74 | An Introduction to Computer Applications

4
Operating System,
Software & Hardware
(Operating system, Types of Operating System, Functions of
Operating System, Disk Operating System - MS-DOS, MS-DOS
Commands, Microsoft Windows, Importance of Operating
System, Software, Types of Software, Software Package,
Hardware)

Operating system:
An operating system (OS) manages computer resources and
provides programmers with an interface used to access those
resources. An operating system is a software program that enables
the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the
computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer
would be [Link] operating system processes system data and
user input, and responds by allocating and managing tasks and internal
system resources as a service to users and programs of the system.
An operating system performs basic tasks such as controlling and
allocating memory, prioritizing system requests, controlling input and
output devices, facilitating computer networking and managing files.
Software applications for personal computers include word
processing, spreadsheets, databases, Web browsers and e-mail clients,
games, and myriad personal productivity and special-purpose
software. Modern personal computers often have high-speed or dial-
up connections to the Internet, allowing access to the World Wide
Web and a wide range of other resources.
 Operating System | 75
All desktop computers have operating systems. The most
common are the Windows family of operating systems developed by
Microsoft, the Macintosh operating systems developed by Apple and
the UNIX family of operating systems. There are hundreds of other
operating systems available for special-purpose applications, including
specializations for mainframes, robotics, manufacturing, real-time
control systems and so on.
In any device that has an operating system, there’s usually a
way to make changes to how the device works. This is far from a
happy accident; one of the reasons operating systems are made out
of portable code rather than permanent physical circuits is so that
they can be changed or modified without having to scrap the whole
device. For a desktop computer user, this means you can add a new
security update, system patch, new application or even an entirely
new operating system rather than junk your computer and start again
with a new one when you need to make a change.

How Operating System Works:

When you turn on the power to a computer, the first program
that runs is usually a set of instructions kept in the computer’s read-
only memory (ROM). This code examines the system hardware to
make sure everything is functioning properly. This power-on self-
test (POST) checks the CPU, memory, and basic input-output
systems (BIOS) for errors and stores the result in a special memory
location. Once the POST has successfully completed, the software
loaded in ROM will begin to activate the computer’s disk drives. In
most modern computers, when the computer activates the hard disk
drive, it finds the first piece of the operating system - the bootstrap

Loader.
The bootstrap loader is a small program that has a single
function. It loads the operating system into memory and allows it to
begin operation. In the most basic form, the bootstrap loader sets up
the small driver programs that interface with and control the various
hardware subsystems of the computer. It sets up the divisions of
memory that hold the operating system, user information and
applications. It establishes the data structures that will hold the myriad
signals, flags and semaphores that are used to communicate within
and between the subsystems and applications of the computer. Then
it turns control of the computer over to the operating system.
76 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
The operating system’s tasks, in the most general sense, fall into six
categories:
 Processor management.
 Memory management.
 Device management.
 Storage management.
 Application interface.
 User interface.
Operating System–Types:
Every general-purpose computer must have an operating
system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic
tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output
to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the
disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and
printers. As computers have progressed and developed so have the
types of operating systems. Below is a basic list of the different
types of operating systems and a few examples of operating systems
that fall into each of the categories. Many computer operating systems
will fall into more than one of the below categories.
Real-time Operating System(RTOS):
Real-time operating systems are used to control machinery,
scientific instruments and industrial systems. An RTOS typically has
very little user-interface capability, and no end-user utilities, since
the system will be a ‘sealed box’ when delivered for use. A very
important part of an RTOS is managing the resources of the computer
so that a particular operation executes in precisely the same amount
of time, every time it occurs. In a complex machine, having a part
move more quickly just because system resources are available may
be just as catastrophic as having it not move at all because the system
is busy.

Single-user, Single-task:
As the name implies, this operating system is designed to
manage the computer so that one user can effectively do one thing at
a time. The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers is a good example
of a modern single-user, single-task operating system.

Single-user, Multi-tasking:
This is the type of operating system most people use on
their desktop and laptop computers today. Microsoft’s Windows and
Apple’s Mac OS platforms are both examples of operating systems
 Operating System | 77
that will let a single user have several programs in operation at the
same time. For example, it’s entirely possible for a Windows user to
be writing a note in a word processor while downloading a file from
the Internet while printing the text of an e-mail message.

Graphical User Interface (GUI):

Graphical User Interface, a GUI Operating System contains
graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a computer
mouse. Examples of GUI Operating Systems - System 7.x, Windows
98, Windows CE, etc.

Multi-user:
A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users to
use the same computer at the same time and/or different times. A
multi-user operating system allows many different users to take
advantage of the computer’s resources simultaneously. The operating
system must make sure that the requirements of the various users
are balanced, and that each of the programs they are using has
sufficient and separate resources so that a problem with one user
doesn’t affect the entire community of users. Examples of multi-
user operating systems – Linux, Unix, Windows 2000, etc.

Functions of Operating System:

An operating system does two things:
1. It manages the hardware and software resources of the system.
In a desktop computer, these resources include such things as
the processor, memory, disk space and more (On a cell phone,
they include the keypad, the screen, the address book, the phone
dialer, the battery and the network connection).
2. It provides a stable, consistent way for applications to deal with
the hardware without having to know all the details of the
hardware.

The first task, managing the hardware and software resources,

is very important, as various programs and input methods compete
for the attention of the central processing unit (CPU) and demand
memory, storage and input/output (I/O) bandwidth for their own
purposes. In this capacity, the operating system plays the role of the
good parent, making sure that each application gets the necessary
resources while playing nicely with all the other applications, as well
as husbanding the limited capacity of the system to the greatest good
of all the users and applications.
78 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
The operating system controls every task your computer
carries out and manages system resources. - The second task,
providing a consistent application interface, is especially important if
there is to be more than one of a particular type of computer using
the operating system, or if the hardware making up the computer is
ever open to change. A consistent application program interface
(API) allows a software developer to write an application on one
computer and have a high level of confidence that it will run on
another computer of the same type, even if the amount of memory
or the quantity of storage is different on the two machines.
Even if a particular computer is unique, an operating system
can ensure that applications continue to run when hardware upgrades
and updates occur. This is because the operating system - not the
application - is charged with managing the hardware and the
distribution of its resources. One of the challenges facing developers
is keeping their operating systems flexible enough to run hardware
from the thousands of vendors manufacturing computer equipment.
Today’s systems can accommodate thousands of different printers,
disk drives and special peripherals in any possible combination.

MS-DOS(Disk Operating System):

MS-DOS(MicroSoftDisk Operating System) is an operating
system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly
used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the
main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s. It
was preceded by M-DOS, designed and copyrighted by Microsoft in
1979. MS-DOS was written for the Intel 8086 family of
microprocessors, particularly the IBM PC and compatibles. It was
gradually replaced on consumer desktop computers by operating
systems offering a graphical user interface (GUI), in particular by
various generations of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
MS-DOS was known before as QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating
System) and 86-DOS.
MS-DOS development originally started in 1981 and was first
released in 1982 as MS-DOS 1.0. Several versions were released
under different names for different hardware. MS-DOS had eight
major versions released before Microsoft stopped development in
2000. It was the key product in Microsoft’s growth from a
programming languages company to a diverse software development
firm, providing the company with essential revenue and marketing
resources.
 Operating System | 79

It was also the underlying basic operating system on which early

versions of Windows ran as a GUI.
MS-DOS Commands:
These are the instructions which are used to communicate
with the computer system. We call these instructions as commands
as we issue commands to the system to get our work done. The
commands of DOS are divided into two categories viz. Internal
Commands and External Commands.
1. Internal Commands: These are the commands which reside
in a portion of the computer’s memory and are loaded along
with the operating system into the memory. These commands
are always available for execution.
Internal Commands:

