Objectives: In this chapter we will learn about:

• Hardware and software (Slide1)

• The main components of computer systems (Slide 4)
• Operating systems (Slide 5)
• Types of computer (slide 7)
• Impact of emerging technologies (slide 12)

1.1 Hardware and Software:

Hardware:
• It is the physical components which make up the computer system.
• Each item of hardware have their specific roles in a computer system.
• Hardware components can either be internal or external.
External hardware devices (Peripherals): Examples:
• Input - Mouse, keyboard, microphone, scanner
• Output- Monitor, speaker, printer
• External hard disk

Software : A term used for the programs that control the computer system and process data
Application software : are designed to allow users to complete specific tasks. This may be to:
• Write a letter/Present information
• Browse the internet
• Manipulate data in a spreadsheet or database
• Manipulate graphics, sound or video.

System software: is the software designed to provide a platform on which all other software can run.
• Operating systems to provide a user interface
• Device drivers which allow hardware components to work.
• Utility software which maintain the computer performance.
Examples: Operating Systems, Device Drivers, Utilities (antivirus) 1
1.1 Hardware and Software: CPU/Processor is an electronic circuit A Network Interface Card
board in a computer that can execute provides the computer with a
Motherboard is circuit board which is instructions from a computer network either through wireless
program. It has signals or a physical cable
connects to main components of the
• arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
computer system. It allows the
where arithmetic and logical connection.
processor and other computer operations are carried out
hardware to function and Internal hard disk drive/
• control unit (CU) which takes solid-state drive (HDD/SSD)
communicate with each other. instructions the decodes and executes
These are used for storing
the instructions.
data, files (text, photos and
Random access memory (RAM) is an music) and most of the
internal chip where data is temporarily system and applications
stored when running applications. software.
This memory can be written to and
read from. Since its contents are lost Internal Hardware The power supply is connected to
when power to the computer is turned main power sources to give power to
off, it is often referred to as a volatile the computer system. The power
memory. It stores the data, files or supply connects to all the main
part of the operating system currently components of the computer system
in use. including the motherboard, hard
Graphics card – This card drive, optical drives
Read-only memory (ROM) is a memory is connected on the
used to store information that needs to motherboard which
configure/startup data for a computer allows the computer to Sound card is an integrated circuit
system. (BIOS: Basic Input Output send graphical board that allows a computer to
System. These are non-volatile. Hence, information to a video produce sounds which can be heard
the information stored on the ROM chip display device such as through speakers or headphones. It
is not lost even when power is turned off monitor also allows a user to record sound
to the computer. input from a microphone connected
to the computer.
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1.1 Hardware and Software: Device driver: A software that enables one or more
hardware devices to communicate with the computer’s
Operating systems (OS) : It is a software running in the background
operating system. All hardware devices connected to a
of a computer system. Without OS it is impossible to work with
computer have associated drivers. As soon as a device is
computers on a day-to-day basis. Operating system allows:
plugged into the USB port of a computer, the operating
• input/output operations
system looks for the appropriate driver. An error message
• users to communicate with the computer
will be produced if it cannot be found.
• error handling to take place
Examples of hardware devices that require drivers
• the loading and running of programs to occur
include printers, memory sticks, mouse & CD drivers.
• managing of security (for example, user accounts, log on
passwords).

Utilities : These programs are designed to

A compiler is a computer program
carry out specific tasks on a computer. They
that translates a program written in
help to manage, maintain and control
a high-level language into machine
computer resources. Like antivirus, anti-
spyware, backup of files, disk repair, file System software code so that it can be directly
used by a computer to perform a
management, security, screensavers & disk
required task. The original program
defragmenter.
is called the source code and the
code after compilation is called the
object code. Once a program is
Linkers : is a computer program that takes one or more compiled, the machine code can be
object files produced by a compiler and combines them used again and again to perform the
into a single program that can be run on a computer. For same task without recompilation.
example, many programming languages allow Examples are Java & Python.
programmers to write different pieces of code, called
modules, separately. This simplifies the programming
task since it allows the program to be broken up into
small, more manageable sub-tasks. The linker puts these
parts together. 3
1.2 The main components of computer systems
CPU : Brain of the computer.
• It does searching, sorting, calculating, decision making.
• The speed of the CPU is measured in Gigahertz (GHz).
• 1GHz means carry out 1 billion instructions per second.
• Intel and AMD are the most popular CPU brands.

