Further discussion about the elements of computer were done on the first week of august…
VIDEO CARD enhances the screen display of the computer. It converts digital data into signals that can be sent across the connector of the monitor, which interprets the signal into an image on screen. Video modes are classified into 2: Text Mode where it can only display ASCII or ‘American Standard Code International Interchange’ characters; and Graphic Mode where it displays any bitmapped image.
EXPANSION SLOTS are located at the back of the computer. It provides slots to cards to add more devices on the computer. Examples of these are Audio Cards, Video Cards, External /Internal Modem Card, LAN Card and TV Output cards.
MOTHERBOARD SPEAKER provides simple output sound like indicating hardware errors during start up. It has a component called piezo speaker or a standard “voice-coil” speaker that is attached inside the case and connected to the motherboard through wires.
INTERNAL MODEM resides on an expansion board. It is used so that the computer could connect to the Internet. Computers are digital machines that are using digital codes. Since, standard telephone lines are analogue devices and uses analogue signals. Modem converts (modulate) the digital code into analogue waves and converts the back into digital (demodulate) at the other end.
POWER SUPPLY supplies power to the motherboard, the drives and it contains fan that help in the task of cooling the computer. In order for the device to be the “master”(primary device) it should be placed at the top. And the device at the bottom is the “slave”(secondary device).The slave drive is connected to the IDE cable between the master drive and the motherboard IDE connection. Old IDE cables are made up of 40 individual wires while the new ones consists 80 individual wires. These wires are used to transfer data between the motherboard and the drives.
POWER CABLES supply power from the power supply to the drives. The power cables are red (5 volts), yellow (12 volts) and black (ground wires).
OUTPUT DEVICES are peripheral devices that present, displays, alters or records output after it has left a computer’s system unit.
COMPUTER SPEAKER is an output device that converts output data into sound.
MONITOR is the most popular output device. It gives users a visual presentation of keyboard commands and mouse movements. It displays output data and show user the end results of the processes taking place inside the computer.
PRINTER is an output device that creates images on paper, plastic, cloth and other print media using technologies like ink transfer, heat transfer, chemical transfer, chemical reactions, and physical force. There are three types of printers: Laser Printers, Inkjet or Bubble jet Printers and Dot-matrix printers. Printers are also classified by the following characteristics – Quality of Type, Speed, Impact or non-impact, and graphics. Daisy-wheel printers tend to be the slowest printers, printing about 30 cps. On the other hand, Dot-matrix printers are the fastest printers (up to 3000 lines per minute).
INPUT DEVICES is a peripheral appliance that generates input for the computer and allows user to enter information into the computer to be processed. It also allows user to provide a computer with commands, software, instructions and information. There are seven input devices: keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, digital camera, graphic tablet, and joy stick. Other peripheral devices add new service or an additional resource. It includes both input and output devices. Examples of these are- CD ROM drive, Modem and External Drive Unit.
KEYBOARD is classified into alphanumeric keys, punctuation keys and special keys. The special keys are Control Keys, Alt Key, Arrow Keys, Shift Keys, Function Keys and Caps Lock Keys. There are two keyboard designs, QWERTY keyboard and DVORAK keyboard. There are three types of keyboard connectors. These connectors are USB, PS/2 and AT.
COMPUTING PROCESS has five elements namely, hardware, software, data, people, and procedure. Hardware is typically divided into three main categories: input, output, and storage. Software is also known as the “program” which instructs the hardware. Data is the raw facts that the computer changes into useful information. People are also called the “end users”. Procedures are the steps or directions that the user needs to follow in order to complete certain task.
SOFTWARE provides commands that instruct the hardware. It is the programs or data that the computer uses. It consists of both programs and data and kept on some hardware device.
PROGRAMS are list of instructions for the processor. DATA are information that a program needs: character data, numerical data, image data, audio data, and countless other types. Both programs and data are saved in computer memory in the same way. The electronics of computer memory (both main and secondary memory) make no distinction between programs and data.
SOFTWARE has three kinds: Application Software, Operating Software and Programming Language.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE is programs that people use to get their work done. It is designed to help people with specific task such as making a spreadsheet of creating a graphic image. Examples of application software are- word processor, spreadsheet software, presentation software, database software, web browser, and PIM or Personal Information Manager.
OPERATING SYSTEM is a software that controls the computer and runs applications. It keeps all hardware and software running together smoothly. Examples of operating systems are- DOS, Windows, Apple Macintosh, Linux, and Unix.
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE are used to create all other software whether it is operating system or application software. Examples of Language Software are Visual Basic and Delphi.
PROGRAMMING is a sequence of instructions that tells the hardware of a computer what operations to perform the data.
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