Commands Purpose
CLS Clearing the screen display.
VOL Displaying the label of the volume in the drive specified
VER Displays the version of the MS-DOS
PATH Sets the path for search
DEL Deletes the files specified.
TYPE Displays the contents of the file on the screen
DIR Displayi9ng the contents of current directory
CD Changing the current directory.
MD Creates a sub directory.
RD To remove an empty directory.
REN To rename the file.
PROMPT To change the prompt.
COPY To copy the files.
TIME To display as well as set new time.
DATE To display as well as set new date.
PAUSE Suspending system processing and display the massage.
2. External Commands: These are the commands which have
to be loaded from the disk into the memory of the computer
before we want to execute them. These commands are
usually in the form of files, which reside in the disk, as and
when required they will be loaded into memory before
execution.
80 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
External Commands:
Commands Purpose
BAC UP It is used for backing up one or more files from a hard disk on to a floppy disk.
To backup the files in all sub-directories under the path specified has to be
used.
CHKDISK This command is used for checking the disk and reporting back the status of the
system. It checks for the memory and gives the detailed information about the
memory consumed as well as free memory.
DISK COPY This is used to copy a diskette into another. This makes an exact copy of the
diskette in the first drive on the diskette in another drive.
DISK COMP It is used to compare the contents of two diskettes on the drives specified.
TREE This is used to display all the directories and also the files if specified. If we
want to display all the files use.
FORMAT This command is used to prepare a fresh diskette to be used by the DOS for all
its storage purposes. It divides the disk into tacks and segments so that the data
can be stored. If we want to create a system diskette, a bootable diskette which
can be used to boot a system as it has the basic operating system in it use as
option.
RESTORE This is used to restore the files from a floppy disk, which are backed up using
the backup command. If we like to restore all the files in the path.
DEL TREE This command is used to delete the directory including all the sub directories
and the files. This command has to be used carefully as it is dangerous, as it
deletes all the files and subdirectories.
COPY CON This command is used to create files and saving them to the disk. Once you
give the command then you can type in the contents of the file.
PRINT This command is used for printing the contents of documents or files. This
command sends the document or the file specified to the printer for printing.
MOVE This command is used to move the files from one directory to another. It is also
used to rename a directory. This is done by specifying the old directory name as
source and target would be new directory name.
UNDELETE This command is used to undelete i.e. recover the accidentally deleted files.
This is done using eh concept that when the file is deleted. It is not completely
deleted from the disk. This command recovers the file.
Microsoft Windows:
Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems
and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first
introduced an operating environment named ‘Windows’ in 1985 as
an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical
user interfaces (GUIs). Microsoft Windows came to dominate the
world’s personal computer market. Windows makes it possible to
complete all types of everyday tasks on your computer. For example,
you can use Windows to browse the Internet, check your email, edit
digital photos, listen to music, play games, and do much
[Link] is also used in many offices because it gives you
 Operating System | 81
access to productivity tools such as calendars, word processors,
and spreadsheets. There have been many versions of Windows since
then, but the most recent ones include Windows 10 (2015), Windows
8 (2012), Windows 7 (2009), Windows Vista (2007), and Windows
XP (2001).The Windows operating system (Windows OS) for desktop
PCs is more formally called ‘Microsoft Windows’ and is actually a
family of operating systems for personal [Link]
provides a graphical user interface (GUI), virtual memory
management, multitasking, and support for many peripheral devices.
In addition to Windows operating systems for personal computers,
Microsoft also offers operating systems for servers and mobile
[Link] has traditionally dominated the personal computer
world, running, by some estimates, more than 75 percent of all
personal computers.
Early Versions:
The history of Windows dates back to September 1981,
when the project named ‘Interface Manager’ was started. It was
announced in November 1983 under the name ‘Windows’, but
Windows 1.0 was not released until November 1985. The shell of
Windows 1.0 was a program known as the MS-DOS Executive.
Other supplied programs are Calculator, Calendar, Card file, Clipboard
viewer, Clock, Control Panel, Notepad, Paint, Reverse, Terminal,
and Write. Windows 1.0 does not allow overlapping windows, due
to Apple Computer owning this feature. Instead all windows are tiled.
Only dialog boxes can appear over other windows.
Windows 2.0 was released in October 1987 and featured
several improvements to the user interface and memory management.
Windows 2.0 allowed application windows to overlap each other and
also introduced more sophisticated keyboard-shortcuts. It could also
make use of expanded memory. Windows 2.1 was released in two
different flavors: Windows/386 employed the 386virtual 8086 mode
to multitask several DOS programs, and the paged memory model to
emulate expanded memory using available extended memory.
Windows/286 still ran in real mode, but could make use of the high
memory area.
7The early versions of Windows were often thought of as
simply graphical user interfaces, mostly because they ran on top of
MS-DOS and used it for file system services. However, even the
earliest 16-bit Windows versions already assumed many typical
operating system functions; notably, having their own executable file
82 | An Introduction to Computer Applications

