Computer hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system and includes circuit boards, chips, monitors, disks, disk drives, modems, keyboards, and printers. Early mechanical calculators used gears like clocks, while punch cards were used to store data on stiff cardboard. The ENIAC was the first general-purpose electronic computer built in 1945 to calculate ballistic missile trajectories. Computer hardware functions include storage in volatile RAM or non-volatile hard disks, data processing via the microprocessor CPU, and input/output via devices like keyboards, mice, printers, and monitors.

1. Computer Hardware

2. What is Computer Hardware?Refers to the physical and mechanical components of the computer system.It consists of devices such as:circuit boards

3. chips

4. Monitors

5. Disks

6. Disk drives

7. Modem

8. Keyboards

9. PrintersEvolution of Computer Hardware

10. Mechanical Calculatormade by Wilhelm Schickard.used cogs and gears similar to those in clocks .

11. Punch Card Technologymade by International Business Machine (IBM)made from stiff lightweight cardboard, punch cards were used by data processing machines to record information.

12. Electronic Numerical Integrator Analyzer and Computer(ENIAC)designed by John Presper and John William Mauchly.it was built by the US Army in 1945 to calculate the trajectory of ballistic missiles, at a cost of almost $500,000.

13. Functions of Computer Hardware

14. STORAGERefers to the ability of computer to store and retain data in their memories Types of MemoryVolatile memory - refers to computer memory that requires electric power to maintain stored data. ex. Random-access memory (RAM)2. Non-volatile memory – retains data even if electric is cut off. ex. hard disks, floppy disks, and CD ROMs

15. ProcessData processing - Is defined as the conversion of data from one format to anotherDATA – refers to a collection of numbers and characters which the computer understands.MICROPROCESSOR – brain of the computercontrols the flow of data – Central processing unit (CPU)

16. Method of ProcessingParallel Processing - harnesses the power multiple processors in one computing entity to perform a single task.Distributed Processing - is used to bind multiple computing entity so that they become a single centralized unit focused on common task or goal.

17. Inputcomputer hardware can take commands and be fed with informationInput DevicesKeyboard

18. Mouse

19. Trackball

20. touch pad

21. Joystick

22. graphic tablet

23. light pen

24. cyber gloves

25. touch screenOutputways for computers to communicate to the outside world, beginning with you.Output DevicesMonitor or screen

26. Speaker

27. printerParts of the computer

28. Monitorscreen that displays what is going on in the computer.