You need to undersrand and learn about hardware, software and analogue and digital data.

Hardware consists of the physical components of a computer system.

Internal components including:

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• motherboard

• Internal memory including random access memory (RAM)

• read-only memory (ROM)

• Hardware components including graphics card

• sound card

• Network Interface Card (NIC)

• camera

• internal/external storage devices

• input and output devices

RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Sometimes it's called PC memory or just memory. In essence, RAM is your computer or laptop's short-term memory. It's where the data is stored that your computer processor needs to run your applications and open your files.

ROM

• ROM (Read-only memory)

• ROM is a type of computer storage with permanent data that, normally, can only be read, not written to.

• It helps to boot up your computer

Watch this presentation showing the differences between RAM and ROM.

Software are programs for controlling the operation of a computer or processing of electronic data.

Applications software provides the services that the user requires to solve a task.

Examples of applications software: 

• word processing, 

• spreadsheet, 

• database management

• systems, 

• control, 

• measurement, 

• applets and apps,

• video editing,

•  graphics editing, 

• audio editing,

• computer aided design (CAD)

System software provides the services that the computer requires to operate

Examples of system software

• compilers,

• linkers, 

• device drivers, 

• operating systems and utilities

What are the differences between analogue and digital data?

• How is analogue converted to digital data so it can be processed by a computer

• How is digital data converted to analogue data so it can be used to control devices