We explain what hardware is and the four generations of hardware that exist. Types of hardware, some examples and what is software.
What is the hardware?
Incomputing and computing, is known as hardware (union of the English wordshard, rigid, andware, product, merchandise) to all the material, tangible elements that make up the computer system of a computer. This refers to its components of mechanical, electronic, electrical and peripheral type, without considering the programs and other digital elements, which are instead part of thesoftware.
The term hardware was used in English from the 16th century, but to designate utensils and tools made from metals Hard or heavy, like iron, and that were used for hardware or mechanical work.
From the appearance of the first automatic calculation systems in the 1940s and the first steps towards computerized calculation, it became necessary to distinguish between the physical aspects of the machine and those that belonged to the logical or, more recently, the virtual , which is why the term hardware was rescued from 1947.
The term is applied in Spanish and other languages without translation, since there is no equivalent, and it has also become a word in common use in today's hypercomputer world.
There are four distinct generations of hardware, throughout its evolutionary history, determined by a key technological advance that made them possible:
- 1st generation (1945-1956). Calculation machines that operated by means of vacuum tubes, instead of relays.
- 2nd generation (1957-1963). Thanks to the discovery oftransistors, the total size of computers was greatly reduced.
- 3rd generation (1964-today). They discover integrated circuits, printed on silicon chips, which provided speed and effectiveness.
- 4th generation (future). Devices that go beyond silicon plates and venture into new computational formats. Is about technology still in development.
Hardware types
The hardware of computer systems is classified according to its performance in the set, thus identifying five different categories:
- Prosecution. The very heart of the system or the computer, is where your ability to perform logical operations lies, that is, your calculations. It is identified with the Central Processing Unit or CPU.
- Storage. The "memory" of the system, these are units that allow to safeguard the information and retrieve it later, both on internal media inside the body of the machine, or on removable and portable media, such as floppy disks.
- Input peripherals. These are devices with a specific function: to enter information into the system. They can be integrated into the machine or be removable.
- Output peripherals. Similar to the input, but allow the extraction or retrieval of information from the system.
- Input and output peripherals. They combine the information input and output functions of the system.
Hardware examples
Some simple hardware examples are:
- The microprocessors, motherboards, integrated cards (audio, video, etc.).
- Monitors and projectors (videobeam, etc.).
- Printers, scanners and other external peripherals.
- The keyboard and pointer (mouse) with which the Username with the machine.
- The modules of the RAM on the CPU.
- The batteries that keep the system powered, and the wiring that communicates the parts.
- Hard drives and removable memory drives (flash).
Hardware and software
The distinction betweenhardware Ysoftware operates in a way similar to that between the body and soul of the human being in certainreligions Y philosophies. By the first term we understand the physical and perishable aspects, replaceable in the case of the computer, and by the second term those intangible, virtual aspects, without which the hardware would not perform any function.
Hardware and software are aspects of the computer that operate jointly, since the first supports the second running and the latter allows control of the way it operates and the objective of the first.