Computer Hardware Components

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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of a rollerball mouse?

It is shaped like a pencil eraser.

It has a flat, touch-sensitive surface.

It uses a captive ball like those found in arcade machines. (correct)

It requires a gyroscope for operations.

Which type of touch screen operates with gloved fingers?

Optical touchscreen

Capacitive touchscreen

Resistive touchscreen (correct)

Infrared touchscreen

Foot pedals are commonly utilized in which scenario?

To navigate touch screens in medical applications.

For controlling display brightness on monitors.

To replace keyboard shortcuts in radiology transcription workflows. (correct)

To input stylus-based commands in design software.

What distinguishes a gyromouse from a traditional mouse?

It is fitted with a gyroscope for handheld use. Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of capacitive touchscreens compared to resistive touchscreens?

They provide better image clarity. Signup and view all the answers

Which input device is designed to simplify tasks for those with limited hand movements?

Foot pedal Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical feature of dictation microphones?

They include a built-in speaker and customizable buttons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of display devices?

To show the output of the computer to the user. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary consideration when adding or updating a dedicated server in a server room?

Sufficient cooling availability Signup and view all the answers

What is a common measure used to indicate the power of a virtual server?

Processor seats Signup and view all the answers

What is typically connected to both dedicated and virtual servers in a radiology setup?

Storage array Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can affect the reliability of radiology services in an institution?

Network infrastructure health Signup and view all the answers

What type of cabling utilizes the flow of photons?

Fiber optics Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT generally associated with basic network infrastructure?

PC Workstation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the key advantage of virtual servers over dedicated servers?

Lower power and cooling requirements Signup and view all the answers

The flow of electrons in network cabling is associated with which type of cabling?

Traditional copper Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the processor in a workstation?

To process digital inputs into outputs based on program instructions Signup and view all the answers

How does RAM function in a workstation?

It allows multiple applications to be used simultaneously by storing current items Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a graphics card?

To provide additional processing power and memory for displaying complex images Signup and view all the answers

What types of devices are categorized under input devices?

Foot pedals, mouse, and dictation microphones Signup and view all the answers

Which storage device is known for its faster data retrieval compared to traditional hard disk drives?

Solid State Drive (SSD) Signup and view all the answers

What role does a mouse serve in a workstation environment?

To navigate the cursor on the screen Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic differentiates dual purpose devices from standard input/output devices?

They perform functions as both input and output devices Signup and view all the answers

In what situation is larger amounts of RAM particularly necessary?

For applications requiring 3D reconstructions Signup and view all the answers

What is a pixel?

An individual controllable set of dot triads Signup and view all the answers

How is resolution defined in terms of displays?

The capability to distinguish adjacent parts of an image Signup and view all the answers

What does the dot pitch measurement indicate?

The distance between adjacent pixels Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following monitor types does not belong to the major types used today?

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Signup and view all the answers

What interface is primarily used for connecting high-resolution monitors?

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Signup and view all the answers

What does the matrix size of a monitor indicate?

The total number of pixels arranged in rows and columns Signup and view all the answers

What does the refresh rate of a monitor refer to?

The frequency at which the screen updates its image Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a characteristic associated with pixels?

Measurement of the display's refresh rate Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason that glass fiber-based networking is expected to replace copper connections for the final hop in networks?

Glass fiber installations will become more cost-effective over time. Signup and view all the answers

How are packets of data addressed in an IPV4 system?

Addresses are denoted as blocks of numbers in fixed ranges. Signup and view all the answers

What major limitation does IPV4 face as more devices connect to the internet?

The fixed number of addresses has been exhausted. Signup and view all the answers

What type of addresses does IPV6 utilize to expand address availability?

Hexadecimal addresses Signup and view all the answers

At which layer of the OSI model do routers operate?

Network layer (level 3) Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the role of a router in a network?

To connect multiple networks and manage data packet traffic. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common format for an IPV4 address?

192.168.0.1 Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of using copper for the final hop in networking?

Limited bandwidth compared to glass fiber. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hardware Components

Hardware can be categorized into two types: hardware and software
Workstations/PCs are made up of a processor, memory, graphics card, and storage
Commonly used input devices include: mouse, keyboard, foot pedals, dictation microphones, and touch screen monitors
Commonly used output devices include: display devices, printers, speakers, and servers

Workstation/PCs

The processor is the heart of the workstation and processes digital inputs, based on instructions received from the program running
RAM is high-speed memory used for storing data in use
The amount of available RAM impacts the number of programs, instructions, and user data that can be used and manipulated at the same time
Graphics cards are secondary processors with dedicated memory, allowing for complex mathematical operations for modern applications.
Storage offers a space to store data even when turned off, and can be in the form of a HDD (magnetic spinning disk) or an SSD (miniaturized internal device).

Input Devices

Mice can be traditional, upright, 3D, projection, button, rollerball, or trackpad, each offering specific advantages and functionalities
Keyboards can be customized with smart card readers and come in various styles including washable membrane or covers, particularly useful in clinical settings
Foot pedals are often used in radiology transcription workflows and offer shortcuts, especially useful for users with limited hand movements
Dictation microphones, such as the Philips SpeechMike, offer features like a built-in speaker, trackball, and customizable buttons for specific functions
Touch screen monitors can be capacitive or resistive with different advantages depending on the intended use (resistive screens work with gloves)

Output Devices

Display Devices are the primary output of a PC and can include multiple monitors
High-quality monitors require dedicated graphics cards for optimal performance
Common monitor types are: CRT, LCD, or Plasma Screen
Important concepts for understanding computer monitors: pixel, resolution, matrix, dot pitch, and refresh rate
A pixel is an individual controllable dot triad, composed of red, green, and blue dots.
Higher resolution means more pixels in an image, resulting in a sharper and more detailed image
Matrix is the arrangement of pixels in rows and columns, with its size determining the number of pixels
Smaller dot pitch offers finer resolution as the dots in a pixel are closer
The refresh rate is also known as the vertical scanning rate.

Servers

Servers can be either dedicated or virtual
Dedicated servers are standalone physical units (pizza box servers)
Virtual servers can share physical hardware, reducing resource consumption.
Updating a dedicated server may require adjustments to power, cooling, and network infrastructure
Virtual servers are typically judged by the number of processor seats they hold.
In radiology informatics, debates exist about the long-term benefits of using dedicated servers vs. virtual servers
Servers are connected to storage arrays, UPS, and backup devices for data storage and protection.

Networks

Network infrastructure plays a crucial role in the efficiency and reliability of radiology services
Key components of a network infrastructure include: cabling, IP addresses, routers, switches, ports, VPNs, and bandwidth.
Network cabling can be copper or glass fiber, with glass fiber offering higher speeds in theory
IP addresses (IPV4 and IPV6) are used to identify and route data packets within a network
Routers connect different networks and operate at the network layer of the OSI model
Routers allow data packet broadcast within a LAN and routing to a WAN.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the essential hardware components of workstations and PCs. This quiz covers processors, memory, input and output devices, and storage solutions. Understand how these components interact and their significance in computing.