CHAPTER-1

1.1 hardware and software

What is hardware?
It is the general term for the physical components that make up a
typical computer system eg; keyboard, mouse,camera are input
and monitor,printer plotter.

What are the 2 categories of hardware

- internal and external

Examples of internal hardware are;

What is motherboard?
It is a printed circuit board found in all computers

What is the function of motherboard?

It allows the processor and other computer hardware to function
and communicate with each other and one of the major function is
to act as a kind of ‘hub’ which other computer connect to.

What is motherboard made of?

A typical motherboard consists of a sheet of
non-conductive material, such as hard
plastic. Thin layers of copper or
aluminium are printed onto this sheet.

What is Random access memory (RAM)?

Random access memory (RAM) is an internal chip where data is
temporarily stored when running applications. This memory can
be written to and read from.

What is the use of Random access memory (RAM)?

RAM stores the data, files or part of the operating system
currently in use

What is Read-only memory (ROM)?

Read-only memory (ROM) is a memory used to store information
that needs to be permanent.

What is the use of Read-only memory (ROM)?

One of the main advantages is that the information stored on the
ROM chip is not lost even when power is turned off
to the computer. They are often referred to as non-volatile
memories.

What is Central processing unit (CPU) ?

A central processing unit (CPU) or processor is an electronic
circuit board in a computer that can execute instructions from a
computer program

What is the two main components?

The two main components are:
• arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) where
arithmetic and logical operations are carried out

• control unit (CU) which takes

instructions the decodes and executes
the instructions.
What is Network interface card (NIC)?
A network interface card (NIC) is a component that allows a
computer or any other device to be connected to a network
it can be wired or wireless

What is Graphics card?

A graphics card allows the computer to send graphical information
to a video display device such as a monitor,
television, or projector. It usually connects to the motherboard

What is Graphics cards made of ?

Graphics cards are usually made up of:
• a processing unit
• memory unit (usually RAM)
• a cooling mechanism (often in the
form of a heat sink since these cards
generate a lot of heat)
• connections to a display unit
(monitor, TV or projector

What is Sound card?

A sound card is an integrated circuit board that provides a
computer with the ability to produce sounds. These
sounds can be heard by the user either through speakers or
headphones.

What is Internal hard disk drive/solid-state drive?

This is the computer’s main internal storage where the applications software,disk
operating system and files (for example, text, photo or music) are stored
What is software?
Software is the general term used for the programs that control
the computer system and process data. The software falls into
two categories: applications and system.

What is Applications software

It provides the services that the user requires to solve a
given task.

What are the example of Applications software

What is System software

System software is the software designed to provide a platform on
which allother software can run

What are the example of System software

What is Word processing?

Word processing software is used to manipulate a text document,
such as an essay or a report.

What are the functions of Word processing software

Some of the functions of
word processing software include:
• creating, editing, saving and
manipulating text
• copy and paste functions
• spell checkers and thesaurus
• import photos/images into a structured
page format
• translation into foreign language

What is a Spreadsheet?
Spreadsheet software is used to organise and manipulate
numerical data (in the form of integer, real, date, and so on).

~Numbers are organised on a grid of lettered columns and

numbered rows.

~the grid itself is made up of cells, and each cell is identified using
a unique combination of columns and rows; for example: B6

What are the function of Spreadsheet?

• use of formulae to carry out calculations
• ability to produce graphs
• ability to do modelling and 'what if' calculations

What is Database?

Database software is used to organise, manipulate and analyse

data. A typical database is made up of one or more tables. Tables
consist of rows and columns. Each row is called a 'record' and
each column is called a 'field
What are the function of Database?
• ability to carry out queries on database data and produce a
report (DBMS)
• add, delete and modify data in a table

What is a Control and measurement software?

Control and measuring software is designed to allow a computer
or microprocessor to interface with sensors

Use of Control and measurement;

interface with sensors so that it is possible to:
• measure physical quantities in the real world (such as
temperatures)
• control applications (such as a chemical process) by comparing
sensor data with stored data and sending out signals to alter
process parameters (for example, open a valve to add acid and
change the pH)

What are Apps and applets?

Applets are small applications that perform a single task on a
device (they are usually embedded in an HTML page
on a website and can be executed from within a browser).
Apps refer to software which can perform a fairly substantial task

What are Computer-aided design (CAD) software?

This is software used to help in the creation, manipulation,
modification and analysis of a drawing/design.

Computer-aided design
It can be used to produce 2D or 3D diagrams which:
• can be rotated to view the drawing from any angle
• can produce full dimensions
• can be used to estimate manufacturing costs of the final product
• predict any structural problems.

