Computer System

Index

∞ Computer System……………………..3

∞ Hardware……………………………….3

∞ Input Devices…………………………..3

∞ Output Devices…………………………4

∞ Storage Devices………………………..4

∞ Processing Devices…………………….6

∞ Software…………………………………7

∞ Operative System……………………..8

∞ Functions……………………………….8

∞ Classification…………………………..9

∞ Types of Interface……………………..10

∞ Command Line Interface……………10

∞ Graphical Interface…………………..10

Computer System

Hardware

Hardware is defined as join of components of physical devices that intervene in a computer system. Household hardware, equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing, tools, utensils, and machine parts, typically sold in hardware stores.

Input Devices

They are the ones from which the information is introduced to the computer to be processed or transformed. Some examples are: keyboard, bar code reader, scanner, mouse, webcam, microphone and touch screen.

Output Devices

They are the ones that show to the user the data previously transformed or processed. The most used are: the printer, which shows the information in written form, the monitor, which presents the information in a visual form, the speakers, which present the information in sound form.

Storage Devices

They are the ones that permit to store or to save information. These are classified in: main and secondary memory.

∞ The Main Memory: This memory acts directly with the CPU in all the input and output operations, allowing to store and to recover instantly data and programs with which is working. Basically it is composed by:

♥ ROM (Read Only Memory) is a programmed memory by the manufactured and it is a permanent memory.

♥ RAM (Random Access Memory) is a memory that stores information that it is being executed in that moment, so it can be processed quickly.

∞ The Secondary Memory: Also called secondary storage; it permits to save programs and data in a permanent way; the most used storages devices are the hard disks (internal and external), digital video disks (DVD), memories USB, among others.

The unit to measure the storage capacity is the BYTE, it is conformed from the initials of BinarY TErm. The smallest unit of information is the BIT, which is conformed from BInary digiT. A BIT can contain one of two values, 1 or 0. The combination of 8 BITS makes a BYTE.

The different amounts of memory are mentioned according to the following terms:

♥ KB.- Kilobytes (1,024 bytes)

♥ MB.- Megabytes (1,048,576 bytes)

♥ GB.- Gigabytes (1,073,741,824 bytes)

♥ TB.- Terabytes (Approximately 1012 bytes)

♥ PB.- Petabytes (Approximately 1015 bytes)

♥ EB.- ExaByte (Approximately 1018 bytes)

♥ ZB.- ZettaByte (Approximately 1021 bytes)

♥ YB.- YottaByte (Approximately 1024 bytes)

Processing Devices

The Central Process Unit, also called CPU is the component in charge to transform data into information. It is considered as the brain of the computer, where most of the operations are carried out. Among the most important are the arithmetic and logic operations.

The unit to measure the processing velocity

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