ICT Notes
ICT Notes
ICT Notes
Internal hardware
Motherboard A printed circuit board that allows the processor and
other computer hardware to function and communicate
with each other
RAM or Internal memory where data is temporarily stored.
Random Access Data is lost on switching off the computer, which
Memory gives it the name volatile memory.
RAM can be read from or written to
Stores the data or part of the operating system
currently in use.
RAM or Memory used to store data that needs to be
Read Only permanent
Memory Data is kept even when the computer is switched
off, which gives it the name non-volatile memory
Data on the ROM cannot be altered or deleted.
Used to store computer configuration or the BIOS.
Video card Allows the computer to send graphical data to a video
display device such as a monitor, television or projector
Sound card An integrated circuit board that provides the computer
with the ability to produce sound via speakers or
headphones
HDD/SSD Hard disk drive and solid state drive are storage devices
built into a computer to allow data to be stored for
later use or to store application software, photos,
videos and more
CPU (Central Part of the computer that interprets and executes
processing unit) commands from computer hardware and software;
Usually part of the motherboard.
The CPU is often referred to as a microprocessor;
it is made up of the control unit and arithmetic-logic
unit (ALU)
Network interface Allows a computer to connect to any other device
card (NIC)
External hardware
External hardware refers to the keyboard, mouse, speaker, printer and
monitor etc.
Software
Software are programs that control the computer system. There are two kinds
of software – application software and system software.
Application software
Application software are programs that allow the user to do specific tasks on
the computer.
Word processor This is used to manipulate text documents such as
editing, saving and manipulating text, copy and paste,
spell checker and thesaurus, importing photos, text
and spreadsheets, translation of text into other
languages.
Spreadsheet Used to organise and manipulate numerical data
Data is organised in cells in a grid of lettered
columns and numbered rows
Common features include formulae to carry out
calculations, ability to produce graphs, modeling and
‘what if’scenarios.
Database Used to organise, manipulate and analyse data; uses
one or two tables to organise the data
tables are made up of records
Common functions include ability to carry out
queries on data and produce reports, and add,
delete and modify data in tables.
Control/measuring Designed to allow computer/microprocessor to
interface with sensors to allow physical quantities in
the real world to be measured;
Control of processes by comparing sensor data with
pre-stored data and sending out signals to alter
process parameters (for example, open/close a
valve).
Apps and applets Type of software that usually runs on tablets or
mobile phones;
Applets are small applications that perform a single
task on a device (they are usually embedded in an
HTML page on a website and can be executed from
within a browser).
Apps refer to software which can perform a fairly
substantial task
Photo editing Allows user to manipulate digital photos such as
changing backgrounds, apply filters, cropping etc
Video editing Allows user to manipulate videos, for example, addition
of titles, colour correction, creating transitions between
video clips, and so on
Graphics editing Allows bitmap and vector images to be changed
Computer-aided This is software used to help in the creation,
design (CAD) manipulation, modification and analysis of a
software drawing/design.
It can be used to produce 2D or 3D diagrams
Audio editing Allows a user to edit, manipulate and generate audio
software data on a computer such as altering length of track,
start/stop time of track, conversion between audio file
formats, volume of track, fading in/out, combine
multiple sound tracks, noise reduction and to create
another version of the sound track (for example, a
continuous loop or phone ring tone).
Systems software
Systems software are programs that allow the hardware to run properly and
allow the user to communicate with the computer.
Disadvantages
The user has to learn a number of commands just to carry out basic
operations.
It is also slow having to key in these commands every time an operation has
to be carried out.
Each command must be typed in using the correct format, spelling
Advantages
The user does not need to learn any commands.
It is more user-friendly; icons are used to represent applications.
A pointing device (such as a mouse) is used to click on an icon to launch
the application – this is simpler than typing in commands.
Disadvantages
Uses up considerably more computer memory than a CLI interface.
The user is limited to the icons provided on the screen.
Needs a more complex operating system, such as Windows, to operate,
which can be slower to execute commands.
