Major Components of a Computer System

• Hardware

Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer, including the digital circuitry, as distinguished from the computer software that executes within the hardware. The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed, in comparison with software and data, which are "soft" in the sense that they are readily created, modified or erased on the computer. Firmware is a special type of software that rarely, if ever, needs to be changed and so is stored on hardware devices such as read-only memory (ROM) where it is not readily changed (and is, therefore, "firm" rather than just "soft").
Most computer hardware is not seen by normal users. It is in embedded systems in automobiles, microwave ovens, electrocardiograph machines, compact disc players, and other devices. Personal computers, the computer hardware familiar to most people, form only a small minority of computers (about 0.2% of all new computers produced in 2003).

• Software

Computer software, consisting of programs, enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to its physical components (hardware) which can only do the tasks they are mechanically designed for. The term includes application software such as word processors which perform productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems, which interface with hardware to run the necessary services for user-interfaces and applications, and middleware which controls and co-ordinates distributed systems. The term "software" is sometimes used in a broader context to describe any electronic media content which embodies expressions of ideas such as film, tapes, records, etc. Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. In computers, software is loaded into RAM and executed in the central processing unit. The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1958. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all computer programs. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem.

• Peopleware

Peopleware - Productive Projects and Teams (ISBN 0-932633-43-9) is a popular 1987 book, written by software consultants Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister, on the inside world of software developing teams, in a manner such as to highlight the real-world conflicting natures between individual work perspective and corporate ideology. Topics include team jelling, group chemistry, corporate entropy, flow time, "teamicide" and workspace theory (for optimization). Peopleware is a popular book about project management. The first chapter of the book claims, "The major problems of our work are not so much technological as sociological in nature." The book approaches sociological or 'political' problems such as team 'jelling', quiet in the work environment, and the high cost of turnover.

Name: Crisviner D. Sumayang

Age: 17

Address: 1st Alley Sta. Lucia St. Mintrade Agdao Davao City

Birthdate: January 18, 1990

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Birth Place: Davao City

Religion: Roman Catholic

Hobbies & Interests: Watching T.V. specially animes, listening music,playing online-games

Favorite Movies: Harry Potter

Favorite Music: all r&b music

About me: simple, tall, fair skin

Mother's name: Rene E. Sumayang

Father's name: Rosa D. Sumayang

Motto: "Make your life to the fullest" & "Always Smile"

C++ CODE:

#include

#include

main()

{ int cel, fahr, kel;

printf("What is your Temperature in Celsius? ");

scanf("%d", &cel);

fahr=cel*9/5+32;

kel=cel+273

printf("\n in Fahrenheit=%d", fahr);

printf("\n in Kelvin =%d", kel);

getch();

}

OUTPUT:

What is your Temperature in Celsius? 25

in Fahrenheit= 77

in Kelvin = 298

The parts of computer can be divided into two main components, hardware and software:

1. Hardware

Your computer's hardware is comprised of the devices that are part of your computer system- like the monitor, the speakers, and the motherboard!

• Motherboard
  

The motherboard is one of the most important parts of your computer system! It is a complex array of wires, cables, and transistors. The most vital parts of your computer are located on your computer's motherboard.

• Storage Devices

Your computer needs to have a place to store all of the data and information it is given. Your computer won't have enough space in its random-access memory for all of this information. That is why there are additional storage devices!

The types of storage devices that we will touch upon are:

a. Hard Disks:

Hard disks, or hard drives, are your primary storage devices. It is built right into your computer, and most of your files will be saved here.

b. Floppy Disks:

Floppy disks are a portable storage device. They are plastic disks that can store a small amount of information. These disks can be used on different computers, making them portable!

c. CD-ROMs:

CD-ROMs look just like regular CDs... but they can be used to store things like applications or programs. They are portable, like floppy disks, but they can store a lot of information!

d. DVDs:

DVDs are extremely popular. They are primarily used to store movies or music, and can be played back on your computer as well as on your television screen!

e. MP3 Files:

MP3 files are files that can hold music! As you know, you can download music off the Internet. MP3s compress the music so that it will take up less space and so that it will only take a few minutes to download.

f. ZIP Drives:

ZIP Drives look just like floppy disks- they are both small rectangular plastic disks. The major difference between the two is that while floppy disks can only store a small amount of information, ZIP drives can store a LOT of data!

• Input/Output Devices

To let you, as the user, communicate with your computer, there are special input/output devices. Input devices let you input data into your computer, while output devices take your computer's computations and send them to you!

Input Devices:

a. Keyboard:

I'm sure that you all know what a keyboard is. A keyboard is what you use to type in letters, numbers, and other characters. You can type instructions in to your computer, or you can use the keyboard to type up documents and other papers.

b. Mouse:

Mice have been around for some while now. Mice are used to manuever the cursor on your computer screen to give instructions to your computer and to run programs and applications.

c. Scanner:

Scanners let you put pictures and images onto your computer. They convert pictures and iamges to digital form so that you can edit them by using the computer or put them on the Internet!

d. Digital Camera:

Digital cameras are somewhat similar to regular cameras. You can take pictures of people, places, or things. However, digital cameras convert these pictures to digital form so they can be used on the computer.

Output Divices:

a. Monitor:

Your monitor is a fancy term for your computer screen. It displays the programs and applications you are running.

b. Liquid Crystal Displays:

LCDs, or liquid crystal displays, are similar to monitors. They, too, are screens that display information, programs, and applications! LCDs are generally used on laptop computers.

c.Printer:

Printers let you take documents, pictures, and other files and "print" them out. They create a hard copy of these files on a piece of paper.

• Audio Devices

There are a few special hardware devices that are specifically designed to work with sound. These devices can take sound waves and manipulate them in many ways.

There are a few devices that make this possible:

a. Sound Cards:

Sound cards are devices that can record sounds, play back sounds, or even manipulate sounds! They are a very important audio device.

b. Speakers:

Once you have recorded a sound file, you can use your speakers to listen to the music or other sound! Speakers change the electrical signals from your sound files and converts them into sound waves that we can hear!

• Modems

One of the major reasons why people use computers is to access the Internet. Modems let you connect your computer with the millions of other computers in the Internet!

• Connecting Cables:

With so many different devices that can be connected to your computer, there'd have to be connecting cables. These cables connect devices like your printer or scanner to the computer system.

2. Software

Software is the term used to describe the instructions that are given to your computer so that it will know what operations to carry out. There is no tangible form of software!

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering