COMPUTER SYSTEM, PERIPHERALS AND DEVICES

THE OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)

Computers use the operating system (OS) to manage all the related tasks needed to run the computer and its input and output devices. The
Windows operating systems translate information into a graphical user interface (GUI) that is easier to understand. The GUI allows the user to
input information by clicking icons or symbols rather than typing lines of code. One of the major components of the GUI on the Windows operating
system is the desktop.

The operating system is an application that manages other applications and

devices. The operating system translates the computer language (remember all
those 0's and 1's) into information. One method of presenting this information is
via a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Elements of a GUI include such things as
windows, menus, buttons, scroll bars, icons and the desktop.

Some examples of operating system are Windows XP, Windows Vista and
Windows 7.

Operating systems can be classified as follows:

 Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some
operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users. Ex.
Linux Unix Windows 2000
 Multi-processing: Supports running a program on more than one CPU. Ex.
Linux Unix Windows 2000
 Multi-tasking: Allows more than one program to run concurrently. Ex. Unix
Windows 2000 and Windows multi point.
 Multithreading: Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.
Ex. Linux Unix Windows 2000 and Windows 7
 Real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems,
such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time

THE DESKTOP

The desktop is the main screen generated by the Windows operating system. The
Desktop serves as the home base for just about everything you will do on the
computer. From the desktop, you can manage files, store documents, launch
programs, adjust the way the computer works, and personalize the workspace. Most
importantly from the desktop you can access the Start Menu. Each operating system
has a unique desktop appearance.

Windows XP Desktop

Windows 7 Desktop

http://academic.stedwards.edu/competency/module1/lesson2/osoverviewwin.htm Windows Vista Desktop

Computer Peripherals and Devices

The physical, touchable, electronic and mechanical parts of a computer are called the hardware which is composed of different devices attached
to the computer. The following list represents a basic set of devices found in most Personal Computers.

1. System Unit  The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes called the chassis. It contains electrical components
that make the computer works.
 It includes the following parts: Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory Chips, Buses, Ports,
Expansion Slots and Cards.
 Its task is to accept, and process data brought about by the input devices.

2. Motherboard  The main circuit board of a computer.

 It contains all the circuits and components that run the computer.
 It is also known as the System Board or Mainboard and is considered as the central nervous system
of the computer.

3. Central Processing Unit  The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a computer system.
(CPU)  It performs all of the instructions and calculations that are needed and manages the flow of
information through a computer.
 It is the computer’s primary processing hardware which interprets and executes programs
instructions and manages the functions of input, output and storage devices.

4. Primary storage  (Internal storage, Main memory or Memory) is the computer's working storage space that holds data,
instructions for processing and processed data (information) waiting to be sent to secondary storage.

A. Read Only Memory (ROM)  ROM is non-volatile, meaning it holds data even when the power is ON or OFF.

B. Random Access Memory  RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the power is on. When the power is off, RAM's
(RAM) contents are lost.

5. Expansion Bus  A bus is a data pathway between several hardware components inside or outside a computer. It does
not only connect the parts of the CPU to each other, but also links the CPU with other important
hardware.

6. Adapters  Printed-circuit boards (also called interface cards) that enable the computer to use a peripheral
device for which it does not have the necessary connections or circuit boards.
 They are often used to permit upgrading to a new different hardware.

7. Power Supply Unit (PSU)  Installed in the back corner of the PC case, next to the motherboard.
 It converts 120vac (standard house power) into DC voltages that are used by other components in
the PC.

Reference: TLE ICT-CHS Learning Module 9

 8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)  Also known as hard drive, is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside the computer. The
hard drive is used as permanent storage for data. In a Windows computer, the hard drive is usually
configured as the C: drive and contains the operating system and applications.

9. Optical Drive  An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the optical media. There are
three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD)

10. Digital Versatile Disc  Designed to optically access data stored on a DVD. A laser moves back and forth near the disk
(DVD) Rom surface and accesses data at a very fast rate.

What are input and output devices of a computer system?

The devices attached to a personal computer can be classified into two - the input and output devices.

Input Device is composed of a device that accepts data and instructions from the user or from another computer system.

Two (2) Types of Input Devices

1. Keyboard Entry – data is entered to the computer through a keyboard.

1.1 Keyboard  The first input device developed for the PC.
 Data is transferred to the PC over a short cable with a circular 6-pin Mini-din connector that plugs
into the back of the motherboard.

2. Direct Entry – a form of input that does not require data to be keyed by someone sitting at a keyboard. Direct-entry devices create machine-
readable data on paper, or magnetic media, or feed it directly into the computer’s CPU.

