It Learning Outcome
Business Information Systems
Learning Outcomes Week 1
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE BASICS
1. Describe the six major categories of hardware, and provide an example of each.
Hardware consists of the physical devices associated with a computer system. The six major categories of hardware include:
• the central processing unit (CPU)—the actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together (e.g. Intel processor)
• primary storage—the computer’s main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the central processing unit (CPU) (e.g. RAM)
• secondary storage—equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage (e.g. diskette, hard drive, memory card, CD)
• input devices—equipment used to capture information and commands (e.g. keyboard, scanner)
• output devices—equipment used to see, hear or otherwise accept the results of information processing requests (e.g. monitor, printer)
• communication devices—equipment used to send information and receive it from one location to another (e.g. modem).
2. Explain the difference between primary and secondary storage.
Primary storage is the computer’s main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the central processing unit (CPU). Secondary storage is equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage (e.g. diskette, hard drive, memory card, CD).
Identify the different computer categories and explain their potential business uses.
• Personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop, tablet, desktop, workstation, minicomputer (midrange computer), mainframe computer, supercomputer
3. List the common input, output and communication devices.
The
Learning Outcomes Week 1
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE BASICS
1. Describe the six major categories of hardware, and provide an example of each.
Hardware consists of the physical devices associated with a computer system. The six major categories of hardware include:
• the central processing unit (CPU)—the actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together (e.g. Intel processor)
• primary storage—the computer’s main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the central processing unit (CPU) (e.g. RAM)
• secondary storage—equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage (e.g. diskette, hard drive, memory card, CD)
• input devices—equipment used to capture information and commands (e.g. keyboard, scanner)
• output devices—equipment used to see, hear or otherwise accept the results of information processing requests (e.g. monitor, printer)
• communication devices—equipment used to send information and receive it from one location to another (e.g. modem).
2. Explain the difference between primary and secondary storage.
Primary storage is the computer’s main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the central processing unit (CPU). Secondary storage is equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage (e.g. diskette, hard drive, memory card, CD).
Identify the different computer categories and explain their potential business uses.
• Personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop, tablet, desktop, workstation, minicomputer (midrange computer), mainframe computer, supercomputer
3. List the common input, output and communication devices.
The
References: Baltzan, Lynch & Blakey (2013), Business Driven Information Systems (2nd edition), McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd