Kenneth Sequeira (522)

Assignment 2: Computer Hardware

A computer is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and automatically manipulates data,
and provides output in a useful format.

Mechanical examples of computers have existed through much of recorded human history. The first
electronic computers were developed in the mid-20th century (1940–1945). Originally, they were the size
of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers (PCs).

It was the fusion of automatic calculation with programmability that produced the first recognizable
computers. In 1837, Charles Babbage was the first to conceptualize and design a fully programmable
mechanical computer, his analytical engine. Limited finances and Babbage's inability to resist tinkering
with the design meant that the device was never completed.

In the late 1880s, Herman Hollerith invented the recording of data on a machine readable medium. Prior
uses of machine readable media, above, had been for control, not data. "After some initial trials with
paper tape, he settled on punched cards ..." To process these punched cards he invented the tabulator, and
the keypunch machines. These three inventions were the foundation of the modern information
processing industry. Large-scale automated data processing of punched cards was performed for the 1890
United States Census by Hollerith's company, which later became the core of IBM.

Alan Turing is widely regarded to be the father of modern computer science. In 1936 Turing provided an
influential formalization of the concept of the algorithm and computation with the Turing machine,
providing a blueprint for the electronic digital computer.

Components of a Computer

A computer as a processing, inputting and outputting device in its totality is a brilliant innovation made
up of many tiny components that makes it the amazement of modern technology that it is. Comparing it to
the human body and the way it functions, here are the key elements of a computer system:

The Senses
Humans decipher the world around them through their 5 senses so that the brain can analyze the inputs
and make sense of the inputs. These inputs which we can find analogies for in the computer world are the
eyes (Scanners, Readers), ears (Microphone), mouth (speakers) and skin-touch (Keyboard and Mouse)

Keyboard:
A 'keyboard' is a human interface device which is represented as a layout of buttons. Each button, or key,
can be used to either input a linguistic character to a computer, or to call upon a particular function of the
computer. Traditional keyboards use spring-based buttons, though newer variations employ virtual keys,
or even projected keyboards.

Mouse:
A mouse is a human interface device that allows a user to input spatial data to a computer. In the case of
mice and touch screens, this is usually achieved by detecting movement across a physical surface. Analog
devices, such as 3D mice, joysticks, or pointing sticks, function by reporting their angle of deflection.
Movements of the pointing device are echoed on the screen by movements of the cursor, creating a
simple, intuitive way to navigate a computer's Graphic User Interface.
Composite Devices:
Input devices, such as buttons and joysticks, can be combined on a single physical device that could be
thought of as a composite device. Many gaming devices have controllers like this. Technically mice are
composite devices, as they both track movement and provide buttons for clicking, but composite devices
are generally considered to have more than two different forms of input.

Microphone:
A microphone is an audio input device that allows the user to make audio inputs into the computer
system. This data is stored digitally on the computer and can be used to sent onward as information, chat,
voice mail or any other form of information. This can also be a MIDI input from a synthesizer or any
other musical instrument.

Monitor:
A monitor or display (sometimes called a visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for
computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure. The display device in
modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) thin panel, while
older monitors use a cathode ray tube about as deep as the screen size. Originally computer monitors were
used for data processing and television receivers for entertainment; increasingly computers are being used
both for data processing and entertainment.

Speakers:
Computer speakers, or multimedia speakers, are speakers external to a computer, that disable the lower
fidelity built-in speaker. They often have a low-power internal amplifier. The standard audio connection
is a 3.5 mm (approximately 1/8 inch) stereo jack plug often colour-coded lime green (following the PC 99
standard) for computer sound cards. A plug and socket for a two-wire (signal and ground) coaxial cable
that is widely used to connect analog audio and video components. Also called a "phono connector," rows
of RCA sockets are found on the backs of stereo amplifier and numerous A/V products. The prong is 1/8"
thick by 5/16" long. A few use an RCA connector for input. There are also USB speakers which are
powered from the 5 volts at 500 milliamps provided by the USB port, allowing about 2.5 watts of output
power.

Printers:
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text and/or graphics of documents stored in
electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Many printers are
primarily used as local peripherals, and are attached by a printer cable or, in most newer printers, a USB
cable to a computer which serves as a document source. Some printers, commonly known as network
printers, have built-in network interfaces, typically wireless and/or Ethernet based, and can serve as a
hard copy device for any user on the network. Individual printers are often designed to support both local
and network connected users at the same time. In addition, a few modern printers can directly interface to
electronic media such as memory cards, or to image capture devices such as digital cameras, scanners;
some printers are combined with a scanners and/or fax machines in a single unit, and can function as
photocopiers. Printers that include non-printing features are sometimes called multifunction printers
(MFP), multi-function devices (MFD), or all-in-one (AIO) printers. Most MFPs include printing,
scanning, and copying among their features.
The Brain
Just like the brain processes the information sent in by the input organs and processes them, the CPU acts
as the central component in the computer and processes and controls the various devices connected to it.

CPU:

The central processing unit (CPU) is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a
computer program, and is the primary element carrying out the computer's functions. The central
processing unit carries out each instruction of the program in sequence, to perform the basic arithmetical,
logical, and input/output operations of the system. This term has been in use in the computer industry at
least since the early 1960s. The form, design and implementation of CPUs have changed dramatically
since the earliest examples, but their fundamental operation remains much the same.

RAM:
Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated
circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order (that is, at random). "Random" refers to the idea
that any piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and whether it
is related to the previous piece of data.

The word "RAM" is often associated with volatile types of memory (such as DRAM memory modules),
where the information is lost after the power is switched off. Many other types of memory are RAM as
well, including most types of ROM and a type of flash memory called NOR-Flash.

Motherboard:
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in many modern
computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, while providing connectors for other
peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the main board, system board, or, on
Apple computers, the logic board.

Memory
Just as an intelligent is not truly intelligent without a great memory recall, similarly a computer’s
capability is only as good as its secondary memory. The elements of primary memory are already covered
in the CPU with RAM and ROM.

Hard Drive:
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile, random access device for digital data. It features rotating rigid
platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and
written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the platters.

CD Drive:
A CD-RW (Compact Disc-ReWritable) is a rewritable optical disc. It was introduced in 1997, and was
known as "CD-Writable" during development. CD-RW discs require a more sensitive laser optics.

Flash Drive:
A USB flash drive consists of a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (Universal
Serial Bus) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much
smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 gms. Storage capacities in 2010 can be as large as
256 GB with steady improvements in size and price per capacity expected.