Three (3) Categories of Direct Entry Devices

1. Pointing Devices - An input device used to move the pointer (cursor) on screen.
1.1 Mouse  The most common 'pointing device' used in PCs. Every mouse has two buttons and most have one
or two scroll wheels.

1.2 Touch Screen  A display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus.
 Used in myriad applications, including ATM machines, retail point of-sale terminals, car navigation
and industrial controls.
 The touch screen became wildly popular for smart phones and tablets.

Reference: TLE ICT-CHS Learning Module 9

 1.3 Light Pen  A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal used to draw pictures or select menu options.
 The user brings the pen to the desired point on screen and presses the pen button to make contact.

1.4 Digitizer Tablet  A graphics drawing tablet used for sketching new images or tracing old ones.
 Also called a "graphics tablet," the user contacts the surface of the device with a wired or wireless
pen or puck.
 Often mistakenly called a mouse, the puck is officially the "tablet cursor".

2. Scanning Devices - A device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and translates the
information into a form the computer can use. Examples of these are image scanner and bar code
scanner.

3. Voice Input Devices  Audio input devices also known as speech or voice recognition systems that allow a user to send
audio signals to a computer for processing, recording, or carrying out commands.
 Audio input devices such as microphones allow users to speak to the computer in order to record a
voice message or navigate software.

Output device is any piece of computer hardware that displays results after the computer has processed the input data that has been entered.

1. Computer Display Monitor – it displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the
information is called the screen or video display terminal.

a. CRT – Cathode Ray Tubes  Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) were the only type of displays for use with desktop PCs. They are
Monitors relatively big (14" to 16" deep) and heavy (over 15 lbs).

b. LCD – Liquid Crystal Display  Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology has been used in laptops for some time. It has recently
Monitors been made commercially available as monitors for desktop PCs.

c. LED – Light Emitting Diode  A display and lighting technology used in almost every electrical and electronic product on the
Monitors market, from a tiny on/off light to digital readouts, flashlights, traffic lights and perimeter lighting.

Reference: TLE ICT-CHS Learning Module 9

 2. LCD Projectors  Utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric
current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through
them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the
light.

3. Smart Board – a type of display screen that has a touch sensitive transparent panel covering
the screen, which is similar to a touch screen.

4. Printer – a device that prints text or illustrations on paper.

a. Ink-Jet or Bubble-Jet Printer  Sprays ink at a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers produce high-quality text and graphics.

b. Laser Printer  Uses the same technology as copy machines.

 Laser printers produce very high-quality text and graphics.

c. LCD and LED Printer  Similar to a laser printer but uses liquid crystals or light-emitting diodes rather than a laser to
produce an image on the drum.

d. Line Printer  Contains a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one time.
 Line printers are very fast but produce low-quality print.

e. Thermal Printer  An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated pins against heat-sensitive paper.
 Thermal printers are widely used in calculators and fax machines.

f. Plotter  A specialized output device that can produce high quality graphics in a variety of color.

Reference: TLE ICT-CHS Learning Module 9

 5. Speakers  Used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with cables.
 Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.

Storage Devices

Aside from the devices attached on a PC, there are also so-called storage devices that perform a special task in computing system. Storage
device is any apparatus for recording computer data in a permanent or semi-permanent form.

Types of Storage Devices

1. Floppy diskette or floppy disk – is a random access, removable data storage medium that can be used with personal computers. The
term usually refers to the magnetic medium housed in a rigid plastic cartridge measuring 3.5 inches square and about 2millimeters thick. Also
called a "3.5-inch diskette," it can store up to 1.44 megabytes (MB) of data.
2. Compact disc (CD) – also called optical disc is a nonmagnetic, polished metal disk used to store digital information. The disc is read by the
CD- ROM.
3. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) – an optical disc technology with a 4.7 gigabyte storage capacity on a single-sided, one-layered disk, which is
enough for a 133-minute movie.
4. Jump drive and USB flash drive – is a plug-and-play portable storage device that uses flash memory and is lightweight enough to attach
to a key chain. A USB drive can be used in place of a floppy disk, Zip drive disk, or CD.
5. Hard drive – is the main, and usually largest, data storage device in a computer. The operating system, software titles and most other files
are stored in the hard disk drive.
6. LS-120 – is a drive which supports a special floppy diskette which can store up to 120MB of information as well as being backwards
compatible and still supporting the standard 1.44MB floppy diskettes.
7. Zip drive – is a small, portable disk drive used primarily for backing up and archiving personal computer files.

Storage Devices

Reference: TLE ICT-CHS Learning Module 9