Information Systems Hardware

Question 1

What is peripherals?

Answer 1

Input and output devices = I/O devices

Input devises instruct the CPU and supply data to be processed

Examples:

• Keyboard, mouse
• Touch-screen technology
• Microphones
• Point of sale (POS) scanners

Output devises:

• Printers, plotters, paper output
• Monitors

Question 2

Within the CPU there is…?

Answer 2

Control unit- Interprets program instructions

Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU): Performs arithmetic calculations

Question 3

What are the primary sources of storage?

Answer 3

RAM (Random Access Memory)- Stores data temporarily

ROM- Permanently stores data needed by computer

Question 4

What are some secondary storage?

Answer 4

Permanent storage:

• External hard drive (offline)
• Cloud computing (online)
• Magnetic disks (Random access devices)- IPOD
• Magnetic tape (slow, cheap)
• Optical disks- Burns data onto disk.
• Solid state drives = Flash drives= USB, jump

Question 5

What are supercomputers?

Answer 5

Fastest available

Parallel processing and computer customers (connected computers)

Computer clusters (connected computers)

Question 6

What is a mainframe computer?

Answer 6

Used in many legacy and ERP applications

Often used with microcomputers in networked systems with thousands of simultaneous users

Question 7

What is server?

Answer 7

Computer that provides resource on a computer network

Question 8

What is personal computer (PC) or workstation?

Answer 8

Used by individuals

sometimes called, in network systems

Question 9

What is thin client?

Answer 9

A network system, a computer with minimal capabilities that mostly uses resources on a server.

Others:

• Laptop and tablet
• Mobile devices
• Watches