Tom Blaney

Professor Stefanelli
1/22/14

Von Neumann Model:

Input- Gathers data, or allows users to enter data
*Converts non-digital to digital
Devices:
Keyboard
Used to enter typed data and commands
Most computers come with a standard QWERTY keyboard, which gets its name
from the first six letters in the top-left row
Slows typing speeds and prevents typewriter keys from jamming
Laptop keyboards are more compact than standard desktop keyboards and have
less keys
Wireless keyboards are powered by batteries and send data to the computer by
using radio frequency
Flexible keyboards are an alternative if one wants a full-size keyboards for their
laptop or tablet
Mouse
Used to enter user responses and commands
Optical mouse is the most common; it uses an internal sensor or laser to detect the
mouses movement, which send signals to the computer
Mechanical mouse
Most mice have 2 or 3 buttons that let you execute commands and open shortcut
menus
Wireless mice use batteries to send data to the computers by radio frequency
Touch pads are considered mice; laptops have them
Game controllers
Joysticks, game pads and steering wheels (any game controller)
They send data to the computer
Other than Xbox 360 and PlayStation, they are available on computers
The buttons they have provide input to the computer
Stylus
Looks like a pen, used to draw on a screen or tap commands
Touch screens are also input devices. A stylus is used for them (iPad)
Tablets and other touch-screen devices use a virtual keyboard that displays on
screen when input of text is required
Images
Digital cameras, camcorders and cell phones are common devices for capturing
pictures and video

Can connect to your computer with a cable, transmit data wirelessly or transfer
data automatically through the Internet
Scanners can also input images; converts optical to digital
Microphones
Close talk, omnidirectional, unidirectional and clip on are examples
Fax
Combination scanner and modem
Sensors
Output- displays data and information in a form suitable for the user
*Converts digital to non-digital
Devices:
Monitors
Displays text, graphics, and video as soft copies
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is most common; light and energy efficient
Light-emitting diode (LED) are newer monitors that are more energy efficient and
have better color accuracy
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays use organic compounds that
produce light when exposed to an electric current; brighter and more
environmentally friendly than LCDs
Aspect radio (the width-to-height proportion of a monitor) and resolution
(clearness of the image) affect the quality of an LCD monitor
Projectors let you project images from your computer onto a wall
Printers
Two primary categories of printers: inkjet and laser
Both are nonimpact printers, which spray ink or use laser beams to transfer marks
onto the paper
An impact printer has tiny hammer-like keys that strike the paper
Inkjet printers are popular because theyre affordable and produce high-quality
printouts quickly
Laser printers use laser beams to deliver toner onto the correct areas of the page
Laser printers are used in classrooms and offices
Wireless printers let several people print to the same computer from different
places
WiFi and Bluetooth are examples of wireless printers
All-in-one printer combines the functions of a printer, scanner, copier and fax into
one machine
A plotter prints oversize pictures that require the drawing of continuous lines
(maps)
Thermal printers work by melting wax-based ink onto paper by burning dots onto
specially coated paper
Speakers
Surround-sound speakers are systems of speakers and audio processing that
envelops the listener in a 360 degree field of sound

 Wireless speakers use Bluetooth

Headphones
Device used to listen to audio or music
Plugs into the same jack on the computer to which speakers connect
USB external drive
Hard disc or optical
Can also be considered input devices; transfers storage

Storage- saves data and information for later use

Devices:
Hard Drives
Hard disk drive (HDD) is your computers primary device for permanent storage
of software and documents; nonvolatile storage device
An internal hard drive resides within the system unit and holds all permanently
stored programs and data
External hard drives offer similar storage capacities but reside outside the system
unit and connect to the computer via a USB
The solid-state drive (SSD) has no moving parts, so they run without noise and
require little power
Drive Bays are where permanent storage devices are located
Flash Storage
Portable external hard drives can be used to take files and data on the road with
you
Flash drives use solid-state flash memory, storing information on an internal
memory chip; contain no moving parts
Flash drives can have significant storage capacity
Flash memory cards use solid-state flash memory; they let you transfer digital
data between your computer and devices such as digital cameras
Optical Storage
Optical Drives are in desktop and laptop computers
They can read from and even write to CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs
Compact Discs (CDs) store audio files
Digital Video Discs (DVDs) are the same size and shape as CDs but can store up
to 14x more data
Blu-Ray Discs can hold 50 GB of data
Floppy Disk
Small removable storage medium that records data on thin magnetic films
Data is read or written on them from the floppy disk drives

Motherboard- the main circuit board that contains the central electronic components of
the computer, including the computers processor (CPU) and its memory (RAM)
Devices:
Expansion Cards
Circuit boards that provide additional functionality
Provide a means for network and Internet connections
Typical expansion cards found in the system unit are sound and video cards
Sound Card provides a connection for the speakers and microphone
Video Card provides a connection for the monitor
Network Interface Card (NIC) enables your computer to connect with other
computers or to a cable modem to facilitate a high speed Internet connection
Memory
Random access memory (RAM) is the place in the computer where the programs
and data the computer is using are stored
RAM is a volatile storage location because the entire contents of RAM are erased
when the computer turns off
In addition to RAM, the motherboard contains a memory called read-only
memory (ROM)
It holds the instructions the computer needs to start up when its powered on
Processing
Central processing unit (CPU) controls all the functions performed by the
computers other components and processes all the commands issued to it by
software instructions
Processor speed is measured in units of hertz (Hz)
Current systems run at speeds measured in gigahertz (GHz), billions of machine
cycles per second

Extra Credit:
The microprocessor is a set of circuits that connect the rest of the computer to the CPU,
allowing the system to execute directions. Without it, the computer cannot function. It is
so advanced that it has become advantageous for manufacturers to utilize the

microprocessor in almost every part of the computer. An example is the Intel 8085,
introduced by Intel in 1977. It is an 8-bit microprocessor and didnt require much
hardware, thus allowing simpler microcomputers to be built. The memory on the Intel
8085 wasnt as great as newer microprocessors created by Intel. Another example of a
microprocessor is the Athlon 64, an eighth-generation, AMD64-architecture
microprocessor produced by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). The Athlon 64 features an
on-die memory controller. Not only does this mean the controller runs at the same clock
rate as the CPU itself, it also means the electrical signals have a shorter physical distance
to travel.