Advantages
Very useful for people with disabilities because many tasks can be carried
out by the spoken word only
Possible to use as a security feature because voice recognition could be
used to identify a person
Disadvantages
May be unreliable, with many commands not being recognised or needing
to be repeated several times (especially if there is background noise)
Can be quite complex to set up
User needs to know which commands can be used
Gesture-based interfaces
Gesture-based interfaces rely on human interaction by the moving of hands,
head or even the feet.
Advantages
Replaces mechanical input devices
No physical contact required
Very natural interface for a human operator
No training needed to interface with the computer
Disadvantages
Possible for unintentional movement to be picked up
Only works fairly near to the camera or sensor
May only accept a limited number of movements
Features of smartphones
Have an operating system (such as iOS, Android or Windows) allowing them
to run a number of computer applications known as apps or applets.
Allow users to send/receive emails
Use camera feature to take photos or videos
MP3/4 players for music and videos
Browse the internet by using 3G/4G/5G mobile phone networks.
Lower weight and longer battery life than laptops
Bluetooth for connection to printers and other devices
Make use of flash (solid state) memory and cloud storage facilities to back
up
Advantages of smartphones
They are very small in size and lightweight – therefore they are very easy to
carry
Apart from calling, can access Internet while on the move
They have apps which make use of sensor data provided by the
smartphone, for instance location data for maps, transport and delivery
apps
They have a reasonable battery life compared to laptops.
Disadvantages of smartphones
The small screens and keyboards make pages difficult to read.
It is more difficult and slower when typing things due to smaller keyboard
Web browsing and photography can quickly drain the battery.
Memory size in most phones is not very large when compared to laptops
and desktops
Because of their small size, it is much easier to lose a smartphone or for it
to be stolen compared to laptops or desktops.
The data transfer rate using mobile phone networks can be slower than
with Wi-Fi – this makes streaming of video or music, for example, less than
satisfactory at times.
Phablets
Phablets are hybrid between a tablet and a smartphone. They have much
larger screens than a smartphone but are smaller than a tablet.
Negative impacts of AI
could lead to many job losses
loss of skills due to dependency on technology
Makes lifestyle more sedentary
Extended reality
Extended reality (XR) refers to real and virtual combined environments. The
three most common examples are:
Augmented reality (AR)
Virtual reality (VR)
Mixed reality (MR).
Disadvantages of keyboards
Can be difficult to use if the user has limited arm/wrist use.
Slow method when compared to direct data entry
Fairly large device that uses up valuable desk space.
Mouse
The mouse is an example of a pointing device.
Advantages of a mouse
Faster method for choosing an option rather than using a keyboard.
Very quick way of navigating through applications and the internet.
Does not need a large desk area when compared to a keyboard.
Disadvantages of a mouse
Can be more difficult for people with restricted hand/wrist movement than
using a keyboard for data entry.
Easy to damage, and the older type of mouse quickly becomes clogged up
with dirt.
Difficult to use if no flat surface readily available (for example, on an
aeroplane).
Touchpad
Touchpads are used as a pointing device in many laptop computers.
Advantages of a touchpad
Same as the mouse (faster than a keyboard for choosing options, used to
navigate applications and the internet, etc.).
Because the touchpad is integrated into the laptop computer there is no
need for a separate mouse
Disadvantages of a touchpad
People with limited hand/wrist movement find the device difficult to use.
Can be more difficult to control the pointer when compared to a normal
mouse.
More difficult to use when doing certain operations such as drag and drop.
Uses of a trackerball
Can be a good alternative to a mouse for people with conditions such as
RSI.
Used in an industrial control room environment where it is faster than a
mouse to navigate through process screens.
Used in some luxury cars to select functions such as radio, telephone,
music, satnav and so on.
Remote control
A remote control is used for the operation of other devices using infrared
signals.
Uses of a joystick
Used in video/computer games.
Used in simulators (for example, flight simulators) to mimic actual controls.
Scanners
Scanners are used to enter information from hard copy (for example, text
documents, photographs) into a computer.
Uses of scanners
For archiving old books and records
Scan in photographs
Scan in barcodes at POS terminals.
Advantages of scanners
Images can be stored for editing at a later date.
It is possible to recover damaged documents and photographs by scanning
in and then using appropriate software to produce an acceptable copy.
