Slide 3.

Chapter 3
Hardware and software

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Slide 3.2

Learning objectives

• After this lecture, you will be able to:

– categorise the type of computer system that a
business uses;
– recognise the different components of a computer;
– explain the purpose of software applications in
different categories;
– describe the features found in a variety of modern
applications software packages;
– identify some of the advantages and disadvantages
associated with a variety of common applications;
– describe some of the ways in which applications
software supports the activities of a business
organisation.
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Slide 3.3

Management issues

• From a managerial perspective, this chapter addresses the following

areas:
– Learning the characteristics of input, output and storage devices will
allow managers to select the correct equipment for a given application.
– An increased understanding of computers will help managers to see
how technology can be used to improve existing business processes
and identify potential applications.
– All major organisations make use of common applications, such as word
processing and spreadsheet software. An understanding of the factors
involved with selecting these applications is required by all managers.
– An understanding of the range of software applications available will help
managers to see potential applications relevant to a given organisation or
industry.
– An understanding of recent developments in the software industry, such
as the emergence of XML, will help managers to develop long-term plans
for the organisation’s use of technology.

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Slide 3.4

Computer
Definition:
an electronic device which is capable of receiving
information (data) in a particular form and of
performing a sequence of operations in accordance
with a predetermined but variable set of procedural
instructions (program) to produce a result in the form of
information or signals.

Input Process Output

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Slide 3.5

Components of a Computer
•A modern PC is both simple and complicated.

•It is simple in the sense that over the years, many of the
components used to construct a system have become
integrated with other components into fewer and fewer actual
parts.

•It is complicated in the sense that each part in a modern

system performs many more functions than did the same
types of parts in older systems.

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Slide 3.6

Basic Components of a Computer

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Slide 3.7

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Slide 3.8

The Computer system

The Computer system refers to the interrelated

components including hardware and software that work
together with the aim of converting data into information.

A computer system consists of two major elements:

hardware and software.

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Slide 3.9

HARDWARE
hardware is the collection of all the parts you can physically touch.

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Slide 3.10

Hardware components

• Input device: Hardware used to enter data, information

or instructions into a computer-based information system.
• Central processing unit (CPU): The processor found in
a computer system that controls all of the computer’s
main functions and enables users to execute programs or
process data.
• Memory: A temporary means of storing data awaiting
processing, instructions used to process data or control
the computer system, and data or information that has
been processed.
• Storage devices: A permanent means of storing data
and programs until they are required.
• Output devices: Translate the results of processing –
output – into a human readable form.
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Slide 3.11

Figure 3.1 Basic hardware components of a computer system

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Slide 3.12

Types of Computers
There are different types of Computers and can be generally
classified by size and power as follows, though there is
considerable overlap:

•Personal computer: A small, single-user computer based on

a microprocessor.

•Workstation: A powerful, single-user computer. A

workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more
powerful microprocessor and, in general, a higher-quality
monitor.

•Minicomputer: A multi-user computer capable of

supporting up to hundreds of users simultaneously.
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Slide 3.13

Types of Computers Cont’

•Mainframe: A powerful multi-user computer

capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands
of users simultaneously.

•Supercomputer: An extremely fast computer that

can perform hundreds of millions of instructions
per second.

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Slide 3.14

The Client/Server Model

A Client
A client is a piece of computer
hardware or software that
accesses a service made available
by a server.

Server
A server is a computer designed to
process requests and deliver data to
another computer over the internet
or a local network.

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Slide 3.15

Client Server Architecture

• Client/server: The client/server architecture consists
of client computers such as PCs sharing resources
such as a database stored on a more powerful server
computer.

• Examples:
– In the office or university
– Within a company with multiple sites
– In the context of the Internet.

