Computer
Hardware
NCM 110 /L (NURSING INFORMATICS)
Objectives:
● List the key hardware components
of a computer and the four basic
operations of the central
processing unit.
● Describe how power is measured
for computers.
● Describe common computer input,
output, and storage devices.
Objectives:
● Discuss the history of
computers.
● Describe the three classes of
computers and key
functionalities of each class.
● Describe computer
network/communications
devices and functionality.
01
Computer
Hardware
Fundamentals
What is a HARDWARE?
• Defined as all the physical
components of the machine
itself.
• The computer systems are
composed of many different
component parts that enable
the user to communicate with
the computer, and with other
computers to produce work.
What is a HARDWARE?
• Computers are now pervasive
throughout the healthcare
industry. Their applications
are expected to continue to
expand and thereby improve
the quality of health care
while at the same time
reducing some costs.
System Unit
(“The Box”)
Contains the
motherboard.
Motherboard – is a thin,
flat sheet made of a firm,
nonconducting material
on which the internal
components. The board
is made of a dielectric or
nonconducting plastic
material.
Four Basic Components of a Computer:
CPU (Central Processing Input
Unit) Controllers/Devices
Four Basic Components of a Computer:
Output Controllers/Devices Storage Media
Central Processing
Unit (CPU)
• Is the “brains” of the computer. It
consists of at least one
arithmetic and logic unit, a
control unit, and a memory.
• The arithmetic and logic unit
controls mathematical functions.
Central Processing
Unit (CPU)
• The control unit carries out the
machine language functions like
fetch, execute, decode and store
• The memory includes the
locations of the computer’s
internal or main working storage.
It consists of registers, RAM,
and cache.
Memory
Read Only Memory Random Access Memory
A form of permanent storage. Refers to working memory used
Data and programs can only be for primary storage. It is volatile
read by the computer and and used as temporary storage.
cannot be erased or altered.
Storage Media
Hard Drive Diskettes
Storage Media
CD-ROMS USB Disk
02
Computer
Power
Bits and
Bytes
• The terms bits and bytes
refer to how the machine
stores information at the
lowest, or “closest to
machine registers and
memory” level.
• Computers do not process
information as words or
numbers, they handle it by
bytes.
Bits and
Bytes
• A “bit” (binary digit) is a
unit in the binary
numbering system.
Binary means two, so a
bit can assume one of
two positions. on/off
switch
• – on equals the value 1
and off equals the value
0.
Computer Speed
• The CPU speed is measured
in cycles per second which
are called the clock speed of
the computer. One million per
second is called one
megahertz (MHz).
• In general, the higher the
clock speed possessed by the
CPU, the faster and the more
powerful the computer.
03
Descriptive
Terms Used in
Computing
Descriptive Terms
Used in Computing
• The computer is automatic
because it is self-instructed.
• The computer electronic
because it uses microelectronic
components etched on silicon
chips for its security.
Descriptive Terms
Used in Computing
• Computers are general-purpose
machines, because the user can
program, them to process all
types of problems and can solve
any problem.
Descriptive Terms
Used in Computing
• The computer is also
characterized by its speed,
reliability due to silicon circuitry
and its ability to store large
amounts of data that can be
retrieved quickly.
04
History of
Computers
History of Computers
(The First-Generation
Computers)
• Colossus Mark 1 – the first
true digital computer. Built in
1943, with funds from the US
Military and used airplane
design.
History of Computers
(The First-Generation
Computers)
• World War II Military
Computers were very different
from today’s computers.
• They were big.
• Less power than an ordinary
desktop computer.
• Few operations they could
perform.
History of Computers
(The First-Generation
Computers)
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer)
• The first vacuum tube computer
developed by Eckert and
Mauchly.
History of Computers
(The First-Generation
Computers)
UNIVAC 1
• First large scale computer
system.
• The UNIVAC and other first
generation computers used
vacuum tubes in their design.
History of Computers
(The Second-Generation Computers)
• Introduced in the late 1950’s.
• Used transistors instead of
vacuum tubes.
History of Computers
(The Third-Generation
Computers)
• Introduced in the mid-1960s.
• These used microminiature,
solid state components.
The Four Generations of Digital
Computing
• The First generation (1951 -1958)
• The vacuum tubes
• The Second generation (1959 –
1963)
• Transistors
• The Third generation (1964 – 1979)
• Integrated Circuits
• The Fourth generation (1979 –
present)
• Microprocessors
05
Classes of
Computers
Analog
Computers
Operates on continuous physical or
electrical magnitudes, measuring
ongoing continuous analog, quantities
such as voltage, current, temperature
and pressure.
Examples:
Heart monitors and fetal monitors
Digital
Computers
Operates on discrete discontinuous
numerical digits using the binary
numbering system.
Examples:
Charting and decision support.
Hybrid
Computers
Contains features of both the analog
and the digital computers.
Used for specific applications, such as
complex signal processing and other
engineering-oriented applications.
Examples:
Physiologic monitors
06
Common
Hardware
Peripherals
Common Hardware Peripherals
Keyboard:
• Section of keys:
• Typewriter keys /
alphanumeric keys
• Function keys
• Numeric keypad
• Cursor keys / Arrow keys
• Toggle keys/ Lock keys
• Special operations keys/
Modifier Keys
Common Hardware Peripherals
Floppy
Monitor Mouse and Trackball Disks/Diskettes and
CD-ROMS
Light Pen/Touch
Touch Pad and Screen Optical Character
Mouse Button Recognition
Common Hardware Peripherals
Magnetic-Ink
Character Voice Synthesizer Imaging
Recognition
Digital Versatile Disk Printers Modems
07
Basic of
Computer
Network
Hardware
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
The most important components of a network hardware
are the ff:
NIC (Network Cabling Server
Interface Card)
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
NIC – a computer
circuit board or card
that is installed in a
computer so that it
can be connected to a
network.
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
Communication Medium
(Cabling) – actual transfer of
data from one site to the other
takes place. Choice of
communication medium is
based on the following:
distance, amount of data
transfer, how often the transfer
is needed and availability.
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
Server - a computer or
system that provides
resources, data, services, or
programs to other computers,
known as clients, over a
network. In theory, whenever
computers share resources
with client machines, they are
considered servers.
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
The most important concept of network hardware are the
ff:
Architecture Topology
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
Architecture – refers to an overall physical structure, peripherals,
interconnections within the computer, and its system software, especially
the operating system.
Client-Server Peer-to-Peer
Basic Of Computer Network Hardware
Topology – defines how the network in LAN are interconnected within a
physical area and describes their physical interconnection.
Thank
you!
