Ch 05: Hardware | Exam Fusion Prep

Hardware

Tangible / physical components

Internal

Processor • Motherboard • RAM/ROM

External

Input • Output • Storage devices

IPOS

Input → Process → Output → Storage

🧩 Computer Hardware

Computer hardware refers to the physical/tangible components of a computer system — the parts that can be touched.
Internal components: Processor, Motherboard, RAM/ROM.
External / peripheral devices: Input devices, Output devices and Storage devices.
Input device: lets the user enter information and issue commands.
Output device: displays information, creates printed copies or generates sound.
System unit: accepts and processes data brought in by input devices.

1. INPUTKeyboard, Mouse, OCR, OMR, MICR, Scanner, Joystick, Touch etc.

2. PROCESSORMicroprocessor • RAM/ROM • Motherboard

3. OUTPUTMonitor • Printer • Speaker • Plotter • Projector

4. STORAGEFloppy • HDD • Optical discs • Pen drive • Memory card etc.

SOURCE ORGANISATION

The PDF treats Memory & Storage as a subsection inside Chapter 5 Hardware, so this page keeps it within the same chapter.

PDF visual • Keyboard layout shown with the IPOS hardware section (page 20)

⌨ Input Devices

The source IPOS chart lists Mouse, Keyboard, OCR, BCR, OMR, MICR, Stylus, Scanner, Joystick, Webcam, Light Pen, Trackball, Touchpad, Biometrics, Microphone, Touchscreen, Barcode Reader and QR Reader as input devices.

Keyboard

Used to enter text information into the computer.
Can also type commands that direct the computer to perform actions.

PDF visual • Keyboard (page 20)

Mouse

A pointing device that detects two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface.
A wireless mouse may communicate through radio waves, often using Bluetooth hardware/protocol.
Buttons and a possible scroll wheel allow interaction with the GUI.

PDF visual • Mouse and mouse-button visual (page 21)

OCR — Optical Character Recognition

Also described as Optical Character Reader.
Recognises printed or handwritten alphanumeric characters by scanning a form.
ICR recognizes handwriting; OCR converts text images into machine-readable characters. Both are recognition technologies used with input hardware.

PDF visual • OCR / handwriting recognition visual (page 21)

OMR — Optical Mark Recognition

Enables automatic processing of hundreds or thousands of documents per hour.
Popular in objective tests using cards/sheets containing response circles.

PDF visual • OMR sheet and reader (page 22)

MICR — Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

Character-recognition technology used mainly by the banking industry for processing and clearance of cheques/documents.
MICR line is at the bottom of cheques/vouchers and typically includes city code, bank code and branch code.

PDF visual • MICR cheque and reader (page 22)

Stylus

A long, stiff writing tool similar to a ballpoint pen.
On smartphones it is used to enter information or write on a touch screen.

PDF visual • Stylus devices (page 22)

Scanner

Captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine pages and similar sources for computer editing/display.
Source lists hand-held, feed-in and flatbed types, for black-and-white or colour scanning.

PDF visual • Flatbed scanner (page 23)

Joystick

Input device with a stick that pivots on a base.
Reports its angle or direction to the device it controls.

PDF visual • Joystick (page 23)

Light Pen

Uses a light-sensitive detector to select objects on a display screen.
Similar to a mouse, but selection is made by directly pointing the pen at display objects.

PDF visual • Light pen / CAD-CAM visual (page 24)

Touchpad / Track-pad

Pointing device with a tactile sensor surface that translates finger motion/position to a relative screen position.
Common on laptops and used as a mouse substitute when desk space is scarce.

PDF visual • Touchpad (page 24)

Biometrics

Science and technology of measuring and analysing biological data.
Examples in the source: fingerprints, eye retinas/irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements for authentication.

PDF visual • Biometric identification methods (page 25)

Microphone

Audio input hardware peripheral; source credits Emile Berliner (1877).
Microphones may connect through an audio input jack, USB, Bluetooth or an integrated audio interface.