format and providing their own device drivers (timer, graphics, printer,
mouse, keyboard and sound) for applications. Unlike MS-DOS,
Windows allowed users to execute multiple graphical applications at
the same time, through cooperative multitasking. Windows
implemented an elaborate, segment-based, software virtual memory
scheme, which allowed it to run applications larger than available
memory: code segments and resources were swapped in and thrown
away when memory became scarce, and data segments moved in
memory when a given application had relinquished processor control,
typically waiting for user input.

Windows 3.0 and 3.1:

Windows 3.0 (1990) and Windows 3.1 (1992) improved the
design, mostly because of virtual memory and loadable virtual device
drivers which allowed them to share arbitrary devices between
multitasked DOS windows. Also, Windows applications could now
run in protected mode, which gave them access to several megabytes
of memory and removed the obligation to participate in the software
virtual memory scheme. They still ran inside the same address space,
where the segmented memory provided a degree of protection, and
multi-tasked cooperatively. For Windows 3.0, Microsoft also rewrote
critical operations from ‘C’ into assembly, making this release faster
and less memory-hungry than its predecessors. With the introduction
of the Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows was able to bypass
DOS for file management operations using 32-bit file access.

Windows 95, 98:

Windows 95 was released in 1995, featuring a new user
interface, supported long file names of up to 250 characters, could
automatically detect and configure installed hardware (plug and play),
natively ran 32-bit applications, and featured several technological
improvements that increased its stability over Windows 3.1. Windows
95 uses pre-emptive multitasking and runs each 32-bit application in
a separate address space. This makes it harder for a single buggy
application to crash the whole system. It was still not a secure multi-
user operating system like Windows NT as a strict separation between
applications was not enforced by the kernel. Microsoft’s next release
was Windows 98 in 1998. Microsoft released a second version of
Windows 98 in 1999, named Windows 98 Second Edition. In 2000,
Microsoft released Windows Me (Me standing for Millennium
Edition), which used the same core as Windows 98 but adopted
 Operating System | 83
some aspects of Windows 2000 and removed the ‘boot in DOS mode’
option. It also added a new feature called System Restore, allowing
the user to set the computer’s settings back to an earlier date.
Windows NT family:
The NT family of Windows systems was fashioned and
marketed for higher reliability business use. The first release was
MS Windows NT 3.1 (1993), numbered “3.1” to match the consumer
Windows version, which was followed by NT 3.5 (1994), NT 3.51
(1995), NT 4.0 (1996), and Windows 2000 (2000). 2000 is the last
NT-based Windows release which does not include Microsoft Product
Activation. NT 4.0 was the first in this line to implement the ‘Windows
95’ user interface. Microsoft then moved to combine their consumer
and business operating systems with Windows XP, coming in both
home and professional versions; they also diverged release schedules
for server operating systems. Windows Server 2003, released a year
and a half after Windows XP, brought Windows Server up to date
with MS Windows XP. After a lengthy development process,
Windows Vista was released toward the end of 2006, and its server
counterpart, Windows Server 2008 was released in early 2008. In
2009, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 were released as RTM
(release to manufacturing).
Windows 10:
‘Windows 10’ was the successor to ‘Windows 8’. Windows
10 debuted on July 29, 2015, following a technical preview beta
release of the new operating system and a consumer preview beta.
Windows 10 featured fast start-up and resume, built-in security, and
the return of the Start Menu in an expanded form. This version of
Windows also featured Microsoft Edge, Microsoft’s new browser.
Any qualified device such as tablets, PCs, smartphones and Xbox
consoles was able to upgrade to Windows 10.
Importance of Operating System:
An operating system or OS is software installed on a
computer’s hard drive that enables the computer hardware to
communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a
computer operating system, a computer and software programs would
be useless. With earlier computers, the user interacted with them
using a command line interface, which required memorization
of commands. Today, almost every computer uses a GUI (Graphical
User Interface) operating system that’s easy to use and [Link]
84 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
computer must have at least one OS to run other programs.
Applications like Chrome, MS Word, Games, etc. needs some
environment in which it will run and perform its task. The OS helps
you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to
speak the computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use
any computer or mobile device without having an operating system.
Majority of home users use a Windows based machine. Most of
today’s applications and games are designed to run solely on Microsoft
systems.

