Understanding Computer Hardware

• Hardware components are tangible parts of the computer.
• Understanding these components helps in troubleshooting and understanding how parts interact.

Key Questions

• What defines hardware?
• What constitutes an input device?
• What defines a processor?
• What characterizes an output device?
• What defines a storage device?
• Beyond these, what other hardware exists?
• What are the trends in computer development?

Learning Objectives:

• Identify hardware components inside a computer

Hardware Defined

• Encompasses the physical, electromechanical parts of a computer system.
• Categorized by function: input, processing/memory, output, storage, and communication/networking.

Input Devices

• Used to input data via keyboards, scanners, or pointing devices like mice.
• Converts data into a computer-readable format.
• Examples include: joystick, mouse, trackball, hand-held scanner, keyboard, touch tablet, and flatbed scanner.

Internal Components

• Housing protects and holds the computer parts together.
• System board connects the CPU with other components.

Processor

• Motherboard houses the processor and other components.

Memory

• Workspace where application instructions and data are held during operation.
• Also known as main memory, primary storage or RAM (Random Access Memory).
• Capacity dictates how much can be processed at once.
• RAM capacity is at 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB or more.
• Data in RAM is lost when the computer resets or loses power.
• ROM (read only memory) stores the boot program and other low-level information to start a computer.

Output Devices

• Hardware used to display/produce the computer system's output after processing data.
• Computer processing output is the usable information that the user requires.
• The output information can be presented to the user in a variety of forms, depending on the output device
• Includes monitors and printers.

Storage Devices

• Retains data for future use; found inside or outside the computer.
• Includes optical (CD-ROM, DVD) and magnetic (tapes, disks) options.

Communication Devices

• Extend computer processing capabilities by enabling data transfer between systems.
• Links to networks like the Internet for information transfer.

Communication channels

• Wired (Twisted-Pair, Coaxial Cable, Fiber-optic cables)
• Wireless (Microwave Signals, Communications Satellites)

Conclusion

• Hardware is the physical part of the computer
• Each component performs a specific function that contributes to the performance of the whole system.