Human computer interface(HCI)
"HCI is a field that blends techniques such as design and computer science to improve the way of interaction between humans and technology to create user interfaces that are an ease to use. Human-computer interaction (HCI) is an area of research and practice that emerged in the early 1980s, initially as a specialty area in computer science embracing cognitive science and human factors engineering.".
One of the first computer interfaces were paper punch cards in the 1960s. since then user interfaces have progressed and made computers much more usable and help integrate computers to out everyday life. Today HCI is focused on natural computer interaction it strives to improve human interactions with computers by making the experience feel natural to the user, Natural meaning that there is no artificial devices used for example mouses, keyboards or on screen indications of the interaction such as a cursor and the interface is usually invisible. We can see graphical user interface as known as GUI in almost any device with a display, the GUI is the graphical part of the user interface such as the icons on your home screen. User interfaces are a part of our everyday life, they take advantage of technologies such as multi touch and gesture control to create an interaction that is natural as seen in smart phones and tablets.
At the moment the for front of human computer interaction is the Google glass this is a wearable device that allows one to see virtual objects in reality that you can interact with in real time.Because the interface of this device is more basic to the common user it is easy to master the controls and the functions of the device without even breaking a sweat.Voice recognition is a primary way that the user interacts with this device.This also eases the use of technology by making the Human computer interaction more advanced.Shown below is a video that demonstrates and showcases the Google glass.
HCI is seen everywhere today from the operating system of our computers to the display on your watch. From the moment we wake up and the moment we go to sleep at this day in age we have interacted with UI at least once. The HCI makes the product, there are many technological products with great potential fail because it, without a great interface to humans to interact with the product fails to show what it can do to all the consumers leading to failure. for an example some of the demographic despises the android OS in smart phones purely because of its HCI.
Shown below are some of the User interfaces of some recent products,
(PS4)
(Windows 10)
CPU which is also known as Central processing unit does the calculations in your computer, and one of the main contributors to the speed and responsiveness of your system. The The clock frequency refers to how many cycles the processor goes in a second, for an example a 3 GHz processor does 3 Billion cycles per second, the more cycles the faster the processor does tasks. How ever the efficiency of each cycle is also important, the efficiency of each cycle is known as IPC (Instruction per cycle). A CPU can have a higher clock frequency but be inefficient to a one with a lower frequency depending on the IPC. So a CPU with a higher clock frequency as well as IPC would make a machine run faster. Another concept on processors is cache, the cache is simple fast accessible memory within the processor, cache stores data temporarily which maybe required from the CPU. If the CPU has to get Data from the RAM modules it would take more time so most CPUs have Cache which is a instantly accessible memory for the CPU without using other components. So based on this the bigger the cache the faster the CPU will be at performing tasks. Another important factor in CPUs nowadays are cores, we have come to hear of Dual core, Quad core or even hexacore processors these days. The more cores a CPU the easier it is for it to deal with data, the function of a core or a channel in a CPU is to divide the data into the different cores depending on the number of cores each core would work on a lower number of data at a time making the processing lighter to the CPU than having to deal with a lot of data using just one core. So the more cores a processor has the more Data it can process at a time more efficiently. The video below explains the process in more detail.
Graphic processors
"Architecturally, the CPU is composed of a only few cores with lots of cache memory that can handle a few software threads at a time. In contrast, a GPU is composed of hundreds of cores that can handle thousands of threads simultaneously. The ability of a GPU with 100+ cores to process thousands of threads can accelerate some software by 100x over a CPU alone. What’s more, the GPU achieves this acceleration while being more power- and cost-efficient than a CPU."
A GPU or a graphic processing unit is used to process or render graphics when the computer is used for Video editing, gaming, animation and anything that dealing with graphics.This is usually a card that goes into your motherboard using a PCI or a PCI-E Slot. A graphics processor processes and translats all the information from your CPU and other hardware into a viewable image on your monitor. Having a dedicated graphics processor in your computer means that it can handle a lot in graphical load such as rendering and video editing. The main companies that makes video cards are Nvidia and AMD, these two companies have different technologies in their units each one made for a particular purpose. for an example one graphics unit maybe good at only video editing and the other maybe only good at rendering and video editing. Nowadays some processors like the AMD APU series come with graphics processors built into them, while they might not be as powerful as a dedicated graphics card this still can take the load off the work from the graphics card or work by its self to provide decent performance. The GPU is the usually the main output source from the computer to a monitor, they usually have ports like VGA, DVI and HDMI for output.
