Chapter 4: introduction to hardware and software
3 types of information that primary storage stores for a brief period of time
1. Data to be processed by the CPU 2. Instructions for the CUP as how to process the data 3. Operating systems programs that manage various aspects of the computer's operation a. Takes place in the motherboard
how many bits make up a byte
8
hardware consists of
CPU, Primary and Secondary storage, input technologies, output technologies, and communication technologies
thin-client systems
Desktop computer systems that do not offer the full functionality of a PC
motherboard
It is the "mother" to all of the other circuit boards and it holds all of the most important parts of the computer
why is open source software labeled proprietary
Labeled proprietary because the developer keeps the source code - the actual computer instructions - private
example of a packaged software
Microsoft Office
touch controlled gesture control interfaces
Microsoft surface and apple iPhone
technology accepted model (TAM)
Model suggests that when users are presented with a new technology a number of factors influence their decision about how and when they will use it
advantages of open source software
Only a small group of developers can modify the code (core developers) Produces high-quality, reliable, low-cost software
what do mainframes provide
Provide a secure, robust environment in which to run strategic, mission-critical applications
basic input output system (BIOS)
Reminds the computer what parts it has and what they do (when you turn a computer on).
advantage of open systems
Same operating system with compatible software is installed on all computers
microcomputers (personal computers)
Smallest and least expensive category of general purpose computers
midrange computers are a type of what?
Type of server: computer that supports computer networks and enables users to share files
computer programmers include documentation
Which is a written description of the programs functions. Vital to the business organization
Input Technologies
accept data and instructions and convert them to a form that a computer can understand
graphic user interface (GUI)
allows the user to directly control the hardware by manipulating visible objects and actions that replace complex commands
floating point operation
an arithmetic operation that involves decimals
what type of data can the CPU process
binary data (0s and 1s)
CD-R
can be written to, but once it is done it cannot be changed
CR-ROM
cannot be written on, high capacity, durable, and low cost
read-only memory (ROM)
chip where certain critical instructions are safeguarded
multicore chips
chips with more than one processor
software consists of
computer programs, which are sequences of instructions for the computer
two main parts of the CPU
control unit and the arithmetic logic unit
continuous speech
conversational stream
one-of-a-kind application software
developed for a specific, unique needs (IRS)
solid-state drive (SSD)
don't have moving parts, use less power silent and faster, and produce less heat
perceived usefulness
enhance job or life
t/f In many industries exploiting computer hardware is not a key to achieving competitive advantage
false: it is a key to achieving competitive advantage
supercomputer
fastest computers available at any given time
site license
flat fee to install software product on all company computers or all computers at a specific site
perceived ease of use
free from effort
GPL
general public license
personal application software
general purpose off the shelf applications programs designed to help individual users increase their productivity
package or software suite
group of programs with integrated functions that has been developed by a vendor and is available for purchase in a prepackaged form
social interface
guides the user through computer applications by using cartoon like characters, graphic, animation, and voice commands
how is CPU speed expressed
hertz
cache memory
high speed memory that enables the computer to temporarily store blocks of data that are used more often and that a processor can access more rapidly than main memory (RAM) Located closer to the CPU than RAM
random access memory (RAM)
holds a software program and small amounts of data for processing. Entire program brought from secondary storage to RAM
two types of input devices
human data entry devices and source data automation devices
output devices
include monitors, printers, plotters, and voice
Source data automation devices
input data with minimal human interaction Barcode readers
Augmented reality
is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are enhanced by computer-generated sensory input (Google Glass)
speech recognition software
is an input technology rather than strictly an application that enables users to provide input systems software and app software (voice recognition)
operating system (OS)
is the director of your computer system's operations
human data entry devices
keyboards, mouse, trackball, joystick, touchscreen, stylus, and voice recognition
midrange
large midrange computers called mini-computers are relatively small, inexpensive, and compact computers that preform the same functionality as mainframe computers but to a more limited extent
floating point operation is typically used by who?