Random access memory (RAM) Read-only memory (ROM)

• It is an internal chip where data is temporarily • It contains configuration data for a computer system.
stored when running applications. • Chips used for ROM cannot be altered and can only be read
• This memory can be written to and read from. • From. The information stored on the ROM chip is not lost,
• Its contents are lost when power to the computer even when power is turned off to the computer. Hence, non-
is turned off, it is often referred as a volatile or volatile memory.
• It contains some coding known as the boot file. This code tells
temporary memory.
the computer what to do when it first starts up; it is often
Input device – referred to as the BIOS (basic input/output system).
It allows a user to enter data or instructions into a • When the computer is turned on, the BIOS carries out a
computer directly. hardware check to find out if all the devices are present and
An input device can send data to another device, but it whether they are functional. Then it loads
cannot receive data from another device. • the operating system into the RAM.
• The BIOS stores the date, time and system configuration in a
Output device is any hardware device that takes the output non-volatile chip called a CMOS which is battery powered.
data from a computer and puts it into a human-readable
format or uses it to control another device.
An output device is capable of receiving data from another Task: Write down the Comparison of
device in order to generate an output, but it cannot send
data to another device.
internal memory and backing storage
(Page 10)
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1.3 Operating system - Role of OS is to enable computer systems to function and to allow users to communicate with computer
systems, own as operating systems (OS), have been developed. The general tasks for a typical operating system include:
 control of the operation of the input, output and backing storage devices
 supervising the loading, running and storage of applications programs
 dealing with errors that occur in application programs
 maintaining security of the whole computer system
 maintaining a computer log (which details computer usage)
 allowing communication between user and the computer system (user interface).

1.3 User Interfaces:

Command line interface (CLI) requires a user to type in instructions to choose options from menus, open software, etc.
There are a number of commands that need to be typed in.
The user needs to learn a number of commands to carry out basic operations.
All commands need to be typed in, which takes time and can be error prone.
Each command must be typed in using the correct format, spelling, and so on.
It is also slow, having to key in these commands every time an operation has to be carried out.
 the user is in direct communication with the computer and is not restricted to a number of pre-determined options.
 The user is not restricted to a number of pre-determined options.
 It is possible to alter computer configuration settings.

Graphical user interface (GUI) : It allows the user to interact with a device using pictures (icons) rather than having to
type in a number of commands. Selecting/clicking the icon would execute the commands chosen. The most common is
WIMP (windows, icons, menu and pointing device). A mouse/ a pinch of a finger is used to control a cursor and icons are
selected to open/run windows. It allows several windows to be open at the same time.
 The user does not need to learn any commands.
 It is more user-friendly; icons are used to represent applications.
 A pointing device (such as a mouse) is used to click on an icon to launch the application – this is simpler than typing in
commands.
It uses up more computer memory than a CLI interface & the user is limited to the icons provided on the screen.
Needs a more complex operating system, such as Windows, to operate, which can be slower to execute commands. 5
1.3 Dialogue-based user interfaces – it uses the human voice to give commands to a computer system.
An example of its use is in some luxury modern cars, where voice activation is used to control devices such as the in-car
entertainment system or satellite navigation system. This type of interface could also be used in the home; by using
voice commands, it is possible to switch on/off lights, operate electronic equipment and so on.
Example: Amazon Alexa, Google Now, Apple Siri and Microsoft Cortana
 No need for a driver to take their hands off the steering wheel
 in a home, very useful for people with disabilities, because many tasks can be carried out by the spoken word only
 possible to use as a security feature, because voice recognition could be used to identify a person
still unreliable, with many commands not being recognised or needing to be repeated several times (especially if
there is background noise)
can be quite complex to set up & user needs to know which commands can be used

