Computer Basics/HardwareInteraction of hardware devices

Computer Basics

Basic skills and knowledge to use a computer in the workplace or at home.
An OP Online course from the National Certificate in Computing (Level 2) programme.

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Interaction of hardware devices

Data flow around computer components

Data flows between hardware components allowing a computer to complete the processing cycle. In simple terms the data flows from:
Input devices -> Processing / Memory devices -> Output devices.

Descriptions of how computer hardware devices interact
Interaction of computer components when a program is opened. 1=Input device; 2,3,4=Processing / Memory devices; 5=Output device Which components interact when the computer user opens a program? When mouse (input device) is clicked to open program, a copy of the software program is transferred from the hard disk (storage device) into RAM (internal memory device used by the processing device) because what is currently required for processing by the CPU has to be in the temporary storage area – random access memory.
Interaction of computer components when a user inputs data. What happens when the computer user inputs data? Data is input using the keyboard (input device), data is stored in RAM (internal memory device used by the processing device), and displayed on the VDU (output device) because data to be used by the CPU for processing needs to be in RAM – the temporary storage area.
Interaction of computer components when a user edits data. What happens when the computer user edits the data? The user then decides to edit or format the letter using the keyboard and/or the mouse (input device), the CPU does the work by following the program instructions given by the user eg insert a picture or use a fancy print style. The CPU (processing device) sends results of processing to VDU (output device) displaying the edited notice; RAM temporarily holds the editing changes you have made.
What happens when the user saves onto the hard disk? User decides to save onto the hard disk by clicking mouse (input device). CPU tells RAM (internal memory device used by the processing device) to send copy of processed data to the hard disk. Read/write head saved the data onto the hard drive (storage device) so that a permanent copy is kept.
What happens when the computer user prints the data? Mouse (input device) is clicked to print the data. The CPU (processing device) follows the program instructions and RAM (internal memory device used by the processing device) sends a copy of the data to printer memory (output device) then printer prints the letter.

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