Hardware intro:

Introduction:

Hardware is the physical manufactured part of a computer. The most visible example of hardware is the casing of the computer. Any physical part of a computer is hardware. These include the motherboard, CPU, ram, harddisk, floppy disk, keyboard, mouse and monitor. Other hardware items that are often mentioned include printers, modems, CD and DVD drives, scanners and other peripherals.

Hardware items require a to work properly or to fully utilize their capabilities. The device driver is needed to act as a bridge between the operating system and the device. This is so user level programs don't have to worry about interacting with different devices. The device driver provides a standard interface independent of the device.

Examples of hardware that requires device drivers include video cards, sound chips, and Ethernet interfaces. Usually the required driver or drivers are included on a CD-ROM with the item, but sometimes it is necessary to get the latest version from the Internet.

Hardware is often categorized according to its interface to other devices. Common interfaces include USB (universal serial bus), firewire (IEEE 1394), PCI bus, RS-232 serial, and parallel port.

Computer:

A computer is defined as any device which computes. The word comes from Latin meaning "to work out together with". The first use of the word computer did not apply to devices but to people. The word computer was first applied to a mechanical device in 1897.

In modern times a computer is an electronic device where data is input via various means. The data is manipulated via some programs(instructions), and an output is produced either electronically or physically.

Electronically output data can be in the form of files or screen display. Physically output data can be in the form of printed paper or physical movements such as motor control of robots. A computer is available in various sizes, configurations and consists of hardware and software.

Computers can be divided into different modules that when combined work together as a computer. They consist of a computing unit which processes a program. A memory unit which provides a working space for the computing units calculations. A storage unit for long term storage of data. An input unit for inputting programs and data for the computer to work on and finally an output unit for the result of the calculations. The first computing device which had all of these modules integrated as one machine was the Analytical Difference Engine invented by Charles Babbage in 1834. This was a mechanical device which never actually worked but is considered the forerunner of modern computers which use the principles of Babbage's machine.

Computers can be use as stand-alone or in a network. A network can be business or home. Even 2 computers can form a network.