looking inside the computer system. parts of the computer system computer systems have four parts...

Looking Inside the Computer System

Parts of the Computer System Computer systems have four parts

HardwareSoftwareDataUser

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Parts of the Computer System Hardware

Mechanical devices in the computerAnything that can be touched

SoftwareTell the computer what to doAlso called a programThousands of programs exist

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Parts of the Computer System Data

Pieces of informationComputer organize and present data

UsersPeople operating the computerMost important partTell the computer what to do

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Information Processing Cycle Steps followed to process data Input Processing Output Storage

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Essential Computer Hardware Computers use the same basic

hardware Hardware categorized into four types

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Essential Computer Hardware Processing devices

Brains of the computerCarries out instructions from the programManipulate the dataMost computers have several processorsCentral Processing Unit (CPU)Secondary processorsProcessors made of silicon and copper

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Essential Computer Hardware Memory devices

Stores data or programsRandom Access Memory (RAM)

○ Volatile○ Stores current data and programs○ More RAM results in a faster system

Read Only Memory (ROM)○ Permanent storage of programs○ Holds the computer boot directions

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Essential Computer Hardware Input and output devices

Allows the user to interactInput devices accept data

○ Keyboard, mouseOutput devices deliver data

○ Monitor, printer, speakerSome devices are input and output

○ Touch screens

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Essential Computer Hardware Storage devices

Hold data and programs permanentlyDifferent from RAMMagnetic storage

○ Floppy and hard drive○ Uses a magnet to access data

Optical storage○ CD and DVD drives○ Uses a laser to access data

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Software Runs The Machine Tells the computer what to do Reason people purchase computers Two types

System softwareApplication software

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Software Runs The Machine System software

Most important softwareOperating system

○ Windows XPNetwork operating system (OS)

○ Windows Server 2003Utility

○ Symantec AntiVirus

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Software Runs The Machine Application software

Accomplishes a specific taskMost common type of software

○ MS WordCovers most common uses of computers

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Computer data

Fact with no meaning on its own Stored using the binary number system Data can be organized into files

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Computer users

Role depends on abilitySetup the systemInstall softwareManage filesMaintain the system

“Userless” computersRun with no user inputAutomated systems

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