CM VI - Inside a Computer – Hardware and Software – How it ...
CM VI - Inside a Computer – Hardware and Software
AIM
1. The main hardware and software components of a computer
2. Functions of different computer parts.
A power supply, a mother board, a hard disk, a pendrive, a keyboard, etc., are on the table and the students are looking with awe and curiosity at all these components of a computer.
Jyoti: Computers are made of many electronic components or parts. These components each have a special job and they all work together to make the computer operate. Some components are hidden inside the computer where we can't see them. Others can be seen partly from the outside.
Gurpreet: Finding information on the components inside a computer was very interesting. Look at the size of the brain of the computer. Whenever we press a key, click the mouse, or start an application, we send instructions to the CPU. These are all executed by the CPU.
Jyoti: Can we see the details of the CPU of this desktop computer?
Jyoti: Is it possible to see the details of the inside of this desktop computer/laptop?
Moz: Yes. system monitor from the system submenu would show you details of a computer and its working.
Usha: Circle processor data and label it as details of CPU. Take screenshot from a desktop.
Jyoti: There are many details for the processor and there are two processors in this computer.
Moz: The processing of the instructions that you give is shared between the two processors just the way you share the work among your team.
Jyoti: What does 2.10 GHZ mean?
Moz: This means 2.10 giga hertz per second. Giga means billions and hertz means cycles. CPU needs one or several cycles to perform an action. More cycles per seconds means more instructions can be processed per second. So, the higher the hertz, the faster the computer can process instructions.
|CPU/Processor |
| |Concept |
| |The Central Processing Unit (CPU), also called a processor, is often called the brain of the computer. |
| |Its job is to carry out commands. The processor determines how fast a computer can execute instructions. |
| | |
| |Info |
| |A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHZ) , or gigahertz (GHZ) , So, the higher the hertz , the|
| |faster the computer can process instructions. The CPU is generally a 2 inch ceramic square with a silicon|
|Executes program commands. |chip located inside. The chip usually about the size of a thumbnail. |
Gurpreet: Main memory is used to store programs and data when CPU is processing.
Moz: The computer's work takes place in RAM. This is where programs run when you are using Word to create a document, or scratch o create an animation.
Gurpreet: What does 2.8 GB mean?
Moz: Let us first understand how computers store information. Computers store information digitally. All the information is broken down into pieces and stored as numbers. These are converted to a binary system.
|Main Memory (RAM) |
| Executes program |Concept |
| |RAM (Random Access Memory) is system's short-term memory also called |
|commands. |main memory. RAM is used by the system to store data that is processed |
| |by a computer's CPU. Data is temporarily stored here until the work is |
| |saved to the hard disk. |
| | |
| |Info |
| | |
| |RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). A bit is the |
| |smallest unit of data in computer processing. A byte is a group of |
|Primary storage area |eight bits. A megabyte is about one million bytes. A gigabyte is 1,024 |
|for programs and |megabytes. The more RAM a computer has, the more things a computer can|
|data that are in |do at the same time, and the faster a computer performs tasks. |
|active use | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Jyoti: The content that we save in a computer is written into secondary storage.
Gurpreet: Whatever we save on a hard disk can be retrieved later. It is like a permanent storage device.
Moz: Not only the documents and content that yout create, but the software to operate the computer and the applications like word processor, scratch etc. are also stored on the hard disk. The computer loads the instructions from long-term storage (your hard disk) into short-term memory as and when required.
Jyoti: The amount of data, programs that we can store on a hard disk depends on its size which is measured in giga bytes.
Gurpreet: We can also record data to CD/DVD or pen drive. The memory of these devices is not as much as a hard disk drive.
Moz: Correct. These devices are called removable storage devices, which can be removed from the computer and connected whenever required and carried. These devices are also used to take backup of important information. Backup is another copy of a document or information that you create on the computer.
|Backup |
|Concept |
|Backup of data and information that you create is important. Many backup options are available, like mailing a copy of the content to yourself,|
|taking a backup on pen drive, a CD/DVD, another computer. This ensures that even if one device fails you have a copy of the content (documents,|
|paintings, projects etc, that is created using a computer. |
Jyoti: We also get books, games, educational lessons on CD/DVDs.
