Computer Hardware A computer is an electronic device capable of performing commands.

The commands are input (get data), output (display result), storage, and performance of arithmetic and logical operations.

Hardware Major hardware components include the Central Processing unit (CPU), Main memory also called random access memory, input/output devices and secondary storage devices. Some examples of input devices are Keyboard Mouse

and Secondary storage devices. Some examples of output devices are Screen Printer

and Secondary storage devices. Central Processing unit

R1 R2 R3 Instruction Register Program Counter

Control Unit

The central Processing Unit is the brain of the computer. The main components of a CPU are Control Unit Arithmetic Logic Unit

and Registers. The central processing unit performs operations on data.

Control Unit
The Control Unit is like the part of the human brain that controls the operations of each part of the body. This is responsible for selecting one of the operations. The control unit has three main functions: - fetch and decode the instructions - control the flow of information in and out of main memory. - control the operation of the CPU's internal components.

Arithmetic Logic Unit(ALU)

The ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations. The arithmetic operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The logical operations are AND, NOT, OR and XOR.

Registers
Registers are storage locations that hold data.

Multiple registers are needed to do the operations of the CPU. DATA Registers used to hold the input data, output data and intermediate results. INSTRUCTION Register holds the instruction currently being executed. PROGRAM COUNTER keeps track of the instruction currently being executed. After execution of the instruction, the counter is incremented to point to the address of the next instruction in memory. MAIN MEMORY (or) PRIMARY MEMORY Main memory is directly connected to the CPU. It is a collection of storage locations, called memory cells. It determines the amount of data that can be stored in the computer. Each cell has a unique location in main memory called the address of the cell. Data are transferred to and from memory in groups of bits called words. The word can be a group of 8 bits, 16 bits, 32 bits, 64 bits, etc,. It can be classified as Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).

RAM Random Access Memory is also known as Read/Write memory as information can be written into and read from RAM. It holds data temporarily as long as the power is not cut off or interrupted while working on a computer. Example: If you are typing a letter on the computer and the power goes off, the contents of your letter will get erased from RAM. ROM Read Only Memory holds data permanently but information can only read from and not written onto ROM. ROM holds information build onto it. This information may be programs, other instructions required to execute user programs. Program A Program is a set of instructions given to a computer in computer language. ROM is of different types. (i) Programmable Read Only Memory (or) PROM can be programmed to record information. - Once the information has been recorded, it cannot be changed. (ii) Erasable PROM (or) EPROM is another type of ROM in which data can be erased by exposing it to ultraviolet light.

(iii) Electrically Erasable PROM (or) EEPROM is another type of ROM in which data can be erased by electrical signals.

Representing Characters in Memory

- A computer works with only two digits 1 and 0.
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These are called binary digits.

- A computer language consisting of these binary digits is known as binary language. The data input into a computer is first converted into 1's and 0's for the computer to understand it.
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- Each of the digits 0 (or) 1 is called a bit. Nibble A nibble is a collection of 4 bits. 1 nibble = 4 bits. Byte A byte is a collection of 8 bits. 1 byte = 8 bits. Kilo Byte (KB) A collection of 1024 bytes (or) 210 forms a kilobyte. 1 kb = 210 bytes. 1 kb = 1024 bytes. Mega Byte (MB) A collection of 1024 * 1024 bytes (or) 1024 KB forms a megabyte. 1 Mb = 210 Kilobytes.

1 Mb = 1024 Kilobytes. Giga Byte A collection of 1024 * 1024 *1024 bytes or 1024 Mb forms a gigabyte. 1 Gb = 210 Megabytes. 1 Gb = 1024 Megabytes. Terra Byte A collection of 1024 * 1024 *1024 * 1024 bytes or 1024 Gb forms a Terabyte. 1 Tb = 210 Gigabytes. 1 Tb = 1024 Gigabytes.

SECONDARY MEMEORY Primary memory is volatile. But secondary memory is non-volatile. (ie) It does not depend on electricity. They have a much larger capacity to store data. Example: Floppy disk, Hard Disk, Compact Disk, DVD and Flash Drive. Floppy disk Floppy disks provide a simple and convenient way of transferring information. Floppy disks are available in two sizes. (1) (2) Hard Disk 3.5 inches 1.44 MB data can be stored. 5.25 inches 1.25 Mb data can be stored.

