Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are the three components of an information system?
What are the three components of an information system?
What is computer hardware?
What is computer hardware?
What is a characteristic of digital devices?
What is a characteristic of digital devices?
What is a trend in personal computing?
What is a trend in personal computing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a problem associated with the commoditization of computers?
What is a problem associated with the commoditization of computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of a non-traditional digital device?
What is an example of a non-traditional digital device?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a component of a computer system?
What is a component of a computer system?
Signup and view all the answers
What do you learn about in this chapter?
What do you learn about in this chapter?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary difference between analog and digital signals?
What is the primary difference between analog and digital signals?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a single binary digit?
What is the term for a single binary digit?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a group of 8 bits?
What is the term for a group of 8 bits?
Signup and view all the answers
What determines the capacity of a processor?
What determines the capacity of a processor?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of a personal computer?
What is the primary function of a personal computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of a Network Interface Card (NIC)?
What is the purpose of a Network Interface Card (NIC)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for one trillion bytes?
What is the term for one trillion bytes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the central component of a personal computer that performs calculations?
What is the central component of a personal computer that performs calculations?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the number of bits that can be processed by a computer's processor at one time?
What is the term for the number of bits that can be processed by a computer's processor at one time?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the motherboard in a personal computer?
What is the purpose of the motherboard in a personal computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main function of the motherboard?
What is the main function of the motherboard?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the brain of a computer?
What is the brain of a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the unit of measurement for the speed of a CPU?
What is the unit of measurement for the speed of a CPU?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the law that states computing power will double every two years for the same price point?
What is the name of the law that states computing power will double every two years for the same price point?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary use of Random-Access Memory (RAM)?
What is the primary use of Random-Access Memory (RAM)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the CEO who coined the term Huang's Law?
What is the name of the CEO who coined the term Huang's Law?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of multiple processors in a CPU chip?
What is the purpose of multiple processors in a CPU chip?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the electrical connections between different computer components?
What is the term for the electrical connections between different computer components?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the two primary manufacturers of CPUs for personal computers?
What is the name of the two primary manufacturers of CPUs for personal computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the benefit of increased processing power in a computer?
What is the benefit of increased processing power in a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of RAM in a computer?
What is the primary function of RAM in a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to data stored in RAM when the computer is turned off?
What happens to data stored in RAM when the computer is turned off?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main difference between a hard disk and a solid-state drive?
What is the main difference between a hard disk and a solid-state drive?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary benefit of using cloud computing for data storage?
What is the primary benefit of using cloud computing for data storage?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the function of a hard disk in a computer?
What is the function of a hard disk in a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
Why are SSDs more reliable than hard disks?
Why are SSDs more reliable than hard disks?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of a USB drive?
What is the purpose of a USB drive?
Signup and view all the answers
What determines the speed of a computer?
What determines the speed of a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the benefit of adding more RAM to a computer?
What is the benefit of adding more RAM to a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is EEPROM?
What is EEPROM?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term used to describe the process of putting more and more circuits onto the same chip?
What is the term used to describe the process of putting more and more circuits onto the same chip?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the cache in a CPU?
What is the purpose of the cache in a CPU?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the unit of measurement for the clock speed of a CPU?
What is the unit of measurement for the clock speed of a CPU?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of the motherboard?
What is the primary function of the motherboard?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the technology used for wireless communication between devices?
What is the technology used for wireless communication between devices?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary input device used in early computers?
What is the primary input device used in early computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the unit of measurement for the access time of a hard disk?
What is the unit of measurement for the access time of a hard disk?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of RAM in a computer?
What is the purpose of RAM in a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term used to describe the data transfer rate of RAM?
What is the term used to describe the data transfer rate of RAM?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the range of distance over which Bluetooth devices can communicate?
What is the range of distance over which Bluetooth devices can communicate?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of a microphone?
What is the primary function of a microphone?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of a 3D printer?
What is the purpose of a 3D printer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of netbooks?
What is a characteristic of netbooks?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a feature of smartphones that PCs and laptops could not deliver?
What is a feature of smartphones that PCs and laptops could not deliver?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of tablet computers?
What is a characteristic of tablet computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of an output device?
What is an example of an output device?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a use of 3D printing?
What is a use of 3D printing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a feature of portable computers?
What is a feature of portable computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of a device that can be used for video chat?
What is an example of a device that can be used for video chat?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a feature of the MacBook Air?
What is a feature of the MacBook Air?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of a storage device?
What is the primary function of a storage device?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of memory is used in a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
What type of memory is used in a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary difference between a Hard Disk and a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
What is the primary difference between a Hard Disk and a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key feature of the Internet of Things (IoT)?
What is a key feature of the Internet of Things (IoT)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a major challenge in recycling e-waste?
What is a major challenge in recycling e-waste?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the function of a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
What is the function of a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is much e-waste sent abroad?
Why is much e-waste sent abroad?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary factor that controls the sale of personal computers?
What is the primary factor that controls the sale of personal computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
What is a characteristic of a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) in a computer?
What is the primary function of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) in a computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a consequence of a firm's failure to address e-waste?
What is a consequence of a firm's failure to address e-waste?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the expected lifetime of a PC?
