JE unit 20task 2

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Name: Researched Definition (include URL
link)
Explanation in your
own words
Imagery Why is this
important
to
hardware
technologi
es for
game
platforms?
Human
Computer
Interface
human-computerinterface (HCI) The meansof
communicationbetweenahuman userand a
computersystem,referringinparticulartothe use of
input/outputdeviceswithsupportingsoftware.
Devicesof increasingsophisticationare becoming
available tomediate the human-computer
interaction.These include graphicsdevices,touch-
sensitivedevices,andvoice-inputdevices.Theyhave
to be configuredina waythat will facilitatean
efficientanddesirableinteractionbetweenaperson
and the computer.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-
humancomputerinterface.html
HCI isthe discipline
concernedwiththe design,
construct andstudyof
implementingHuman-
Centricinteractive
computersystems.A user
interface suchas GUI is how
a human interactswitha
computer,a HCI (Human
ComputerInterface) goes
beyonddesigningscreens
and menusthatare easier
to use and studiesthe
reasoningbehindbuilding
specificfunctionalityinto
computersandthe long-
termeffectsthatsystems
will have onhumans.
Mean the user
has more of a
connectionto
whatis going
on on the
screen.

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Central
Processing
Unit (CPU)
CPU (pronounced asseparateletters) isthe
abbreviationforcentralprocessing unit.
Sometimesreferredtosimplyasthe central
processor,butmore commonly calledprocessor,the
CPU is the brainsof the computerwhere most
calculationstake place.Intermsof computing
power,the CPU isthe most importantelementof
a computersystem.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CPU.html
The CPU isthe part of a
computersystem
commonlyreferredtoas
the "brains"of the
computersystem.The CPU
isalso knownasthe
processoror micro-
processor.The CPU is
responsible forexecuting
programs,whichare a
sequence of stored
instructions.
Runsthe bulk
of the
processesfor
the game.
Graphic
Processors
A graphicsprocessingunit(GPU) isa computerchip
that performsrapidmathematical calculations,
primarilyforthe purpose of renderingimages.
http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/definition/GPU-
graphics-processing-unit
The GPU (Graphic
ProcessingUnit) isused
primarilyfor3-D
applications. Itisa single
chipprocessorthat creates
lightingeffects,and
transformseverytime a3-D
scene isredrawn.some
graphicscards can contain
multiple GPU's.The GPU
liftsthe 3-D renderingtask
fromthe CPU,freeingup
more cyclesthat can be
usedforother tasks.
Run the
graphical
demanding
processesfor
the game and
renders
graphicsand
textures.

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Memory
(RAM)
Random-access memory (RAM /ræm/) is a form
of computer data storage. A random-access memory
device allows data items to be accessed (read or
written) in almost the same amount of time
irrespective of the physical location of data inside the
memory. In contrast, with other direct-access data
storage media such as hard disks,CD-RWs, DVD-
RWs and the older drum memory, the time required to
read and write data items varies significantly depending
on their physical locations on the recording medium,
due to mechanical limitations such as media rotation
speeds and arm movement delays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-
access_memory
RAM(RandomAccess
Memory) isa type of
computermemorythatcan
be accessedrandomly, this
meansthat anyByte of the
memorycan be accessed
withouttouchingthe
precedingbytes.RAMisthe
mostcommon type of
memoryfoundin
computersandother
devicessuchasprinters.
Gamesuse
RAM.
Display A monitoror a display isanelectronic
visualdisplay forcomputers.A monitorusually
comprisesthe display device,circuitry,casing,and
powersupply.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_monitor
A displayisacomputer
outputsurface that shows
textand graphicimagesto
the user.Image projection
technologysuchasCRT
(Cathode RayTubes),LCD
(LiquidCrystal Displays),
and others.The display
usuallyconsistsof the
screeno projectionsurface
and alsothe the device that
producesthe the
informationonthe screen.
insome cases the displays
are packagedina separate
unitcalledthe monitor.In
othercomputersthe display
isintegratedintothe unit
Displaysare
howwe see
gamesand the
actual
processes
themselvesare
displayedon
the screen.

