COMPUTER

A computer is an important tool that can help us with our work, so we can do our work with
fast, good, and easy. Computer consist of three main parts, they are computer hardware, software,
and brainware. Brainware is relationship between human and computer. Now, we will discuss
about computer hardware and software.

1. Computer Hardware
Computer hardware is a part of a computer that can be seen, touch, and has a shape.
Computer hardware is the most important thing because hardware is part of computer's body like
brain, heart, etc. Kinds of computer hardware are :

1.1 Motherboard
The motherboard is the main component inside the computer case. It has a rectangular shape.
Some components are connected directly to the motherboard. Components directly attached to the
motherboard include:
The central processing unit (CPU)
performs most of the calculations which
enable a computer to function, and is
sometimes referred to as the "brain" of the
computer. It is usually cooled by a heat sink
and fan.
The chipset mediates communication
between the CPU and the other
components of the system, including main
memory.
RAM (Random Access Memory) stores all
running processes (applications) and the
current running OS.
The BIOS includes boot firmware and power
management. The Basic Input Output
System tasks are handled by operating
system drivers.
Internal Buses connect the CPU to various
internal components and to expansion cards for graphics and sound.
Current
The north bridge memory controller, for RAM and PCI Express
PCI Express, for expansion cards such as graphics and physics
processors, and high-end network interfaces
PCI, for other expansion cards
SATA, for disk drives
Obsolete
ATA (superseded by SATA)
AGP (superseded by PCI Express)
VLB VESA Local Bus (superseded by AGP)
ISA (expansion card slot format obsolete in PCs, but still used in industrial
computers)
External Bus Controllers support ports for external peripherals. These ports may be
controlled directly by the south bridge I/O controller or based on expansion cards attached
to the motherboard through the PCI bus.
USB

 FireWire
eSATA
SCSI

CPU (processor)

GPU (VGA)

RAM

1.2 Power supply

Inside a custom-built computer: the power supply at the bottom has
its
own
cooling
fan.
A power supply unit (PSU) converts alternating current (AC) electric
power to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the
computer.

1.3 Removable media devices

CD (compact disc) - the most common type of removable media, suitable for music and
data.
CD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a CD.
CD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a CD.
DVD (digital versatile disc) - a popular type of removable media that is the same
dimensions as a CD but stores up to 12 times as much information. It is the most common
way of transferring digital video, and is popular for data storage.
DVD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a DVD.
DVD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a DVD.
DVD-RAM Drive - a device used for rapid writing and reading of data from a special
type of DVD.
Blu-ray Disc - a high-density optical disc format for data and high-definition video. Can
store 70 times as much information as a CD.
BD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a Blu-ray disc.
BD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a Blu-ray
disc.
HD DVD - a discontinued competitor to the Blu-ray format.
Floppy disk - an outdated storage device consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic
storage medium. Used today mainly for loading RAID drivers.
Iomega Zip drive - an outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, first
introduced by Iomega in 1994.
USB flash drive - a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB interface,
typically small, lightweight, removable, and rewritable. Capacities vary, from hundreds of
megabytes (in the same ballpark as CDs) to tens of gigabytes (surpassing, at great
expense, Blu-ray discs).
Tape drive - a device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape, used for long term
storage and backups.

1.4 Secondary storage

Hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and remains persistent even when the
computer has no power.
Hard disk - for medium-term storage of data.
Solid-state drive - a device similar to hard disk, but containing no moving parts and stores
data in a digital format.
RAID array controller - a device to manage several internal or external hard disks and
optionally some peripherals in order to achieve performance or reliability improvement in
what is called a RAID array.

Blu-ray disk

Hard disk

SSD

1.5 Input and output device

Input and output devices are typically housed externally to the main computer chassis. The
following are either standard or very common to many computer systems.