Disadvantages of scanners
Quality can be limited depending on how good a resolution the scanner is
They can be fairly slow at scanning, especially if the colour scanning mode is
chosen or if the chosen scanning resolution is high.
Sensor
A sensor is a device that inputs data regarding the measurement of some
physical quantity that is continuously changing to a computer.These physical
quantities are analogue in nature.
Because computers only understand digital data (1s and 0s), the information
from the sensors needs to be converted using an ADC.
ADC.
Light pens
Light pens are used with CRT monitors as an input device. They contain sensors
that send signals to a computer whenever light changes are detected.
Uses of RFID
Livestock tracking to track the location and establish identity of the farm
animal
Retail for inventory stocking
Admission passes
Libraries - no need to scan barcodes making the process quicker and more
accurate.
Advantages of RFID
The tags can be read from a distance.
It is a very robust and reliable technology.
Very fast read-rate
It can detect several RFID tags at the same time.
Disadvantages of RFID
Tag collision (this is when the signals from two or more tags overlap,
interfering with each other).
Because RFID uses radio waves, they are relatively easy to jam or interrupt.
It is relatively easy to hack into the data/signal transmitted by the tag.
RFID is more expensive than a comparable barcode system.
Uses of OCR
Processing of passports and identity cards.
ANPR systems in car parks.
Digitising historic newspapers and rare books so they can be archived and
used by researchers, preventing damage to the originals.
Advantages of OCR
It is a much faster data entry system than manually keying in data.
Because there is no manual data entry, the number of errors is also
reduced.
Disadvantages of OCR
The system still has difficulty reading some handwriting.
Barcode readers
Barcode readers are direct data entry devices used to read information in the
form of a bar code.
Uses
Used in advertising to give automatic access to a website or contact
telephone number
Storing boarding passes electronically at airports and train stations
Used for payment systems
Wi-Fi authentication; QR codes can be used to store Wi-Fi network
authentication; when the QR code is scanned using a smartphone/tablet, it
will be able to automatically join that network.
Advantages of QR codes
They can hold much more information than normal barcode.
There will be fewer errors than with barcodes
QR codes are easier to read -– they can be read by the cameras used on
smartphones and tablets.
It is easy to transmit QR codes either as text messages or images.
It is also possible to encrypt QR codes, which gives them greater
protection than traditional barcodes.
Disadvantages of QR codes
More than one QR format is available.
QR codes can be used to transmit malicious codes known as attagging and
gain access to everything on the user’s smartphone/tablet. The user could
also be sent to a fake website, or it is even possible for a virus to be
downloaded.
Output devices
These are devices that usually show the result of computer processing in a
format that can be understood by a human. Touch screens can work as both an
input device and as an output device.
Uses of touch screens acting as output
Ticket collection machines at theatres, cinemas and railway stations
Information kiosks at museums or art galleries.
Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers are essentially made up of a print head, which consists of
nozzles which spray droplets of ink on to the paper to form characters
Uses of plotters
Producing architectural drawings.
Producing engineering drawings.
Drawing animation characters (cartoon characters).
3D printers
3D printers can produce solid objects built up layer by layer using materials
such as powdered resin, powdered metal, paper or ceramic.
Uses of 3D printers
Prosthetic limbs
Making items to allow precision reconstructive surgery
In aerospace, making wings and other aeroplane parts using 3D technology
Making parts for items no longer in production, for example, parts for a
vintage car.
Advantages of 3D printers
The manufacturing of items has become much easier than ever before.
Allows for rapid prototyping. This means that it will take a really short
length of time for designs to be converted into working prototypes.
Even though the cost of 3D printing is very high, it is still less when
compared to labour costs and other costs involved in manufacturing a
product in the more conventional way.
Disadvantages of 3D printers
Potential to make counterfeit items or items that infringe others’ copyright.
Could be used to manufacture dangerous items by almost anyone.
Potential for job losses if this technology takes over from some types of
manufacturing.
Actuators
When a computer is used to control devices, such as a conveyer belt or a valve,
it is usually necessary to use an actuator to, for example, start/stop the
conveyer belt or open/close the valve.
CDs and DVDs can be designated as: ‘R’ (write once only), ‘RW’ (can be written
to or read from many times) or ‘ROM’ (read-only).
