Hardware and Software

A PC Equipped with a Computer Camera

Output Devices

• Display Monitors
• Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
• Wide
• Lights up pixels
• Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)
• Flat panel
• Printers and Plotters
• Speed measured in pages (page printed per minute)
• Music Devices
• MP3 Players

Laser Printer

Types of Computer Systems

Overview of Software

Overview of Software

• Computer programs: Sequences of instructions
• Documentation: Describe program functions
• Systems software: Coordinate the activities of the hardware
• Computer system platform:
• Hardware configuration + systems software
• Application software: Programs that help users with certain tasks

Classifying Software by Type and Sphere of Influence

Systems Software

Operating Systems

• Perform common computer hardware functions
• Ex: Get input from keyboard
• Provide a user interface
• Command-based user interface (ms-dos)
• Graphical-user interface (windows)
• Provide a degree of hardware independence
• Application program interface
• Manage system memory
• Convert logical view to physical view

Operating Systems

• Manage processing tasks
• Allocate computer resources
• Multitasking (run more than once application at a time)
• Time-sharing (allow multiple access to a system)
• Provide networking capability
• Enable connection to the Internet
• Control access to system resources
• Authentication
• Manage files
• Access to files

Role of the Operating System

Application Program Interface