FREE online courses on the Basics of a Computer - HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE -
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
FREE online courses on the Basics of a Computer - HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE -
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
The first electronic computer was
completed in 1946, yet it was not until the mid-50's that the computer industry
was firmly established since the time, aided by new technology, the industry has
made phenomenal progress for example, notable advances have occurred in the
provision of storage and in processor speeds. These in turn have facilitated the
development of sophisticated computer systems and complex software. Future
developments read like a science fiction story with powerful computers shrunk to
the size of a match-box. However, there is one area which, generally speaking.
Has not developed to the same extent. This is in the realm of 'man to machine'
and 'machine to man' communications, in other words, the input-output devices.
The principal reason for this is that speed of communication depends in many
cases on mechanical movement and the potential for improvement of such devices
is limited.
Input-output units surround the
central processor, hence the term peripheral devices. Their purpose is to
provide an information link between the outside world and the CPU. In computing
parlance, they act as an interface, translating the familiar symbols which we
can read into the binary patterns that can be handled electronically within the
CPU : they then translate the patterns back again for easily readable output.
