ELEMENTS OF A

COMPUTER SYSTEM
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
PEOPLEWARE
DATA
HARDWARE:
The physical components of a computer system
It refers to the tangible devices that can be seen,
touched and felt
The hardware that makes up the most basic
computer system includes the monitor, keyboard
and a system unit
Physical components fall into five categories:
• Input devices
• System unit
• Secondary storage
• Output devices
• Communication devices
FIVE CATEGORIES OF HARDWARE:
 INPUT DEVICES
Translate data and programs that humans can
understand into a form that the computer can
process.
 Keyboard
• Looks like a typewriter keyboard, but has
additional specialized keys.
 Mouse
• Is a pointing device that typically rolls on the
desktop.
• It directs the insertion point or cursor on the display
screen.
• Has one or more buttons for selecting commands
• Also used for drawing figures.
SYSTEM UNIT
• Is the electronic circuitry housed within the
computer cabinet
• The two of the most important components of the
system unit are:
Central processing Unit (CPU)
• Controls and manipulates data to produce information.
• A microcomputers CPU is contained on a single
integrated circuit or microprocessor chip.
• It is like the brain of the computer which controls the
whole computer.
• It also thinks for the computer with the help of the
human using it.
• The central processor performs calculations, compares
data and produces results.
• It has two components: the control unit and arithmetic-
logic unit
Control Unit:
• tells the rest of the computer system how to carry out
a program’s instructions.
• it directs the movement of electronic signals between
memory and the arithmetic logic unit
• it also directs these control signals between the CPU
and input and output devices
Arithmetic-Logic Unit
• usually called the ALU, performs two types of operations
– arithmetic and logical
• Arithmetic operations are the fundamental math
operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division.
• Logical operations consist of comparisons. That is, two
pieces of data are compared to see whether one is equal
to (=), less than (<), or greater than (>) the other.
Memory ( Primary Storage or
Random Access Memory)
Main memory
(internal storage)
• Holds data and program instructions
for processing the data.
• It holds the processed information
before it s output.
• It is sometimes referred to as
temporary storage
• It is located in the system unit on tiny
memory chips.
Secondary Storage
• It also holds data and programs permanently.
• It supports the main memory.
• It stores data and programs for future use.
• This type of memory stores the information on storage
media such as floppy disks and CDs
Floppy disks ( also known as diskettes)
• widely used to store and transport data from one
computer to another.
• called as floppy disk because data is stored on
a very thin flexible or floppy plastic disk
Hard disks
• are typically used to store programs and very
large data files
•Have a much greater capacity and are able to
access information much faster than floppy
disks.
Optical disks
•Use laser technology and have the greatest capacity.
• There are two basic formats or types of optical disks.
CD (compact disks) and DVD ( Digital Versatile Disk)
CD (compact disk)
•used to distribute large databases and
reference, to back up large data source, and
to create, store and edit multimedia
presentation.
DVD ( digital versatile disk or digital video disk)
• is relatively new and evolving format
• capacity is far greater than CDs.
• can be used for all the things that CDs are
used for, plus they are used to distribute full
length motion pictures.
OUTPUT DEVICES
•Are pieces of equipment that translate the
processed information from the CPU into a form
that humans can understand
Monitor or video display screen
•Resembles a television screen
• It displays the result of different commands given by the
user.
•It shows how the computer answers the commands and
show results of what you are doing
•The output seen in the monitor is called as softcopy
Printer
• a device that produces printed paper output
• it produces images on paper which have created in a
computer
• the printed output is called as hardcopy
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
• Sends and receives data and programs
from one computer or secondary storage
device to another
•Many microcomputers use a modem
Modem
• Is a device which converts the
electronic signals from the computer
into electronic signals that can travel
over a telephone line. A modem at the
other end of the line then translates
the signals for the receiving computer.
SOFTWARE
• another name for programs
• includes the programs which the users use to help them
finish their work fast.
• it includes instructions that tell the computer how to
process data
• is a set of programs or procedures associated with the
computer system.
Two kinds of software:
System Software
• Is background software that helps a computer manage its
internal resources.
• are programs designed to directly or indirectly support program
processing
•Consists of utilities, device drivers, language translators, and
operating systems.
• deals with the physical complexities of computer hardware.
Operating System
• Is a group of computer programs that help your software
control your hardware
• DOS or Disk Operating System is one of the most well
known OS
•Manage resources, provide user interface, and run
applications
• has three basic functions:
Resources: coordinates all the computer’s resources
User Interface: users interact with application programs
and computer hardware through a user interface.
Applications: programs which load and run applications
such as word processors and spreadsheets.
Application Software
•Performs useful work on general
purpose problems.
•Designed to be used by many
people to do the most common
kinds of tasks.
• also known as the basic
applications
• There are two type of application
software: Basic application and the
Advanced application
Basic Applications:
• Browsers: used to connect to remote
computers, open and transfer files, display text
and images, and provide an interface to the
Internet and the Web.
•Word Processor: used to create, edit, save, and
print text-based documents
• Spreadsheet: used to analyze, organize,
manipulate and graph numeric information
• Database management system: organize and
manage data and information
• Presentation graphics: are use to create
professional and exciting presentations
Advanced Applications
• Multimedia: integrate video, music, voice, and
graphics to create interactive presentations
• Web publishers: create interactive multimedia
Web pages
• graphics programs: create professional
publications, draw, edit, and modify images
• Virtual reality; create realistic three –
dimensional virtual or simulated environments
•Artificial intelligence: simulated human thought
processes and actions
• Project managers: plan projects, schedule,
people , and control resources
PEOPLEWARE
• the people involved in the data
processing cycle
• known as the users or end users
-any person who can manipulate
and use the computer system and
its programs
DATA
consists of the raw, unprocessed facts.
There are three types of files:
Document files: created by word processors to
save documents such as memos, term papers
and letters.
Worksheet files: created by electronic
spreadsheets like Excel to analyze things like
budgets and to predict sales
Database files: typically created by database
management programs to contain highly
structured and organized data.