Moz: These are also used for distribution and sharing of resources.
|Secondary Storage |
|[pic][pic] |Concept |
| |Secondary storage is where the information is stored permanently. |
| |Information is moved between main memory and secondary memory as and |
| |when needed. |
| | |
| |InfoThe hard disk drive is the data center of the computer. Operating |
| |system, software, content created and saved by users are stored here. |
| |The hard disk drive is long-term storage where information is stored |
| |permanently. This is usually found inside a computer. |
| |CD/DVD and pen drive are removable storage devices. These can be used |
| |to backup important data and information. It is also sometimes used to |
| |distribute or share information, books, software, games, etc., |
Jyoti: We already know what are input and output devices. We found out how they work inside a computer.
Gurpreet: We now know that for example when “A” is pressed on a keyboard, what happens inside a computer, for it to appear on the monitor.
Not sure of above fig. Will check out with someone conversant with these.
Moz: Correct. User interacts with the computer using these devices, also called peripheral devices. The electrical signals for example the alphabets typed on a keyboard, are converted to binary code that a digital computer understands. When the computer displays the data on a monitor or when output is a printout, the binary code is again converted to the human understandable characters.
|Input/Output (I/O) devices |
|User interactions are facilitated through I/O devices |Concept |
|[pic][pic] |An input device converts incoming data and instructions into a pattern |
| |of electrical signals in binary code that are comprehensible to a |
| |digital computer. A user inputs data, initiates a task, transfers |
| |images, information using the input devices. |
| |An output device reverses the process, translating the digitized |
| |signals into a form intelligible to the user. The computer provides |
| |display of processed information, a print out of the information or |
| |audio, video, etc., through the output devices. |
| |Some devices can handle both input and output. Network is one such |
| |example. |
| | |
| |Info |
| |Keyboard, mouse, scanner, webcam are examples of input devices. |
| |Monitor, printer, speakers are examples of output devices. |
| |Network device called network card in a computer is both input and |
| |output device. |
Gurpreet: At the back of the computer we find many sockets which are called connection ports to connect the external devices like keyboard, mouse, speakers, power, monitor etc.
Jyoti: Each of the port is of different shape and size. These are called network port, USB port, etc.
A figure can be drawn here. Will draw on paper.
|Connection Ports |
|Info |
|At the back of a desktop computer various connection ports are available to connect the external devices and power. On a laptop these are |
|available on the left and right side edges. Some common ports and their details are as follows: |
|PS/2 Port: Used to connect the mouse and keyboard. |
|Ethernet Port : Used to connect the network cable. |
|Audio In/Audio Out : connect various devices, including speakers, microphones, headsets, and more.Audio |
|VGA Port : Monitor is connected to this port. |
|USB Port : The Universal Serial Bus port is one of the most useful. These USB ports let you attach a variety of devices such as mouse, |
|printers, keyboards, web cameras, USB/flash drives, and digital cameras to the computer quickly. Almost every peripheral made comes in a USB |
|version. |
Gurpreet: The computer has a power supply from where all the components get power.
Moz: It converts the power from the wall outlet to the type of power that the computer needs.
A figure can be drawn here. Will draw on paper.
|Power Supply |
| |
|Concept |
|The power supply unit in a computer converts the power from the wall outlet to the type of power needed by the computer. |
|Info |
|The power supply unit sends power through the |
|cables to the motherboard and other components. The power cable from a wall outlet is connected to a socket in this unit. |
|The power On button for a computer is available on the front panel on a desktop and for a laptop it is usually available above the keyboard |
|panel . |
Gurpreet: The circuit board which holds some of the components like CPU, and ROM and has connectors to other components of the computer is called the motherboard.
Moz: Yes. The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer.
|Motherboard |
|Will get a fig. as follows from Rajesh with only terms used in the lesson. |
|Concept |
|Motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer. |
|Info |
|The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, connectors for |
|the hard drive and optical drives, as well as various external ports and peripherals, |
Moz: Now that all the parts are together how do you start a computer? How does the CPU control all the components?
