Computer Basics Diagram

A complete working computer that has all of the necessary parts to make the computer function.

Hardware Software

Computer System

Hardware

The physical components of the computer. The actual equipment you can see and touch.

HardwarePeripheral

A peripheral is an external piece of hardware that is important, but not necessary for a computer system to work.

Hardware

InputDevices Processing Output

DevicesStorageDevices

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Keyboard

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Keyboard

Mouse

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Keyboard

Mouse

Scanner

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Keyboard

Mouse

Scanner

Microphone

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Keyboard

Mouse

Scanner

Microphone

Barcode Reader

Input DevicesHardware that enables a computer user to enter data and programs into a computer.

Keyboard

Mouse

Scanner

Microphone

Barcode Reader

Webcam

ProcessingThe main parts of a computer system that process information.

ProcessingThe main parts of a computer system that process information.

CPUCentral Processing Unit

The CPU is often called the “brains” of the computer.

ProcessingThe main parts of a computer system that process information.

CPUCentral Processing Unit

ROMRead Only Memory

The CPU is often called the “brains” of the computer.

ROM is permanent internal memory that cannot be changed.

ProcessingThe main parts of a computer system that process information.

CPUCentral Processing Unit

ROMRead Only Memory

RAMRandom Access Memory

The CPU is often called the “brains” of the computer.

ROM is permanent internal memory that cannot be changed.

RAM is temporary memory that can be changed.

Output DevicesHardware that represents data as either hard copy or soft copy after is has been processed by the computer.

Output DevicesHardware that represents data as either hard copy or soft copy after is has been processed by the computer.

MonitorRepresents data as “soft copy.” Some common monitors are CRT or flat-panel.

Output DevicesHardware that represents data as either hard copy or soft copy after is has been processed by the computer.

Monitor

Printer

Represents data as “soft copy.” Some common monitors are CRT or flat-panel.

Represents data as “hard copy.” Some common printers are laser or inkjet.

Output DevicesHardware that represents data as either hard copy or soft copy after is has been processed by the computer.

Monitor

Printer

Speakers

Represents data as “soft copy.” Some common monitors are CRT or flat-panel.

Represents data as “hard copy.” Some common printers are laser or inkjet.

Storage DevicesNeeded for permanently storing important information such as computer programs, files, and data.

Storage DevicesNeeded for permanently storing important information such as computer programs, files, and data.

Magnetic StorageHard Disk

Floppy DiskVideotape

Plastic or metal platters that are coated with oxide and store data magnetically.

Storage DevicesNeeded for permanently storing important information such as computer programs, files, and data.

Magnetic StorageHard Disk

Floppy DiskVideotape

Optical StorageCDs

DVDs

Plastic or metal platters that are coated with oxide and store data magnetically.

A storage medium on which data is recorded and read by two lasers

Storage DevicesNeeded for permanently storing important information such as computer programs, files, and data.

Magnetic StorageHard Disk

Floppy DiskVideotape

Optical StorageCDs

DVDs

Plastic or metal platters that are coated with oxide and store data magnetically.

A storage medium on which data is recorded and read by two lasers

USB Storage

In September 1956 IBM

launched the 305 RAMAC, the first computer with a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD weighed over a ton and stored 5MB of data.

IBM leased this machine for

$35,000 a year.

NetworkComputers that are connected in order to share information and resources. The main computer on a network is called a file server.

LAN – Local Area NetworkComputers are in close proximity to each other.

WAN – Wide Area NetworkComputers are in a larger geographical

area.

Software

A set of instructions or programs that tell a computer what to do.

Software

Operating Systemor

Platform

Applicationsor

Programs

Operating Systemor

Platform

This type of software manages RAM, controls peripheral devices, manages file operations (saving, opening, deleting, renaming, etc.), monitors system performance, and provides a user interface

Operating Systemor

Platform

This type of software manages RAM, controls peripheral devices, manages file operations (saving, opening, deleting, renaming, etc.), monitors system performance, and provides a user interface DOS &

WindowsDOS is a command-line interface OS. It is not very user-friendly!

Windows is a GUI OS environment that works with DOS. It uses icons and menus to make computers easy to use. You can multitask with Windows.

Operating Systemor

Platform

This type of software manages RAM, controls peripheral devices, manages file operations (saving, opening, deleting, renaming, etc.), monitors system performance, and provides a user interface DOS &

Windows

Macintosh

DOS is a command-line interface OS. It is not very user-friendly!

Windows is a GUI OS environment that works with DOS. It uses icons and menus to make computers easy to use. You can multitask with Windows.Macintosh

computers have their own operating system.

Operating Systemor

Platform

This type of software manages RAM, controls peripheral devices, manages file operations (saving, opening, deleting, renaming, etc.), monitors system performance, and provides a user interface DOS &

Windows

Macintosh

DOS is a command-line interface OS. It is not very user-friendly!

Windows is a GUI OS environment that works with DOS. It uses icons and menus to make computers easy to use. You can multitask with Windows.Macintosh

computers have their own operating system.

Operating Systemor

Platform

This type of software manages RAM, controls peripheral devices, manages file operations (saving, opening, deleting, renaming, etc.), monitors system performance, and provides a user interface DOS &

Windows

Macintosh

Other Operating Systems:Linux, UNIX, OS/2

DOS is a command-line interface OS. It is not very user-friendly!

Windows is a GUI OS environment that works with DOS. It uses icons and menus to make computers easy to use. You can multitask with Windows.Macintosh

computers have their own operating system.

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Word ProcessingLetters, reports, text

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Letters, reports, text

Numbers

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Electronic Presentations

Letters, reports, text

Numbers

Slide Shows

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Browser

Electronic Presentations

Letters, reports, text

Numbers

Slide Shows

World Wide Web

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Browser

Electronic Presentations

Database

Letters, reports, text

Numbers

Slide Shows

World Wide Web

Large collections of data

Application Softwareor

Programs

Programs that allow users to perform specific tasks.

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Browser

Electronic Presentations

Database

Multimedia

Letters, reports, text

Numbers

Slide Shows

World Wide Web

Large collections of data

Real Player & Media Player

VirusA small computer program or piece of

code that is put on a computer (usually without the user knowing about it) that is destructive to the

computer.