Software:
Computer software is a general term used to describe a
collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation
that perform some tasks on a computer system. The term includes
application software such as word processors which perform
productive tasks for users, system software such as operating
systems, which interface with hardware to provide the necessary
services for application software, and middleware which controls
and co-ordinates distributed systems. Software applications for
word processing, Internet browsing, Internet faxing, e-mail and
other digital messaging, multimedia playback, computer game play
and computer programming are common. The user of a modern
personal computer may have significant knowledge of the
operating environment and application programs, but is not
necessarily interested in programming or even able to write
programs for the computer. Therefore, most software written
primarily for personal computers tends to be designed with
simplicity of use, or user-friendliness in mind. However, the
software industry continuously provides a wide range of new
products for use in personal computers, targeted at both the expert
and the non-expert user.

Types of Software:
Software is the means by which computer systems speak
with computer users. Software forms the heart of computer systems.
Software, by definition, is the collection of computer programs,
procedures and documentation that performs different tasks on a
computer system. The term ‘software’ was first used by John Tukey
in 1958. At the very basic level, computer software consists of a
machine language that consists of groups of binary values, which
specify processor instructions. The processor instructions change
 Operating System | 85
the state of computer hardware in a predefined sequence. Briefly,
computer software is the language in which a computer speaks. There
are different types of computer software.

A) Programming Software: This is one of the most commonly

known and popularly used forms of computer software.
This software comes in forms of tools that assist a
programmer in writing computer programs. Computer
programs are sets of logical instructions that make a computer
system perform certain tasks. The tools that help the
programmers in instructing a computer system include text
editors, compilers and interpreters. Programming software
is software whose purpose is to make more software. Most
of these programs provide programmers with an
environment in which they can write the code, test it, and
convert it into the format that can then be run on a computer.

B) System Software: It helps in running the computer hardware

and the computer system. System software is a collection
of operating systems; devise drivers, servers, windowing
systems and utilities. System software helps an application
programmer in abstracting away from hardware, memory
and other internal complexities of a [Link] examples
of system software are - Operating System, Compilers,
Interpreter, Assemblers, etc.

C) Application Software: It enables the end users to accomplish

certain specific tasks. Business software, databases and
educational software are some forms of application software.
Different word processors, which are dedicated for
specialized tasks to be performed by the user, are other
examples of application [Link] of Application
software are - Payroll Software, Student Record Software,
Inventory Management Software, Income Tax Software,
Railways Ticket Reservation Software, Microsoft Office
Suite Software - Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Software Package:
The term ‘software package’ has multiple uses in IT. It’s
most common use is to refer to multiple software programs bundled
together and sold as a set. There is also the use of software package
to describe a set of software that fulfills a particular function, for
86 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
example, installation on the desktop. A software package is simply
multiple applications that work together to meet various goals and
objectives. One of the most prominent examples is something like
the ‘MS - Office package’, which includes individual applications
such as MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-Access and MS-PowerPoint.

1) Word Processing: Word processing is one of the most wide

spread applications software types in use today. Word
processing program allows interactive editing of documents,
enabling easy redrafting and merging of chunks of existing
documents, without the need for extensive retyping. Most
of the popular programs contain features such as spell checks,
outlining, choice of fonts, line drawing and page layout
facilities. Word processing software permits the user to
manipulate the text. This is a very handy feature when laying
out tables or columns of the [Link] popular word-
processing package is Microsoft Word.

2) Spreadsheet: This software provides a way to do numeric

calculations and analysis. The working area is divided into
‘rows’ and ‘columns’, where users can enter numbers, text,
or formulas. It is the formulas that make a spreadsheet
powerful, allowing the user to develop complex calculations
that can change based on the numbers entered. Most
spreadsheets also include the ability to create charts based
on the data entered. The most popular spreadsheet package
is Microsoft Excel.

