CHAPTER 3: HARDWARE AND MOBILE DEVICES
Principles
• The computer hardware industry is rapidly
changing and highly competitive, creating an
environment ripe for technological
breakthroughs.
• Computer hardware must be carefully selected to
meet the evolving needs of the organization and
its supporting information systems.
• The computer hardware industry and users are
implementing green computing designs and
products.
Organizations invest in computer hardware to improve
worker productivity, increase revenue, reduce costs,
provide better customer service, speed up time to market,
and facilitate collaboration among employees.
Computer Hardware Components (basic anatomy) –processor
(CPU), memory, address and data bus, and input/output
devices.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) – The part of a computer that
sequences and executes instructions.
Memory – A component of the computer that provides the
processor with a working storage area to hold program
instructions and data.
Input/Output Device – A computer component that provides
data and instructions to the computer and receives results
from it.
Bus – A set of electronic circuits used to route data and
instructions to and from the various components of a
computer
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
The components of the computer work together to
complete the instructions (e.g., add, multiply, divide,
subtract, compare) of a computer program to accomplish
the goals of the user (e.g., send/receive email, develop a
profit forecast, pay an invoice).
Instruction phase - program’s instructions and any necessary
data are read into the processor
 Fetch instruction. The computer reads the next
program instruction to be executed—along with any
necessary data—into the processor.
 Decode instruction. The instruction is decoded and
passed to the appropriate processor execution unit.
Execution phase: the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
component of the CPU does what it is instructed to do, making
either an arithmetic computation or a logical comparison
 Execute instruction. The computer executes the
instruction by making an arithmetic computation,
logical comparison, bit shift, or vector operation.
 Store results. The results are stored in temporary
storage locations called registers or in memory.
Clock Speed – A series of electronic pulses produced at a
predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time; measured
in gigahertz.
Gigahertz (GHz) – A unit of frequency that is equal to one
billion cycles per second.
Heat sinks – device or substance for absorbing excessive heat.
Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) – basic set of commands
(opcodes) that the processor can execute.
Processor Family – A set of processors from the same
manufacturer that have similar features and capabilities.
a) x86 – servers based on this processor dominate data
centers, and it is the world’s predominant personal
computer CPU processor.
b) Intel Atom – brand name for a line of ultra-low-
voltage CPUs from Intel that is designed to generate
less heat than the x86 chip; used mostly in lightweight
portable computers and mobile Internet devices.
c) ARM – processors that are used in computers that run
Android, iOS, and other operating systems found in
mobile devices such as laptops and smartphones.
o Reduced Instruction Set Processing (RISC) –
where ARM is based on; execute a small set
of simplified instructions more quickly than
complex instruction set computers based on
the x86 processor.
Multiprocessing – The simultaneous execution of two or more
instructions at the same time.
Coprocessor – The part of the computer that speeds
processing by executing specific types of instructions while the
CPU works on another processing activity.
Multicore Processor – A microprocessor that has two or more
independent processing units, called cores, which are capable
of sequencing and executing instructions.
Parallel Computing – The simultaneous execution of the same
task on multiple processors to obtain results faster.
Massively Parallel Processing System – A system that speeds
processing by linking hundreds or thousands of processors to
operate at the same time, or in parallel, with each processor
having its own bus, memory, disks, copy of the operating
system, and applications.
Grid Computing – The use of a collection of computers, often
owned by multiple individuals or organizations, that work in a
coordinated manner to solve a common problem; low-cost
approach to parallel computing.
Integrated Circuit (IC) – A set of electronic circuits on one small
piece of semiconductor material, normally silicon.
Semiconductor Fabrication Plant – A factory where integrated
circuits are manufactured; also called a fab or a foundry.
Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) – a highly complex
process used in manufacturing computer chips with feature
sizes that are extremely small— measured in nanometers (nm)
or billionths of a meter.
Main Memory – The component of a computer that provides
the CPU with a working storage area for program instructions
and data.
Byte (B) – Eight bits that together represent a single character
of data.
Types of Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) – A form of memory in which
instructions or data can be temporarily stored.
1. Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) – byte-
addressable storage used for high-speed registers and
caches
2. Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) – byte-
addressable storage used for the main memory in a
computer
3. Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random
Access Memory (DDR SDRAM) – an improved for
DRAM that effectively doubles the rate at which data
can be moved in and out of main memory.