Touch Screen

Electronic visual display controlled by simple or multi-touch gestures using a stylus/pen and/or fingers.
Common in game consoles, all-in-one computers, tablet computers and smartphones.

PDF visual • Touch screen (page 25)

Barcode Reader

Also called a price scanner or point-of-sale (POS) scanner.
Hand-held or stationary input device used to capture/read information in a barcode.

PDF visual • Barcode and barcode reader (page 26)

QR (Quick Response) Code Reader

Reads a machine-readable array of black-and-white squares.
Source notes QR codes are commonly used to store URLs or other information for reading by a smartphone camera.

PDF visual • QR code reader visual (page 26)

IPOS LIST REMINDER

BCR, Webcam and Trackball are present in the source input-device list even though this chapter does not give them separate explanatory paragraphs.

CPU — Central Processing Unit

Designed to perform arithmetic and logic operations using small number-holding areas called registers.
Typical microprocessor operations listed: adding, subtracting, comparing two numbers and fetching numbers from one area to another.
These operations result from a set of instructions that are part of the microprocessor design.

PDF visual • CPU block diagram and processor (page 27)

Motherboard (Heart)

Physical arrangement in a computer containing its basic circuitry and components.
On a typical motherboard, circuitry is imprinted or affixed to the surface.

PDF visual • Motherboard diagram (page 27)

Monitor

Displays video and graphics information generated by the computer through the video card.
Called VDU (Visual Display Unit); the source also lists VDT as Visual Display Terminal.
Monitor types in the source: CRT, LCD/TFT and LED.

PDF visual • Monitor types overview (page 27)

CRT — Cathode Ray Tube

Source explains a CRT as working by moving an electron beam back and forth across the back of the screen.
Image → Pixel → Picture Element → small dot/picture is noted in the source.

PDF visual • CRT monitor and CRT working visual (page 28)

LCD / TFT

LCD is described as a display used in digital watches and many portable computers.
Source says two sheets of polarizing material have a liquid-crystal solution between them.
TFT = Thin Film Transistor.

PDF visual • LCD monitor (page 28)

LED — Light Emitting Diode

Most “LED monitors” are LCD panels with LED backlighting. OLED displays use self-emitting pixels and are a different technology.
Contrast, colour accuracy and power consumption depend on the panel and backlight design; LED does not guarantee better colour accuracy than every other LCD.

PDF visual • LED monitor (page 29)

CCFL-backlit LCD vs LED-backlit LCDD

LCD/TFT	LED
Contrast depends on LCD panel and backlight	Local dimming can improve contrast; not guaranteed
Colour accuracy depends on panel/calibration	Colour accuracy depends on panel/calibration
Consumes less power than CRT	Usually more efficient than CCFL backlighting
Older CCFL backlights contain mercury; LCD itself does not inherently require it	LED backlights avoid mercury; safe disposal is still necessary

Projector

Device designed to take an image from a video source and project it onto a screen or other surface.

PDF visual • Projector (page 33)

Speaker

External multimedia speakers for a computer; source notes they often contain a low-power internal amplifier.

$Computer speakers$

PDF visual • Computer speakers (page 33)

🖨 Printer

A printer is an output device that converts soft copy into hard copy.
Impact printers: Daisy Wheel, Teletypewriter, Dot Matrix.
Non-impact printers: Laser, Inkjet, Thermal, 3-Dimensional printer, Plotter.

Impact Printer	Non-Impact Printer
Print head strikes an inked ribbon against paper	Does not strike paper directly
Makes noise while printing	Generally quieter, but not silent
Cost depends on device and use	Cost depends on device and use

Daisy Wheel Printer

Impact-printer technology using interchangeable preformed type elements.
Source says it can generate high-quality output comparable to premium typewriters.

PDF visual • Daisy wheel printer (page 30)

Teletypewriter Printer

Device that sends a typed message to another place and has a typewriter keyboard plus a printer.