3) Presentation: This software provides for the creation of

slideshow presentations. Harkening back to the days of
overhead projectors and transparencies, presentation software
allows its users to create a set of slides that can be printed
or projected on a screen. Users can add text, images, and
other media elements to the slides. Microsoft’s PowerPoint
is the most popular presentation software.

4) Inventory Management: This type of software helps an

organization in tracking its goods and materials on the basis
of quality as well as quantity. Warehouse inventory
management functions encompass the internal warehouse
movements and storage. Inventory software helps a
 Operating System | 87
company in organizing inventory and optimizing the flow of goods in
the organization, thus leading to an improved customer service.
5) Utility Software: Also known as service routine, utility
software helps in the management of computer hardware
and application software. It performs a small range of tasks.
Disk defragmenters, systems utilities and virus scanners are
some of the typical examples of utility software.
6) Data Backup and Recovery Software: Ideal data backup
and recovery software provides functionalities beyond simple
copying of data files. This software often supports user
needs of specifying what is to be backed up and when. Backup
and recovery software preserve the original organization of
files and allow an easy retrieval of the backed up data.

Computer software is widely popular today and hence we

cannot imagine a world of computers without them. We would not
have been able to use computers if not for the software. What is
fascinating about the world of computers is that it has its own
languages, its ways of communication with our human world and
human interaction with the computers is possible, thanks to computer
software. If the word ‘soft’ in ‘software’ implies ‘soft-spokenness’,
which is an important quality of a pleasant communication.

Every day we interact with software created by software

development companies that helps us perform tasks and increase
our efficiency. From the Microsoft Windows that greet us when we
turn on the computer to the browser we use to surf the web. Each
one of these different types of software helps us perform our day to
day tasks either directly or [Link] there are numerous cutting-
edge technologies and software available to us that define the way
we lead our lives and accommodate our changing needs.

Hardware:
Computer is a system, consisting of many components. Some
of those components are ‘hardware’ and ‘software’. The hardware
i.e. the physical components of the computer comprise of a monitor,
keyboard, Hard disk, drives etc. These are parts of computer and
you can see and touch it. All general-purpose computers require the
following hardware components:
88 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
1) Memory: Enables a computer to store, at least temporarily,
data and programs.
2) Storagedevice: Allows a computer to permanently retain large
amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include
disk drives and tape drives.
3) Input device: Usually a keyboard and mouse, the input device
is the conduit through which data and instructions enter a
computer.
4) Output device: A display screen, printer, or other device
that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.
5) Central processing unit(CPU): The heart of the computer,
this is the component that actually executes instructions.

