Topic 5: Computer Hardware and Software Flashcards
Hardware is
the physical parts of the computer
Software is
the programs which run on the computer
Operating System is
software that communicates with hardware and allows other programs to run.
Every desktop computer, tablet and smartphone needs a __________ to function
operating system
A platform is
the type of operating system used
Three examples of a platform are;
Windows, MacOS and Unix
An input device is hardware that
allows data to be entered into a computer
Four examples of input device are;
mouse, keyboard, scanner and digital camera
An output device is hardware that
allows data to be output from the computer.
Three examples of an output device are;
monitor, speakers and printer
A processor is the part of the computer that
translates and executes program code
There are three parts to the processor and they are;
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), Control Unit and Registers
The ALU does what
it controls all calculations and logical decisions
The control unit does what
it controls fetching/execution of instructions
The registers are the
temporary storage areas within the processor
The clock speed measures how fast the
processor can translate and execute program instructions
The clock speed is measured in
gigahertz
The memory is where the computer stores
programs and/or data currently in use
The hard disk is where the computer stores
programs and/or data not currently in use
RAM stands for
Random Access Memory
RAM is where the
operating system is stored when the computer is on.
Programs and data currently in use are stored in
RAM
RAM can or cannot be edited?
RAM can be edited
When the computer is switched off, RAM’s contents is
lost
ROM stands for
Read Only Memory
Key OS programs are stored in
ROM
ROM can or cannot be edited?
ROM cannot be edited
When the computer is switched off, ROM’s content is
not lost.