PDF visual • Teletypewriter printer (page 30)

Dot Matrix Printer

Uses a print head moving back-and-forth / up-and-down on the page.
Prints by impact, striking an inked ribbon against paper, similar to a typewriter mechanism.

PDF visual • Dot matrix printer (page 31)

Laser Printer

Electrostatic digital machine producing high-quality text and graphics using a laser beam over a charged drum/image surface.

PDF visual • Laser printer and process visual (page 31)

Inkjet Printer

Creates a digital image by propelling ink onto paper, plastic or other substrates.
Source identifies it as a commonly used printer type.

PDF visual • Inkjet printer (page 31)

Thermal Printer

Direct thermal printing produces a printed image by selectively heating coated material as paper passes over the thermal print head.

PDF visual • Thermal printer (page 32)

3-Dimensional Printer

3D printing / additive manufacturing makes a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model.

PDF visual • 3D printer (page 32)

Plotter

Computer printer for vector graphics.
Source says plotters were used in applications such as computer-aided design and have generally been replaced by wide-format conventional printers.

PDF visual • Plotter (page 32)

🧠 Computer Memory

Memory is compared with the human brain and is used to store data and instructions.
The source divides memory by nature into Temporary / Volatile and Permanent / Non-Volatile.

PDF visual • Volatile memory visual (page 34)

PDF visual • Non-volatile memory visual (page 34)

Volatile Memory

Maintains data only while the device is powered on.
RAM is given as the example used for primary storage in personal computers.

Non-Volatile Memory

Can hold saved data even when power is turned off.
ROM is given as the example.

Cache Memory

Used by CPU to reduce average memory-access time.
Placed between main memory and CPU.
Temporary area for frequently accessed data.

RAM — Random Access Memory

Computer data storage that allows stored data to be accessed directly in random order.
The source identifies RAM as volatile memory.

PDF visual • RAM module (page 35)

Static RAM (SRAM)

Called static because it continues to hold information without refreshment while powered.
The source says it does not require refreshment.

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

Semiconductor memory commonly used for data/program code needed by a processor.
Its storage cell needs refreshing / a new electronic charge every few milliseconds to compensate for capacitor charge leakage.

SDRAM

Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory.
Uses the burst-mode concept to improve performance.

DDR SDRAM

Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM.
Source describes it as similar to SDRAM but with higher bandwidth, meaning greater speed.

VRAM — Video RAM

Also described as multiport dynamic random access memory (MPDRAM).
Used specifically for video adapters or 3-D accelerators.

ROM — Read Only Memory

Non-volatile memory. Traditional ROM held firmware; modern BIOS/UEFI is commonly stored in rewritable flash memory.

PDF visual • ROM chip (page 36)

PROM / EPROM

PROM: can be programmed only once and is not erasable.
EPROM: can be erased by exposure to ultraviolet light and then rewritten; source also calls it Ultra Violet PROM.

⚡ Cache Memory

Used by the CPU to reduce average time needed to access memory.
Used between main memory and CPU.
Frequently accessed data can be stored there for rapid access.

💾 Secondary Storage

Used to store data for backup purposes; source also calls it external/auxiliary, non-volatile backup memory.
Direct / Random access: hard drives, flash drives and almost all other storage devices in the source.
Sequential access: magnetic tape; it must be wound through to reach required data.

Magnetic Tape

Plastic tape covered in a magnetic coating.
Based on sequential/serial access.

PDF visual • Magnetic tape (page 38)

Hard Disk

Permanent / non-volatile storage device.
Stores and retrieves digital information using rapidly rotating media coated with magnetic material.
Source says data is read using a random-access method.

PDF visual • Hard disk (page 38)

Floppy Disk / Diskette

Removable magnetic storage medium.
Common high-density floppy capacities: 3.5″ — 1.44 MB; 5.25″ — 1.2 MB. Eight-inch capacities vary by format; 768 KB is not a universal capacity.

