Understanding Computer Hardware and Software Components
Understanding Computer Hardware and Software
Data is the set of scientific and technical knowledge that enables the automatic processing of information. The term comes from the union of two words, referring to computers and their components:
Hardware and Software
A computer is composed of two separate, but closely related, parts:
- Hardware: Consists of the physical elements of the computer. It’s essentially made of electronic components that provide the necessary support for the interpretation and execution of elementary operations performed by the computer.
- Software: The set of elements necessary for the computer to perform its assigned functions. The software instructs the hardware on how to perform various tasks. A program consists of an ordered set of instructions, understood by the machine, that can perform specific tasks.
Types of Software
Software can be classified according to the function it performs:
- Operating Systems: These are the most important software components of a computer. An operating system is indispensable for the computer to function, acting as an intermediary between the hardware and other programs. It runs at startup and performs basic tasks, such as controlling disk drives to store and retrieve information.
- Application Programs: Programs specialized in performing specific tasks. The most commonly used include word processors, spreadsheets, and web browsers.
- Programming Languages: These allow the development of new programs. There are several programming languages, such as BASIC, C, and Visual Basic.
Key Hardware Components
Microprocessor
The microprocessor directs and coordinates the operation of all computer components and performs all necessary operations with the information. The power of a processor is measured, among other things, by the number of instructions per second it can execute, also known as processing speed.
Memory
- RAM (Random Access Memory): Temporarily stores information that the system is using and generating. RAM’s mission is to have data and instructions ready for the microprocessor to process. The size, characteristics, and type of RAM determine system operation.
- ROM (Read-Only Memory): Its contents cannot be altered. It contains information recorded by the manufacturer that is not lost when the computer shuts down. It’s used to save key programs for the computer. The ROM contains the BIOS.
- BIOS (Basic Input/Output System): The software necessary for the computer’s implementation, as it contains essential programs to control data input and output.
Expansion Cards
Expansion cards are inserted into elongated sockets on the motherboard. These cards allow the connection of various external peripherals. Types include:
- IDE Slots: Used to connect storage devices like CDs and DVDs.
- PCI Slots: The most common type, they are the current standard. Faster than older types, they are suitable for almost all applications.
- AGP Slots: Offer higher data transfer rates and are used for graphics cards.
Optical Drives (CD/DVD)
Information is read by a thin laser beam that travels over the surface of the disc. When the laser shines on one of the slits, the beam’s reflection angle varies, identifying the presence of pits versus lands. The laser beam “reads” the small notches on the disk surface, converting them to digital data.
DVDs use a red laser light, which is much narrower than the laser used by CD players. To be played on a computer, a DVD drive is necessary, which can play standard DVDs and CDs.
- CD-R: Allows recording information once, so that it can no longer be modified.
- CD-RW: Rewritable discs where information can be recorded and deleted as often as needed, similar to floppy disks or hard drives.
Printers
Laser Printers: Use a printing mechanism similar to photocopiers. A laser beam electrically charges the photosensitive surface of a roller. Small solid particles of ink (toner) stick to the charged parts of this roller, which are then transferred to paper and fused by heat. They can print in black and white and color, produce high-quality prints, and are the fastest, but also the most expensive.
Ports
- Serial Ports: Often use an RS-232C connector (formed by several rows of pins). They use a single line, sending one bit after another, which makes information transfer slow.
- Parallel Ports: Allow transferring more information in less time because they send all the bits that make up a word simultaneously through multiple channels. However, they can cause interference and are less reliable with increasing distance to the device.