IS 101 - Hardware Devices

Ports

- Is a slot or hole that matches the cord or expansion card being connected to the port. - Input and output devices plug into the ____ located on your digital device. - Most laptops have 3.5mm Ethernet, HDMI, and multiple USB ports.

Universal Serial Bus connectors (USB)

- Is a type of interface that enables communication between digital devices. - Allows for data transfer between devices and for devices to be electrically charged.

Cache

- Is high-speed storage usually located directly on the CPU. - Is smaller but faster than RAM. - Is used to quickly access repeated instructions. - is high-speed memory used by the CPU to store frequently accessed data and instructions.

How much RAM?

- The more ____you have, the more programs or apps you can use at any given time. - Most smartphones come with at least 2 gigabytes of ____ installed and some allow you to add more. - Most laptops come with at least 4 gigabytes of _____ installed and also have the option to allow you to buy more memory.

USB drives

A storage device that uses a USB connector to connect to a computer Which may also be called a thumb drive, a flash drive, or a jump drive. This type of drive uses solid-state flash memory to store information on an internal memory chip. Allow for fast data transfer and they are inexpensive and durable.

Game servers

Allow multiplayer games to run and web servers host webpages.

Ethernet networks advantages & disadvantages (Networking Overview)

Also known as wired networks, provide the fastest speeds and do not suffer from wireless interference issues. One thing to remember is that while an Ethernet network is fastest and most reliable, the Internet speed will still be determined by the Internet service provider (ISP). Because of this, the actual speed of a home network may be the same regardless of whether it is connected through Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi signals.

Wi-Fi network advantages (Networking Overview)

Are more convenient and support devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Infrared Data Association (IrDa)

Establishes the protocols for infrared communication transfer. Is a wireless connection that uses infrared (relatively long) radio waves to transmit data. Devices are often used with a wireless mouse, keyboard, or remote control device. These devices are for line-of-sight only.

How do modems work?

Internet signals travel over long distances in waves. Waves have height (also called amplitude) and frequency. This height plus frequency signal is called an analog signal or a modulated signal. Computers store and process only on/off signals. These on/off signals are called digital signals or demodulated signals. A ________ changes the incoming modulated signals into digital signals, and changes outgoing digital signals into modulated signals.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI connectors)

Is a standard interface for audio-video connectivity. Allows for the transmission of high- definition audio and video signals. provide a way to transfer high quality video and audio signals to and from an output device. These cords are divided into two major categories: standard _____ for screen resolutions of up to 720 horizontal pixels high-speed ____ for 1080 horizontal pixels and higher

Disk Cache

Is high-speed memory used by the HARD DRIVE to store frequently accessed data.

Communications and email servers

Provide a means to communicate safely and efficiently within a network.

Bandwidth

Refers to the volume of data that can be carried by a transmission medium each second. ________ varies by the capability of the transmission medium. For example, fiber optic cable can carry more information than coaxial cable, so fiber has a larger ________ than coax. __________ is usually measured in megabits per second.

Database and file servers

Store and maintain databases and allow that information to be shared. They also provide backup for a network's data.

How does RAM work?

The CPU fetches the data in _____, processes it, then returns it as information to _____. When you save the information held in _____, it goes to storage. It remains in storage until you remove it (or have a drive crash). _____ is a temporary storage area and is cleared when a device is powered off. It is called volatile memory because the contents of ____ are lost when the device is shut down. This means that work you do on the computer will be lost unless you save your work to a file.

Android operating system (OS)

The _________ (OS) is a Google product and is based on the Linux operating system. The ________ OS is the most popular smartphone OS outside of the US. The _______ OS is found in a variety of digital devices including phones and tablet computers. Chromebook computers also use the _______ operating system. The _____ Nougat OS replaced the Marshmallow OS in August 2016. Motorola paid Lucasfilm to use the word Droid.

Linux operating system

The ____________ operating system (OS) is free open-source software that can be used and modified by anyone knowledgeable without cost. ____________ is the most common OS on servers, mainframes and supercomputers. ___________ is also the underlying OS for most video game consoles and embedded computers as well as the underlying software for the Android OS. Despite its popularity among computer manufacturers, only a very small percentage of personal computers use the _________ OS.

Types of printers

The most common printers, inkjet printers, laser printers, thermal printers, large scale printers.

Speakers

To create sound, a computer uses digital-to-analog converters. _______ then change the analog electrical impulses to sound by physically pushing air. To improve sound quality, particularly in the lower (bass) ranges, many users add external speakers to their computers.

