COMPUTER HARDWARE

- Logical operations work with conditions and logical operators such as AND, OR and NOT.
- The results of operation in the ALU are stored in a special area/location known as the
Accumulator.
Hardware is a general term that is used to describe all the physical/tangible parts of the computer Registers/ Immediate Access Store (IAS)
system. Any parts of the computer (both internal and external) that you can see, feel, pick-up and touch. This holds the data and programs needed at that instant by the control unit. The CPU reads data
E.g. System Unit, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse. and programs kept on the backing storage and store them temporarily in the register’s memory.
INPUT DEVICES
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER HARDWARE These are devices used for entering/feeding data and commands into the computer system.
Computer hardware is divided into four categories: Examples Of Input Devices Include:
i. Processing Unit 1. POINTING DEVICES
ii. Input Devices A pointing device is an input interface that allows a user to input continuous and multi-dimensional data
iii. Output Devices into a computer.
iv. Storage Devices
EXAMPLES OF POINTING DEVICES
PROCESSING /CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU). a. Mouse
A mouse is hand-held input device used for selecting, pointing, clicking, dragging, scrolling, moving
The CPU is the electronic brain of a computer. It where all the searching, sorting, calculating and decision and drawing objects on the desktop/screen of a computer.
making takes place in a computer.
Advantages of using a mouse
COMPONENTS OF THE CPU
1. Easy and convenient to use
There are three main components of the CPU namely; 2. It is inexpensive (cheap).
1. Control Unit 3. Most modern software provides support for use of a mouse
2. Registers/Immediate Access Store (IAS) 4. The selects a position on a screen is much more quicker than a keyboard.
3. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) Disadvantages of using a mouse
Control Unit 1. The mouse cannot be used to input text easily; you still need a keyboard to input text.
This is part of the CPU that is responsible for monitoring, coordinating, controlling and supervising 2. It is relatively slow for selecting menu options. The user who is familiar with a keyboard can
all the activities that take place in the computer system. select the options more quickly.
3. The mouse is not accurate for drawing purposes.
Functions of the Control Unit 4. The mouse needs/requires a flat surface to operate.
- It controls and co-ordinates all the operations of the computer system. b. Joystick
- Fetches and executes commands. Is an input device that is connected to a terminal in order to move the cursor to any position on the screen.
- It tells the rest of the computer how to carry out program instructions. It is used for playing computer games.
-It controls and monitors all the hardware attached to the system to ensure that commands given
to the application software are used. c. Light Pen
-It controls the input and out put of data/information so that the signals go to the right place at the It is a pen-shaped device that when placed close to the screen, it can be used to select items or draw
right time. pictures and control icons or choices shown on to a screen.
-It controls the flow of data within the CPU. Uses of a Light Pen
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
This is part of the CPU which processes data by manipulating it. It divided into two parts namely: - Light pens are used as design Aids. They indicate which shapes to draw and where they should be drawn
i. Arithmetic Part on the screen and the size.
It specifically performs mathematical operations. Arithmetic operations include addition,
Subtraction, division and Multiplication - They are used to read Barcodes.
NB: It also controls the speed of the operations. - They select options for drawing where fingers can not be used.
ii. Logic Part
It deals with comparison and logic operations. It works if one value is greater than, equal to or Advantages of a Light Pen
less than the other item.
-Light pens provide a direct mode of input.

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- They are more precise/accurate than using a mouse. It is held in n the palm and operated with only mouse buttons: the movements across the screen
correspond to a feather touch, and pressure increases the speed of movement.
Disadvantages of a Light Pen m. Pointing Stick
- Can only work in the presence of light. It is a pressure sensitive small nub used like a joystick.. It is usually found on laptop computers
embedded between the ‘G’, ‘H’, and ‘B’ keys. It is found on some desktop keyboards.
-They can only be used in conjunction with a visual display unit (VDU)/monitor.
2. KEYBOARD
d. Touch Screens
The Keyboard is the primary input that converts letters and other characters into electric signals readable
A Touch screen is both an input and output device through which data can be entered and command
by the processor. It is used to enter data and instructions into the computer system.
options can be displayed by touching it with a finger.
A standard keyboard is made up of 101 keys arranged in the following sections:
Uses of Touch screens
1. Used in places where keyboards would be prone to damage due to the environment or where there
is little space for the keyboard e.g. Bars and Fast food places/restaurants. SECTIONS OF THE KEYBOARD
2. The touch screen would be linked to a microcomputer in office nearby, which can be used to
record sales and update stock. i. Alphabetic Keys
3. Touch screen s can display a series of menus through which options can be selected. When items These are keys that enter letters of the alphabet (A-Z)
are sold, the computer adds up the bill and updates the accounts. ii. Function (F) Keys
e. Mini-Mouse These are labeled from F1 – F12. They are special keys that modify the normal action of other keys,
It is a small egg-sized mouse for use with portable computers; usually small enough for use on a free area when the two are pressed in combination. E.g. Alt+ F4 closes an active window in Microsoft Windows.
of a laptop computer.
iii. Arrow Keys
f. Mole/Foot Mouse These are used to navigate through the page in various programs.
It is a mouse variant for those who do not wish to or cannot use the hand or the head, instead it provides
foot clicks. iv. Numeric Key pad
This is composed of numeric keys and arithmetic operators (*, /, +, -). One set is above the alphabet keys
g. Laser Pen and a numeric keypad on the right. They are used to enter numbers ranging from 0-9.
It is an input device that can be used in presentations as a pointing device.
v. Command Keys (Insert, delete, home, end, page up/down)
h. Eye Tracking Device These keys are used to instruct programs to carry out some commands.
It is a mouse controlled by the user’s eyeball/retina movements, allowing cursor manipulation without
touch.
i. Track Balls ESSENTIAL KEYS ON THE KEYBOARD
A track ball looks like a mouse turned upside- down. You move the pointer by manipulating a ball in a
special housing with your fingers. It is useful where desktop space is limited. i. Enter Key [ ]

j. Touch Pads Enter key is also known Return key. It has 3 functions:
A touch pad is a touch sensitive area that senses the movement of a finger over its surface. It is usually - Executes commands/instructions.
found on a laptop, and notebook computers.
- Starts a new line or program in Microsoft Word.
k. Digitising Tablets/Graphics Tablets
A digitizing or graphics tablet is an input device comprising of a flat pad (the tablet) on which you draw - Inserts a blank line
with a special pen called stylus. As you draw on the pad, the image is created on the screen.
Digitizing/graphics tablets are commonly used by Designers, architects and Engineers. ii. Space Bar