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Slide 3.16

The Client/Server Model

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Slide 3.17

Input devices

 Video Capture Hardware  Webcam

 Barcode reader  Touchpads
 Digital camera  Pen Input
 Gamepad  Microphone
 Joystick  Electronic Whiteboard
 Keyboard  Punch card reader
 Microphone  MICR (Magnetic Ink character reader)
 keyboard  Magnetic Tape Drive
 Mouse (pointing device)  Scanner

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Slide 3.18

Output devices
Headphones
Computer Output Microfilm (COM)
Monitor
Plotter
Printer (Dot matrix printer, Inkjet printer, and Laser printer)
Projector
Sound card
Speakers
Speech-generating device (SGD)
TV
Video card
GPS

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Slide 3.19

Printers
• Laser printer: A laser is used to charge sections of a
rotating drum which is then used to print using toner
powder, achieving a combination of speed with high
print quality.
• Inkjet printer: An inkjet printer uses a print-head
containing 50 or more small nozzles that squirt ink onto
the paper by varying electrostatic charges produced by
the printer.

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Slide 3.20

Storage devices
• Primary storage: Data and instructions are loaded
into memory such as random access memory. Such
storage is temporary.
 Random Access Memory (RAM)
 a form of computer data storage that stores data and machine code
currently being used.
 Cache
 It is space in your computer's hard drive and in RAM memory where
your browser saves copies of previously visited Web pages.
• Secondary storage: Hard disks and USB sticks are
examples of secondary storage and the storage is
permanent.

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Slide 3.21

Measuring storage capacity

• Bit: A single binary digit representing a (0) zero

or a 1.
• Byte: Made up of eight bits and represents the
amount of space required to hold a single character.
• Kilobyte (kb): Approximately 1000 bytes, or the
equivalent of 1000 characters.
• Megabyte (Mb): Approximately 1000 kb, or the
equivalent of one million characters.
• Gigabyte (Gb): Approximately 1000 Mb, or the
equivalent of one billion characters.
• Terabyte (TB): Approximately 1000 Gb.

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Slide 3.22

Optical secondary storage

• CD-ROM: A computer storage device offering a relatively high

capacity. The acronym CD-ROM stands for compact disc – read only
memory, denoting the fact that CD-ROM discs are read-only devices.
• Compact disc (CD): The media used by CD-ROM players.
The data on a compact disc is encoded as a series of dips and raised
areas.
• CD-R (CD-recordable): Can both read conventional compact discs
and also write data to special ‘gold’ discs.
• CDRW: In addition to providing the functionality of the CDR drive, the
CDRW drive also allows the use of special compact disc media that
can be written and erased many times.
• Digital versatile disc (DVD): Similar to CD-ROM but with higher
storage capacities, typically between 4 Gb and 7 Gb and which is
accessed at higher speeds.

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Slide 3.23

Primary storage – memory

• Volatile memory: Anything held in memory is lost once the power to the
computer system is switched off.
• Non-volatile memory: Non-volatile memory retains its contents until altered
or erased.
• Random access memory (RAM): RAM is used as volatile, working storage
by a computer, holding instructions and data that are waiting to be processed.
• Read-only memory (ROM): The contents of ROM are fixed and cannot be
altered. ROM is non-volatile.
• EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory): This is a form of
ROM memory that retains its contents until changed using a special device
known as a ‘burner’.
• Cache memory: Used to improve performance by anticipating the data and
instructions needed by the processor. The required data are retrieved and
held in the cache, ready to be transferred directly to the processor when
required.

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Slide 3.24

Processors

• Processor: Uses instructions from software to control

the different components of a computer.
• Clock speed: Measured in MHz (megahertz, or
millions of pulses per second). The clock speed is
governed by a quartz-crystal circuit.
• Bus width: Describes how many pieces of data can be
transmitted or received at one time by the bus
connecting the processor to other components of the
PC.

