AS Level Computer Science Chapter 3 – Hardware Notes

This chapter covers the essential concepts of computer hardware. Students should understand input, output, primary and secondary storage, including removable devices. It introduces embedded systems, their advantages and disadvantages, and explains the operations of hardware devices such as printers, microphones, speakers, storage devices, touchscreens, and VR headsets. Key topics include the use of buffers, differences between RAM and ROM, SRAM vs DRAM, and types of ROM (PROM, EPROM, EEPROM). The chapter also explains monitoring and control systems, including sensors, actuators, and the importance of feedback.