Week # 4 New Slides
Week # 4 New Slides
Optical Storage:
Optical storage is a method of storing data on discs like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays
using laser technology. In these storage mediums, data is encoded in the form of tiny
pits and lands on the disc’s surface, which are read by a laser in an optical drive.
Optical storage is widely used for distributing media like music, movies, and
software, as well as for archiving data because of its durability and resistance to
environmental conditions.
The CD-ROM drive is a common optical storage device used in computers. Compact
Discs (CDs) can store about 650 MB of data or 74 minutes of audio. A CD-ROM
(Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) is read-only, meaning data cannot be changed.
For writing data, users can use:
CD-R (Recordable): Write once, read multiple times.
CD-RW (Re-Writable): Write and erase data multiple times.
DVDs offer higher storage, ranging from 4.7 GB to 17 GB, and faster data access,
making them suitable for larger files and video storage. Future advancements
promise even greater capacities.
Program/Software:
Software is the set of instructions or programs that tell a computer how to perform
tasks. It can be broadly classified into two main categories: System Software and
Application Software.
System Software:
System software acts as a bridge between the hardware and user applications. It
provides the necessary environment for other software to operate and manages the
computer’s core functions.
Examples: Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), utility programs, and
device drivers.
Application Software:
Application software is designed to perform specific tasks for users. It runs on top of
the system software and is tailored to various needs such as productivity,
communication, and entertainment.
Examples: Microsoft Word (word processing), Adobe Photoshop (graphic
editing), and Google Chrome (web browsing).
Functions:
Solving user-specific problems.
Enhancing productivity and creativity.
Enabling communication and media consumption.
Together, system software and application software form the foundation of modern
computing, allowing hardware to perform useful and user-friendly tasks efficiently.
Computer Data:
Computer data is information that a computer processes, stores, or transmits.
Types of Computer Data:
1. Text Data: Letters, symbols, and words (e.g., documents, emails).
2. Numerical Data: Numbers used for calculations and analytics (e.g.,
spreadsheets).
3. Audio Data: Sound files, such as music or voice recordings (e.g., MP3 files).
4. Image Data: Pictures and graphics (e.g., JPEG, PNG files).
5. Video Data: Moving images and animations (e.g., MP4, AVI files).