Unit 1 What is Computer Hardware and Software with Examples...

 

What is Computer Hardware and Software with Examples

What is Computer Hardware and Software :: Computer Hardware is defined as the physical part or component of a computer system which can be feel, seen, and touched. Computer monitor which we use to view the display is a Hardware Device.

A printer which we use to Produce outputs,a computer memory which is used to store data or programs all are the types of hardware used in computer system for better functionality of computers.

Computer software can be defined as a set of instructions or collection of programs which are designed and developed to perform specific tasks. IT professionals develop customized programs that can be used in certain areas of our day to day life. These types of software or programs are very helpful and can reduce human efforts immensely.

Computer Hardware and Software

Different PC Software can be categorized in two main types ::

• System Software
• Application Software

Computer software needs hardware to function properly. For Example A Hard disk drive is a hardware device of a computer system which saves or stores information, programs or data in high volumes but it cannot work in absence of software programs. The software helps hardware to run and vice versa.

Another example if you have installed a sound card on your computer system which is used for playing sound, videos, and also used for playing games, but you cannot hear any sound without proper driver installation that is software that activates the hardware to function properly. Drivers are software program which comes with the hardware.

So we can say that to use full features of hardware and software they are dependent on each other both plays vital role in each other functions. They are independent devices and programs but rely heavily on each other

Hardware are essential parts of the computer system like CPU, Ram, Power supply, Monitors. We cannot start or use our computer if any part of the devices are missing but speakers ,printers,or even mouse are some of the hardware when found missing does not affect the boot process of computer,these devices are used for additional functions of computer.

Types of Hardware Component Used in Computer & Their Differences

As we have discussed above that hardware are physical devices which can be touched. Different and common types of hardware devices and their uses are mentioned below for better understanding

Cabinet Case

• Motherboard
• Ram
• Hard Disk
• CPU
• SMPS (Switching Mode Power Supply)
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Monitors
• Printers
• Speaker etc

These are the most used and common hardware devices here mentioned above some of the devices are used for better functionality or used for additional features. Like Speaker and Printers. They are not used in the boot process of PC as when found missing PC cannot start or boot on its own. They are not responsible for booting of computers.

But some of the devices mentioned above are responsible for the booting process of PC, for example, power supply, CPU and Computer Memory [RAM] are essential hardware devices Which are solely responsible for the booting of PC and their better PC functionality.

Cabinet Case ::

Cabinet case comes in various shapes and sizes but commonly used case is a tower case whose height ranges from 15 to 25 inches. They enables different types of hardware devices to be fit in itself to make it a whole and all the devices are connected to the case using screws. The Commonly attached hardware devices to PC case are Power supply, Motherboard CPU , Ram , Hard disk , DVD-RW etc.

Motherboard ::

The Computer Motherboard or mainboard is nothing but a piece of PCB (printed circuit board) where all the other devices are connected to it using cables & wires. Motherboard generally distributes all the voltages and power received from SMPS or power supply to other parts of the hardware devices attached to PC.

RAM ::

RAM [Random Access Memory] is an essential part of the computer system which is used for storing data or program temporarily. It is a volatile memory which tends to lose the data when power is missing from a power supply. When RAM is found missing motherboard gives a sound, and no display is found on monitors.

Hard Disk Drive::

Computer Hard disk drives are used to store the data permanently. It is a type of non volatile memory which does not loses data or programs when there is no power. Nowadays huge volume of data can be stored in hard disk.Which are also called as secondary storage hardware devices. The hard disk capacity is measured in MB-MEGABYTES, GB-GEGABYTES & TB-TERABYTES

CPU [Central Processing Unit] ::

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit which is responsible for almost all the operation computer system performs.CPU performs Arithmetical and logical operation which includes addition , subtraction, division and multiplication and logical operations includes comparison, less and greater values.

Every input which is send by input devices is first collected in primary memory and later transferred to CPU for further processing.

SMPS (Power Supply) ::

SMPS is known as Switching Mode Power Supply. Which is responsible to give power to motherboard later this power is distributed among the other hardware devices for better functionality.

mainly three types of power supply are used in modern day PC.

• AT (Advance Technology)
• AT-X (Advanced Technology-Extended)
• AT-XT(Advanced technology with Extended Technology)

Keyboard ::

Keyboard is a input devices which is primarily used for entering text as a input to CPU.

Mouse ::

Mouse is a Pointing devices which is used for selecting ,pointing and drag icons, files and folders from one location to another in hard drives.

Monitors ::

Monitors are display unit or commonly called as VDU which stands for [visual display unit] they are used to display information received from computers on their screen. They are also called as SOFTCOPY Terminals.

Printers ::

Printers are hardware component of computer which is often used for producing outputs on papers as a HARDCOPY.

Speaker ::

Speakers are used to output digital signals. You can use speaker for hearing sound ,videos and playing games.

Computer Hardware and Software

Different Types of Computer Software and Their Uses

Computer software is a set of instruction or programs which are used for a specific or special task assign to them. You cannot touch or feel the software as they are just a set of instructions which is written by SW programmers for an application.

The user will need both hardware and software for a computer system to work properly. Hardware reads software. Most of the software on our computer system is in the form of programs.

The software can be categorized in two types ::

• System Software
• Application Software

System Software::

The system software is any software which controls the hardware so that any application software can run and can be executed to perform various task mentioned by programmers. System software runs and executes programs, they also monitor various other components of a computer system like CPU, primary and secondary storages, and other peripheral devices of PC.

They communicate and control peripherals devices like printers,scanners,webcam,sound cards etc

The primary examples of system software’s are operating system such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac, Unix, etc They control the hardware of computer system so that they can work efficiently and Properly to perform the specific task given to them and also to provide a platform for application to perform and to execute in the overall development of application software’s.

They perform transferring of data to hard disk, It performs text or images or graphics to be seen on display devices, There are various other system software which is developed for specific tasks, such as device drivers are installed in PC for better functionality of that device,

for example :: Device drivers of display cards and sound cards are used in viewing better resolutions on computer screen and hearing sound from soundcards.

Programming tools, utility software, compiler, the interpreter is also considered to be system software. System software can be operating system and language processors where the operating system acts as the interface between user and computers and language processors are those which convert programming languages i.e. Assembly language and High-level languages to machine language which is a language that is understood by computers. Compilers & Interpreters are examples of language processors.

Different Types of System Software & Their Uses

• Translators
• Device Drivers
• Utility Programs
• Operating System

Translators ::

These are those programs which translates codes which are written in high level or Assembly language into Machine language or that language which is easily understood by computer.

Device Drivers ::

These programs are used to help better functionality of hardware devices. Such as mouse, sound cards and keyboards

Utility Programs ::

Format, Defragmentation, cleaning of hard disk space & installing and removing application programs from PC. These utility programs help the user to better communicate and interact with software and hardware.

Operating System ::

This acts as the primary interface between a user and computer hardware. It Presents user a GUI stands for Graphical User Interface where the user can directly communicate or interact with hardware and software used in computer systems. The system software manages and controls hardware and user inputs. They are also used in providing an interface for the development of application SW.