Computer Hardware & Processing Outside the Box

1. Computer Hardware & ProcessingOutside the Box CSA 105 1.0 September 7, 2010

2. Computers Are Data-Processing Devices • A computer’s four major functions: • Gathers data (users input data) • Processes data into information • Outputs data or information • Stores data and information • Plus • Computers can communicate with other computers

3. Data vs. Information • Data: Representation of a fact, figure, or idea • Information: Organized, meaningful data

4. Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers Bit Binary digit 0 or 1 Abbreviation “b” Byte 8 bits Abbreviation “B” Each letter, number, and character is a string of eight 0s and 1s

5. Counting Bytes

6. Computer Hardware & Computer Software Computer Hardware Computer Software Intangible instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Systems Software Applications Software • Anything you can kick

7. Basic Computer Hardware Components • System Unit – everything in the box • Motherboard, CPU, memory • Peripheral Devices – everything outside of the box • Keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer • Storage Devices – where data/information gets stored • Hard drive, CD/DVD, flash drive, memory cards

8. Input Devices • Translates what humans understand into a format the computer understands • Different types of devices for different types of data • Keyboard • Mouse/pointing device • Microphone • Scanner • Digital camera • Stylus

9. Keyboards • Used for entering text and commands. • The QWERTY layout is standard on most PCs. • Enhanced keyboard features include number, function, and navigation keys. • Notebook keys are smaller and use a function key to expand functionality.

10. So what is this??

11. More Specialty Keyboards • Virtual laser keyboard • Configurable keyboard

12. Point and Draw Devices • Optical mouse • Needs no mouse pad • Doesn’t need cleaning • Trackball • Easier on wrists • Stays stationary on desk

13. More Point and Draw Devices • Wireless mouse • Uses radio or light waves • Touchpad • When a mouse just won’t do

14. Other Text and Command Input Devices • Game controllers • Touchscreens • Digital pens

15. Image Input Devices Digital cameras, camcorders, and cell phones Webcams Live video • Still images • Video

16. Sound Input Device • Microphones are used for: • Podcasts • Video-conferencing • Internet phone calls • Speech recognition

17. Output Devices Convert what the computer understands into a format that humans understand Output can be in two formats Hardcopy – tangible Printouts Softcopy – in tangible Video, sound, images on monitors

18. LCD Monitors • LCD – Liquid Crystal Display • Screens are grids made up of millions of pixels • Each pixel is represented by a bit pattern comprised of a combination of red, green, and blue • Liquid crystal is sandwiched between two transparent layers to form images

19. LCD Monitor Characteristics • Resolution – total number of pixels, can be changed • Screen size • 21” monitor - 1680x1050 pixels • 19” monitor - 1440x900 pixels or 1280x1024 pixels • Wide screen vs. standard 4:3 ratio • Viewing angle – visibility from the side • Contrast ratio – brightest white to darkest black • Brightness – greatest amount of light when displaying pure white • Response time – time it takes for a pixel to change color

20. Printer Categories • Impact printers • Dot-matrix • Nonimpact printers • Inkjet • Laser • Specialty printers • All-in-one • Plotters • Thermal

21. Nonimpact Printers Inkjet Laser More expensive device Faster printing speed Color lasers are becoming less expensive • Less expensive device • Print high-quality color images cost effectively

22. Printer Characteristics • Speed (ppm) • Resolution (dpi) • Color output • Memory • Use and cost • Cost of consumables

23. Storage Devices • Non-volatile • Almost permanent • Types of computer storage devices • Internal hard drive • USB flash drive • Memory cards • Optical drive • External hard drive • Online storage • Secondary storage

24. Hard Drive • May be internal or external • Internal is faster • Storage capacity is up to 2 terabytes (TB) • Access time is measured in milliseconds • Data transfer rate is measured in megabits or megabytes per second

25. How a Hard Drive Works Composed of coated platters stacked on a spindle Data saved to the disk: Pattern of magnetized spots– Spots = 1– Spaces = 0 Spots are translated into data

26. Optical Storage • Optical media: Store data as tiny pits burned into a disc by a laser • Pre-recorded • CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, BD-ROM • Recordable • CD-R, DVD-R, BD-R • Rewritable • CD-RW, DVD-RW, BD-RE • Uses a burner to write to optical media • Uses two lasers to read optical media

27. Flash Memory • Flash / thumb drive • Memory cards • Electron grid / gates • High storage capacity • Use very little power • Must unmount before removing from computer • Can cause security concerns

28. Online Storage • Data stored on the Internet • Inexpensive • Data backup • Can access data anywhere • Can be password protected

29. All Storage Media Will Fail Back up your data!