MS technology vocabulary hardware

Anna Huang

January 2009

Computer 7-3

Hardware

Hardware is the term that refers to the physical components of the computer system, such as the monitor, keyboard, CPU, printers, modems, and circuitry. While you can upgrade, change, and uninstall the programs used to run the computer system, hardware is permanent and tangible.

The term "hardware" originated in 1515, where it referred to metal parts in wooden products, but in the sense of "computer hardware", the term originated in 1947.

Hardware can also mean the physical elements of the telephone network. As slang, it can refer to military equipment such as aircraft, tanks, etc., physical awards such as trophies and medals, or metal objects such as keys, silverware, locks, hinges, etc.

http://wiki.sjs.org/wiki/index.php/MS_Technology_Vocabulary

Edited by: Pete Bechtol