The Final Quarter: Data Representation

               There are two types of data that are store within a computer:

• Original data or information is a data that is introduced to a computing system for the first time.
• Previously Stored data or information is the one that has already been processed by a computer and is being stored.

               The process of taking a visual image or audio recording and converting it to a binary form for the computer is called digitizing.
              
               The common basic technologies used for storing binary information are:

• Electronic (flashdrive)
• Magnetic (external/hard drive)
• Optical (CD/DVD)

             
               Bit is the smallest unit of data the computer uses. It can be used to represent two states of information. While a byte can represent 256 states of information. 8 bits are equal to 1 byte.
              
               The most important characteristics of storage devices are:

• Speed - consider the access time. The fastest one is the electronic device.
• Cost - The cheapest device is the optical one.
• Capacity - Magnetic device can hold the largest capacity.
• Type of Access affects the speed of device. There are two types. One is the sequential which is obtained by proceeding from the start until the designated area. The other is random access wherein you can go directly to the designated area.

               Information is moved about in bytes or multiple bytes called words which are the fundamental units of information.

The Final Quarter: Software

               The programs which tell the computer system what to do are software. They give instructions that the CPU will need to carry out. There are two types of software:

1. System Software manages, maintains and controls the resource of the computer. These are the programs that take control of the computer.

• System Management Program

          Operating System (OS) is a program that monitors and controls all input/output and processing activities within a computer system.    

• System Development Program

          Compilers are what software used to create software through programming.

2. Application Software is designed and created to perform specific personal, business, scientific processing tasks.

• General Purpose Program
• Application Specific Program     

Here are a few reminders from Sir Tom:

*Platform is defined by a processor and an operating system.
*Software created to run a specific platform won't run on other platforms.
*Microsoft Windows operating system + Intel compatible-processor = Wintel platform is what most personal computer users choose.
*You can't run modern systems on earlier platforms.
*Before choosing a platform, consider the availability of appropriate commercial application software for the platform and the compatibility of platform with existing hardware, software and expertise.

                      

The Final Quarter: Computer System & Hardware Specifications

               We immediately started our lesson for the last quarter after the periodical exam. These are the things that I've learned about Computer System and Hardware Specs:
               One that's able to take in inputs and produces outputs is the Computer System. It is made up of two components: the hardware and the software. Some examples of a hardware are the CPU, keyboard, mouse, memory and input/output devices. While the operating system and applications are examples of a software. A hardware can work even if it doesn't have a software because of the firmware which is always installed to it.
               Here are the kinds and subtypes of a computer:

(c) Sir Tom Secundo

              One that's really amazing is the super computer which NASA uses and Watson is an example.
              Hardware Specs or Hardware Specifications are the one that dictate the limits and maximum capability of a hardware/device depending on a given criteria or unit of measurement.
              System Requirement, obviously, requires the minimum hardware specs of a computer system so it will be able to run a particular computer software.