By: Fernando Manuel Calderón Form: 1 th B Year: 2011

 What is a Computer? WWhat is the Hardware? WWhat is the Software? HHardware vs. Software MMain Components of a Computer MMain or Internal Memory VVideo 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 SystemOperating 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.