Hardware and Software Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is hardware?
The physical components of a computer system.
What are the three categories of hardware?
Internal components, Internal memory, Hardware components.
What are examples of internal components?
CPU, Processors, Motherboard.
What is RAM?
Fast, working memory that is volatile.
What is ROM?
Memory that holds startup instructions and is non-volatile.
What are examples of hardware components?
Graphics card (GPU), Sound card, NIC, Camera, Storage devices, Input & Output devices.
What is software?
A set of programs that control the hardware; it is not physical.
What are the two categories of software?
Application software and System software.
What is application software?
Software chosen by users to carry out specific tasks.
Give examples of application software.
Word processors, Spreadsheets, Databases, Video editing, Graphics editing, CAD.
What is system software?
Software essential for the operation of a computer system.
Give examples of system software.
Operating systems, Compilers, Linkers, Device drivers, Utilities.
What is an operating system?
Software that provides an interface between the user and hardware.
What functions does an operating system perform?
Controls input/output devices, Manages applications, Handles errors, Maintains security.
What is a user interface?
The way a user interacts with an operating system.
What are the types of user interfaces?
CLI, GUI, Dialogue-based, Gesture-based.
What is analogue data?
Continuous data that can change gradually and smoothly.
Give examples of analogue data.
Sound waves, Data from sensors.
What is digital data?
Data represented in binary (1s and 0s).
Give examples of digital data.
Software, Documents, Files.
What is ADC (Analogue to Digital Conversion)?
Converting analogue signals into binary for processing by a computer.
What is DAC (Digital to Analogue Conversion)?
Converting digital binary data into a continuous analogue signal.
Why does sensor data need to be converted?
Computers process digital data, while sensors produce analogue data.
