Intro to Digital TechnologyHARDWARE CONCEPTS

IT-IDT-4 Identify, describe, evaluate, select, and use appropriate technology.

IT-IDT-5 Understand, communicate, and adapt to a digital world.

Electronic device that accepts, processes, produces results, and stores data

Data◦ Collection of unprocessed items

Text, numbers, images, audio, and video Information

◦ Conveys meaning and is useful Ex. Data is input to create a grade report

Hardware◦ Electric, electronic, and mechanical components

Input devices Output devices System unit Storage devices Communications devices

Any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer◦ Keyboard◦ Mouse◦ Microphone◦ Scanner◦ Digital camera◦ Web cam

Any hardware component that conveys information to one or more people◦ Printer◦ Monitor◦ Speakers◦ Portable media player

A case that contains electronic components of the computer used to process data

Sometimes called system board◦ Main circuit board of the system unit◦ Many electronic components are attached to the

motherboard◦ Expansion slots◦ Processor chips◦ Memory slots

Interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer

Control Unit◦ Component of processor that directs and

coordinates operations◦ Like a traffic cop: it interprets each instruction

issued by a program and then initiates the appropriate action to carry out the instruction

Controls the timing of all operations Clock speed

◦ Pace of clock◦ Gigahertz (GHz): one billion ticks of the system

clock per second ◦ Faster clock speed=more instructions the

processor can execute per second Does the system clock keep track of current

date and time? First computers: 30 MHz Current: 3 GHz

Leading chip manufacturers◦ Intel◦ AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)◦ IBM◦ Motorola

Today’s high performance PC’s: Intel Core Less expensive PC’s: Pentium or Celeron

Multi-core processor◦ Single chip with 2 or more processors◦ Dual-core: 2 separate processors◦ Quad-core: 4 separate processors

Increases overall performance Especially noticeable when running multiple

programs◦ Email, antivirus software, spyware remover, IM,

media player, CD burning software, and photo editing software

Store instructions, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processed data

One or more chips on motherboard Stores 3 basic categories

◦ Operating system◦ Application programs◦ Data being processed by

application programs

Character, basic storage unit of memory

Each byte has an address ◦ Unique number that

identifies the location of the byte in memory

Random access memory◦ Temporary memory◦ More information processed = more RAM needed◦ Volatile: loses its contents when power is

removed Examples:

◦ Operating system interface◦ Browser windows ◦ Paint program

More RAM = faster response from computer

Pronounced cash Temporary storage for faster viewing

◦ Ex. Web pages, images, media

Read-only memory Permanent storage Non-volatile: not lost when power is

removed Cannot be modified

◦ Ex. ROM chips in printers contain data for fonts◦ Ex. When your system boots up

Nonvolatile Fast Examples

◦ Downloading music on iTunes to your iPod◦ Storing phone numbers on your phone◦ Pagers◦ Digital cameras

Motherboard To enhance functions or provide

connections to devices

Input Storage Processing Output