Gurpreet: Software is required to operate and use the computer. These are BIOS software, Operating system and application software.
Jyoti: Firstly when we power on the desktop a software called, Basic input output system software (BIOS) starts or boots the computer. This resides on a flash memory integrated into the motherboard.
Jyoti: BIOS checks whether all the hardware units are working. When we switch on a system we see many messages that a particular hardware is working etc. then it loads the operating system.
Gurpreet: If a hardware is not working for example a hard disk is not working then it gives a message as follows:
Put a hard disk failure message here.
Moz: The most important role of BIOS is to load the operating system (OS). When you turn on your computer, the CPU needs an instruction to execute. It has to get that instruction from somewhere. It cannot get it from the operating system because the operating system is located on a hard disk, and the CPU cannot get to it without some instructions that tell it how. The BIOS provides those instructions.
|BIOS software and booting |
| |
|Concept |
|Basic input output system (BIOS) is a special software that interfaces the major hardware components of the computer with the operating system. |
|Booting is the process that occurs when power button is pressed to turn the computer on. |
| |
|Info |
|BIOS is usually stored on a Flash memory a completely electronic chip on the motherboard. Flash memory provides fast, permanent storage and can |
|be easily updated. Some of the other devices where it is used are digitl cameras, gaming devices. |
Gurpreet: Next the operating system takes over and we can start using the computer.
Jyoti: When we work on a Word document, print an email, and have Internet browser open for web surfing, all at the same time, then it must be the OS that manages all these actions.
Moz: Yes. These three programs need attention from the central processing unit (CPU) to do whatever task that you, are telling it to do. These programs also need memory and storage, and need to be able to send messages to devices such as the mouse and the printer to accomplish these tasks. The operating system is responsible for handling these, as well as processor and network management.
|Operating System software |
| |
|Concept |
|The operating system is responsible for managing the computer's hardware and software resources. It controls the memory needed for computer |
|processes, manages disk space, controls peripheral devices, and manages user communication with the computer. |
|Info |
|Operating system is a software that is installed on the hard disk. There are many operating systems available. Example- Linux (Ubuntu, Redhat, |
|Fedora), Windows (vista, XP), MAC os etc. |
|The operating system loads at the end of booting process. From this point, the operating system begins to do its job of controlling the way in |
|which the computer functions. |
Gurpreet: We already know about the application software. We used quite a few of them.
Jyoti: Scratch, word processor, email application, games etc. and we can also install new application software as and when required.
Moz: Whether it is BIOS software or Operating system or application software. These are all instructions written by people. They are designed for the specific purpose and programming languages are used to build the software.
|Application software |
| |
|Concept |
|Applications are pieces of software written by people using a programming language, and are programmed to perform specific tasks. |
|Info |
|There are many types of applications like a browser application, a word processing application, a game playing application, an application to |
|paint or build an animation, an email application and so on. New applications can be installed on a computer as and when needed. These |
|applications reside on the hard disk. |
Gurpreet: All the components work together and provide us a visual display on the monitor of the output.
Jyoti: There are different types and sizes of monitors. On some, the images are shown very sharply. Why is it so?
Moz: The display depends on the resolution of the monitor. The monitor has a number of dots, horizontal and vertical which are called pixels. More pixels on a display means sharper the image. Resolution refers to the number of individual horizontal dots and vertical dots on a display.
Example: 800x600 1200x1024
Gurpreet: So if the dots, that is the number of pixels, are spread out over a larger number of inches we do not get sharp images.
Moz: Correct. An image on a 21-inch monitor with an 800x600 resolution will not appear as sharp as it would on a 15-inch monitor with 800x600 resolution.
Gurpreet: What does 21 inch monitor mean?