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
Cache Memory – A type of highspeed memory that a processor
can access more rapidly than main memory.
a) Level 1 (L1) – cache is on the CPU chip
b) Level 2 (L2) – cache memory can be accessed by the
CPU over a high-speed dedicated interface
c) Level 3 (L3) – external cache; tertiary level supported
by placing the L2 cache directly on the CPU chip itself.
Cache Controller – determines s how often the data is used,
transfers frequently used data to cache memory, and then
deletes the data when it goes out of use.
Read-Only Memory (ROM) – A nonvolatile form of memory;
provides permanent storage for data and instructions that do
not change
1. Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM) – used to
hold data and instructions that can never be changed.
2. Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only
Memory (EEPROM) – user-modifiable read-only
memory that can be erased and reprogrammed
repeatedly through the application of higher-than-
normal electrical voltage; requires data to be written
or erased 1 byte at a time.
Storing data safely and effectively is critical to an
organization’s success.
Secondary Storage – device that stores large amounts of data,
instructions, and information more permanently than allowed
with main memory; not directly accessible by the CPU;
magnetic, optical and solid state.
Magnetic Tape – A type of sequential secondary storage
medium, now used primarily for storing backups of critical
organizational data in the event of a disaster.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) – A direct access storage device used to
store and retrieve data from rapidly rotating disks coated with
magnetic material; represents bits of data with small
magnetized areas and uses a read/write head to go directly to
the desired piece of data.
Redundant Array of Independent/Inexpensive Disks (RAID) –
A method of storing data that generates extra bits of data from
existing data, allowing the system to create a “reconstruction
map” so that if a hard drive fails, the system can rebuild lost
data.
 Disk Mirroring – provides an exact copy that protects
users fully in the event of data loss.
Virtual Tape – A storage device for less frequently needed
data. With virtual tape systems, data appears to be stored
entirely on tape cartridges, although some parts of it might
actually be located on faster hard disks.
Virtual Tape Server – software associated with a virtual tape
system.
Optical Storage Device – A form of data storage that uses
lasers to read and write data. compact disc read-only
Memory (CD-ROM) – A common form of optical disc on which
data cannot be modified once it has been recorded.
CD Burner / CD Recorder – a device that can record data to a
compact disc.
Digital Video Disc (DVD) – form of optical disc storage that
looks like a CD but that can store more data and access it more
quickly
Solid State Storage Device (SSD) – A storage device that stores
data in memory chips rather than on hard disk drives or optical
media; USB or universal serial bus.
USB – allows for vertical stacking of flash cells, require less
space to store data.
Enterprise Storage – large-scale secondary storage
1. Attached Storage – tape, hard disk drives (including
RAID devices), virtual tape systems, optical devices,
and solid-state secondary storage devices—which are
connected directly to a single computer.
2. Network-attached Storage (NAS) – A hard disk drive
storage device that is set up with its own network
address and provides file-based storage services to
other devices on the network.
3. Storage Area Networks (SANs) – high-speed, special-
purpose network that integrates different types of
data storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives, magnetic
tape, solid state secondary storage devices) into a
single storage system and connects that to computing
resources across an entire organization
4. Cloud Computing Storage or Storage as a Service –
data storage model where a data storage service
provider rents space to individuals and organizations.
Policy-Based Storage Management – The automation of
storage using previously defined policies.
Input and Output Devices – the gateways to the computer
system; used to provide data and instructions to the computer
and receive results from it.
Businesses want input devices that let them accurately and
rapidly enter data into a computer system, and they want
output devices that let them produce timely results.
Data Entry – Converting human readable data into a machine-
readable form.
Data Input – Transferring machine readable data into the
system.
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
Source Data Automation – capturing and editing data where it
is initially created and in a form that can be directly entered
into a computer, thus ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Devices Used to Enter and Input General Types of Data
1. Common Personal Computer Input Devices
2. Speech-Recognition Technology – Input devices that
recognize human speech
3. Motion-Sensing Input Devices – allows the user to
interact with and manipulate items on the video
screen via gestures and pointing.
