sarcademy/syllabus/1.md

ICT Basic

Components of a Computer

1. CPU: Central Processing Unit - The "brain" of the computer that performs calculations and logic operations.
2. RAM: Random Access Memory - Temporary data storage that is faster to read and write compared to hard drives.
3. Hard Drive: Long-term data storage, can be HDD or SSD.
4. Motherboard: The main circuit board connecting all components.
5. Power Supply: Converts electrical power to a format suitable for the computer.
6. GPU: Graphics Processing Unit - Handles rendering images and videos.
7. Input Devices: Devices like keyboards, mice, and scanners for user input.
8. Output Devices: Devices like monitors, printers, and speakers for displaying output.
9. Cooling System: Fans or liquid cooling to maintain optimal temperature.
10. Case: Houses and protects the components.

Input and Output Devices

Input Devices

Input devices provide data and control signals to a computer. Examples include keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, joysticks, and microphones.

Types of Input Devices

• Keyboards: Text input
• Mouse/Touchpad/Trackpoint: Pointer navigation
• Scanners: Image input
• Webcam/Cameras: Video input
• Microphone: Audio input
• Joystick: Game control

Output Devices

Output devices display or output data from a computer. Examples include monitors, printers, and speakers.

Types of Output Devices

• Monitor: Visual display
• Speakers/Headphones: Audio output
• Printers: Printed output

Storage

Units of Storage and Speed

• Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte
• RPM, Read/Write Speed

Types of Storage

• Magnetic Storage: HDD
• Optical: CD, DVD
• Solid State: SSD

Machine Language

• Binary: The basic language of computers, consisting of 0s and 1s.

Networking

Explain Protocols

• Rules governing data transfer

Types of Protocols

• TCP: Reliable data transfer
• UDP: Faster but less reliable
• MAC Address: Hardware identification
• IP/DNS: Internet addressing
• Network Ports: Data pathways
• Subnetting: Network segmentation
• Firewall Usage: Security measure
• Other Protocols: HTTP, FTP, SSH, TELNET
• OSI Model: 7-layer model for networking
• VPNs: Virtual Private Networks for secure communication

Operating System

• BIOS: Basic Input/Output System, the firmware for initializing hardware.
• File System: Manages how files are stored and retrieved.
• Kernel: Core part of OS, manages system resources.
• Drivers: Software to interface with hardware.
• Examples of Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux

Troubleshooting

Read more on troubleshoot.md