Moz: This is the size of the display area or screen size. The size of display is described with aspect ratio and the screen size. Aspect ratio is the ratio of length:height of the screen, and the size of the screen is measured by the diagonal from one corner to the opposite corner of the screen.
|Monitor |
|Concept |
|A monitor is one of the output devices of a computer. Currently LCD technology is commonly being used for monitors. The display sharpness |
|depends on the size and resolution of the computer. A monitor has a number of individual dots known as pixels. Resolution refers to the number |
|of rows of dots and the number of columns of dots. |
|The size of display depends on two factors. The aspect ratio Width:height of the screen and the screen size (measure from one corner to the |
|corner diagonally opposite). |
|Info: There are many sizes of monitors. Popular screen sizes are 15, 17, 19 and 21 inches. The resolution of screens vary. Ex: 800x600 pixels |
|to 1200x1024. For professional applications, such as medical imaging or public information displays, monitors as big as 40 inches or larger |
|with higher resolutions are being used. |
TEAM: Question: Should I keep aspect ratio or just give the explanation of diagonal screen size??
Jyoti: We have also collected information about the prices of computer and how to buy the computers.
Gurpreet: We would like to represent some of the information in tables using bar graph and pie chart.
Moz: That is a good idea. Next you can see how you can use the application excel to convert the information in a table to a suitable graphical representation.
Lesson outcome:
1. Categorize a computer component into hardware and software.
2. Identify various parts inside the computer and state their functions.
Lesson 5 : Inside of a computer
1. Classify the following as Hardware or Software
Motherboard, BIOS, Monitor, USB Port, Back up, Windows , Pen drive, RAM, ROM, Tuxpaint, Childs play, Internet browser, Keyboard, Hard disk, Powepoint, Impress, Word processor, Linux, Mac, Ubuntu, Cellphone, Scratch program, Printer, Scanner, Webcam, CD, Quick time Media player, Ipod, Speaker, Microphone, DVD Drive, DVD player
( Illustration of Brain as hardware and signals : like EGG as software ; each illustration has blanks to be filled from the above words.)
2. Fill in the blanks.
Identify the following pictures .
Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases from the above list
( Replace text with pictures )
Hard disk Motherboard Pen Drive RAM Power supply
Scanner DVD player Speakers CD drive CD
1. The documents and content that we create, as well as the software to operate the computer and other applications like word processor, Scratch etc. are stored on the _______________.
2. The ______________ is the computer's main circuit board which holds the CPU
3. To back up your data, you can use a ___________________.
4. The --------------- is an example of a peripheral device that is used to scan documents and photographs
5. The ---------------------- unit sends power through the cables to the motherboard and other components
6. ------------ is the computer’s short term memory
3. Play scrabble
Make a scrabble board image of rack to keep the letters
Choose required number of letters from the scrabble rack and unscramble them to answer the question.
|Question |List of rack images with jumbled letters |The rack image with blank tile |
|You normally take this to keep a copy of |ACPKBUM |BACKUP |
|important documents | | |
|Computer uses this code store information |RYINBTA |BINARY |
|digitally | | |
|My resolution is changed for picture clarity |MTOINER | |
|I am the storage responsible for storing |RIYRAMP | |
|active applications | | |
4. What is the best way(s) to store the data in the following cases?
a. Neela is working on a presentation at home. Tomorrow, she has to take it to her office and give the presentation. Her computer has an Internet connection/ CD drive and a USB port. Her company also has Internet connection at their premises: ____________________________
b. Parul is doing her home work on her home computer which does not have an Internet connection. She has to take it the school and show it to her teacher: ___________________________________________
c. Sai is writing an essay in the word processor, on a computer in the school computer laboratory. He wants to take the essay home to work on it. The Computer has a CD/DVD drive and no USB port. It also doesn't have an Internet connection: _________________________________
5. Pick which is NOT a function of the Operating system.
a. It controls the memory needed for various processes.
b. It controls peripheral devices.
c. It controls the booting of a computer.
d. It manages the communication with the computer.
6. Fill the missing information
|Component |Corresponding Units of measurement |
|Size of the monitor | |
|Microprocessor speed | |
| |GB,MB |
| |Pixels |
7. Tanvi has typed a story and saved it on the computer. If the data is saved on a computer, where will it get saved?
(Hard disk BIOS Monitor)
______________________________________________
Now she is editing the story without saving. Where is the information getting saved?
(OS RAM ROM)
______________________________________________
Suddenly the power went off, what will happen to the edited information? Pick all the right answers.
