Hardware and Software Required for a System
There are two main types of components required for a system to work.
These are:
v Hardware – The parts of a computer that you can see and you can
handle; the exterior components of the computer.
v Software – The actual programs that allow the hardware to do a
useful job.
Hardware
The main components of an ICT system include the following:
v Input devices – these enable the data to enter the system. This
could be through keyboard, scanner, digital camera, etc.
v Central Processing Unit (CPU) – the brain of the computer. This part
of the hardware stores and processes data. It has three parts: ALU
(arithmetic and logic unit; it performs all the arithmetic and logic
operations), the control unit, and the memory.
v Backing storage – consists of the disk drives, tape drives, RW-CD
(read/write compact disk), RW-DVD (read/write digital versatile disk),
etc. used to store data when the power is switched off.
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Software
Software is the general name for programs that can be run on computer
hardware. There are two main categories of software: operating system
software and applications software.
Operating systems are programs that control the computer hardware
directly. The operating system I am going to choose for the new system
will be Windows XP.
Applications software is used to perform a specific task. Applications
software varies from word-processing packages used to write letter,
prepare reports, etc. to specialist applications packages used only
within one industry.
The applications I will be choosing for the new system will be:
v MS word – A word processing application. This will be used for word
processing letters of confirmation, letters of payment, and mail
merging letters.
v MS access – A database application. This will be used for taking
details such as personal information, booking details, and payment
details.
v MS excel – A spreadsheet application, this application can make