Module 1.3 Hardware

Contents Introduction Input Output Storage Environmental and health issues Test and improve your knowledge Module Activities

Introduction Hardware is all the things on a computer that you can physically touch. Processing Output Input  Note how the various hardware components fit into the information processing cycle. We will be focusing on the input, output and storage components in this module. Storage

Input is the data and instructions that are given to a computer. What is input? Input is the data and instructions that are given to a computer. Programs A set of instructions loaded into memory when activated Commands Given by user e.g. You click on the Font Size command User responses To a question ‘asked’ by a program

Input Mouse The following table indicates the various mouse actions and what they are used for.

Input The keyboard The keyboard is the most commonly used input device. Shortcut keys F1 Esc () <E> () <D>

Wireless mouse and keyboard Input Wireless mouse and keyboard Advantages of wireless devices: Less clutter No cords to get tangled Wide range of movement Disadvantages of wireless devices: A wireless adapter has to be attached to the computer to receive signals from the device. All wireless devices need power in order to transmit a signal and so they have to contain some form of battery. Require batteries (to produce the wireless signal) More expensive Sometimes there’s interference with the wireless signal Can easily be removed, stolen quickly and quietly

Output Output is whatever the computer produces to provide us with the results of its processing. Output Soft copy Hard Copy

Output Monitor CRT Monitors LCD Soft copy Flat-panel monitors consume less space flicker less CRT Monitors While all modern monitors are flat-panel (LCD) monitors, there are still some older CRT monitors around. These very large and bulky monitors are fast disappearing and have been replaced with flat-panel monitors. consume less power environmentally friendly

Output Monitor Flat panel (LCD) viewing angle Soft copy viewing angle specification. Most monitors have a viewing angle of at least 160 degrees   Flat panel screens have a viewing angle specification. This is measured in degrees and indicates how far you can move to the side of the monitor (or up or down) before the image quality you see becomes very poor. Most monitors have a viewing angle of at least 160 degrees.

Output Monitor Soft copy Resolution Size Response time LCD screens have a recommended resolution Resolution Size The size of a monitor measured diagonally in inches Response time A low specification time for high quality graphics and video

Output Printers Hard copy Inkjet printers Laser printers • work like a photo-copier machine • expensive to buy • cheaper to run and more suited to printing large volumes • print faster • black and white and colour laser printers (more expensive) • spray microscopic dots of ink onto the paper • cheap to buy • expensive to run • produces good quality colour prints • slightly slower than laser printers

Output Printers Hard copy Connecting and using printers Printer Installation Changing the Default Printer Usb port

You can cancel, pause or restart the printing here Output Printers Hard copy Connecting and using printers Printer Queues You can cancel, pause or restart the printing here

Storage Storage medium (CD) Storage device (CD/DVD-drive) Non-volatile: Storage keeps its contents at all times Storage medium (CD) Storage device (CD/DVD-drive) Explain the difference between volatile (RAM/memory) and non-volatile (hard drive/etc.)

A kilobyte (KB) is 1024 bytes Storage Storage capacities & = 1 byte A 4 A kilobyte (KB) is 1024 bytes A megabyte (MB) is 1024 KB A gigabyte (GB) is 1024 MB A terabyte (TB) is 1024 GB.

Storage Hard drives In case: stores all programs and data External/portable: USB connected, gets power from PC

Storage Flash disks External/portable: USB connected, gets power from PC Appears as another disk on PC

Storage Ports on your computer Network ports FireWire ports

Environmental and health issues Health concerns RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury Explain term: Ergonomics is the study of people in their work environments. It investigates how to make items ranging from cars to computer devices such as keyboards and mice better suited to the human body in terms of ease of use, our comfort and safety. To prevent RSI: Ergonomically designed keyboards

Environmental and health issues Health tips for using computers Sit correctly Height of your seat and/or table Lighting and ventilation/air circulation Mouse and keyboard placements Prevent eye strain Regular breaks

Environmental and health issues Tips on how to practice green computing Switch off computers and devices you are not using Avoid the senseless wasting of paper Try and repair or upgrade hardware Don’t just throw away ink and toner cartridges Refill and reuse cartridges Electronic waste (e-waste)  Also referred to as e-scrap, this refers to outdated or broken electronic equipment such as computer equipment and cell phones that get dumped. This equipment often contains extremely toxic chemicals and materials. E-waste is often not recycled and is simply dumped in landfills, often in sites in Africa and Asia. E-waste is potentially extremely harmful to the environment and people living near these landfills.

Introduction to hardware Health and environmental issues Test and improve your knowledge Overview of module Introduction to hardware Basic hardware Input Types of input Keyboard and Mouse Storage Storages devices vs. Storage media Hard disks, flash drives Output Types of output Printers and Monitors Ports USB Network Firewire VGA Health and environmental issues Green Computing E -Waste Health Issues Health Tips

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) Test and improve your knowledge Important terms and concepts Bluetooth Byte Corded mouse Wireless mouse Display Ergonomics Esc F1 FireWire port Flash disks Gigabyte (GB) Green computing Hard drive Hardcopy Hardware Inkjet printer Input Keyboard Kilobyte (KB) Laser printer Megabyte (MB) Monitor Size Mouse Network ports Output Print Screen Key Printers Repetitive strain injury (RSI) Resolution Shortcut keys Softcopy Storage Storage device Storage media Terabyte (TB) Touch Pad USB ports VGA port Volatile Window key Default printer Plug-and-play Printer queues

Activity Activity Written Written Purpose of this exercise: Testing knowledge of this module.