4. Scanning Devices – capture image and character
data
5. Optical Data Readers – Optical Mark Recognition
(OMR) or Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
6. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition / MICR Device –
codes data on the bottom of a check or other form
using special magnetic ink, which is readable by
people and computers.
7. Magnetic Stripe Card – A type of card that stores a
limited amount of data by modifying the magnetism
of tiny iron-based particles contained in a band on the
card.
8. Chip Cards – creates a unique transaction code that
can never be used again
9. Smart Card – A credit card embedded with a
computer chip that contains key consumer and
account data; smart card users must either enter their
PIN (chip-and-PIN) or sign (chip-and-sign) for each
transaction to be approved.
10. Contactless Payment Card – A card with an
embedded chip that only needs to be held close to a
terminal to transfer its data; no PIN number needs to
be entered
11. Point-Of-Sale (POS) Device – A device used to enter
data into a computer system.
12. Automated Teller Machine (ATM) – another type of
special-purpose input/ output device, is a terminal
that bank customers use to perform transactions with
their bank accounts.
13. Bar-Code Scanner – employs a laser scanner to read a
bar-coded label and pass the data to a computer.
14. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) – A technology
that employs a microchip with an antenna to
broadcast its unique identifier and location to
receivers.
15. Pen Input Devices
16. Touch Screens
Output Devices
1. Display Screen – is a device used to show the output
from the computer
o Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) – uses several layers
of charged liquid crystals placed between clear
plates that are lit from behind by a fluorescent
light to create light and images.
o Light-emitting diode (LED) – An LCD display that
uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as backlight on
the screen rather than a fluorescent lamp
o Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) – Functions
by exciting organic compounds with electric
current to produce bright, sharp images
o Plasma – Uses electricity to excite gas atoms to
light up appropriate phosphors on the screen to
emit light and color
 Computer Graphics Card – A component of a
computer that takes binary data from the CPU
and translates it into an image you see on your
display device. graphics
 Processing Unit (GPU) – A powerful processing
chip that renders images on the screen display
2. Printers and Plotters
3. 3D Printers
o Bioprinting – The use of 3D printers to build
human parts and organs from actual human cells.
4. Digital Audio Player – A device that can store,
organize, and play digital music files.
o MP3 – A standard format for compressing a
sound sequence into a small file.
5. E-Book – The digital media equivalent of a
conventional printed book.
Portable Computer – A computer small enough to carry easily.
Wearable Computer – An electronic device capable of storing
and processing data that is incorporated into a person’s
clothing or personal accessories.
Smartphones employ a combination chipset called a “system
on a chip,” which includes processor cores, RAM and ROM
memory, interface controllers, and voltage regulators.
Laptop – A personal computer designed for use by mobile
users, being small and light enough to sit comfortably on a
user’s lap.
Tablet – A portable, lightweight computer with no keyboard
that allows you to roam the office, home, or factory floor
carrying the device like a clipboard.
Thin Client – A low-cost, centrally managed computer with no
internal or external attached drives for data storage.
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
Desktop Computer – A nonportable computer that fits on a
desktop and provides sufficient computing power, memory,
and storage for most business computing tasks.
Nettop – A very small, inexpensive desktop computer typically
used for Internet access, email, accessing Web-based
applications, document processing, and audio/video playback.
Workstations – A more powerful personal computer used for
mathematical computing, computer-assisted design, and
other high-end processing but still small enough to fit on a
desktop.
Server – A computer employed by many users to perform a
specific task, such as running network or Internet applications.
Scalability – The ability to increase the processing capability of
a computer system so that it can handle more users, more
data, or more transactions in a given period.
Mainframe Computer – A large, powerful computer often
shared by hundreds of concurrent users connected to the
machine over a network.
Supercomputers – The most powerful computer systems with
the fastest processing speeds.
Server Farm – A facility that houses a large number of servers
in the same room, where access to the machines can be
controlled and authorized support personnel can more easily
manage and maintain the servers.
Virtual Server – A method of logically dividing the resources of
a single physical server to create multiple logical servers, each
acting as its own dedicated machine.
Virtualization – an approach to improving hardware utilization
by logically dividing the resources of a single physical server to
create multiple logical servers.
Container – A way for software developers and hardware
managers to package applications and software components
into a well-defined, compact envelope that can be used to
more easily manage it, including moving it across various hosts.