Touchscreens

Traditional monitors are output devices. The computer displays (outputs) information to the screen for you to read). But __________ are BOTH output and input devices. You not only read information output by the computer but you send (input) commands to the computer by touching the screen instead of using a mouse. Nearly all smartphones, tablets, and 2-in-1 computers use ________ and nearly all of them are capacitive screens.

Laser Printers

Uses a drum and toner to transfer images onto paper. Produces sharp images very quickly Are more expensive than other printers Faster Use toner to create images

Thermal printers

Uses heat-sensitive paper.

Microphones

change sound waves into electrical signals. Most ______ work by using a sound sensitive diaphragm over an electrically charged plate (a capacitance plate). The diaphragm's movement causes the electrons to move which creates an electrical current. In cell phones and hearing aids this diaphragm/capacitance plate combination is housed in a MEMS chip (MicroElectrical- Mechanical System). In cellphones the MEMS chip also includes an analog-digital converter.

Cellular networks advantage & disadvantage

have far greater range than Wi-Fi networks but do not offer as much bandwidth as Wi-Fi networks.

Connectors

is the specialized end of a cord, plug, or expansion card that connects into a port. On a cable, the ______ is the end that connects to a port.

Web server

is used to control access to resources on the world wide web. Most have a built-in firewall for security.

Hard drives

is where software programs and files are stored permanently. The bigger the _______ the more information can be stored. ________ capacity is the amount of storage you have available to save data and information. Capacity is usually measured in GB, gigabytes (billions of bytes) and TB, terabytes (trillions of bytes). Computer applications such as Microsoft Office and multimedia files use a lot of storage capacity.

Three common types of servers

network, web, and file servers

Printers

recreate a computer image onto paper or other substrate. resolution is described as dots per inch and printer speed is described as pages per minute.

Large scale printers

used to create posters.

Routers

A _________ is the most critical part of a home network. A ________ connects two networks such as, for example, your home network to your Internet Service Provider's network, or the Internet itself. Because of this, your _________ can serve as a gate that protects your home network. This protection is called a hardware firewall. ___________ can be wired-only, where Ethernet cables are used to connect the router to computers, or, more often, wired plus wireless, where the _________ can also transmit a Wi-Fi signal so that you can connect computers to the router wirelessly. ___________ include a device called a switch. Switches allow multiple computers to use the same ________.

Server

A computer system in a network that is shared by multiple users. Are also referred to as host computers.

Use of servers

Are commonly used by organizations that provide computer services for a significant number of people on a network. Often are dedicated which means they run single programs. Some typical uses are communication, housing databases, games, and web pages

CAT5e Ethernet Cable

Can transfer data at up to 1 gigabit per second.

CAT6 Ethernet Cable

Can transfer data at up to 10 gigabits per second.

CAT5 Ethernet Cable

Can transfer data at up to 100 megabits per second.

Memory

Computer ________ is often referred to as RAM and is housed in microchips that are located on the motherboard. is comprised of solid state electronics which makes it fast and energy efficient since there are no mechanical moving parts.

Modems

Convert analog (wave) signals into digital signals. The word "_______" is a contraction for modulation-demodulation. _________ are nearly always provided by the Internet Service Provider. If you want to save rental fees, you can buy a router/_________. If your Internet connection seems to be slow it may be time to get a new router/___________.

Ink Jet printers

Cost less than laser Not as sharp as laser printers Slower than laser printers Uses ink.

Android OS: Advantages

Designed by Google, the Android operating system is the world's most popular operating system for smartphones and tablet computers. Because it is designed by Google, the Android OS works well with Gmail and other Google products.

Device drivers

Is a program that allows a peripheral device, such as a keyboard or printer, to interact with a computer's operating system, the OS. Are usually relatively small programs, and many come pre-loaded onto an operating system. For example, the ______ for a keyboard that is incorporated with a laptop computer will already be installed on the laptop. Usually, a new computer will have many other _______ pre-installed. If a peripheral's ______ is pre-installed on a computer, that peripheral is often referred to as a "plug-and-play" device. When the device is connected to the computer, the computer's OS will automatically interact with the device. Sometimes it is necessary to download a _____ in order to gain full functionality of a peripheral device. The latest ______ can usually be downloaded for free from the device manufacturer's website.

