By: Fernando Manuel Calderón and Sebastián Gabriel Guozden Form: 1 th B Year: 2011
W What is a Computer? WWhat is the Hardware? WWhat is the Software? HHardware vs. Software MMain Components of a Computer MMain or Internal Memory MMeasures the size of the memory VVideo Software and Hardware ( )
A computer is a device, or a group of devices, designed to do something, such as process information or control a system.
The “Hardware” are the physical parts of a computer system, the ones that you can feel and touch. Ex: A monitor, a printer, a mouse or a pen drive.
The “Software” is the set of instructions that make the computer do sth. There are two main types of softwares: ▪ Operating System ▪ ApplicationsApplications
The main difference between Hardware and Software : ▪ You can touch Hardware – it is made of physical objects. ▪ Software relates to ideas and instructions for using the solid objects.
The Hardware of most computers can be divided into several types of device: ▪ Input Device Input Device ▪ Processor Processor ▪ Output Device Output Device ▪ Storage Devic e Storage Devic e
The “Applications” or “Programs” will allowed users to use the computer to play a game, for example, or write a letter. Here are a few examples of general-purpose applications and what they can be used for: Word-Processing Application Word-Processing Application Database ProgramsDatabase Programs Spreadsheet ApplicationsSpreadsheet Applications Presentation ApplicationsPresentation Applications Desktop-Publishing packages Desktop-Publishing packages Graphics ProgramsGraphics Programs Computer-Aided Design PackagesComputer-Aided Design Packages Communications SoftwareCommunications Software Web Page EditorsWeb Page Editors Audio Production and Editing Programs Audio Production and Editing Programs
Word-Processing Applications are used to produce letters, reports and memos.
Database programs are used to store and retrieve information.
Spreadsheet applications are used for tasks that involve calculations or graphs or charts.
Presentation Applications are used to create slide shows and presentations.
Desktop-Publishing Packages are used to produce posters, newsletters and magazines.
Graphics Programs are used for artwork.
Computer-Aided Design Packages are used to produce detailed designs and plans.
Web Page Editors are used to create web pages.
Audio Production and Editing Programs are a common way of producing high quality music at low cost.
Communication Software such as web browsers and programs are used to access the internet and send and receive s.
An Input Device is used to put data into the computer.
A Processor does something with the data given by the Input Device
An output device is used to tell someone or something the result that the processor came up with.
A Storage Device keeps all this data and the Software that is used. If the computer did not have somewhere to store things it would forget everything when it was turned off.
One important part of the CPU is the Main Memory. This is used to store all the data and instructions which the computer is going to use or the answers that it has produce. Within the main memory there are two other memories that are complementary and that makes the main memory to fulfill its function, and this memories are called: ▪ Rom (Read Only Memory) Rom (Read Only Memory) ▪ Ram(Random Access Memory) Ram(Random Access Memory)
In order to reload the programs and data, the computer must be ready to do things. This means that when you switch it on the computer must already have some software in it so that it can understand what you want to do. This software is stored on a special type of main memory called Rom. Rom would be useless for doing work or running programs, though, because we normally want to change things
This memory called RAM stores anything that needs to be changed. All the programs and all the data being used are stored here.
The Computer can only understand electrical signals being turned on or off. These signals can be stand for 0 (no signal being sent) or 1 (an electric signal). Everything else has to be made up of combinations of these electrical signals or no electrical signals. The memory of the computer can be measure by:
The interfaces are a part of the operating system. Operating System is the set of instuctions that makes the computer works. There are many types of interfaces. The chosing of them depends on: The job that the computer has to do the types of users and their abilities. A type of interface can be the Graphical Users Interfaces or also the command line interface (CLI)Graphical Users Interfacescommand line interface (CLI)
The types of computers are: ▪ Mainframe Mainframe ▪ TerminalTerminal ▪ Personal ComputersPersonal Computers ▪ LaptopLaptop ▪ NetbooksNetbooks ▪ PalmtopsPalmtops
Big computer Used by many companies. Begin to be used between 1950 and 1960
It is usally a keyboard and a monitor screen which lets a person have their own connection to the computer. The users of these terminals couls then all share the power of single mainframes.
They belong to a single person They are contolled by a person rather than a large company.
In 1990 po rtable compuers became popular. They were name as Laptops. Laptops have their own power supply and screen. Completly portable although they have the same hardware than the PC.
Recently they become popular. They are small. Usually cheap. Less powerfull laptops use mainly to browse internet.
When batteries where developed That combined a smallñer size with a longe rlife. Smaller laptops became possible. Some laptops can enter in human hands.
This is an Interface for comunicating with the computer. With this interface you have to type in specific commands to tell the computer what to do. This is difficult for many resons: The user must know all comands. The user must be carefull not to make any error.
GUIs are typified by the use of little pictures(called icons) to stand for things that can be done. These icons can be pointe by an arrow on the screen contolled by the mouse. The screen can be divided into different areas wich can have differnet things in them; these are called windows. Puting the for elements together you get the WIMP. Graphical Users Interfaces are sometimes calles WIMP.