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE
Magnetic Tapes
Magnetic tape uses a method similar to that of VCR tape for storing
data.
The speed of access can be quite slow. So this method is used
primarily for major backups of large amounts of data
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Optical Disks
An entirely different method of recording data is used for optical disks.
These include the various kinds of CD and DVD discs.
Optical disks are made of plastic.

Data is written by either molding it or placing a coat of dye or metal alloy
on it.
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This data is read by reflecting a laser beam on it hence the name
optical. Each disk has a reflecting layer that is made of aluminum, or
silver, or gold that facilitates reading.
The disk is divided into sectors and tracks just like the magnetic disks
discussed earlier.
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HARDWARE
Types of Optical Disks

Read Only – They are written to once but can be read many times. They
can't be changed once they are created. Examples are the CDs and
DVDs.
These disks have the data molded onto them using a laser beam. Has an
aluminum reflecting layer.
Write Once - The optical disks that you can record on your own computer
are called writable or recordable disks.
These disks have the data written by modifying a dye on the disk using a
laser beam. Once the laser modifies the dye, it cannot be changed again.
Has a gold or silver reflecting layer.
Rewrite -The data layer for these disks uses a phase-changing metal alloy
film.
This film can be melted by the laser's heat to level out the marks made
by the laser and then lasered again to record new data. Has an
aluminum reflecting layer.
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Advantages of Optical Disks
• Physical: It is physically harder to break or melt or warp.
• Fragility: It is not sensitive to dirty as it can be cleaned!
• Magnetic: It is entirely unaffected by magnetic fields.
• Capacity: Optical disks hold much more data than floppy disks.
Care of Optical Disks

Data loss comes from:
• Physical damage - breaking, melting, scratching...
• Blocking of laser light by dirt, paint, ink, glue...
• Corrosion of the reflecting layer Do's and don'ts.
• Keep it clean
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• Don't write on or scratch the data side of the disk
• Store optical disks upright on edge
• Keep away from high heat and high humidity
• Keep out of sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light.
• Keep away from smoke or other air pollution.
• Check disk for flaws and dirt BEFORE recording on it.
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Flash Memory
These are solid-state devices (no moving parts) that read and write
data electrically, instead of magnetically or optically.
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Labeling of Storage Devices
A: Floppy drive
C:: H
C Hard drive
ard drive
D:: C
D CD
D -R
ROM
OM drive
System Unit
E:: U
E USB drive
SB drive
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In Summary
Control Arithmetic
Unit Logic Unit
Input Output
Unit Unit
Main memory
Control flow Instruction flow Data flow

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2.6 Desktop Computer Components:
• System Unit
– Houses the CPU
• Peripherals
– Hardware items outside the
system unit box
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Monitor
• Printer
• Etc.
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Adapter Cards
power supply drive bays
processor
memory
ports
sound card
modem card video card

network card
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How the two connect
• Video Controller
• Expansion cards
• Ports
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A System Board….2D
Video
Expansion expansion Microprocessor
slots slot slot
RAM
modules
plug in here
Hard drive and CD

drive connection
adapter cards
processor chip
memory chips
memory slots
Expansion
slots for
adapter cards motherboard
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CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

2.1 Classification of Computer Hardware

It includes the electronic, magnetic, and mechanical devices i.e. the

Computer Hardware classified as follows:

2.2 Input Devices

2.2 Input Devices… Cont.

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

2.2 Input Devices… Cont.

• The QWERTY keyboard with enhanced features is standard with

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

• Puts the most commonly used keys at “home keys”

2.2.3 Types of Input

2.2.4 Data validation

2.3 Processing Devices

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

How Does It Work

The Machine Cycle

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Making Computers Faster

• Pipelining: The CPU processes more than one

Fetch Decode Execute Store

Fetch Decode Execut e Store

Fetch Decode Execute Store

Fetch Decode Execute Store

Fetch Decode Execute Store

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

2.4 Output Devices

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

• Uses picture tube technology

Dot-matrix (impact) - Characters or graphics are

Ink-jet printers - The print head sprays drops of liquid

Laser printers –A roller is charged with electricity, and

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Thermal Printers: An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Disadvantage - Such printers are very noisy

Disadvantage – They are costly

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Things to Consider When Choosing a Printer

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

2.5 Storage Devices

2. Secondary memory: It is used for storing backup information that

How the Hard Disk Drive Work

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Sectors - A wedge-shape piece of the disk, shown in yellow.

Cylinders - A cylinder is a set of matched tracks.

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

How the Hard Disk Crashes

Caring for data:

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Optical disks are made of plastic.

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Types of Optical Disks

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Care of Optical Disks

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

CH 2: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE

Control flow Instruction flow Data flow

2.6 Desktop Computer Components:

power supply drive bays

modem card video card

Hard drive and CD