Gesture-based interfaces it relies on human interaction by the moving of hands, head or even the feet.
Gesture recognition allows humans to interface with a computer in a more natural fashion without the need for any
mechanical devices.
This type of interface uses techniques known as computer vision and image processing.
For example, using our car example again, the following gestures can be used to carry out certain functions like rotating a
finger near the radio will increase/decrease the sound volume or moving a hand near a window switch automatically
opens a window
 replaces mechanical input devices & no physical contact required
 very natural interface for a human operator
 no training needed to interface with the computer
possible for unintentional movement to be picked up
only works fairly near to the camera or sensor (maximum of 1.5 metres)
may only accept a limited number of movements (for example, it may take several attempts to find out exactly
what finger movements are recognised)

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1.4 Types of computer :
Desktop:
Advantages of desktop computers over laptop computers are:
 Spare parts and connections tend to be standardised, which usually results in lower costs.
 Desktop computers are easier, and less expensive, to upgrade or expand.
 The desktop tends to have a better specification (for example, faster processor) for a given price (often due to
size and construction constraints in laptops).
 Power consumption is not critical because they usually plug straight into a wall socket, and the larger casings
allow a better dissipation of any heat build-up.
 Because they are usually fixed in one location, there is less likelihood of them being damaged or stolen.
 Internet access can be more stable because a desktop computer is more likely to have a wired internet
connection
Disadvantages when compared to laptop computers:
They are not portable because they are made up of separate components.
They tend to be more complicated because all the components need to be hooked up by wiring, which also
clutters up the desk space.
Because they are not particularly portable, it is necessary to copy files on when you want to do some work
elsewhere.

Uses of desktop computers

 office and business work (word processing, spreadsheets, finance software and databases being the main use)
 educational use (using interactive software to teach or learn from)
 use as a gaming device (for example, games such as chess, crossword puzzles, fantasy games, and so on)
 general entertainment (for example, live or ‘catch-up’ streaming of television programmes).

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1.4 Mobile computer
Laptop:
Key features : lightweight (to aid portability), low power consumption (and also long battery life) & low heat output
(cooling is very important).
Laptop VS desktop computers:
Advantages of laptop over desktop:
 The most obvious advantage is their portability; they can be taken anywhere because the monitor, pointing
device, keyboard, processor and backing store units are all together in one single unit.
 Because everything is in one single unit, there are no trailing wires (only one single cord is used).
 They take up much less room on a desk, so they can be used anywhere (for example, in a café).
 Their portability allows them to take full advantage of Wi-Fi features.
 Because they are portable, they can link into any multimedia system.

Disadvantages of laptop over desktop:

» Because they are easily portable, they are also easier to steal!
» They have limited battery life so the user may need to carry a heavy power adaptor.
» The keyboards and pointing devices can sometimes be more awkward to use.
» It is not always possible to upgrade them, for instance by adding more RAM.

Uses of laptop computers :

