ICT Revision notes

Authors Avatar by mandoo777 (student)

  1. Computer Systems

Hardware - This is any physical part of the computer.

Examples: a monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse etc.

Types of hardware – Microprocessor – it contains the CPU (Central Processing kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkUnit), which is the brain of the computer

  • it makes the computer work
  • it is an important component of any electrical device

Software – This is any internal part of the computer (you can’t see or touch it)

Examples: Microsoft word

Types of software – Operating Systems Software – controls and manages the gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg computer and its components

Gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg– Examples: Microsoft gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg Windows, Mac OS X

  •  Applications Software – computer programs that are designed ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffd to carry out specific tasks

Ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg     – Examples: Microsoft Word, iTunes

The MOTHERBOARD is the main circuit board in the computer. The CPU is a computer chip that sits on the motherboard. It carries out the main processing functions in a computer.

Methods of processing

  • Interactive processing – this responds to inputs from the user
  • Multi-tasking – when the computer is carrying out several tasks simultaneously
  • Real-time processing – takes place immediately in response to input from the user e.g. if the no. of TVs in stock in an online store is 6 and someone buys 1, the level will immediately drop to 6.
  • Online processing – takes place when a computer is working via an Internet connection.
  • Multi-user systems – allows many users to log in at once e.g. when lots of people want to go on the same website at the same time.

Internal Memory –   ROM (Read Only Memory) – non-volatile memory – it retains data even when the computer is turned off.

  • RAM (Random Access Memory) – volatile memory – memory retains the data as long as the computer is on, then it’s lost when the computer is off.
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Units of Memory –   Bit

  • Byte
  • Kilobyte (kB)
  • Megabyte (MB)
  • Gigabyte (GB)
  • Terabyte (TB)

Input devices – hardware used to input data

Examples: Keyboard – used to enter letters and numbers, and used for shortcuts.

Mouse – used to point and click.

Output devices – hardware that is used to output data

Examples: speaker – if you need sound,

Printer – if you need to produce paper-based output

Backing Storage – USB ports – for memory sticks

  • Hard Drives – on desktop computers
  • Optical Drives – a disk ...

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