Computer Design

Computer Hardware

• The computer hardware is the physical devices that make up the computer. It can be segmented in to four quadrants, the Processor , the Storage, the memory, and finally the input and output  peripherals .

The processor

• The processor is the thinking center of your computer and also defines the limitations of your system. The limitations are based on its speed, address bus size, data bus size, and finally the control bus  size.

The Memory

• The memory  can be split up in to two components that are RAM  and ROM . The relative quantities of RAM or ROM define the function of the computer. Normal computer usually have far greater quantities of RAM than ROM.

The Storage

• The storage devices  store all your programs , applications  and personal files . They include your hard drive , floppy drive , CDROM  drive, DVD  drive ZIP  drive, etc.

I/O Devices

• These devices  are the users means of communicating to your computer. The input  devices include keyboards, mouse , scanner, etc. The output  devices include monitor, printer, speaker, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

System Applications

• The applications  of a computer are usually the reason people buy a computer. These are the software  designed to perform a particular task that the user needs. Applications include Microsoft office, Internet  explorer , Photoshop etc.

Operating System

• The operating system  is software  that applications  employ to communicate to the required hardware. The operating system must be designed for that particular hardware at hand. They define the rules by which your system will operate. All applications must be designed for the operating system at hand. This compatibility factor is essential. So Microsoft windows is an operating system designed for IBM  compatible  computers and as such cannot be installed on the Apple Macintosh . By the same token  Microsoft office was designed for windows and as such cannot be used on the Apple operating system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions

1. What are the features of an operating system ?(Choose all that apply)

1. It communicates to the applications

2. It communicates with hardware

3. It contains all hardware drivers

4. It contains RAM

5. It contains storage

2. What are the hardware components defining a computer? (Choose all that apply)

1. Hard drive

2. Storage

3. I/Output devices

4. Memory

5. CPU

6. Processor

Answer

1.      A,B, C

2.      B,C,F