Topic 1: ICT systems Flashcards
What is a central processing unit?
Microprocessor (one or more) processes the raw data and turns it into information.
What are the main components of a computer system?
What is a main/internal memory?
Chips inside the computer where data is held and can be accessed immediately by the computer. Some program instructions are stored here along with the data the computer is currently working on.
What is secondary/backing storage?
This is any storage that is not classed memory. It is used to hold programs and data. Secondary/backing storage devices include magnetic hard drives, optical drives (CD or DVD), flash/pen drives, etc.
What are microprocessors?
Microprocessors are computers usually on a single chip, that are put into an electronic devices to check, regulate and control something. Microprocessors are the brains of many devices and make them more intelligent.
Name three places you might find microprocessors in everyday life.
Washing machines, children’s toys, heating systems, alarm systems. Traffic lights, mobile phones, in cars (breaks and airbags).
What is a personal computer (PC)?
PCs are the computers you are most likely to use at home, school or work. They include desktop computers, laptops, notebooks and PDAs.
What is a mainframe computer?
Mainframe computers are large, powerful computers capable of supporting a large number of terminals. Mainframe computers contain a number of processors, which means they can perform many tasks at the same time. Mainframe computers are found in banks, airlines, government departments, the NHS, etc.
What are supercomputers?
Supercomputers are the most powerful computers you can get. They contain many processors, which enables them to make billions of calculations per second. They are used for the most complicated tasks such as predicting climate change, producing weather forecasts, etc.
What are embedded computers?
Embedded computers act as the brain of many electronic/electrical devices. They are microprocessors that act as small computers and they are connected directly to the devices to control them in some way. Embedded computers have a program stored on chips that gives them the instructions on what to do. Any electrical/electronic device that can be controlled in some way probably has an embedded computer in it. Embedded computers can be found in children’s toys, burglar alarms, toasters etc.
What is hardware?
Hardware are the physical components that make up the ICT system. If you can touch it, then it is hardware.
What is software?
Computer hardware is useless without the software, as it is the software that instructs the hardware what to do. Software is the general name given to all the programs that can be run on computer hardware. They all give the hardware instructions and can be divided into two main categories: operating systems and applications software.
Name 8 input devices.
Keyboard, mouse, joystick/video game controller, tracker ball, touchpad, microphone, remote controls, scanners, digital still camera, digital video camera, web camera, sensors, touchscreen, magnetic strip readers, MIDI, chip and pin, barcode readers.
What is a keyboard?
Keyboards are the most popular input device. Using a keyboard: is the most popular way
of inputting data as most computer systems come with one. It is a slow method of input for large amounts of data. It is at inaccurate as it is easy to make mistakes. It needs typing skills so it is hard for beginners to use.
What keyboard would a disabled person use?
They would use a braille keyboard. Braille keyboards would make it easy for blind users to input data into the computer. For those who are failing vision, there are also keyboards that have large coloured keys that are easier to see. Each key is about 1 inch².
What is a mouse?
Mice are input devices because there used to issue instructions by making selections. When the mouse is moved, a pointer or cursor moves on the screen mirroring the movement of the mouse. Selections can be made by pressing the mouse buttons. A scroll wheel can be used for scrolling through long documents. A mouse may also be used for drawing lines, sizing graphic objects such as pictures or clip art.
What is a joystick/video game controller?
They are ideal for quick movement and selection. This means they are an ideal input peripheral for playing games. They can be used to move the cursor on the screen. Joysticks are useful for the disabled because they can be operated by the foot, mouth, etc.
What is a tracker ball?
This is a bit like an upside down mouse. The “mouse” part is stationary and you can move the “ball” part with your fingers and this moves the cursor on the screen in the same way as a mouse does. Their main use is for people who are disabled or very young children who find it hard to use a mouse.
What is a touchpad?
Touchpads are seen on most laptop computers and are used when and where there is no smooth surface or no space. Most would prefer to use a mouse if there is room as it takes longer to do tasks using a touchpad.
What is a microphone?
A microphone allows sound to be converted into data. Special software called voice recognition software is used to interpret the sounds into words. Here is what a microphone allows you to do.
What is a scanner?
