E402

CLASS living in the

it era
JOHN CARLO A. ABAD
 LESSON 1
ELEMENTS OF
COMPUTER SYSTEMS
 Lessons To Be Covered

HARDWARE SOFTWARE
WHAT IS A
COMPUTER?
 WHAT IS A COMPUTER

A computer is a machine that stores, retrieves, and

processes information, or data. You can use a computer
to type documents, send email, and browse the internet.
You can also use it to perform tasks such as accounting,
database management, presentations, games, and more.
 elements of computer
systems
A computer system is a system that
consists of hardware, software and people
that are constituted to collect, manipulate,
store, and process data into information.
hardware

Hardware are the physical computer

equipment used in computer systems. They
can be categorized as input device, central
processing unit, storage device, and output
device.
input device

An input device is a hardware that is used to

enter data into a computer or a similar
processing device such as a smartphone.
Examples are keyboard, mouse, touchpad,
joystick, touchscreen, scanner, microphone, and
digital camera.
 storage device

Is any physical device where data are stored. Examples of storage devices
include hard disk, DVDs, CDs, magnetic tape, Flash drive/thumb
drive/Flash memory (USB memory sticks). This is where your files and data
go to. There are two types of storage devices: primary storage, which is
the Random-Access Memory or RAM, and the secondary storage such as
flash drives, CDs, hard disks, and SD cards. Primary storage is volatile,
which means that it needs a continuous supply of electricity to store data.
When you turn off the computer the data stored in the device is lost.
output device

An output device is the hardware that is used to output

or reproduce data that has been previously entered
into a computer. For example, a printer is an output
device that will produce a page of information when
the correct commands are sent to it from a computer.
Some examples include monitor, printer, plotter,
projector, speaker, headphones, light / LED.
 software

A computer needs to be told what to do, otherwise it

is just a physical entity doing nothing. It needs a
software. Software are the programming instructions
that tell your computer what to do. Software enables
you to use a computer for things such as playing
games, writing an essay, or listening to music.
 2 types of computer
software

SYSTEM APPLICATION
SOFTWARE SOFTWARE
SYSTEM software

The system software controls the way the computer

works and tells it what to do. This software is vital to
the operation of the computer. Without it, the
computer simply would not work. Examples include
operating system, utilities, user interface
APPLICATION software

It is this type of software that lets you do specific

tasks such as creating documents, communicating
with people, playing games, and more. Some examples
include, word processors, e-spreadsheets, databases,
games, web browser and more.
 peopleware

Peopleware can refer to anything that has to do with

the role of using and development of computer
software and hardware systems. Some of these roles
are computer operators, system administrators,
computer programmers, and computer technician.
 computer operators

are those who regularly use the computer. They use

the computers for specific tasks like creating
documents and spreadsheets. They are sometimes
called the end users. Simply, these are anyone who
use a computer. If you are using your phone for
something like watching a video, you can call yourself
a computer operator.
 system administrator
are those who manage computers in a corporate
group such as institutions, businesses, and
organizations. They manage and troubleshoot
computers. They make sure that all computer systems
are operational and kept up to date. Let me give you
an example that you can relate to. If you have been in
an internet café, or computer shop as others call it,
the ones who manages the computer shop does the
role of a system administrators.
 computer programmers

are those who create software. They encode the

instructions that tell the computer what to do which is
called computer programming. Instructions used by
the programmers are called programming languages.
Generally, the position requires a degree in computer
science or other computer courses.
 computer technicians

are those who focus on the troubleshooting and fixing

of the hardware element of computer systems.
Sometimes system administrators can take the role of
technicians. But unlike the system admin, technicians
tend to focus more on fixing hardware.
 hackers

they acquire knowledge and mastery in almost all of

the roles above and take advantage of it in using the
computer for unconventional tasks. We will learn
more about these in our succeeding lessons.
computer language

The foundation of the computer is the language that it

uses to accept, process, store and communicate data
or information. This language is called the machine
language.
thankyou
John Carlo A. Abad