» office and business work (word processing, spreadsheets, finance software and databases being the main use)
» educational use (using interactive software to teach or learn from)
» used as a gaming device (for example, games such as chess, crossword puzzles, fantasy games, and so on)
» general entertainment (for example, live or ‘catch-up’ streaming of television programmes)
» used in control and monitoring (because they can be operated anywhere using their internal battery, it is possible
to use laptops to gather data directly from the environment – for example, they can be plugged into a gas boiler
during maintenance to monitor its performance).
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1.4 Mobile computer
Smartphone:
Features of smartphones:
» high-definition, anti-glare displays, front- and back-facing cameras
» lower weight and longer battery life than laptops
» use Bluetooth for connection to printers and other devices
» make use of solid state memory and cloud storage facilities to back up and synchronies data sources
» they use a number of sensors to carry out the following functions:
 proximity sensors to detect if the device is close to the user’s the ear which allows it to block unintended
‘touches’
 accelerometers, which detect movement and orientation of the device like move the display from portrait to
landscape to view videos
 can use sophisticated speech recognitions systems (such as Siri) to enable the user to ask the device to look
for things (such as search the address book).
Advantages:
 They are very small in size and lightweight – therefore they are very easy to carry and have on your person at all
times
 You can use them to make phone calls, but also connect to the internet while on the move
 Because they use Wi-Fi and mobile phone networks they can be used almost anywhere
 They have apps which make use of sensor data provided by the smartphone, for instance location data for maps
 They have a reasonable battery life compared to laptops.
Disadvantages:
 The small screens and keyboards make pages difficult to read & more difficult and slower when typing things in
 Web browsing and photography can quickly drain the battery.
 Memory size in most phones is not very large when compared to laptops and desktops – although it is comparable
with tablets
 Not all website features are compatible with smartphone operating systems.
 It is much easier to lose a smartphone or for it to be stolen compared to laptops or desktops.
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1.4 Mobile computer
Tablet: Features:
 Tablets use touch screen technology and do not have a conventional keyboard.
 The keyboard is virtual; & is a part of the touch screen. The keys are activated by simply touching them with a
finger or a stylus.
 Internet access is usually through Wi-Fi or 3G/4G/5G (mobile phone) connectivity.
 Tablets are equipped with a series of sensors which include camera, microphone, accelerometer and touch screen.
 High-definition, anti-glare displays, front- and back-facing cameras
 Lower weight and longer battery life than laptops
 Use Bluetooth for connection to printers and other devices
 Make use of solid state memory and cloud storage facilities to back up and synchronies data sources

Advantages of tablets compared to laptops:

» Very fast to switch on, not much heat – they use solid-state technology
» Fully portable – they are so lightweight that they can be carried anywhere
» Touch screen technology means they are simple to use and do not need any other input devices
» Can use several apps as standard (such as built-in camera, MP3/4 players and so on)
» Battery life of a tablet is a lot longer
» When the power button is pressed, it goes into standby, but remains connected to the internet so the user still hears
alerts when emails or other ‘events’ are received.
Disadvantages of tablets compared to laptops:
» tend to be rather expensive when compared to laptops
» they often have limited memory or storage when compared to a laptop
» if 3G/4G/5G mobile phone networks are used, they can be expensive to run if the internet is being accessed
frequently
» typing on a touch screen can be slow and error-prone compared to a standard keyboard
» laptops tend to support more types of file format than tablets and are also better equipped to run different types of
software.
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1.4 Mobile computer
Phablet: Latest smartphones have been designed as a hybrid between a tablet and a smartphone; these are referred
to as a phablet. They have much larger screens than a smartphone but are smaller than a tablet.

The main uses of smartphones, tablets and phablets include:

 Entertainment (streaming of music, videos and television programmes)
 Gaming (including group games)
 As a camera or video camera (the quality of videos and photos now matches a good digital cameras)
 Internet use (online sales, social networks, using QR codes, and so on)
 Sending/receiving emails
 Global positioning system (use of maps to navigate to a location)
 Calendar functions
 Telephone banking (sending and receiving money using the banking apps)
 Voice over internet protocol (voip) – telephone network using the internet which also allows video calling
 Instant access to social networks (social contact with friends no matter where you are in the world)
 Instant messaging
 Office and business management (particularly the features that allow rapid voice and video communication)
 Education use (using interactive software to teach or learn from)
 Remotely control devices (it is possible to remotely operate devices in the home, such as microwave ovens, which
contain embedded microprocessors; by using internet-enabled smartphones or tablets, it is possible to start/stop
the oven even while several kilometres away from home by using an app and the internet).