Shown below is an integrated graphics card.
The video Below Showcases some GPUs and Explains what they do
RAM (Random Access Memory)
"Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, or system memory,Random Access Memory (RAM) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved on a computer. RAM is usually associated with DRAM, which is a type of memory module. Because information is accessed randomly instead of sequentially like it is on a CD or hard drive, the computer can access the data much faster."
RAM allows you to have store data to be accessed in any random order and allows you to work on multiple things at once. This also dictates how much random access you can have or how much different things you can work at a time allowing more data to be processed simultaneously depending on the Size. So the less RAM memory you have the less things you can work on at a time. Every RAM module has its own speed and are measured in MHz, this measures how fast your RAM processes the information. So higher the speed of your RAM the faster the information is processed making your Computer faster. The first Generation of RAM were called SD RAM this uses 1 to 1 maths so if you had a 100 MHz module this would just multiply once with the memory of the CPU. The second generation RAM called the DDR does the same thing but doubles the speed by having more core bus speed and this trend continued with more modern DDR2, DDR3 and DDR4.
Display
"A display is a computer output surface and projecting mechanism that shows text and often graphic images to the computer user, using a cathode ray tube ( CRT ), liquid crystal display (LCD ), light-emitting diode, gas plasma, or other image projection technology."
A display is used to translate electrical signals and output or present them in a visual form. There are many technologies used in displays such as LCD and LED. LED or liquid crystal displays are used in many hardware products such as calculate, tablets and some computer monitors.In LED monitors the back light is usually generated from he bottom of the monitor and spread out evenly by the help of an element that consists of several layers. The Main layer is the glass panel that is installed on top of it, this panel is also composed of various layers,first of all their are 2 polarization filters that are orientated at a 90 degree angle to each other. The upper polarization filter polarizes the in polarized light, it creates this just using one polarized plane.The lower polarization filters out the light because of its rotations of 90 degrees. The Polarized light should be rotated by 90 degrees in order to pass through the lower filter, this will be accomplished using a liquid crystal. This rotates the light in 90 degrees allowing it to pass through the lower filter and display and image through the screen.
LED uses the same technology as the LCD but added LED lights to create a back light, the short video below explains this briefly.
Sound
"All sounds are vibrations traveling through the air as sound waves. Sound waves are caused by the vibrations of objects and radiate outward from their source in all directions. A vibrating objectcompresses the surrounding air molecules (squeezing them closer together) and then rarefiesthem (pulling them farther apart)."
The way that sound gets into computer side of things are using speakers and headphones. Speakers are used to provide sound by converting the signals they get from their source into sound waves. Sound refers to the frequencies a human ear can hear, speakers move back and forth decreasing and increasing air pressure which produces acoustical energy. In a speaker a circular wire called the voice coil is attached to a cone, the voice coil sits in the gab of a circular magnet. The magnetic field in the gap is radial pointing directly outward or directly inward. A flexible spider keeps the keeps the voice coil centred in the gap so it does not rub against the magnet. The surround attaches the front end of the cone to the frame of the loudspeaker. The image below shows how a speaker works more clearly.
It is essential for a speaker to be inside a cabinet or shell because this substantially increases the loudness of the speaker.the video below demonstrates how speakers work and what they do.
Sound cards-
"Alternatively referred to as an audio output device, sound board, or audio card. A sound card is an expansion card or IC for producing sound on a computer that can be heard through speakers or headphones."
Computers to resemble for this on the side of input for speakers, computers use sound cards to output and input sound, using ports such as HDMI and 3.5mm audio jack. Many motherboards have their own integrated graphics card but consumers in the music or audio field tend to invest in a dedicated sound card. Just like the graphics cards the sound cards does the same function as the the integrated ones do but better. Dedicated sound cards plugs directly into your motherbaord and acts as and expansion with ports on it. A sound card converts computer signals into sound, the signals that is being sent to your headphones or speakers are converted using a sound card. Sound cards uses 3 sound standards, the first one is 8 bit which tends to be lower quality to most consumers' taste, the second one 24 bit and above sound which produces digital or CD quality sound and the third one is MIDI produces the same sound as a musical instrument.