Blade Server – A server that houses many individual computer
motherboards that include one or more processors, computer
memory, computer storage, and computer network
connections.
Data Center – A climate and-access-controlled building or a set
of buildings that houses the computer hardware that delivers
an organization’s data and information services.
Green Computing – A program concerned with the efficient
and environmentally responsible design, manufacture,
operation, and disposal of IS-related products; 3 Goals:
1. reduce the use of hazardous material
2. allow companies to lower their power-related costs
3. enable the safe disposal or recycling of computers
and computer-related equipment
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) –
A system that enables purchasers to evaluate, compare, and
select electronic products based on a set of environmental
criteria.
CHAPTER 4: SOFTWARE AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Principles
 Software is valuable in helping individuals,
workgroups, and entire enterprises achieve their
goals.
 The operating system is called the “soul of the
computer” because it controls how you enter data
into your computer, perform meaningful work, and
display results.
 Organizations typically use off-the-shelf application
software to meet common business needs and
proprietary application software to meet unique
business needs and provide a competitive advantage.
 The software industry continues to undergo constant
change; computer users need to be aware of recent
trends and issues in the software industry to be
effective in their business and personal life.
The operating system is sometimes called the “soul of the
computer,” and without it, you would be unable to enter
data into your computer, perform meaningful work, or
display results. You use application software to help you
accomplish tasks that enable you to accomplish tasks
efficiently and effectively.
Software – consists of computer programs that control the
workings of computer hardware.
a) System Software – Software that includes operating
systems, utilities, and middleware that coordinate the
activities and functions of the hardware and other
programs throughout the computer system.
b) Application Software – Programs that help users
solve particular computing problems.
Sphere of Influence – The scope of the problems and
opportunities that the software addresses.
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
Personal Sphere of Influence – The sphere of influence that
serves the needs of an individual user.
Personal Productivity Software – Software that enables users
to improve their personal effectiveness, increasing the amount
of work and quality of work they can do.
Workgroup – Two or more people who work together to
achieve a common goal.
Workgroup Sphere of Influence – The sphere of influence that
helps workgroup members attain their common goals.
Enterprise Sphere of Influence – The sphere of influence that
serves the needs of an organization in its interactions with its
environment.
Operating System (OS) – A set of computer programs that
controls the computer hardware and acts as an interface to
application software.
a) Single computer with a single user
b) Single computer with multiple simultaneous users
c) Multiple computers with multiple users
d) Special-purpose computers
Role of Operating Systems – to act as an interface between
application software and hardware.
Kernel – The heart of the operating system that controls the
most critical processes of the OS.
Functions Performed by the Operating System
 Control common computer hardware functions
 Provide a user interface and manage input/output
management
 Provide a degree of hardware independence
 Manage system memory
 Manage processing tasks
 Provide networking capability
 Control access to system resources
 Manage files
Common Hardware Functions
 Get input from the keyboard or another input device
 Retrieve data from disks
 Store data on disks
 Display information on a monitor or printer
User Interface – The element of the operating system that
allows people to access and interact with the computer
system.
Command-Based User Interface – A user interface that
requires you to give text commands to the computer to
perform basic activities.
Graphical User Interface (GUI) – An interface that displays
pictures (icons) and menus that people use to send commands
to the computer system.
Application Programming Interface (API) – A set of
programming instructions and standards that enables one
software program to access and use the services of another
software program.
Hardware Independence – The ability of a software program
to run on any platform, without concern for the specific
underlying hardware.
The OS also controls how memory is accessed, maximizing
the use of available memory and storage to provide optimum
efficiency.
Paging – swapping of programs or parts of programs between
memory and one or more disk devices; reduces CPU idle time
and increases the number of jobs that can run in a given time
span.
Mainframe computers – “Big Iron,”; provide the computing
and storage capacity required for massive data-processing
environments, and they provide systems that can support
many users while delivering high performance and excellent
system availability, strong security, and scalability.
Embedded System – A computer system (including some sort
of processor) that is implanted in and dedicated to the control
of another device.
Operating systems’ 5 basic approaches to task
management
 Multiuser. Allows two or more users to run programs at
the same time on the same computer.
 Multiprocessing. Supports running a program on more
than one CPU.
