What is Computer Hardware - Assignment Example

 Computer Hardware – what is it? Abstract Computer technology has arguably changed the scope of working in the world today, and with its enhancements, it seems like a single weapon that can change the world today, and it has already done so in many regards today as well. This essay is written to analyze and describe the hardware components of a computer, while a brief introduction to software component has also been recorded. Hardware and software are the two classifications of components in a computer. Various hardware components are discussed in this essay such as hard disk, RAM, mouse, keyboard, and monitor, and a brief generic overview has also been written describing the relationship and their importance to the system. Computer Hardware – what is it? Introduction Computers are the revolutionary inventions of all time that have changed the scope of life on earth (Dandamudi, 2003, para 3, 66). From a point where even playing a game was difficult to understand to today where computer literacy is assumed educational literacy in a number of nations that are leading the way, computers have come far ahead of time from where they started from in an exponentially radical format, with the progress each year being more than the combine progress of the preceding years. Classification of Hardware & Software Termed as the fundamental of intelligence and marked as one of the prime inventions of human beings in modern times. A computer system (more commonly known as a personal computer) constitutes many critical and integral parts. Fundamentally, the system has two categories of parts, either a constituent is hardware or it is a software. Software is similar to the running mechanisms that drive the operations on hardware, while hardware itself is the physical devices that constitute the physical outlook of a computer. Examples of software include, but are not restricted to, Microsoft windows, Microsoft office, solaris operating system, and any other programs installed or running on the system (computer). The basic examples of hardware include monitor, CPU, mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, speakers, microphone, light pen, etc. (Sears, 2008, para 2, 168) Differences Technically, the difference between hardware and software is of ‘feel’ and ‘touch’; both the characteristics are found in hardware but not in software. In the several examples quoted as above, the hardware can be recognized by its physical presence, while the software can only be visualized prior to its implementation/application towards the hardware. Despite being nearly the other way around of each other, both these taxonomies are essential for each other because for software to work, it needs a hardware platform and vice versa. This article is primarily focused towards hardware and therefore, in the upcoming text of the same, the fundamental hardware forms shall be discussed. The CPU The Central Processing Unit, more commonly known as the CPU is the head or the brain of the computer where all processing takes place, and associated to which are all the other linked devices like the monitor, keyboard, mouse and other peripherals. Peripherals are all the hardware devices except for the CPU itself. The CPU, now referred to as the system, has capacity of atleast a single disk drive, generally known as the compact disk (CD) drive, however, there are more slots for the same also available. This drive is though plugged within the system but has an external interface i.e. its visibility is at the front panel of the system (Simpson, n.d., para 6). Other than this, there are some other circuits kind of stuff within the system including motherboard, RAM, ROM, hard disk, sound card, graphics card, and other things that constitute the functionality of the system. If any of these require an external plugging, for example a modem card, then it has an interface towards the back of the system from where the plugs are connected. RAM Random Access Memory, more commonly known as RAM, is another circuit kind of a small board present within the system, which has mainly a support function for the fact that tons of data is present on even the smallest (in terms of capacity) of hard disk, however, some data needs to be retained at a space that is closer to the working unit, therefore, such data is placed in the RAM. Thus, data retrieval becomes faster rather than data being dug out of a hard disk, implying lesser waiting time and enhanced productivity (Simpson, n.d., para 8). RAM is volatile, and once the computer is turned off, everything erases, which is why eventually a hard disk is needed. Hard Disk Hard disk, often denoted as HDD, is the primary medium of storage, where all the data on a system resides. The actual hard disk is a very thin layer of material, just like a negative of a photograph but it is not visible at the front since it is sealed within a casing of its own. HDD contains a lot of space, the no matter what variant of space it is, it’s the same in physical size. These days, there are portable hard disks that can be connected externally to the system. Apart from the circuits and attachments within the system, there are some external peripherals too. The most renowned ones are monitor, mouse and keyboard, the basic I/O (input/output) devices. Peripherals Monitor is an output device that portrays the output obtained from the processing of various instructions on a real time basis. Similarly, keyboard and mouse are input devices, used for inputting data on to the system. For example, while typing data on a word document, the alphabets are punched in using the keyboard and options are accessed using a mouse; when a key is pressed or an option is accessed, its programming within the system is pushed to produce the output it is designed to and the output is displayed on the screen. Like pressing the button ‘p’ is like giving an input so the code that lies underneath the button is accessed, and the processing of the same leads to ‘p’ written on the screen. There are other peripherals too such as scanner, printer, laser pen, USB drives, etc. but the ones described previously are the integral ones. As a matter of fact, the combination of these essentially formulates a computer system. Conclusion Computer hardware in old times started off being huge in size, probably the size of a computer laboratory today, and had functionalities less than a handheld device today, but the progress and prosperity of computers today and the era of technology has taken it to these heights today. Yet the human brain has not halted its operations to look forward for a much more enhanced system and everyday tons of inventions are coming across. With this speed, no one knows where this development would end. References Dandamudi P. (2003) Fundamentals of Computer Organization and Design. Springer Sears A. et al (2008) The human-computer interaction handbook: fundamentals, evolving technologies, and emerging applications. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Simpson A. What is Computer Hardware? Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://www.coolnerds.com/Newbies/Hardware/hardware.htm Read More