Blu-ray discs are another example of optical storage media.
Solid-state media and can be used in the same way as an HDD as a storage
device to store files, applications, operating system, and so on.
Advantages of SSDs
more reliable (no moving parts to go wrong)
considerably lighter
do not have to ‘get up to speed’ before they work properly
lower power consumption
Run much cooler than HDDs
because of no moving parts, they are very thin
Data access time and data transfer time is much faster than for HDDs.
Pen drives
Pen drives (memory sticks) are small portable devices that make use of
solid-state technology.
They connect to the computer through a USB port.
Their main advantage is that they are very small, lightweight portable
devices
Memory cards
A memory card makes use of solid-state technology. They can be inserted into
a device which can read the card or allow data to be written to the card. The
cards come in various memory sizes.
Each NIC is given a unique hardwired (or hard-coded) media access control
(MAC) address at the manufacturing stage. When installed in a device, this
uniquely identifies that device.
Data packets
Data is moved around networks in the form of data packets. Packets of data
will usually have a header which contains:
the sender’s IP address
the receiver’s IP address
the sequence of the packets so that all the packets can be reassembled into
the correct order once they reach the destination
the packet size to ensure the receiving station can check if all of the packets
have arrived intact
how many data packets make up the whole message.
Hubs
Hubs are hardware devices that will take a data packet received at one of its
ports and send it to every device connected to it. They are used primarily to
connect devices together in LAN.
Disadvantages of hubs
Hubs are not very secure because every device will receive every data
packet.
There will be unnecessary traffic on the network, which results in reduced
bandwidth.
Switches
A switch stores the MAC addresses of all devices on the network in a look up
table. Using the look-up table, a switch matches the MAC address of an
incoming data packet arriving at one of its ports, and directs it to the correct
device. None of the other devices will see this data packet. Like the hub,
switches are also used to connect devices in a LAN only.
Bridges
Bridges are devices that connect one LAN to another LAN that uses the same
protocol.
Routers
Routers are used to route data packets from one network to another network,
based on IP addresses.
Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a method of data storage where data is stored on remote
servers.
There are three common cloud storage systems:
Public cloud – this is a storage environment where the customer and cloud
storage provider are different companies.
Private cloud – this is a storage provided where the customer and cloud
storage provider are integrated and operate as a single entity and the data
resides behind a dedicated firewall.
Hybrid cloud – this is where some data resides in the private cloud and less-
sensitive data can be accessed from a public cloud storage provider.
Network types
Local area network (LAN)
Local area networks (LANs) are usually within one building or geographically
near each other.
A typical LAN will consist of a number of computers and devices (for example,
printers) which will be connected to hubs or switches.
Physical tokens
A physical (or hardware) token is a form of authentication in the form of a
physical, solid object.
The user’s interaction with a login system is used to prove that the user has
possession of the token.
Physical tokens contain internal clocks and when a PIN and other
authentication details are entered, then a one-time password (OTP) is
generated.
The OTP is shown on a small screen.
The code changes on a regular basis and is usually only valid for less than a
minute.
Electronic tokens
Electronic (software) tokens are software installed on a user’s device, such
as a smartphone.
When the website requests the user to authenticate who they are, the user
opens the app on their smartphone.
The app generates a one-time password (OTP) which is valid for less than a
minute.
The user enters this OTP when prompted by the website, together with
some other form of authentication, such as PIN, touch ID or face ID.
Once the OTP and other form of authentication are verified by the website,
the user will be allowed access.
Electronic Conferencing
There are three types of electronic conferencing:
Video conferencing
Audio conferencing
Web conferencing.
Video conferencing
Video conferencing is a communication method that uses both video and
sound. The basic hardware includes webcams, large monitors/television
screens, microphones and speakers.
Audio conferencing
Audio conferencing refers to meetings held between people using audio
equipment.
Web conferencing
Web conferencing (webinar or webcasts) uses the internet to permit
conferencing to take place. Multiple computers are used with this system, all
connected over the internet.
The only requirement is a computer and a high-speed, stable internet
connection.
To carry out web conferencing, each user either downloads an application or
logs on to a website from a link supplied in an email from the conference
organiser.