The Hardware Component of a Computer System – JSS2 Computer Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

HARDWARE

Hardware is any computer part you can physically touch, pick up, hold, and move around. In other words, hardware are the physical parts that make up the computer 

Components of computer hardware: These include 

1.         Input device
2.         Output device
3.         Storage device
4.         Arithmetic logic unit 
5.         Control unit

Input device: This device is used for entering data and programs into the computer system by the user for processing.  The input device is divided into two types, these are: 

1.         Manual input device
2.         Automatic input device 

Examples of input devices are: 

1.   keyboard 
2.    mouse 
3.    joystick 
4.    graphics tablet 
5.    trackball 
6.    touchpad 
7.    touch screen 
8.   microphone 
9.   sensor
10. Scanner
11. Webcam

Output device: Output devices are pieces of hardware that send usable processed information out of the computer. 

Examples of output devices are as follows

1.         printer 
2.         monitor 
3.         touch screen 
4.         plotter 
5.         speakers 
6.         headphones 
7.         Media projector

Types of output device

1.         Temporary Output Devices – E.g. Monitors which constantly refresh the outputted image on the screen 
2.         Permanent Output Devices – E.g. Printers that output information onto paper as a hard copy.

Storage device: The storage device stores data and instructions before and after processing. This includes devices such as hard disk drives and compact disk drives.

Arithmetic Logic Unit:  It performs arithmetic functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and also logical operations like greater than, less than, and equal to, are carried out.

Control Unit: Controlling of all operations like input, processing, and output are performed by the control unit. It takes care of step-by-step processing of all operations inside the computer.