Introducing Hardware

Chapter 1
By: Kleinton Rivera
 In this chapter, you will learn:
• That a computer requires both hardware and
software to work
• About the many different hardware
components inside of and connected to a
computer

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 Hardware and Software
• Hardware: physical components that make up
your computer system.

• Software: programs (set of instructions/code)

that directs the hardware to accomplish a task.

• Software needs hardware to perform tasks and vice

versa.
• Computer requires both hardware and software to
work. 3
Hardware needs Software to Work

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 Relationship Between Hardware and
Software
• To perform a computing task, software uses
hardware for four basic functions: input,
processing, storage, and output.

CPU

Input Processing Output

e.g. Keyboard e.g. Monitor

Storage

e.g. USB Flash Drive 5

Hardware needs Software to Work

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 How Components Communicate
• The user interacts with a computer in a way that
both the user and the software understands,
such as with entries made by the keyboard.
• The software is then responsible for converting
the instruction into a form that the hardware can
understand (e.g. 0 and 1).
• Therefore, between input, processing, storage,
and output, there is quite a bit of conversion
involved.
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 Binary Number System
• Numbering system used by the computer to
translate information. The Binary Number
system consist of only two numbers: 0 and 1.

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 John Atanasoff

• Who is John Atanasoff?

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 More on Atanasoff’s Work
• Atanasoff’s idea of storing and retrieving
information has been used by software and
hardware developers ever since he first came up
with the idea.

– Bit: Short for Binary Digit. 0 is a bit. 1 is also a bit.

– Byte: String of 8 bits.

– Nibble: String of 4 bits.

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 More on the Binary Number System
• Numbers can easily be converted in to bits.
Text, on the other hand, are usually converted
to bits using the ASCII coding method.
• ASCII is short for American Standard Code for
Information Interchange.

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 PC Hardware Components
• Major hardware components in your
computer system:
– Input
– Output
– Processing
– Storage
– Electrical Supply
– Communication

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 Input and Output Hardware
• FACT: Most input and output devices are
outside the computer case (or tower).

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 Processing and Storage Hardware
• FACT: Most processing and storage
components are contained inside the
computer case (or tower).
• FACT: The most important component in the
computer case (or tower) is the central
processing unit (CPU), also called the
processor or microprocessor.

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 Electrical Supply and Communication
Hardware
• FACT: Communication Hardware are found
inside the computer case (or tower). These
devices allow the CPU to communicate with
other hardware.
• FACT: Most computers’ power supply are
inside the computer case (or tower), however,
there are some systems that are plugged in
directly into an electrical outlet without the
use of a power supply.

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 FACT:
• The CPU writes data and instructions in storage devices
and performs calculations and other data processing.
Whether inside or outside the case, and regardless of the
function the device performs, each hardware input, output,
or storage device requires these elements to operate:

– A method for the CPU to communicate with the device.

– Software to instruct and control the device.

– Electricity to power the device.

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A method for the CPU to communicate
with the device
• A device must send data to and/or receive
data from the CPU. The CPU might need to
control the device by passing instructions to
it, or the device might need to request service
from the CPU.

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 Software to instruct and control the
device
• A device is useless without software to control it.
The software must know how to communicate with
the device at the detailed level of that specific
device, and the CPU must have access to this
software in order to interact with the device. Each
device responds to a specific set of instructions
based on the device’s functions. The software must
have an instruction for each possible action you
expect the device to accomplish.

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 Electricity to power the device
• Electronic devices require electricity to
operate. Devices can receive power from the
power supply inside the computer case, or
they can have their own power supplied by a
power cable connected to an electrical outlet.

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 Hardware Used for Input and Output
• Most input/output devices are outside the
computer case.
• These devices communicate with components
inside the computer case through a wireless
connection or through cables attached to the
case at a connection called a port.

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 Hardware Used for Input and Output
cont…
• Primary input devices:
– Keyboard: device used to enter text and other characters
• Cabled
• Wireless
• What is the name of the keyboards that we have in this
lab/classroom?

– Mouse: pointing device used to select screen items

• Cabled
• Wireless

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 Hardware Used for Input and Output
cont…
• Cabled hardware use ports to connect to the
computer.
– Port: located on the back or front of case

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Input/Output Devices

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 Hardware Used for Input and Output
cont…
• Chief output devices:
– Monitor: visually displays output of computer
– CRT - What does it stand for?
– LCD - What does it stand for?
– Printer: produces output on paper (hard copy)
– Cabled
– Wireless
– Inkjet
– Laser
» What is the difference between inkjet and laser jet
printers?

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 Monitor and Printer

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The two most popular output devices are the monitor and the printer
 Hardware Inside the Computer Case
• FACT: Most storage and processing occurs in
the case
– NOTE: There are external storage and processing.

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Hardware inside the computer
case

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 Hardware Inside the Computer Case
cont…
• Internal devices common to most computers:
– Motherboard containing CPU, memory, other parts
– Floppy drive, hard drive, CD drive for persistent storage
– Power supply with power cords supplying electricity
– Circuit boards for internal and external communication
– Cables to connect devices to all circuit boards

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 Hardware Inside the Computer Case
cont…
• Expansion cards are installed in expansion slots
– Expansion cards are the circuit boards used for internal
and external communication
• Two types of cables: data (communication) and
power
– Data cable connects devices together
• Serial
• Parallel
– Power cable connects devices to the power supply

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