Know Your Computer, Hardware, Software

 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Computers have totally changed our live in today's world. With the fast moving life, in the world of technologies, computer has created on electronic awareness among the people. This versatile machine is not only capable of performing general tasks like billing, printing, teaching or in the field of entertainment but also used in scientific research, space technology, robotics and also many other such complicated fields. We can even say that almost all the inventions being carried out by computer throughout the world in the field of information technology.

DEFINING COMPUTER

Computer is an electronic device that receive data as input, process it and give output in a meaningful way. It can store large amount of data.

Considering the above definition the computer system is basically consists of two terms: Hardware and Software.

HARDWARE

Hardware is the term given to all the physical and mechanical equipment attached together to make a computer system. You can see or touch the hardware. So, all the input devices, output devices, storage devices, controlling and processing units are hardware.

TYPE OF HARDWARE

The hardware consists of all physical components and these components can basically be classified as:

1) Input Devices 

2) Output Devices 

3) Storage Devices

1) Input Devices

Input is any data and instructions entered into the memory of a computer. The hardware components, which are used to enter data and instructions to the computer are called input devices. They are the mainly the external devices connected from outside.

1.1) Keyboard 

1.2) Mouse 

1.3) Joystick

1.4) Scanner 

1.5) Bar code Reader

1.6) Light Pen

1.7) Touch Screen

1.8) Digital Camera

1.9) Voice Input (Mic)

1.10) MICR Reader - magnetic Ink Character Recognition Reader

1.11) Web Cams

2) Output Devices

Computer is fed with a lot of data to be processed and organized. The Data that has been processed into a useful form is called Output. Any hardware component that can convey output to a user is called output device. Some commonly used output devices are display devices(monitor), printers and speakers.

2.1) Visual Display Unit(CRT-cathode-ray tube, LCD-Liquid Crystal Display, LED-Light-emitting diode) 

2.2) Printers

2.3) Speakers

2.4) Data Projectors

3) Storage Devices

The storage devices are used to store data and information into the computer for future use. Since a computer memory (primary memory) is temporary in nature, therefore secondary storage devices are used for bulk storage data and information. Every computer stores system software and application software.

To start up, a computer locates an operating system (system software) in storage, usually a hard disk, and loads it into memory (RAM). When a user issues a command to start application software, such as a word processing program or a Web browser, the operating system locates the program in storage, such as on a hard disk or optical disc, and loads it into memory (RAM).

Different types of secondary storage devices are used by the user according to the need.

3.1) Hard Disk

3.2) Optical Discs

3.3)Pen Drive

3.4) Zip Drive