1.5.1 Input
Text input devices
Keyboard - a device to input text and characters by pressing buttons
Pointing devices
Mouse a device to move pointer or cursor.
Optical Mouse - uses light to determine mouse motion.
Trackball - a pointing device consisting of an exposed protruding ball housed in a
socket that detects rotation about two axes.
Touchscreen - senses the user pressing directly on the display
Gaming devices
Joystick - a control device that consists of a handheld stick that pivots around one
end, to detect angles in two or three dimensions.
Gamepad - a handheld game controller that relies on the digits (especially thumbs)
to provide input.
Game controller - a specific type of controller specialized for certain gaming
purposes.
Image, Video input devices
Image scanner - a device that provides input by analyzing images, printed text,
handwriting, or an object.
Webcam - a low resolution video camera used to provide visual input that can be
easily transferred over the internet.
Sound card input devices
Microphone - an acoustic sensor that provides input by converting sound into
electrical signals.

Keyboard

Mouse

Webcam

1.5.2 Output
Printer - a device that produces a permanent human-readable text of graphic document.
Sound Card output
Speakers - typically a pair of devices (2 channels) which convert electrical signals
into audio.
Headphones - for a single user hearing the audio.
Monitor - an electronic visual display with textual and graphical information from the
computer.
CRT - (Cathode Ray Tube) as of 2010, it is a mostly obsolete technology replaced
by LCD panels.
LCD - (Liquid Crystal Display) as of 2010, it is the primary visual display for personal
computers.
LED - (Light-emitting Diode) as of 2010, it is the newer visual display for personal
computers with a low power consumption.

Monitor

Mulifunction Printer (print, scanner, fax)

Sound card can be classified into input and output device

2. Computer Software
Computer software is a part of a computer that cannot be seen, touch, but we can use it for
knowing what computer is doing. A software also help us to work with the computer. Kinds of
software are :
Application software includes end-user applications of computers such as word
processors or Video games, and ERP software for groups of users.
Middleware controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.
Programming languages define the syntax and sematics of computer programs. For
example, many mature banking applications were written in the COBOL language, originally
invented in 1959. Newer applications are often written in more modern programming
languages.
System software includes operating systems, which govern computing resources. Today
large applications running on remote machines such as Websites are considered to be
system software, because the end-user interface is generally through a Graphical user
interface (GUI), such as a web browser.
Testware is software for testing hardware or a software package.
Firmware is low-level software often stored on electrically programmable memory devices.
Firmware is given its name because it is treated like hardware and run ("executed") by
other software programs.
Shrinkware is the older name given to consumer bought software, because it was often
sold in reatail stores in a shrinkwrapped box.
Device drivers control parts of computers such as disk drives, printers, CD drives, or
computer monitors.
Programming tools help conduct computing tasks in any category listed above. For
programmers, these could be tools for debugging, or reverse engineering older legacy
systems in order to check source code compatibility.

Operating system, one of a software

Ms. Office

Games

3. How do we communicate with the computer ?

A computer can only work if the computer is turned on so the first thing that you need to
communicate with the computer is plug the the computer to the socket and turn on the
computer by pressing the power button in it's case. The motherboard, CPU, and other
computer component will starting then the computer will booting the hard disk, and also the
operating system. Then if it has done booting the os, you can use the computer.
Using the computer usually mean using the computer software, so in this point you have to
choose what software you need, examples if you want to type some documents you can use Ms.
Word but if you want to hear a music you can use windows media player. With a mouse you can
move the pointer to a shortcut in the desktop then the software will launch. If you double click the
Ms. Word shortcut, a window of Ms. Word will appear. You can write something there with your
keyboard. Keyboard and mouse are sending information to the CPU and CPU will processing it
and the process will appear on monitor with a help from GPU or VGA. How about sound in
computer? You can hear music in computer with a software and hardware. First you have to launch
Windows Media Player or another player, then choose your song and press play button. Make sure
that your speaker are turned on and you have install the driver. So the sound will come out from
your speaker. It easy but in inside of a computer there are so many process. If you have done
with your computer, don't forget to shutdown your computer and unplug the computer.
All of your activity in a computer is depend on the hardware and software. You will use input
device-software-process device-output device then you can save your work in storage device. Be
happy with your computer, be creative with your computer.