Uses of Digitizing Tablets Is used to separate words or insert blank space between characters.

1. Used to hold a drawing while the user copies it on the screen. iii. Back Space
2. Holds a sheet of menus, icons or shapes that the user points to select options. Erases a character towards the left of the insertion point/cursor.
3. They are used in Computer Aided Designing (CAD) for tracing maps and diagrams which are then
transferred into the computer memory for further processing using graphics programs. iv. Del/Delete Key
l. Light Gun / Palm Mouse
Erases a character towards the right of the insertion point/cursor

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v. ESC/Escape Key xxvi. Alt key and Ctrl key – are special keys and work in conjunction with other keys to send
instructions to the Computer system.
Interrupts/cancels a given task or command.
For example:
vi. Caps Lock Key
Alt + F4 - Closes a program window.
Switches to Uppercase (capital letter)
Ctrl + F4 - Closes a document window
vii. Shift Key
Has 3 functions:
3. CONCEPT KEYBOARD
- Switches between Lowercase and Uppercase It is a flat board that contains a grid of buttons. Each button is programmed to do whatever you want.
- It is used in conjunction with the arrow keys to highlight sections of a document. 4. SCANNERS
- it is used to type the upper characters of the keyboard e.g. !, @, #, %, ^, $, (, ), {, }, <, >, ?, :, “, ‘, Is an input device used for converting images, and texts such as photos and drawings into digital format
etc) that can be used by a computer.

viii. Tab Key || Types of Scanners

It has 2 functions: There are two types of Scanners:

- It is used for tabulation 1. Handheld Scanner.

2. Flatbed Scanner.
- Creates Indents
ix. (Up) - Moves up one line. Handheld Scanner
x (Down) – Moves down one line. Is a Scanner which is moved across the picture/object being scanned.
xi.  (Left) – Moves left one character. Handheld scanners are cheap and portable.
xii.  (Right) – Moves right one character. Flatbed Scanner
Is a scanner where the picture is laid flat and the scanner remains stationary on the table while the picture
is scanned.
xiii. Home - Moves to the start of the current line.
xiv. End - Moves to the end of the current line.
5. DOCUMENT READERS
xv. Ctrl + home – Moves to the beginning of the document. A document reader is an input device which can read data directly from source document such as Bank
Cheques, electricity meter reading form etc and convey it to the computer as electronic signals.
xvi. Ctrl + End - Moves to the end of the document.
Types of Codes on documents
xvii. Ctrl +  - Moves up one paragraph in Microsoft Word.
Marks – short lines made by hand, usually in pencil on a document.
xviii. Ctrl +  - Moves down one paragraph in Microsoft Word.
Characters – Hand written e.g. meter-reading or printed e.g. magnetic ink on cheques.
xix. Ctrl +  - Moves one word to the left in Microsoft Word.
Printed lines – the most common of these is the barcode.
xx. Ctrl +  - Moves one word to the right in Microsoft Word
Document readers can be classified into two: Optical and Magnetic readers.
xxi. Insert Key – Switches between Insert mode and overwrite move.
The optical readers use the principles of light to sense the document content. Currently there are two types
xxii. Page Up – Moves up one screen (Previous page). of optical readers:
xxiii. Page Down – Moves down one page (next page). - Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
xxiv. Windows Log Key – Displays the start menu. - Optical Mark Reader (OMR).
xxv. Application Key – Displays the Pop up/Shortcut menu.

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The magnetic readers use the principles of magnetism to sense document characters that have been o It is difficult for the computer to understand and fill in or impractical to design e.g. if a
written using magnetic ink. The magnetic reader is known as Magnetic Ink Character Recognition document has several values, then the format has to have a different box to mark for each
(MICR). possible value.
o The person putting the marks on the document has to follow the instructions precisely.
6. OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION (OCR) o The document reader will have to be reprogrammed for each new document design.
This detects and also recognizes shapes of marks and identifies characters. OCR is also known as Optical 9. MICROPHONE
Character Reader A microphone is a device used to input sound/voice/speech into the computer system. The sound is
The following are characters that can be recognized by OCR: detected by the microphone and an electrical signal is transferred to the computer.

