Computer Components

Computer Hardware - is the collection of physical elements that constitutes a computer system. Computer hardware refers to the physical parts or components of a computer such as monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, hard drive disk, mouse, system unit (graphic cards, sound cards, memory, motherboard and chips), etc. all of which are physical objects that can be touched.

Hardware

System Software –is responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual hardware components of a computer system so that other software and the users of the system see it as a functional unit without having to be concerned with the low-level details such as transferring data from memory to disk, or rendering text onto a display. Generally, System Software consists of an operating system and some fundamental utilities such as disk formatters, file managers, display managers, text editors, user authentication (login) and management tools, and networking and device control software.

Application Software - is all the computer software that causes a computer to perform useful tasks beyond the running of the computer itself. A specific instance of such software is called a software application, program, application or app.

Software

Machine Language –The lowest-level programming language. Machine languages are the only languages understood by computers. While easily understood by computers, machine languages are almost impossible for humans to use because they consist entirely of numbers.

Assembly Language –is a low-level programming language for a computer, or other programmable device, in which there is a very strong (generally one-to-one) correspondence between the language and the architecture's machine code instructions.

High-Level Language - easier to read than low-level language, write, and maintain. Ultimately, programs written in a high-level language must be translated into machine language by a compiler or interpreter. Ada, Python, BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, FORTRAN, LISP, Pascal, Java and Prolog etc...

Languages

Monitor – comprises the display device, circuitry and an enclosure. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) thin panel, while older monitors used a cathode ray tube (CRT) about as deep as the screen size.

Keyboard – is a typewriter-style device, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. The main input device for computers. A keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to produce some symbols requires pressing and holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence. While most keyboard keys produce letters, numbers or signs (characters), other keys or simultaneous key presses can produce actions or execute computer commands. The keyboard remains the most commonly used device for direct (human) input of alphanumeric data into computers. QWERTY most common layout for computers.

Computer Components

Computer Components

• Tower – A case that houses the main components of the PC, namely the power supply, motherboard, hard drive, optical drive, and previously the floppy drive. The form factor of the case is typically an upright tower or (horizontal) desktop. All-in-one computers, that integrate the monitor and main PC components in one unit, are often categorized under the desktop computer umbrella, particularly if they require an external power source and separate keyboard/mouse. The desktop category has also encompassed home computers and workstations.

Mouse – Is a pointing device that detects two-dimensional motion relative to a surface. This motion is typically translated into the motion of a pointer on a display, which allows for fine control of a graphical user interface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held in one's hand, with one or more buttons. Mice often also feature other elements, such as touch surfaces and "wheels", which enable additional control and dimensional input.

Peripherals - is a "device that is used to put

information into or get information out of the

computer.“ There are two different types of

peripherals: input devices, which interact with or send

data to the computer (mouse, keyboards, etc.), and output devices, which provide output to the user from the computer (monitors, printers, etc.). Some peripherals, such as touchscreens, can be used both as input and output devices. A peripheral device is generally defined as any auxiliary device such as a computer mouse or keyboard that connects to and works with the computer in some way. Other examples of peripherals are image scanners, tape drives, microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital cameras.

Computer Components