2010 March | Computer Technology Training

Computer Input Output

The PC computer input output (I/O) uses many ports for communicating and exchanging

Computer Input Output

data with the CPU. These ports can be either cabled or wireless. The mouse and keyboard are the primary computer input devices and use an IBM PS2 6 pin port, USB port, or a wireless port. However, many computer peripherals use the USB port because of its increased bandwidth.

USB Port

The USB has become popular because of the increased bandwidth and they are hot swappable. The bandwidth for USB 2 is now 480 bits per second and the port can be detected by the CPU (hot swappable) and configured without having to reboot the computer. This makes it very handy and compatible with a large number of devices. The USB port can also be used to power or recharge devices.

Serial Port

The older 9 pin serial port was configured as COMM 1 or 2 and used as the original mouse port. It was also used for modems and other serial communication devices that use the RS –232 protocols. Some computers still have them and we use them today for programming robots and reconfiguring devices that can communicate using RS-232.

Printer Port

Most printers today use either USB or wireless connections. However older printers used the 25-pin printer post that can still be found on some computers.

Video Port

The standard 9-pin VGA port is still found on most computers but is being replaced with the newer DVI (digital visual interface). The DVI can be converted and used with the newer HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) which is compatible with the newer LCD and LED televisions and monitors.

S/PDIF Port

S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format) is a digital audio port. Many of the newer home theater systems use this newer improved audio format.

The Computer Technology Training website has additional information that you might find useful.

Computer Hardware

PC computer hardware consists of a CPU (central processing unit), supporting chipset, RAM

Computer Hardware

memory, video, motherboard, and I/O (input and output devices). The CPU’s and motherboards have made considerable improvements from the early days of 8 bit computing to the newer 64 bit devices and PCI express motherboards. The supporting chipsets provide the CPU with access to the RAM memory, video card, and I/O devices.

The I/O devices along with the CPU use binary numbering systems to communicate and exchange all the data that is processed. Binary numbers consist of just 1’s and 0’s and have become a powerful and reliable processing system. Binary in the computer is like a light switch and is either on (1) or off (0). With the advent of the semiconductor and transistor, electronic gates were developed that either allowed current to flow or stopped current. This on or off state is easy to detect which makes computers a very reliable processing platform that includes self-error correcting features.

Binary is easy to translate to the English language, decimal number system, or any other language or numbering system. This also provides a very reliable input and output communication and data exchange. The Internet technology protocol TCP/IP was never expected to be able to handle such large amounts of world traffic, but using the binary number system is has been able to expand quickly to handle the growth and bandwidth needs.

A mouse, keyboards, monitors, printers, hard drives, flash drives, CDs, and DVDs all use the binary numbering system. Storage devices store these ones and zeros are either magnetized spots of metal platters or as pits or bumps on CDs or DVDs.

Bits are a single character either a one or a zero. A byte is 8 bits of data and a byte is a common form or group or data. A byte can be a number from 0 to 255. To convert binary to decimal you use a base 2 system where each additional bit doubles in value. A single bit could have a value of 0 or one. When you add a bit this doubles the value to 2. The next bit would be 4 and so on until you reach the eighth bit, which would have a value of 128. It will become necessary from time to time to be able to convert an 8 bit number to decimal so some exercises are needed to develop this skill.

Lab – Binary to Decimal Conversion

128 – 64 – 32 – 16 – 8 – 4 – 2 – 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 = 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 = 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 = 3

1. Convert 8 binary 00000011 to decimal. 2. Convert decimal 2 to 8 bit binary.

The Computer Technology Training website has some additional information you might find useful.

Computer Technology

The PC computer technology has evolved in to a remarkably powerful machine over the last

Computer Technology

30 plus years. Some say it is hundreds of times more powerful than the computers used to land us on the moon. However, PC gamers are still trying to squeeze a little more performance out. Fortunately for all of the PC gamers have been the principle motivators to push the computers to new and ever improving performance levels. Without the gamers I doubt if we would have come this far this quickly.

However, with all its power and performance the operating systems have struggled to keep pace. The problems that the typical user faces are daunting. Viruses and worms, hard drive fragmentation, registry corruptions, network connectivity issues, bandwidth concerns, wireless security, malware threats, are just some of the major concerns.

Computer technology training will take you on a journey from the computers early development to today’s most sophisticated computer technology. The information presented requires no prior experience and can help the user to better understand the issues today to maintain and successfully master this wonderful technology. Many people from a variety of backgrounds who study this material and attend my computer technology classes go on to become successful computer and network technicians.

The CompTIA A+ certification and technology training is needed today for entry-level work that

CompTIA A+

starts from $15-$25 per hour. The Craig’s list is one of the best resources for finding work. Most of the jobs offered are short term but the experience you acquire is valuable and will lead to a full time position quickly. Then after only a few short years there is potential to make well over $100,000 as an, computer network analysis, computer security specialist, or computer network administrator. As the computer industry continues to grow and the needs for skilled computer technicians will increase. If you can install Windows, replace hard drives, and upgrade memory you could become the next computer technician. Many of my former students have gone on to very successful careers in this exciting Information Technology industry and you could to.

The Computer Technology Training website has some addition information you might find useful.

Computer Technology Training

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