- Hand written characters. 10. BARCODE READERS

- Printed characters. These are input devices used to read the barcodes by using a visible red light. The reflected light is
Uses of OCR translated into digital data that is interpreted by the computer to identify the product and price from the
database. The barcode is a series of vertical bars of varying widths that give information. Barcode readers
 They are used to process turn-around documents such as Electricity Bills are also called Wands.
 They are used to print sales order forms.
 They are used for processing stock sheets. 11. DIGITAL CAMERAS
A digital camera is an input device used to capture images and records them electronically on a memory
Advantages of OCR
card.
- No typing requirements.
- The documents are turned around thus saving time. 12. SENSORS
A sensor is a type of input device that collects specific kinds of data directly from the environment and
- Provide faster input compared to keyboard.
- Documents do not have to be designed so precisely for OCR to read. transmits it to the computer.
- The contents of the document are both machine and human sensible. Sensors can be used to detect and record physical quantities such as speed, movement, weight,
Disadvantages of OCR temperature, humidity, wind, current, fog, gas, light, smoke etc.
-
Expensive method of input because special techniques and equipment are required 13. VOICE RECOGNITION EQUIPMENT SYSTEM (VRQS)
-
Handling precaution is necessary e.g. document should not be folded. These are devices used for dictating input via a microphone into the computer system i.e. they are used to
-
Document size and type area may be limited for accurate reading. capture sound into the computer.
-
Special typing and character formatting are important since OCR devices fail to recognize/read
characters e.g. handwritten. 14. KIMBALL TAGS
7. MAGNETIC INK CHARACTER RECOGNITION (MICR) These are small paper punched cards attached to clothes and other merchandise on sale. An optical
These are devices used to recognize characters written/ formed from magnetic ink. Banks use this scanner is used to read the Kimball tag and extract the product code and the price from it.
technique to enable them process over 300 cheques per minute with 100% accuracy.
15. MODEM
Advantages of MICR Modem is a device used to convert digital signals into analog signals and vice-versa.

- MICR is difficult to forge. NB: The Modem enables the computer to communicate to a network or internet via a telephone line.
- Documents can still be read when folded or written on.
Modem stands for Modulation – Demodulation.
Disadvantages of MICR
16. CARDS
- MICR readers and encoders are very expensive.
These are small rectangular cards made of plastic that incorporate data in machine sensible and human
- The system can only accept a few different characters.
sensible form e.g. smart cards.
8. OPTICAL MARK READER (OMR)
These are devices used for converting character marks, lines and pencil marks into a computer readable
form/electronic form or digital form. 17. SMART CARDS
A smart card is a special type of badge whose data can be changed by a special badge reader. Therefore a
It also detects the presence of a mark by reflecting light on to it.
‘smart card’ may be used as a form of electronic money.
Advantages of OMR 18. CREDIT CARDS
o
Fewer mistakes are made by machines reading marks than made when reading A credit card is a card with a strip of magnetic tape fixed on it that contains coded information, which is
handwritten characters. usually the owner’s code. This card is inserted into a slot where magnetic data may be obtained.
o Data can be where it is collected e.g. students sitting a Multiple – Choice examination.
Uses of Cards/Badges
Disadvantages of OMR

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1. Car parks – Cards or badges are used to raise car barriers, allowing entry to or exit from the car park. This is the main memory of the computer that holds data from input devices, programs or secondary
2. Banks – Credit and service cards i.e. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) dispense cash automatically storage devices. It is the working storage of the computer. It is also termed as main storage, internal
when a customer inserts a plastic card and follows instructions issued. memory or volatile memory of the computer system.
3. Access Control – Access control cards are used for security reasons in many offices to control access
to buildings or rooms. Functions of RAM
4. Production control – Punched cards can be used to hold data in a factory such as employee’s details - Holds all the data input from the keyboard for processing.
which is used for production scheduling, stock control and job costing.
Ways of coding data onto Cards/Badges - Holds instructions for processing.
1. Magnetized Marks e.g. a short stripe of magnetic tape sealed into the card’s surface. - Holds results after processing from the CPU.
2. Optical marks.
- Holds/stores data and programs during processing.
3. Punched cards.
19. BIOMETRIC DEVICES Characteristics of RAM
These are special devices used to capture the biometric data which is then passed onto the computer for
processing and identification. - It is temporary memory of the computer.
- It store data you are working on.

STORAGE DEVICES - It is volatile i.e. it loses information incase of power failure.

It is where data is being kept safely on the computer. These devices can be divided into two major - It stores modules that are needed to make your applications work .
categories namely; - It is a read – write memory.
1. Primary Storage/Internal Memory - It can be Upgraded or increased.
2. Secondary Storage/External Memory/Backing Devices Storage
COMPUTER MEMORY Types of RAM:
Memory refers to the area or space where a computer stores data/information temporarily. EDO – Extended Data Output.
DRAM – Dynamic Random Access Memory.
Types of Storage Devices
SDRAM – Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory.
There are two types of storage devices. These include: SRAM- Static RAM
RDRAM -Rambus Dynamic RAM
1. Primary Storage/Internal Memory/Main Memory
DDR SDRAM -Double Data Rate SDRAM
2. Secondary Storage/External Memory/Backing Devices Cache Memory – This is a high speed memory which can quickly be accessed by the CPU
during processing.
PRIMARY STORAGE/INTERNAL MEMORY READ ONLY MEMROY (ROM)
This is the internal memory of the computer and therefore it is space for keeping data/information in the It is the non-volatile memory of the computer which holds the instructions that the computer uses when it
computer. boots up. It also checks on BIOS (Basic Input/ Output System).
Types Of Primary Storage/Internal Memory The instructions built into ROM are permanent and they can not be added, changed or deleted. That is why
There are three types of Primary Storage namely; it is referred to as Read Only Memory.

1. Random Access Memory (RAM) FUNCTION OF ROM

2. Read Only Memory (ROM) - It is used to store software and configurations used in booting a computer.

3. Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor (CMOS) memory. FEATURES/CHARACTERISTICS OF ROM

- It is Permanent.
-You can read from it but you cannot write to it

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) - It is Non-Volatile i.e. information is retained incase of power failure.
- It is system memory because it stores system configuration information.

