Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Lecture 4
Types of RAM
RAM components vary in speed, technology, and
configuration
Storage Devices
A storage medium is the disk, tape, CD, DVD, paper or
other substance that contains data
A storage device is the mechanical apparatus that records
and retrieves data from a storage medium
Types of storage devices
Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Solid State Storage
Magnetic Storage
Stores data by magnetizing microscopic particles on the disk or
tape surface
Contains a read-write head
mechanism in the disk drive that reads and writes magnetized particles
that represent data
Example
Hard Disk Drive [HDD]
Floppy Disk
Magnetic Tape
Limitations
Head crash - when a read-write head runs
into a dust particle or other contaminant
on the disk
Platter
R/W
Head
Optical Storage
Stores data as microscopic light spots (lands) and dark
spots (pits) on the disk surface
Advantage
Less susceptible to environmental
damage than data recorded on
magnetic media
Example
CD [Capacity: 700 MB]
DVD [Capacity: 4.7 GB;
Double Layered can store up to 8.5 GB]
Blue-Ray [Capacity: up to 50 GB ]
Example
USB flash drive
CompactFlash card
Moores Law:
An Important Observation (-1-)
Moore's law describes a long-term trend in the history of
computing hardware
Since the invention of the IC in 1958, the number of transistors that can
be placed inexpensively on an IC has increased exponentially, doubling
approximately every two years
Moores Law:
An Important Observation (-2-)
Computer Software
Computer Software
Consists of
computer programs and
data files (different types)
that work together to provide instructions and data necessary for
carrying out a specific type of task
Types of Computing
Personal computers
The idea of personal computing first introduced by Apple computer in 1977
First PC introduced by IBM in 1981
Economical enough for individual
Distributed computing
Computing distributed over networks
Often used LANs
PCs were powerful enough to
handle the computing requirements of individual users
handle the basic communication tasks/information passing between the PCs
electronically
Client/server computing
Sharing of information across computer networks between file servers and
clients (personal computers)
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Operating systems
Manage transitions between jobs
Increased throughput
Timesharing
Perform a small portion of one users job then moves on to service the
next user
Software Classification
Software is broadly divided into two classes:
System software: designed to help the computer carry out
the basic operating functions
Operating systems, utilities, device drivers
Software
Classification
Placement of Software
Application Software
System Software
Hardware
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Example
Internet Explorer/ MS
Office/ Media Players and
so on.
Windows XP
Hardware
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Another Example
Firefox/ Open Office/
Media Players and so on.
Linux
Hardware
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Entertainment Software
Over $6 billion of computer and video games are sold each year in
the U.S. alone
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Operating System
Details of some of the OS services
Memory Management
Ensures that instructions and data from one area of
memory dont leak into an area allocated to
another program
If it fails, data can get corrupted, programs can
crash
File Management
Acts as a filing clerk
Remembers the names and locations of all your files
Keeps track of empty spaces where new files can
be stored
Microsoft Word
Operating System (Windows XP)
Device Drivers for the Printer
Printer
Note that except the last one, all of the above are software.
But as a user your direction interaction is with the first one
only!
Operating System
OS provides a user interface to interact with the computer
Command-line user interface
Launch programs
Manage files
Get help
Customize the user interface
Configure equipment
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Operating System
An OS is not strictly limited to computers!
It is also present on PDAs, Mobile Phones etc
[handheld devices]
Where is OS stored?
If the OS is small enough, it can be entirely stored in ROM.
Usually OS for a computer is quite large so most of it is stored
on a hard disk.