Hardware Components

Hardware

Input Devices

• Keyboard: used for typing and entering data
• Mouse: used for navigation and selection
• Scanner: used for scanning documents and images
• Webcam: used for capturing video and images
• Microphone: used for capturing audio

Processing Devices

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): executes instructions and performs calculations
• Motherboard: connects hardware components together
• Memory (RAM): temporarily stores data for processing

Storage Devices

• Hard Drive: stores data permanently
• Solid State Drive (SSD): stores data permanently and provides faster access
• Flash Drive: stores data temporarily and is portable

Output Devices

• Monitor: displays visuals and text
• Printer: prints physical copies of documents and images
• Speakers: produces audio output

Software

Types of Software

• System Software: manages computer hardware and provides basic functionality (e.g. operating system)
• Application Software: performs specific tasks (e.g. word processing, web browsing)
• Programming Software: used to develop and write software (e.g. compilers, interpreters)

Operating System (OS)

• Manages computer hardware and resources
• Provides a platform for running application software
• Examples: Windows, macOS, Linux

Application Software Examples

• Microsoft Office: word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software
• Google Chrome: web browser
• Adobe Photoshop: image editing software

Common Terms

• Bit: a single binary digit (0 or 1)
• Byte: a group of 8 bits
• Kilobyte (KB): 1,024 bytes
• Megabyte (MB): 1,024 kilobytes
• Gigabyte (GB): 1,024 megabytes

Hardware

Input Devices

• Keyboard is used for typing and entering data into a computer
• Mouse is used for navigation and selection of items on a computer screen
• Scanner is used to scan documents and images into a digital format
• Webcam is used to capture video and images, often used for video conferencing
• Microphone is used to capture audio input, such as voice or music

Processing Devices

• Central Processing Unit (CPU) executes instructions and performs calculations, acting as the "brain" of a computer
• Motherboard connects hardware components together, allowing them to communicate and function
• Memory (RAM) temporarily stores data for processing, with more memory allowing for more efficient performance

Storage Devices

• Hard Drive stores data permanently, with a mechanical system reading and writing data
• Solid State Drive (SSD) stores data permanently and provides faster access, with flash memory reading and writing data
• Flash Drive stores data temporarily and is portable, often used for transferring files between devices

Output Devices

• Monitor displays visuals and text, providing a visual output for the user
• Printer prints physical copies of documents and images, allowing for tangible output
• Speakers produce audio output, allowing users to hear audio files and music

Software

Types of Software

• System Software manages computer hardware and provides basic functionality, such as operating systems
• Application Software performs specific tasks, such as word processing, web browsing, and image editing
• Programming Software is used to develop and write software, such as compilers and interpreters

Operating System (OS)

• Manages computer hardware and resources, allocating them as needed
• Provides a platform for running application software, allowing users to interact with the computer
• Examples of operating systems include Windows, macOS, and Linux

Application Software Examples

• Microsoft Office is a suite of software including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software
• Google Chrome is a web browser, allowing users to access the internet and browse websites
• Adobe Photoshop is image editing software, used to manipulate and enhance digital images

Common Terms

• Bit is a single binary digit, represented as a 0 or 1
• Byte is a group of 8 bits, used to represent characters and data
• Kilobyte (KB) is 1,024 bytes, often used to measure small files and data
• Megabyte (MB) is 1,024 kilobytes, often used to measure larger files and data
• Gigabyte (GB) is 1,024 megabytes, often used to measure large files and data storage