PC Hardware and Office Computing

A Reflection on Various Aspects which I have learnt

From the previous academic experiences, I have gathered diverse knowledge and experiences concerning hardware parts of a typical personal computer. Additionally, I have gained insights on the need for developing a mastery of comprehension on what the computer users need to effectively interact with their personal computers without any technicality. Additionally, in a group of four, we explored the concept relating to office architecture and reflected on the basic requirement one ought to acquire so as t get to propagate his/her office function using the computer. As a matter of fact, the office environment is characterized by periodic changes induced by technological developments. There is a consequential necessity to continually update the office tools where the computers are inclusive. For this amongst other reasons, we sort to unravel and establish the fundamentals of computing and operating a personal computer. Additionally, the office architectural domain is an area also characterized with intense technological applications. The sector is heavily influenced by technology as the new tools are innovated in almost a daily basis (Hwaitat et al., 2018). These reasons necessitate the need for computer applications.

Basic Assumptions Made

This presentation and study is embedded on three major assumptions concerning the office;

First, the office is assumed to not to constitute of highly elaborate and sophisticated technologies that basically are applied to make work easier.

Secondly, the office environment lacks a proficient framework guiding the different operations therein.

Thirdly, the office environment is characterized by old and out-dated computer technologies uneconomical software in terms of space because they occupy large volumes in the hard disks.

Due to the above precepts and assumptions, therefore there is a dire need for a modern equipment of our office, to characterize it with modern information technologies and applications. The inducement of the new technologies is objective, gearing to meet the following targets; First was to induce computer technologies for the purpose of improving shared resources. Such shared resources may encompass; high speed fibre broadband or WAN, high magnification and resolution gadgets such as AR headset, printers and VRgoogles, cloud storage with fast internet connections, 2D presentation devices such as A0-A2 plotters, and A3-A4 laser printers and high speed Ethernet and WI-FI systems (Patterson, and Hennessy, 2013). Secondly, back-up server systems. Apart from shared resources, the new technologies and applications are tailored to induce user terminals, software services and suitable office infrastructure. Software services will entail things such as 6-bit OS per personal computer, AutoCAD2016, office productivity and management and OS per server such as windows 10 and above. On the other hand, the application of user terminals will induce high end-processing, sufficient PC RAM, large HDD, True color GPU.Directx9 and MS-Mouse compliant gadget. A suitable office architecture and infrastructure composes of air conditioning system, comfortable office chairs and other furniture, and effective UPS. Such that; I have gathered a reservoir of knowledge from my laboratory experiences and studies. Amongst the notable knowledge I have summoned, the following are some of them.

The rationales behind working in groups

The positive implications overlying brainstorming in the context of academic and scholarly works.

Leadership and management skills accrued from managing our group

Communication, listening and problem-solving skills.

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Identification of Computer Components

The laboratory experiences were deemed to enable learners develop an understanding concerning computer components are be able to locate them on the actual computer. It was also within the learning outcome range, that learners are able to master the distinctions between digital and analog computers; computers, with the knowledge of different distinguishing factors. In this laboratory, I worked in conjunction with ……. to draw knowledge concerning the different hardware systems of a computer. We indeed had a lot of experiences and interaction, which in a summative term; I choose to call experiential learning.

Description of New Computer Components

Description of Old Computer Components

What have you learned from today's lab?

I have learned a wide range of terminologies concerning parts of computers, and specifically where these parts are situated on a computer. It has also become into the understanding that some parts are not perceivable externally because they are in-built. I have also mastered how to switch on a computer, how to insert a memory card slot, an external hard disk drive, and how to switch it off. Additionally, I have developed a mastery understanding of how the various components are interconnected functionally, and appreciated the complexity of computer operates in processing in formation in a manner such as the human brain( the CPU).

What was the easiest and what the hardest part of this lab?

The motherboard is externally placed and has a large surface area where other computer parts are attached. It is easier to identify it. The BIOS is harder to identify based on its small size and hidden position at the motherboard.

New computer systems don't support the AGP slot. Explain why PCI-e replaced AGP by stating the two most important reasons according to you.

