Computer Systems

It is likely that you will set up a computer system at some stage in your life. It may be yours or belong to the company you may work for. It might be a desktop PC, a laptop, PDA (Personal Data Assistant) or a games console such as a Nintendo  Wii or a Microsoft ® Xbox360. To get this right, it helps to know about the different elements of the computer system and how hardware and software must work together to make it function correctly. Computer systems and their components are built by many manufacturers and they all have different specifications. It is very important that you understand every bit of computer ‘jargon’ that you read as part of a computer system’s technical specification.

When you think about the specifications needed for a new computer system, you cannot decide which components to select unless you have considered the typical tasks it may be used for. Once you have selected the appropriate components, you will need to be able to connect hardware devices safely and configure the different types of software correctly so that they meet the needs of the intended users. This unit is designed to help you make these decisions.

You will be assessed through coursework which could be in the form of: • Presentations • Practical sessions which may be photographed, videoed or witnessed • Web pages and wikis • Screen captures • Blogs • Podcasts.