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- It is not upgradeable/increasable. These are random access devices that can hold up to 4.7GB of non-volatile data and twice this for a dual
layer DVD. They work in the same way as CD-Roms.
TYPES OF ROM
RECORDABLE OPTICAL DISCS
PROM – Programmable read Only Memory or
These discs can have that burnt (written) onto them using a special disc drive in a computer.
OTPROM- One-Time Programmable read Only Memory
a) Compact Disc Write Once Read Many (CD-WORM)
EPROM – Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. These discs have that burnt (written) onto them once and it is never erased. You can
EEPROM – Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. keep adding data until the disc is full but you cannot re-use a full disc.
EAROM – Electronically Alterable Read-Only Memory b) Compact Disc Readable Only (CD-R)
Flash Memory. These discs have that burnt (written) onto them and it is never erased. You can access

COMPLEMENTARY METAL OXIDE SEMI-CONDUCTOR (CMOS) MEMORY data many times but you cannot save onto it again.

It is a small amount of semi-permanent storage where changeable data can stored that needs to remain c) Digital Versatile Disc Recordable (DVD-R)
available when the computer is turned off. These discs have that burnt (written) onto them and it is never erased. You can keep

A small battery on the motherboard called the CMOS battery keeps this memory alive when power goes adding data but you cannot remove any data.
off. d) Compact Disc Rewritable (CD-RW)
With this disc you can burn (write) data onto it and erase it over and over again.

SECONDARY STORAGE/BACKING DEVICES e) Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable (DVD-RW)

You can burn (write) data onto this disc and also erase it so that it can be re-used as many times as possible..
This refers to the devices that store computer-held information and programs permanently. Secondary
storage is also termed as external storage, Backing storage or Auxiliary storage. f) Digital Versatile Disc Random Access Memory (DVD-RAM)
This works in the same way as a rewritable DVD but it is of a higher quality and can reliably store data for
over 30 years.
CATEGORIES OF SECONDARY STORAGE DEVICES HIGH CAPACITY OPTICAL DISCS
Secondary Storage Devices are categorized into four types namely; These discs can more data burnt onto them compared to normal discs and DVDs by use of a blue laser.
1. Optical Storage Devices Examples Of High Capacity Optical Discs
2. Magnetic Storage Devices
3. Magneto-Optical Devices a) Blu-Ray
4. Solid state Storage Devices These are random access devices that can hold up to 50GB of data and twice this for a dual layer Blu-Ray
OPTICAL STORAGE DEVICES disc. They are used in the same way as DVD-ROMs and store very high quality High Definition (HD)
Video.
These device save data as patterns of dots that can be read using a laser of beam of light.
b) High Definition Digital Versatile Discs
Examples Of Optical Storage Devices These are random access devices that can hold up to 15GB of data and twice this for a dual layer disc. They
i. Read Only Optical Discs are used in the same way as Blu-Rays.
ii. Recordable Optical Discs
iii. High Capacity Optical Discs Advantages Of Optical Discs
READ ONLY OPTICAL DISCS  They are more small and portable.
These discs have unchangeable data written onto them when they are manufactured.  There is now mass production of optical discs making them relatively cheap.
 Most computers can read one or many of these devices.
Examples Of Read Only Optical Discs  They are faster to access data than serial access devices.
a) Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM)  They have a very large storage capacity.
These are random access devices that can hold up to 800MB of non-volatile data. They are used to distribute
 Their sound and picture quality is excellent making them ideal for storing films with video and
software, music, electronic books etc.
sound.
b) Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM) Disadvantages Of Optical Discs

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  They have a smaller storage capacity than some hard drives. Portable Hard Drive/ External Hard Drive.
 There is no single standard of optical discs.
It is placed into a small along with some electronics that allow it to be accessed using a Universal Serial
 They can be easily damaged by breaking, snapping or scratching. Bus (USB) or similar connection. They allow very large amounts of data to be transported from one
Precautions for safety keeping of CDs computer to another.
1. Avoid finger prints.
Advantages of Hard Disks
2. Avoid dust.
3. Do not scratch CDs.  Hard disks store much more data than other storage devices.
4. Do not expose CDs to direct sun shine or light.  Access to data is much faster than on other secondary storage devices.
5. Do not clean CDs with water, oil.  Hard disks are more reliable than other storage devices because there is proper protection against dust.
6. Avoid food/drinks.  Stored items are not lost when you turn off your computer.
7. Keep CDs in the CD jacket after use.  They are necessary to support the way your computer works.
8. Avoid over use of CDs.  They are cheap on cost per megabyte compared to other secondary storage devices.
9. Don’t leave CDs in the drive after use.
Advantages of Using CDs
Disadvantages of Hard Disks
 Compact discs are more are portable than other storage devices.
 Can be stored for a long time.  They are easily affected by power fluctuations (surges) which damage the storage surface of the hard
 Have high storage capacity, they hold up to 700MB of data, instructions and information. disk.
 CD-ROMs are read only so they can store games and software programs permanently.  Hard disks can crash which stops the computer from working.
 CD – ROMs can contain text, graphics, video and sound.  Hard disks are expensive.
 CDs can be used for backing up of large amounts of data and information.  Head crash may occur due to extreme shock or contaminants.
Disadvantages of Using CDs  Since hard disks are metallic, they expand and contract due to changes in temperature which may lead
to loss of data. This is why most computer labs are air conditioned.
1. They can easily be scratched hence distorting data stored on them.
 Fixed hard drives cannot easily be transferred to another computer..
2. CDs can easily get damaged by various factors such as direct sunlight, finger prints, water etc.
 Hard disks vulnerable to magnetic fields.
3. Can be attacked by viruses.
4. Some types of CDs are read only e.g. CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs.  Hard disks can easily be damaged by viruses.
5. Access to data on CDs is slower than that of a hard disk. Terms associated with Hard Disks
6. Some formats of CDs can not be by CD-ROMs e.g. DVD+R and DVD-R, they can only read by a DVD Seek Time
writer.
MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES Refers to the time the read/write head of a hard disk takes move to the correct track, measured in
milliseconds, or ms(1000th of a second).
These devices can store data in the form of tiny magnetized dots. These dots are created , read and erased
using magnetic fields created by very tiny electromagnets. The dots are arranged in circles on the surface Latency
of a plastic, metal or glass that has a magnetisable coating.
The time it takes for hard to rotate so that the head is positioned over the correct sector.
Examples Of Magnetic Storage Devices
Access Time
i. Hard Disk/ Hard Drive
A hard disk is a random access device with very fast data access speeds and a very large storage capacity This is the sum of seek time and latency. For example a faster hard disk may a seek time of 6 milliseconds
of up 1TB. A hard disc always stores vast amount s of data/information. Data is stored inside a hard-drive and latency of about 5 milliseconds. If you add seek time to latency, you get total access time (6ms + 5ms
on rotating metal or glass discs called platters. = 11ms).
Types of Hard -Drives Write
They are two common types of hard drives namely; Computer activity whereby data processed by the computer is recorded onto a disk.
a) Fixed Hard Drive Read
b) Portable Hard Drive/ External Hard Drive.
Fixed Hard Drive Computer activity whereby data represented in magnetized spots on a disk are converted to electronic
signals and transmitted to the computer’s main memory/primary storage (RAM).
It is built into the case of a computer as the main backing storage device. All of the data files and other
software programs are stored onto it. Differences between Hard disks and Diskettes

