Computer Systems
1 Chapter 1 1.1 Overview of Computer Systems 1.1 The Parts of a Computer System Let us first look at what a Computer and a Computer System is. A computer can be classified as a device that takes in raw data as input and processes it and provides information as the output. The computer also has the ability to store data and information. The computer system consists of hardware (Physical components), software and users (people who use the computer) that are necessary to make the computer function and to processes data in a meaningful way and store data. The physical organisation of devices and the organisation according to functionality of a computer system can be developed by reference to the above definitions. Figure 1.1 and figure 1.2 can be used to illustrate this physical and functional organisation of a computer system. A study of the figure 1.1 and figure 1.2 shows that a computer system has four clear categorisations for hardware and functiona