1. ITGS Hardware
Based on the textbook “Information Technology in a Global Society for the IB Diploma” by Stuart Gray

2. Hardware
Tangible, physical parts of the computer which work together to input, process, store and output data.
Hardware is behind EVERYTHING you learn in ITGS

3. Computer Types
Supercomputers – cutting edge of computing technology; used for high speed calculations
Mainframes – Very powerful computers; used to read large amounts of data from storage, process it and store the results quickly

4. Other Computer Types Desktop Computers Laptop Computers Netbooks
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
Smart Phones
Embedded Systems – specialized computer that is “hidden” in another device. i.e. cars – anti-lock breaks; washing machines – control water usage

5. Hardware Activity #1
Use the internet, manufacturer’s websites and advertisements to find examples of different computer types. Create a table that compares the major specifications of each type. Include at least: the number of processors, processor speed, RAM, hard disk capacity and cost using the correct units for each. Be sure to cite your sources properly. (4 marks)

6. Activity #2 - Background
The IT industry is know for its rapid pace of development, with new products continually being released, each claiming to be better than its predecessor. New computers have faster processors, higher capacity hard disks and more RAM. New phones have additional features and faster network connections. With this rapid development comes a price – each year thousands of tons of old electronics are unsafely discarded. These can threaten the health of people and the environment. Heavy metals from equipment can leach into the soil and ground water and workers dismantle equipment in dangerous conditions in developing countries.

7. Hardware Activity #2 - Task
What can be done about this problem? Safely recycling electronic waste is expensive – who should be responsible for paying this price – the manufacturers, the customers or somebody else? Discuss possible solutions. Be sure to cite the sources of your research. (8 marks)

8. Input Devices
Hardware that allows entry of information into the computer; can be text, images, sound or movement.
Keyboards – Concept and Soft (virtual)
Mice
Trackballs
Touch pads
Touch screens

9. Input Devices Continued
Microphones
Game controllers
Barcode Scanners
Magnetic Stripe Readers
Smart cards
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) – lotto tickets or multiple choice tests
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) – bottom of checks

10. Input Devices Continued
Scanners
Sensors and probes
Digital Cameras
Webcams
Radio Tags – locating or tracking objects
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID chips)
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11. Input Device Activity #3
Some people have claimed the new generation of motion input devices and game consoles can help young people improve their fitness. Some schools have even bought game consoles for their PE departments. Research the use of these devices. Analyze the benefits and problems. Do you think the benefit is significant? (8 marks)

12. Output Devices
Items of hardware that the computer uses to present data to the user.
Screens
Speakers
Printers

13. Processor Technology
The center of ALL computers is the Central Processing Unit (CPU) or microprocessor; responsible for performing all instructions and tasks that the computer does.
The speed of the processor determines how quickly tasks can be completed.
Processors generate heat so they need to be kept cool.

14. Processors Components
Clock Speed – speed processor executes instructions and is measured in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz) and possibly in the future in Terahertz (THz).
MIPS – Million of Instructions Per Second
Multicore processors – can run more than one task at the same time
Motherboards – Processor connects to this and can provide ports and connections for other parts of the system.

15. Storage Devices
These are used to store both the data that a computer system processes and the software programs that tell it how to process the data.
2 Types: Primary and Secondary
Primary – found inside the computer and is directly connected to the motherboard; faster than secondary
Secondary – Any device used to store the data and programs installed on a computer system; cheaper than primary

16. Primary Storage
Random Access Memory (RAM) – temporary storage for programs and data that are being used
Read Only Memory (ROM) – Contents can NOT be changed; the manufacturer programs the contents of ROM; e.g. tells the computer how to boot up

17. Secondary Storage Magnetic tapes
Magnetic disks – can include external hard disks
Optical storage – CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray disks
Flash memory – flash drives, SD cards

18. Data Storage Bits – binary digits = ones and zeros
Bytes = 8 bits; 1 byte can store a value between 0 and 225
Kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terrabytes
Standards = govern the meaning of each bit and byte
ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange = uses alphabet
Unicode – more modern code
(Both ASCII and Unicode are plain text standards)
Graphics standards – BMP, JPEG, PNG are all file formats

19. Hardware Activity #4
Consider the following examples of information technology. (6 marks) Identify all of the input, output and storage technologies used by each:
A. ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)
B. An airport self check-in machine
C. Cell phone
D. An in car GPS navigation system
E. Aircraft cockpit
F. A cleaning robot

20. Hardware Activity #5
Find and describe a suitable computer for the user in each of the scenarios on the next slide. Use the internet for research. The computer must have appropriate hardware specifications for the situation. In some cases additional input and output devices may be needed. Try to find a solution that offers good value for the money. (12 marks)

21. Hardware Activity #5 Scenarios
A. A family wanting a computer for general use (browsing, typing up homework, playing simple games).
B. An amateur film maker who wants to record her own films (she already has a digital camera for this) and then edit them on her computer.
C. A businesswoman who wants a computer to use on her daily train commute. The typical journey lasts hours so she has plenty of time to work on company reports and spreadsheets. She also needs the ability to catch up on her and access files stored on her company’s network.