Course: T171 00 Name: David Eales PI: T4444644

Exercise 1_7 note taking.

What is software and hardware.

Hardware   = physical components, hard drive, memory, cpu.
Peripherals = keyboard, mouse, monitor.
Software     = programmes, operating system.
 

The different categories of software.

 Operating systems, Windows 98, Unix, Macintosh.
 Games.                   Quake, Rally 2000.
 Languages.              C++, Basic, Html, Pascal.
 Applications.            Paint programmes, word processors, database.
 

What binary is, and how it relates to denary.


 Binary.  Two digit system of counting using "0" and "1" as units.
 Denary. Ten digit system of counting using "0 1 2 ---9" as units.
 Binary.    64    32    16    8    4    2    1.
 Denary.   10000    1000    100    10    0.

 Denary 8   = Binary 1000 (from the right no 1, no 2, no 4, one 8,
 Denary 9   = Binary 1001 (from the right one 1, no 2, no 4, one 8,
 Denary 10 = Binary 1010 (from the right no 1, one 2, no 4, one 8,
 

How a computer uses bits to represent information.

Because bits (binary digits) can be put together (words) each one can represent information by just using "0"s or "1"s

What analogue and digital mean.

Analogue. continual line or wave to represent information.
Digital.      numbers used to represent information.
 

The main components of a computer and there functions.

CPU. Central Processing Unit the brian were most of the actual processing is done.
Motherboard. the main circuitry unit that connects all the units together.
Memory. storage for information that is in use. RAM (random access memory)
clock. timing device to keep every thing running together.
Graphics card. control picture display on the monitor.
Sound card. control sound.
Disk drive. store information for latter use. (hard, cd, floppy)
Input / Output device. a way of getting information to and from the CPU (mouse, keyboard, monitor)
Bus. connections between components.
 

The factors that affect the power of a computer.

CPU. the number of transistors on a chip (more = operations per cycle)
Clock speed. the faster the clock = more cycles = more operations. MHz (66, 100, 133)
Ram. storage close to the CPU (quicker than other storage (floppy, cd) and close to CPU.
Word size. the larger the word size the more information it contains (32 bit, 64 bit, 128 bit)
 

The difference between mainframes, minis, workstations and PCs.

Mainframes. file maintenance, very very large database. Simulations, Engineering etc., General purpose universities.
Mini. controlling plant, networks, database.
Workstations. Cad/Cam, Animation's, simulations behaviour of plant etc.
Personal. Word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, games, servers.
more and more of all the things the others do!