Applications ( word processors, video games, etc.) are sets of instructions.

The hardware is the components that are interconnected.

The basic components are the CPU, the memory, the graphics card and the peripherals.

CPU

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is a big, green, plastic board with a lot of chips and many other electronic components mounted on it.

MEMORY

Memory stores information.

There are various types of memory in the computer:

1. HARD DISC

Also called "hard drive", it is a set of rigid discs with a magnetid surface.

Advantages: It can store a large amount of data (today around 1TB).

Disavantages: It is relativery slow: compared to other types of memory, it takes longer to read and write information.

2. RAM

(Random Access Memory): This is a green plastic card with chips.

The RAM is installed in a slot on the mother board.

Advantages: It stores (writes) and retrieves (reads) quickly.

Disavantages: We lose the work if there is an electrical power cut.

Small memory capacity (around 6GB) compared to the hard disk.

PORTABLE MEMORIS

They are easy to connect and disconnect from the computer. Also, they are easy to carry.

CDs and DVDs

We call them "optical memories" because they use light to work.

Advantages: Cheap.

Disavantages: Not good to rewrite.

PEN DRIVES, MEMORY CARDS

They store the information in chips.

Advantages: Rewritable

Quick

Disavantages: More expensive than a CD or DVD.

GRAPHICS CARD

The graphics card looks similar to the RAM. It is also a green plastic card with chips.

We need a powerful graphics cards to play video games, to watch movies and for graphic design.

PERIPHERALS

Peripherals are elements of communication between the computer and the outside world (including ourselves).

Entry peripherals

Input peripherals provide information to the computer.
Examples: keyboard, mouse, microphone, thermostat, etc.

Exit peripherals

The computer uses output peripherals to send information to us or to an actuator.
Examples: screen, speakers, printer, light bulb, motor, etc.

The programmer writes instructions. A set instructions is a "program". When we use a program, the computer follows the instruction in the program.

THE OPERATIN SYSTEM (OS)

There is one OS per computer; not more, not less.

To program the OS, we must know which are the components of the hardware and how they are connected.

Operating systems evolve along with computers. In the 1980s only one user could interact with a computer an computers only had text, not imajes.

TODAY'S OS

• They are stored in the hard disc (HD), along with applications.

• They can manage multiple applications simultaneously.

• They feature a graphic display that allows users to interact with the computer using a mouse.

• They are capable of connecting to the internet.

The most common OS examples mentioned are:

• Microsoft Windows: The most widely used today (with older versions like Windows Vista and Windows 7 mentioned). Its history began with DOS (Disc Operating System).

• Apple Macintosh (Mac): Another major OS, often favored by graphic designers and artists.

• LINUX: A free OS, meaning users don't have to pay for it, and programmers are free to

THE APPLICATIONS

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Summary of Programs and Applications

The document differentiates between general programs and specific applications.

• Programs vs. Applications: Any piece of software, including the operating system (OS), is a program. Applications are programs that function as tools used by the user to perform tasks on the computer (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCAD).

• Application Suites: An "application suite" is a collection of applications bundled in a single package (e.g., Open Office, Microsoft Office).

• Key Features of Suites:

  1. They typically include core tools like a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a web browser.

  2. The applications within the suite share a common user interface to simplify learning.

  3. The different applications can interact with each other (e.g., inserting a spreadsheet into a word processor document).