1. GCSE OCR 1 A451 Computing What is a computer system?
2-1-1 Fundamentals of computer systems 1

2. Objectives
Understand that a computer system consists of hardware, software, data and often, communications technology
Understand that the basic elements of a computer system are input, processing, storage and output
Understand that a computer system may have one user or thousands of users, each performing different tasks

3. Is a PC a computer system?
Name some input, output and storage devices used on a PC

4. Elements of a computer system

5. Storage devices
A computer needs storage to hold both programs and data
The computer’s memory (RAM) holds programs and data temporarily, and forgets it all when the computer is switched off

6. All computer systems:
Receive data and convert it into the computer’s internal representation
Process the data
Output the results in some form, or transmit the results to another computer
The data may be stored for later use on a storage device
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7. Is the school network a computer system?
Is the school network one computer system or does it comprise many systems?
What hardware may be used in a school network?
What different types of software may be used?

8. A supermarket self checkout
Make a list of the input and output devices used in a self checkout system
What data needs to be held on the computer system’s permanent storage devices for the checkout process to work?

9. Definition
A computer system is the ___________, __________, ___________ and ___________ that work together to produce ____________ in some form. It commonly involves ___________________________________.
Fill in the blanks with the words below in the correct order:

10. Types of computer system
Information systems
Library systems, registration systems used for example by schools and hospitals, the TV Licensing Authority and the Police National Database, search engines like Google
Control and monitoring systems
Systems that control a robot or the temperature and humidity in a greenhouse, or monitor a patient’s vital signs
Communications systems
systems, mobile phones, sat-nav systems, the Internet

11. Computer systems
Complete Worksheet 1 Task 1

12. Have computers always been around?
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” (Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943)
“Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1½ tons.” (Popular Mechanics, March 1949)
“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” (Ken Olsen, President of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977)

13. Which came first? Television Computer Telephone Radio
Put these in the order in which they were invented:
Television
Computer
Telephone
Radio

14. Future developments
“I went to my first computer conference at the New York Hilton about 20 years ago. When somebody there predicted the market for microprocessors would eventually be in the millions, someone else said, ‘Where are they all going to go? It's not like you need a computer in every doorknob!’ Years later, I went back to the same hotel. I noticed the room keys had been replaced by electronic cards you slide into slots in the doors.
There was a computer in every doorknob.”
(Danny Hillis, pioneer in development of computers, 1999)

15. The spread of computers
In 2013:
More than a billion smartphones were sold
134 million desktop PCs were sold
180 million laptops were sold
227 million tablet computers were sold

16. Which came first? Sat-nav systems
Apollo 11, which landed the first men on the moon
Mobile phones
Remote control for TV
ATM (cash machine)
Microwave oven
Are these all examples of computer systems? What is the input, process and output in each case?

17. Computers in everyday life
Do you ever spend a day without using a computer system of some kind?

18. Computers in everyday life
Complete Worksheet 1 Task 2