Software

Systems software

Unlike hardware, software cannot be touched. Generally software can be split inot two groups known as systems software and application software. This type of software helps to run and organize the computers hardware. It includes a number of common features which are:

• Operating system (OS)
• Device drivers
• File Managers
• Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Command Line Interface (CLI)
• System Utilities (eg dignostic tools)

Applications software

Is a program or a group of programs designed for end users. Application software includes database prgrams, word processors and spreadsheets. Application software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities.

Communications software

This software allows you to interact and connect with people and exchange files which can either be media, audio or text formats between different computers or user ID's. The software can be either a social networking site such as Twitter or Facebook or using Email. Using this software can let you interact with people from all over the world.

Games application software

Games software can either be downloaded and installed when you have purchased a new game or the game can already be installed into your computer. A computer already has games application software installed into the hard drive so it saves you time instead of downloading games you might already have.

Software utilities

System software is designed to help analyze, configure, optimize, and mantain the computer. A single piece of utilitie software is usually called a utilitie or tool. It usually focuses on how the computer infrastructure operates which includes the computer hardware, operating system, application software and data storage.

Firewall 

Firewall is a system that is operated to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. They are frequently used to prevent unwanted Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet especially Intranets. The messages that enter or leave the Intranet pass through the firewall, which then examines each message then blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.

Input Devices

What is an Input Device?

An input device is a piece of hardware equipment that is used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance.

Many input devices can be classified as:

Modality of input e.g.(mechanical motion, audio, visual ect.)
The input is separate e.g.(key presses, mouse’s position)


Camera:

Most cameras like this are used during live conversations. The camera transmits a picture from one computer to another, or can be used to record a short video.

Keyboard:

The keyboard is a way to input letters and numbers into different applications and programmes. The keyboard also has special keys to help operate the computer.

Mouse:

The mouse is used to open and close files, navigate websites and click on a lot of commands (to tell the computer what to do) when using different applications.

Digital camera:

A digital camera can be used to take pictures. It can be hooked up to a computer to transfer the pictures from the camera to the computer. Some digital cameras hold a floppy disk, and the floppy disk can be taken out of the camera and put directly into the computer.

Drawing tablet:

A drawing tablet is similar to a white board, except you use a special pen to write on it and it is connected to the computer. Then the word or image you draw can be saved to the computer.

Microphone:

A microphone is used to record sound. The sound is then saved as a sound file to the computer.

Scanner:

A scanner is used to copy pictures or other things and save them as files on the computer.

Disk drive:

A disk drive can hold a CD or a floppy disk. It reads the information on a disk so that the computer can read it.

Joy stick:

A joystick is used to move the cursor from place to place, and to click on various items in programmes. A joystick is used mostly for computer games.

Touch screen:

A touch screen is a computer screen or other screen that you can touch with your finger to enter information.

Bar code scanner:

A bar code scanner scans a little label that has a bar code on it. The information is then saved to the computer. Bar code scanners are used in libraries a lot.

Output Devices

What is an Output Device?

An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer)

                               

Printer:
A printer prints what ever is on the monitor onto paper. Printers can print words, numbers or pictures.

Compact disk:

Some compact disks can be used to put information on. This is called burning information to a CD.
Note: A CD can also be an input device.

Speaker:

A speaker gives you sound output from your computer. Some speakers are built into the computer and some are separate.

Monitor:

A monitor is the screen on which words, numbers and graphics can be seen. The monitor is the most common output device.

Disk drives:

A disk drive is used to record information from the computer onto a floppy disk or a hard drive.

Floppy disk:

A floppy disk is used to record information on. The information is stored on the floppy disk and can be used later or on another computer.

Headphones:

Headphones give sound output from the computer. They are similar to speakers except they are worn on the ears so only one person can hear the output at a time.

Different types of Computer Systems

PC

The PC is an extremely versatile tool that can assist us in both our personal and professional lives in a countless number of ways. Its extreme adaptability is, in part, due to the nature of its construction.


Over many years, PC electronics industries have strived to agree on certain standards enabling them to develop a wide range of devices and applictions that are "PC compatiable" that is, that can be fitted/ connected/ installed to a PC with minimum effort.

Laptop

A laptop also known and referred to as a notebook computer by manufacturers is a battery or AC powered personal computer generally smaller than a briefcase that can easily be transported and convienently used in tempory spaces such as on airplanes, libraries, temporary offices, meetings and outdoors only if you have a dongle which is a wireless internet connector.

A laptop typically weighs less than 5 pounds and is 3 inches or less in thickness. Amoung the best known makers of laptop computers are IBM, Apple, Dell, Compaq and Toshiba.

