Activity 1-5 Discussing Peripheral Device Installation

HIDs

(Human Inerface Devices) Peripheral that enable the user to enter data and select commands.

I/O Addresses

(Input/Output Address) Input/output peripherals have a special area of memory in the range 0000-FFFF set aside to allow data reading and writing fuctions. This is normally configured by Plug-and-Play but can be set manually using Device Manager.

You have finished copying some files to a USB memory stick. What should you do before unplugging the stick?

Use the Safely Remove Hardware icon to stop the device.

IRQ

(Interupt Request) A communications cahnnel between a hardware device and the system processor. Originally, when hardware was added to the computer it had to be manually configured with a unique interrupt number (between 0 and 15). Plug-and-Play compatible systems configure resources automatically. The PCI bus introduced IRQ steering, which allowed IRQs to be shared. Modern computers use programmable interrupt controllers, allowing for hundreds of interrupts.

KVM Switch

(Keyboard Video Mouse switch) A switch supporting a single set of input and output devices controlling a number of PCs. KVM are more typically used with servers but 2-port versions allowe a single keyboard, mouse, and display to be used with two PC's.

NFC

(Near Fields Communications) A standard for peer-to-peer (2-way) radio communications over very short (around 4") distances, facilitating contactless payment and similar technologies. NFC is based on RFID.

RFID

(Radio Frequency Identification) A chip allowing data to be read wirelessly. RFID tags are used in barcodes and smart cards.

Smart Card

(Server Message Block) A card with a chip containing data on it. Smart cards are typically used for authentication, with the chip storing authentication data such as a digital certificate.

UPnP

(Universal Plug-and-Play) A protocol framework allowing network devices to autoconfigure services, such as allowing a games console to request appropriate settings from a firewall.

You are supporting a client setting up a Point of Sale system.Which peripheral device types or functions should she consider.

A POS system reads the information stored on the custumer's payment card or digital wallet. Historically, this information was stored in the card's magnetic strip. Most POS devices retain a magnetic reader as a backp mechanism. The majority of bank cards now also store the account information in an embedded chip, which can be read by inserting the card into the reader. This chip may also support contactless use or NearField Communications (NFC). A customer can also store the card details in a smartphone and use the smartphones NFC chip to make payments. Not all POS readers support contacless and it would carry a slight price premium, so your client should decide whether it is importnt to offer this payment method to her customers.

Game Pad

A controller containing multiple buttons and toggles, each of which controls a different action in a video game or program, typically held and manipulated with two hands.

Smart Card Reader

A device, either built-in or attached as a peripheral, that uses a slot of NFC to interact with a smart card.

Pointing Device

A peripheral used to move a cursor to select and manipulate objects on the screen.

Joystick

A pivoting stick or lever attached to a base that is used to control movement on a device.

Biometrics

Identifying features stored as digital data can be used to authenticate a user. Typical features used include facial pattern, iris, retina, or fingerprint pattern. This requires the relevant scanning device, such as a fingerprint reader, and a database of biometric information (template).

Authentication

Identifying someone as a valid user of a computer or network.

Touchpad

Input device used on most laptops to relplace the mouse. The touchpad allows the user to control the cursor by moving a finger over the pad's surface. There are usually buttns too but the pad may also recognize "tap" events and have scroll areas.

Biometric Devices

Peripherals used to gather biometric data for comparison to data stored in a database.

System Resources

Settings that enable a device to communicate with the CPU and memory without the device conflicting with other devices.

Driver

Software that creates an interface between a device and the operating system. It may also include tools for configuring and optimizing the device.

A remote user has requested a Dvorak keyboard for use with her Windows 10 computer. The device has arrived and the user connected it to a USB port. She contacts support saying that the keyboard "isn't working properly." What is the likely cause of this issue?

The appropriate keyboard layout has not been selected in settings.

Keyboard

The oldest PC device and still fundamental to operating a computerr. There are many different designs and layouts for different countries. Some keyboards feature special keys.

You are contacted by another remote user. The user has a laptop and desktop computer. The user wants to know if there is a device that would allow them to use the same peripheral devices with both systems without having to switch cables over all the time. What is your answer?

Yes, you can use a Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM) switch for this purpose.