HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
CHAPTER 1: COMPUTER SYSTEMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS 2. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE 3. OPERATING SYSTEMS
a. Introduction a. Hardware a. Windows
b. Types of Computers • Input Devices • Customizing the desktop
• Supercomputers • Output Devices
• Mainframe • Storage Devices
• Mini-computers b. Software
• Desktop / PCs • System Software
• Laptops / Notebooks • Application Software
• Handheld
c. Five Basic Operations of Computer System
• Input
• Process
• Output
• Storage
• Network
d. Components of Computer System
• Computer Software
• Computer Hardware
• Data or Datasets
• Communications
e. The Central Processing Unit
• Control Unit
• Arithmetic Logic Unit
• Memory
• Interface Unit
f. Computers for Future
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
DEFINITION: COMPUTER HARDWARE & COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Computer hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system that can be seen and touched. It includes the central processing unit (CPU), memory, storage devices, input devices (such as keyboards and mice),
output devices (such as monitors and printers), and other peripheral devices that can be connected to the computer system.
Computer software refers to a set of instructions that tell a computer what to do. It includes programs, applications, and operating systems that are installed on a computer system. These instructions are written in a programming
language that a computer can understand and execute to perform specific tasks.
COMPUTER HARDWARE COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Physical components that make up a computer system, including electronic and mechanical parts A set of instructions that tell the computer's hardware what to do
Examples include the CPU, RAM, motherboard, hard drive, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer Examples include operating systems, application software, utilities, and programming languages
Can be seen and touched Cannot be seen or touched, but can be installed or downloaded onto the hardware
Generally, more expensive to replace or upgrade compared to software Generally, less expensive to replace or upgrade compared to hardware
Determines the physical capabilities and limitations of a computer system Determines what tasks a computer system can perform and how it performs them
Can affect the speed and performance of a computer system Can be optimized to improve the speed and performance of a computer system
In summary, computer hardware and computer software are two distinct components of a computer system that work together to perform tasks. Hardware refers to the physical components, while software refers to the
programs and instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Both are essential for a computer system to function properly, and they each have their unique characteristics and capabilities.
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
INPUT DEVICES
PROCESSING DEVICES
HARDWARE
OUTPUT DEVICES
COMPUTER SYSTEM STORAGE DEVICES
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
HARDWARE
Computer hardware comprises four components:
Input: An input device is any hardware device that sends data to a computer, allowing you to interact with and control it.
o Keyboard: A device with buttons or keys used to input text and commands into a computer or other electronic device.
o Mouse: A hand-held pointing device used to move a cursor on a computer screen and make selections.
o Joy Stick: A handheld input device that is used to control movement in games or simulations.
o Light pen: A pen-shaped device that can be used to draw or make selections on a computer screen by detecting light emitted by the screen.
o Track Ball: A device that uses a rolling ball to control the movement of the cursor on a computer screen.
o Scanner: A device that scans images, documents, or objects and converts them into digital format.
o Camera: A device that captures still or moving images or videos.
o Graphic Tablet: A flat tablet-like device that allows a user to draw or write by using a stylus or pen.
o Microphone (Voice Data Entry): A device that captures audio input from a user's voice.
o Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR): A device that reads the characters printed with magnetic ink on checks, deposit slips, and other financial documents.
o Optical Character Reader (OCR): A device that converts printed or handwritten text into digital text.
o Bar Code Reader: A device that reads and decodes barcodes, which are commonly used to identify products and items.
o Optical Mark Reader (OMR): A device that detects marks made on a paper form, such as a multiple-choice test or survey.
Process: A processing device is any hardware inside a computer that interprets and manipulates incoming data during this stage.
o Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is the primary processing device that performs instructions and controls the operation of a computer system.
o Graphic Processing Unit (GPU): The GPU is a specialized processor designed to perform complex calculations required for rendering images and videos.
Output: An output device is any hardware device used to send data from a computer to another device or user.
o Monitor: A device used to display visual output from a computer.
o Printer: A device that produces hard copies of electronic documents or images on paper.
o Plotter: A device used to produce high-quality line drawings such as maps, engineering drawings, or architectural plans.
o Projector: A device used to project images or video onto a screen or wall for presentations or entertainment.
o Speaker: A device used to output audio from a computer or other audio source.
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE
Storage: A hardware device that can be used to store digital data and applications which may be in the form of images, video, audio, etc. is called a storage device.
o Primary: These devices store data and instructions that are currently in use by the CPU, and are directly accessible by it.
RAM (Random Access Memory): Volatile primary storage that holds data and instructions for the CPU to access quickly.
ROM (Read-Only Memory): Non-volatile primary storage that stores data that cannot be changed or erased.
Cache: A small amount of high-speed memory used by the CPU to store frequently accessed data or instructions for faster access.
o Secondary: These devices are used for long-term storage of data and programs that are not currently in use by the CPU. They are typically slower than primary storage but have a higher capacity.
Flash memory (USB flash drives or keys): portable storage devices that use flash memory to store data.
Floppy disks: a type of magnetic storage device that was commonly used in the past to store small amounts of data.
CD: a type of optical storage device that uses lasers to read and write data.
DVD: a type of optical storage device that can store much more data than a CD.
Blu-ray drive: a type of optical storage device that can store even more data than a DVD.
Magnetic tape: a type of magnetic storage device that is commonly used for backup and archival purposes.
Cloud drive: a type of online storage that allows users to store and access their data over the internet.
o Tertiary: These are specialized storage devices that are typically used for backup and archival purposes. They have a very high capacity but are slower than secondary storage devices.
o Offline: These devices are not connected to the computer system all the time and require manual intervention to access the data.
SOFTWARE
Computer software comprises two components:
System Software: A type of software that controls and manages the hardware resources of a computer system, and provides a platform for running application software.
o Operating system: manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs.
o Device drivers: a type of software that allows hardware devices to communicate with the computer's operating system.
o Utility software: performs tasks that are not related to the operation of the computer, such as system maintenance, file compression, and data backup.
Application Software: A type of software designed to perform specific tasks or functions for the user, such as word processing, graphic design, or gaming.
o Productivity software: software designed for producing information or materials, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
o Creative software: software designed for creative tasks, such as graphic design, video editing, and music composition.
o Entertainment software: software designed for entertainment, such as video games, multimedia software, and virtual reality applications.
HANDS ON COURSE: MICROSOFT OFFICE HANDOUT 4 IQ SCHOOL OF FINANCE