In my opinion, I believe PC-e has a more speed compared to AGP concerning the processing capacity of data and information. Additionally, AGP is a bit outdated, and the contemporary technologies have perfected on the already existing one to come up with a more improvised PC-e (Baker et al., 2016).

Install a simple computer network using the peer-to-peer configuration:

This study intended to demonstrate on how pee-to-peer network is aligned and configured. This knowledge and skill is crucial at household levels in sharing files from one compute to the other; or in the quest to connect a computer with a printer. This demonstration required us to first understand which types of cables are utilized, and how the connections are done.

What have you learned from today's lab?

I have grasped various concepts during the laboratory practices. Some of these things are listed below;

Different types of cables that used to interconnect computers.

How network adaptors are configured.

How to share files from one computer to the other

What was the easiest and what the hardest part of this lab?

The easiest part was selecting cable typology for interconnecting the two personal computers, since I had prior knowledge about the types of cables. The hardest part was on configuring the network adaptor settings to enhance the file transfer. We could not in time see the shared file in the other PC since we had not set the connection compatibility in ever computer.

Under what circumstances would you use a peer-to-peer network architecture like the one you implemented? Can you point out its advantages and disadvantages?

I will be obliged to use peer-to-peer network architecture base on the premise it is cheaper relative to client server network. I will also use it in the event that there are no a centralized computer control, and in events there are no devices or resources to share. The advantages of peer-to-peer networks include; low costs, constitutes of a fundamental operating system, and it easy to configure. The limitations of the network include such as; it is difficult to administer and control the network, less secured hence vulnerable to virus and malware, back-ups and recovery of files is difficult (Fernandes et al., 2016).

Why should we set permissions to the files and folders we are sharing over a network?

The permission is fundamental because each computer need to edit and share the files independent of the network.

Up a Star Setting Topology Network:

The experiment intends to explore the concepts underlying the star typology network and the aims behind configuring it for use. Notably, this experiment was geared to sensitize us on the kid of devices which the network is compatible with.

What have you learned from today's lab?

I have learned the following concepts;

How the network adaptor is configured How Star Topology Network can be harnessed to effect the inter-computer connections. Every gadget is characterized by its own unique IP How a shared file using the same switch is set. How Personal Computers are pinged with other each other at the same switch.

What was the easiest and what the hardest part of this lab?

The easiest section of this lab was on network configuration and on how the NIC is connected to the Ethernet port. On the other hand, the hardest part was on connecting to share the vile with other devices that could not share similar switch.

Under what circumstances would you use a star topology network like the one you implemented? Can you point out its advantages and disadvantages?

A star topology network can be used under the following circumstances; When there are more than one devices to be connected In the event that the network ought to be monitored In case there exist resources to be shared such as printers.

The following are the strengths of star topology network;

It is relatively a more secure connection

A new node can get easily added

It is characterized by a centralized management

In the event that one node fails, the other ones will not be affected.

The limitations include; high costs to secure and only applicable to centralized computers (Baker et al., 2016).

What was the interconnecting device that you used to connect all the computers together? What other devices could you have used instead the one you used today?

The essential instruments are the switch, on in other cases a router or a hub. The switch, router or hub is also used to make the other devices that are connected to the same switch visible (Patterson and Hennessy, 2013)

References

Baker, B.A., Decesaris, M., Hamilton, J.R. and Oliver, D.W., Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, 2016. Optimizing computer hardware usage in a computing system that includes a plurality of populated central processing unit (‘CPU’) sockets. U.S. Patent 9,471,433.

Bell, C.G., Mudge, J.C. and McNamara, J.E., 2014. Computer Engineering: A DEC View of Hardware Systems Design. Digital Press.

Fernandes, A.O., Moreira, L.F.E., Carmo, G.T.S. and Mata, J.M., 2016. A hardware-software architecture for computer vision systems.

Hwaitat, A.K.A., Shaheen, A., Adhim, K., Arkebat, E.N. and Hwiatat, A.A.A., 2018. Computer Hardware Components Ontology. Modern Applied Science, 12(3), p.35.

Patterson, D.A. and Hennessy, J.L., 2013. Computer Organization and Design MIPS Edition: The Hardware/Software Interface. Newnes.