(It can be recovered when you start the application the next time
It is stored in the main memory of the computer
The information is lost and cannot be got back
It gets saved on the Desktop of the computer)
______________________________________________
8. Arrange the following sequentially. First step is already filled.
|Booting starts. | |
|Start browsing the Internet. | |
|BIOS checks hardware components. | |
|OS starts controlling the functions of the computer. | |
|Computer gets power supply |1 |
|BIOS loads the operating system. | |
Draw a diagram to show the above sequence.
9 Where do the following reside?
|Application software | |
|BIOS | |
|Operating system | |
|Unsaved data in word processor | |
10. Complete the puzzle.
Across
1. Through us a user interacts with the computer : _____________ devices.(peripheral)
2. I am the software which interfaces the major hardware components of the computer with the operating system. (BIOS)
3. I am the duplicate (another copy) of the content that you create on the computer. (backup)
4. I am the main circuit board of a computer. (motherboard)
Down
1. We are used to connect the external devices and power supply to a computer. My anagram is torps. (Ports)
5. I am also called the main memory.(RAM)
6. I am the brain of the computer.(CPU)
7. The sharpness of the display increases as the ______________ increases.
Hint: The number of (horizontal x vertical) pixels (Resolution)
8. I am stored on the hard disk. Some of my examples are Linux, Windows.(OS)
11.
Activity for Lesson: Inside a computer
Computer based activity (requires Internet)
[Usha: please review if the names of filamentaility strategy are used correctly, if reqd, plz tweak the activities]
3. Multimedia scrapbook
a. Open the following URLs and study the content available:
• - [here you can click on a computer part inside CPU and learn more about it]
• [video of components inside a computer]
• [computer connections - hardware on the inside]
b. If you find some pictures, texts, anecdotes, etc. you like and save them.
But keep in mind always to check the Web page for a copyright notice. Another good practice is to contact the website asking for permission to use the contents.
c. Organize the collected information from the above websites to create your own scrapbook.
4. Sampler activity:
A. Open the following URLs and study the content available:
• [list the steps to assemble a computer]
• [picutre of an open CPU with internal parts labelled and video describing how the various components work together in a basic operating session]
• [description of motherboard, processor, memory, disk drives]
• [detailed descrtiption every computer part including peripherals]
B. Write a short paragraph to describe the content you read on the above websites.
5. Find images of different parts inside the CPU. You can use a variety of resource for this, such as computer magazines, Internet, brochures from computer vendors, books, etc. Paste the pictures on cardboard and show the process of how they operate to ensure that the computer is up and running well.
Group activity
Set up a skit where the different parts insider the CPU talk to each other and ensure that the computer works appropriately. Explain the functions of each part. The student who acts as power supply initiates the process.
[Kaumudi: an illustration for the above]
Projects
1. I Know how it works
Form groups of 5 students. Each group picks up one of the following devices that are used for various purposes..
• Car
• Washing Machine
• Microwave oven
• TV
• Mobile
i. What are the uses of the device?
ii. Find the parts of the device.
iii. Find the function of each part of the device.
iv. Do these parts come in different sizes? Which are the main parts of the device on which the various features of the device depend on? For example the number of people who can travel in a car depends on the size of the car and the seating arrangement in the car.
v. Find which of the actions or features of the device are initiated by a
computer in the device.
vi. Prepare a presentation and share it with other groups.
Hint: You can find out about the item from the internet, a shop that sells these
devices, instruction sheets or brochures about these devices.
Explore
1. Explore how CPU hardware has evolved in terms of size and location
2. Identify slots on the PC for keyboard, mouse, speakers and mike , note the color coding
Further reading:
-----------------------
CD/DVD
Pen drive
Central
Processing
Unit
Central
Processing
Unit
Main Memory
CPU
Central
Processing
Unit
Main Memory
Hard disk
Information is moved between main memory and secondary memory as needed.
Central
Processing
Unit
Main Memory
Hard disk
Network
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Pen drive
CD/DVD
A
Central
Processing
Unit
Electrical signal
1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
A
keyboard
Monitor
................
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