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1. The diskette is plastic while a hard disk is metallic.  Avoid cell phones or mobile phones.
2. Diskettes have low storage capacity due to limited space (1.44MB) whereas a hard disk has a high  Do not carry diskettes in pockets or lose bags.
storage capacity.  Do not write on diskettes using sharp objects such as compasses.
3. Diskettes are removable while hard disks are non-removable (fixed inside the computer system, can  Do not spill on diskettes (do not pour liquid substances on diskettes such as water, Sodas, oil, grease
only be seen after opening the system unit. etc.
4. Diskettes have low reading speed while hard disks have high speed in reading data.  Avoid dusty and smoky environments.
5. Diskettes have slow access to data whereas hard disks have faster access to data.  Do not expose diskettes to moisture environments.
6. Diskettes can be operated upon by the user while the hard disk can not be operated upon.  Do not touch the exposed surfaces of the diskette such as the spindle and the metallic shutter.
ii. Floppy Disk/ Diskettes
 Do not place heavy weights on the diskettes.
It is a small, removable, portable flexible, plastic, cheap, and low storage device. They are slow random
 Avoid overuse of the diskettes because it will wear off very quickly.
access devices used to transfer small amounts of data of up to 1.44MB.
 Do not leave diskettes in the drive after use.
They are now obsolete having been replaced by higher capacity storage devices such as CDs, DVDs and  Do not bend the diskette.
USB memory sticks/ memory cards. Advantages of using Diskettes
Classification of Floppy Disks/ Diskettes 1. Diskettes are exchangeable and easy to transport.
2. They can be used to store data and programs for computers which do not have hard disks.
1. Diskettes can be classified as 3½ (3.5) inch or 5¼ (5.25) inch. 3. Diskettes can be used as a Backup storage for the computer with a hard disk.
2. They can be classified as single sided or double sided. Double sided diskettes store data on both
Disadvantages of using diskettes
surfaces.
3. They can high density or low density. High density diskettes store more data than the low density. 1. Diskettes are slower in reading data than the hard disk.
2. They have limited storage capacity e.g. they can only hold a maximum of 1.44MB of data.
3. Diskettes are prone to damage (can be easily damaged) by various factors such as dust, dirt, magnetic
High Density Diskettes fields, humidity etc.
4. Can easily be attacked by viruses.
Terms associated with Diskettes
Size Capacity
Tracks
3½ (3.5) inch 1.44MB
The rings on the diskette along which data is recorded. Each track is divided into 8 or 9 sectors.
5¼ (5.25) inch 1.22MB
Sectors
These are invisible wedge-shaped sections used by the computer for storage reference purposes. Each sector
Low Density Diskettes holds 512 bytes of data.
Formatting/Initializing
Size Capacity Preparing diskettes so that they can be used to store information. This involves defining tracks and sectors
as well as setting up a File Allocation Table (FAT) or storage layout.
3½ or 3.5 inch 720KB
FAT
5¼ or 5.25 inch 360KB
Is an indexed table with entries of all file names stored on a disk.
High Density Diskette
Precautions for keeping Floppy disks/Diskettes
Diskette that stores 1.2 or 1.44 Megabytes (MB) of data.
 Write protect diskettes to prevent them from being written on by unauthorized persons.
 Do write on labels before fixing them on the diskettes. iii. Magnetic Tapes
 Clean diskettes regularly using Anti-virus programs which can detect and remove viruses form the Magnetic tapes are thin plastic tapes that are magnetically coated for storage of data as magnetic spots/dots.
diskettes. They are large capacity storage devices with a slower serial data access. Historically, magnetic tapes were
 Keep diskettes in their bank, sleeve/cartridge or container after use. the first form of secondary storage.
 Don’t expose diskettes to very high temperatures such as heat, fire or direct sunlight. Magnetic tapes are similar to ordinary cassette tapes or video tapes and data on them is accessed
 Do not expose diskettes to strong magnetic fields e.g. near a Radio, Music system or speakers. sequentially i.e. one record after another.

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Advantages of Magnetic Tapes Examples Of Magneto-Optical Storage Devices/ Drives
1. They can store large amounts of data for their size. i. Fujitsu DynaMO
2. They are compact and easy to store data for long time. It is 230MB drive used in the notebooks called Power PC Apple PowerBooks.
3. Magnetic tapes are lighter and easy to carry.
4. They are very effective when used to store sequential files for batch processing. ii. Pinnacle Micro Vertex
5. Tapes provide high capacity storage and Backup storage at a relatively low cost. It is a 2.6 GB drive also used as local disks in notebooks.
iii. Minidisc
Note: The new type of tapes is known as Digital Audio Tape (DAT). It is a famous example of MO device developed by Sony Corporation.

