Hardware And Software
Overview
Open up any computer, phone or games console and you will find two very different worlds working as one. There are the parts you can hold in your hand, the chips, boards and cables, and there are the invisible instructions that bring those parts to life. We call the physical parts hardware and the instructions software. A keyboard sitting on a desk does nothing on its own; it only becomes useful once software tells the computer what to do with every key you press.
In this lesson you will learn exactly what counts as hardware and what counts as software, and how each splits into two families: internal and external hardware, applications and system software. You will also meet the difference between analogue and digital data and see why a computer must convert one into the other before it can sense the real world or control a machine. Get these foundations right and every later ICT topic becomes far easier to follow.
Objectives
- Hardware.
- Hardware consists of the physical components of a computer system Internal components including Central Processing Unit (CPU), processor, motherboard Internal memory including random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM) Hardware components including graphics card, sound card, Network Interface Card (NIC), camera, internal/external storage devices, input and output devices.
- Software.
- Software are programs for controlling the operation of a computer or processing of electronic data Applications software provides the services that the user requires to solve a task Examples of applications software including word processing, spreadsheet, database management systems, control, measurement, applets and apps, video editing, graphics editing, audio editing, computer aided design (CAD) System software provides the services that the computer requires to operate Examples of system software including compilers, linkers, device drivers, operating systems and utilities.
- Analogue and digital data.
- Characteristics of analogue and digital data Differences between analogue and digital data The need to convert: • analogue to digital data so it can be processed by a computer • digital data to analogue data so it can be used to control devices.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Hardware And Software. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of the following is an example of system software? A. Spreadsheet B. Word processor C. Operating system D. Video editor Answer: C
- Which list contains only internal hardware? A. CPU, RAM, motherboard B. Keyboard, mouse, monitor C. Printer, scanner, RAM D. CPU, monitor, ROM Answer: A
- A computer must process a smoothly changing temperature reading. Which device is needed first? A. Digital to analogue converter B. Analogue to digital converter C. Network interface card D. Graphics card Answer: B
- Which of these is applications software? A. Device driver B. Compiler C. Computer-aided design (CAD) D. Linker Answer: C
- Why can a computer not process analogue data directly? A. It is too large B. It is encrypted C. A computer only understands binary digital data D. It is non-volatile Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
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