Handout-2

Introduction to Hardware

A Computer is an electronic device which that can perform variety of operations according to set
of instructions. A computer can be thought of a combination of hardware and software which
transforms data into information.
Before understanding functioning of computer let us understand following terms:
Hardware: It refers to the physical parts of the computer. The ones that you can touch e.g.
keyboard, monitor, speakers etc.
Software: It refers to the instructions (programs) that tell the computer what to do.
Peripherals: The I/O devices attached to the computer are called Computer Peripherals and are
means of communication with computers. e.g. Mouse, printers, modems, scanners, digital cameras
and cards.

Functional components of the Computer System

A computer mainly has four functions:
1. Inputting: The process of entering data and instructions into the computer system.
2. Storing: Saving data and instructions for further use.
3. Processing: converting data into meaningful information.
4. Outputting: The process of producing useful information for the user.

You will know how different parts of a computer are organized and how various operations are
performed between different parts to do a specific task.
Basic computer Operations

Input Unit: It accepts the list of instructions and data from the outside world. It converts these
instructions and data in computer acceptable form and supplies them to the computer system for
further processing.

Central Processing Unit: The central processing unit is responsible for carrying out the
processing job. As mentioned earlier it is the brain of computer. It has two components Arithmetic
and Logic Unit (ALU) and Control unit (CU). ALU and CU together referred to as CPU of a
computer.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU): This unit is designed to perform the four basic
mathematical operations and logic operations. The 4 mathematical operations are –
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and the logic operations are less than (<),
greater than (>), greater than or equal to (>=), less than or equal to (<=) , equal to (= =)
and not equal to(< >) etc. The results of these arithmetic and logic operations are stored in
the memory of computer.
Control Unit (CU): The control unit acts as a central nervous system for the other
components of the computer. It manages and coordinates the entire computer system. It
obtains instructions from the program stored in main memory, interprets the instructions
and issues signals that cause other units of the system to execute them. By selecting,
interpreting and managing the execution of the program instructions, the control unit can
maintain order and direct the operation of the entire system.
Output Unit: It accepts the results produced by the CPU which are in coded form and
hence cannot be easily understood by us. It converts these coded results to human
acceptable form and supplies to the outside world.
 Storage Unit: This unit holds all the data to be processed, the instructions required for
processing and intermediate results of processing. It also holds the results of processing
before these results are released to an output device.

Input and Output Devices

Input/output devices are required for users to communicate with the computer. In Simple words,
input devices bring data INTO the computer and Output devices brings information OUT of a
computer system.
Some commonly used input devices are as follows: -
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Joystick
• Light Pen
• Scanner
• Touch Screen
• Digital Cameras
• Microphone
• Video Digitizer
• OCR Readers
• OMR Scanners
• MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader)
• Graphic Tablet
Various Output Devices are as follows –
• Monitors (CRT/LCD/LED)
• Printers
• Plotters
• Sound Cards and Speakers
• Projector
COMPUTER PORTS
Ports are external connections to a computer. The Serial port is the oldest type and the slowest in
terms of transferring information. Parallel ports are a more recent development and faster than the
serial port. The most recent type of port is the USB connector.
Ports you will probably encounter on the back of your computer:

• Serial port – for external modems and old computer mice

• Parallel port – connector for scanners and printers
• Universal Serial Bus (USB) port – a new universal connector
• PS/2 port – keyboard and mouse interface
• Video card port – a video port for your monitor
• Power port – for your power plug
• Modem port – connect by phone to the Internet
• Ethernet network port – connect to a network and high speed Internet
• Firewire/IEEE 1394 port – fast camcorder connector

Memory and Storage Devices

The Role of Memory: The term "memory" applies to any electronic component capable of
temporarily storing data. In other words, memory of computer is storage locations where data can
be stored. Memory of computer is measured in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes and so on. Computer
interprets in 0’s and 1’s i.e. in binary language. Each 0 or 1 is called a bit. One byte consists of 8
bits and stores one character.
8 bits = 1 Byte
1024 bytes = 1 Kilobytes (KB)
1024 Kilobytes= 1 Megabytes (MB)
1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabytes (GB)
1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabytes (TB)

