SOFTWARE

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software is a type of software that helps to run and organize the computers hardware
It includes a number of features such as operating systems, device drivers and file managers


Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files on the disk, and controlling devices such as disk drives and printers. the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software is the name given to the programs that perform specific tasks for users. For example, games, instant messengers, word processors, and antivirus programs are all applications.

OFFICE APPLICATIONS

Word processing

Using a computer to create, edit, and print documents. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. To perform word processing, you need a computer, a special program called a word processor, and a printer. A word processor enables you to create a document, store it electronically on a disk, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it on a printer.

Spreadsheets

A spreadsheet is a document which is divided into rows and columns to record such things as income and expenses, debits and credits.

Spreadsheets are designed to ease the management of numbers and calculations. They calculate totals, averages, percentages, budgets, and complex financial and scientific formulas. 

GAMES SOFTWARE
Games software is the software companys such as microsoft and EA need to make computer games

COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE

Web browsers

Browsers are software programs that allow you to search for and view various kinds of information on the Web, such as web sites, video, audio, etc.

Email

electronic mail, the transmission of messages over communications networks. The messages can be notes entered from the keyboard or electronic files stored on disk.

CLEAN UP TOOLS

Anti-virus

A utility that searches a hard disk for viruses and removes any that are found. Most antivirus programs include an auto-update feature that enables the program to download profiles of new viruses so that it can check for the new viruses as soon as they are discovered.

Firewalls

A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both.

DATA FLOW DIAGRAM

THIS IS MY DATA FLOW DIAGRAM WHICH SHOWS HOW INFORMATION FLOWS AROUND A COMPUTER SYSTEM

HARDWARE COMPONENTS

PROCESSOR
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer's hardware and software.
The CPU could be considered the "brains" of the computer

One of the most important things about CPUs is speed.

The speed of CPU is measured in Hz, i.e., number of operations can be done per second.

Because of the extremely high speed of CPU, computers can do millions of operations in a very short time.

Heat is released when CPUs run. High temperature, however, decrease the performance of CPU.

MEMORY
RAM/ROM

Random access memory is the working memory in a computer. Additional RAM allows a computer to work with more information at the same time which could have an effect on total system performance.

 ROM is read only memory it is valotile memory, it retains stored information even when the computer has been turned off. This is used for storing programs and data.

NETWORK CONNECTION DEVICES

DIFFERENT WAYS TO CONNECT TO A COMPUTER NETWORK

Here are some ways that you can connect to a computer network.
Wi Fi
You can connect to a computer network by using Wi fi. Wi Fi is a wireless local area network which you can connect to in many places around the UK and most of the time is free in some restaurants and cafe's. Wi Fi is also in most smartphones now which means that you can connect a phone to your wireless and use it anywere in the house for free depending on your phone network.

ETHERNET
Another way of connecting to the internet is by using and ethernet cable which connects directly from your router to whatever device you want to use. Most computers have ethernet connections that can allow you to have a strong signal to the Internet unlike wireless. Wireless can be disrupted easily by simply having a long distance connection are a connection through a wall.





3G/4G

 3G is the third generation of wireless technologies. 3G is mostly used with mobile phones and handsets as a means to connect the phone to the Internet or other IP networks in order to make voice and video calls, to download and upload data and to surf the net.

 4G is a technology that will transform wireless communications in a completely new way. Users will enjoy high quality streaming video and anytime, anywhere voice and data at a much higher speed than previous generations.

NIC (NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS)

A network interface card is a device which allows computers to be joined together in a LAN (local area network). Networked computers communicate with each other using a given protocol or agreed-upon language for transmitting data packets between the different machines.

BLUETOOTH

Bluetooth is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security.

STORAGE DEVICES

HARD DISK DRIVES

A hard disk is part of a unit, often called a "disk drive," that stores and provides relatively quick access to large amounts of data

FLASH DRIVES

A flash drive is a small storage device that is used to transport files from one computer to another. Flash drives are very usefull to use when it comes to working in different places.



CD/DVD

DVD (Digital versatile disk) is a high density video disks which stores larges amounts of data for example a movie or a documentary

CD ROM (Compact disk) is an adaption of the CD that is designed to store computer data in the form of text or graphics, aswell as hi-fi stereo sound. It is also like a DVD

COMPUTER SYSTEMS

There are different types of computer systems such as;

LAPTOPS

A laptop is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop has most of the components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a mouse and speakers. A laptop is powered by mains electricity via an AC adapter, and can be used away from an outlet using a rechargeable battery.

PC

A desktop computer is a computer designed to fit comfortably on top of a desk with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. Desktop model computers are broad and low, whereas tower model computers are narrow and tall.

NETBOOK
A netbook is a small laptop computer that is smaller than a notebook, designed for accessing Internet-based applications.

PDA

A PDA is a palmtop computer used to store information such as addresses and telephone numbers, and for simple word processing and spreadsheeting.

MOBILE PHONES

A mobile phone also known as a cellular phone, cell phone and a hand phone allows calls into the public switched telephone system over a radio link. It can also be used to send things through bluetooth.

GAMES CONSOLE 

A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or modified computer that allows you to play computer games.

TABLET

A Tablet PC is a cross between a notebook PC and a personal digital assistant (PDA). It's a flat-panel portable PC in the form of a slate.



SERVER

A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. There are many different types of servers. For example:

• File server - computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files on the server.

• Print server-a computer that manages one or more printers, and a network server is a computer that manages network traffic.

• Database server-a computer system that processes database queries

EMBEDDED DEVICES

A embedded device is a electronic computer that has input, output and process. It sometimes also has storage. Examples are ABS, Washing machines and Mobile phones.

 

INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

INPUT DEVICES
TOUCH SCREEN
A touch screen is a computer display screen that is also an input device. The screens are sensitive to pressure; a user interacts with the computer by touching pictures or words on the screen.

GRAPHICS TABLET

A graphics tablet is an input device used by artists which allows you to draw a picture onto a computer screen without having to use a mouse or keyboard. A graphics tablet consists of a flat tablet and some sort of drawing device, usually a pen.

GAME CONTROLLER

A games controller is a device used with games or entertainment systems used to control an object, or otherwise provide input in a computer game. A controller is typically connected to a game console or computer by means of a wire, cord or nowadays, by means of wireless connection.

MICROPHONE

A microphone is a device that recognises sound and turns it into an electrical signal. You can use a microphone when using skype.

MOUSE

A mouse is ued for scrolling and clicking on different icons and links on the computer screen. A mouse can come wired or wireless.

KEYBOARD

The keyboard is an input device designed to enter text, characters and other commands into the computer.

OUTPUT DEVICES

PRINTER

A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper, usually to standard size sheets of paper.

MONITOR

A computer monitor is an electronic device that shows pictures. A monitor is usually used to see programs on a computer. The main difference between a monitor and a television is that a monitor does not have a television tuner to change channels.



HEADPHONES

A pair of earphones typically joined by a band placed over the head, for listening to audio signals such as music or speech.