• Key Categories:

Computer o

o
Typing Keys: Include letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), and symbols.
Modifier Keys: Shift, Ctrl, Alt – alter the function of other keys.
o Function Keys: F1 to F12, with varied uses across programs.
o Toggle Keys: Caps Lock, Num Lock – switch between modes.
o Control Keys: Arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up/Down.
o Special Purpose Keys: Include Enter, Spacebar, Tab, Esc, etc.

Pointing Devices
Devices that control the pointer on the screen in a graphical interface.
1. Mouse:
o Types:
▪ Mechanical Mouse: Uses a ball for movement detection.
▪ Optical Mouse: Uses light sensors.
▪ Wireless Mouse: Operates via radio or infrared signals.
Von Neumann Architecture (Introduced in 1970):
o Actions: Pointing, Clicking, Dragging, etc.
• Model: Input → Processing → Output → Storage (IPOS).
2. Trackball: A stationary device with a movable ball, often used in CAD/CAM systems.
3. Touchpad: Common in laptops, allows finger-based control.
4. Graphics Tablet: For drawing or designing, paired with a stylus.
Input Devices 5. Touch Screen: Accepts direct finger or stylus input.
Input devices are hardware components used to provide data to a computer for interaction 6. Light Pen: Sensitive to screen light, used for precise selection.
and control. They enable users to input raw data for processing.
7. Joystick: Popular in gaming and aviation, offers directional control.
8. Stylus: A pen-like device for sketching or handwriting.
Keyboard
A primary input device modelled after a typewriter, available in various layouts and sizes:
Scanning Devices
• Common Layouts:
Convert physical data into digital format.
o QWERTY Keyboard: Standard layout, widely used globally Total-104 keys
1. Flatbed Scanner: High-quality image scanning.
o AZERTY Keyboard: Predominantly used in France and parts of Europe.
2. Handheld Scanner: Portable but requires multiple passes.
3. Drum Scanner: Rolls over documents for scanning.

Specialized Input Devices PROCESSING DEVICES

• MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader): Used in banks for check processing
Central Processing Unit (CPU):
• OMR (Optical Mark Recognition): Reads marked answers in exams.
• Known as the "Brain of the Computer".
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Converts printed text to digital format.
• Performs instructions using billions of transistors. Speed: Measured in GHz (1 GHz = 1 billion
• Smart Card Reader: Reads data from embedded chip cards. cycles/second) & Cores: More cores = Better multitasking and processing power

• Bar Code Reader: Scans barcodes for data input. • Components:

o QR Code: A two-dimensional barcode for extensive data storage. 1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU):

▪ Subsections:

▪ Arithmetic Section: Handles operations like addition, subtraction,

Biometric Devices multiplication, and division.
Use physiological traits for identification: ▪ Logic Section: Performs comparison, selection, and matching tasks.
• Fingerprints, iris scans, facial recognition, etc. 2. Control Unit (CU):

▪ Coordinates data flow between input, output, and memory.

Audio/Video Input ▪ Main Function: Fetches instructions, decodes them, and generates control
signals.
• Microphone: Captures audio for processing or communication.
3. Registers:
• Webcam: Streams video in real-time for conferencing, recording, etc.
▪ Register memory is the smallest and fastest memory in a computer. It is not
a part of the main memory and is located in the CPU

▪ Temporary, high-speed storage for immediate data and instructions.

• Microprocessor:

o A computer can’t perform any of the operations without a CPU. A CPU is fabricated
as a single integrated chip as is also known as Microprocessor.

o Instruction Cycle (Fetch Instruction-Decode-Execute instructions)

Motherboard:
o Central Backbone of a computer- Connects CPU, RAM, storage, and peripheral
devices.
 o Drum Printer: Rotating drum; fast.
Output Devices
Output devices convert computer information into a human-readable form like text, o Chain Printer: Uses character chains; high-speed.
graphics, audio, or video. Examples include: 2. Non-Impact Printers:
• Monitors o Inkjet Printers: Sprays ink; high quality but slow and costly.
• Graphic Plotters o Laser Printers: High speed and quality; expensive.
• Printers o Thermal Printers: Selectively heats thermal paper; used for labels and
• Speakers receipts.

