Computer system

The Computer System

System is a collection of elements that work together to solve a specific problem. It can also be defined as a systematic sequence of operations to produce specific results.

A computer system is a combination of six elements namely Hardware, Software, Peopleware, Data/Information, Procedures and Communication. A computer must be a part of a system to be useful.

A. HARDWARE refers to the physical components that perform the function of data preparation, data input, data manipulation, data storage and output of data.

Hardware is categorized as Input, Output, Processing, Storage and Communications Hardware.

I. INPUT HARDWARE consists of devices that take data and programs that people can read or comprehend and convert them to a form that the computer can process.

Two Types of Input Devices

1. Keyboard is a device that converts letters, numbers and other characters into electrical signals that are machine - readable data by the computer's processor. The keyboard allows for user input and action with the computer. Much like many typewriters, the keyboard has all letters of the alphabet, numbers 0 - 9 and additional special operational keys.

TYPES OF KEYBOARDS

QWERTY KEYBOARD

DVORAK KEYBOARD

CHICLET KEYBOARD

2. Direct - entry device refers to many forms of data - entry devices that are not keyboards. Direct entry devices create machine readable data on magnetic media or paper or feed it directly into the computer's processor.

POINTING DEVICE

SCANNING DEVICE

MARK - RECOGNITION AND OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION DEVICES