The system unit is the actual computer; everything else is

called a peripheral device. Your computer’s system unit probably has
at least one USB drive, and one CD or DVD drive, into which you
can insert disks and CDs. There’s another disk drive, called the hard
disk inside the system unit.
The USB and CD drive are often referred to as drives with
removable media or removable drives for short, because you can
remove whatever disk is currently in the drive, and replace it with
another. Your computer’s hard disk can store as much information
as thousands of CD, so don’t worry about running out of space on
your hard disk any time soon. As a rule, you want to store everything
you create or download on your hard disk. Use the USB and CDs to
send copies of files through the mail, or to make backup copies of
important items.
 Operating System | 89
For the working of the types of computer hardware, it needs
both hardware and software components. For every computer
system, there can be several hardware components attached to the
system as per the requirements. The computer hardware contains
mechanical elements and electronic elements of the computer. The
hardware of the computer system includes monitor, CPU, keyboard,
mouse, printer, sound system, RAM, hard disk and many more.
Hardware is used for taking input data from the user, store the data
and display the output and execute the commands given by an
individual.
Motherboard:
The motherboard, also referred to as system board or main
board, is the primary circuit board within a personal computer. Many
other components connect directly or indirectly to the motherboard.
Motherboards usually contain one or more CPUs, supporting circuitry
- usually integrated circuits (ICs) - providing the interface between
the CPU memory and input/output peripheral circuits, main memory,
and facilities for initial setup of the computer immediately after power-
on. In many portable and embedded personal computers, the
motherboard houses nearly all of the PC’s core components. Often a
motherboard will also contain one or more peripheral buses and
physical connectors for expansion purposes. Sometimes a secondary
daughter board is connected to the motherboard to provide further
expandability or to satisfy space constraints.
Central Processing Unit (CPU):
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the memory are
present on chips in the system unit. The CPU interprets and processes
information. The CPU is also called the microprocessor. A
microprocessor is often referred to as the ‘brain’ of a computer.
This is because it is here that all the work is done. The processor
obeys instructions and manipulates relevant data. It has the ultimate
control over all other components, such as the memory, the hard
disk and the printer. The execution speed of the CPU is measured in
megahertz. A CPU or processor is an electronic circuit that can execute
computer programs, which are actually sets of instructions. This
term has been in use in the computer industry at least since the early
1960s. The form, design and implementation of CPUs have changed
dramatically since the earliest examples, but their fundamental
operation remains much the same. Early CPUs were custom-designed
as a part of a larger, sometimes one-of-a-kind computer. Modern
microprocessors appear in everything from automobiles to cell phones
and children’s toys.
90 | An Introduction to Computer Applications
Hard Disk:
Mass storage devices store programs and data even when
the power is off; they do require power to perform read and write
functions during usage. Although flash memory has dropped in cost,
the prevailing form of mass storage in personal computers is still the
hard disk. The disk drives use a sealed head disk assembly (HDA)
which was first introduced by IBM. The use of a sealed assembly
allowed the use of positive air pressure to drive out particles from
the surface of the disk, which improves reliability. If the mass storage
controller provides for expandability, a PC may also be upgraded by
the addition of extra hard disk or optical disc drives. For example,
CD-ROMs, DVD-RWs, and various optical disc recorders may all be
added by the user to certain PCs.

Random Access Memory (RAM):

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a type of computer
hardware that is used to store the information and then process that
information. The processing speed of RAM is much faster than a
hard disk but RAM is a volatile device which means when a computer
system is shut down all the information stored is wiped out from
RAM whereas hard disk is non-volatile which means it stores the
data permanently in it. The data can be easily stored in RAM and can
be easily fetched from RAM. The fetch process of data is very fast
in Ram compare to hard disk. There are two types of RAM SRAM
(Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic random
access memory). The use of SRAM is in a cache memory of CPU.
And the DRAM is mostly used in modern computers.
Monitor:
Monitoris one of the important devices that is used to display
the output, videos and other graphics as it is directly connected to
the CPU. The video displayed by the monitor uses the video card.
The monitor can be compared to the television set but the difference
is the resolution and graphics displayed by the monitor are of much
high quality compare to the television set. The desktop is connected
via a cable and gets fitted in a computer video card which is installed
in the motherboard of the computer system. For laptops, tablets the
monitor is pre-built in the system and there is no separate hardware
installed in these devices. There are two types of computer monitors
which are CRT and LCD. The CRT was used as an old model of
computers. The LCD is used in a modern computer as they are thinner
and lighter and easy to use compared to CRT monitor.
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Mouse:
It is a hand operator input device that is used to point
something on the screen. The mouse can be wired or wireless. If the
mouse is wired it is connected to the CPU directly. The mouse can
uses the laser ball to scroll up or down on the screen. Any movement
done from the mouse sends instructions directly to the computer to
move the cursor on the screen.
Keyboard:
The keyboard is another type of computer hardware that is
used to give input text, commands to the computer. The keyboard
can be wired or wireless. The keyboard contains alphabets, numbers,
special characters and other buttons to give input to the computer. It
is the input device that takes input to the user and processes the
commands.
Printer:
The printer is a type of hardware that is used to print
something which is seen on the computer and then transfer that
displayed information to paper. The printers can be differentiated
based on size, processing speed, and other factors.
There are many types of hardware devices present in the
market. Choosing the right hardware device with the correct
specification gives the best performance result. The hardware devices
vary in size, specification and it should be chosen as per the
compatibility of the computer system. Different type of hardware
device has a different role. And a complete set of hardware devices
makes an effective computer system.
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