ICT Reviewer: Hardware Tools and Maintenance

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Tools:
- Static electricity is generated by friction on various surfaces.
- Anti-Static Wrist Wraps prevent ESD damage to equipment.
- Anti-Static Mats protect hardware from static when placed or stood upon.
- Anti-Static Spray can be applied to surfaces to reduce static buildup.
Hand Tools:
- Flat Head Screwdriver: for slotted screws.
- Philips Head Screwdriver: for crosshead screws.
- Torx Screwdriver: for star-shaped screws.
- Hex Driver: used for nuts and bolts.
- Needle Nose Pliers: useful for holding small parts.
- Tweezers: help manipulate small components.
- Part Retriever: retrieves hard-to-reach small parts.
- Wire Cutter: strips and cuts wires.
- Flashlight: illuminates work areas.
Cleaning Tools:
- Lint-Free Cloth: cleans components without scratches.
- Compressed Air: blows away dust from components.
- Cable Ties: organize and bundle cables neatly.
- Parts Organizer: keeps screws, jumpers, and fasteners sorted.
- Computer Duster: brushes off dust gently.
Diagnostic Tools:
- Multimeter: tests circuit integrity and electrical quality.
- Loopback Adapters: test computer part functionality.

Computer Hardware System: Interconnected computers sharing central storage and devices.
Four Basic Functions:
- Input
- Process
- Storage
- Output
Hardware Characteristics:
- Physical components are tangible and mechanical.
- Hard Copy: physical printout of documents.
- Soft Copy: digital files in raw form.
System Unit: Houses the internal parts of microcomputers.
Motherboard: Main PCB interconnecting computer parts; serves as the backbone.
CPU (Central Processing Unit): The brain executing calculations and instructions, interprets numbers.

Primary Storage:
- RAM (Random Access Memory): Volatile memory, data lost when power is off.
- ROM (Read Only Memory): Non-volatile memory, retains data without power.
Expansion Bus: Connects additional adapters for expanded capabilities.
- Types include ISA, AGP, PCI.
Adapters/Expansion Cards: Upgrade devices granting additional functionalities (e.g., sound card, video card).
- Wi-Fi: Wireless network access.
- Network Interface Card (NIC): Connects computers to networks.
- Modem: Converts signals for communication.
Power Supply Unit (PSU): Converts standard AC (120V) to DC for computer components.
Storage Devices:
- Hard Disk Drive (HDD): Internal electromagnetic storage.
- Solid State Drive (SSD): Faster drive with no moving parts, available in IDE or SATA formats.
- Optical Disk Drive (ODD): Uses lasers for data reading and writing.
  - CD: Low storage capacity.
  - DVD: Higher storage capacity.
  - Blu-ray Disk: High storage with advanced features.

Accept data and instructions from users, categorized as:
Keyboard Entry:
- First input device developed by Christopher Latham Sholes.
- Consists of alphanumeric characters and specialized command buttons.
Direct Entry:
- Data is entered without a keyboard, includes:
Pointing Devices:
- Mouse: Developed by Douglas Engelbart in 1960; most common device for pointer manipulation.
  - Variants include Mechanical, Optical, and Wireless types.
- Touch Screen: Responds to touch, eliminating the need for other input devices.
- Light Pen: Device sensitive to light used for graphical input.