tech-talk-lecture-for-designers-v101.pdf
- 1. Getting to know your Hardware and Software
- 2. Question: I’m an artist/designer/creative-type person. Why do I need to know about computers? Isn’t that what IT departments and the Geek Squad are for? ?
- 3. Answer(s): These are the tools required for your profession. While you don’t need to be an expert, it’s in your best interest to understand the basics. It can save you money to be sort of knowledgeable $$$$$$ It’s basically expected of you in todays field! • • •
- 4. Two basic components in all computers... • Hardware • Software •
- 5. Hardware Is hard... The physical components of the computer. You can touch it. While hardware can be upgraded...sometimes, it’s hard. (no pun intended) •
- 6. Hardware Almost all computing systems have the same components running under the hood: * Hard Drive Disk * RAM * Logic Board •
- 7. Hard Drive A hard drive (or hard disk drive) is basically the long-term storage solution in all computing devices. Hard Drives are finite in space. They should be backed up regularly to ensure protection of data. Hard Drives can be both internal and external pieces of hardware. Can be made multiple ways allowing tiered pricing and user options.
- 8. Hard Drive A Fit Hard Drive is a happy hard drive! * Try to keep it well maintained * Optimal to keep half of drive as free space * Regularly De-Fragment Drive * Listen to your drive for irregularities * Don’t Drop!!! • 50% Free Space 15% Videos 10% Music 5% Applications 10% Documents 10% Photos
- 9. Random Access Memory * Works with your software * Fuel for your Applications * The causes of most crashes * Finite...but replenished upon restart * Easy to upgrade on some computers...impossible on others • RAM
- 10. RAM RAM Ceiling Crash Happens often because people forget to restart. Some RAM replenishes when you close a document or quit an application. Turn off apps and items that you’re not readily using and restart your computer regularly. •
- 11. RAM OS Regular use of RAM Optimal RAM use, with Applications or Documents closed when finished with them (Quit Internet and Illustrator. Close 2 PS Docs) RAM Ceiling Crash in the making...(Computer on for long time. Opened Additional PS and Illustrator Documents. Computer probably sluggish. Internet Photoshop w 3 Docs Illustrator w 1 Doc iTunes Un-used RAM OS Photoshop w 1 Doc iTunes Un-used RAM OS Internet Photoshop w 9 Docs Illustrator w 11 Docs iTunes RAM Red Zone • stay out of here •
- 12. Logic Board A Logic Board; sometimes referred to as a mother board, is basically the central nervous system of any computer. All signals go through here and everything is connected to this: Hard Drive, RAM, External Ports, and more. Also, soldered on to the board are items like a ROM Chip and a Processor...
- 13. Logic Board Processor: Basically the Brain. All commands at one point or another pass through here. The fast the processor, the faster the directives are ordered, and the faster data travels. So, a really good traffic cop! ROM Chip: ROM = Read Only Memory Tells processor the order of operations to internal and external components when booting computer. Important! Only can be changed w/ firmware update. • •
- 14. Extra Stuff!!! Additional external hardware items that you add to your computer casing. Can include but not limited to: * Monitors * Keyboards * Mice * External Hard Drives * Flash Drives * Printers * Scanners * Projectors * Optical Disc Drives * Cameras • Most peripherals are easily installed (usually plugged in) and may or may not have additional software that needs to be installed • Peripheral Hardware
- 15. External Storage Media that can be inserted and removed from hardware. Used to back up data. Hot Swappable. • Includes but isn’t limited to: * flash drive * external hard drives * Optical Discs • Removable Media
- 16. Software Is well...soft! It’s malleable, it can be changed, updated, moved. It’s not permanent. Different Kinds Some software is needed to interact with hardware, while others can work with multiple pieces of hardware. All softwares have a purpose or a job to do. •
- 17. Operating System Software Operating System (known as OS) is the software that we use to directly interface with the hardware. You interact with many forms of this daily. Obviously on your computer, but also on your phone, your TV, your car, your video game console, maybe even your refrigerator OS is everywhere and it’s job is to interface us with hardware. •
- 18. Operating System How do you interface with hardware? You have to use a GUI - Graphical User Interface - Gives us a visual to the command code generating in background - In all different devices - Originally developed by Xerox (along with the mouse!) - Made famous and necessary by Apple w/ release of the Macintosh
- 19. Application Software These are softwares with a job or purpose; edit photos, play music, move candy squares next to one another, etc. Three Kinds * Freeware - Free software, made for everyone, great resource * Payware - Costs $$$, usually professional or entertainment-based * Shareware - Like freeware, but if you pay you may get some more features available that extend what software does •
- 20. Firmware Specific software that updates the hardware. Specifically updates the list of directions that ROM Chip tells Processor to follow * Not easy at all to install by mistake * Firmware (sometimes called patches) fix problems that are built into many items, but not caught until after product is released •
- 21. In Closing... You don’t need to know everything about hardware and software to be a successful digital artist. It just makes life easier if you know what problems may be facing your workstation, and possibly know how to solve them. Plus, it makes you more marketable in the long run to have basic knowledge in HW & SW. •
- 22. Look for more techtalk in the future