What is the expected lifetime of a PC?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit that doubles approximately every two years?
What is the term for the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit that doubles approximately every two years?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the benefit of using a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
What is the benefit of using a Solid State Drive (SSD)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the motherboard in a personal computer?
What is the purpose of the motherboard in a personal computer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the company that avoids commoditization of personal computers?
What is the name of the company that avoids commoditization of personal computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the result of advances in personal computing?
What is the result of advances in personal computing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a trend in personal computing?
What is a trend in personal computing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the predicted increase in e-waste by 2020?
What is the predicted increase in e-waste by 2020?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the electrical connections between different computer components?
What is the term for the electrical connections between different computer components?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a single binary digit?
What is the term for a single binary digit?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a type of device that is part of the Internet of Things (IoT)?
What is a type of device that is part of the Internet of Things (IoT)?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the impact of Moore's Law on computer hardware?
What is the impact of Moore's Law on computer hardware?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a consequence of the commoditization of computers?
What is a consequence of the commoditization of computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a group of 8 bits?
What is the term for a group of 8 bits?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a consequence of the rapid obsolescence of technology?
What is a consequence of the rapid obsolescence of technology?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the estimated amount of e-waste created in 2016?
What is the estimated amount of e-waste created in 2016?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the assignment?
What is the purpose of the assignment?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the measure of computer processing speed?
What is the term for the measure of computer processing speed?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of the CPU?
What is a characteristic of the CPU?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of Apple's computers?
What is a characteristic of Apple's computers?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of an input device?
What is an example of an input device?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a contributor to the global e-waste problem?
What is a contributor to the global e-waste problem?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the working memory that begins to load information from the hard disk as the computer starts up?
What is the term for the working memory that begins to load information from the hard disk as the computer starts up?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the review questions?
What is the purpose of the review questions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the retention of retrievable data on a computer or other electronic system?
What is the term for the retention of retrievable data on a computer or other electronic system?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Chapter 3: Hardware
3.1 Chapter Introduction
- An information system consists of three components: technology, people, and processes
- This chapter focuses on the technology component, specifically hardware
3.2 Digital Devices
- Digital devices process electronic signals into discrete values (binary: 0 or 1)
- Examples: desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, storage devices, and input and output devices
- The number of bits that can be processed by a computer’s processor at one time is known as word size (e.g., 64-bit processor)
3.3 Personal Computer Tour
- A computer consists of the following basic components:
- Network connection
- Motherboard
- Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- Storage/memory
- Input/output devices
3.4 Processing Data
- The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the "brain" of the computer
- CPU speed (clock time) is measured in hertz (Hz)
- Moore's Law states that computing power will double every two years for the same price point
- Multi-core processors have increased processing power
- Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are increasing in power faster than Moore's Law (Huang's Law)
3.5 Storing Data
- Random-Access Memory (RAM) is used as working memory
- RAM is volatile, meaning it loses data when power is turned off
- Hard disks are used for long-term data storage
- Solid State Drives (SSDs) use flash memory and are faster and more reliable than hard disks
- Cloud computing provides online data storage and access
3.6 Computer Speed Factors
- Computer speed is determined by hardware and software components
- Hardware components that contribute to speed:
- CPU
- Motherboard
- RAM
- Hard Disk
3.7 Input and Output Devices
- Input devices: keyboard, mouse, scanners, microphones, webcams
- Output devices: display/monitor, speakers, printers, 3D printers
3.8 Trends in Personal Computing
- Portable computers: laptops, notebooks, netbooks
- Integration of computer components into other devices
- Definition of a computer has expanded to include various devices### Types of Computers
- Laptops: portable, weigh less than three pounds, and are only 0.68 inches thick
- Netbooks: extremely light, dependent on the Internet "cloud" for data and application storage, and can run Web browsers and word processors
- Smartphones: provide telephone, email, location, and calendar services, and function as a highly mobile computer
Tablet Computers
- Use a touch screen as their primary input
- Small enough and light enough to be easily transported
- Generally have no keyboard and are self-contained inside a rectangular case
- Examples: Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy, and Amazon Fire
Integrated Computing and Internet of Things (IoT)
- Computing technology is being integrated into everyday products, enhancing their capabilities
- IoT is a network of billions of devices, each with their own unique network address, that can connect to the Internet for data collection and sharing
- Examples: automobiles, refrigerators, airplanes, light bulbs, fitness bands, and driverless trucks
The Commoditization of the Personal Computer
- The personal computer has become a commodity, with little differentiation between computer models and manufacturers
- The primary factor controlling their sale is their price
- Hundreds of manufacturers worldwide create parts for personal computers, which are purchased and assembled
- Apple is an exception, as they design and manufacture unique products that no one can easily copy, allowing them to charge more
E-Waste
- The rapid obsolescence of computers and cell phones creates a growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste)
- In 2016, approximately 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste were created, and by 2020, it is predicted to increase by 17%
- E-waste contains hazardous materials like cadmium, mercury, lead, and other toxic substances
- Recycling is a complex and labor-intensive process, and much e-waste is sent abroad for processing, often to China, South Asia, or sub-Saharan Africa
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz covers the basics of computer hardware, including digital devices, personal computer components, processing and storing data, and input/output devices.