Disadvantages of Magnetic Tapes Advantages Of Magneto-Optical Storage Devices/ Drives

1. Reading one record at a time sequentially is time consuming as all records must pass through the  They are convenient to use.
read/write head.  They can be bought at a modest cost.
2. Environment factors such as smoke, dust, moisture, high/low humidity, distortion, date stored on the  They are very reliable
magnetic tapes.  Some models are easily available
3. Tapes do not fully use the recording surface. Disadvantages Of Magneto-Optical Storage Devices/ Drives
iv. Jaz Disk
It is a removable, portable, random access storage, based on hard-drive technology, with a large capacity  They are slower than hard disk drives.
of up to 2 GB.  They have a lower data storage capacity than modern hard drives.
SOLID STATE STORAGE DEVICES
They were used for data back-up or moving large files between computers but are now obsolete.
These devices are based on electronic circuits with no moving parts. They store data using a special type
v. Zip Disk of memory called flash memory which is a no-volatile type of Electronically Erasable Programmable
It is removable, portable, random access storage, similar in appearance to a floppy disk but with a much Read Only Memory (EEPROM).
higher storage capacity of up to 750MB. They are also obsolete having been replaced by higher capacity
technology such as CDs, DVDs, and USB memory sticks. Examples Of Solid State Storage Devices

vi. Punched Card a) Flash Disks / USB Memory Sticks

It is a rectangular card used to store data by presence or absence of small holes tha can be punched in These are non-volatile, random access, removable and rewritable memory storage devices. They have a
specific locations on the card. They cards were used by computers of the first generation before disks were small printed circuit board which is en cased in plastic or metallic casing.
invented. Memory sticks can store up to 32GB of data.
DRIVE DESIGNATORS b) Memory Cards
Disk drives on the computers are designated/identified by alphabets, where: These are compact, non-volatile data storage devices using flash memory to store data in digital devices
like cameras, mobile phones, MP3 and MP4 players, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards etc.
1. A: - Represents the floppy disk drive (FDD). If you have a second diskette drive then it will be called
Drive B: c) Smart Cards
These are more reliable cards using flash memory to store data e.g. satellite TV card, Door Entry Cards
2. C: - Represents the Hard disk drive (HDD). If you have a second diskette drive then it will be called etc.
Drive D:
Advantages Of Solid State Storage Devices
3. D: - Usually represents the CD-ROM drive. If you have a second diskette drive then it will be called
Drive E  They are more compact, lightweight and portable than other storage devices.
 They are plug and play devices.
4. E: - Z: - Represents the other existing disk drives such other hard disks and removable drives such  They are more reliable since they have no moving parts.
as Zip drives, Jaz drives, Flash disks etc.  They being developed with a fashionable look and come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
MAGNETO-OPTICAL STORAGE DEVICES Disadvantages Of Solid State Storage Devices

These devices employ both magnetic and optical technologies to read/write data on a disc. A MO device  At the moment the cost per megabyte of storage is more expensive than other storage devices.
is slightly larger than a 3.5-inch magnetic diskette, and it looks similar. Data can rewritten and read over  They can be physically damaged
and over again.  They can be easily lost
 The metal part that is inserted into the USB port can be snapped off, if it is handled roughly.
Note: MO diskettes can store from 100MB up to several gigabytes (GB)

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OUTPUT DEVICES Modern monitors range from 5to 52 inches measured diagonally in size.
These are hardware devices used for bringing out information to the user’s disposal from the computer. Resolution
Examples Of Output Devices It refers to the number of pixels (coloured dots) contained and displayed in the monitor. The higher the
number of pixels, the higher the monitor’s resolution.
1. MONITORS/VIDEO DISPLAY UNITS (VDU)
A monitor is a TV – like device used to display the soft copy of data/information in the computer. Colour
Uses of a Monitor This refers to the display colour format.
1. Displays text and images produced by the computer It is grouped into two major categories namely;
2. Shows mistyped words. i. Monochrome
ii. Polychrome
3. Displays results after processing from the CPU. Monochrome
Types of Monitors These are single colour monitors. They display information in only one colour. They display like black
There are two types of monitors, namely; and white TV.

1. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors Polychrome

2. Flat Screens/Thin Film Transistor (TFTs) Monitors. These are monitors which display information in various colours. The typical colours are Red, Green and
Blue. They display like a coloured TV.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors
Types of Polychrome Monitors
These are monitors which have a large vacuum tube inside extending both vertically and horizontally.
They are large and bulky and have a glass screen which makes them robust and difficult to damage.  SVGA – Super Video Graphics Array
It is a monitor that displays 256 different colours at a resolution of 800 by 600 pixels.
Flat Screens/Thin Film Transistor (TFTs) Monitors  VGA – Video Graphics Array
These are smaller and quieter monitors that create less heat. They are easier to damage than CRTs. It is a monitor that displays 256 different colours at a resolution of 720 by 400 pixels.

Examples of Flat Screen Monitors  XGA – Extended Graphics Array

It is a monitor that displays 256 different colours at a resolution of 1024 by768 pixels.
Gas Plasma Displays (GPD)
 EGA-Extended Graphics Array
They use neon gas that is trapped into the screen. When current is applied to the gas it glows producing It is a monitor that displays 16 different colours at a resolution of 640 by 350 pixels.
different colours.  CGA – Colour Graphics Array
It is a monitor that displays 4 different colours at a resolution of 320 by 200 pixels.
Liquid Crystal Displays
Screen Clarity
They contain a clear liquid sealed into tiny pockets in the glass. The liquid forms characters when electric
current is applied. Refers to the sharpness of the screen display. Screen clarity depends on 3 factors namely:
Electronic Displays (ED) 1. Resolution.
They displays images using a specially treated film on the screen that glows when electric current is 2. Dot Pitch.
applied.
3. Refresh Rate.
Terms Associated With Monitors
Resolution
All monitors are determined by three terms namely;
Is the clarity or sharpness of the screen display. The more the pixels there are per square inch, the better
a. Size the resolution.
b. Resolution
c. Colour Pixel
Size A pixel (coloured dot) is the smallest unit of the screen that can be turned on or off.

