Computer Hardware Module 1.3 PDF

MODULE 1.3 HARDWAREp23- 36 Contents Introduction Lesson Input 1 Output Lesson 2 Storage Lesson 3 environmental issues Health and Test and improve Written module activity 2 ...

MODULE 1.3 HARDWAREp23- 36 Contents Introduction Lesson Input 1 Output Lesson 2 Storage Lesson 3 environmental issues Health and Test and improve Written module activity 2  Lesson p23 1 What is IntroductionHardwar e? Hardware is all the thing/components on a computer that you can physically touch. Note how the various hardware components fit into the information processing cycle. We will be focusing on the input, output and storage components in this module. Peripherals: all devices that connect externally to the PC, e.g. monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. 3  p24 Input – data and instructions given to a computer Data: Text, numbers, Instructions can be: images, audio & video Set of instructions loaded into memory Program when you run the program Command Given by user (e.g. you click on the Font Size s command) User To a question ‘asked’ by responses a program 5 Input – the keyboard Keyboard is the most commonly used input device. Useful shortcuts: F1 Help Esc Cancel choices Windows key (), File 6 Explorer Input – the keyboard Prt Scr ORSnipping Tool Useful shortcut: Print Screen key To take a ‘photo’ of everything that is displayed Clipboard on the screen at an area in that moment memory where ‘Screen capture’ text and other is copied as an objects that have been image to the copied are clipboard temporarily 7  p25 Input – the mouse Optical: LED emits a red light underneath the mouse onto the surface. Sensors determine which Laser: optical mouse with a laser way the mouse has been moved. i.s.o. LED, mouse functions more accurately Mouse Use action Click Select an option or an object. Double- Start a program or open a file or folder. click Right-click Open a pop-up menu that gives you options or actions. Drag Select and drag an object. Scroll Use the mouse wheel to scroll in lists, long documents or web pages. Keyboard Zoom: and mouse press Ctrl Pressing andkey while rotating holding the Shift, Alt and Ctrl can mouse wheelthe meaning of a mouse click. 8 combinati change  p26 Input – connecting devices Ports: sockets used to connect peripherals to the computer Most used port is the USB port If you need extra USB ports you can make use of a USB hub USB ports are plug-and-play compatible NB! Plug-and-play: operating system automatically detects and configures a device plugged into the computer, so the device can be used almost immediately. NOTE: There is a difference between a USB port AND a USB memory stick. Never just use the word USB in the exam as we will not know if you are referring to the PORT or the STORAGE DEVICE!! 9  Wireless mouse & keyboard Use short radio waves (Bluetooth) to communicate with PC, NO cable. A wireless adapter has to be attached to the computer to receive signals from the device. The wireless adapters for wireless devices are also connected to the USB ports All wireless devices need power in order to transmit a signal and so they have to contain some form of battery. Input – Wireless mouse & keyboard Advantages of wireless Disadvantages / limitations of devices wireless devices Less clutter (as no Require batteries (to send cables) wireless signal) Wider range of Slightly more expensive movement than wired devices Can easily be removed, so easily stolen Can sometimes be interference with the wireless signal 11 Output Lesson p26 2 Output is whatever the computer produces to provide us with the results of its processing. Text,, graphics, Output audio & video Soft Hard copy Copy See: Screens, printer Hear: earphones, 12 headphones or speakers  p27 Output – Monitor Size Resoluti on The size of a monitor : The number of pixels (dots) used to measured diagonally in form the screen image, measured inches from one corner to the horizontally & vertically in pixels other A monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 19”(inch) most common size will display 1920 pixels across the screen Wide screens useful to view and 1080 pixels vertically (down) the screen. doc’s side-by-side Modern desktop monitors make use of LCD or LED monitors because of the 13 technology they use. Output – Monitor Graphics card Image is generated by specialized circuitry – the A separate, high end graphics card is better graphics cardfor graphics intensive tasks such as video editing and games. Cheaper computers have built in graphics circuitry and use some of the computers memory to hold the images generated for display. This leaves less memory for programs and data. 14 Output – Monitor p28 Response Connecting time monitors The time it takes to  VGA (old standard) change a pixel from one colour to another –  HDMI measured in  DisplayPort milliseconds.  