2018-02-20
632
A computer is an electronic system that can be instructed to accept, process, store, and present data and information. It is made up of two component parts: hardware and software.
– 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.
– Software is a general term for the programs that control the computer system. Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do and how to do it.
There are two types of software:
-systems software: programs that allow the hardware to run properly, e.g.operating systems
-applications software: programs that allows the user to do specific tasks, e.g.
Main components of computer systems:
- input devices: keyboard, mouse
- output devices: monitor, printer
- secondary storage devices: DVD R/W drive, removable hard drive.
A computer architecture is a detailed specification of the computational, communication, and data storage elements (hardware) of a computer system, how those components interact (machine organization), and how they are controlled (instruction set).
The architecture of the computer is a description of its organization and the principles of functioning of its structural elements (the computer main device, communication in between).
The principles formulated in 1945 by John von Neumann are the basis for creation of the majority of a computer.
Picture 1 The Von Neumann or Store Program architecture.
Explain types of software, purposes and characteristics.
Software is a general term for the programs that control the computer system. There are two types of software:
-systems software: programs that allow the hardware to run properly, e.g.operating systems
-applications software: programs that allow the user to do specific tasks, e.g. spreadsheets.
Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers, games, and word processors. Below, you can see an image of Microsoft PowerPoint, which is used to create presentations.
