The document explains the instruction set architecture (ISA) as a collection of instructions executed by the CPU, acting as a boundary between software and hardware, with a focus on MIPS instructions types: R-type, I-type, and J-type. It highlights the importance of standardized ISA for software and efficient design in computer systems, particularly through RISC. Additionally, it outlines the five classic components of a computer—input unit, output unit, memory, ALU, and control unit—along with the distinctions between RAM and ROM memory.