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Example: a) They have low print resolution.
b) They are very noisy during operation.
A screen with a 640 x 350 pixels has a total of 224,000 pixels. This screen will be less clear and sharper c) Although the print head is easy to maintain, there is a problem of head over heating resulting from long
than a screen with 800 x 600 (480,000 pixels). print outs hence reducing productivity.
Dot Pitch Examples of impact printers include:

Is the amount of space between pixels. The closer the dots, the greater (crisper) the image. 1. Dot Matrix printers.
2. Daisy Wheel printers.
Refresh Rate 3. Drum printers.
4. Chain printers.
Is the number of times per second that pixels are recharged so that their glow remains bright.
5. Golf printers.
ADVANTAGES OF DISPLAY DEVICES SUCH AS MONITORS. 6. Line printers.
7. Ball printers
1. They are generally quite. Dot Matrix Printer
2. No need of paper. This is an impact printer that prints by tracing the shape of a character or drawing. The printer head has
3. Output can be modified or changed easily. several pins arranged in a matrix. The more pins the printer head has, the better the quality of output.

4. Scrolling enables focus on a particular or part of the document.

5. Transmission to another device is faster e.g. on a Local Area Network (LAN). Advantages of Dot Matrix Printers over Laser Jet Printers

6. The display devices are the user’s workplace, there making it easier to use.  They withstand vibrations, high temperatures and dusty environment.
 They are relatively cheaper than other printers.
7. There is faster time taken to display the images.  They need fewer periodic servicing.
 They can print on continuous paper.
8. Screen displays can include text, graphics/pictures and colours.
 Production of multiple copies is possible.
2. PRINTERS  They are the only type of printers which print on stencils.
A printer is an output device that gives the hard copy of the information held in a computer.  Ability to printer on a triplicate document because of the printing mechanism.
It prints characters, symbols and graphics/pictures on paper, nevertheless; printing can be done on other
materials. Disadvantages Dot Matrix Printers
A hard copy is a printed copy of information stored in the computer system. Where as a soft copy is a copy  They are noisy due to the printing mechanism.
of information stored in the computer or diskettes or flash disks or that is displayed on the monitor.  Poor quality prints outs.
TYPES OF PRINTERS  They relatively slow in printing.
 They are quite rare on the market.
There are two of printers, namely;  They have limited colour outputs i.e. they print only in Black and White.
1. Impact printers  Due to old technology, they can not easily be serviced.
2. Non-Impact printers. Daisy Wheel Printer
IMPACT PRINTERS This produces better quality because the printer has several hammers which strike the embossed characters
These printers that print on continuous stationary and create carbon copies using carbonated paper. to form images on paper.

Impact printers are very noisy, slow and less efficient. NON-IMPACT PRINTERS

Advantages of Impact Printers These are quiet, faster, and efficient printers that use chemicals, laser or heat to produce images and
characters.
a) They are flexible and cheap.
b) They are reliable e.g. Dot Matrix printer head can print over 100 million characters in its useful life Laser Jet Printers
span. These are quiet and faster printers which print a large number of documents on sheets of papers very quickly
c) They are easy to maintain because they require fewer period cleaning. .They use the photocopying principles of a photocopier.
d) They are capable of printing in various fonts, font styles and heavy graphics.
Disadvantages of Impact Printers They use powdered ink called Toner and come in colour and black and white.

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Examples of Laser Jet Printers include; 7. Continuous form / Fan fold Printer.
It uses a long paper connected with perforated lines.
1. HP Laser Jet 4L/5L/6L.
2. HP Laser Jet 1010/1300/ P2015
PRINTING METHODS
Ink-Jet Printers
1. Character printing – Prints one character at a time e.g. a type writer.
These are printers that use cartridges which contain ink. Colour ink-jet printers are used where only on a
few documents need to be printed. 2. Line printing – Prints one line at a time e.g. Ink-Jet printers.

Cartridge – a small container that holds ink for printing in an Ink-Jet printer. Ink-Jet printers have ink 3. Page Printers – Prints page by page e.g. Laser Jet Printers.
cartridges whereas Laser Jets use powered ink Toner. 4. Chain Printing – Prints multiple lines at a time e.g. Chain printers
Examples of Ink-Jet printers include;
1. Thermal printers Factors considered when selecting a Printer
2. Office jet printers
3. Photo smart printers 1. The initial price of a printer and cost of maintenance and consumable items such as printing papers,
4. DeskJet printer ink, toner, ribbons etc.
5. Portable printers 2. Volume of work to be printed.
6. Large-format printers 3. Nature of work to be produced e.g. reports, receipts, thus print quality should be considered.
4. Type of printer e.g. impact or non – impact, for multiple copy production, you need an impact printer
such as Dot Matrix.
Differences between Impact Printers and non-Impact Printers 5. The printing speed of a printer. E.g. CPS, LPM or PPM
a) Impact printers use inked ribbons whereas Non-Impact printers use thermal/electrostatic principles 6. The printer interface with the computer e.g. parallel port or USB port cable interface.
b) Impact printers are slow while non-Impact printers are faster in printing. 7. The paper size e.g. A4, or A3 output
c) Impact Printers are noisy whereas Non-Impact printers are quiet because there is no mechanical 3. PLOTTERS
contact between character and paper (there is no head element hitting against the stationery). A plotter is a specialized output device used for producing high quality large hardcopy outputs in a variety
d) Impact printers are cheap while Non-Impact printers are expensive due to the technology involved. of colours such as large technical drawings, maps, charts, Architectural drawings and 3-D illustrations using
e) Multiple copy production is possible for impact printers whereas for non-impact printers, it is almost specialized CAD programs. They are usually used by Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, Graphics designers,
impossible. and Map-makers.
f) For impact printers, the printing mechanism physically touches the paper whereas for non-impact Note: Such outputs are normally too large to be printed an ordinary printer.
printers, the printing mechanism does not physically touch the paper.
Types of Plotters