Read-only memory (ROM)

Is a storage area in a digital device that is installed by the digital device manufacturer. Users do not edit or change _____ memory. Except by software engineers, ____ cannot be altered or removed. Information commonly stored in ____ includes a digital device's boot instructions. The final steps of the boot (startup) instructions include loading of the operating system from the hard drive (storage) into RAM. _____ is non-volatile memory because the contents of ____ are not lost when the device is powered off.

Monitors

Is an electronic, fixed-screen device that visually displays computer output. Touchscreen monitors are found on tablet computers, smartphones, and some laptop computers. Many users prefer liquid crystal display (LCD) while some like the crispness of a light emitting diode (LED) display. Laptop, tablet, and smartphone computers include ______, although many users like to connect them to larger screen ______. Nowadays many computer users, particularly in the workplace, connect more than one _____ to a computer.

File server

Is used for data storage. House various documents and information resources of an organization.

Network server

Is used to control access to resources such as printers and applications on a network.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

It is a type of memory found on the motherboard of a digital device. Is also called main memory, which means it is the memory available to programs to execute tasks. holds the working portion of every program that is open, and all of the data being worked with (processed). Is used by the central processing unit (CPU). Consider ______ a very fast middle-man between storage and processing Sometimes called "working storage".

Memory cache Levels

L1 cache is small and integrated INTO the CPU. L3 cache is larger and NEXT to the CPU.

Linux OS: Disadvantages

Like any operating system, Linux takes time and dedication to learn to use. There are some issues with program compatibility, making it difficult to run some programs on a Linux machine.

Linux OS: Advantages

Linux is an operating system that is free to download and use. Linux OS has solid security and is less susceptible to viruses. Because it is open-source, it can be modified by users but it is also very secure.

Macintosh OS: Disadvantages

Mac computers cost more than most comparable PCs. Mac computers are not as widely used and can ONLY use Apple proprietary or licensed software. This may limit the users' choices for software. Further, Apple peripheral devices tend to also be more expensive. Mac OS X is not the best choice for gamers because many games are Windows-based.

Macintosh OS: Advantages

Mac computers have a user-friendly interface that has a reputation for being intuitive. Also, the Macintosh operating system is reliable and has relatively few viruses. Mac computers have an attractive design and are the industry standard for photo editing, film and movie development, and graphic design because of their outstanding graphics capabilities. Hollywood loves Apple products!

Android OS: Disadvantages

Many feel that the Apple iPhone operating system is easier to use. Applications on Android phones can be obtained easily and many are free, but one of the consequences of this is the frequency of advertising while using a "free" app.

Video Graphic Array connectors (VGA)

Often called HD-15 connectors, are analog connectors that were very popular for connecting monitors and televisions to computers. They were largely replaced by digital video interface or DVI connections, and High Definition Media Interface or HDMI connections in the early 2000s. Although they are analog only, _____ connectors are capable of high resolution and frame rates.

Windows OS: Disadvantages

One criticism of ________-based computers is that some believe they are not as intuitive or as easy to use as Macintosh computers and others believe that they are more prone to viruses and other computer problems than Macintosh computers.

Wi-Fi

Uses the 802.11 protocol, 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz radio waves. Wireless local area network A Wi-Fi transmission site is called a hotspot.

What do you need to setup a home Wi-Fi Network?

You'll need just three things: 1) You'll need an Internet signal. This comes from your Internet Service Provider. 2) A modem. This too comes from your ISP. 3) You'll need a router. *Most DSL and cable providers, along with all cellular internet service providers, include an integrated modem/router device with their service.*

The Macintosh/Apple operating system

_______ operating systems are designed and distributed by Apple Inc. and have a reputation for being very easy to use. ________ operating systems are found in a variety of digital devices including phones, tablets, and laptops.

Permanent storage

________ allow for the storage of data and information that can be retrieved for future use. Data stored on a permanent system, such as a hard drive or flash drive, remains intact when computer is turned off.

Windows OS: Advantages

__________ personal computers are by far the most popular computers in the world and are used by most businesses and government agencies. Because of their popularity, they have the most available software and often the best prices.

Ethernet ports and connectors

are used for local area networks or for connecting devices in home networks. A common use in the home is to connect a modem to a router using an _____ cable to access the Internet.

The Windows operating system

are used in a variety of Microsoft's digital devices including desktops, laptops, phones, and tablet computers. Windows 10 is the latest version of Windows. Windows is owned by the Microsoft Corporation.