Thunderbolt  USB (for specialised monitor) 15 Connecting a monitor Monitor also needs power, connects to PC’s power supply by a special cable supplied with the monitor. Can also power your monitor from the mains rather than from the PC, need power cable like the one to connect PC to the Normally a monitor mains. connect to a PC via a VGA port. Newer digital monitors use DVI connectors. Or DisplayPort & HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Output – PrintersHard copy p28 Inkjet Laser printers printers work like a photo- copier (uses powered ink called Toner, used heat & spray pressure to fuse the microscopic dots of ink powdered in onto page) onto the paper more expensive to relatively cheap buy to buy cheaper to run when more expensive printing large volumes to run faster than inkjet good quality printers colour prints black and white and 17 slightly slower colour Output – Printers p29 Connecting and using Printers generally connect via a printers USB port Printer installation USB ports are Plug-and-Play, so printers are configured automatically once you plug them in. Network printers are not directly connected to your PC but all PC’s on the network can use them as if they were. USB port Some printers have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter so you can connect to it wirelessly Default printer 18  Changing the Default Printer You may have the choice of several printers to print to, esp. on a network. To make one your default printer (the printer you would automatically use when clicking on the print icon): Control Panel via Start Button Devices & printers: show printers currently installed, a tick is displayed on printer icon currently the default printer To change the default printer, right-click on the applicable printer icon and choose Set as Default Printer option Output – Printers Printer queues When sending a print task (document) to be printed, it is temporarily stored on the hard drive where it waits until the printer is ready to print (spooling) Each print task is placed in a queue To access this queue via Control Panel or clicking on the printer icon in the notification area (bottom right corner of desktop) Your can right-click on a print job to cancel, pause or restart the printing here 20 Storage Lesson 3 p30 Storage has a much larger capacity than memory because it has to keep all your data and programs – even the ones you are not using right now. Main storage medium is hard disk of PC. Can also use portable, removable media: flash disks, CDs, DVDs, cellphones & iPods Non-volatile: does not loose its contents when the PC is switched off. Storage device (CD/DVD-drive) Storage medium (CD/DVD) 21 Storage VS Memory Computers have to store programs and data. Secondary Memory Primary Memory (Storage) (Memory/RAM) Permanent record of Temporary record of programs and data programs and data that E.g. Hard drive, USB, CD’s and needs to be processed while DVD’s PC is switched on Storage: magnetic or optical E.g. RAM=MEMORY technology – slow. Storage is bigger (needs to Memory is electronic and is store all data & programs fast. even ones you are not RAM is smaller than storage currently working with) (only holds data & programs Storage is non-volatile being processed) (keeps its contents permanently, even if PC is RAM is volatile (looses its switched off) contents when PC is NB to switched off)  Storage 4% 1 Storage capacities byte 1 GB = d ± 1000 books 1 kilobyte (KB) = 1024 bytes 1 megabyte (MB) = 1024 KB 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1024 MB 1 terabyte Petabyte (TB) (PB) = 1024 GB Exabyte (EB) Zettabyte (ZB) 23 Yottabyte Storage – Hard drives (C:drive) Largest storage capacity of all storage media, measured in GB or TB Sometimes divided into two or more partitions which then appears as drives D: and E: Hard drive in case: stores all programs and data measured in GB or TB External/portable hard drive: USB connected gets power from PC size ranges from 150GB to 4 TB 24 Useful for more storage  Hard drive Uses Advantages Limitations Store data and Larger capacity Easily damaged if software than RAM improperly permanently Cheaper per GB handled Act as ‘virtual than RAM Comparatively memory’ Store data and slow, as it Free disk space allows OS to work as if it has programs when operates on a more access to RAM device is switched mechanical basis than the actual amount physically on PC – off allows PC to run more programs at the same time Laptops use 2.5” drives to save space, smaller & use less power than 3.5” used 25 in desktop pc’s  External Hard drive Uses Advantages Limitations