GS 102 – Computer

Literacy/ Fundamentals of
Information Technology
MOD 5: Computer Hardware
and Software
Learning Objectives
• Input Devices
• Output Devices
• Hardware and Software

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 2

Input Devices
• Input Devices: devices
that input information
into the computer such
as a keyboard, mouse,
scanner, and digital
camera.
Output Devices
• Output: devices that
output information from
the computer such as a
printer and monitor.
Hardware and Software
• Computer Hardware would
include all the parts of a
computer.
• Computer Software includes the
programs that are installed.. Or
the instructions for completing
tasks.
Central Processing Unit
• CPU (Central Processing Unit) also called the
Microprocessor or “The Brain” of the Computer.
• Processor speed: The speed at which a microprocessor
executes instructions. This is usually measured in
megahertz (MHz).
• Brands of Processors include:
• Pentium
• Celeron
• MAC
• AMD
• Cyrix
Central Processing Unit
• Computer chip: also called the
microprocessor may contain an
entire processing unit.
• Computer chips contain millions of
transistors. They are small pieces of
semi-conducting material (silicon).
• An integrated circuit is embedded in
the silicon. Computers are made of
many chips on a circuit board.
Data Storage Devices
• The hard-drive is a mechanical
storage device typically located
internally.
• Fast recording and recovery of
data
• Large storage capacity
• Magnetic
• Primary storage device for data
and programs
• Speed is measured in R.P.M.’s
(Revolutions per minute)
Data Storage Devices (cont’d)
• CD-ROM (compact disk read
only memory)

• An optical device read by

a diode laser
Data Storage Devices (cont’d)
 Floppy diskette is magnetic storage
device for small amounts of data
(1.44MB).
 FLASH drive is a compact and portable
electronic storage device.
 USB (plug and play) supported
Computer Memory
• RAM (random access memory)
stores data that is processing.
This type of memory is erased
when the computer is turned off.
• ROM (read only memory)
contains special instructions for
the computer to operate.
• Cache memory increases the
speed of the processor by
recording and anticipating
instructions.
Graphic User Interface (GUI)
• GUI (Graphic User Interface) is a set of images
and icons seen on the desktop used to operate a
program.
• The GUI makes the programs loaded on the
computer easier to access and use. Basic
Windows GUI
• Icons are small pictures that represent files,
commands, or windows.
• Windows is a GUI operating system.
Video Cards
• Video cards plug into the
motherboard and are used to
display video.
• VRAM is video memory that
enhances the refreshment rate
of the image.
• Video cards have chipsets that
can increase the speed of video
display.
Ports and Peripherals
 Ports are an interface between the computer and another
peripheral device such as a disk drive, mouse, printer, modem,
monitor, camera, FLASH drive or keyboard.
Examples:
Serial
Parallel
hot-wire
USB
Ports and Peripherals
 Peripherals are devices that
plug into a computer and are
not housed internally.
Examples:
Printers
Scanners
Cameras
LAN and WAN
• LAN: are networks usually in the
same company or building. The
Local Area Network is connected
via telephone lines or radio
waves. Most LANs connect
workstations.
• WAN: are systems of LANs that
are connected. (Wide-area
network)
Bandwidth and Baud Rate
• Bandwidth is how much
information can be carried in a
given time period (usually a
second) over a wired or
wireless communications link.
• Baud rate is the rate at which
information is transferred in a
communication channel.
Multitasking and Multiprocessing
• Multitasking is the ability to
execute more than one task
(program) at the same time.
Only one CPU is used but
switches from one program to
another.
• In multiprocessing, more than
one CPU is used to complete a
task. Example: network
rendering.
Multimedia
• Multimedia software programs
include sound, pictures, video,
text, and hypertext to create
presentations.
Software includes:
PowerPoint
Macromedia Director
FLASH
Resolution
• Screen resolution is measured in pixel per inch (ppi),
and printer resolution is measured in dots per inch
(dpi).
• Computer screen resolution is approximately 72 ppi.

Width x Height (Pixels) Video Display

640 x 480 Low Resolution
800 x 600 Medium Resolution
1600 x 1200 High Resolution
Resolution
• Resolution refers to the number
of pixels (picture elements) in
the monitor image.
• Increased resolution uses more
computer resources but
increases the visual clarity of
the display.
Computer Memory
• Computer memory is binary (0 or 1) (on or off).
• The byte is the standard unit of measurement.
• A byte is composed of 8 bits (binary digits).
• Typical units of measurement:
• 1 KB (kilobyte) = 1000 bytes
• 1 MB (megabyte) =1000 kilobytes or 1 million bytes
• 1 GB (gigabyte) =1000 megabytes or 1 billion bytes
1 Tb(Terabyte)= 1000 gigabytes or 1 trillon
File Management
• Saving files - know the difference between
“save” and “save as”. “Save” will save the
open document over the saved document
while “save as” creates a new document if
you rename the document. Save often so
work will not be lost.
• Exporting – converts a native format to a
non-native file format used in various
software programs. In vector programs,
file types may be exported.
File Management
• Different programs have different file extensions.
• Naming files - avoid the following characters in naming files:

Examples:
• @
• *
• .

