"Reading" and "Writing"
Module G04c
Contents
Audience and Objectives
About this document...
"Reading" and "Writing"
These are two terms that are used to talk about moving information to and
from computers and their parts. Simple as they sound, they can be confusing
as you first learn them. In computer parlance,
Reading is moving information toward the CPU
Writing is moving information away from the CPU
To understand how they are used, let's take a look at how information
is moved around in a computer...
Moving Information in Computers
The computer's CPU is "where the action is." Computer engineers design
a computer so that information can get to and from the CPU as quickly as
possible.
Figure 1
Speed of getting information in and out:
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Memory fastest
-
Secondary storage:
-
Hard disks faster
-
Floppy disks slower
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Input:
-
Another computer fastest
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Keyboard slowest
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Output:
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Screen fastest
-
Printers slower (different speeds)
Reading: moving information toward the CPU
Like human reading: paper 
eye brain
Writing: away information away from CPU
Like human writing: brain
hands paper
Examples:
| Data going from: |
To: |
Is: |
| keyboard |
Memory |
Reading |
| Memory |
CPU |
Reading |
| CPU |
Memory |
Writing |
| Memory |
Printer |
Writing |
| Mmory |
Hard disk |
? Writing |
| Compact disc |
Memory |
? Reading |
| Memory |
Speakers |
? Writing |
Next module:
-
G05c: Primary and Secondary Storage
Audience:
This is for people who want to understand what computer professionals mean
when they talk about a computer "reading" and "writing". Some familiarity
with basic computer vocabulary and organization is helpful (see modules
G01c
and G02c).
Objectives
When you successfully complete this lesson, you will be able to demonstrate
understanding of...
-
The idea of moving information closer to or farther from the CPU;
-
The concept of faster and slower information retrieval;
-
The general concepts of "reading" and "writing" in the context of various
input and output devices.
About this document...
Module G04c: "Reading" and "Writing"
-
Author:
-
Laurence
J. Krieg
-
Institution:
-
Department
of Computer Information Systems, Washtenaw
Community College
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Date:
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Original: 26 January 1988
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Revised for HTML: 6 May 1996
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Examples & format change: 15 Sept 1998
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Review: 5 Feb 1999
-
Review:
G04cr
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Copyright:
-
Copyright © 1996, Laurence J. Krieg.
Instructors: You may point to this file in your Web-based materials.
Students: you may make a copy for your personal use.
All other uses: contact the author, Laurence
J. Krieg for permission.