Memory of computer can be classified as -

a. Primary memory or internal memory that temporarily memorizes data while programs are
running. Internal memory uses micro conductors, i.e. fast specialized electronic circuits. Internal
memory also has two sub types
Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is the system's main memory, i.e. it is a space that allows
you to temporarily store data when a program is running. RAM is volatile, meaning that it only
stores data as long as it supplied with electricity. Thus, each time the computer is turned off, all
the data in the memory are irremediably erased.

Figure 34: 1 GB SDRAM

Read Only Memory (ROM): ROM is a type of memory that allows you to keep the information
contained on it even when the memory is no longer receiving electricity. Basically, this type of
memory only has read-only access. However, it is possible to save information in some types of
ROM memory. ROM is used by the computer manufacturer’s for storing the micro programs which
contains instructions for the startup of computer.

b. Secondary or Auxiliary memory (also called external memory) that stores information over
the long term, including after the computer is turned off. Auxiliary memory corresponds to
magnetic storage devices such as the hard drive, optical storage devices such as CD-ROMs and
ROMs. Some of the common storage devices are -

Hard Disks: A computer storage medium that is a fixed part of the computer's hardware. It is a
non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with
magnetic surfaces. It can store data more precisely and access it more quickly than other forms
of magnetic storage.
 A 40 GB Hard Disk and a Hard Disk with protective cover removed

Magnetic Storage Tapes: Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording generally consisting
of a thin magnetizable coating on a long and narrow strip of plastic. Magnetic tape allowed massive
amount of data to be stored in it for long period of time.

A Magnetic Tape

Compact Disks (CD’s): A small optical disk on which data such as music, text, or graphic
images is digitally encoded. Standard CDs have a diameter of 120 mm and can hold up to 80
minutes of audio (700 MB of data

Digital Versatile Disks (DVD’s): DVD is an optical storage system for read-only, recordable and
rewritable applications. It looks the same as a compact disc but can hold about 15 times as much
information and transfer it to the computer about 20 times as fast as a CD. Like CD, DVD also
comes in three varieties.

1. DVD-ROM– used to store information. You can not store data on it.
2. DVD-R (- Recordable): Data can be recorded on these disks only once.
3. DVD-RW (Rewriteable) is an erasable disk. You can write on it multiple times.

Blue-ray Disc (BD): BD new optical disc format was developed to enable recording, rewriting
and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format
offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on
a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc.
Pen/ Thumb Drives- Flash memories: Flash is a ‘solid state’ memory i.e. it has no moving parts
unlike magnetic storage devices, nor does it make use of lasers- unlike optical drives. Instead, it
works in a similar way to RAM. The key difference is that data is retained in flash memory even
when the power is switched off. These are now inexpensive and available in range from 1 GB to
4 TB.

Memory Stick: Memory Stick was developed to realize the convenience of recording different
types of digital content and sharing and exchanging them among the widest possible variety of
products. It is compact, light, reliable and easy to handle.

Figure 42: A Memory Stick

Raid Technology: It stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive (or sometimes "Independent")
Disks. It is a method of combining several hard disk drives into one logical unit (two or more disks
grouped together to appear as a single device to the host system). "RAID" is now used as an
umbrella term for computer data storage schemes that can divide and replicate data among multiple
hard disk drives.

Cloud Storage: Cloud storage in simple words means that you can do your work on network such
as the Internet and access your documents or software anywhere. Cloud storage consists of
hardware and software resources made available on the Internet as managed by the third-party
services. Examples of Cloud Storage are Google Docs, Xdrive, Media Max and Strongspace.
Mozy.com and carbonite.com are good examples of this technology.

Seema wanted to send a large file online to her friend but in a fix how to do it as
her mail does not allow such big attachment. Do you know that there are free online
storage sites which allow you send large files?

