Computer Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical components that make up a computer system. There are particular hardware devices that are responsible for each of the following:
Activity Area |
|
The Data Processing Cycle
Input Devices
An input device is any hardware device that sends data to the computer, without any input devices, a computer would only be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, much like a TV. Input devices can be placed into three general categories. There are four major categories of input devices: Key devices, Point and draw, multimedia and source data automation.
Key Devices Point and draw Multimedia Input Devices Source data automation |
|
Output Devices
Any device that outputs information from a computer is called, not surprisingly, an output device. Since most information from a computer is output in either a visual or auditory format, the most common output devices are the monitor and speakers. There are two types of outputs that are generated by output devices, Hard copy and Soft Copy. Examples of Output devices are:
|
|
Storage Devices
A storage device is a hardware device capable of holding information. There are two storage devices used in computers; a primary storage device such as computer RAM and a secondary storage device such as a computer hard drive. The secondary storage could be a removable, internal, or external storage.
Primary Storage Devices
Secondary Storage Devices
Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Electronic Storage
Primary Storage Devices
Secondary Storage Devices
Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Electronic Storage
Processing Device
The CPU (Microprocessor/ Processor)
|
CPU is short for Central Processing Unit and is the brain of the computer. it processes every instruction. Any task that needs to be executed is sent to the CPU. The CPU is compose of two components, the Arithmetic and logic Unit (ALU) which performs arithmetic and logical operations, and the Control Unit (CU) which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them. |
Communication Devices
A communication device is a hardware device capable of transmitting an analog or digital signal over the telephone, other communication wire, or wirelessly.
- Bluetooth devices
- Infrared devices
- Modem (over phone line)
- Network card (using Ethernet)
- Smartphone
- Wi-Fi devices (using a router)