Store and carry Large capacity Not as small as a media, data and Portability flash drive software around Ease of use As vulnerable to with you improper High speed Store backups handling as Reliability away from the internal hard computer Provide extra drives storage (without (mechanical and need to open magnetic) computer) Can drain battery 26 power on laptop  SSD (Solid State Drive) Completely electronic alternative to traditional hard drive Much faster than traditional (mechanical) hard drives No moving parts – not easily damaged by being dropped or moved whilst in use Much more energy-efficient, durable and quieter than traditional hard drives Much more expensive per GB than traditional hard drives. 27 Storage – Flash drives p31 Their increasing capacities and relative cheapness have made them indispensable. They are small & reliable. They are prone to be displaced or stolen – dangerous to carry confidential info on them. They can go “faulty” – should therefore only be used to move files from one PC to another. Use electronic memory to store data; powered via USB port Simply plug into USB port Listed as ‘Removable Disk’ 28 Compressing 29  PC ADVERTISEMENT S How to interpret computer components in advertisements NB!! Advertisements Memor Storag yWhere the adverterefers to RAM it indicates memory. Terms such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive) and DVD writer refer to the storage on the April 2017 computer. SSDs are much faster at transferring data than hard April 2017 drives. A computer with an SSD will perform much faster than the Size of the drive is important: e.g. 2.5” or 3.5”: same computer with a hard Small enough to be used in a laptop (2.5”) External hard drives: 2.5” gets power drive. from your USB port, but 3.5” needs its own power supply - something extra to carry around with 31 you.  p31 Health and environmental issues Health concerns Resulting from fast, repetitive actions of your wrist using a mouse, keyboard RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury or mobile devices. (wrists & joints are sore & inflamed) Using ergonomically designed keyboards can help prevent RSI Ergonomics – the study and design of the workplace and the equipment used in the workplace for the comfort and safety of people in their work environments. 32  Health and environmental issues ealth tips for using computers Use ergonomically designed equipment Sit correctly – don’t slouch or hunch Adjust height of seat and table Lighting must be adequate Ventilation / air circulation must be adequate Mouse and keyboard must be in easy reach Monitor at correct level and distance from eyes 33 Turn eyes away from monitor every now Health and environmental issues Green computing Tree Def: Using PCs in a way that is sensitive to the environment Equipment being designed to use less power, e.g new LCD monitors use less electricity than CRT PCs supposed to create “Paperless world & office”. The opposite has happed, printers are cheap & easy to use, we end up using more paper than before. PC hardware including ink & tone cartridges contain electronic circuitry, plastic & other components that are not bio-degradable. 34 E-waste (electronic) Also referred to as e-scrap, this refers to outdated or broken electronic equipment such as computer equipment and cell phones that get dumped. This equipment often contains extremely toxic chemicals and materials. E-waste is often not recycled and is simply dumped in landfills, often in sites in Africa and Asia. E-waste is potentially extremely harmful to the environment and people living near these landfills. Health and environmental issues Tips on how to practice Green computing  Switch off computers and devices you are not using  Avoid wasting paper – proofread before you print, print ‘2 on 1’, etc.  Try to repair or upgrade old or broken hardware  Recycle or return used ink and toner cartridges  Consider refilling and reusing ink and toner 36 cartridges  Test and improve Summary – concepts, terms and tips Health and Input Output Storage environment al issues Keyboard Health Monitor Hard drive concerns Mouse Connecting devices Green Printer Flash drive Wireless computing mouse and keyboard 37  Note: Question 8 – meaning of the word ‘specification’: The exact description of an item or the Homework in parts it is made up of. Theory Book Module 1.3 WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVITY p35- 36 Extra Activity – HO Prepare for Paste into Theory Class test Notebooks Module 1.3! 38 Written Module Written Activity p35-36 Assignmen Module Activity 3.1 t1 Hardwar e Theory Notebooks! Note: Question 8 – meaning of the word ‘specification’: The exact description of an item or the parts it is made up of. 40