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
withthe processorand
otherparts of the
computer.
Sound Alternativelyreferredtoasan audiooutput
device,soundboard,oraudiocard. A soundcard is
an expansioncard or ICfor producingsoundona
computerthat can be heard
throughspeakers orheadphones.Althoughthe
computerdoesnotneeda sounddevice tofunction,
theyare includedoneverymachineinone formor
another;eitherinan expansionslot(soundcard) or
on the motherboard(onboard).
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/souncard.
htm
SoundCard. Alternatively
referredtoas an audio
outputdevice,soundboard,
or audiocard. A soundcard
isan expansioncardor IC
for producingsoundona
computerthat can be heard
throughspeakersor
headphones.
Soundcardsare
usedto
produce high
qualitysounds
and higher
volumesaswell
as surround
soundsfor
more
immersive
gameplay.
Game
Storage
Medium
In computers,astorage mediumisanytechnology
(includingdevicesand materials) usedtoplace,keep,
and retrieve data.A mediumisanelementusedin
communicatingamessage;ona storage medium,
the "messages"- inthe form of data - are suspended
for use whenneeded.The plural formof thisterm
isstoragemedia.Althoughthe termstorage includes
bothprimarystorage (memory),astorage medium
usuallymeansaplace to hold secondary
storage such as that ona hard diskor tape.
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/stor
age-medium
In computers,astorage
mediumisanytechnology
(includingdevicesand
materials) used toplace,
keep,andretrieve data.A
mediumisanelementused
incommunicatinga
message;ona storage
medium,the "messages"
are suspendedforuse when
needed.Althoughthe term
storage includesboth
primarystorage (memory),
a storage mediumusually
meansa place to hold
secondarystorage suchas
that on a hard diskor tape.
Games,
processes,
picturesad
everythingare
savedonthe
storage
medium.

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Interface
Devices
An interface device (IDF) isahardware componentor
systemof componentsthatallowsa humanbeingto
interactwitha computer,a telephonesystem,or
otherelectronicinformationsystem.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/interface-
device-IDF
An interface device (IDF) isa
hardware componentor
systemof componentsthat
allowsahuman beingto
interactwitha computer,a
telephonesystem,orother
electronicinformation
system.The termisoften
encounteredinthe mobile
communicationindustry
where designersare
challengedtobuildthe
propercombinationof
portability,capability,and
ease of use intothe
interface device.
He peripherals
are howwe
control what
happensonthe
computer.
Connectivit
y
A physical link, suchasbywire or fiber-
opticcable, betweentwoormore pointsina teleco
mmunications system
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/PC+connectivity
A generictermfor
connectingdevicestoeach
otherinorder to transfer
data back and forth.It often
referstonetwork
connections,which
embracesbridges,routers,
switchesandgatewaysas
well asbackbone networks.
Ethernetcables
meanyoucan
connect
directlyto
internetand
othercables
such as
hdmi,vgaand
displayport
connectthe pc
to the monitor

6. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Power
Supply
Alsocalleda powersupply unitor PSU,the
componentthatsuppliespowertoa computer.
Most personal computers canbe pluggedinto
standardelectrical outlets.The powersupplythen
pullsthe requiredamountof electricityandconverts
the AC currentto DC current.It also regulatesthe
voltage toeliminate spikesandsurgescommonin
mostelectrical systems.Notall powersupplies,
however,doanadequate voltage-regulationjob,so
a computeris alwayssusceptibletolarge voltage
fluctuations.
Powersuppliesare ratedintermsof the numberof
wattstheygenerate.The more powerful the
computer,the more wattsit can provide to
components.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/power_supply
.html
A powersupplyunit(PSU)
convertsmainsACto low-
voltage regulatedDCpower
for the internal components
of a computer.Modern
personal computers
universallyuse aswitched-
mode powersupply.
Powersupplies
are usedto
draw powerto
powerthe
systemandrun
all of the
hardware.