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Slide 3.25

Multi-core processors

• Multi-core processors are attractive to business buyers

for several reasons:
– They are largely compatible with existing systems. This
can make upgrades more cost-effective than replacing
equipment, even if the upgrade process requires other
components to be replaced.
– Multi-core processors are relatively inexpensive, adding
little to the cost of a new system.
– Multi-core processors enable virtual computing, which is
described in the next slide.
– Multi-core processors consume less power than earlier
CPUs and generate less heat. This makes systems cheaper
to operate and more environmentally friendly.

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Slide 3.26

Virtual computing

• Virtual computing involves simulating a complete

computer system in software.
• The virtual machine (VM) behaves exactly the
same as a physical computer system and can be
used in the same way.

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Slide 3.27

SOFTWARE

Software is not
something you can
touch. It is a set of
instructions for a
computer to
perform specific
operations.

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Slide 3.28

There are two main types of software: systems software

and application software.

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Slide 3.29

SYSTEM SOFTWARE.
The type of software that supports and manages the computer
resources and operations of the computer system is known as
system software.

•They are essential to run the computer.

•It creates a communication link between the computer and
user.
•It also provides and maintains an environment or platform for
running application software.
•The main function of system software is to create a bridge
between computer system hardware and application software.

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Slide 3.30

SYSTEM SOFTWARE.
The system software can be divided into four sub-Types Operating
System and Utility Software.

Operating System

•An Operating system (OS) is a type of system software that helps to

establish communication between computer hardware and other software.

•It also controls and coordinates overall operations of the computer system.
Application programs access input/output devices or execution program
instructions through Operation system.

•It provides a user-friendly environment (interface) to communicate

between user and computer system. When a user wants to carry out any
operation, the command is given to the application program which is then
delivered to the operating system.

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Slide 3.31

SYSTEM SOFTWARE.

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Slide 3.32

Functions of system software

• Monitoring the use of all the hardware components

•Providing an easy and efficient interaction between the
computer and user.
•Communication with the peripheral devices such as
a scanner, printer, webcam etc.
• Managing files and folders
• Providing security
• Providing platform for application software
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Slide 3.33

Some other basic tasks performed by the

Operating System are:

• Operating System manages input and output

• It is responsible for managing all the other programs
• It manages files, documents, and folders
• It manages and controls all the hardware peripherals and
coordinates them with other programs
• It manages the primary memory
• It provides security to the computer system.

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Slide 3.34

Utility Software
• Utility Software is a type of software which is used for
maintenance of computer system.

• This software plays a vital role in making the computer

function properly. Special jobs like formatting disk, Virus
cleaning, Defragmentation etc. are carried out by Utility
software.

• Some examples of commonly used operating software are

Antivirus, Network utilities, Screen savers, File managers,
Disk defragmenters, Disk cleaners etc.

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Slide 3.35

Utility Software

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Slide 3.36

Device driver software

• The Device driver is a type of software that controls the devices attached
to the computer system.

• When you attach a device to a computer, you might have seen the
computer searching for suitable device driver, you can use the device only
upon the successful installation of required driver.

• The device driver tells the operating system how to interact or

communicate with peripheral devices like scanner, printers, modem etc.

• The device drivers of commonly used input/output devices like mouse,

keyboard, pen drive etc are automatically installed by the Operating
system from its built-in device driver’s collection.

• An Operating system can search for device drivers of some devices on

the internet and install it.
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Slide 3.37

Language Processor Software.

• A computer is a digital machine and understands only machine
language also called binary language (0, 1).

• But writing instructions using binary digits is very tedious,

difficult and time-consuming. So to make programming easier
people developed other artificial languages also known as
programming languages to develop computer program.

• But the problem is the instruction written on such programming

languages cannot be directly understood by the machine. Those
instruction needs to be translated into machine understandable
language (0’s and 1’s) by using language processor software.

• Language processor is a type of system software that translates the

programming language code into machine code.
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Slide 3.38

Language Processor Software.