• Understand the parts of a path name.

Example: C:\SciVis\movie.avi

Drive designator Directory or folder File name File extension

File Management
• Merging files - in 3D
graphics, bringing an
outside file into an open file
(another name for this may
be loading or replacing
objects in the workspace).
• Importing files - bringing a
converted non-native
format file into an open file.
 Software
• Categories of software
i. System Software
• System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a
computer's hardware and application programs.
• If we think of the computer system as a layered model, the system
software is the interface between the hardware and user applications.
• The operating system is the best-known example of system software.
• The OS manages all the other programs in a computer.

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 26

• System software generally includes the following features:
i. High speed: System software must be as efficient as possible to provide an
effective platform for higher-level software in the computer system.
ii. Hard to manipulate: It often requires the use of a programming language,
which is more difficult to use than a more intuitive user interface (UI).
iii. Written in a low-level computer language: System software must be
written in a computer language the central processing unit (CPU) and other
computer hardware can read.
iv. Close to the system: It connects directly to the hardware that enables the
computer to run.
v. Versatile: System software must communicate with both the specialized
hardware it runs on and the higher-level application software that is usually
hardware-agnostic and often has no direct connection to the hardware it
runs on. System software also must support other programs that depend on
it as they evolve and change.
MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 27
Applications software
• Application software is a type of computer program that performs a
specific personal, educational, and business function.
• Each application is designed to assist end-users in accomplishing a
variety of tasks, which may be related to productivity, creativity, or
communication.
• The most common software application platforms are used by
millions of people every day.
• They're designed to help with specific tasks, simplify workflows, and
improve communication across teams.

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 28

• A collection of Microsoft software including MS Office, PowerPoint,
Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Common Internet browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.
• Graphics and designing software such as Canva, Adobe Photoshop,
CorelDraw, and AutoCAD.

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 29

General purpose software
• General purpose application softwares are not limited to one
particular function.
• General-purpose software refers to the software that is mass-
produced for a broad range of common business applications such as
word-processing, graphics, pay roll, and accounting.
• They provide large no of features for its users.
• For example, a word processor could be classed as general purpose
software as it would allow a user to write a novel, create a restaurant
menu or even make a poster. Examples of General purpose
application software include: Word processors, Spreadsheet and
Presentation software.

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 30

 Integrated packages
• This is a kind of general purpose software package that has a number of
related applications bundled into it.
• For example you can purchase an 'office' integrated package containing a
spreadsheet, word processor, presentation tool and database.
• Sometimes these integrated packages are called 'suites'.
• An Integrated Package is a single program that provides the functionality
of a word processor, spreadsheet, database manager, and more.
Examples:
• Microsoft Works
• Corel Works

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 31

Software suites
• A software suite is a collection of two or more software titles or
programs bundled and sold together.
• The programs may have correlative features and functionality, or they
may be completely different, but share a similar theme.
• An example of a software suite is Microsoft Office, as it bundles
together multiple programs, including the following.
i. Word (word processor)
ii. Excel (spreadsheet)
iii. PowerPoint (presentation program)
iv. Outlook (e-mail client)

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 32

• There are other software suites available.
• Examples are listed below.
i. Adobe Creative Cloud suite - includes Adobe
Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign, and more.
ii. Apple iWork suite - includes Pages (word processor), Numbers
(spreadsheet), and Keynote (presentations).
iii. CorelDRAW Graphics suite - includes multiple graphics design and
editing platforms, and compatibility with graphics from other programs
like Adobe Photoshop.
iv. Google productivity suite - includes Google Docs (word
processor), Google Sheets (spreadsheet), Google Slides (presentations),
and more.
v. OpenOffice suite - includes Writer (word processor), Calc
(spreadsheet), Impress (presentations), and more
MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 33
• While each program in a software suite differs in functionality, they
are all usually considered productivity software.

MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 34

 Advantages of a software suite
• A software suite provides several advantages for users, including the
following:
i. Lower bundled cost compared to buying each program separately. Some
software suites are even free to use, like the Google productivity and
OpenOffice suites.
ii. Developed by the same company, often providing synergy and
compatibility of some features between the programs in the suite.
iii. Similar user interface in each program, reducing the learning curve and
improving familiarity
iv. More efficient acquisition process by installing all programs at once,
instead of one at a time.
v. May include additional features or add-on programs not available for
purchase separately. MOD 5: Computer Hardware and Software 35
The End