Level 3 Information Technology BTEC International

Hardware and software

Hardware

• Hardware refers to all the physical components of a computer system including the computer itself, its monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other peripheral devices.
• This can be categorised into input devices, output devices, internal and external storage devices.
• Examples of input devices are a keyboard, mouse or webcam. They send information to the computer for analysis or storage.
• Examples of output devices are a monitor, printer, or speaker, which present the results of that input in a form that humans can understand (e.g. outputting a document, video, or sound).
• Internal storage devices such as hard drives or Solid State Drives (SSDs) are used to store data and applications within the computer.
• External storage devices such as USB sticks or external hard drives provide additional, removable and portable storage.
• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) carries out most processing inside computers. The CPU’s performance is determined by its speed and number of cores.

Software

• Software refers to the programs, scripts, and routines that control how the hardware works and what it does.
• Operating Systems (OS) are a type of system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides an array of services for computer programs. Examples include Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
• Application software are programs designed to carry out specific tasks for the user, such as word processing, creating spreadsheets and presentations, image editing, playing games, and browsing the web. Examples include Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Google Chrome.
• Utility software helps manage, maintain and control computer resources. Examples include disk defragmenters, antivirus programs, and backup software.
• Programming software is a set of tools used by programmers to write, test, debug and maintain other programs and applications.

Interaction between Hardware and Software

• The interaction between hardware and software is crucial for the operational success of a computer. The software provides instructions for the hardware to carry out tasks.
• One of the main interactions is within the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle, a process that the CPU carries out to process instructions.
• Device drivers are a type of software that interfaces with and controls how a particular piece of hardware works. They act like translators between a hardware device and the applications or operating systems that use it.
• The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is firmware, located on the motherboard, and is the first software run by a PC when powered on. The primary function of BIOS is to handle the system setup process and invoke the OS.