PDF visual • Floppy disks (page 39)

Zip Disc

Described as a large, chunky floppy-like disc with hard plastic outer casing and a magnetic disc inside.
Source capacity: up to 750 MB.

PDF visual • Zip discs (page 39)

USB HDD

Disk enclosure designed to hold/power disk drives and provide a mechanism for communication with one or more computers.

PDF visual • USB hard-disk enclosure (page 39)

Optical Disc / ODD

Optical disc drive (ODD) uses light / electromagnetic waves near the light spectrum as part of reading or writing data.
The source groups CD, DVD and Blu-ray under optical storage.

PDF visual • Optical discs (page 40)

Compact Disc (CD)

Optical medium written/read using laser.
Source capacity: about 700 MB.
CD-R: write once, read many (WORM). CD-RW: data can be overwritten.

PDF visual • CD-R 700 MB (page 40)

DVD — Digital Versatile Disc

Optical disc like CD but with much higher capacity.
Standard DVD source capacity: about 4.7 GB.
Can be writable or rewritable.

PDF visual • DVD (page 41)

Blu-ray Disc (BRD)

High-density optical-disc format similar to DVD.
Typical Blu-ray capacities: 25 GB single layer, 50 GB dual layer; BDXL supports 100/128 GB.

PDF visual • Blu-ray disc (page 41)

HVD — Holographic Versatile Disc

Optical-disc technology.
HVD was an experimental holographic format. Proposed capacities reached several TB; Experimental format is not a standard widely available disc capacity.

PDF visual • Holographic Versatile Disc (page 42)

Flash Memory / Pen Drive

Electronic non-volatile storage medium that can be erased and reprogrammed.
Pen drive is portable flash memory used to store data permanently.

PDF visual • Pen drive (page 42)

Memory Card

Non-volatile data storage.
Commonly used in devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, MP3 players and video game consoles.

PDF visual • Memory card (page 43)

Disk Structure — Track & Sector

Disk is divided into concentric circles called tracks.
The source describes multiple blocks within a track as sectors.

PDF visual • Disk tracks and sectors (page 43)

Virtual Memory

Combines RAM with temporary space on the hard disk.
When RAM runs low, data is moved to a paging file; this frees RAM so work can continue.
Virtual memory is an address-space management technique, not additional physical RAM; disk-backed paging is much slower than RAM.

Memory Unit & HDD File Systems

Memory unit is used to measure memory capacity.
Smallest memory unit in the source: Bit (binary digit).

FAT (File Allocation Table)	NTFS (New Technology File System)
No NTFS-style per-file access permissions	Supports per-file permissions; security still depends on configuration
Does not support disk quota	Supports disk quota
Does not support data compression	Supports data compression

Correct memory hierarchy, volatility and firmware/virtual-memory notes

⚡ Quick Recall — Hardware

Hardware: tangible / physical computer components.
IPOS: Input → Processor → Output → Storage.
OCR: printed/handwritten character recognition; OMR: mark recognition; MICR: cheque/document character recognition used in banking.
CPU: arithmetic + logic operations; uses registers.
Motherboard: source labels it “Heart”.
Monitor types: CRT • LCD/TFT • LED.
Impact printers: Daisy Wheel • Teletypewriter • Dot Matrix.
Non-impact printers: Laser • Inkjet • Thermal • 3D • Plotter.
Volatile: RAM • Non-volatile: ROM.
Cache: between main memory and CPU; frequently used data for fast access.
Direct access: HDD/flash etc. • Sequential: magnetic tape.

Floppy 3.5″1.44 MB

Zip Disc750 MB

CD~700 MB

DVD~4.7 GB

Blu-ray25/50 GB; BDXL 100/128 GB

HVD6 TB

Smallest UnitBit

Virtual MemoryRAM + HDD temporary space

SOURCE NOTE

Revision notes distinguish standard capacities, experimental formats and hardware-dependent features. Volatile SRAM/DRAM need power; flash and ROM retain data without power.