 Multitasking. Allows more than one program to run
concurrently.
 Multithreading. Allows different threads of a single
program to run concurrently.
 Real time. Responds to input instantly.
Utility Program – A program that helps to perform
maintenance or correct problems with a computer system
Hardware utilities – can be used to check the status of all parts
of the PC, including hard disks, memory, modems, speakers,
and printers.
Disk Utilities – check the hard disk’s boot sector, file allocation
tables, and directories and analyze them to ensure that the
hard disk is not damaged.
File-Compression Programs – can reduce the amount of disk
space required to store a file or reduce the time it takes to
transfer a file over the Internet
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
The main enabling technology for cloud computing is
software that allows the creation of virtual servers, which
separate a physical computing device into one or more
“virtual” servers, each of which can be easily used and
managed to perform computing tasks.
Middleware – Software that allows various systems to
communicate and exchange data.
Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) – The systematic tying
together of disparate applications so that they can
communicate.
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) – A software design
approach based on the use of discrete pieces of software
(modules) to provide specific functions as services to other
applications.
The primary function of application software is to apply the
power of a computer system to enable people, workgroups,
and entire enterprises to solve problems and perform
specific tasks.
Rich Internet Application (RIA) – A Web-delivered application
combines hardware resources of the Web server and the PC to
deliver valuable software services through a Web browser
interface.
Proprietary Software – One of-a-kind software designed for a
specific application and owned by the company, organization,
or person that uses it.
Off-The-Shelf Software – Software produced by software
vendors to address needs that are common across businesses,
organizations, or individuals.
Software as A Service (SaaS) – A service that allows businesses
to subscribe to Web-delivered application software.
Personal Application Software
a) Word Processing
b) Spreadsheet Analysis
c) Database Applications
o Database Manipulations – include merging,
editing, and sorting data, and database
applications can be used in a variety of ways.
o Database Management Systems – can be used
to track orders, products, and customers; analyze
weather data to make forecasts; and summarize
medical research results.
d) Presentation Graphics Program
e) Personal Information Managers (PIM) – software
that helps people, groups, and organizations store
useful information, such as a list of tasks to complete
or a set of names and addresses.
 f) Software Suites and Integrated Software Packages
o Software Suite – collection of programs
packaged together and sold in a bundle.
g) Mobile Application Software
Workgroup Application Software – Software that supports
teamwork, whether team members are in the same location or
dispersed around the world.
Programming Languages – Sets of keywords, commands,
symbols, and rules for constructing statements by which
humans can communicate instructions to a computer.
Syntax – A set of rules associated with a programming
language
Compiler – A special software program that converts the
programmer’s source code into the machine-language
instructions, which consist of binary digits.
Integrated Development Environment (IDE) – combines all the
tools required for software engineering into one package.
Software Development Kits (SDKs) – often serve the purpose
of an IDE for a particular platform.
Software Bug – a defect in a computer program that
keeps it from performing as its users expect it to perform.
De Guzman, Camela Joy C.
Single-User License – a software license that permits you
to install the software on one or more computers, used
by one person.
a) General – type of license allows the program to
be installed and used on one CPU that is not
accessed by other users over a network
b) Perpetual license – allows the customer to install
and use the software indefinitely.
c) Subscription license – allows the user to use the
software for a specified time period. This license
usually includes technical support and access to
upgrades and patches released during the term
of the subscription.
d) Freeware license – is offered as freeware by the
author and does not require paying any fee for
use.
e) Shareware license – a license to use software for
a limited trial period. If you want to continue to
use the software after the trial period, you must
pay a shareware fee.
Individual/multiuser licenses

a) Volume licenses – license allows the licensee to

install the software on a certain number of
computers.
b) Site/enterprise – provides access to software at
a single location.

Network/multiuser licenses

a) Per server (network) – A per server license type

requires that you have a single copy of the
software residing on a file server
b) Per seat (machine) – A per machine/seat license
requires that you purchase a license for each
client computer and/or device that needs to
access the software.
c) Per processor – acquisition of a processor license
for each processor in the server on which the
software is running.

Open-source software – distributed, typically for free,

with the source code also available so that it can be
studied, changed, and improved by its users.

De Guzman, Camela Joy C.