【HARDWARE】What is it? How does it work? The best ▷ 2022

What is the hardware? Definition

Hardware or software? The eternal dilemma in computing. What is each and what is each? There are (few) people who have not even heard these concepts; others that confuse them or even believe that it is the same because, after all, they are similar in terms of their lexicon, with the same root (ware) and two significant adjectives of the same category (hard and soft).

In any case, once these concepts have been explained throughout the following text, and stopping to deepen the first one, we will verify its difference and what exactly is this pair of words brought from another language and so present today.

But… What is really a Hardware? Definition and examples

A hardware (or physical support) is a physical element of a computer equipment, that is, the parts that we can touch, that occupy a space. They go from the monitor that you use to see the information to the chips that are in the internal “cards” going through the wiring or ; everything, as we say, physical and material, that integrates the team and gives it support.

Its simplest and most descriptive classification includes:

Basic or main hardware: They are the essential components to make the equipment work and that its use is efficient and effective. We are talking about motherboard, RAM memory, processor, monitor…
add-on hardware: On the other hand, we have one that is not necessary but will facilitate the interaction with the team. These would be external memories, webcams, printers…

Although the concept is used mostly in the computer field, the truth is that it is not exclusive to it. Its use is also given in industry, in robotics, mobile telephony and all those electronic devices.

The It is the system by which the different components that have a transfer and relate to each other the data that they share with each other.

Source

Its creation was given to be able to process, store and share numerical values resulting from calculation processes. Considering what we know today and the meaning we give to the concept, it is impossible to believe that it is something that dates back as far back as those related to writing, however, it is.

The first piece of hardware on record is the counting stick., a mnemonic device that was used to record quantities, in this primitive case, grains or cattle. Its use was commercial, given to expedite processes counting merchandise and currency.

Evolution

Other revolutionary gadgets typical of decades ago are the abacus, scales, the Antikythera Mechanism, the Planisphere, Phoenicia clay, Napier’s bones… In short, many inventions (consolidated and used for centuries, until the invention of another simpler or related to needs) that come to be the first calculators.

It is in the 17th century when the first digital mechanical calculator was built., the closest thing to a computing device as we would consider it today. This revolutionized the field of astronomy.

The evolution of this element, integrating it into the computing context, has been given throughout history by four fundamental milestones that brought about enormous changes and that differentiate hardware by .

First generation: They are the first machines that manage to displace electromagnetic components, thermionic valves. This milestone is presented and developed successfully between the years 1945 and 1956.
Second generation: Transistors are used as driving elements to respond to an input signal. Its logic is similar to what was already known, but the considerable reduction in the size of the equipment caused the field of study to be completely modified, leaving the valves practically banished and being used in specific cases.
Third generation: The hardware of the devices becomes based on integrated circuits. This means that more elements are integrated in small spaces and aspects such as consumption, size and cost of equipment are reduced while at the same time they become faster, more reliable and more capable. This occurs from the year 1964 and continues to this day.

Curiously, it is not considered a milestone to differentiate as generational creation of the (dating the first from 1971). This is due to the fact that, despite being very revolutionary, it did not mean the extinction (or relegation) of the previous technologies, but rather it was integrated as one more element, in parallel.

The same happens with the appearance of VLSI circuits in the eighties. They represented a great improvement in the panorama but there was neither an immediate change nor did they manage to make the machines that worked with the previous circuits, of a lower integration scale, disappear.

Future

The fourth generation has not yet been given but it is already known what it will consist of due to the investigation and interpretation of the sector.

The big change will come with the replacement of silicon circuitry by some other material or fact, by other technology that is not based on physical circuits.

Differences between software and hardware (physical and logical components)

We have already seen what a hardware is. However, for someone who is not an expert in the matter, it can be easy to confuse it with the concept “software”.

A software is a code through which the user can order tasks that the team should run. It is, therefore, sequenced instructions that are interpreted and executed, an intangible as well as logical support.