 Netbook

A netbook is a think lightweight (3 pounds or less) ultra portable computerwith a screen size of 12""" or less operating on an ultra low power proceesor.

PDA

A PDA also known as (personal digital assistant) are handhelp computers that were originally designed as personal organizers and they do this really well. The basic features of any PDA are the date book, address book, task list and memo pad.


 As these features are very helpful, the feature that clinched their utility for any bust person who uses a desktop computer is that of easy synchronization of information with desktop. Stating that it means that you can easily work away on your desktop, make new appointments and cut some directions out of an email someone sent you and then paste it into your memo, using your PDA'S desktop software.

Mobile Phone

Is an electronic communications device, often referred to as a cellular phone or cellphone. Mobile phones connect to a wireless communications network through a radio wave or satellite transmissions. Most mobile phones provide voice communications, short service message (SMS), multimedia message service (MMS), and phones nowadays provide internet access such as the web browsing and e-mailing.

Games Console

Console games are more commonly referred to as video games. They are played on a device that is especially made for game play which is called a video game console. The player interacts with the game using a controller which is a handheld device with buttons or you can use a joy stick or pads. Video and sound are recieved by the gamer through a television.

Tablet

A tablet is a personal computer or tablet PC is a tablet sized computer that also has key features of a full sized personal computer. It is bassically an essentially small laptop computer equiped with a rotatable screen as an additional input device.

Server

A network server is a computer designed to process requests and deliver data to other computers over a local network or the internet.

Embedded Devices

It is used commonly in todays society. An embedded device is a electronic computer that has input, output and process. It sometimes also has storage. Examples are ABS, Washing machines and Mobile phones.

Data Flow Diagram

Devices for Network Connection

For this assignment I have been asked to write about the hardware and software components which are used to connect to the internet securely and safely, which facilitate communication and representation for users.

A wireless router is when internet data comes through the router from the phone line and is converted into radio signals. The signal is then picked up by the network card in your computer and is then translated into internet data again. For example BT Home Hub.

 A cable router lets the cable device act as a connection between two different networks. The cable company has one network and the other is your computer, the cable router allows these two to networks to connect and share information with each other.

3G/4G

3G or 3rd generation telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones. It is mostly used with mobile phones and handsets which can connect to the internet meaning you can download or puload data to and from the internet. With 3G you can intereact with each other through video call. Your phone will have two cameras which will be at the front and back and having 3G allows you to see each other during a phone call.


4G is the 4th generation of cellular mobile wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards. When out instead of having to topup and get access to the internet, 4G lets you access the internet when you are out instead of accessing it from home. You have high speed conncetion to the internet and the convenience of being online all the time. The best news of 4G is that it is constantly faster.

Bluetooth/Wireless

Bluetooth is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short wavelength radio transmissions) from sixed and mobile devices creating personal area networks (PANS) with high levels of security.

Network Interface Cards

Is a device that a computer uses to participate on a computer network. It allows users to connect with each other by using cables or wirelessly.



Storage Devices

Hard Disk Drives

A hard disk drive is a non volitile, random access, digital magnetic storage device. It features rotating rigid paltters on a motor driven spindle within a proctective closure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the platters.

Memory Stick/Flash Drive

Is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with a USB interface. USB flash drives are removeable and rewritable and physically much small than a floppy disk.

CD ROM

CD ROM is an arconym of "compact disc read only memory" is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data that is accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback.  



Hardware

Processor

A processor also knows as a (CPU) which means Central processing unit, is the hardware device in a computer that executes all of the instructions from the computer.

For example:

Speed: Is measured in hertz. The faster the speed the more tasks you will be able to complete at one time.

Memory

Memory is internal storage areas in a computer.

Examples of this would be:

ROM: (Read only memory) data that can only be read not written to

RAM: (Random access memory) is temporary storage chips on your computer

Storage devices

A storage device is a hardware that is capable of storing information.

Examples of this would be:

A DVD is a compact disk, designed to store large amounts of data, especially high resolution audio visual material.

Flash drive memory stick

A Flash drive is a small electronic device that is used for storing data or transferring it to or from a computer, digital camera ECT.

Hard disk drive

A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access, digital, data storage device. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter.

It features rotating rigid platters on a motor driven spindle within a protective closure. The website below shows is a video of what an opened hard drive looks like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HardDisk1.ogg

A memory stick is a type of flash memory. It is used to store data for digital cameras, camcorders and other kinds of electronics.

A CD ROM (Compact disk, read only-memory) is an adaption of the CD that is designed to store computer data in the form of text and graphics.