Unit 4 What is hardware?

The hardware- the devices composing a computer system.

Computer hardware can be divided into four categories:

• input hardware.

• processing hardware.

• storage hardware.

• output hardware.

Input hardware

Input hardware collects data and converts them into a form suitable for computer processing. The most common input device is a keyboard. It looks very much like a typewriter. The mouse is hand-held device connected to the computer by a small cable. As the mouse is rolled across the desktop, the cursor moves across the screen. When the cursor reaches the desired location, the user usually pushes a button on the mouse once or twice to give a command to the computer.

Processing hardware

Processing hardware directs the execution of software instructions in the computer. The most common components of processing hardware are the central processing unit and main memory.

The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of the computer. It reads and interprets software instructions and coordinates the processing.

Memory is the component of the computer in which information is stored. There are two types of computer memory: RAM and ROM.

RAM (random access memory) is the memory, used for creating, loading and running programs.

ROM (read only memory) is computer memory used to hold programmed instructions to the system.

The more memory you have in your computer, the more operations you can perform.

Storage hardware

The purpose of storage hardware is to store computer instructions and date hardware.

There are two types of output; soft copy and hard copy. Soft copy is information that is seen on a television-like screen, of monitor, attached to most computers. It is temporary; as soon as the monitor is turned off or new information is required, the old information vanishes. Hard copy is output printed in a tangible form such as on paper. It can be read without using the computer and can be conveniently carried around, written on, or passed to other readers.

Vocabulary:

Keyboard клавиатура

Mouse мышь

to load загружать

Instruction команда

Error message сообщение об ошибки

Input ввод

Output вывод информации

Button кнопка

Memory память

to create создавать

Soft copy мягкая копия, изображение на экране

Hard copy твердая копия, машинная (печатная)

to attach подсоединяться, подключать

I. Answer the following questions.

1. What is hardware?

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2. What does input hardware do?

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3. What is the most common input device?

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4. What are the main components of processing hardware?

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5. What is the purpose of storage hardware?

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6. What do you think is a hard copy?

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