Term | Definition |
hardware | is any physical part of a computer (it is a group of machines) |
hardware is made up of | (a) The CPU and Main Memory
(b) Input Devices
(c) Output Devices
(d) Storage Devices |
main memory | Stores programmes and Data for processing. |
cpu | cpu stands for central processing unit |
input device | These Devices read incoming Data and pass it on to the CPU. Example are : Keyboard, Disk Drive, Scanner, Bar Code Reader, Voice Recognition, and Digital Camera. |
output device | These accept information from the CPU and displaying the results for ther user. |
storage device | These keep information and instructions in the computer so that they can be used again. Examples are : CD’s, Floppy Disks, Hard Drive. |
looking at input devices in more detail | Mouse Used to select text, insert text or an icon on a page by clicking and dragging. The cursor changes shape depending on the task. E.g. arrow, beam, egg timer shapes. |
looking at input devices in more detail | keyboard Used to type words on the page.most common button is the spaced out one. |
looking at input devices in more detail | bar code They read or scan the zebra like bars that you see on most products. The black and white bars are different widths and together they form a code called a UPC or Universal Product Code. |
looking at input devices in more detail | Point of Sale Terminal They are used to collect information on a product by scanning the bar code. |
looking at input devices in more detail | Digitiser Used for drawing illustrations or creating graphics/pictures on a page. |
looking at input devices in more detail | Camera/Tape Recorder Used to Input voice or visual pictures on to your computer. |
looking at input devices in more detail | VDE/Voice Data Entry I can accept human speech and convert it to the spoken word onto your screen. |
looking at input devices in more detail | OCR/Optical Character Reader (optional scanner) They are devices that scan the document and turn it into readable form on your screen. |
looking at input devices in more detail | MICR/Magnetic Ink Character Reader They are used when documents, contain magnetic digits that contain information. |
looking at input devices in more detail | OMR/Optical Mark Recognition/Reader The computer will pick up marks, e.g. pencil marks on a sheet to collect information. E.g. Pencil mark on a score sheet. |
looking at input devices in more detail | Touch Screen It is a special screen which allows you to carry out a task by touching on the screen. |
looking at input devices in more detail | Light Pen or Stylus You can use a special pen to touch the ‘Touch screen’. It can be used to highlight and select items. You can also make hand written entries. |
looking at ouput devices in more detail | Monitor/VDU Or Visual this is the screen that you look at; it containes a soft copy of your information |
looking at ouput devices in more detail | flat screen technology's portable computers like laptops, notebooks, and PDA's or personal didgital assistants can have high resolution screens. the most common is the LCD or Liquid Crystal Display |
looking at ouput devices in more detail | printer |
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