Question

What are the functions of different parts of a computer?

Answer 1

The hardware components of a computer include the following:

1. A Central Processing Unit and Storage System: It facilitates the execution of program instructions for processing data and controlling peripheral equipment
   All data together with the operating system and the application programs occupy space in the disk storage unit which functions like working memory.
2. A Graphic Display Sub-system: A graphic display system or monitor serves as the user’s prime visual communication medium in all computers. A high-resolution display system with a greater range of possible display colors and Look-up Tables (LUT) for rapid alteration of color patterns is generally preferred in graphic and mapping applications.
3. Input Devices: The instruction and the statistical data are entered into the computer using the keyboard functions. The keyboard is an important input device that resembles a typewriter. It has various keys for different purposes.
4. Output Devices: The output devices include a variety of printers such as ink-jet, laser, and color laser printers; and the plotters that are available in different sizes ranging from A3 to AO size.

• Computer Software Requirements

Computer Software: It is a written program that is stored in memory. It performs specific functions as per the instructions given by the user.

1. The Data Entry and Editing Modules: These inbuilt modules in the data processing and mapping software facilitate the data entry system interface, database creation, error removal, scale and projection manipulations, their organization, and maintenance of the data.
2. Coordinate Transformation and Manipulation Modules: The present-day software provide a wide range of capabilities used to create layers of spatial data, coordinate transformation, editing and linking the spatial data sets with the related non-spatial attributes of data.
3. Data Display and Output Modules: The data display and output operations vary over a range of functions and are very much dependent on the skills developed in the field of computer graphics. Some of the common capabilities that the present-day software provide are:

1. Zooming/Windowing to display of selected areas and scale change operation
2. Colour assignment/change operation
3. Three dimensional and perspective display
4. Selective display of various themes
5. Polygon shading, line styling, and point markers display
6. Output device interface commands for interfacing with plotter devices/printers
7. Graphic User Interface (GUI) based menu organization for an essay interface