Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE ICT Your notes

Hardware & Software

Contents
Hardware
Software
Analogue & Digital Data

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 Hardware
Your notes
Hardware
What is hardware?
Hardware is the physical components of a computer system
Hardware can be divided into three categories:
Internal components
Internal memory
Hardware components

Internal components
Internal components include:
Central Processing Unit (CPU) - brain of the computer
Processors - electronic circuits that process information
Motherboard - connects all important components together allowing them to
communicate

Internal memory
Internal memory include:
Random Access Memory (RAM) - fast, working memory
Read-Only Memory (ROM) - holds start-up instruction for the computer

Hardware components
Hardware components include:
Graphics card (GPU) - processes images and video
Sound card - processes audio
Network Interface Card (NIC) - provides wired connection to a network
Camera - captures images or video
Internal/external storage devices - stores data permanently e.g. hard drive, USB
memory stick
Input devices - allow user input e.g. mouse & keyboard
Output devices - output results of processing e.g. monitor

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Worked Example
A computer contains internal hardware. Your notes
Write down the most appropriate item of internal hardware to match the descriptions.
a. This handles all the system instructions [1]
Processor / CPU [1]

b. A printed circuit board that contains the main components of the computer [1]
Motherboard [1]

c. This generates output for the speaker [1]

Sound card [1]

d. A type of memory where data is lost when the computer is switched off [1]
RAM / Random Access Memory [1]

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 Software
Your notes
Software
What is software?
Software is the set of programs that control the hardware; they live on the computer
system but cannot be physically touched
Software can be broken down in to two categories:
Application software
System software

What is application software?

Application software (abbreviated 'apps') is software chosen by a user to help them
carry out a specific task
Application software is installed on top of system software and is user-chosen to best
suit industry requirements
Common categories of application software include:
Word processing: creating and editing text documents
Spreadsheet: organising and analysing data in a grid format
Database management systems: storing, retrieving and managing data in
databases
Control/measurement: uses sensors to measure and control a system
Video editing: creating and modifying video files

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 Graphics editing: creating and modifying images
Audio editing: creating and modifying sound files Your notes
Computer-Aided Design (CAD): designing and modelling objects in 2D or 3D
What is system software?
System software is software essential for the operation of a computer system
Without system software, a user has no starting point for giving a computer instructions
System software gives users a platform to run applications and carry out tasks
Essential services carried out by system software include:
Compilers: translating high-level programming languages into machine code
Linkers: combining object files into a single executable program
Device drivers: controlling hardware components and peripherals
Operating systems: managing the computer's resources and providing a user
interface
Utilities: tools for maintaining and optimising the computer's performance

Worked Example
Tick whether the following are examples of applications software or system
software
[2]

Applications Systems

Control software

Compiler

Word processor

Device driver

Answers

Applications (✓) System (✓)

Control software ✓

Compiler ✓

Word processing ✓

Device drivers ✓

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 2 marks for 4 correct ticks
1 mark for 2 or 3 correct ticks
0 marks for 0 or 1 tick Your notes

Examiner Tips and Tricks

A common misconception is that control software is system software—it's actually
application software!

Operating Systems
What is an operating system?
An operating system (OS) is software that provides an interface between the user and
the hardware in a computer system
An operating system enables a system to function by:
Controlling input/output devices
Oversees loading, running and storage of application software
Deals with errors
Maintains security
Keeps a log of events

What is a user interface?

A user interface is how the user interacts with the operating system
Examples of user interfaces include:
Command Line Interface (CLI)
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Dialogue-based
Gesture-based

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 Your notes

Feature CLI GUI Dialogue- Gesture-based

based

How do users Text-based Visual Spoken Human interaction

interact? commands elements word (hands, fingers, head or
(WIMP) feet)

Examples MSDOS, Windows and Amazon Smartphones (swiping,

Raspbian Mac OS Alexa, Siri pinching, and zooming)

Advantages and disadvantages of user interfaces

Interface Advantages Disadvantages

Command line Uses fewer system resources Requires users to remember

(CLI) commands
Useful for automation of tasks
Typing errors are common
Commands are often faster to
type than navigating menus Less intuitive than GUI

Graphical Intuitive and user-friendly Uses more system

(GUI) resources
Requires no previous knowledge
to use It can be slower to find and
execute commands
Information is visual, making it
easier to understand Can be frustrating when
doing repetitive tasks

Dialogue- Can be used by people with Not always reliable

based disabilities
Privacy concerns
Intuitive

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Gesture- Intuitive Precision
based
Can be used by people with Recognition errors Your notes
disabilities
Can lead to discomfort
Immersive
Limited support
Faster for certain tasks

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 Analogue & Digital Data
Your notes
Analogue & Digital Data
What is analogue data?
Analogue data is continuous data created from non-digital devices
Analogue data can change gradually and smoothly
Examples of analogue data include:
sound waves produced when you talk
data collected by sensors (output)

What is digital data?

Digital data is data represented in a binary format (1s and 0s)
Digital data is created and/or stored using digital devices
Examples of digital data include:
software
documents/files

Characteristics of analogue & digital data

Analogue Digital

Values change smoothly and gradually Values are limited (1s and 0s)

Quality can be lost during Quality is maintained during

storage/transmission storage/transmission

Needs to be converted to digital to be Needs to be converted to analogue to use in

used in digital devices analogue devices

Easily manipulated

Analogue to digital conversion (ADC)

Analogue data must be converted to digital data so that it can be processed by a
computer
The ADC process involves taking samples (measurements) of the analogue signal and
converting it to a binary code
The sample rate and a higher number of binary digits used in the conversion leads to a
more accurate representation of the original signal, but, takes up more space on

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 secondary storage
Digital to analogue conversion (DAC) Your notes
Digital data must be converted to analogue data so that it can be used to control
devices
The DAC process involves converting discrete digital values (1s and 0s) back into a
continuous analogue signal
The quality of the analogue signal after conversion is based on the original sample rate
and number of bits used in the digital data

Worked Example
A greenhouse is used to grow plants and is computer controlled. Give two reasons
why data from the sensors needs to be converted for use by a computer.
[2]
Answer
Two of:
So that the data from the sensor can be understood by the computer [1]
The output from a sensor is analogue [1]
The input to the computer is digital [1]

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