They are used to scan in photographs and other images to put into documents or webpages. They can also be used to scan text into a word-processing or other package. This saves having to re-type the text. To be able to recognise the characters, special software could optical character recognition software is used.
What is a digital still camera?
A digital camera looks like an ordinary camera except there is no film and there is usually a screen on which to view the picture when taken. Digital cameras have memory cards where they store the image. The more memory a camera has, the more pictures you can store. There are no developing fees as with an ordinary camera. If the picture is not suitable (as viewed on the screen) then it can be taken again. You can transfer the pictures to your computer where you can store and edit them.
What is a digital video camera
You told video cameras look the same as ordinary video cameras except that they store the image digitally. Most digital video cameras can capture still as well as moving images. Images may be stored and edited on the computer. You can use video in websites.
What are web cameras?
A web camera (WebCam) is simply a digital camera that is used to capture still images and video images. Here are some more unusual uses of web cameras: to check on the weather in a ski resort or other holiday destinations. To allow parents to check on their children in nurseries. To allow bar owners to check that the staff are not giving free drinks to their friends. Allow people to check on their home while they are away.
What are sensors?
Sensors are able to sense quantities such as temperature, pressure and amount of light. The signal picked up by the sensors can be sent to and then analysed by the computer.
Sensors can be connected to the computer directly. Sensors can record data over time and then the data can be transferred to the computer (this is called data logging). Sensors can be found in lots of devices such as burglar alarms, central heating systems, washing machines, etc. As well as sensing, they also used to control the device in some way.
What are touch screens?
To operate a touchscreen is simply touch the item on the screen to make a selection. Touch screens are ideal input devices in some situations. Touch screens are easy for the general public to use. They are used in restaurants and shops because the staff need little training to use them. They are ideal for public information systems such as tourism displays, timetable information, etc.
What are magnetic strip readers?
Magnetic strip readers are able to read data stored in magnetic strips in plastic cards. They are used for reading data of credit/debit cards (as an alternative to chip and pin). Reading loyalty card details. Access control to rooms. Access to computers.
What is MIDI?
Musical instrument digital interface. MIDI is an interface, which means a way of connecting and getting two devices to communicate with each other. MIDI can send signals to electric devices such as keyboards, guitars and drum machines. These devices can also send signals back to the computer hardware so that the signals can be stored and modified in some way.
What is chip and pin?
Most credit cards are chip and pin, which means there is a small chip on the card containing encrypted data that only the reader in the store can read. This means that when you enter your PIN (personal identification number), the store can be sure that you are the correct owner of the card. Chip and pin has reduced card fraud when a card is being used in ordinary stores.
What is a barcode reader and what are some advantages and disadvantages?
Barcode reading involves using a series of light and dark bars of differing width to enter a code that is usually printed underneath the barcode. Using the code, the system can determine from a product database the country of origin, the manufacturer, the name of the product, the price and other information about the product.
Advantages:
Name five output devices.
Screen or monitor, printers, speakers, digital projectors, plotters, headphones.
What is a screen/monitor?
Screens are sometimes called monitors. They have a lot of sizes. They are usually in colour. Both desktop and laptop computers use TFT/LCD (thin film transistor/liquid-crystal display) flat panel display screens. They are light, they’re cheap to run, in the case of desktop computer systems they do not take up very much desk space.
What are the different types of printers?
Laser printers: laser printers are the type of printer mostly used by business and organisations mainly because of their high speed. Most laser printers print in black and white, although you can buy colour laser printers but they are relatively expensive.
Ink-jet printers: inkjet printers are popular with the home users because they are cheap to buy. They are expensive to run, because of the high cost of the ink cartridges. They work by spraying ink onto the paper and can produce very high-quality colour or black-and-white printouts.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of laser printers?
Advantages:
What are some advantages and disadvantages of inkjet printers?
Advantages:
What are speakers?
Speakers are used to output sound and are an important component of multimedia systems.
What are digital projectors?
Digital projectors are used to project what is on a computer screen onto a large screen. They are used when there is an audience that needs to view what is on the screen and are therefore used with presentations. They are also used with electronic whiteboard in classrooms.
What are plotters?
Plotters are used to output diagrams such as maps and plans. They produce accurately scaled diagrams and can print on much larger paper than a printer can print on. They use pens to draw lines with each pen drawing a different colour.