What is Audio editing software?

Audio editing software allows a user to edit, manipulate and
generate audio data on a computer.

Audio editing software

It allows the user to alter:
• length of track
• start/stop time of track
• conversion between audio file formats
• volume of track
• fading in/out
• combine multiple sound tracks
• noise reduction
• to create another version of the sound track (for example, a
continuous loop or phone ring tone).

What is Video editing software ?

Video editing software allows a user the ability to manipulate
videos to produce a new video. It enables the addition of
titles, colour correction and altering/ adding sound to the original
video.

Video editing software

Essentially it includes:
• rearranging, adding and/or removing sections of video clips
and/or audio clips
• applying colour correction, filters and other video enhancements
• creating transitions between clips in the video footage

What is Graphics editing software?

Graphics editing software allows bitmap and vector images to be
changed.

What are bitmap images

Bitmap images are made up of pixels which contain information
about image brightness and color

What is a Compiler?
A compiler is a computer program that translates a program
written in a high-level language (HLL) into machine code (code
that is understood by the computer) so that it can be directly used
by a computer to perform a required task.
~the original program is called the source code and the code after
compilation is called the object code

~examples of high-level languages include Java,Python, Visual

Basic, Fortran, C++ and Algo

What is a Linker?
A linker (or link editor) is a computer program that takes one or
more object files produced by a compiler and combines them into
a single program that can be run on a computer
What is a Device driver?
A device driver is the name given to software that enables one or
more hardware devices to communicate with
the computer’s operating system. Without drivers, a hardware
device (for example, a printer)

What is a Operating system?

The operating system (OS) is essentially software running in the
background of a computer system. It manages many
of the basic functions. Without the OS, most computers would be
very user-unfriendly and the majority of users would find it almost
impossible to work with computers on a day-to-day basis

What are the uses of an Operating system?

Operating Systems allow:
• input/output operations
• users to communicate with the computer (for example,Windows)
• error handling to take place
• the loading and running of programs to occur
• managing of security (for example,user accounts, log on
passwords

What are Utiliteis ?

Utility programs are software that has been designed to carry out
specific tasks on a computer. Essentially, they are programs that
help to manage,maintain and control computer resources.

Examples include:
• antivirus• anti-spyware• backup of files• disk defragmenter
• disk repair• file management• security• screensavers
What is Analogue data ?
Analogue data is physical data that changes smoothly from one
value to the next, and not indiscrete steps as with digital data
~If analogue data is being sent to a computer, it must first be
converted into digital data; this is done by hardware known as an
analogue to digital converter

~ If the computer is controlling a device (such as a motor) then the

digital output from the computer needs to be converted into
analogue form. This is done by a digital to analogue converter
(DAC).

The CPU is now referred to as a microprocessor

.
The CPU is made up of a control unit

Boot file tells the computer what to do when it first starts up;it is
often referred to as the BIOS (basic input/output system)

The BIOS stores the date, time and system configuration in a non-volatile chip called a
CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) this is usually
battery powered.
Operating systems offer various types of user interface. We will
consider four different types:
~command line interface (CLI)
~graphical user interface (GUI)
~dialogue-based user interface
~gesture-based user interface

What is Command line interface (CLI)?

A command line interface (CLI) requires a user to type in
instructions to choose options from menus, open software, etc.
What is the use of Command line interface (CLI)?
the advantage of a CLI is that the user is in direct communication
with the computer and is not restricted to a number of pre-
determined options.

What is Graphical user interface (GUI)?

A graphical user interface (GUI) allows the user to interact with a
computer (or MP3 player, gaming device, mobile phone,
etc.)using pictures or symbols (icons) rather than having to type in
a number of commands.

What is a WIMP (windows icons menu and pointing device)?

WIMP (windows icons menu and pointing device) which was
developed for use on personal computers (PC).
Who would use each type of interface?
CLI: a programmer, analyst or technician; basically, somebody
who needs to have direct communication with a computer to
develop new software, locate errors and remove them, initiate
memory dumps (contents of the computer memory at some
moment in time), and so on.
GUI: the end-user who does not have to (or does not need to)
have any great knowledge of how the computer works; a person
who uses the computer to run software, play games or
store/manipulate photographs.

What is Dialogue-based user interface?

Dialogue-based user interfaces use the human voice to give
commands to a computer system.

What is Gesture-based interfaces?

Gesture-based interfaces rely on human interaction by the moving of hands,
head or even the feet. Gesture recognition allows humans to interface with a
computer in a more natural fashion without the need for any mechanical devices.
This type of interface uses techniques known as computer vision and image
processing