5 -14 Level B/C - Computer Systems

In this section, we will look at the some of the pieces of COMPUTER HARDWARE and find out more about what they are used for.

This section will be concerned with:

INPUT - getting data INTO the computer

OUTPUT - getting information OUT of the computer and

BACKING STORAGE - storing data and information for later use.

INPUT - means getting data INTO the computer

OUTPUT - means getting information OUT of the computer and

BACKING STORAGE - means storing data and information for later use.

INPUT DEVICES

INPUT - means getting data INTO the computer. The following pieces of hardware are used for INPUT.

 

KEYBOARD

Used to type IN numbers, letters and words and can also be used to give instructions to the computer.

MOUSE

Also used for input - very good for drawing shapes and painting on the computer. Can be used to point to and select objects on the screen, as well as for loading and quitting from computer programs.

Output Devices

OUTPUT - means getting information OUT of the computer.

Monitor

 When you type numbers, letters and words and they are displayed on the VDU or MONITOR. Results of calculations are also output to this device.

Mobile Robot/Vehicle

Computers can also control mobile robots and vehicles like Trekkers, and turtles. The instructions that the computer gives are output to the mobile vehicles to control their movements.

 

BACKING STORAGE DEVICES

BACKING STORAGE devices are used to save data and programs for later use. You already know about the disk drive and the floppy disk. Here are two other types of backing store:-

 

CD-ROM

Stands for Compact Disk, Read Only Memory. This can store lots of data (about 400 floppy disks), including text, photographs, video clips, speech and animations. The CD-ROM. disk is usually read only and is bought with all the programs and data on it. It is not usual for us to be able to save data to a CD-ROM. Uses include adventure games, multimedia encyclopedias and catalogues.

CD-I

Stands for Compact Disk,Interactive. This can store lots of data (about 400 floppy disks), including text, photographs, video clips, speech and animations. The CD-I disk is usually read only and is bought with all the programs and data on it. It is not usual for us to be able to save data to a CD-I disk. Its used include education lessons, training materials and adventure games.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

INPUT DEVICES Keyboard and Mouse
BACKING STORAGE DEVICES CD ROM and CD-I
OUTPUT DEVICES VDU(or Monitor) and Mobile Robot (or Vehicle)

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