ComputingComputing

· Hardware· Hardware· Software· Software

· Peripherals· Peripherals

Pablo Fernández Escarabajal y Francisco José Martínez Fernández

Hardware

• DefinitionHardware is the physical aspect of a computer. Internal hardware devices include motherboards, hard drives, and RAM.

• A computer case is the enclousure that contains most of the components of a computer.

• A power supply unit, supplies direct current (DC) power to the other components in a computer. It converts general-purpose alternating current (AC) electric power from the mains to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer.

• A motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system.

• The central processing unit (processor) is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system.

• Memory (Random Access Memory) is a form of computer data storage. It takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order with a worst case performance of constant time.

• A video card is an expansion card which generates output images to display.

• A hard drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device.

• CD ROM Drive is used to read CD ROM discs.

• Sound Card is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.

Peripherals

• DefinitionPeripherals devices include monitors, keyboards, mouse, printers, and scanners.

• A monitor is an electronic visual display for computers.

• A keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches.

• A mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface.

• A printer is a peripheral which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies.

• A scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image.

Software

• DefinitionSoftware is a conceptual entity which is a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. Examples: Paint, Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop…