Components of the Computer System

The computer system is made of three (3) major components,

1.       Hardware,

2.      Software and

3.      Human ware.

1.       Hardware: This refers to the physical parts of the computer which can be seen, touched and moved from one place to another. All these parts containing the main parts and the peripheral devices have been divided into four main groups. They are:-

i)                    Input devices

ii)                  Processing device

iii)                Output devices

iv)                Storage devices

Input Devices: - these are the computer parts used for sending (transferring) data, information, commands, etc into the computer system. Examples are the keyboard, Mouse, Light pen, Graphic, scanner, Electronic tablet, Joystick, etc.

Processing Device: - this is the part of the computer that processes all the activities (operation) regarding the computer system. It is known as the engine of the computer.

Output Devices: - these are the computer parts that are responsible for displaying or giving out result (outcome of the activities performed in the computer. Examples are the Monitor, Printer, Plotter, etc.

Note:- Information displayed on the Monitor are known as the Soft Copy while the ones printed out on papers by the printer are called/ known as Hard Copy of the information(Information here refer to various forms of document)

Storage Devices: - These are the part of the computer that helps to store data or information in the computer for subsequent or future references. Examples of these are the Hard disk, Floppy disk popularly known as the Diskette, cartridge, CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory)

2.       Software: This refers to the set of programs that enables the computer to work. Soft wares are stored inside the computer memory.

There are different types of software, they are:-

i.                    System Software and

ii.                   Application Software

An example of System Software is the operating system such as Windows XP.

Operating system: it is a collection of software consisting of control routine that co-ordinate hardware activity. It is a term used to describe a collection of program modules that supervises the operation and use of all system resources to ensure their efficient and judicious management. It is a unit of program which takes over the operation of the computer to the extent of being able to allow a number of .program to be run on the computer with little or no human intervention.

Importance of operating system

1.      It moderates the relationship between the computer and its peripherals

2.      It helps in the management of files,- copying, deleting, moving of files from one storage location to the other.

3.      It encourages the memory for its efficient usage and thus adding the speed of the computer.

4.      It manages the activities of the processor in terms of job execution according to the priority of arrival ,of jobs

5.      It informs the user of nay hardware or software error

6.      It makes communication between the computer and the user or the operator possible.

Types of operating system

i.                    Single user operating system

ii.                  Multiple user operating system

Examples of Application Software are:

·         Word Processor e.g. Microsoft word, word perfect, Word star etc

·         Graphical/ desktop packages e.g. Microsoft publisher, paintbrush, Corel draw, Ms Power point, PageMaker etc.

·         Database packages e.g. Dbase iii &iv etc

·         Spread sheet packages e.g. Ms Excel,  etc

3.       Human ware

This refers to the set of people working in connection with the computer. Examples are

·         Computer operators

·         Computer programmers

·         Computer Engineers

·         Computer Analysts