Power lines and interfacing in a computer
An interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software. Most computer interfaces are bi-directional, but the mouse or graphics adapter are uni-directional.
Hardware Interfacing
Serial interface
COM
Advantages-COM ports are very versatile. Many types of peripherals have used the COM port traditionally. Though, with the advent of USB, the use of COM ports is dwindling.
Common Peripherals-As mentioned above, COM ports are extremely versatile. They have be used to connect mice, keyboards, modems, cameras, and PDAs, to name a few.
USB-Universal Serial Bus
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
Advantages: SCSI ports are very fast and could in theory be used with any peripheral and with many of them at the same time. However really they are used mostly for scanners and external drives especially on Macs and big PC servers.
Disadvantages-One of the problems is that there is not a real standard for manufacturers so there are some different types of SCSI ports in the market. Also they are quiet expensive and so are the peripherals, cables and adapters associated with it. That is why they are more common in professional setting rather than for home use. Common Peripherals: Even though theoretically they could be used with almost peripheral they are commonly used with scanners and external drives. Personal System 2 (PS/2) Interfaces
Advantages
Firewire Interface
FireWire is the newest and fastest serial computer port (bus) known also as i.Link (Sony) or IEEE-1394 by its technical name. It was developed by Apple and Texas Instruments mainly for use with video and audio demands in both Macs and PCs, but can be used for connecting many different peripherals. It reaches speeds of 400mbits/sec or even more in newer versions. FireWire is an Apple trademark but it has become the more commonly used name referring to IEEE-1394. It has 6 pins. The female or socket in the computer has a rectangular shape and the connector that goes on the peripheral is round. It has the capability of "hot plugging" which is the ability for plugging and unplugging a device without powering down. In many ways has come to replace SCSI as an external port. There are still only few motherboards that come with a FireWire port, being more common in Mac computers.
LPT
LPT (line print terminal or local printer terminal) is commonly known as the parallel port and typically used as the printer connection device. It can transmit signals for distances limited to 20 feet or less. It’s Faster than serial COM ports but more expensive. A typical LPT port reaches a speed of 150kb/sec. There can be more than one LPT ports in a computer and to differentiate them they are labeled with a number after LPT. It is most common to have only one for the printer called LPT1. It is shaped as a trapezoid with the short end in the bottom and 2 rows of pins, one 13 and other with 12 pins.
Wireless peripheral interface
Commonly used interfacing symbols
Basic computer setup cabling
Before attempting to carry any setup activity, the following precautions should be observed:
Tools and other requirements
The following tools are necessary in any setup:
Mounting hard drives and optical drives Internal devices are connected to the motherboard using special ribbon cables. Hard disks and optical drives are connected to the motherboard through interface connectors commonly referred to as controllers. Three types of controllers are:
This type of setup is called a master/slave configuration because one controller directs the activities of both drives. To mount an EIDE drive, proceed as follows:
Connecting external devices
To connect a device to the system unit, you need to identify its port and interface cable.
Group Discussion for Revision questions on topics
Group Discussion for Revision questions on topics
1. What are:
4. What are peripheral devices? 5. Name such devices in question 4 above 6. With the aid of an organizational chart, show how computers are classified. 7. In which classification do the school computers belong? Why? 8. Discuss classification of computers according to:
10. Name at least six microcomputers available in the Kenyan market today. 11. Name 10 areas where computers are used and what they are they used for? 12. What are the main functions of a computer? 13. What is the main purpose of a computer? 14. Briefly discuss evolution of computers since ages before Christ to date? 15. Discuss causes of computer damage in the computer lab and how to avoid them?
16. List six safety precautions in the computer lab. Why are they necessary?
17. Discuss classification of keyboard keys and give examples for each classification. 18. Draw symbols for each keyboard key listed below and indicate their uses?
21. Using a well labeled diagram, show parts of the Microprocessor. 22. ………………..is used to input voice in the computer. 23. By the use of a well labeled diagram, show all the events that ‘task A’ go through to be processed into information. 24. Differentiate between a computer, a system and a computer system. 25. This is a gadget mounted on the motherboard, drives or HDD used as a ROM, hosts a number of other electrical gadgets like capacitors, resisters and transistors. Even the microprocessor belongs to this gadget. What is this gadget? 26. Kwamboka went into a shop to buy a RAM for her desktop computer and she encountered problems in interpreting the following abbreviations: DDR, SDR, DIMM, SIMM, SRAM and DRAM. Can you help her understand these terms? 27. The speed of a computer is measured by the frequency of computers processing signals. True/false? If true, explain how?
28. Draw a well labeled diagram for:
each other? 30. Discuss:
32. ……………… is a special type of printer used to produce bill boards, engineering drawings, maps etc 33. Discuss:
36. Nyambura bought a brand new desktop computer with a warranty but upon reaching home, the computer could not boot. List numerous reasons that may have caused the computer not to boot. What will you advice her to do if the computer failed completely to start? 37. Discuss:
39. What are these devices used for:
41. Give reasons why mobile phones are regarded as computers
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