Computer Hardware vs Peripherals Quiz

Computer Hardware vs. Peripherals

• Computer hardware encompasses all physical components of a computer, including the system unit and internal parts.
• Peripherals are external devices connected to a host computer, expanding its capabilities but not part of its core architecture.
• Common peripherals connect via ports to enhance the functionality of the system.

Input Devices

• Input devices allow the entry of data or instructions into a computer.
• Examples include the keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, digital camera, and PC video camera.

Mouse

• A pointing device used to manipulate on-screen objects, typically featuring two buttons and a scroll wheel.
• Key operations:
  • Clicking: Pressing a button once.
  • Double-clicking: Pressing a button twice rapidly to open files or applications.
  • Dragging: Holding a button and moving the mouse to select items.
• Safety tips for mouse use:
  • Keep the mouse at elbow level and don’t grip it tightly.
  • Move it by pivoting the arm and take breaks every 15 to 20 minutes.

Other Pointing Devices

• Trackball: Stationary device with a ball on top for precise control, suitable for gaming and design.
• Touchpad: Sensitive to pressure and motion, allowing pointer movement via finger slides.
• Joystick: Controls actions in simulated environments through directional movement.
• Light Pen: A handheld device that detects light for graphic design tasks.
• Touch Screen: A display that allows user interaction through touch.

Keyboard

• An essential input device featuring multiple sections for entering data.
• Comprises typing keys, numeric keypad, functional keys (F1, F2, etc.), and special keys like Enter, Backspace, and Space bar.

Output Devices

• Output devices convert digital data into a physical format or visual display.

Monitor

• The primary output device, forming images from pixels, with clarity based on pixel count.
• Types:
  • CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube): Bulky, using electron beams.
  • Flat-Panel Display: Lightweight, categorized into:
    • Emissive Displays: Convert electricity to light (e.g., LEDs).
    • Non-Emissive Displays: Use optical effects (e.g., LCDs).

Printers

• Convert digital documents into physical copies, with two main types:
  • Impact Printers: Use physical striking to print (e.g., dot matrix).
  • Non-Impact Printers: Use inkjet or laser technology without striking.

Comparison of Hard Copy and Soft Copy

• Hard copy is more accessible and less prone to changes compared to soft copy, which requires a computer to read and is more transient.

Storage Devices

• Essential for holding data, instructions, and information for future use, including floppy disks, USB drives, and hard disks.
• Primary Memory: Temporary storage directly accessed by the CPU, categorized into RAM (volatile) and ROM (non-volatile).
• Secondary Memory: Non-volatile storage like hard disks, slower than primary but offers higher capacity and permanent data storage.

Processing System Unit

• Contains electronic components necessary for processing data.
• The form factor defines the size and layout of the system unit.

Devices with Dual Functions

• Devices serving both input and output roles include:
  • Touch Screen
  • Hard Disk Drive
  • USB Flash Drive
  • Modem