Computer System Components

Standard: MSBCS – BCS1-1

Input Devices

Any hardware used to send data to the computer.

Examples of Input Devices

• Keyboard

• Pointing Device - ex: mouse

• Joystick – lever that can be moved

in all directions to move objects

on the screen.

Examples of Input Devices (Con’t)

• Digital Camera – takes and stores photos in a digital form that the computer can work with

• Scanner – lets you copy printed images into a computer.

Examples of Input Devices (Con’t)

• Microphone – used to input sounds

• Modem – allows one computer to input data into another computer. Often used to connect a computer to the internet.

Keyboard

Joystick

Mouse

Microphone Digital Camera

Modem

Output Devices

Any piece of hardware that displays or plays back the result of computer processing.

Output Devices Examples

• Monitors

• Printers – makes a hard copy of the display shown on a monitor

Monitor

Printer

Microprocessors

Also known as a CPU (Central Processing Unit)

CPU – the brain of the computer

Operating Systems

An operating system is software, consisting of programs and data, that runs on computers and manages computer hardware resources and provides services for execution of various application software.

Most Popular Operating Systems

• Windows 2003• Windows 2007• Windows XP • Windows Vista• MacOs X • Linux

Software Applications

Used for a specific purpose such as creating text documents, worksheets or graphics

Software Application Examples

• Microsoft Word – used to create text documents

• Microsoft PowerPoint – used to create presentations

Software Applications Examples (Con’t)

• Microsoft Excel – used to create spreadsheets

• Microsoft Access – used to create databases

Memory

When people talk about computer memory, they usually mean a set of chips that acts as a temporary workspace in the computer.

Two Types of Memory

• RAM – Random Access Memory – stores its contents temporarily; if the computer loses power, RAM’s contents are lost

• ROM – Read Only Memory – stores its contents permanently, even when the computer is turned off

Storage Devices

Object that physically holds data or program instructions

Examples of Storage Devices

• Floppy disk drives

• Hard Drives

• CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Drives

• Tape Drives

• Flash Drives

Floppy DiskHard Drive

CD/DVDFlash Drive

Unit for Measuring Computer Memory

• GB – gigobyte (1 GB = 1024 Megabytes)

• MB – megabyte (1,000,000 bytes)

**Gigobyte is larger than a megabyte!

Speed of Microprocessors

• MHz – megahertz (1 million cycles per second)

• GHz – gigahertz (1 billion cycles per second)

**Gigahertz is faster than a Megahertz!!

BibliographyThe American Heritage® ScienceDictionary. (Retrieved February 23, 2011,

from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/input devices

Input Device, n.d., Retrieved February 18, 2011, http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/i/inputdev.htm

Output Device, n.d., Retrieved February 20, 2011, http://www.techterms.com/definition/outputdevice

Operating system, n.d., Retrieved February 16, 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system

Computer memory, n.d., Retrieved February 21, 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_memory

WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. (2003-2008). Retrieved February 15, 2011 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+memory+unit

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Fourth Edition. (2003) Retrieved February 15, 2011 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gigahertz

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003) Retrieved February 15, 2011 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/megahertz