Unit 1 LO1 - Fundamentals of IT

Question 1

What is a computer hardware?

Answer 1

Anything in a computer or information system which you can see and touch

Question 2

What is an input device and give examples.

Answer 2

Input devices enable the user to communicate with the system e.g:
- keyboard
-mouse
-scanner
-microphone
-sensors
-barcode reader

Question 3

What does a keyboard do?

Answer 3

Enter data through pressing keys.

Question 4

What does a mouse do?

Answer 4

It is a point and click device that communicates with placing cursor on the screen.
censors - pointer, hand, text

Question 5

What is a scanner?

Answer 5

Converts documents or photographs into digital files that the computer can read or display.
-biometric scanners - iris scanner and fingerprint scanner

Question 5

What is a sensor?

Answer 5

Physical device such as thermometers and motion sensors that send signals to the computer which enable the computer to decide whether action is required.

Question 6

What does a microphone do?

Answer 6

Records instructions from user or other sounds.

Question 7

What does a graphical tablet do?

Answer 7

Used like a keyboard and to also enter data such as drawing of objects and handwriting.

Question 8

What is a visual display unit (VDU)?

Answer 8

Aids users who are inputting information from the computer.

Question 9

What does a barcode scanner do?

Answer 9

Used to capture info from barcode by using a light source scanner and decoder - reduce possibility of error through human operated inputs - can be handheld or static.

Question 10

Name the three main touch screens

Answer 10

Infrared, resistive and capacitive

Question 11

What do infrared screens do?

Answer 11

Infrared light send through the glass on the other side of the screen is a receiver for light coming back. A mathematical equation is used to workout where the touch happened

Question 12

What do resisitve touchscreens do?

Answer 12

Glass panel covered by a thin flexible film that carries a small electrical charge. When the two screens touch the computer detects a change in electrical charge and this identifies the touch point

Question 13

What do capacitive touchscreens do?

Answer 13

Uses a glass panel with clear electrode layer on top. When a finger touches the screen the electrical charge changes and this change is detected and used to identify location

Question 14

Define output device and give examples.

Answer 14

These Allow the computer to communicate with the user.
Hardware devices used to produce or convey processed information.
Display/Monitor
Printer
Speakers
Projectors
Headphones
Plotter
LED indicators
3D Printers

Question 15

What is the purpose of printers and give examples.

Answer 15

Purpose: To produce hard copy of documents,data, information,images and photographs.
Types:
Inkjet - Spraying Droplets
Laser - Laser beam
Photo Printer - Zink
Line Printer
Thermal printer
3D Printer

Question 16

What do plotters do?

Answer 16

Used to print large and accurate drawings
Used a pen to draw lines on paper and later multiple pens brought colors into process.
Now pens are completely replace by inkjet and laser print systems but plotters are based on pens.

Question 17

What do speakers and headphones do?

Answer 17

Provide audio output to users, convert electric signals in the sound card to the sound wave that can be heard by the user

Question 18

What is braille terminal?

Answer 18

Specialist reader for the visually impaired users.
Displayed text through individual cells on terminal, each of which has rounded metal or plastic pins that protrude above the surface of the cell.The user reads the text by interpreting the patterns of the pin.
The number of cells vary between 12 and 84 but for non-portable terminals it is usually 40 cells.

Question 19

What is a communication device?

Answer 19

Allows one computer device to communicate with another.

Question 20

What does a hub do?

Answer 20

Allow multiple computers to communicate over a network
A USB hub allows multiple peripherals to connect through a single USB port.

Question 21

What do wireless network cards do?

Answer 21

Computer and other devices send and receive wireless communication

Question 22

What does a wireless router do?

Answer 22

Converts an internet signal into a wireless signal which computers and other devices in the network can use to communicate with each other and the router.

Question 23

What does a terminal adapter do?

Answer 23

Allows the computer to link into an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).
ISDN-use digital transmission for phone calls ,video calls,transmit data and other network services.

Question 24

What is a network interface card (NIC)

Answer 24

A card that enable computers to communicate with each other computer in a network. It is the hardware connection between the computer and network cable.

Question 25

What is a modem and what does it do?

Answer 25

Modulator -Demodulator - First technologies to enable computers to communicate with each other through telephone lines.
Converts digital signals produced by the computers into analogue signals which is required by the telephone lines and the other modem converts the analogue signals into digital signals - so the receiving computers can understand the receiving signals.
Can convert both outgoing and incoming signals.