Regarding its classification, we would have:

system software: It’s that one relating to the operation and maintenance of the equipment system. This includes controllers, control tools…
App software: The programs that the user uses to complete and perform tasks not related to the system. They are, for example, word processors, accounting programs, design programs…

This means that it is not a physical component. However, that program that is purchased in CD format and installed on our device also turns out to be software. In this way, we have a physical component, which is the Although, the software would turn out to be only the information that is given inside it; in fact, sometimes, once the content is installed the use of the CD is not required for its usebeing the disc a mere container to transport the software.

All the programs we use are software. These can be given in physical format (although this has long since fallen into disuse), downloaded from the internet, accessed through cloud computing, etc.

Said wrong (or not so wrong) and soon, hardware is the physical components of a computer and software is the program, application, utility. Sometimes, the software is embedded in a piece of hardware for transport and/or use.

Classification and types of hardware; most important elements

We have already seen, knowing its definition, that a first classification would let us know what type of hardware it is a piece based on its ability to make a piece of equipment work. Thus, we have:

The main hardwarewhich includes the essential components for its operation.
The secondary or complementary, which allows you to perform specific functions. Without it, the machine works, even if it is difficult (or even impossible) to operate.

On the other hand, we can make a classification that includes physical components:

Input: They are those that make the machines receive information, process it and digitize it.
Departure: On the contrary, it deals with those elements that allow the user to know the information that is being interpreted, executed or reproduced.
Hybrid or mixed: They are those devices that work in both directions allowing the user to both “put” information into the equipment and receive it.
Processing: As their name indicates, they are elements that are in charge of processing information, of interpreting the instruction of each program, performing logical and arithmetic operations.
: They are those devices in charge of retaining, memorizing and/or storing any type of data.

What are peripherals and what types are there? examples

A peripheral is hardware that does not belong to the main unit of the computer. and that is connected to it so that a series of different interactions can be carried out depending on the chosen element. In other words, it is each of the objects that we add to facilitate and make its use more effective and complete.

These are categorized in various ways (similar to general hardware), the main categorization being as follows:

input

A is the one who going to enter information in the system. That is, it captures something from the outside and converts it into digital. Are:

: It is used to send symbols, numbers and letters, so that it is easy, among other things, to generate information. Its connection is made by cable, with USB or with a plug, or wirelessly, for which a connection device is also required that connects to the equipment in a USB port.
: Allows movement across the screen, guiding the pointer. It also gives the click commands to interact with the information. As in the previous case, there are wired and wireless.
I send: They allow a rapid movement of the cursor as well as the execution of previously programmed actions. It is the peripheral par excellence to enjoy certain games (especially those created with the focus on ).
Player: It is used to read the information from physical CDs or DVDs and play it on the computer.
Microphone: We feed sound waves into the equipment in the form of minute audio tracks that are intertwined to form a message. We can both save those tracks and have a streaming conversation (the content will be lost unless you make a recording).
WebCam: Similar to the previous one but with the objective of working with images and/or videos, which can also be recorded and stored or retransmitted at the moment.
Graphic Palettes, Pencils and Art Displays: They allow you to design digital elements with a high level of detail, realism and “craftsmanship”.
Scanner: It digitizes a physical object, creating a flat image of it and sending it to our computer, where it is stored and from where we can, if we wish, modify or send it.

Departure

Conversely, a hardware is the one that se connects to allow certain information to leave the equipment. They are:

Display: It is a screen that will show the results of the computer and the actions that we carry out. Instead, if you have the necessary connectivity, projection panels or televisions can be connected to the equipment, having the same objective.
: They play sound that is created or played on the computer. This is given to the outside, filling the environment.
Headphones: The same as the previous example, with the exception that the sound is not reproduced in space, but rather we have a reproduction that can only be heard when the headphones are inserted into our auditory pavilion.
Tape recorder: Enables…