The hard disk drive is installed inside a computer. Its storage capacity is 1000 times more than that of a floppy disk. Inside hard disk, there is a circular disk made of polished steel. The hard disk is made up of a collection of disks known as plotters. These plotters are coated with a magnetic material. The disks rotate a very high speed (3600 revolutions per minute). The read/write moves across the disk surface. CD-ROM(Compact Disk Read Only Memory) CD-ROM is used to store a wide variety of information encyclopedia, images, video, etc. It's main advantage is that it is portable and can hold a large amount of data. CD-ROMs are available in two forms: CD-R CD recordable. Data can be written onto it once to be read later. Data once written cannot be erased. CD-RW CD - Rewritable. Data once written onto it can be erased to write/record new information onto the same physical location on the disk. CD-ROM Drive To read CD-ROM, a device called CD-ROM drive is needed. CD-Writer It can write on regular blank CDs but cannot be erase or write on them again. CD-RW Drive

It can write on both regular blank CDs and rewrite, erase and modify special blank CDs (CD-RW). DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) A DVD looks similar to a CD, but it can hold upto 25 times more data than a CD. DVD-Writer It can write on regular blank DVDs. Pen Drive (or) Flash Drive It is used to store large amount of data than CD (or) DVD. Data once written onto it can be erased to write/record new information onto the same physical location. Input Devices The Mouse Mouse probably has at least two buttons on it. The button on the left is called the primary mouse button, the button on the right is called the secondary mouse button or just the right mouse button. Many mice have a small wheel between the two mouse buttons, as illustrated in Figure

Point: To point to an item means to move the mouse pointer so that it's touching the item. Click: Point to the item, then tap (press and release) the left mouse button. Double-click: Point to the item, and tap the left mouse button twice in rapid succession - click-click as fast as you can. Right-click: Point to the item, then tap the mouse button on the right. Drag: Point to an item, then hold down the left mouse button as you move the mouse. To drop the item, release the left mouse button. Right-drag: Point to an item, then hold down the right mouse button as you move the mouse. To drop the item, release the right mouse button.

The Keyboard Most of the keys on the keyboard are laid out like the keys on a typewriter. But there are some special keys like Esc (Escape), Ctrl (Control), and Alt (Alternate). There are

also some keys across the top of the keyboard labeled F1, F2, F3, and so forth. Those are called the function keys, and the exact role they play depends on which program you happen to be using at the moment. Most keyboards also have a numeric keypad with the keys laid out like the keys on a typical adding machine. The numeric keypad is just there as a convenience to people who are accustomed to adding machines.

Most keyboards also contain a set of navigation keys. You can use the navigation keys to move around around through text on the screen. The navigation keys won't move the mouse pointer. Only the mouse moves the mouse pointer. On smaller keyboards where space is limited, such as on a notebook computer, the navigation keys and numeric keypad might be one in the same. There will be a Num Lock key on the keypad. When the Num Lock key is "on", the numeric keypad keys type numbers. When the Num Lock key is "off", the navigation keys come into play.

The Microphone
Microphone called a mic or mike is an acoustic-toelectric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal.

Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, tape recorders, karaoke systems, hearing aids, motion picture production, live and recorded audio engineering, FRS radios, megaphones, in radio and television broadcasting and in computers for recording voice, speech recognition, VoIP, and for non-acoustic purposes such as ultrasonic checking or knock sensors. Most microphones today use electromagnetic induction (dynamic microphone), capacitance change (condenser microphone), piezoelectric generation, or light modulation to produce an electrical voltage signal from mechanical vibration.

Varieties o Condenser microphone Electret condenser microphone o Dynamic microphone o Ribbon microphone o Carbon microphone o Piezoelectric microphone o Fiber optic microphone o Laser microphone o Liquid microphone o MEMS microphone o Speakers as microphones

Output Devices Printer

In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text 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 new 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 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 and scanners; some printers are combined with scanners 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 many features.

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. A plug and socket for a two-wire (signal and ground) coaxial cable is widely used to connect analog audio and video components. Rows of RCA sockets are found on the backs of stereo amplifier

Monitor
A monitor or display (also called screen or 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. The first computer monitors used cathode ray tubes (CRT). There are multiple technologies that have been used to implement Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). Throughout the 1990s the primary use of LCD technology as computer monitors was in laptops where the lower power consumption, lighter weight, and smaller physical size of LCDs justified the higher price versus a CRT. TFT is a variant of liquid crystal display (LCD) which is now the dominant technology used for computer monitors. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) monitors provide higher contrast and better viewing angles than LCDs, and are predicted to replace them.