Hardware, Software & Automatic input devices

LO: Recognise hardware, software.

Learning outcome: Correctly identify hardware and software. Recognise and explain some of the most commonly confused software applications.

Lesson 2

Hardware or software?

Hardware Hardware

Hardware

Software

Software Hardware AND software

Definitions

hardware(n.)(computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system

Easier definition: If you can break it with a hammer, it’s hardware.

Hardware…

Software…software(n.)(computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory

Easier definition: If you can double-click it, or infect it with a computer virus, it’s software. (Don’t get it confused with data)

Definition

Data…software(n.)(computer science) a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; Plural of Datum

Easier definition: The stuff the computer needs to use or change

What is the difference between data and information?

Anne Yes -

Bob No Yes

Craig No No

Without a context, data has no meaning

Name Present? Absence Authorised?

Anne Yes -

Bob No Yes

Craig No No

What’s the problem in entering large amounts of data via the keyboard?

Question:

It involves people. People are slow, inefficient and make mistakes.

Answer:

Automatic input devices are needed!!

Three automatic input devices and software easily confused …

OCR

OMR

MICR

Optical Character Recognition

Optical Mark Recognition

Magnetic Ink Character Rec.

OCR

OCR is used to scan in a page of text, then convert it to a form where it can be edited for example in a Word Processor

Optical Character Recognition

OMR Optical Mark Recognition

National Lottery Tickets

Multiple choice exam papers

OMR is used to read a mark (usually made by pencil) on a page in a particular position.

MICR Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

MICR enables a computer to accurately read numbers from a page. MICR numbers are also readable by humans.

Three input devices and software easily confused …

OCR

OMR

MICR

Optical Character Recognition

Optical Mark Recognition

Magnetic Ink Character Rec.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Device Ads Disads

OCR

OMR

MICR

Can read ‘normal’ English text

Need to scan inDifficult to useLarge file sizeErrors with reading

Very accurateEasy to useFast

Limited applicationsNeeds special ‘forms’

Very accurateCan use numbersHuman Readable

Specialist printing equip.Not good for large amounts

Guess the input device

A B C