Informtica 2016

Informtica (TIC)

Components of a
Computer System

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Four basic parts

The computer is a machine that changes information from one form to
another
Takes in information (input) and gives out information (output)
All computer systems have four basic parts:

COMMUNICATIONS

INPUT

PROCESSING
STORAGE

OUTPUT

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Components of a Computer System

HARDWARE

The physical parts of a

computer system

COMPUTER
SYSTEM

SOFTWARE

Programs, routines and

procedures that can be run
on a computer system

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Hardware
Processor
Output
devices
Storage
Input
devices

devices

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Input devices
Input devices accept input from the outside world, in order to
tell the computer what to do.
Keyboards
Pointing
devices
Touch screen
Touch pad

Atm
(cash machine)

ac
Tr

ke

al l
b
r

Remote control

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Input devices
Scanner

Video digitisers

Graphic Tablet

Barcode reader

Microphones

Magnetic ink

Magnetic stripe reader

Magnetic ink
Character reader
MICR

Sensors

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Input devices
CHIP and PIN

Smart cards Reader

Optical Character
Recognition readers
OCR

Optical mark
reader OMR

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Output devices
Output devices are hardware devices that allow data to be output from the computer.
There is a type of output device which is used to control processes in conjunction with sensor
input device, and it is called a control device.

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Output devices
TFT
monitors
CRT
Monitors
(they are
used with
light pens)

Multimedia projectors

Speakers
Headphones

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Output devices
Printers

Plotter

Inkjet

Laser

Very high quality

Useful for architectural

and engineering drawings
Produce huge printouts

Quickly

High quality

Expensive

Slow

Expensive and slow in

operation

Cheap

Big

Cartridges are
expensive

Dot matrix

Poor quality
Very slow
Useful to produce two
copies at the same time

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Output devices: Control devices

Control devices are another type of device. They are used to control
processes in conjunction with a sensor.
Motors

Buzzer

Heaters

Lights

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Storage devices
Storage inside the
computer, only used
by the processor

Primary
storage
ROM

RAM

Read -Only Memory

Storage
devices

Secondary
storage

Random -Access Memory

cant be changed

Can be changed

Non volatile

Volatile

Allows the computer to

record information, so it can
be read later.

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Storage Devices

Magnetic stripe

Secondary
storage
Magnetic storage

Magnetic disks
Hard disk

Magnetic tape

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Storage Devices
Secondary
storage

Blu-ray disks: largest

capacity of all the optical
media available (25GB)

Optical storage
CD/DVD ROM can only be
read.
CD-R/DVD-R (recordable
once)
CD-RW/DVD-RW rewritable

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Storage Devices
Secondary
storage
Memory sticks/pen drives

Solid state
backing store

Control the movment of

electrons within a
microchip.

Flash memory cards: they are

used to store photos, music

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Types of Software
Application

Operating system

Software

Software

Sets of instructions
to the computer that
allow the user to do
something useful
Expert system
software

The set of software that

controls the hardware of
the computer
A software designed to replicate
the decision-making process of a
human expert. Ex.: chess game,
medical knowledge

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Application software
Desktop publishing (DTP): is used to produce a finished
article which combine text and graphics. (Publisher)
Word processor: allows text documents to be edited and
formatted on screen before being printed. (Word)
Presentation: lets you create a presentation using text,
graphics, sound and animation. (Power Point)
Spreadsheet: designed to handle numbers, formulas and
calculations. Can also be used to do simulations. (Excel)
Database: A collection of information stored in an organized form in a computer.
(Access)
CAD/CAM: Is used to help people to design things. CAD (computer-aided
design): is useful for designing circuit boards, buildings, etc. CAM (computer-aided
manufacture) allows the manufacture of items which have been designed using
CAD.
Data logging: the collecting of data for future processing.
Painting software: allows you to paint. (Paint, Neopaint)

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Exercise

Formulario (part I)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet
/viewform?formkey=dFB0MVBNd1VYTWVxS
zI0OWcxaUVTcmc6MQ