large organizations to execute computationally demanding tasks involving large datasets
optical storage device
laser reads the surface of a reflective plastic platter
microprocessor
made up of millions of microscopic transmitters embedded in a circuit on a silicon wafer or chip
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
manipulates the data and contains the tasks performed by the other components
sequential access
means that the system might have to run through the majority of the tape before it comes to the desired piece of data
magnetic disks (hard disks)
most commonly used mass storage device, have moving parts
what type of memory is ROM
non-volatile (retains its information when it is turned off)
disadvantages of open source software
o Companies that use open-source software depend on the continued goodwill of an army of volunteers for enhancements, bug fixes etc. o Organizations that do not have in house technical experts will have to purchase maintenance support contracts from a third party
basic characteristics of secondary storage
o Non-volatile o Take more time to retrieve data from it than from RAM o Cheaper than primary storage utilizes a variety of media, each with its own technology
discrete speech
one word at a time
successful open source projects
open office, firefox, mySQL, apache, android
registers
part of the CPU, they have the lowest capacity, storing extremely limited amounts of instructions and data only immediately before and after processing
CPU
performs the actual computation or "number crunching" inside any computer is a microprocessor
arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
performs the mathematical calculations and makes logic comparisons
Output Technologies
present data and info in a form people can understand
Communication Technologies
provide for the flow of data from external computer networks, to the CPU, and from the CPU to computer networks
purpose of the operating system
provides an interface between the end user and the hardware. User interface hides the complexity of the hardware from the user
horizontal-market application software
provides capabilities common across all organizations
proprietary software
purchased software that has restrictions on its use
open systems
refers to a group of computing products that work together
application programming
refers to the creation, modification, and improvement of application software
4 types of primary storage
registers cache memory random access memory read-only memory
mainframe
remain popular in large enterprises for extensive computing applications that are accessed by thousands of users at one time
license
right to use specified number of copies, limits vendor's liability
control unit
sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and controls the flow of data to and from the ALU, primary/secondary storage
vertical-market application software
serves needs of a specific industry
application software
set of computer instructions that provides more specific functionality to a user
system software
set of instructions that serves primarily as an intermediary between computer hardware and application programs
magnetic tape
slowest method for retrieving data cheapest storage medium, it can handle enormous amounts of data
open source software
source code is available at no cost to developers and users
Secondary Storage
stores data and programs for future use
Primary Storage
temporarily stores data and program instructions during processing
Main categories of microcomputers
thin-client systems, laptop and netbooks, tablets, wearable computers
what does system software enable the computer system to do
to perform self-regulatory functions by loading itself when the computer is first turned on and providing commonly used sets of instructions for all applications
t/f 32-bit version of Windows can run on Intel computers with 64-bit CPUs, BUT the 64-bit version of Windows runs only on Intel computers with 64-bit CPUs.
true
t/f Hardware becomes smaller, faster, cheaper, and more powerful overtime
true
t/f Moore's law has had an impact on costs
true
t/f Piracy costs software vendors around the world billions of dollars annually
true
t/f Testing and debugging software is expensive and time consuming
true
t/f companies can use the open source software but they cannot change the source code themselves
true
t/f software comprises a much larger percentage of the cost of modern computer systems because the price of hardware has dramatically decreased
true
characteristics of good software
usable, defect free, cost effective, and maintainable
are cache a main memory volatile or non-volatile
volatile
what type of memory is RAM
volatile (temporary)
flow in the CPU
• Inputs enter and are stored until needed. At that point, they are retrieved and processed and the outputs is stored and then delivered • instructions come into the CPU from the RAM • Data and instructions travel in the chip via electrical pathway called buses
Hierarchy of terms used to describe memory capacity
• Kilobyte • Megabyte • Gigabyte • Terabyte • Petabyte • Exabyte • Zettabyte