There are three types of language processor
i. Assembler
ii. Interpreter
iii. Compiler
Assembler: it is a type of software that converts assembly language
codes into machine codes. After reading each assembly instructions,
it converts them into equivalent machine instructions. The code can
run only when all the conversion process is completed.
The compiler: it is a language processor, which translates high-
level programming codes into a machine understandable code.
A Compiler translates the whole block of high-level code at once,
converts it into equivalent executable machine code, and the code is
executed.
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Slide 3.39

An interpreter: it is a type of software that converts the program

instruction written in a high-level language into machine code line
by line.

Unlike compiler Interpreter translates one line of instruction to

machine code, executes the instruction, then converts the next line
and the process continues.

The translation process is interrupted if there is any error on the

middle of the program.

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Slide 3.40

Application Software
• Application software is a type of software that is designed to
solve a specific problem of the user or to perform the specific
task.

• There are different types of an application program for solving

different types of problem. For instance, Ms-excel is application
software that can be used in schools to store marks of students
and also for result processing.

• Different software companies create these types of software and

are available in marked on CDs. It can also be downloaded from
the official websites of these companies.

The application software can be sub-divided into two types.

[Link] or customized Software

[Link] or Packaged software
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Slide 3.41

Tailored or Customized Software

• Sometimes companies, organization or an individual needs specific

types of software to solve specific problems, so they ask the
software development companies or individual programmers to
develop a custom software that meets the requirement to solve
their problem.

• These types of software are known as tailored software. For

instance, Payroll system, Result processing, Library management
system, Banking system, School management system etc. are the
example of customized software.

• Tailored software can be modified as per the user’s needs.

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Slide 3.42

General or Packaged Software

• General software are those types of software that are made by
software companies to solve the general problems of people.

• It is not tailored to meet the specific requirement of specific

people, It rather targets all the people that might have similar types
of problems. For instance, typing letters, writing an essay, storing
data, pictures editing etc.

• Unlike Tailored software package software, there’s no possible

way to modify the package software according to user’s
requirement.

• Some basic examples of these types of software are Ms-excel,

MS-access, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Notepad etc.
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Slide 3.43

Internet concepts

• The Internet, sometimes

called simply "the Net," is
a worldwide system of
computer networks - a
network of networks in
which users at any one
computer can, if they have
permission, get information
from any other computer
(and sometimes talk
directly to users at other
computers).

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Slide 3.44

Internet concepts cont’

• World Wide Web (WWW): Interlinked documents on the
Internet made up of pages containing text, graphics and other
elements.
• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML): WWW pages are
mainly created by producing documents containing HTML
commands that are special tags (or codes) to control how the
WWW page will appear when displayed in a web browser.
• Web browser program: Enables users to navigate through the
information available and display any pages of interest.
• Hypertext: Hypertext is a document containing highlighted
words or phrases that represent links to other documents
activated by clicking the mouse.
• Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a global address used to
locate resources on the internet and includes a protocol
identifier and IP address of the resource.

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Slide 3.45

Web 2.0

• The term Web 2.0 describes a new generation of applications

and services that allows Internet users to communicate, share
information and do business in new ways.
• Some of the principles behind Web 2.0 have been associated
with particular forms of technology, for example, Rich Internet
Applications (RIAs). RIAs are web applications that combine
enhanced user interfaces with the power and functionality of
desktop programs.
• Web 2.0 emphasises what is sometimes called the social
Internet, a range of applications that encourage greater
collaboration and interaction among Internet users. Applications
commonly associated with Web 2.0 include blogs (web logs)
which can be thought of as an online journal or diary.

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Slide 3.46

Software distribution models

• Alternative models of software distribution include open source

and application service providers.
• Open Source is a generic term used to describe software that is
supplied to users completely free of charge and without
restrictions limiting how it is used, modified or redistributed. In
general, the source code for the program is freely available and
users can modify it as they see fit.
• An application service provider (ASP) supplies software and
services to a client organisation over a network, usually the
Internet. Users access software and data via a web browser.
This type of approach is often described as on-demand
software or Software as a Service (SaaS).

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Slide 3.47

END

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