Plotters
Monitors (VDU - Visual Display Unit)
• Prints vector graphics using pens or markers for precise, large-scale drawings.
• A monitor is of two kinds monochrome display (only one colour) and another &
colour display monitor (candisplay254colours). • Advantages: High resolution, works on various materials.
• The image is created by a configuration of dots also k/as Pixels • Disadvantages: Large size, expensive.
Types:
1. CRT (Cathode Ray Tube): Speakers: Outputs audio. Requires a sound card connected to the computer. Used for
o It is a Rectangular shaped monitor. music, presentations, and seminars.

o CRT has Vacuumtubes

2. Flat-Panel Displays: Projectors: Displays computer images on large surfaces, commonly used in meetings and
presentations.
o LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): Energy-efficient, lightweight, and commonly
used.
o LED (Light-Emitting Diode): Improved LCD with better backlighting.
o Thin Film Transister (TFT): It is an active-matrix LCD

Printers
• Hard Copy: Printed output; Soft Copy: Displayed output.
• Resolution of Printer-measures in -Dots Per Inch (DPI).
Types of Printers:
1. Impact Printers:
o Dot Matrix: Uses pins to form dots; low cost, noisy.

o Daisy Wheel: High quality, slow.

o Line Printers: Prints a line at a time; high speed.

o Slower than primary memory.

Computer Memory
o Includes magnetic, optical, and solid-state storage devices.
1. Primary Memory (Main Memory)
Types of Secondary Memory:
• Purpose: Stores data and instructions currently in use.
1. Magnetic Storage:
• Characteristics:
o Examples: Hard disks, magnetic tapes, floppy disks.
o Made of semiconductor devices.
2. Optical Storage:
o Volatile (data is lost when power is off).
o Examples: CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, HD DVDs.
Types of Primary Memory: o Records data using light (laser beam).
1. RAM (Random Access Memory): 3. Solid-State Storage:
o Temporary storage (volatile). o Examples: Pen drives, memory cards (SD cards).
o Allows read and write operations.

A. Divided into: 3. Cache Memory

Dynamic RAM (DRAM):
• Purpose: High-speed memory that acts as a buffer between CPU and main memory.
▪ Uses capacitors and transistors.
• Characteristics:
▪ Requires refreshing to retain data.
o Temporarily stores frequently used data and instructions.
▪ Slower, less expensive, smaller in size.
o Faster than main memory & Limited capacity and expensive.
Static RAM (SRAM):

▪ Uses multiple transistors (no capacitors).

▪ Faster, doesn't require refreshing.

Storage Devices
▪ More expensive, used as cache memory. 1. Magnetic Storage:
2. ROM (Read-Only Memory): o Hard Disk: Rigid magnetic disk for permanent data storage.

o Permanent storage (non-volatile). o Magnetic Tape: Sequential access storage for backups.

o Data is pre-stored and cannot be modified easily. o Floppy Disk: Outdated, low-capacity magnetic storage.

o Types of ROM: 2. Optical Storage:

a. PROM: Programmable once.
b. EPROM: Erasable with UV light. o CD-ROM: Stores up to 800 MB, read-only.
c. EEPROM: Electrically erasable and reprogrammable. o DVD-ROM: Stores 4.7 GB

o Blu-ray: Stores 25-50 GB, used for HD video.

2. Secondary Memory o Rewritable Discs (CD-RW/DVD-RW): Allow data to be erased and reused.

• Purpose: Permanent data storage. 3. Solid-State Storage:

• Characteristics: o Pen Drive: USB-based, portable storage
o Non-volatile. o SD Card: Used in mobile devices, comes in various sizes and speeds