Hardware Flashcards
What is a computer?
A programmable machine that follows a set of instructions.
What is a computer system?
A collection of parts that work together and are controlled by the computer.
What is a PDA? What does it do?
Personal Digital Assistant. Browse internet, send & receive emails and display different types of media.
What is WAP? What is it?
Wireless Application Protocol. Set of standards that govern how they access the internet.
What is the most commonly used PC system?
Mobile Phones
Examples of embedded computer systems? (3)
Watch, calculator, mobile phone, music player, TV & microwave ovens.
What are embedded computer systems designed to do?
How much data do they need/process?
Carry out 1 or 2 specific tasks.
A small amount of data.
What are supercomputers and mainframes used for?
How much data do they process?
Fast & advanced calculations
A lot of data
What is hardware?
Physical components of the computer system
Examples of peripheral devices?
Mouse & keyboard
What is at the heart of any computer?
The CPU (Central Processing Unit)
What is the CPU?
Collection of electronic circuits that control the computer,.
What are all electronic components attached to?
The motherboard
What determines the amount and speed of application that can be made use of by the computer?
Memory
What is ROM?
Read Only Memory
Non-volatile. Basic instructions for computer.
What is RAM?
Random Access Memory
Volatile. Makes computer quicker.
What type of data do computers use?
Digital Data (in 1’s and 0’s)
What is a bit?
Binary Digit
How many bits in a byte?
8 bits
How many bytes is 1 kilobyte?
1024 bytes
How many kilobytes is 1 megabyte?
1024 kilobytes
How many megabytes is 1 gigabyte?
1024 megabytes
How many gigabytes is 1 terabyte?
1024 gigabytes
Put the bytes in order: 1 bit 1 terabyte 1 kilobyte 1 gigabyte 1 megabyte 1 byte
1 bit 1 byte 1 kilobyte 1 megabyte 1 gigabyte 1 terabyte
What is a mouse for?
Moving a pointer around a screen & selecting options by clicking on icons.
What is a keyboard for?
Enables user to enter characters e.g. typing a letter
What is a scanner for?
Digitizes image or other items from hard copy form (paper)
What are webcams & microphones for?
To chat to people & take part in video conferencing.
What are joysticks for?
For gamers to control on-screen objects during play.
What are touchscreens for?
Data input in shopping centers and railway stations.
What is a Barcode Reader used for?
Supermarket checkouts to read barcodes on items & information, such as price, is received from the shop’s database.
What is an OMR? What is it used for?
Optical Mark Reader
Multiple choice answer sheets in exams. Reads the answers.
What is an OCR? What is it used for?
Optical Character Recognition
Read humanly recognisable letters.
Used by utility companies to produce editable documents from hard copies. Also used by speed cameras to read registrations of speeding vehicles.
What is an MICR? What is it used for?
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition.
When accuracy is critical. - banking for printing account numbers and sorting codes on the bottom of cheques.
What are 2 input devices for disabled people?
Tracker Balls
Puff Suck Switch
What are 3 things that sensors can detect?
Temperature, light & pH
What form do sensors collect information in?
Analog form
What do data loggers do?
Convert analog data (sensors) to digital signals and also store readings.
