The Hermit Hermit's Free Library  Computer Hardware

Compares characteristics/uses of different types of computers and networks and explains how computers represent data internally. Lists and describes the five functions of hardware and give examples of each. Differentiates between operating system software and application software and explains how hardware and software work together to form a computer system. Finally, a discussion of the health hazards and environmental considerations of computers

Computer Hardware Overview

Types of computers

Supercomputer Weather forecasting, research, security Centralized computer Dumb terminals
Mainframe Government, universities, corporations
Minicomputer Medium sized Businesses, Organizations
Desktop
Laptop
Notebook
Personal Computing
Business, Education, Government
(network clients)
Wireless
Internet enabled
PDA
Tablet
Smart Phone
Mobile and Ubiquitous
computing
Wireless
Mobile Handheld
Touch screen
Internet-enabled

Computer networking

In a client/server network, the network servers are dedicated machines which provide centralized network security and share their hardware and software resources with connected clients. To connect, clients must be authenticated (user name and password) by the server. Once connected (logged in), users are free to use resources for which they have been granted permissions by a network administrator. Client/server networking is complex, but relatively secure and networks can be very large.

Peer-to-Peer networks are favored by small businesses because they are much simpler to set up and manage. In a peer-to-peer network each connected computer acts as both a workstation (equivalent to a client in a client/server network) and a server. Therefore every workstation can share its resources with all others. Security is decentralized and weak and this type of network is only practical for small numbers of computers.

Cloud computing is a term applied to many different computing arrangements which all have one thing in common: they involve using, for a fee, a server on the Internet, either as a source of application software, or as a data repository, or both.

Microprocessor advancement, 1986-2012

Future of computers

Data representation and storage

For more details, see "Bits, Bytes, and ASCII".

Check this. The human brain stores memories as synaptic connections between neurons. The average adult human brain has between 500 trillion to 1,000 trillion synapses. Compare this with 32 trillion bytes of information in the entire Library of Congress. (Foer, Joshua. "Remember This". National Geographic. Page 36, November 2007.)

Computer systems

Every computer system requires both software and hardware to function.

Hardware accepts, stores, manipulates, and displays our information and data, but it can only do so according to instructions which must be supplied by software programs.

Hardware

Functions of hardware

All hardware devices perform one of five different functions:

1. Input

Input devices are used to generate and enter data

2. Output

Output devices display the results of computations and processing

  • Printers
    Laser and inkjet (non-impact); dot matrix and daisy wheel (impact)
  • Heads up displays - holograms
  • Speakers, headphones
  • 3. Primary Memory

    Primary memory>, which can be thought of as the computer's "workbench", is where data and instructions are stored during processing.

    4. Secondary Memory

    Secondary memory> is "permanent" memory. It is where data and programs are stored in order to conserve them from one computing session to the next after a computer has been shut down.

    Other Memory devices

    5. Processing

    The Central Processing Unit> (CPU) executes software instructions to process data.

    Motherboard and data bus

    The motherboard> is a computer's main printed circuit board, it holds the microprocessor (CPU) and primary memory (RAM) as well as various other circuitry.

    Ports

    Serial>, parallel>, and USB ports> are standard types of connectors that permit external input and output devices (keyboards, mice, cameras, printers, etc.) to exchange data with motherboard and expansion card circuitry.

    Serial and parallel ports can only accommodate one device at a time. They have been largely supplanted by USB ports, each of which can accommodate up to 255 devices at the same time.

    Software

    Software> is the term used to describe computer programs. Programs are sets of instructions (algorithms) which accomplish specific tasks. There are two major categories of software: operating systems>, and applications>.

    Applications software

    Applications> ("apps") are programs that enable us to achieve real world tasks. Examples:

    However, applications can't be used all by themselves; in addition to hardware, they require the support of an operating system>.

    Operating systems (OS)

    An operating system> is a program (actually a very large collection of programs) whose specialty is working with hardware to provide the most basic computer operations and resources required by application programs to carry out their own special tasks.

    These basic functions of operating systems are:

    All operating systems include a user interface> (UI). A user interface provides the method by which a computer user communicates with computer software and hardware.

    A GUI is a graphical user interface> (as opposed to older character-based operating systems such as DOS). WIMP is sometimes used to describe a graphical user interface that makes use of Windows, Icons, and a Mouse.

    MS-Windows, Linux, Unix, and Apple OS are all examples of operating systems for personal computers.

    The process of applying power to computer hardware and loading an operating system into RAM to make the computer system operational is known as booting a computer.

    Health issues and Computers

    Users

    Health problems known to be caused or aggravated by computer use include carpel tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injuries (RSI), eyestrain, back problems, heart disease, diabetes, and addiction.

    Forced inactivity is the major health risk incurred by computer users. A 2009 Canadian study (Katzmarzyk) showed that even if they exercise regularly, the more an individual sits, the higher their risk of death from obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

    Researchers at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences confirm that inactivity is a killer. They recommend that computer users leave their seats and move around for five out of each forty-five minutes.

    Ergonomics> is the study of design with consideration to human anatomy and physiology. Its goals are to reduce health risks while simultaneously increasing productivity.

    Specially designed keyboards and mice help reduce physical stress, and ergonomic computer furniture provides less stressful working positions and encourages better posture.

    Ergonomic software incorporates features and techniques aimed at reducing the physical effort required to accomplish tasks like data entry and formatting.

    This course will cover many labor and time-saving techniques, including keyboard shortcuts, efficient scrolling and selection methods, and features such as styles.

    Environment

    The production, use, and disposal of computing equipment are all major contributors to environmental pollution.

    Phosphors, nitrogen trifluoride, mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, and brominated flame retardants are a few of the pollutants released into the environment through production and improper disposal of computer components.

    Each year Americans discard 3 million tons of electronic waste (Wikipedia). Of the 130 million cell phones discarded by Americans, only ten percent are recycled (CBC Radio The Current 27 Sept 2012). Most of the rest wind up in landfills where their toxicity is released into the water table.

    The use of computers is also a major source of air pollution (millions of tons of greenhouse gases) and wasted energy (in excess of a billion dollars a year by corporations alone) according to the Environmental Protection Agency (NPR Morning Edition 17 June 2004).

    Evidence is emerging that cloud computing is rapidly becoming a major source of pollution worldwide. Extensive investigations by the New York Times indicate that up to 90% of the 30 billion watts of energy consumed by data warehouse centers at any given moment is wasted. (New York Times online. "Power, pollution, and the Internet". 22 Sept 2012).