• Google Docs - Upto 15 GB free space

 • Microsoft OneDrive - Upto 15 GB free space
• DropBox: Incredibly easy and simple to use - can upload up to 10 GB of your files here.
• MediaFire: Probably one of the best free online storage sites out there. Not only can you
upload files here, but they give you lots of extra options (MySpace help, folders, galleries,
etc.).

Hands-on Activity-
A Demo on how to use any one of the cloud storage (One drive/Google Drive) and discuss
What will be the advantages of such facilities?
What preventive measures one should take while using cloud storage devices.
 WORKSHEET: 2.1

INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE

Q.1 Fill in the blanks with:

a. A computer can perform variety of operations according to the set of ________________
b. Write the storage capacity of a –
• CD - ________________
• DVD - _______________
• Blu-ray Disc ___________
c. The functional components of a computer system are ________________,
_____________________, ___________________ and ________________________
d. _______________ is a computer input device that allows one to hand-draw images and
graphics, like the way one draws images with a pencil and paper.
e. ______________________ is responsible for carrying out the processing job.
Q.2 Write full form of the following -
DVD: ___________________________________________________________________
ALU: ___________________________________________________________________
MICR: __________________________________________________________________
RAID: __________________________________________________________________
LCD: ___________________________________________________________________

Q.3 Differentiate following devices as input and output devices.

microphone, keyboard, speakers, digital camera, laser printer, touch screen, joystick and film
recorder, scanner, sound card
Input Devices Output Devices
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Q.4 Match the following:
a. Inputting 1. Physical Components
b. Data 2. Converting data into meaningful information
c. Hardware 3. Raw facts
d. Processing 4. Process of entering data and instructions in
computer

Q.5 Identify following devices and write their name in the space provided

a. b. c.

____________________ ____________________ _____________________

d. e. f.

___________________ _______________________ ________________________

Q.6 Write a short note Central Processing Unit of a computer describing its parts.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Q7. Name any one cloud storage you have used?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Q8. Write down few preventive measures you will take while using these public cloud services
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

WORKSHEET: 2.2
INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE

Q.1 Match the following:

a. Serial Porta video port for your monitor
b. Ethernet Porta new universal connector
c. Video card Portconnector for scanners and printers
d. USB Portfor external modems and old computer mice
e. Parallel Portconnect to a network and high-speed Internet

Q.2 Identify following ports and write their names.

_______________________________ ____________________________

_______________________________ ____________________________
Q.3 Fill in the blanks -
a. Memory of computer is ______________________________ where data can be stored.
b. _____________ bytes = 1 Kilobytes (KB).
c. _________________ temporarily memorizes data while programs are running whereas
__________________ stores information over the long term, including after the
computer is turned off.
d. __________________ is a credit card-sized card with a microprocessor and memory used
to hold customer account information.
e. _________________ is a computer storage medium that is a fixed part of the computer's
hardware. It is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data.
Q.4 Write any two difference between

RAM ROM
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
 Primary Memory Secondary Memory
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
 WORKSHEET: 2.3

INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE
Q.1 Write the full forms:

• GUI : _______________________________________________________________
• CRT : _______________________________________________________________
• LED : _______________________________________________________________
• PDA : _______________________________________________________________
• USB : _______________________________________________________________

Q.2 Fill in the blanks

1. The I/O devices attached to the computer are called ____________

2. The volatile memory of the computer is ___________
3. The input device used in games is ____________
4. A device which can be used both as a input and output device is _______________

Q.3 Answer in one or two words -

a. An optical disk which can store upto 700 MB of data. ____________________________

b. Memory device which has no moving parts, nor does it make use of lasers- unlike optical
drives. Instead, it works in a similar way to RAM ___________________________
c. It looks the same as a compact disc but can hold about 15 times as much information
________________________
d. It is one of the portable storage devices which enables one to transfer small files between
computers and to store data/information as backup. _______________________