Lecture 8 Hardware Software & Networks Flashcards
IT (Information Technology)
The use of computers, storage, networking, and other physical devices, infrastructure, and processes to create, process, store, secure, and exchange electronic data.
What are the key components from IT?
Hardware
Software
Databases
Networks
Hardware
Physical components of a computer system.
Examples:
Computer
Server
Mobile Phone
Software
Programs and operating systems that run on hardware to perform tasks.
System Software
(e.g., operating systems like Windows, Linux)
Application Software
e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Chrome
Database
A collection of organized data that serves many applications by centralizing and controlling redundant data.
What are the key components from a database?
Tables
Relationships between tables
Metadata
IPO Model
A framework describing the flow of data within a system:
Input: Data entering the system (e.g., Wifi, 4G, NFC)
Processing: Data manipulation (e.g., ALU performing arithmetic)
Output: Results (e.g., displayed information)
Binary Representation
A system that uses two symbols (0 and 1) to represent data.
Bits
Basic unit of data (0 or 1)
Byte
A group of 8 bits
Transistors & Gates
Basic electronic components that manipulate electrical current to perform computations.
Function Transistors
Act as switches for binary data
Function of gates
Perform logical operations (AND, OR, NOT)
Thinking in Layers
A method of structuring IT systems, where higher layers depend on the capabilities of lower layers.
Example:
Bottom Layer: Hardware
Middle Layer: Operating Systems
Top Layer: Application Software
Client-Server Model
A system where one device (client) requests services from another device (server).
How does a client-server model work
Client sends a request (e.g., webpage request).
Server processes and responds (e.g., sends webpage content).
Advantages: Fast, distributed, customizable
Disadvantages: Maintenance costs, potential for system crashes
Network Topology
The physical or logical arrangement of network devices.
Database Relationships
Connections between different tables in a database.
Example: A Customer table can be linked to an Orders table to show which customer made which purchase.
Internet Protocol (IP)
A set of rules for routing data packets across networks.
IP Address
Unique identifier for devices on the network.
IPv4
The most common IP format (e.g., 165.193.123.253).
Router
Device that directs data traffic based on IP addresses
Protocols & Standards
Definition: Agreed-upon rules that define how systems communicate.
Examples:
TCP/IP: Protocols for data transmission on the internet.
Unicode: Standard for encoding characters (e.g., A = 65).
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
The address of a resource on the internet.
Structure:
Protocol (e.g., http://)
Domain Name (e.g., www.example.com)
Metadata
Definition: Data that describes other data.
Types:
Descriptive: Information like date or camera model in photos.
Structural: How data is organized, like relationships in a database.
Administrative: Details like file size and permissions.
Network Devices
Examples:
Router:
Connects networks together (e.g., home to the internet).
Switch network device example
Connects devices within the same network.
Modem network devices example
Converts internet signals from ISPs.
Access Point network device example
Provides wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi).