Game storage medium
"A hard disk drive (sometimes abbreviated as Hard drive, HD, or HDD) is a device used to permanently store and also retrieve information. There are many variations, but their sizes are generally 3.5" and 2.5" for desktop and laptop computers respectively. "
A hard drive is a the main storage unit in a computer not to be confused with memory (RAM), A hard drive saves everything in your computer by storing the files within allowing you to retrieve the files when you turn the computer on and off. Hard drive comes in different sizes for laptops and computers, and also comes in different interfaces.A hard drive sits in a compartment in your PC case with two ports connecting one to your motherboard and the other to the power supply. The newer interfaces we see today is the SATA interface and the older interface which is an IDE. Inside the hard-drive you are able to see sort of a mini record player, which has an aluminium disk like a CD and an actuator arm to read the data on the aluminium disk. Hardrives are usually purchased in Gigabytes(Gb) and Terabytes(Tb) today which refers to space inside the disk the chart below shows the units used to measure DATA space in computer drives.
Hard drives are also purchased according to the speed of the drive measured in RPM (rounds per minute), referring to the rounds that the aluminium disk spins per minute. So the faster the RPM is the faster your hard drive will be at performing tasks. We are able purchase hardrives in RPMs such as 5400 and 7200.
There is also a micro chip technology that is used in most phones and tablets that uses a different technology to this the traditional hard drives.They are much smaller in size and can be used with all portable devices. This same technology is used in flash drives which is a portable mean of memory to carry around with you.
Interface Devices
"An interface device (IDF) is a hardware component or system of components that allows a human being to interact with a computer, a telephone system, or other electronic information system. "
An interface device is a device that lets a human interact with a computer, which is usually a device that can input information into a computer and control it.There are many interface devices that can be used with a computer, but the main devices that is required for a computer is a mouse and keyboard. Some of the latest computers (all in one PCs) have touch screen monitors that lets you have an alternative to the usual mouse and keyboard but most consumers still prefer out usual peripherals. There are also other inventions designed replace our usual interactive devices such as track pads, controllers, trackballs etc.
Connectivity
"He internet is a global network of computers that works much like the postal system, only at sub-second speeds. Just as the postal service enables people to send one another envelopes containing messages, the internet enables computers to send one another small packets of digital data."
The internet allows to obtain information from the internet from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. I would rather think of it as a web that covers the world and this web is full of information that any one with a piece of this web can connect to and have access to. At this day in age everything is run using the internet, from banking to gaming. The internet is that we got to out houses usually comes through a wire weather it is fibre optic, satellites or even through cellphone networks. A server is a computer that is connected straight to the internet and webpages are the contents on that server. Every server has a unique IP address (Internet protocol), similar to a postal address IP addresses help computer find each other.The computers we use at home are not connected directly to the internet, the normal computers are called clients, we connect to the ISP (Internet service provider) which connects us to the internet. Internet service providers being companies like Virgin media, B.T, talk talk etc.
The video below explains how the internet work in more detail.
LAN netwoks
LAN sands for Local Area Network,this can be network of computers that is made using 2 or more devices connected to he same local network.That forms a network within that doesn't necessarily have to be connected to the internet. A LAN connection can be formed using an Ethernet cable or a wireless connection depending on the router that you are using. The video below briefly explains how LAN networks work.
Power supply
A power supple converts the normal electricity coming from the plug socket into smaller voltages to individual components inside a computer that requires power. This also converts from AC voltages into DC voltages. It is very important to get a high quality power supply because if a power supple fails all the other components are in risk of being shocked by unstable voltages and being damaged.
Power supplies comes in different voltages for different computers depending on what components you have inside of the computer. There is a also two types of power supplies you can buy in terms of cable management called modular and non modular, modular power supplies gives the consumers a choice if they want to use a specific cable or take it out but non modular power supplies comes with all the cables fitted to the power supply which you cannot take out and tends to make a mess with lots of cables. There are also standards or efficiency ratings which rates the power supply on the quality and the reliability of it. so getting a power supply with a high efficiency rating is safer than a lower rated.The video below explains how a power supply works.
Power supplies comes in different voltages for different computers depending on what components you have inside of the computer. There is a also two types of power supplies you can buy in terms of cable management called modular and non modular, modular power supplies gives the consumers a choice if they want to use a specific cable or take it out but non modular power supplies comes with all the cables fitted to the power supply which you cannot take out and tends to make a mess with lots of cables. There are also standards or efficiency ratings which rates the power supply on the quality and the reliability of it. so getting a power supply with a high efficiency rating is safer than a lower rated.The video below explains how a power supply works.
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