OTHER CATEGORIES OF PRINTERS There are majorly two types of plotters namely;
1. Label Printer 1. Drum plotter.
It is a small printer that prints on adhesive-type material that can be placed on a variety of items. 2. Flat bed Plotter.
Drum Plotter
2. Braille Printer
This outputs information in Braille onto paper so that it can be read by visually impaired people. This is a plotter that uses an Ink-jet printer, and paper is output over a drum, enabling continuous output.
3. Serial Printer. Features of drum plotters
Its speed is measured in Characters Per Second (CPS) ranging from 40 to 450 CPS.
 Ink-jet plotters are less efficient and slower than the electrostatic/flat bed plotters.
4. Line Printer.  They are much bigger than the electrostatic plotters.
Its speed is measured in Lines Per Second (LPM) ranging from 1000 to 5000 LPM.  They are also cheap compared to electrostatic plotters.
Flat bed Plotter
5. Page Printer
Its speed is measured is measured in Pages Per Minute (PPM) ranging from 4 to 800 PPM. This is a plotter designed such that the paper lies flat on a table-like surface for a pen to be moving over it
in all directions to produce a graphical output.
6. Form feed / Single Sheet Printer
One sheet of paper is fed and printed out at a time. Features of Flat bed plotters

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  Unlike ink-jet plotters which use ink, flat bed plotters use toner in a manner similar to a photocopier. iii. Sound Card
 Flatbed plotters are smaller, faster, efficient and very expensive than drum plotters. It enables audio output through speakers.
4. AUDIO OUTPUT DEVICES
Video Card
These are components of a computer that produce music, speech, or other sounds. E.g. speakers and
headsets. It converts the processor’s output into a video signal that can be sent through a cable to the monitor
Therefore speakers are used to output sound from the computer system with the help of a sound card. iv. Data buses
These are electronic pathways or highways onto which data travels within a computer.
5. MACHINE TOOL
These are machines used in the manufacturing of products in industries e.g. Computer Aided Manufacturing v. Expansion Slots
(CAM). These are slots located onto the motherboard into which expansion cards like interface cards, adapter
boards and add –in boards can be inserted.
6. LIGHTS
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) can be connected to a computer and respond to electrical signals which tell vi. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
them to switch on and off. It writes and reads data/information from the hard disk.
7. DATA PROJECTOR vii. Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)
It takes the image that displayed on the computer screen and projects it onto a larger screen. It writes and reads data/information from the floppy disk.
E.g. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Projector and DLP (Digital Light Processing) Projector. viii. CD-ROM Drive/ CD Drive
It writes and reads data/information from optical disks.
8. FACSIMILE (FAX) MACHINE
It is a device that transmits and receives documents (faxes) over telephone lines. ix. DVD-RW Drive/ CD-RW Drive
It writes and reads data/information from optical disks.
9. MULTI-FUNCTION MACHINE
It is a single piece of equipment that provides the functionality of a printer, scanner, photocopier, and fax x. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
machine. It is the electronic brain of the computer that is embedded on the motherboard.
10. TERMINAL xi. Random Access Memory (RAM)
It is a type of input/output device with both monitor and keyboard. It sends and receives data/information. It is the main memory of the computer which is also slotted on the motherboard.
xii. Read Only Memory (ROM)
This chip is embedded on the motherboard and it stores instructions which the computer uses when it
Examples of terminals
boots up.
 Dumb Terminal
xiii. Cooling Components (Fans and Heat sinks)
 Intelligent terminal These components help in cooling parts of the system unit, since heat can damage computer components
 EPOS (Electronic Point Of Sale) terminal and cooler chips can run faster.
 EFTPOS (Electronic Fund Transfer Point of Sale) terminal
 ATM (Auto Teller Machine) terminal SAMPLE UNEB QUESTIONS

SYSTEM UNIT 1. (a) Distinguish between Random Access Memory(RAM and Secondary storage.
(04 marks)
It is the most important subsystem of the computer to which other computer peripherals are connected.
(b) Give an example of secondary storage (01 mark)
Components Of The System Unit 2. State five activities that can be performed on a computer when using a mouse.
i. Motherboard/Main board/System board/Base board (05 marks)
It holds the microprocessor, microchips and some other delicate parts found in the system unit. 3. (a) List any three input devices. (03 marks)
ii. Power Supply Unit
Power Supply Unit is the device that receives power from the main switch and distributes it to other parts b) Give a function of any two input devices listed in (a) above (02 marks)
of the computer in the right proportions. It steps down the incoming power by converting it from UNEB 2015
Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC)

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1(a)What is an output device? (01 mark)

(b) Give the two categories of printers and an example in each case.
(i) Category
Example
(02 marks)
(ii) Category
Example
(02 marks)
2(a) Differentiate between a computer hardware and computer software.
(02 marks)
(b) Storage device is one of the categories of computer hardware. List the other three
categories. (03 marks)
3. (a) Define the term Motherboard. (02 marks)
(b) Identify any three components housed on the motherboard. (03 marks)
UNEB 2016

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