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Questions and Answers
What is a computer considered to be?
What is a program/software?
What is the role of a programmer?
What is an essential part of programming?
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What is hardware in a computer system?
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What is the main function of the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
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What is the purpose of main memory (RAM)?
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What type of device is a keyboard?
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What is the purpose of secondary storage devices?
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What is NOT a category of main hardware components?
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What is the smallest unit of memory that can hold an electrical charge?
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How many consecutive bits make up a byte?
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What is the primary characteristic of non-volatile storage?
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What type of storage device uses magnetic storage?
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What is the primary function of system software?
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What is the purpose of utility programs?
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How is data stored in an optical drive?
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What is the primary function of an operating system?
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What is the term for the smallest unit of memory that can be addressed by a computer?
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What is a characteristic of bits in main memory?
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What is the primary difference between main memory and secondary storage?
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What is the purpose of a disk drive?
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What is the role of an operating system?
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Study Notes
Main Memory Organization
- A bit is the smallest piece of memory, holding an electrical charge (positive or negative).
- A byte is 8 consecutive bits, having an address in memory, and there are millions or billions of bytes in a computer.
Secondary Storage
- Non-volatile/permanent storage holds data when the program is not running or the computer is turned off.
- Types of secondary storage include:
- Disk drive (magnetic storage)
- Optical storage (CD or DVD drive)
- Flash storage (USB flash drive)
Software Programs
- System software manages the computer hardware and programs, and includes:
- Operating Systems (control computer operations, manage devices, and allow programs to run)
- Utility Programs (support programs, e.g. virus scanners, data backup, file compression)
- Software development tools (used by programmers, e.g. compilers, integrated development environments)
Hardware Components
- Input devices send information to the computer from outside, examples include:
- Keyboard, mouse, touch screen
- Microphone, scanner, digital camera, disk drive, CD/DVD drive, USB flash drive
- Output devices send information from the computer to the outside, examples include:
- Computer screen, printer, speakers, disk drive, CD/DVD recorder, USB flash drive
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- The CPU is a hardware component that runs programs, comprising:
- Control Unit (retrieves and decodes program instructions, coordinates computer operations)
- Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU) (performs mathematical operations)
The CPU's Role in Running a Program
- The CPU cycles through:
- Fetch (get the next program instruction from main memory)
- Decode (interpret the instruction and generate a signal)
- Execute (route the signal to the appropriate component to perform an operation)
Main Memory
- Main memory holds both program instructions and data.
- Main memory is volatile (erased when the program terminates or computer is turned off).
- Also known as Random Access Memory (RAM), as the CPU can access data and instructions from any memory location.
Why Program?
- A computer is a programmable machine designed to follow instructions.
- A program/software is a set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task.
- A programmer is a person who designs, creates, and tests programs for computers.
Programming
- Programming involves both artistry and science:
- Artistry: organization of tasks, information display, user interaction
- Science: understanding the language used to write the program, testing, and changing it if needed
Hardware Component Categories
- Main hardware component categories include Central Processing Unit (CPU), Main Memory (RAM), Secondary Storage Devices, Input Devices, and Output Devices.
Input Devices
- Input devices are used to send information to the computer from outside.
- Examples of input devices include keyboard, mouse, touch screen, microphone, scanner, digital camera, disk drive, CD/DVD drive, and USB flash drive.
Output Devices
- Output devices are used to send information from the computer to the outside.
- Examples of output devices include computer screen, printer, speakers, disk drive, CD/DVD recorder, and USB flash drive.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- The CPU is a hardware component that runs programs.
- It includes the Control Unit, which retrieves and decodes program instructions and coordinates computer operations.
- It also includes the Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU), which performs mathematical operations.
CPU's Role in Running a Program
- The CPU's role in running a program involves a cycle of:
- Fetch: getting the next program instruction from main memory.
- Decode: interpreting the instruction and generating a signal.
- Execute: routing the signal to the appropriate component to perform an operation.
Main Memory
- Main memory holds both program instructions and data.
- It is volatile, meaning it is erased when the program terminates or the computer is turned off.
- It is also called Random Access Memory (RAM) because the CPU can access data and instructions from any memory location.
Secondary Storage
- Secondary storage is non-volatile, meaning it holds data even when the program is not running or when the computer is turned off.
- Examples of secondary storage include disk drives, optical drives (CD or DVD), and flash drives (USB flash drive).
Software
- System software manages the computer hardware and the programs that run on the computer.
- Examples of system software include Operating Systems, Utility Programs, and Software development tools.
Programming
- Programming is both an art and a science.
- The artistry of programming involves the organization of tasks, display of information, and user interaction.
- The science of programming involves understanding the programming language and testing the program.
Hardware Component Categories
- Main hardware component categories include Central Processing Unit (CPU), Main Memory (RAM), Secondary Storage Devices, Input Devices, and Output Devices.
Input Devices
- Input devices are used to send information to the computer from outside.
- Examples of input devices include keyboard, mouse, touch screen, microphone, scanner, digital camera, disk drive, CD/DVD drive, and USB flash drive.
Output Devices
- Output devices are used to send information from the computer to the outside.
- Examples of output devices include computer screen, printer, speakers, disk drive, CD/DVD recorder, and USB flash drive.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- The CPU is a hardware component that runs programs.
- It includes the Control Unit, which retrieves and decodes program instructions and coordinates computer operations.
- It also includes the Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU), which performs mathematical operations.
CPU's Role in Running a Program
- The CPU's role in running a program involves a cycle of:
- Fetch: getting the next program instruction from main memory.
- Decode: interpreting the instruction and generating a signal.
- Execute: routing the signal to the appropriate component to perform an operation.
Main Memory
- Main memory holds both program instructions and data.
- It is volatile, meaning it is erased when the program terminates or the computer is turned off.
- It is also called Random Access Memory (RAM) because the CPU can access data and instructions from any memory location.
Secondary Storage
- Secondary storage is non-volatile, meaning it holds data even when the program is not running or when the computer is turned off.
- Examples of secondary storage include disk drives, optical drives (CD or DVD), and flash drives (USB flash drive).
Software
- System software manages the computer hardware and the programs that run on the computer.
- Examples of system software include Operating Systems, Utility Programs, and Software development tools.
Programming
- Programming is both an art and a science.
- The artistry of programming involves the organization of tasks, display of information, and user interaction.
- The science of programming involves understanding the programming language and testing the program.
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Description
Learn about the basic units of computer memory, including bits and bytes, and how they are organized in main memory.