Slides by Syeda Nimra
INFORMATION
AND
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
ICT TOPICS
• Introduction to Computers
• Input/Output Devices
• Main Components of Computer System
• Hardware and Software
• Types of Software
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
• A computer is an electronic machine that processes raw data to give
information as output. An electronic device that accepts data as input, and
transforms it under the influence of a set of special instructions called
Programs, to produce the desired output
• It works on the data using the instructions issued, means that, the computer
cannot do any useful job on its own. It can only work as per the set of
instructions issued.
A computer will accept data in one form and produce it in another form
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INPUT DEVICES
• input devices are hardware devices that allow data to be input into a computer.
Many such devices exist, ranging from the more common ones, such as the
keyboard, through to the more specialist devices, such as barcode readers..
Different Types of input devices are as follow;
• Keyboards
• Mouse
• Touchscreen
• Microphones
• Scanner
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OUTPUT DEVICES
• Output devices are hardware devices that allow data to be output from a
computer. Some devices hold the data temporarily (such as a printer) whereas
other devices produce permanent output in the form of a hard copy (such as a
printer producing output on paper)..Some Output Devices are as follow;
• CRT monitors
• Printers
• Speakers
• Multimedia projectors
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MAIN COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER
SYSTEM
• A typical computer system is made up of hardware and software .This consists
of four key components called the central processing unit (CPU), internal hard
disk, random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM).
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CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)
• The central processing unit (CPU) is the part of the computer which interprets
and executes the commands from the computer hardware and software. CPUs
used to be made up of discrete components and numerous small integrated
circuits, which were combined together on one or more circuit board/s.
However, due to modern manufacturing techniques, the term microprocessor is
now used instead of CPU. The single integrated circuit which is at the heart of
most PCs and is also found in many household devices.
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RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)
• Random access memory (RAM) is an internal chip where data is temporarily
stored when running applications. This memory can be written to and read
from. Since its contents are lost when power to the computer is turned off, it is
often referred to as a ‘volatile’ or ‘temporary’ memory
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ROM (READ ONLY MEMORY)
• Read only memory (ROM) is a memory used to store information that needs to
be permanent. It is often used to contain, for example, configuration data for a
computer system. These chips cannot be altered and can only be read from
(hence their name).
• One of the main advantages is that the information stored on the ROM chip is
not lost even when power is turned off to the computer. They are often referred
to as ‘non-volatile’ memories
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HARDWARE
• Hardware is a general term for the physical components that make up a
computer system
• For example: keyboard, mouse, monitor, processor, circuit board and so on.
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SOFTWARE
• Software is a collection of instructions, data, or computer programs that are
used to run machines and carry out particular activities.
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