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1.5 Impact of emerging technologies
Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI is a machine or application which carries out a task that requires some degree of intelligence. For example:
– the use of language
– recognising a person’s face
– the ability to operate machinery, such as a car, aero plane, train, and so on
– analysing data to predict the outcome of a future event, for example weather forecasting.

Impact of AI
• An autonomous (driverless) vehicle – we already have driverless trains and autopilots on aero planes, but future
developments include driverless cars.
• Robots are used to help people carry out dangerous or unpleasant tasks – for example, bomb disposal, welding of
car bodies, entering nuclear disaster areas where the radiation would kill a human in less than two minutes.

Negative impact of AI
 Could lead to many job losses in a number of areas; many jobs could be lost in manufacturing, but other roles are
likely to be affected such as bus, taxi, lorry and train drivers)
 Dependency on technology and the inability to carry out tasks done by robots, for example, could be an issue in
the future
 Loss of skills – even now, skills from previous generations have been lost as humans have been replaced by
machines and software applications.

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1.5 Impact of emerging technologies
Extended reality (XR) refers to real and virtual combined environments, and is a ‘catch all’ term for all immersive
technologies. The three most common examples at the moment are:
 augmented reality (AR)
 virtual reality (VR)
 mixed reality (MR).
All these immersive technologies extend the reality we experience by either blending the virtual and real worlds or by creating a
fully immersive experience.
Augmented reality (AR) features:
 allow the user to experience the relationship between digital (virtual) and physical (real) worlds
 virtual information and objects are overlaid onto real-world situations
 the real world is enhanced with digital details, such as images, text and animation
 the user can experience the AR world through special goggles or via smartphone/phablet screens
 the user is not isolated from the real world and is still able to interact and see what is going on in front of them
 examples include the Pokémon GO game which overlays digital creatures onto real-world situations.

Areas of impact:
• Safety and rescue operations (for example, it is possible to provide 3D images of an area where a rescue mission is
to take place, giving the team the opportunity to interact with the environment and try out rescue procedures
before doing the real thing)
• Entertainment (for example, AR takes users into a virtual environment where it is possible to interact with the
characters; imagine the characters of your favourite film interacting with you at home)
• Shopping and retail (this is one of the big areas – for example, using your smartphone camera you can try out make-
up and see how it looks on you before buying it, or you can experience a virtual tour of a new car where you can
‘sit’ in the interior and try out the driving experience before buying the car)
• Healthcare (doctors can make use of AR to have a better understanding of a patient’s body; software, such as
Echopixel enables doctors to use CT scans from patients to build up a 3D image of their body to help with surgery
and diagnosis).
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1.5 Impact of emerging technologies
Virtual reality (VR) : features
• The ability to take the user out of the real-world environment into a virtual (unreal) digital environment
• The user is fully immersed in a simulated digital world
• Users must wear a VR headset or a head-mounted display which allows a 360° view of the virtual world (this ‘fools’
the brain into believing they are walking on an ocean bed, walking in an alien world or inside a volcano)
• This technology can be used to good effect in: medicine (teaching operation procedures), construction, engineering
and the military.
Areas of impact:
• military applications (for example, training to operate a new tank)
• education (for example, looking inside an ancient building as part of a history lesson)
• healthcare (for example, as a diagnostic tool to recommend treatment)
• entertainment (for example, games where gloves, goggles or helmets are worn to fully immerse players and make it
seem very real)
• fashion (for example, to do fashion shows before doing the real thing – see the clothes on people, check out the
venue and so on)
• heritage (for example, allowing users to walk around and close up to monuments like Stonehenge)
• business (for example, training courses and role-playing scenarios for staff)
• engineering (for example, seeing how new designs like bridges will look in an existing environment)
• sport (for example, a golfer trying to improve his swing can use this technology and get feedback to improve his
game)
• media (for example, interactive special effects in movies)
• scientific visualisation (for example, part of a molecular structure in chemistry, or a cell in biology).

Assignment : Questions from page 24 & 25

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